After being chosen by the Ice Queen

Tsubaki-zaka, 3-chome, former textile warehouse.

The long-abandoned building, like a huge, rusted steel monster, lay prostrate in the deepest darkness before dawn. The air was thick with the smells of machine oil, dust, and faint musty fibers. A few makeshift emergency lights cast pale, flickering patches of light into the empty, towering warehouse, barely illuminating the dozens of figures gathered there.

The atmosphere was heavy. Most of the men were dressed in dark clothes, and many bore injuries. Some sat, some stood, silently examining their weapons: steel pipes, machetes, and a few hunting rifles or pistols. Their faces were etched with exhaustion, fear, and a near-numb resolve. This was Chiba Rin's last and most secretive gathering place in the Tsubakisaka area, but now it felt more like a besieged, isolated island.

The atmosphere in the makeshift command room on the second floor of the warehouse, partitioned off with steel plates, was even more subdued.

Chiba Rin stood with her back to the door, in front of a broken window with only a crack, gazing at the desolate street outside. She was still wearing that black outfit that allowed for easy movement, her posture straight as a knife, but Gu Yan could clearly see her slightly trembling fingertips hanging at her sides.

Liuli stood in the shadows in the corner, while three or four other men, who were clearly minor leaders, stood to the side, their faces ashen, hesitant to speak.

"How many of us do we have left?" Chiba Rin's voice rang out, hoarse and dry, but unusually calm, eerily calm.

A man with a scar on his forehead licked his chapped lips: "Those we can contact and confirm haven't defected or gone missing, plus those on lookout outside, are probably... less than forty people. We've lost all of Matsumoto's territory, and most of our spies in Nakamura and Nishio have been wiped out. The Dark Crows are ruthless; they specifically target our core members..."

"Weapons and ammunition?"

"To sustain a high-intensity defense... probably less than two hours. The other side has the Crows, whose firepower is far superior to ours."

Silence. A suffocating silence. The disparity in strength between the enemy and ourselves was despairing. Kito Gou not only had the advantage in numbers and territory, but also possessed the poisoned dagger, the Dark Raven, which allowed him to carry out precise decapitations and paralyzing attacks.

"What about Uncle Cai?" Chiba Rin asked again.

Another man, wearing glasses and seemingly in charge of accounts, shook his head: "Can't get in touch. All his public lines are unanswered, and the places he frequents are empty. I'm afraid... he's already made his choice." When the storm comes, those who are opportunistic are always the first to side with the seemingly stronger party, or they choose to hide completely.

Chiba Rin's shoulders seemed to stiffen even more. She slowly turned around. The light from the emergency light shone on her face from the side, illuminating the faint scar on her brow bone and the icy blackness in her eyes. There were no tears, only unfathomable hatred and resolute determination.

Her gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Gu Yan, who had just entered, and lingered for a moment. Her eyes were incredibly complex, containing scrutiny, a last glimmer of hope, and perhaps even a faint hint—a sense of recognition of kindred spirits—that she herself hadn't noticed. In this moment of betrayal and near-despair, this man of mysterious origins, with his uncanny swordsmanship and who clearly didn't belong to any faction, had become her most uncertain, and perhaps last, card.

"Gu Yan," she began, her voice still calm, "you know the situation. Gui Touhao wants to wipe them all out. The people here will either die in battle or be eliminated after surrendering. There is no third way."

Gu Yan nodded. The status of the mission on the system panel was flashing, seemingly undergoing reassessment due to the drastic changes in the situation. He had to help Chiba Rin get through this, otherwise the mission might fail.

"What suggestions do you have?" Chiba Rin asked directly, no longer putting on airs like a spoiled young lady.

Gu Yan did not answer immediately. He walked to a makeshift map of the Tsubakisaka area that had been temporarily spread out in the center of the warehouse. The enemy and friendly forces were marked on it with red and blue markers. The red dots almost completely surrounded the blue dots, especially in the old warehouse area where they were located.

"Defense is a dead end." Gu Yan spoke, his voice not loud, but exceptionally clear in the silent command room. "The warehouse looks sturdy, but it's an obvious target. Once we're surrounded, cut off from water and electricity, whether by force or fire, we won't last long."

"Are we just going to charge out and die?" the scarred leader couldn't help but growl.

"It's not about blindly rushing out." Gu Yan's finger moved across the map. "Kitou Gou has just succeeded and is eager to establish his authority. Nakamura and Nishio are being manipulated, and their intentions may not be aligned. Their biggest advantage is 'Hidden Crows' and their numbers. But 'Hidden Crows' excels at assassination; direct assault is not their specialty, especially in complex alleyway environments. If Kitou Gou wants to quickly wipe us out, he will inevitably need to mobilize Nakamura and Nishio's men to conduct ground clearing and encirclement."

His finger pointed to several key intersections and buildings on the map: "What we need to do is not hold a position, but move, harass, and divide. We'll use our familiarity with the terrain of Tsubaki-saka to wage guerrilla warfare. Small groups will disperse and attack their weak points, such as lone patrols, supply depots, and small outposts on the fringes of Nakamura's or Nishio's forces. We don't aim for total annihilation, but rather to create chaos, buy time, and demoralize them."

