The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven) novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180 The Sirius Pack

Without another word, the man turned and strode quickly toward the combat zone.

Raven raised an eyebrow at his tone, but her eyes glinted with interest.

She knew the Sirius Pack was scheduled to arrive today–she just hadn’t known exactly when they’d finish their mission and return.

Since she’d bumped into them by chance, she didn’t mind going to greet the subordinates she hadn’t seen in quite some time.

After a few steps, the man noticed Raven wasn’t following and turned with a scowl.” What are you standing there for? Move it!”

Raven, in a rare good mood and aware he was simply in a rush,‘ didn’t take his attitude to heart.

She quickened her pace to catch up and asked casually, “Have we met? How did you know I was from the art troupe?”

The man gave her a look like she’d grown a second head. “How do I know? Take a look around this entire Regalhold war zone. How many women do you see? And of those, how many aren’t with the art troupe?”

That caught Raven off guard.

She’d been stationed on the foreign battlefield for so long that she hadn’t paid attention to the gender imbalance in the domestic military.

She had suspected there were fewer female soldiers–but she hadn’t realized it was this few.

A few minutes later, the man–who she now knew was Commander Rusty–brought her to an enormous training ground inside the war zone.

The area was more than ten times the size of the place she’d used to train Leopard and the others.

Hundreds of soldiers were already standing in perfect formation, their eyes solemn and fixed on the sky ahead, awaiting the arrival of the Sirius Pack.

At the very front of the formation stood five young female soldiers, all around twenty years old. Rusty led Raven straight to their side.

“Stand here. Don’t move,” he ordered gruffly. “And stay sharp. The people arriving today are not ones you or I can afford to offend. If you even accidentally piss them off, it won’t just be you who suffers–the whole lot of us will be screwed.”

Raven glanced at him, lips twitching slightly. Seriously?

She asked, “Are the Sirius Pack members really that terrifying?”

Rusty caught the skepticism in her tone and immediately snapped, face hardening,”

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Adic

Chapter 180 The Sirius Pack

Terrifying? Every single one of them has at least a hundred kills under their belt. Especially their commander–he’s a blood–soaked devil who doesn’t even blink when killing. You better pull yourself together. Or when you die, you won’t even know how it happened.”

Raven said nothing.

If she weren’t literally the blood–soaked devil he was talking about, she might have believed him.

Before she could speak again, Rusty had already turned to bark further instructions at the soldiers behind them.

Just then, a surprised voice rose beside her. “Raven? What are you doing here?”

Raven turned and was momentarily startled by the speaker. It was that tall, skinny girl from the Fuller family’s banquet–the one who’d vowed to call her daddy if Raven made it into Regalhold University.

She’d kept her word too. Raven had appreciated her courage, and after seeing her potential, had given her a chance to join the military.

But she hadn’t expected to run into her again so soon–and certainly not like this.

Frowning, Raven asked, “You’re in the art troupe now?”

The girl nodded, her smile tinged with bitterness. “Yeah. I used the golden token you gave me to enlist, and a high–ranking commander welcomed me enthusiastically. I was assigned to a strike unit right away. But on the very first day, the squad leader took one look at me, decided girls didn’t belong, and transferred me to riot control. Two days later, they said I wasn’t cut out for that either and dumped me into the art troupe.

“I’m stronger than most of the male soldiers here, but because I’m a girl, no one wants me. One guy even told me women should stay home and make babies–that the military isn’t a place for women. Now I sing and dance every day and still fantasize about one day going to the front lines. Isn’t that pathetic?”

She looked at Raven with a wry smile, then continued, “I used to feel bitter about it… but seeing you here–someone even stronger than me–being forced into this ceremonial crap too?

“Suddenly, I don’t feel like I’m the unluckiest one anymore. And thanks to you, I finally get it: there’s no place for women in this military. I’m submitting my resignation tonight. But at least before I go, I’ll get to meet the Sirius Pack–the people I’ve idolized for so long.

“It’s just a shame… that because of our gender, neither of us will ever get the chance to burn for Vyrdenia the way they do.”

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