What came with the opening of the main hall's rear door.
A Sword Maiden's voice, a little cold:
"Members of Team B, Joint Combat Division. The Commander awaits at the Bureau's back gate. Please proceed at once."
That said.
The Sword Maiden, wrapped like Annie in a standard Execution Corps cloak with only her face showing, extended a hand toward those inside the hall in a this-way gesture.
Beyond relaying the Commander's wishes, she seemed to have no thought of talking to anyone.
"In that case, we move."
Cheng Fang went first, leading the way.
The others followed one after another, Fang Zheng and Wu Yuan ahead, Ke Jie and Annie at the rear.
Only once they were out of the hall did the Corps Sword Maiden fall in unhurriedly at the tail of the line.
Before long.
On foot past the training grounds.
They stopped ten metres short of the Bureau's back gate.
The first thing to meet the eye was the Commander of the Execution Corps, standing at the very front facing Cheng Fang across the gap, with a following of at least ten or so Corps Sword Maidens.
The Commander's cloak differed from the pure black of Annie and the other members: it was covered in irregular blood-coloured patterns and a few marks left by a hundred battles survived.
Apart from black leather gloves on her hands and glimpses of a black cloth bodysuit visible through the cloak, all that could be seen was the deathly pale face under the hood and a pair of cold silver-grey eyes with a killing edge hidden in them.
The first impression was of something dangerous, unapproachable, with murder concealed in it.
"Blade Wielder Inkstone, acting captain of Team B, Joint Combat Division, Demon-Purging Bureau, greets the Commander of the Dongdu Execution Corps, Sword Maiden Thousand-Blade Iron Thorn." Cheng Fang saluted with cupped hands, all respect.
The other members, Ke Jie included, followed one by one with a bow of their own, in respect and deference.
"Having entrusted this to you, you are comrades-in-arms. Comrades need no ceremony. Speak as equals."
So said the Commander of the Execution Corps, evenly.
Signalling that they could drop the formality.
The cold silver-grey eyes swept those before her, lingered a few seconds longer on Annie and Ke Jie, then moved slowly on.
"You may call me by my own name, Lin Yujun. Or by my code name, Thousand-Blade Iron Thorn, or Iron-Faced Maiden. As warriors about to go to the front, you have that right."
This was no mere courtesy.
For the Sword Maidens of the Execution Corps, brisk and decisive in all they did, quick to kill, veterans of countless campaigns, forever running to the front lines against Sword Fiends and Blade Demons, disregarding form and phrasing was normal, and parting in death was daily bread.
They held the record among all the Sword God Dynasty's regional institutions for the highest average death rate, the highest average mission completion rate, and the highest average cultivation realm.
A great region had at most one Execution Corps.
The Dongdu Execution Corps covered the whole Dongshen Region.
What that meant, everyone present understood.
"Commander Lin, we're ready."
Cheng Fang, admiration on his face, still kept to the courtesies.
"Good. Then before you set out, hear a few words from me." Lin Yujun's tone softened, and with a solemn face she met the eyes of Ke Jie and the others in turn.
"First. We have prepared suitcases for each of you with what your covers require; they are on the bus outside the gate. The driver is my Deputy Commander. She will take you to Haichao Village, then circle the outskirts, and can provide a measure of support at any time."
"Second. During the mission, unless it is necessary and the outcome is certain, most of us cannot intervene directly. That is: in a place the Sword Fiend has cultivated for a long time, you must find a way to seize the moment and take her without harming the innocent."
"Third. By our colleagues at the Judgment Hall's investigation, a Greater Demon Tier Blade Demon has strayed into Haichao Village, which may bring variables. Be very careful. Do not lose your lives to a moment's carelessness."
She finished.
Lin Yujun turned to face her Corps.
"Join me in seeing our comrades off!"
The order given.
The members stepped aside one after another.
Opening a wide path for Ke Jie's party straight out of the gate to the door of a small tour bus at its end.
***
Soon.
Ke Jie's party took their seats on the minibus.
A little over an hour's ride, and they stopped for the time being in a small town on the road to Fenghai City, checking temporarily into a small inn there as a rest stop and lunch point, a buffer, and a place to put on their disguises.
