"Oh~ isn't this our Miss Mei? How did she end up in such a sorry state now? Hahaha!"
The voice, sharp and mocking, echoed from a nearby alley.
The Captain and Kiana turned instinctively.
The Captain's expression darkened. She knew this tone—she'd heard it too many times in places where cruelty masqueraded as humor. And the name mentioned… Raiden Mei.
One of the reasons she'd come to St. Freya City.
Had they arrived too late?
In the original timeline, Mei's descent began after her father, Raiden Ryoma, was arrested for economic fraud—framed by Cocolia. But this felt early. Too early.
The Captain quickly recalculated the timeline. No, they shouldn't be late. Which meant…
Cocolia acted sooner. Was it because of Bronya?
There wasn't time to dwell on it.
"Why is our Miss Raiden walking home today? No chauffeur anymore?"
"What chauffeur? Her scammer dad's rotting in jail!"
"Careful, don't scare her~"
"Oh~ my bad. Did I scare you~?"
Laughter erupted.
A group of delinquent girls surrounded a purple-haired girl—Raiden Mei. Her head was bowed, her shoulders trembling, her silence mistaken for weakness.
She didn't resist. She didn't speak.
To them, she was no longer the elegant heiress they once fawned over. She was prey.
Their words were venomous. Their hands shoved her. Their eyes gleamed with malice.
The leader sneered. So what if she's pretty? So what if she had money? Her father's a criminal. She deserves this.
She pulled out a small knife, its blade glinting in the light, and raised it toward Mei's face.
The crowd watched, hungry for humiliation.
Mei didn't flinch. Her lips trembled, her eyes hollow.
Was it her fault? Was this punishment?
Just as the blade neared her skin—
A hand shot out.
It gripped the attacker's wrist with unyielding strength.
"Who—!"
She didn't finish.
The next moment, she was airborne—spinning in a graceful arc before crashing to the ground.
The crowd gasped.
The Captain stood tall, her leg just retracting from the kick.
She raised her hand. The knife was now in her palm.
The delinquents hesitated. Numbers were on their side—but courage wasn't.
Then a silver flash tore through the air, slicing a corner of one girl's shirt.
They scattered. Screaming. Dragging their leader away.
Only Mei remained, frozen in place.
Kiana, watching from the side, clapped internally.
Sirin, momentarily distracted from her kiss envy, muttered:
"That kick was beautiful. And her legs are long and fair too."
"Of course," Kiana replied proudly. "I taught her all the Kaslana martial arts during our travels."
"Isn't that forbidden?"
"What's wrong with teaching my wife? If you've got a problem, take it up with my dad—Siegfried Kaslana."
The Captain ignored their banter and turned to Mei.
"Hello?"
Mei didn't respond. Her eyes were downcast, her lips pressed tight.
Was she hurt? The Captain had intervened quickly.
Just as she was about to ask again, Mei looked up.
Her voice was soft. Fragile.
"Thank you for your help. You've truly gone through a lot of trouble… choosing to help me, the daughter of a sinner."
Then she fell silent again.
The Captain's heart clenched.
Her situation is really serious now.
Had she really arrived too late?