Chapter 173 - Familiar? (1/2)

”Why so 'cloak and dagger'?” Hao Xuan asked looking at the newly built walls around the rift.

Sun An put down the tablet in her hand and looked up. She had a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles hanging on the edge of her nose. Hao Xuan met her eyes and was somewhat taken aback.

He hadn't noticed in the meeting room earlier but she really was a sight to behold.

Clad in her dark silver armor, she looked ready for war. (Img in author notes)

”Valkyrie...” Hao Xuan mumbled out loud without even realizing it.

He remembered reading about the Valkyries back on earth. They served directly under the AllFather, Odin, the most powerful god in Asgard.

He was told all the myths and legends on earth had some roots in reality, maybe Asgard was real too? Perhaps one of the 'Ten Heavens' was such a place?

”Is there something on my face?” Sun An saw Hao Xuan staring at her mindlessly and touched her face.

Hao Xuan smiled and shook his head, ”No, Senior sister is so pretty that I almost got lost in your beauty,” he replied smoothly.

It took Sun An a few seconds to process what he had said and when she did, a red hue appeared on her face.

”O-Oh, thank you,” she averted her gaze and looked down at the tablet.

Hao Xuan was even more surprised by her reaction. Sun An looked very mature and was the one in charge of handling everything to do with the rift, but a small compliment made her blush? Maybe what he read in that magazine really was true...

Sun An gathered her composure and cleared her throat, ”Those are for our allies. Some of them are extremely popular and have many enemies, so keeping their identities secret is a high priority for us,” she explained in a weak voice.

”Is that so?” Hao Xuan smiled and almost wanted to tease her again upon seeing her flustered state, but stopped.

The other Valkyries standing behind Sun An had different expressions on their faces. Some were chuckling, while many were glaring at Hao Xuan angrily.

”Yo Cap'n, I'm ready, let's go!” an energetic voice came from the entrance. Hao Xuan's smile turned into a scowl as he recognized the owner of the voice.

”I actually forgot about you,” Hao Xuan replied without turning around.

”As if,” Jin Wang came up to Hao Xuan and rested his elbow on his shoulder, or rather tried to but couldn't even reach it.

”Get off already dumbass,” Hao Xuan pushed his hand away when he repeatedly kept trying to reach his shoulder.

”So who is coming with me then? They kept sending me messengers so I thought they would be here before me at least,” he said looking around.

*clank*

There was a clanking noise from the entrance once again and in walked a group of about twenty people.