Actually, Adrian might have met Anastasia in the past. I couldn't remember. It's been over 460 chapters, after all.

"It's good to see you again," I told her as I approached, but she raised a hand. The area around her was sterile and lifeless, purged of life because of her condition. The Woeful Poison Body was truly a terrifying condition, and unlike Battle Through the Heavens, there was no receptarier protagonist to help her. What, do you expect me to start delving into alchemy and pharmacy or something? Do you seriously think I could just become an alchemist or pharmacist just because I want to? That sort of vocations required years of training – and obviously Anastasia didn't have that sort of time. Just look at reality. Not everyone can be doctors or pharmacists just because they wanted to. It was similar here.

"Best to keep a distance." She forced a smile. "Social distancing and all that. I don't want to accidentally hurt you."

"You won't," I a.s.sured her. Regardless of when this chapter was actually published, I was writing it in the middle of the Corvid19 outbreak, and everyone was under stay home orders, unable to leave their homes for fear of the pandemic. This had nothing to do with the future, of course, but it was funny that Anastasia was practicing social distancing at this time as well. Even she was aware that sanitizers were useless.

Fortunately, she wasn't carrying a contagious virus, so even if she was somewhat quarantined, we could still meet. She couldn't "infect" us with her myriad poisons, after all. As long as we didn't get too near her, at least. On the other hand, I was immune to all poisons, thanks to the blessings from the Holy Spring from so many chapters ago, so I didn't have to worry about the toxins that her Woeful Poison Body produced. Or so I hoped.

"So she's the one," Melina whispered, somewhat in awe. Adrian had to hold her back, but he was already acquainted with Ana, so he just waved from a distance. She nodded at him, but made no move to close the gap. She was taking her own condition seriously, unlike the president of a certain country, who believed that the pandemic was a hoax at first and didn't take it seriously, leading to our country (well, my second country, anyway) becoming the nation with the highest numbers of Corvid19 cases within a few months.

I honestly had no idea how someone like him could have ever been elected as president, but I had seen more stupid things in ridiculous webnovels, so…

"Where do you intend to go?" I asked, scratching my head awkwardly and realizing that it was a stupid question. Of course she couldn't tell me.

Anastasia merely smiled and shrugged. "Away from here."

"I see. Makes sense." And also utterly obvious. Of course she was going away from here. Where else could she go to? Surrender to the Federation and allow them to kill her without fighting back? That was ridiculous.

"Make sure you take care of yourself. And teach those kids well." Anastasia nodded at Adrian and Melina. Apparently she had heard about my new job from Redfield or Feng Hai, or whoever. The Silver Wolves could easily obtain information regarding what I was doing right now, so I wasn't surprised that they knew about it. And Ana would have asked, or the Silver Wolves would have provided the information on their own.

"You too. Take care of yourself." I did a salute, and made the sign of the Aquila. Everyone stared at me.

"Why are you acting like a character from the Forty-first Millennium?" Adrian asked, annoyed. I glared at him, and removed my signature bolt pistol from its holster.

"I am a loyal servant of the Imperium," I replied firmly as I adjusted the black, peaked cap atop my head and glared at him. "Are you questioning my loyalty, Trooper Adrian?"

"The h.e.l.l are you doing?"

"I'm a Commissar of the Officio Prefectus," I reminded him as I dusted off my black jacket. "It is my duty to purge heretics and unbelievers…"

"Can you stop your stupid role-play for a few minutes and focus on the issue at hand?"

"Sorry." I discarded the black cloak that made up my uniform and ditched the hat, before holstering my bolt pistol. "That's right…we're here to say goodbye to Ana."

"Yeah, you did, and you're running out of ideas because you don't know what to write for this chapter beyond this, so let's get this done and over with." Ana rolled her eyes and waved me away. "I'm sure we'll meet again."

I wasn't sure if that was possible. If she was leaving the Federation, it would be extremely unlikely that I would see her again. But it wasn't as if she was dead – as long as we were both alive, there was still the possibility that we would meet again in future.

