Although they lacked the mind-reading abilities of Satori Komeiji and Koishi Komeiji, judging whether someone harbored underlying hostility was second nature to both Flandre and Hong Meiling.
After walking a complete loop around the refugee camp, the two returned to Ch'en's side. Flandre pointed out a few specific individuals in the crowd.
Ch'en nodded calmly. After taking down their details on her tablet, she stepped forward and singled those people out, declaring in a clear, authoritative tone that following security screening, they were denied entry into Lungmen's territory.
A ripple of confusion immediately swept through the Sarkaz crowd. Several refugees voiced their confusion, asking why they were being segregated when they had all traveled from Kazdel as one collective group.
Just as the crowd began to stir with discontent, Flandre took a step forward.
"This is my decision," she said softly, her red eyes sweeping over the group. "Does anyone have an objection?"
The moment Flandre spoke, the vocal Sarkaz froze. The man who appeared to be the leader of the refugee group quickly stepped out from the crowd and dropped to one knee before Flandre.
"My Lady..." he pleaded, his voice raspy. "Although I do not know how my companions might have offended you, please show mercy. Do not force them out into the wastes alone, I beg of you."
Flandre shook her head without hesitation. "No."
"Why?" The leader looked up, genuine confusion etched across his weather-beaten face. "If they have offended you in some way, I offer my humblest apologies on their behalf! For the sake of us all being Sarkaz, please..."
Flandre held up a small hand, stopping him mid-sentence. "They haven't offended me, and I don't know who they are. So the things you're talking about don't exist. My reason is very simple: they showed hostility toward me."
Silence fell over the encampment. The refugees turned their heads in unison to stare at the handful of men Flandre had pointed out.
Seeing everyone's eyes fixated on them, those few individuals waved their hands defensively, vehemently protesting that such a thing was impossible. They claimed they had come to seek asylum under Flandre and Lungmen; how could they feel anything but immense gratitude toward the Blood Demon, let alone harbor hostility?
Flandre tilted her head. "Then why did I single only you out among so many people? This is the first time we've ever met—what reason would I have to dislike you for no reason?"
Faced with her sharp, simple counterquestion, the men opened their mouths, utterly speechless.
Flandre turned her gaze back to the kneeling leader. "Do you have any other objections now?"
The leader's expression turned deeply bitter. How could he have known that Flandre possessed an instinctual perception for hostility and killing intent? He had never imagined that people within his own traveling party were hiding malicious intent toward the Blood Demon.
Having spent years as a wasteland mercenary, the brutal reality of their situation clicked in his mind almost instantly. These few were almost certainly planted covertly among the refugees.
Before he could voice his suspicion, Flandre spoke up on her own.
"You few belong to Theresis, don't you?" Flandre remarked casually. "Duq'arael said he wouldn't bother me, and Nezzsalem promised not to interfere in my life... Only Theresis would send people like you to probe me."
Hearing those terrifying names drop from Flandre's lips, the Sarkaz leader pressed his forehead even lower toward the dirt, not daring to raise his head. To a low-tier mercenary like him, any of the legendary figures Flandre mentioned could crush him like an insect.
Seeing their covers completely blown, the expressions of the singled-out men instantly turned cold and murderous.
"We are all Sarkaz!" one of them snarled, dropping his pathetic act. "How dare you reject His Highness Regent's summons and align yourself so closely with the remnants of Rhodes Island!"
Flandre nodded thoughtfully. "So that's how it is."
In the next breath, the spies drew concealed blades from their waists and lunged directly toward Flandre.
Facing their sudden assault, Flandre didn't even flinch. She simply stood her ground with her arms crossed, watching them approach with cool indifference.
The instant the attackers crossed within three meters, Hong Meiling—who had been standing like a tranquil mountain beside Flandre—made her move.
With a swift sweep of her martial palm, a dense, vibrant barrage of colorful energy bullets burst forth, instantly enveloping the area in a dazzling storm of force.
Amidst a brief chorus of agonizing cries, the attackers were slammed backward, collapsing heavily onto the dusty ground.
Flandre glanced over. The spies were battered, broken, and severely injured, though not a single one had been killed outright. Of course, left untreated in the barren wilderness, men wounded that severely wouldn't survive to see the next morning anyway.
Hong Meiling withdrew her stance, her sharp gaze falling squarely upon the Sarkaz leader.
The leader understood the unspoken choice instantly. His heart conflicted for a brief, heavy second before he let out a long, weary sigh.
Unsheathing a short hunting blade from his belt, he walked grimly toward the severely wounded infiltrators. Looking at the men who had traveled alongside him—now bleeding profusely, their breath ragged, unable to even speak—he felt no lingering hesitation.
Just as he had promised when they reached the border, his sole duty was to ensure that the women, children, and elderly of his group survived safely. If anyone threatened that fragile chance at life, then as their leader, he would cut them down without mercy.
Besides, Lungmen's offer was far too generous to jeopardize. Free land to settle, initial supplies, and above all, formal education for their children. These were privileges a destitute Sarkaz couldn't dream of obtaining in a hundred lifetimes.
Under such circumstances, if anyone dared to ruin this for the community, they deserved no sympathy.
Setting his jaw, the leader stepped forward and efficiently slit the throats of the covert agents one by one.
Once the bloody work was done, he wiped his blade, walked up to Flandre, dropped to one knee, and held the stained weapon high above his head in formal submission.
"I, Mountain Hammer, am willing to lead my thirty-one remaining kin to pledge our total allegiance to Your Highness. We ask only for a piece of earth where we may survive."
Flandre looked past him toward Ch'en, then looked back at the kneeling warrior.
"I am not a lord, and I don't know if Lungmen will be your promised land," Flandre said gently. "But I can promise you this: as long as you live an honest, law-abiding life, Lungmen will not be a place that breaks your hearts."
Mountain Hammer raised his head, his voice filled with deep respect. "Your Highness..."
"You don't need to call me 'Your Highness,'" Flandre interrupted, shaking her head. "I can't be the person who leads your people to a grand future. This land is being granted to you by the city, but how well you build your lives here depends entirely on yourselves. I can't do the work for you."
"To have a safe piece of land where our children can sleep without fear is already more than enough," Mountain Hammer declared with absolute sincerity. "I will personally see to it that our people are disciplined, so Your Highness will never have to worry about us."
Flandre gave a cheerful wave of her hand, calling out toward Ch'en. "Sister Ch'en, I'll leave the rest of the paperwork to you! I'm going to take a walk around the area!"
With that, Flandre turned and trotted off toward the nearby stream with light, energetic footsteps.
Mountain Hammer wanted to say something more to her departing back, but a tall, imposing figure stepped smoothly into his line of sight, blocking his path.
Hong Meiling stood before him, her warm demeanor replaced by an aura of cool, terrifying authority.
"The Second Young Lady has no desire to meddle in your internal affairs, so do not make things difficult for her," Meiling warned, her voice calm yet carrying the weight of a mountain. "By advocating for your group to stay today, the Second Young Lady has used a considerable amount of her personal favor with the authorities. Keep your people strictly in line. I will not tolerate anyone wasting her kindness. If such a thing happens... I will personally return to deal with you."
Hong Meiling swept her cool gaze across the entire Sarkaz gathering. Every single refugee—including Mountain Hammer himself—felt a sharp, instinctual shudder run down their spines.