Luo Wei noticed Axina too, but the first thing she saw was that filthy train.

  Wearing a train dress to a ball—she had to admit, Axina had guts.

  Sure, the hall was carpeted and looked clean. But everyone walked in from outside. Forget the dust and dirt on their shoes—people stepped in street waste too. All that got smeared onto the carpet.

  That white velvet train rubbed against the floor like a giant broom, sweeping up every bit of filth.

  Luo Wei glanced for just a second before her eyes shifted behind Axina—because a strutting rooster had appeared.

  During the break between dances, Vina walked in from the entrance, attracting attention.

  She'd changed into a reddish-brown Gothic gown. The bottom was wide and heavy, shaped like a cone. The top was tight-waisted with a low neckline showing off the cleavage she'd worked so hard to squeeze out with her corset.

  From little yellow chick to big rooster—that was progress, right?

  Vina lifted her chin proudly and walked toward the rest area, holding up her skirt.

  Axina followed Luo Wei's gaze. Seeing Vina approach, she laughed mockingly.

  "Idiot. The Wesley family's about to disappear, and she still has time for balls."

  "Who says the Wesleys will disappear?" Luo Wei stood and walked toward her. "Did the Love Goddess tell you that?"

  Axina stepped back. "Everyone knows Gelu City fell. The Wesleys are done for."

  Luo Wei stopped. "What if I said they're not?"

  "That's hilarious. You say it won't happen, so it won't?" Axina sneered. "Who do you think you are? Can you stop a war?"

  Luo Wei wasn't bothered. She smiled slightly. "Maybe I can."

  Axina studied her expression and slowly frowned. She knew Luo Wei well enough—this woman was scheming, but she kept her word. She probably wouldn't lie.

  She glanced at Vina again. That bitch had been sobbing a few days ago. Now she'd completely changed—dressed like a painted pinecone, strutting around!

  Could Luo Wei really stop the war and save the Wesleys?

  But why help Vina?

  Axina voiced her confusion. "Why help her?"

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  Luo Wei: "We're classmates. I help when I can."

  Axina was shocked. "You two have a grudge. She schemed against you. And you're still helping?"

  "So what? At least she apologized." Luo Wei spoke generously. "I forgive anyone who's truly sorry."

  Axina couldn't understand. "You're insane. You think that's kindness? No—it's stupidity. Forgiving people who offend you makes your dignity worthless!"

  "Luo Wei, you're not worthy of being my rival!"

  Luo Wei chuckled. "Axina, you know what? I've never seen you as a rival."

  Axina clenched her fists. "What?"

  "A rival is someone on my level. Are you?" Luo Wei's expression was dismissive. "Also, rivals can be friends or enemies. We're only enemies."

  Rivals competed for shared interests. Enemies destroyed each other's interests. Rivals' goals could overlap. Enemies' goals were completely opposed.

  Just their allegiances alone—Axina worshipped the Love Goddess, she sided with the Life Goddess—made friendship impossible.

  Besides that, they had deep grudges.

  Luo Wei had been thinking about something for months. In her death vision, someone disguised as Vina had ordered thugs to tear the original Luo Wei's clothes and call her a prostitute. Who was it?

  She'd puzzled over it for half a year. Then during the tournament, Axina revealed she knew advanced spells and used Transformation magic in the arena. That's when Luo Wei figured it out.

  That person was Axina.

  Given Axina's personality, stomping on the original owner after her identity was exposed and grinding her into the dirt—completely normal.

  Back then, Vina still followed Axina around. Axina probably hinted for Vina to do it, but Vina worshipped the Justice Goddess and refused. So Axina transformed into Vina and did it herself.

  Just like last year when Axina's guards disguised as vagrants to attack Luo Wei. She planned it but tried to pin it on Vina. Vina almost fell for it.

  Headmaster Morrison claimed Axina was helpless—the "Demon Nightmare" controlled her. Even if that was true, did it make Axina innocent?

  If a villain hired an assassin, and the assassin took the money and killed someone—could he claim innocence?

  Axina wasn't a mindless tool. She was a person with thoughts. Whether for profit or under pressure, she had to answer for her actions.

  Human nature was complex. Axina was beautiful and charming, but also vicious and cruel.

  She was a seductive snake. So beautiful that even knowing her crimes, people couldn't help making excuses for her.

  But Luo Wei wasn't sparing her from mercy. She just didn't want trouble right now.

  Kill Axina, and she'd face the Yate Kingdom plus the Love Goddess.

  If the Love Goddess learned she'd destroyed the Life Goddess's godhead, she'd team up with the Sun and Moon Gods to obliterate her.

  Luo Wei glanced at Axina. Her face had gone pale. She clenched her fists, silent for a long time. That fragile look really did inspire pity.

  Too bad it was just pretty skin on a snake.

  Luo Wei looked away, brushed past her, and left the rest area.

  "Hey, Luo Wei, where are you going?" Vina ran over holding up her skirt. Seeing her leave, she quickly chased after. "Going to dance? Who with? Do you know our dance steps? I can teach you!"

  "I'm not dancing." Luo Wei turned back. "I'm finding my teammates Hol and Gladys. Want to come?"

  Vina shrank back. "Uh... maybe not..."

  No way was she going near the Master Poisoner and Savage Witch!

  Luo Wei looked disappointed. "You're not coming? I wanted to introduce you."

  "Heh... hehe." Vina laughed stiffly. "I already know them, so... um, I'm going to dance now. Bye!"

  Vina lifted her skirt and bolted, quickly hiding behind a pillar. Large sections of reddish-brown fabric stuck out on both sides.

  Luo Wei raised an eyebrow, turned, and continued toward the other side of the ballroom.

  People kept inviting her to dance. Luo Wei politely declined each one. Eventually they stopped asking.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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