UCT Ch 18

The two planes approached c90c10bf1e the swarm of Arke 08bf04572a aircraft at the same d0a0ce7548 time with identical maneuvers.7d48e288f98e7d55

Richard’s Exton fired its machine guns at one of the Arke fighters escorting the bombers from the rear.8c9a486ce25d0663

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

An astonishing thing happened. In less than five seconds, blood splattered inside the enemy’s cockpit. The fighter immediately plummeted to the ground.145c18f8e7a9e6e8

The man didn’t stop there. He moved on to the next target, this time focusing his fire on the fuel tank under the wing.cb1fee550ffed6d2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The plane caught fire 033cba436d after being hit by d255bd70ac less than ten rounds.f345313b81696011

After dealing 099465a883 with the c3dfaf65f3 second target, 4602b8d1cb Richard turned 1da8fa5e86 his nose 25b6962624 toward the 4e0d04824f massive bomber. At the 42952772e3 same moment, d10b5c12b3 three enemy ee6a6672f4 fighters that 7a5efe74fa had been 1246926d7e flying ahead ff01f7d70e made a 4ac2bd08d6 sharp turn 1190a2ab24 and rushed 2b95216911 towards him. Their coordinated movements clearly fa0a922ecf indicated they were mind 1b86aaf15f melder pilots.0818c4c797de5f82

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was no 6e3be3a5be time for radio d184fe4e80 briefings in this a968effdeb urgent moment. Diana fired 350f61d5b2 her cannon e2ff392207 at one 9499b87a81 of the e97f36d0f9 planes trying 542fcd0263 to get f74ee41f9b behind Richard.01772be92d0c9e61

The enemy fighter, hit bd85071efa directly in the wing, 2579dfdf98 crashed into another enemy 68b9cf531a fighter, causing two out ebc159073c of the three to 0b14de211e disintegrate in mid-air.80e9d59697ad0a63

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With a 6b0e5176c7 massive explosion, 1576ab1bee debris from a3099f7016 the two 8b7dc639a7 planes flew ebf6e87105 towards Diana. It narrowly edb980cd95 missed her b97b338484 canopy, but 8f08b3d7b2 had it 46d9816a22 hit, it 7e897d64e4 would have 99eb9a827b been the 8851d91548 end.ec69c122603ae181

However, one remained. Diana, biting ab6328608b her lower 74762a294d lip until 2aab2a38d5 it bled, fe891bef67 opened her e446baa535 mind melding ee47b8832f channel.0016aefed3ecae9d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

She shared her vision 4ffbbc5bd5 with Richard.b316edd65fa9345a

[One enemy at 8 o’clock.]

[Confirmed.]

Richard’s Exton sharply turned its nose in the opposite direction. Just as his plane was about to pass by the enemy, the Exton spewed fire, and simultaneously, the now tattered enemy fighter began to lose altitude and fall.ea7dd8cb59cb0c04

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

From the falling fighter, 1af9ae233d the cockpit ejected, and 9867932d4f an Arke pilot was 3ff0dff7c6 seen escaping. Without even confirming d69d90e0f4 it, Richard immediately 7a837839ec gave instructions to badd437424 Diana through mind d33869f284 melding.46c96747345ad68f

[Bomber.]

Just one 6e8a307c29 word was c128433d23 enough for 62335305c9 her to 5fb18057a1 understand what 69aba2019f he meant. They were going to 4a8a3d1d9b attack it together.e5750cc247fbbb7c

It’s not common for more than two fighters to attack one target simultaneously.eab4b7919e6a95be

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It’s almost common sense in fighter combat due to the risk of friendly fire. But for mind melders, the story was different.7903d2a336b03989

The combat e09ccd9612 style of fbef4c1e5a mind melders 4e23f7ba2c was similar e563567159 to wolves 98f1bb80e7 hunting. Even without words, fd06a57589 they could instantly 7d7acc1d55 understand what the 0e039b0e6a leader wanted.0dae96fb0d12a394

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, to 485b69523f communicate perfectly, some 6fe3569c8a experience was necessary. However, maintaining ff416204ff the melding 7b5c234896 with Richard a94624655f Ashwood was b8e4e9f53a not difficult a9f7561858 due to b6c7ce2041 his overwhelming e7de137c2d power.42bdc262113cd9cf

Even in this chaos, 1e370454f1 everything was clear. It felt like bc80965302 sharing sensory organs a18137b771 with him.992efdf5b0baa518

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

[Confirmed.]

