Yandere Levelling in Her World-Chapter 188 - 189: Fated meeting

The dust still hung thick in the air, mixing with the acrid smell of spent powder and burning fuel. Valkyrie Fang's gates stood half-open, scarred and smoking. Bodies, traitor and otherwise lay scattered across the churned earth like broken dolls.

Astrid walked forward slowly, wrists bound in heavy mag-cuffs that hummed faintly with restraining current to prevent her power. Two Norbata soldiers flanked her, rifles at low-ready. Behind her, the survivors of Valkyrie Fang, men, women, children stood in a ragged line, watching in stunned silence. A thousand eyes followed every step.

Olivia waited beside the lead jeep, arms crossed, her sharp face unreadable under the brim of her cap. The commissioner's uniform was crisp despite the battle; the insignia on her shoulder gleamed.

She studied Astrid for a long moment before speaking, voice low enough that only the two of them and the nearest guards could hear.

"This is the law, Astrid. You're still a traitor who illegally occupied what was once our territory. Our people. You will be taken back and face judgment. I'm… sorry it has to be this way."

Astrid met her gaze without flinching. The chain between her cuffs clinked softly as she shifted weight.

"It's fine," she said quietly. "If not for your forces showing up when they did, we'd all be dead or starving by now. You have my thanks for that. But I don't intend to force anyone to join Norbata. Not after everything I've heard about how you treat commonfolk."

Olivia's lips twitched, almost a smile, almost a grimace.

"Those stories you've been fed are old, Astrid. Outdated. Judith took control of the government three months ago."

Astrid's eyes widened. The name hit like a slap.

"Judith? The Goddess-Eye herself?" Her voice cracked with disbelief. "Isn't that treason? Open rebellion against the old law?"

Olivia gave a short, dry laugh that held no humor.

"People with power and money can rebel and kill each other all they want. We're just here to support whoever's currently winning. That's the new reality."

Astrid's jaw tightened. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"So more killing of our innocent commonfolk."

Olivia echoed the words softly, almost mockingly.

"Or our innocent commonfolk."

A long silence stretched between them.

Astrid finally asked the question that mattered most.

"So what happens to me? To my people?"

Olivia glanced back at the crowd mothers clutching children, fighters leaning on rifles like crutches, elderly faces etched with exhaustion.

"You've built something impressive here. A real community. We can't absorb a thousand extra mouths into Norbata's already strained cities. So we'll take control of the base. Turn it into an official outpost. Keep the walls, the towers, the tunnels. It's too valuable to abandon."

"And me?" Astrid pressed.

Olivia's gaze returned to her.

"The court will decide. You, Kyouka, and Nina will go on trial. The rest… they can stay under Norbata protection, or they can leave. No forced conscription. Not yet, anyway."

Astrid's breath caught.

"Kyouka and Nina…" Her voice dropped. "So they didn't complete their mission."

"They couldn't," Olivia said flatly. "We caught them. Whatever little operation they were running...espionage, sabotage, doesn't matter, we intercepted it. They're already in custody. Secure transport back to the capital."

Astrid stared at the ground for a second, processing. Then she lifted her head again.

Before she could speak, the entire convoy lurched to a halt. Engines growled down to idle. Dust swirled.

Olivia frowned and leaned toward the driver.

"What's wrong?"

A young woman soldier sprinted up from the rear vehicles, face pale, breath ragged. She snapped a salute.

"Commissioner! The blonde prisoner, the one Astrid's people captured...she escaped!"

Olivia's expression hardened instantly.

"Details. Now."

"She killed an entire jeep crew. Took the vehicle. Headed west at full speed. We lost visual two minutes ago."

Olivia sprang into motion, already barking orders.

"Chase her! All pursuit units, now! Don't let her escape. If you have to blow the vehicle to scrap, do it! She knows too much!"

Astrid's voice cut through the sudden chaos, calm but urgent.

"She shouldn't escape. That woman was one of the original scouting party members and a good fighter too. She should be dealt with quickly."

Olivia spun back toward her, eyes narrowing.

"Don't worry. That bitch won't escape."

***

Meiling stood at the edge of the crowded approach to Norbata's Freeside main gate. The massive iron structure loomed ahead, flanked by high walls that stretched into the distance. Outside those walls, the ground was covered with people. Hundreds, maybe thousands, waited in ragged lines.

Some sat on blankets. Others leaned against makeshift poles. Children clung to parents while elderly folks stared blankly at the gate that never seemed to open for them.