"If only there's anything we can do to help…" I murmured as I pushed my gla.s.ses up my nose, and then sighed.

"I might be able to help with that."

I jumped from shock when a voice spoke up and a holograph flickered to life, projecting the blue-tinted, life-size image of a very familiar figure.

The regal figure of Roland Rothwell grinned at me from behind a holographic window, waving his hand – where each of his fingers were adorned with heavily jeweled rings. I gaped at him for a few moments before shaking my head.

"How did you…?"

"Hey, have you forgotten that I'm a prince? I have…methods that are beyond your imagination." He then shrugged. "If you can't accept that explanation, then just a.s.sume this is a Deus ex Machina. That I also have the ability to break the fourth wall and dive in to help whenever I feel like it."

"Actually, the more boring and logical explanation is that I contacted him." Feng Hai dropped down from another hovercraft nearby. Other Silver Wolves mercenaries hurried down the ramp, dropping down supplies and crates. Ana glanced at them and lowered her head in thanks. No doubt that most of the supplies were meant for her. I wondered what they consisted of – perhaps food? Ammunition? The leader left the more menial ch.o.r.es to his subordinates and approached us, bowing his head deferentially toward the image of Roland. "Your highness."

"Oh, Feng Hai! It's been a while since I last saw you. Glad to see you're doing well. I didn't expect you to call me for a favor, though." he glanced around, and his sharp eyes settled on Anastasia. "I see the reason why you contacted me."

"Yeah. She's the one who needs a.s.sistance."

"Boss, this is…" Ana hesitated for a few seconds, and then glanced at her leader. "Are you asking me to seek refuge in the Amazerian Empire?"

"Not exactly…" Feng Hai took a deep breath, but before he could explain, Roland cut in.

"Unfortunately, we cannot shelter you. Not officially anyway. It will become a political situation, and let's be serious. In your current condition, you will pose a danger to my people. I can't have you taking up residence in my kingdom and poisoning my subjects. No offense."

"None taken. I understand your situation, and I cannot ask to impose on you." Anastasia lowered her head. "It would be unreasonable of me to expect anything from you, your highness."

"Hang on." Roland held up his hand and smiled, his perfect, white teeth gleaming in the holographic window. "But that doesn't mean I can't help you. In fact, I'm more than happy to a.s.sist a beautiful lady such as yourself."

There was a sharp intake of breath as everyone waited for his solution. As before, Roland had the penchant for the dramatic, and he paused for several beats before making his great revelation.

"Within my empire, there is a territory that is…not exactly under the royal family's jurisdiction. We claim it as part of the Amazerian Empire, of course, so that the Global Federation and other empires will not lay their hands on our continent, but within that territory, they are more ruled by…warlords than Amazerian n.o.bles. We call it the Land of Chaos."

That was quite the melodramatic name. I couldn't believe they decided to rip off Martial Peak. Like, seriously?

"The warlords and their various sects and warbands have their own autonomy and territories within the Land of Chaos, and they are so powerful that the Amazerian royalty does not dare provoke them or intrude within their domains. Fortunately, they help keep each other in check, so there is no danger of being invaded or overthrown by them."

"…are you asking me to go to this Land of Chaos?" Anastasia asked with a raised eyebrow. Roland nodded solemnly, his expression all serious this time. There was no sign of any humor in his next reply.

"You have no other choice." He then pondered for a few moments. "But it's not all bad news. I head that deep within the Land of Chaos, there is a way for you to control your Woeful Poison Body. There are several cases of people having the same Woeful Poison Body in my Amazerian Empire, and I believe there is an entire tribe formed within the Land of Chaos to harness and control that power. You'll feel right at home there."

Anastasia brightened up at that, hope flaring up in her eyes. She nodded as she exhaled, and slowly relaxed her fingers. Only now I noticed that she had been clenching her fists the entire time, her fingers curled and digging deeply into her palms. Whether it was because she was struggling to control her powers and prevent the spread of her poisons, I could not tell.

"Thank you very much, your highness."

