Rebirth: The Universe's Hidden Heiress-Chapter 92: Meeting Bartland (2)

Fred, standing nearby, was paralyzed with shock, his eyes wide as he stared at Yuka. ’Who is she? Is she really the same Yuka who gasps for air with every step? How can she so effortlessly defeat a space pirate? Is her usual frailty just an act?’

Fred’s thoughts raced wildly, from suspecting Yuka to be an accomplice of the space pirates to considering her a secret agent in deep cover. Then he remembered a post that had gone viral on the forum at the start of the school year, along with the recent conversation between the man and Yuka.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on him.

His eyebrows shot up, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "You’re the old man saving the spaceship?"

Yuka was considering whether to hit Eagle on the head with a coconut she’d picked up. She paused and replied, "Can we not talk about that?"

"So you really are?" Fred’s mind was shaken, and he muttered in disbelief, "No, that can’t be..."

Yuka, hearing footsteps approaching, quickly sat down, discarding the coconut and squeezing out two lines of tears.

Fred was baffled.

The security team hurried over. They glanced at Fred, unharmed, then at Yuka, wiping her tears, and finally at the space pirate on the ground, barely breathing.

They fell into silence.

"Sir," Yuka said with a sob, pointing at Eagle on the ground. "This man is a space pirate. He tried to kill us, but Fred bravely attacked him, first hitting him on the chin, then kicking him like this..."

Fred was stunned, listening as the person who had just defeated the space pirate effortlessly now coolly lied, pushing all the blame... or credits... onto him.

"No, it wasn’t me, it was her..." Fred started to protest.

Yuka grabbed his arm, cutting him off, "Fred, don’t be modest. You’re my lifesaver."

She emphasized "lifesaver" in a way that left Fred speechless—Yuka was his lifesaver now. If Yuka didn’t want him to reveal the truth, insisting on exposing her would seem ungrateful and against the morality of a royal heir...

Even the two guards couldn’t stand by and watch this anymore. One guard helped Fred to his feet, saying, "Don’t be too humble, young man. This criminal is an A-tier fugitive wanted by the Alliance. Your ability to take him down speaks volumes about your potential and bright future."

After ensuring the fugitive was indeed unconscious, they carried him off towards a building, ready to hand him over to the Alliance Army that had just arrived.

Fred’s face turned from pale to flushed while receiving praise he didn’t deserve. He wanted to tell them that it was Yuka, not him, who had overpowered the criminal. Despite her appearance of frailty, she was deceivingly strong. But Fred knew his words would fall on disbelieving ears, given Yuka’s usual demeanor.

"Let’s head to the white building," another guard directed. "Your instructor is waiting there for your group."

As Fred and Yuka followed, Fred sneaked glances at her. When she looked back, he muttered a strained "Thank you for earlier."

"Sure," Yuka replied, noticing his unease. "I would have helped anyone in that situation. Don’t worry about it, but if you feel owing this to me, that’s okay."

Fred, lost for words again, leaned in closer to ask, "You’re not afraid I’ll tell everyone?"

"Do you think they’d believe you?" Yuka challenged.

Fred fell silent, realizing his past perceptions and comments about Yuka had backfired.

He pondered whether Ayoi and Alex knew of Yuka’s true strength and if they had found his ignorance amusing

The thought of being ridiculed if the truth came out made him shiver. Yet, he couldn’t concede that he might be mistaken. In his mind, as a royal heir, admitting fault wasn’t an option. Also, it was Yuka’s fault for misleading him by feigning weakness.

Gritting his teeth, Fred asked, "When will you stop pretending to be weak and tell everybody the truth?"

Yuka responded, "After I switch my specialization."

"Do you really hate the mecha specialization that much?" Fred asked, his expression complex. It was a highly sought-after field, difficult to get into.

Yuka didn’t reply; her opticomputer had just alerted her.

Ayoi’s voice came through urgently, "Yuka, help! We’re in trouble now!"

Yuka’s expression changed. She whispered to Fred, "Cover for me," before swiftly turning and running in the opposite direction of the white building.

Fred stood there, puzzled. ’What’s she up to now?’

