Capítulo 67: Volume 1, Chapter 67: Ana's Proactive Approach
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In a certain sense, Ana demonstrates exceptional decisiveness.
Upon receiving the news, she promptly rushes over.
After all, Wendy has the potential to become an S-rank Valkyrie - who wouldn't be envious? Without this unexpected turn of events, Wendy would likely join the Immortal Blades, as they alone could fully utilize her resources effectively.
But now, Ana sees an opportunity to intercept her.
Despite knowing that such interception may not hold much significance.
Schicksal wouldn't cut resources due to weaker Valkyrie squads' performance; the distinction between numbered and titled squads primarily lay in honorific differences.
However, this very system fueled the competitive drive among each Valkyrie squad.
While Ana didn't harbor unrealistic ambitions of surpassing the Immortal Blades, it was still her goal to outshine other Valkyrie squads.
Naturally, her swift arrival also had personal motives involved. Despite claiming indifference, she casually held Xia Chen's hand before Wendy, subtly asserting her claim over him.
Wendy simply smiled at this gesture.
Although young in age, the previous hardships had matured her significantly compared to Ana.
Apart from the Manila Honkai incident, Ana hadn't faced many adversities. Even after that tragedy, Schicksal, intentionally or not, arranged several activities for her as distractions, and Xia Chen took care of her throughout.
In essence, Ana remained innocent and carefree.
Nevertheless, her slightly possessive behavior didn't last long. She promptly extended a warm greeting to Wendy with enthusiasm.
"Hello, I'm Ana Schariac. Just call me Ana."
She paused briefly before continuing, "Currently, Xia Chen and I have six members in our Snow Lotus Squad. Although we haven't earned a formal title yet, it's only a matter of time."
"Do you really want to join us?"
"Mm-hmm."
For Wendy, joining Xia Chen's squad seemed like a good choice.
The Oceanic Branch had minimal combat opportunities due to its small population. Therefore, transferring back to Headquarters was her only chance to engage on the front lines.
Moreover, once at Headquarters, Gretel would feel reassured, allowing Wendy more freedom without constant supervision.
Since Wendy didn't know anyone there, she needed a squad willing to accept her.
Female friendships often develop rapidly and unexpectedly.
At that moment, the three girls were not within the branch but had met up at a commercial building in New Zealand. Already, Ana comfortably held Wendy's hand, leading her shopping together.
The Oceanic Branch imposed fewer restrictions on Valkyries, as it primarily focused on commerce. Consequently, the Valkyries here enjoyed greater freedom compared to other branches.
Of course, the Far East Branch is an exception.
Ana had a penchant for shopping, whether it was something useful or not; if she liked it, she would purchase it without hesitation.
If she ultimately found no use for an item, she would have someone donate it—a display of her extravagant lifestyle.
Xia Chen didn't discourage this behavior. Although he still held onto Shenzhou's traditional values of frugality, Schicksal's salary was simply too generous.
Moreover, Ana even bought him two sets of clothing.
Wendy, initially shy and hesitant, gradually became more relaxed and confident during their outing.
It wasn't as if Wendy lacked funds; Schicksal never reduced her benefits—maintaining its reputation far outweighed any savings from cutting corners.
Soon, the two girls stood out as the most vibrant figures at the shopping center.
However, Wendy seemed unaccustomed to such prolonged leisure and suggested, "Let's head back. I haven't completed my training for today yet."
For Wendy, once her legs were fully recovered, consistent training was essential. She was intensely driven, striving to make each day count as if it were two days' worth of effort.
Spending half a day strolling with Ana already stretched Wendy's comfort zone to its limit.
"Alright," Ana responded with a warm smile. "I won't go to the Oceanic Branch then; there's nothing much for me there anyway. I'll persuade Sister Amber on our behalf, and if everything goes smoothly, we should have it settled within about a week."
She paused briefly before continuing, "Once that happens, we'll be squad members together. Please take care of each other."
"Mm-hmm."
Wendy reached out and clasped Ana's hand.
"What about me?"
Xia Chen leisurely asked, "Why not take care of me too?"
"Hmph, you can just stay at the Oceanic Branch."
Her response sounded slightly petulant.
However, Ana eventually softened her stance and said, "I understand that being at the Oceanic Branch isn't ideal for you. Schicksal is like this after all—each branch has its own unique focus, and it's impossible to adapt comfortably to all of them.
"I'll put in a good word for you with Sister Amber. If transferring back to Headquarters isn't feasible, I'll strive to get you reassigned to the Far East Branch instead. From what I remember, their training facilities are quite comprehensive, including access to the Memory Battlefield.
"Additionally, the Valkyries there are relatively weak, so no one will compete against you."
The Far East Branch, which hadn't produced an A-rank Valkyrie for several years, had unofficially earned the label of 'weak' from Headquarters' Valkyries. Even Ana inadvertently displayed contempt at times.
In military organizations, incompetence is considered original sin.
She softly added, "Then you can visit Durandal every day."
Clearly, her jealousy flared up again like a small vinegar jar tipping over.
Xia Chen hastily explained, "Ahem, trust me, I absolutely have no such intentions."
It was true.
Whoever marries Durandal... aside from potential external pressures, just considering her monstrous strength, Xia Chen could imagine that life would be far from easy.
"Hmph, it wouldn't matter even if you did," Ana's lips curled slightly. "Durandal is incredibly proud; best not to harbor unrealistic hopes."
The girl waved her hand dismissively. "Now, take good care of Wendy. If anything goes wrong, I won't let you off easily."
"Big Sister Ana," Wendy suddenly spoke up, hesitating before asking, "Could I ask you for a favor?"
"Well, since you've called me Big Sister, of course you can." It was evident that being addressed as 'sister' greatly pleased Ana.
"It's about Gretel."
She paused briefly before summarizing Gretel's care for her during this period.
In essence, due to her failed experiment, Gretel had also sacrificed a promising future. Those who joined Schicksal were often ambitious and proud; no one wished to stagnate within the Oceanic Branch.
Realizing this, Ana wanted to secure a better future for Gretel as well.
"Ah, you might not know about this yet." Ana hesitated and then revealed, "Shortly after your recovery, Gretel applied for a transfer herself, joining the North African Branch."
The North African Branch, aside from Headquarters, had the highest demand for combat operations within Schicksal. It was also a major training ground for Valkyrie squads.
This location focused on developing tactical strategies, implementing new weapons, and refining combat techniques. Typically, if a Valkyrie couldn't join the Immortal Blades, they would opt for this branch.
Strangely, Gretel hadn't mentioned any of this to Wendy. Ana only found out through her own inquiries.
Soon, she parted ways with Xia Chen and Wendy.
Not long after, files containing information about Xia Chen and Wendy appeared on Otto's desk.
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