He paused, then looked at Chiba Rin: "Most importantly, we must first capture the leader. Kito Go is the core. He must be in charge right now, directing the overall situation. If we can find an opportunity, even if it's just to pose a serious threat, we can disrupt his plans and might even shake Nakamura and Nishio's resolve."

"Decapitation?" A terrifying glint suddenly flashed in Chiba Rin's eyes, a direct desire for revenge.

"The chances are slim, but it's worth a try. At the very least, we need to make him feel the pain; we can't let him comfortably sit in the back and command," Gu Yan analyzed calmly. "This requires precise intelligence and an elite squad."

Chiba Rin stared intently at the map, her breathing slightly rapid, clearly deep in thought. Gu Yan's suggestion resonated with her burning desire for revenge, offering a theoretical possibility of a comeback in a desperate situation. But the risk was extremely high.

"We have too few people. If we spread out, our strength will be even weaker, and we'll be easily defeated one by one," the bespectacled man said worriedly.

"So speed, surprise, and..." Gu Yan's gaze swept over the people present, "...fearlessness of death."

Silence fell again. But this time, there was something else in the silence. It was no longer pure despair, but a ruthless determination born of being cornered and ready to fight anything.

"Alright." Chiba Rin finally made her decision, her voice resolute. "Let's go with this plan. The remaining veterans in the group, familiar with the terrain, will be divided into three teams, each led by one of you." She pointed to the scarred leader and the other two. "As Gu Yan said, harass, sabotage, make as much noise as possible, but remember, strike and leave immediately, no protracted fighting!"

"Yes!" The three men straightened up, their eyes flashing with a fierce light.

"Liuli, you take two people and are responsible for scouting and eliminating the enemy's sentries. Try to find out Gui Touhao's possible location and outer defenses."

Liuli nodded silently.

Chiba Rin finally looked at Gu Yan: "You and I will be together. We will form a true spearhead. We will wait for Ruri's intelligence and look for an opportunity."

The meaning is clear. This is the most dangerous mission, and also the only possible chance to turn the tide.

The plan was quickly relayed. The atmosphere of despair that permeated the warehouse was replaced by a desperate, frenzied fighting spirit. The men began a final check of their weapons, talking in hushed tones, their eyes regaining a glimmer of light—the fierce gleam of a dying beast in a desperate counterattack.

As dawn approached, in the darkest hour, the heavy side door of the warehouse was silently pulled open a crack, and the various groups, like drops of ink falling into water, quietly disappeared into the labyrinthine shadows of the surrounding streets.

Gu Yan and Chiba Rin stayed behind. Chiba Rin took two lightweight bulletproof vests from a sealed metal box in the corner, tossed one to Gu Yan, and put it on herself deftly. She then took out several magazines and two Glock pistols with silencers, checked them, and tucked them into her waistband and legs. Finally, she grasped the short knife she never parted with, its hilt engraved with chrysanthemum patterns, and gently drew it out an inch, its cold gleam reflecting in her icy eyes.

"Gui Touhao is inextricably linked to my mother's death." She suddenly spoke in a low voice, as if to Gu Yan, yet also to herself. "My father investigated for over a decade, but found no conclusive evidence, or rather... dared not have conclusive evidence. Now, he doesn't even need to pretend anymore." She sheathed her sword with a crisp, light sound. "So, today, it's either him or me. There is no other outcome."

Gu Yan silently put on his bulletproof vest, put away his pistol and magazine, and gripped his longsword tightly. He could feel the deep-seated hatred and sorrow in Chiba Rin's words, and he understood that this battle, for her, had long transcended a simple power struggle.

Just then, a muffled explosion suddenly rang out in the distance outside the warehouse! This was followed by sporadic gunshots and shouts of abuse!

"It's starting." Chiba Rin's eyes sharpened.

Almost simultaneously, Ruri's figure slid down from the ventilation duct above the warehouse like a ghost, landing silently. She quickly reported: "Two blocks to the southeast, one of our teams encountered a patrol of 'Hidden Crows' and exchanged fire. To the northeast, Nakamura's men are gathering, seemingly preparing to advance on the warehouse. Kito Gou's location... is still uncertain, but his usual spots have been heavily guarded, likely a feint. Nishio's men's movements are unclear; they may be observing."

The situation is changing rapidly.

Chiba Rin made a decisive decision: "We can't wait any longer. Gu Yan, let's go. Let's go straight to Kinshicho. It's one of Kito Go's most important underground banks and intelligence hubs. The defenses won't be weak, but if we can break in, even if we don't catch him, we can still tear a chunk of flesh off his hands and force him to show himself or call in 'Hidden Crows' for reinforcements!"

"Liuli, continue your investigation and find Gui Touhao's true location. Keep in touch with him."

"Yes."

Without another word, Chiba Rin and Gu Yan, one after the other, shot out from a more secluded small door on the other side of the warehouse like two arrows disappearing into the night, speeding towards the direction of Kinshicho.

Behind them, gunfire and explosions from the direction of the warehouse intensified, clearly indicating that the harassment team had fully mobilized and drawn considerable attention. Ahead lay a dangerous trap.