The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

Normally, press conferences were restricted to authorized personnel and reporters. But [Lee], in her magnanimity, had allowed the general public to attend, further contributing to the chaos.

Rage consumed [Lee]. Not only did these humans object to her perfect plan, they dared to insult her!

Unrepentant, ungrateful wretches… I shouldn't have expected anything from them!

"Enough! You useless lot! Your existence is solely to find fault!… There's nothing more to discuss. This is a notification, not a request for your opinions!"

Having given up on communication, [Lee] raised her hand, ready to enforce compliance with her power. Since they wouldn't listen to reason, she'd make this livestream a demonstration for any other fools—but her declaration was interrupted.

"Are you really Lee? You seem like a fake. The Lee in the game wouldn't throw a tantrum and attack civilians."

The voice wasn't loud in the clamor, its tone more curious than agitated. Yet this single, almost polite, remark among the insults and outrage made [Lee] snap.

"Who said that?! Show yourself! If I'm not Lee, then who is?! Are you Lee?!"

Why am I so worked up? [Lee] didn't understand her own intense reaction, but hearing her identity questioned ignited a furious, yet… panicked, feeling.

Like a fraud exposed, a strange guilt washed over her.

But that's impossible! It must be a delusion… How could I mistake who I am?

She was Lee, the hero of the Previous Era! Her memories and power proved it! Even a slight personality change was understandable, right? After such trauma!

So she couldn't be wrong. She was Lee. She had to be… otherwise, who was she?

Looking at the crowd, driven by panic and rage, she decided to silence them. Not hearing their voices might calm her down.

"You hopeless, babbling fools! I'll—"

BOOM!!!

Just as [Lee] was about to act, the ceiling exploded, raining dust and debris.

The sudden chaos silenced the already restless crowd. Even [Lee] paused, warily eyeing the uninvited guest.

As the dust settled, two figures emerged.

On the left, a woman with bright eyes and familiar white hair, styled in braids like Lihua's. On the right, a woman with long brown hair and a sharp gaze, scanning the room.

It was Kallen and Eleanor!

Unlike Kiana and the others, who'd landed in a wasteland, or Otto, who'd crashed into the ocean, Kallen and Eleanor were relatively lucky, appearing near a city. Not the brightest pair, and without Otto's Soulium body or technology, they were clueless about their situation.

But fortune favored fools. When news of [Lee]'s press conference spread, they were overjoyed to find it was only a couple hundred kilometers away. After a frantic dash, they arrived within hours.

"Such a crowd… we're in the right place. The address online must be correct…"

Eleanor surveyed the scene, her voice cold. She was no longer the simple, straightforward subordinate from Lihua's time. Experience had tempered her, her heart as cold as Abyss Flower unless faced with an overwhelmingly powerful opponent like Kevin—

Wait…

Lady Lihua?!

Is that really Lady Lihua?!

The moment she saw the figure on stage, Eleanor's carefully maintained composure shattered. She pointed excitedly, stammering, "I-I-I—"

If Schicksal's Valkyries saw their ice queen acting like a starstruck fangirl, they might switch fandoms. Of course, Eleanor didn't care. The only thing in her eyes was that person.

There was no mistake. The hair, the eyes… identical!

Eleanor had seen people resembling Lihua. Kallen, standing beside her, shared a few similarities… after all, they were from the same family. And Theresa, created from Lihua's genes, was almost a perfect copy of a young Lihua—almost.

Eleanor's keen observation had noted that Kallen's white hair was 0.02 shades brighter than Lady Lihua's, and Theresa's eyes were 0.3% bluer.

Similar, but not enough… Some might be satisfied with a vague resemblance, but Eleanor wanted only the one, Lady Lihua.

And this one was flawless, a perfect copy… was it resurrection? Had Lady Lihua truly returned?

"Kallen and Eleanor… I know you two. You couldn't even protect Lihua from a weak Herrscher. Worthless." [Lee]'s gaze sharpened at their appearance. "Move aside, don't get in my way. Or you'll be next!"

"..." Eleanor stared, speechless.

The same face, but not the person she'd hoped for… The moment she spoke, Eleanor knew.

Disappointment, then a surge of… rage.

This imposter dares to wear Lady Lihua's face, attempting to control the world, harming innocent people?!

"You shameless wretch! How dare you impersonate Lady Lihua…!"

Eleanor summoned Abyss Flower, ready to mount the imposter's head on a wall—wait, no, she couldn't do that to Lady Lihua's face…

"I'm impersonating Lihua?!" [Lee] was livid. First someone accused her of being a fake Lee, now Lihua… why did everyone think she was an imposter?!

"You blind fools—!!!"