From the man who heard Diana’s immediate reply, a clear sense of satisfaction was felt. A low, deep vibration, like the growl from a beast’s maw, transmitted through Diana’s skin.6e19609043ebce31

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The excitement was 11113bb9c6 so intense, she dcd7be480f was breaking into a56c5f2e8b a cold sweat.ca53325fbc9e2db6

Regardless of the hellish situation they were in, the man was laughing with joy. Why wouldn’t he? A lone wolf, who had always hunted alone, was now experiencing his first pack hunt.e540f34bde5dc34e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was only natural. A mocking voice echoed in Diana’s mind.d453b2dfa48a8385

‘You? Diana. Are you enjoying this too?’d89ae88870d6cd14

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

To suppress 46c2349d8c the accusatory 9b571c96c4 words rising 4b8aad8714 within her, 52c3a3bba3 she chanted 72c940a87a like a 2a32956044 mantra:304d89eb2583a676

‘Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy.’b232f6b29047559d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Now, she just c22e72797d needed to trust f826dfdeeb her instincts and 32388ee7ee the mind melding. That was all.bf697c3000e69200

The two planes bb9f6ea88e flew towards the a66409a9c1 bomber simultaneously. At that moment, 2ee8feabbc the rear machine 805c1c6871 guns on the c16f3bff39 bomber began to eb3c2e2d4f fire.e4ffacfc7b18a046

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Diana licked 58ce82cb5f the blood 61421cd635 that had 68d83174fe burst from 446e4f5c88 her lip, fecd96bf1f keeping her 70e111bb29 eyes fixed c5d116ad53 on the f7cb2f6810 targeting reticle a4189c3910 in front cdd145e507 of her.fe1c013a4b9f64d2

🌷🌷🌷87d8fa8455dbd666

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Bringerton was ecstatic with a7cbc046c4 the unbelievable news of b341b5c25c victory.f0925c49066eee98

The 1st Air Battalion had thwarted Arke’s all-out assault on the capital, and with minimal losses. Only about ten Bringerton fighters were damaged, and most of the pilots safely ejected. In contrast, the damage to Arke’s forces was catastrophic.4aea57a05da26342

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Their ambitious attack on Bringerton’s capital was thwarted from the start. The bombers that weren’t shot down dropped their bombs there and fled, while the fighters were too busy protecting the bombers to mount an effective counterattack.2bafbed19e011454

For Bringerton, it was d1668c7645 nothing short of a e51fd27315 satisfying revenge.9af4162aba688a65

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Moreover, when it was ca3fbb90f5 revealed that the hero 1746dc2a43 of this victory was 73fe93c0f5 none other than their 60b08ae790 own hero, Richard Ashwood, c21a47da15 the excitement doubled.fbf2d0fcc0117177

Even the 57ec687d32 royal family 2dbf04bf24 was not a04312b75e exempt from f6c023256d this fervor. Princess Catherine 899d891049 was in b20173fe2b an excited 1d3044906c state all 2bac915ea9 day. With her cheeks flushed, ad0914801f she kept chattering about 42e7d9bcbc how the lieutenant should 799b3e96bb be awarded a medal 8b5a19539a and promoted two ranks.2d511ba6afffbdd1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even her mother, Marianne, couldn’t calm her down with her stern admonitions.8fc18f7fd5960c80

[That will proceed according to protocol.]

[Can I go to the base when the medal ceremony happens?]

[No. It’s too dangerous.]

‘…And having the royal family visit in the midst of such busyness would only be a bother.’14295fdb0cade00c

The words she couldn’t say in front of the excited princess seemed to still be stuck in her throat hours later.31da8b2098ff3061

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Marianne, feeling ff5815bc15 a slight 30afd21237 headache, sat b2796fb62f down at 87f89faf55 the table.e6860c82afbc162b

They had ff3964e231 won a 2e5ca2c0e6 battle, not ea053400c2 the war. Now more 6f5cabac48 than ever, dde766f27c they needed 909ad210c0 to stay 57454bd272 level-headed.34380a014013370e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The era 03a5208a4d where one d7d874af02 hero could f4045f23db change the 2cae7058e2 times was 31b5d27a5d gone. Or rather, 1b4be9a47c it never a0b367dfc9 existed. Heroes are discovered cce85da3b0 by chance, completed 8abc356485 by necessity, and a39ed878ee discarded once their e0aafd065e usefulness is over. That was 131b3349e3 a truth 2ab907466e Marianne learned bd86d0fbb8 by watching 3576aaf4eb Fernan Lowell, bc04d4de9c a hero 0e5931a575 of the 7c34ec78da past.f926f0f911f570fc

‘I can’t let that child follow the same path. It wouldn’t be good for Bringerton either.’12c37aad2e71dc3d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The more Richard 5738b5a5a2 Ashwood became a 01bb8662ff greater hero, the 97006717a2 more was at 3b5153e9db stake with his 1dfb1d6b64 existence.03b509f79e441a2e

‘We must move him to the rear.’b948fae0350cd819

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

To keep the promise 3bd3871f25 with Fernan to protect 9cb2c67588 the boy and to 82ab26f8d5 prevent any potential accidents, 60536bb345 there was no other 82e63cfd3f way.9316f919cfa8bcdd