"We'll provide the transport." Feng Hai jerked his head toward the hovercraft he had just alighted from, and grinned. The Silver Wolves continued unloading the cargo from the hovercraft in the background and suddenly I realized I might have been mistaken. Those might not be supplies for Ana, after all. Then again, a single individual didn't require that much stuff when she was on her own. Undeterred, Feng Hai continued, his eyes glazing over as he concocted a plan. "We're on our way on an overseas mission to the Amazerian Empire anyway, to deliver some products and hunt an exotic species of monsters. We can give you a lift without the Federation knowing."

"That would be very much appreciated." Taking the hem of her green dress, Anastasia lifted her skirt slightly and did a curtsy, bowing her head gratefully. "I owe you a great debt."

"No, no, no. You saved our lives plenty of times before. And I know you would do the same for everyone else." Feng Hai waved his hands. He then did a salute, raising his thumb and stretching his fingers, making the sign of a wolf. You know, like how kids love to make the shapes of animals by casting their hands in shadow with a portable lamp. "One for all, and all for one. The Silver Wolves live as a pack and hunt as a pack. We leave no member behind."

"The Silver Wolves! AWOO!" the other mercenaries howled their agreement. Anastasia regarded them with a sad smile.

"Hopefully we'll meet again," she said quietly.

"We definitely will." Feng Hai would have clamped his hand on her shoulder, but as always, the poison forced him to keep his distance. So I stepped forward and did the gesture for him. Ana flinched, as if expecting me to melt away or wither from the poison, but I remained unaffected. She raised an eyebrow at me.

"I was always aware of your immunity to poison, but witnessing it once again…it never fails to amaze me."

"Yeah, well…if…when we need to look for you again…" at this, I turned to glance at Feng Hai and the Silver Wolves. "Call me in, since I'm the only one able to actually make physical contact with her."

Feng Hai laughed at that and nodded. "We will," he promised with a raised hand, almost as if he was swearing an oath. "We definitely will."

"I would offer to take care of her, but I would be lying." There was some amus.e.m.e.nt in Roland's voice as he spoke from wherever he was, half the globe away. "But…the offer still stands. Since you will technically be in the territory of my empire anyway, I'm probably the closest person available for help. That's why, if you need any a.s.sistance, feel free to contact me. Just avoid killing my subjects, okay?"

Ana smiled, despite herself. "I will do my best."

Roland did a mock salute, and then his holographic window clicked off, replaced by empty s.p.a.ce. I shook my head, impressed. I never thought the prince of the Amazerian Empire would extend a helping hand for a stranger. Well, he was acquainted with Feng Hai and the Silver Wolves, so they weren't exactly strangers, but even so…

A few minutes later, Adrian, Melina and I watched Anastasia climb aboard the hovercraft with her luggage. She stopped at the top of the ramp, turned around and waved to us one last time, before she finally disappeared out of sight.

"Is this…really all right, Sensei?" Melina asked softly. I could hear the sorrow in her voice. Even though she didn't know Ana, and had only met the green-haired beauty for the first time today, she still felt sad. Not at the parting, but because she was afraid that I was internally torn apart. It was almost as if she could sense the pain that stabbed at my chest. "You are pretty close to that girl, aren't you?"

"As long as we are alive, there will still be a chance that we will meet again in future." I waved, even though I knew how improbable it would be. Even so, I held on to that hope. But that was a tale for another day…hopefully one that would come to existence. For now, we had more important matters to tend to. The present wasn't going to wait for the future to arrive. We had to deal with the present in order for the future to manifest. "Let's go. I have a mission to complete. And the two of you were the ones who wanted some combat experience, so don't go complaining when you fall into danger."

"We won't!" Adrian promised, even though he had no idea what was awaiting them. Melina nodded enthusiastically beside him, also ignorant of what lay in wait in the future.

"We will do our best not to get in your way, and to become stronger!"

"Oh, you both will definitely grow stronger," I a.s.sured them, and then smirked ominously. "…provided that you both survive the mission, of course."