Chapter 40: Exposed

Everyone present was stunned.

Kira’s voice was quiet but remarkably clear, every word striking the ears of those around her: "Sister Gina isn’t very good with words, but most of the time she instinctively protects me and talks to me the most. Yet since entering the ruins, you’ve kept your distance from me, even deliberately avoiding me. It doesn’t make sense."

As her words fell, Red and Raj finally began to ponder, as if suddenly enlightened—could it truly be as she said?

Those overlooked little details, usually unnoticed, now flooded back to them at Kira’s prompting. Gina and Kira had always been close, being the only two women in the squad, almost inseparable. But since entering the ruins, Gina had become a different person—silent, withdrawn, walking ahead alone rather than beside Kira.

Even so, Raj remained confused. He still couldn’t understand, and his gaze toward Ye Mi grew more guarded. "But why say Gina isn’t... Sister Gina anymore?"

Kira looked at Ye Mi; the latter showed no sign of anger, only gazing back calmly. The light of the camp lantern illuminated the indifference and apathy in her eyes, revealing what had once been a warm amber gaze now cold and unfamiliar.

‘Gina’ was neither hostile toward Kira nor the rest of the Gray Hawk Squad, but neither was she friendly. Noticing this, Kira's expression darkened unconsciously.

She paused, then spoke: "The day before we entered the ruins, Raj, you were on watch. Something seemed to slip into the tent, heading over to Gina."

"I was so tired I could barely open my eyes, didn’t pay it any mind, assumed it was some insect or animal—nothing dangerous."

"But after that, Gina was like a changed person. That’s why I began to suspect."

As her words faded, the camp fell utterly silent, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Except for Kira and Ye Mi, the uninformed Red and Raj were covered in goosebumps; Raj leapt to his feet, face full of horror.

"...You mean Gina was possessed by that thing?! But I didn’t notice anything strange while I was on watch!"

The thought that his negligence might have caused Gina’s demise sent a wave of panic and agitation through Raj.

His eyes searched Ye Mi’s face, as if he might bore a hole through her. "...Are you... are you even human?"

He was so frightened, he forgot to call her Sister Gina.

Ye Mi couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh; the normally reserved and slightly stern face now curved at the corners of her mouth, showing a hint of leisure.

Gina’s low voice sounded unexpectedly cheerful in the night: "What do you think?"

Watching them guess before her was truly entertaining.

But as for Kira...

"Why didn’t you say something sooner?"

Ye Mi voiced the question for Raj and Red, the shared doubt of the three.

Kira gave a bitter smile: "I couldn’t be sure this suspicion was right, and you’ve shown no malice, even led us safely out of the ruins. I wanted to observe you a bit longer..."

So that’s how it was. Ye Mi nodded.

Raj was stunned by Ye Mi’s lack of denial.

He fired off several questions in rapid succession: "Who are you really? What are you trying to do? What happened to Gina?"

Ye Mi ignored the first two, choosing only what she deemed important to answer: "Gina is fine. I just need to borrow her body for a while. Soon, I’ll return Gina safely to you, but now is not the time."

Her words brooked no refusal.

Raj opened his mouth, wanting to press her identity further.

Ye Mi, irritated by his barrage of questions, glanced at him, silencing him instantly.

Now that she’d been discovered, there was no need to feign friendliness. Ye Mi said impatiently, "I have no obligation to tell you why I do this. If I wanted to harm her or any of you, you’d be dead already."

"If you’re smart, you’ll keep quiet."

Her cold words held not a hint of warmth, leaving Raj confused.

The Gina he remembered would never speak to him this way.

Red stepped in, stopping Raj. "Calm down. She’s telling the truth; it was her who saved us in the ruins."

Ye Mi was satisfied with their understanding.

Since that was the case, there was no reason for her to play out any sentimental drama. She casually picked up her backpack, preparing to leave the camp.

Ye Mi didn’t fear the three members of Gray Hawk Squad trying to stop her; they wouldn’t dare, and likely wouldn’t truly act against her.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she opened her backpack.

She knew the Gray Hawk Squad had suffered this disaster entirely by accident. If not for her, their comrade wouldn’t have been endangered. So, before leaving, Ye Mi took out an energy crystal from the Light Ruins.

"This thing can be exchanged for at least 500,000 credits. Go to the human camp, get yourself a prosthetic, buy some supplies and survive. Within a month and a half, I’ll return Gina to the human camp in District One."

With that, she tossed the crystal she’d taken from the brown-haired girl to Raj.

There were likely plenty more in the supply station, so Ye Mi didn’t mind parting with it.

She disliked owing anyone, so these 500,000 credits would serve as her apology.

Raj stared blankly at the object she’d thrown, instinctively reaching out to catch it.

Even knowing she wasn’t Gina, he still lacked any defensive instinct. Had it been a grenade, Raj would have died right then.

Realizing that, a chill ran through him; but seeing what he held, he froze in shock.

Ye Mi’s final words drifted through the wind: "To avoid unnecessary trouble, be sure to leave District Two quickly after tonight. Beware the Defense Bureau."

"Wait..."

Raj wanted to say more, but when he looked up, Ye Mi’s figure had already vanished swiftly and gracefully into the night.

He turned to Red, hesitating. "Captain... are we really just letting her go?"

Red sighed helplessly. "What else can we do? Even together, we’re no match for her. Don’t forget, the Divine Mask is still in her hands. Besides trusting her to return Gina, what other choice is there?"

"But you, Kira..."

Red wanted to comfort her but didn’t know where to begin.

After all, Gina was Kira’s close friend and comrade, someone she'd risked her life with.

Yet Kira was unexpectedly calm. She shook her head. "Captain, my telepathy senses no malice from her, and she’s not lying."

"All we can do now is pray she really will bring Gina safely back to the human camp."