One point worth noting: Ke Jie really did play the pretence for real with Annie, the two of them sharing one room; it was a suite with a sitting room and two bedrooms, each to their own, but in name they truly were close friends living together.
To which Fang Zheng expressed envy, Cheng Fang tacit acceptance, Wu Yuan a smile and no comment, and the driver an appetite for a spectacle. Fang Zheng roomed with Cheng Fang, Wu Yuan with the driver; everyone arranged, everyone in their place.
Naturally enough.
Before they all gathered for lunch.
Ke Jie and Annie, sharing the room, changed into their disguises and inevitably met in the sitting room to talk.
"Senior, just 'close friends' is a bit flat. I think brother and sister would be a better cover." Ke Jie came out of his bedroom and proposed it to the Annie lying on the sofa.
"......Newcomer. The idea is good. The thinking is wrong."
Annie answered coldly without lifting her head, turning the pages of the black antique book in her hands.
"Heh."
At that, Ke Jie could not help laughing aloud.
"Then, little sister Annie, tell your big brother: where is my thinking wrong?"
At that.
"Snap."
She shut the book hard.
Annie rose from the sofa, fixed the Ke Jie standing opposite with the contemptuous look one gives small fry, parted her pink lips and spoke:
"My elder brother is long gone, and I will not have a hentai, a hopeless lolicon, defile my brother's name. Doth that answer satisfy thee? Newcomer."
She stated her feelings without the least reserve.
Because the other had made her think of her own brother.
However.
Ke Jie did not fly into a temper as she had imagined.
He only watched her calmly with those blood-coloured demon eyes.
"I'm sorry, Annie. I didn't know you really had a brother. If I've given offence, please hand down whatever punishment you like."
Ke Jie promised it solemnly, his tone sincere and earnest.
Such a proper, serious manner was very convincing.
Above all, there surfaced in him faintly the gentle, sincere air peculiar to a big brother next door.
In the past Ke Jie would not have shown this side of himself to others easily. But having spent so much time with Bai Wuxie, he no longer hid it so tightly from friends.
"Punishment? The newcomer takes his crime far too lightly." Annie kept up her cold manner without a change, but her tone abruptly eased. "Very well. In view of how promptly thou hast owned thy fault, I pardon thee."
The fingertips gripping the book's edge tightened in secret.
Betraying a heart far less calm than the surface.
"The honour is mine."
Ke Jie's mouth lifted slightly, and he bowed with a hand to his chest in thanks.
Every movement showed the bearing of the Blade King's son.
Straightening, he did not forget to take in, from the corner of his eye, the Annie in her disguise.
With the protection of the broad black cloak shed, her uncommon looks were all on show.
Pale gold wavy short hair fell to her shoulders, setting off clear sea-blue eyes.
The exquisite, fair, youthful face was expressionless, matched against the trim blue-and-white sailor uniform she wore.
Two small hands held a thick black antique book, so that one feared it might topple her.
Lower down, a pair of pink legs, still faintly plump with baby fat, wrapped in white over-the-knee stockings.
Altogether, the feel of a cute little sister: a bookish little girl playing at being grown up.
Suddenly.
Seeming to sense his brief regard.
"Seen enough? Lolicon big brother."
Annie said it with a look of thorough distaste.
"Forgive my appreciation of beauty, Annie."
Ke Jie politely withdrew his gaze and lowered his head.
The next second.
"Let it be. Having pardoned thee, I will not pursue it. From this day, for the span of the mission, I am thy sister and thou art my brother, and certain worldly courtesies may be dispensed with."
Annie's tone turned, and she said it softly, then added a line just like a real little sister: "Silly big brother. A small punishment is unavoidable. Come here, quickly."
The meaning being — she forgave Ke Jie's earlier unknowing offence, but since they had decided on brother and sister, the act had to be played to the end; kindly present yourself for punishment at once.
And so.
"Big brother knows his fault. Let little sister punish him."
Having picked up a cute little sister for free, Ke Jie walked over with complicated feelings, ready to take his punishment......