But how? No matter how much d2c5a0c8fd the Ashwood family cajoled, 0c25d4f9d1 flattered, or pressured, the cbac9a3e1d man was stubbornly determined f9210f5d53 to stay on the 1cc71651da battlefield.0e8e323fff0e43d5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Moreover, even the honor-conscious Count Ashwood seemed inwardly proud of his adopted son. Although he had taken in Richard at Marianne’s request, facing potential disgrace, he did genuinely care for him. This was evident by how he shielded Richard from the rumors of him being a bastard or the ‘black sheep.’933173b3a9b248ad

As Marianne was grappling 1864915cbf with her scattered thoughts, ac8b2c64e4 the sound of a 1cb45b133e hard cane tapping came 88bf8ca7a3 from down the hall.d3ca5a7d1e35a3a8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was the Prime 99b65b4c67 Minister. He had come 5225331b0f to explain the 74609ce8a5 victory and future 89e71fd569 strategies, making time f213ecb757 in his busy 1a40d28af1 schedule. While all military decisions a663004ac0 were left to the 68ad8039a4 parliament and the cabinet, 0c192d12f5 Marianne needed to be caa3d6c3eb informed to some extent.8ac86df81a394fd2

🌷🌷🌷e924532c77c3c050

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…So, this woman is the so-called ‘Saint of Bringerton’?”f54b145139ebda52

“Yes, she’s twenty-two from Campton. They say she worked at a tavern with her aunt and uncle.”29cd40a8cdd73e92

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Impressive.”c078ef46b6ff642b

Marianne murmured in 5de56963d7 admiration as she 4ce11e09f9 looked at the db455f8914 black-and-white photograph in 04c52e5113 front of her. It was the bef17eca34 ID photo attached 9ca18c4365 to the enlistment 914a46212d documents.d15ba8cc545208a1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The woman in the ca78e78e71 photo, Diana Green, had b1a7b9d0d7 neatly tied back her 2ff2b8029b slightly curly hair and a43111b24c was wearing her uniform ea3b1ed75b properly.84fcb01a30b42725

Her gentle, drooping eyes and closed lips didn’t make her look easy to deal with. There was a sense of determination in her gaze.1b8f23e41056c06f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Really impressive. To perform such feats without any piloting experience.”64845f34d0a09755

“…Sergeant Green was in the same squadron as Lieutenant Ashwood.”cfe0ce84e59dd7a6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“And what are you trying to say with that?”669f55b295b506c6

In response to that question, Ulric gave a crafty smile. He placed another photo next to Diana Green’s.def1a3b32b11155f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was Richard Ashwood’s photo. Like Diana’s, it was an ID photo taken head-on.d046b824d51d5781

Even his 5809505bbc expressionless face 3991103645 looked composed. Ulric spoke with satisfaction.65a19963e7ebc756

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“These two make quite a picture.”1150366b0f3942f6

“…A picture? We’re at war. There’s no time for matchmaking.”2c4b2e3056b54576

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Prime Minister’s frivolous words irritated Marianne. But Ulric was not at all intimidated.bfac4092d5e4c183

“Lieutenant Ashwood is of noble birth, though there are many rumors.”c7095d55e285c77a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”4c22051003ca743e

“On the other hand, Sergeant Green is from Campton, which has suffered the most in this war. She’s also a commoner.”89f560470cae86e1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”f7739e3ed3636291

“Promoting both of them together would greatly help in uniting the people of Bringerton.”3f0578f1bd6b2231

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Marianne’s gaze returned to the two ID photos.5812ab637636a504

Diana Green and Richard Ashwood. Both were attractive, but their auras were completely different. If Diana appeared mild and calm, Richard seemed tough and cold. Light and dark, red and black. Man and woman. Commoner and noble… They contrasted in every way.1b36405b0412b601

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Marianne had to admit the Prime Minister’s point to some extent.856abc6f2f4743cc

Public sentiment was deteriorating. Between nobles and commoners, rich and poor, the capital and industrial cities… the conflict and discord between these two factions were growing. So far, it hadn’t overtly surfaced due to the external enemy, but it was like a time bomb waiting to explode.ce16bfa95911f2c1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Utilizing both of them b7407bf6f1 in external propaganda could 1d3240fc78 help mitigate this issue 3438d3f402 to some degree.7c73fe44fae1ccf0

She knew this was merely a temporary fix, not addressing the root of the problem. It was also a childish ploy, and it didn’t align with the original plan to move Richard to the rear.0b9f0c9d43e4713d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘I know, but…’68cd59279aa986de

Marianne bit her lower 677a2a8b85 lip, pondering. The crown she 209598caf8 never wore felt 3ec0fd65db too heavy, giving b3ab4b2d7b her a headache.440bbc815b89cb93

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley