The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Nova came to an abrupt halt upon hearing the girl’s words. Contrary to the panic or fear the girl might have expected, Nova simply pivoted on her heel, folding her arms across her chest. Her eyes sparkled with a teasing glint as she fixed the girl with a playful stare.

Nearby, students strolling past the gymnasium paused momentarily, their curiosity piqued by the sudden exchange. Yet, Nova remained unfazed by the attention, standing her ground patiently.

As Nova faced her, the girl’s confident facade crumbled briefly. She pressed her palms against her chest and bowed her head in a theatrical gesture. “I’m sorry,” she declared loudly, “I said that just to catch your attention. Can we talk for a moment?”

For most students, the word “assassin” was a dramatic flourish lifted straight from the pages of novels—something thrilling but detached from reality. They were aware that some individuals at school possessed extraordinary skills, but the idea of actual assassins among them was too far-fetched to consider seriously.

The crowd that had gathered out of curiosity quickly lost interest after hearing the girl’s explanation and soon dispersed, leaving the two alone.

With the onlookers gone, the girl’s timid demeanor vanished, replaced by a sly, victorious smile. “Now that they’re gone, interested in talking, Miss Assassin?”

Her act dropped completely, revealing a confident invitation to converse. Unbeknownst to her, Nova had anticipated this all along.

Since the girl had offered something intriguing, Nova slid her hands casually into her pockets and gave a slight nod. “Lead the way,” she said simply.

The abandoned teaching building at SLRA was a place rarely visited, its halls silent and empty most days.

When Nova and the girl approached, four figures stood waiting near the entrance, their presence unmistakable against the faded walls.

A petite girl, barely five feet tall and clutching a worn rabbit doll, brightened at the sight of Nova. “Evie’s back!” she called out cheerfully.

Among the group was a tall young man with delicate, almost refined features. Not traditionally handsome, but undeniably captivating, he exuded the quiet confidence of a leader.

The twin-braided girl guided Nova closer, and the tall boy nodded in greeting before extending his hand. “I’m Felix Scott.”

He then motioned to the twin-braided girl. “This is my sister, Evie Scott.”

Nova kept one hand tucked in her pocket, ignoring the offered handshake.

Felix, seemingly well-acquainted with Evie, was unfazed by Nova’s aloofness. He ruffled Evie’s hair playfully and laughed. “Has Evie been rude to you? If she offended you, I apologize on her behalf.”

He then turned his apology to Nova, maintaining a polite and composed demeanor.

Felix’s smooth charm and polished manners sparked a flicker of interest in Nova’s otherwise guarded eyes. She responded flatly, “I don’t usually shake hands.”

At that moment, a towering man, standing six feet two inches tall with a muscular build, interrupted loudly, “Come on, Felix. Stop being so modest. You’re the strongest on the team, and you’re still so young. Few people your age have your level of strength.”

He continued with a tone of admiration, “You’ve completed two SSS-rank missions. How many of your peers worldwide can say that? Almost none!”

From their conversation, Nova pieced together that this was a secretive team of hidden campus experts. They had crossed paths at SLRA, forged an alliance, and built unbreakable bonds.

Why these so-called “low-level” assassin siblings had sought her out, and what their true intentions were, remained a mystery for now.

But one fact stood out clearly: Felix had completed two SSS-rank missions in his early twenties, a testament to his extraordinary abilities and a mark that placed him among the elite of his generation.

In the shadowy international underworld—whether among assassins, mercenaries, or covert operatives—missions were ranked by difficulty on six levels, from highest to lowest: SSS, SS, S, A, B, and C.

SSS-rank missions were nearly impossible, with even the top twenty assassins sometimes unable to guarantee success.

That Felix had successfully completed two such missions at his age spoke volumes about his prowess and justified his undisputed leadership of this team.

Meanwhile, Nova herself, known as the strongest mercenary queen, had endured and succeeded in 56 grueling encrypted SSSSS-rank directive missions and 309 SSS-rank missions—an unparalleled record in its own right.