Beyond the main crowd, another sprawl of tents had grown over the months. Faded canvas and salvaged tarps formed rows of temporary homes. Smoke rose from small cookfires. The air smelled of dust, sweat, and desperation.

Meiling crossed her arms and muttered under her breath, "Truly a scene I never expected to see."

The man next to her shifted slightly. His full cloak covered him from head to almost toe, the hood casting deep shadows over his face. "Are you sure you don't want to go back to your clan?" he asked quietly. "You really want to see Ren?"

Meiling kept her eyes on the gate. "I've been avoiding Ren for too long. I don't want him to forget about me. I don't want him to find another woman. Once I find him here, I'll ask him to come with me."

The man let out a long, tired sigh. "Sure he will," he said. The words carried a sharp edge of sarcasm, but Meiling did not seem to notice.

They joined the slow-moving line. After nearly an hour of shuffling forward, they reached the checkpoint. Several women in dark uniforms stood behind a low barrier. Each carried a rifle and wore a badge that marked them as gate security.

One guard waved them closer. "Identification. Now."

Meiling stepped up first. She lifted her chin and spoke in a proud, clear voice. "I am Lan Meiling. Daughter of the Lan clan. I hope to meet the president."

Silence fell for a heartbeat.

Then the guards burst out laughing.

"Sure you are," the nearest one said, wiping her eye.

"Another lost princess," a second guard snorted. "They never stop coming."

The lead guard stepped around the barrier and gave Meiling a light, almost playful shove. "Go back to where you came from, Lan bitch. We don't welcome your kind here." Her tone was teasing, not hateful, but the laughter behind it made the words cut deeper.

Meiling froze. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She had pictured this moment differently. Recognition. Respect. Maybe even a salute. Not this.

The cloaked man chuckled beside her. "What did you expect? That they would roll out a red carpet for you?" He shook his head. "You're so much like what I remember."

Meiling's face heated. "Don't talk like you know me," she snapped.

Anger flared inside her. Golden threads burst from her back without warning. They twisted and wove in the air, forming a massive dragon of shimmering light. Its scales gleamed like molten gold. Its eyes burned bright. A deep, rumbling growl rolled from its throat and echoed off the walls.

The guards' laughter died instantly.

One woman dropped her rifle. Another stumbled back, a dark wet patch spreading down her leg as fear overtook her. The rest stared up at the dragon in pure terror.

Sirens screamed across the area. Red emergency lights flashed from the towers. Engines roared as military vehicles sped toward the gate from every side. Dust clouds rose behind them.

Meiling stood tall, the dragon coiling protectively above her head.

A jeep screeched to a stop. A woman in a lieutenant's uniform stepped out. She had sharp features and a calm, no-nonsense stride. Lieutenant Kazi, daughter of General Kazami.

"Hold your powers," Kazi ordered loudly. "Everyone stand down." She looked straight at Meiling. "You too, Meiling. Hold your power."

The golden dragon hissed but began to unravel. Threads of light pulled back into Meiling's body until only a faint glow remained around her hands.

Kazi walked forward without hesitation. "Judith wishes to see you. Let's go."

Meiling turned to the man beside her. A smug smile tugged at her lips. She wanted him to see this. Wanted him to admit she was right.

But the spot next to her was empty.

No cloak. No sarcastic voice. Nothing.

Meiling blinked. She closed her eyes for a second, reaching out with her senses. When she opened them again, she muttered to herself, "When the fuck did he escape?"

Kazi raised an eyebrow but said nothing about it. "Come on. We don't keep the president waiting."

Meiling followed. The guards parted quickly now, their earlier laughter replaced by uneasy glances. The military vehicles formed a loose escort as they passed through the gate.

Inside the walls, Norbata felt both familiar and strange. New buildings had risen. Streets were wider. More people moved about, but the energy felt heavier than before.

"Why didn't they believe me?" Meiling asked as they walked.

Kazi kept her eyes forward. "Because every week someone claims to be lost nobility. The Lan name used to mean something here. After the wars and the refugee crisis, people are tired. They don't trust easily."

"I am sorry for the way I acted. Let's go see her...I hope you won't mind if he accompanied me," Meiling muttered, but soon she was met with a surprise.

"What he?" Kazi asked, confused, and Meiling looked to her right, and nobody was there.

When the fuck did he escape? Meiling felt like she was having dream because she was pretty sure until few seconds ago a man was with her.