After walking a bit further, one of the guards turned around in alarm, realizing one of the students was missing. He asked Fred urgently, "Where’s the other student? Did you see where she went?"

Fred, unsure how to lie, chose silence.

The guard had no choice but to take Fred back and then continue searching for Yuka.

Meanwhile, Yuka was rapidly navigating through the area, soon reaching the river’s edge. There, Ayoi was desperately clinging to a man’s legs. The man, holding Alex, seemed unfazed even as Alex bit his arm hard enough to draw blood.

Annoyed, the man prepared to kick Ayoi away when Yuka’s fist landed squarely on his abdomen. The man, wearing a red mask, doubled over before releasing Alex and swinging a punch at Yuka.

Their fists collided mid-air, both hearing the sound of their knuckles cracking.

This man was strong.

Yuka quickly retracted her hand and kicked him in the chest. Alex, now freed, joined Ayoi in grabbing the man’s legs, immobilizing him.

The man grunted as he took Yuka’s kick, then kicked both Ayoi and Alex away.

He grabbed Yuka’s leg, preparing to throw her away.

"Deadman!"

Just then, Kenji appeared, gun aimed at the man, "Let go!"

The masked man hesitated. That gave Yuka the chance to arch her back, flip mid-air, and aim a fierce kick at his head.

He released her and dodged the kick. Yuka landed on her hands, cutting her palms on the gravel.

She quickly composed herself and ordered Alex and Ayoi, "Let’s go."

Ayoi and Alex glanced at Kenji, realizing they’d only be a hindrance if they stayed. They quickly supported each other and left for the assembly point.

Yuka stood up, ready to face what came next.

Kenji, gun in hand, stepped forward and pulled Yuka behind him. Facing the tall man, he commanded, "Deadman, take off the mask."

The man in the red mask slowly lifted it off.

"Bartland, I knew it was you," Kenji said coldly. "So, you’re alive."

Yuka stared at the man in front of her, his face marred with burn scars, his eyes a matching green to Alex’s.

This was Bartland, Alex’s grandfather.

"Yes, I’m alive," Bartland replied with a smirk. "Captain Kuba, or should I say Admiral Kuba now? I’m here to take my grandson. This is a family matter, none of your concern."

"You won’t take anyone," Kenji retorted coldly.

"Is that so?" Bartland chuckled.

Suddenly, he flung a tube of green liquid at Kenji.

Bang!

The sound of the breaking tube mingled with a gunshot. Bartland clutched his shot arm, still composed.

Yuka frowned. ’What is that?’

Kenji suddenly doubled over, shaking violently.

Yuka rushed to his side.

"I’m having an attack..." Kenji gasped, clutching Yuka’s hand.

Yuka took his gun, aiming it at Bartland to prevent escape, and asked Kenji softly, "Do you have the med with you? What should I do?"

"No medicine... I can put up with it," Kenji panted.

Yuka comforted him with one hand while keeping her gun trained on Bartland with the other. She knew her shooting skills weren’t sufficient to hit him, but she had no choice.

Feeling Kenji’s painful spasms, Yuka felt a mix of tension and anger for the first time.

Bartland glanced at his opticomputer, seeing the message that Alliance Army reinforcements had arrived.

He met Yuka’s fierce gaze, smiling.

Bending over, he said, "That was the Queen’s essence. It triggers Mr. Kuba’s condition instantly. Just so you know, the Queen has reached its final larval stage. Soon, insectoids will overrun the front lines, then invade the Alliance system."

"Crazy..." Yuka clenched her teeth, backing away with Kenji. "Why are you doing this?"

"The entire Alliance will fall under my sway," Bartland replied, his smile fading. He retrieved Lev from a space button and dodged Yuka’s attempted kick.

Yuka fired at his retreating figure, missing as expected.

Once he was gone, Yuka felt Kenji’s feverish forehead. She led him to the river, removed his clothes stained with the Queen’s essence, and threw them away. Then she tore off her own hem, soaked it in the cold river water, and applied it to Kenji’s forehead.

Minutes later, Kenji’s subordinates arrived. They fell silent upon seeing their superior, breathing heavily and leaning on the girl who held him tightly.