Despite her complaining, Camilla's state was clearly a bit off today.
A hint of smugness couldn't be hidden between her brows.
Annie glanced sideways at her, somewhat puzzled.
Camilla didn't keep them in suspense; she pulled a black-and-white contract from her pocket and waved it smugly in front of the two of them.
"But hey, your girl has this now. Jealous?"
"What's this?" Avril leaned in curiously.
Camilla tilted her chin up like a little peacock with its feathers spread: "A high-level task force at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters has their eye on me. I don't know exactly what they do yet, but they've officially invited me to join. Hehe, I'm moving up in the World, reporting to HQ ahead of schedule~"
As she spoke, she nudged Annie affectionately with her elbow.
Avril exclaimed, "Then doesn't that mean you have to withdraw from school?"
Camilla nodded.
With this special recruitment invitation, she could indeed skip the remaining courses and go out into society for an internship.
She turned to look at Annie. Seeing Annie's displeased expression, she assumed Annie was jealous that despite having a higher rank, she was the one picked by HQ. Camilla quickly leaned closer and comforted her half-jokingly.
"Oh, Annie, don't be too envious. With your skills, HQ will probably send you an invitation this time next year. I'll be looking out for you in Washington then!"
Looking at Camilla's smug, silly face, Annie couldn't help but roll her eyes.
How could this girl be so stupid?
No wonder Makima had her sights set on her.
With this easily-fooled disposition, she'd probably be happily counting the money for the person who sold her out as cannon fodder!
Clearly, this unnamed S.H.I.E.L.D. high-level task force Camilla spoke of...
...was exactly the Thunderbolts that Makima was currently forming.
Seeing Camilla's enthusiastic look and her beautiful vision for the future, Annie didn't know how to respond for a moment. She couldn't exactly lay out the truth and tell her that this team was a bottomless pit of trouble, could she?
To do that would be equivalent to slapping Makima's face within S.H.I.E.L.D. and sabotaging Su Modie's deployment, wouldn't it?
No matter how maverick Annie's personality was, she wouldn't sabotage her own people for the sake of an outsider.
Especially not Sister Mo Die's plan.
So the question was, what exactly should Annie do to keep Camilla here and prevent her from becoming cannon fodder under Makima?
If Su Modie had encountered this, it would have been much simpler; a bit of acting cute and some persistent wheedling would have left the person dazed and easily persuaded. But for a'steel-straight' woman like Annie...
...she really couldn't learn that high-difficulty combo of moves.
Instead of racking her brains on how to act cute to make her stay, a more direct plan that better suited her style emerged in Annie's mind—give Camilla a beating.
That's right, just find an excuse to 'accidentally' beat her into a state of partial disability, so she could lie comfortably in a hospital bed for a few months.
This way, Camilla would naturally and perfectly miss this so-called 'promotion opportunity.'
Mm, it's decided then.
If Camilla is truly hell-bent on going, then I'll just break her legs!
Thinking of this, Annie silently clenched her fist, her knuckles making a faint cracking sound.
Standing opposite her, Camilla suddenly felt a chill down her spine, an inexplicable coldness rushing to her head.
Looking at Annie's unfriendly expression, she shrank her neck back, confused, thinking—Sis, you wouldn't go that far, right? Even if you're jealous, you wouldn't actually want to hit me, would you?
Camilla curled her lip, feeling a bit wronged.
However, unexpectedly, Annie didn't take any extra action, nor did she say anything to make her stay.
She unclenched her fist and simply dropped a sentence in her usual cold, indifferent voice: "Mm, then good luck."
After saying that, she didn't even look back, turning around to lead Avril out of the hall.
Avril followed Annie at a trot with a bewildered face, looking back at the stunned Camilla and then at Annie's back, unable to help but speak up: "Eh? We're just leaving like this? Aren't we going to have a meal together to celebrate or something?"
"Annie, it'll take at least two or three years for the two of us to graduate from the academy, right?"
"Doesn't that mean we might not see Camilla-chan for these next two or three years?"
Unlike a normal university or high school, once one entered a high-security S.H.I.E.L.D. task force, cases of not seeing someone for two or three years—or even for the rest of one's life—were commonplace.
These unintentional words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Camilla's heart.
That's true...
If she joined that secret task force, she would most likely be deployed elsewhere, and she wouldn't have time to return to the academy once she got busy.
If she didn't see Annie for several years, by the time they met again, their relationship would likely have faded long ago.
They might very well become strangers, just like that cold "good luck" just now.
Thinking of this possibility, Camilla's heart suddenly felt stifled and unpleasant. Even worse... during the time she was away from S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, that girl Avril would be with Annie all the time. When that time came...
The trio would become a duo.
And Annie would feel lonely and cold because of her departure...
Camilla didn't even dare to think about what would happen!
Dammit!
It was clearly the first time she'd made friends... clearly the first time she'd gotten a promotion and a raise...
These two happy things intertwined... how did it end up like this?
But on second thought, hadn't she trained like her life depended on it and fought tooth and nail to join S.H.I.E.L.D. just so she could climb up step by step, reach the core of power, achieve fame and fortune, and earn lots and lots of money?
The old Camilla had wandered the streets alone, tasting the coldness of the World.
She knew better than anyone that in this cruel World, only by holding power and money in her hands could she have any guarantee of survival.
Comforting herself this way, Camilla took a deep breath and straightened her back, pretending not to care.
But when her gaze fell once more on Annie's receding back, seeing her steady pace and the fact that she hadn't intended to look back even once from start to finish, an indescribable sense of grievance still surged up uncontrollably.
I'm about to leave this place!
You heartless person!
Fine if you don't take the initiative to say you'll throw me a farewell party, but what do you mean by "Mm, then good luck"?!
This is way too cold!
Dammit...
The more Camilla thought about it, the angrier she got, and her eyes began to sting.
She simply stomped her foot hard, turned around, and strode off in the opposite direction.
Who needs you to see me off anyway! Who cares about a heartless, poker-faced idiot like you!
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