Chapter 239: Preparing to Strike Nemesis
Seeing Tom’s signal, Hummingbird reacted swiftly—fulfilling her duty as a bodyguard by pulling Fang Xiaocao behind a thick tree. She unsheathed her katana, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
Fang Xiaocao sighed.
This feels familiar.
Do all good bodyguards follow the same playbook?
As Tom quietly retreated, Fang Xiaocao whispered, “What’s wrong?”
“People,” Tom answered softly.
“Who?”
“Let me go butcher them!” Taotie growled.
Tom shook his head. “Don’t be reckless.”
“It’s Nemesis.”
Fang Xiaocao stiffened.
“Nemesis?”
She hadn’t forgotten—Han Xue was part of Nemesis.
Could she be here too?
A dangerous thought crossed Fang Xiaocao’s mind.
Tom nodded. “Yes, them.”
“Then I definitely need to kill them!” Taotie cracked his knuckles, his face twisting into a vicious grin.
As a former Blacklist enforcer, he had clashed with Nemesis for years.
They’d nearly killed him multiple times.
This was personal.
“Stay calm,” Tom snapped.
“Remember—we’re fishing in troubled waters.”
Taotie scoffed but didn’t argue further.
Tom ignored him, keeping his focus on Nemesis.
Curious, Fang Xiaocao crept forward, hoping to spot Han Xue.
Tom shifted aside to give her space.
Peering through the undergrowth, Fang Xiaocao froze.
“Well…”
“Talk about fate playing games.”
Tom followed her gaze—and stiffened.
Han Xue.
She was actually here.
Tom groaned internally.
So much for subtlety.
Fang Xiaocao and Han Xue’s feud was no secret.
After killing Capricorn, did anyone really think Fang Xiaocao would let Han Xue walk away?
This fight was inevitable.
And it would be to the death.
“Tom…” Fang Xiaocao’s voice was eerily calm.
Tom sighed.
“Princess… you want Han Xue dead?”
“Mhm~” She nodded eagerly.
So much for being subtle.
“Can we… not fight?” — Tom asked tentatively.
Fang Xiaocao glared.
“What do you think?”
Tom shut his mouth.
“Point taken.”
“No use arguing.”
“She’ll punch me if I keep talking.”
Tom complained in his heart. Then, he took a deep breath.
“How far do you want to take this?”
“To the end,” Fang Xiaocao said coldly.
Tom exhaled.
“Yeah, figured.”
“Plan the kill,” she ordered.
Tom assessed the enemy.
Compared to Ragnarok, Nemesis had sent a smaller force.
But against Fang Xiaocao’s group?
They were outnumbered.
Fang Xiaocao’s side had three and a half fighters:
Tom, Taotie, Hummingbird—and Fang Xiaocao (the half).
Nemesis had twenty-one and a half (Han Xue being the half).
Not counting Fang Xiaocao and Han Xue, that was 1 vs. 7.
Tom clicked his tongue.
Not impossible.
He and Taotie could each handle seven.
Hummingbird?
Well… if she died, she died.
As long as she bought time.
“Princess, hide here. The three of us will flank Nemesis. If spotted, we fight head-on—see whose blades are sharper.”
“I’m in!” Taotie grinned.
Hummingbird paled.
Seven against one?
I’m dead.
She opened her mouth to protest—
But Tom and Taotie’s murderous glares shut her up.
“Move out,” Tom said.
Weaklings didn’t get a vote.
With Taotie’s help, Fang Xiaocao climbed a towering ancient tree—high enough to observe the battlefield but hidden from sight.
Tom scattered Poké Ball grenades around the base as traps and alarms.
Then the three vanished into the shadows.
Perched on a branch, Fang Xiaocao locked onto Han Xue.
She’s risen in rank.
No longer cannon fodder, Han Xue now commanded underlings.
Fang Xiaocao’s eyes hardened.
She doesn’t leave this forest alive.
If Han Xue climbed Nemesis’ hierarchy, she’d become an unstoppable threat.
(End of Chapter 239)
