Chapter 27: I Am Here to Protect You

Kesen scrambled to his feet. "Major General Wen Er!"

Wen Er cast a sidelong glance at him, his expression cold. Kesen felt a shiver run down his spine the moment their eyes met. Though he was not a Sentinel under Wen Er’s direct command, he had heard plenty about him.

As one of the few Super-S rank Sentinels in the military district, Wen Er possessed a spirit animal—a plateau snow wolf—known for its bloodthirst and agility. He had led his squad to successfully complete multiple A+-level dangerous missions, and in the mere year since he had enlisted, he had already risen to the rank of Major General.

Thinking of this, Kesen swallowed nervously. "Well, Major General, Guide Lu, I’ll be taking my leave now."

He turned to depart, but Wen Er called out, "Stop!"

Kesen froze in place.

"I have something to discuss with you. Come outside with me."

Wen Er turned and walked out. Kesen glanced at Lu Meng before hurrying after him.

Watching them leave, Lu Meng couldn't help but scratch her head. So, Wen Er had come looking for him? She wondered what it was about; it felt rather serious, and Wen Er hadn't seemed to be in a good mood.

Shaking off the thought, she poured herself a glass of water and sat down on a stool beside the desk.

She wondered if her use of her ability on Kesen earlier had actually had any effect. She couldn't help but raise her hand to examine the bracelet closely. Perhaps it wasn't just her imagination, but the vines seemed slightly more vibrant than before.

A few days ago, she had deliberately scratched her arm to ensure her powers hadn't vanished. However, they were significantly weaker than before—perhaps even less than a tenth of their original strength. Even her vines were limited to three thin, fragile strands.

She had no idea how to restore them. It would be ideal if she could return to her former state, but she was uncertain if her use of abilities would be discovered here. If they were, would she be branded an alien and taken into custody? How would she explain the lack of psychic power if she were to pose as a psychic?

For a fleeting moment, she felt as though she had walked into a den of wolves.

Yet, if she could prove that she brought benefits to the military district—that her importance was irreplaceable—then even if others harbored doubts about her identity, they wouldn't be able to do anything to her.

The priority, then, was to restore her abilities. Could it be that the vines looked better because she had used her powers to provide psychic soothing to a Sentinel this morning? Lu Meng fell into deep thought as she stared at the vine bracelet.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. "What are you thinking about?"

Startled, Lu Meng felt a shadow loom over her. She looked up instinctively and met Wen Er's gaze. He had returned at some point and was standing by the desk, watching her quietly.

The distance between them was less than a meter.

"When did you get back? Is the matter settled?"

Wen Er replied calmly, "It is."

Lu Meng nodded, then stood up, pulled a stool over, and smiled. "Sit down and rest. Standing is so tiring!"

Wen Er’s gaze softened. "Thank you."

Though Sentinels could stand for days and nights on end during training without issue, he sat down nonetheless.

Lu Meng poured him a glass of water. "Have some." She then asked, "Is there something else you came back for?" She paused, a playful glint appearing in her eyes, "Or did you come specifically to see me?"

Wen Er’s hand, holding the glass, trembled ever so slightly, though the movement was subtle. He cleared his throat behind his hand. "No, I am under orders from the General..." He faltered, looking into her clear eyes, and lowered his gaze for a moment. "...to protect you."

Lu Meng felt puzzled. Protect her? What was there to protect her from? This wasn't exactly a dangerous place, was it?

Perhaps her confusion was too obvious, for Wen Er paused. "You have only just begun performing psychic soothing. It would be very dangerous for you if you were to encounter a Sentinel with high levels of psychic contamination."