Chapter 361: Veronica targeting Blake?

"So, we have new permanent officers, I believe?" Veronica asked, receiving a nervous nod from the woman standing across from her.

She had short, neatly trimmed bobbed hair that brushed her shoulders, almond-shaped eyes, and a petite frame. She was someone sent directly from the central ministry to serve as the temporary vice-commander of the base until Veronica decided who would permanently assume the position.

Veronica let out a quiet sigh as she studied the names on the list. There were quite a number of first-grade warriors among them, all dispatched to reinforce the forces under Veronica and Montclair’s command.

Their arrival would certainly make it easier to deal with the increasing number of rifts appearing throughout the city. It would also give the other officers some much-needed breathing room, allowing them to ease the burden they had been carrying for some time now.

Even so, Veronica couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more behind the ministry’s generosity.

"The center is trying to tighten its grip on my team."

She spoke the thought aloud, startling the woman across from her.

"Not at all, Commander," the woman quickly replied. "They simply wish to reinforce one of the largest cities in Guhang, especially after you lost several officers recently."

Veronica hummed softly.

If the ministry’s intentions truly extended no further than providing additional support, then she could appreciate the gesture. Unfortunately, she knew better than to take such things at face value.

She was already rather infamous among the higher-ups. If the center intended to place its people within her ranks and keep a closer watch over her operations, then this was likely yet another reason for them to resent her.

"You may leave now," she ordered.

The officer immediately took the file and marched out of the room with a stiff, hurried gait.

Once the door closed behind her, Veronica leaned back in her chair and released a long, weary sigh.

If not for the mountains of paperwork and the endless management that came with her position, she would have preferred to be outside, dealing with at least half a dozen rifts herself each day. But her role carried responsibilities that went far beyond throwing punches and cutting down monsters.

’Thanks to Ethan, Layena, and now Amanda too, we have a team capable of standing against a special grade.’

Amanda and Layena might not yet be capable of facing one of those monstrosities alone, but Kyle had assured Veronica that Ethan was no longer the restrained, self-centered man who fought merely for the sake of displaying his power.

He was stronger now. More importantly, his personality had changed.

According to Kyle, Ethan had reached a level where he could even make for a worthwhile sparring partner for Veronica.

That revelation had caught her somewhat off guard. Still, she trusted Kyle’s judgment. He had seen things in Ethan that no one else had, things that others about Ethan no longer remembered.

"Well, with him here to guide the others, I can feel a little more assured."

Veronica sighed and rose from her seat.

She had barely straightened when she froze.

Her phone buzzed.

She immediately pulled it from her pocket, and the weariness in her eyes vanished the instant she saw the name on the screen. Her eyes lit up as she opened the message from Kyle.

[Can we meet outside? Need five minutes of yours.]

She was heading home anyway, so she certainly had a few minutes to spare.

With that thought, Veronica quickly grabbed her jacket from the side of the room and made her way outside.

Several officers bid her farewell as she passed, and Veronica acknowledged each of them with a simple nod before continuing toward the stairs.

When she stepped outside the ruined house that served as a cover for their base, she spotted Kyle almost immediately.

He was standing beside her car, waiting for her.

The excitement she had felt upon seeing his message was quickly tempered by a hint of concern as she approached.

"There are cameras all around this place, you know," she remarked.

Kyle gave a quiet hum. "I know. But this kingdom practically runs under your command."

Veronica couldn’t help but chuckle faintly at that. "Not entirely. The central authority has been getting rather nosy these days."

Kyle’s expression tightened slightly.

"Shall we go somewhere else to talk?" he asked, his tone noticeably more cautious now.

Veronica nodded. "Come on. Get inside. We’ll drive somewhere."

Kyle took the keys from her before opening the passenger door for her.

Veronica joked, "I drive well, you know?"

Kyle nodded. "I do. But between the two of us, there isn’t even a debate about which one of us needs the rest more."

Veronica smiled as she settled into the seat, unable to hide how pleased she was by the simple kindness. At the base, everyone remained stiff and guarded around her. They were always alert in her presence, careful with their words and movements, as though a single mistake might earn her displeasure. Veronica herself did little to ease that tension. As a commander and a Nightwalker, she had grown accustomed to carrying herself with authority, and her words could be rather blunt at times.

But around Kyle, she could finally let that weight fall away.

She didn’t have to be the commander. She didn’t have to be a Nightwalker. She could simply be Veronica.

He had a way of making her feel special, even through the smallest gestures. Something as simple as holding the door open for her was enough to make her heart skip a beat.

Soon, the car pulled away from the base, Kyle steering them toward her house.

As they drove, Veronica finally broke the silence.

"How did the meeting with Blake go? You left so suddenly."

Kyle hummed before giving her an assuring nod. "He reacted better than I anticipated. Just a punch for now."

Veronica winced. "So he punched you after all?"

Kyle nodded. "Well, he has every reason to be annoyed and furious with me. But thankfully, he took those memories better than I originally expected."

Relief washed over Veronica at his words.

The last time she had seen Blake, all she could feel for him was grief and pity. He had looked lifeless despite still walking and breathing. He had been present in the meeting, yet somehow seemed completely absent, as though only his body remained while the person she knew had disappeared somewhere within him.

But now, she believed he would become himself again.

And the fact that he had punched Kyle was, in its own strange way, proof that he had already taken the first step toward returning to the man he once was.

After a momentary pause, Veronica asked. "Right. You asked for me? Did you want to talk about something?"

Kyle nodded and first parked the car on the side.

That alone told Veronica that something serious must be the matter.

She turned her full attention to him and heard him say, "Veronica..."

He took a pause and then added, "....someone tried to take Blake’s life today. And..." He looked up at her before adding, "I...believe you also have a hand in that."

"!!!"