After becoming top guides, they are obsessed with

Chapter 686 You've Already Adapted to Me

"Would you like something to drink?"

Yu Xia noticed that Knicks hadn't drunk any water and thought she should get him some wine.

Knicks didn't say anything, he just stared at her.

Yu Xia sighed softly, "The Knicks?"

He had been staring at her for a long time, and Yu Xia was starting to feel uncomfortable under his gaze. He was neither speaking nor smiling, and he looked rather serious.

She felt that same feeling she had before when he caught a meddlesome soldier making a mistake.

Yu Xia picked up the water on the table, took a sip, and looked away.

Amu was wandering around the living room, rummaging through things here and there, acting as if he were in his own home without any hesitation.

Knicks said, "Don't worry, this kid will just look for something to eat, he won't take anything else."

"What's wrong with Amu?"

Hearing the Knicks finally speak, Yu Xia breathed a sigh of relief and asked him.

"Was he... injured here?" Yu Xia pointed to his head, her tone tactful.

She didn't mean anything by it; she just felt that Amu's brain had probably suffered some kind of injury, and she could tell that he had symptoms of amnesia.

"Injured?" Amu's ears twitched. Hearing Yu Xia's words, he turned to look at her. "I'm fine. Don't worry, I'm very strong."

Yu Xia smiled slightly and said to him, "The kitchen is on your left. There's food in that white cabinet, frozen food. You can heat it up if you need to."

Amu immediately went to the kitchen excitedly to get some food.

"He wasn't injured, he's just a little slow."

“They really trust you to leave you here alone,” Nix said. “They wouldn’t even know if other sentries came in by the smell.”

His tone was slightly reproachful, blaming Maggie and the others for not paying enough attention to her.

“No other sentries will come in.” Yu Xia trusted Flock’s abilities, especially after seeing his thriving vegetable garden.

"Then what are we?" Nix pointed at him and Amu.

Yu Xia didn't reply. It was probably Floch who let them in; otherwise, the two of them wouldn't even have been able to get through the door before being knocked down by a mental attack.

Floch's mental strength was several times stronger than before.

Yu Xia couldn't sense his level, but that very inability to sense it made her even more alarmed.

Unlike Flock, whose mental strength improved upon entering the North Second District, Golden Flower's spiritual body remained dormant.

She's now using the power of the dolphin spirit.

“I forgot, you’re not a guide.” Nix patted his pocket, took out a guide’s cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and then, seeing the girl’s gaze, he stubbed it out.

He waved away the puff of smoke he had just exhaled and said to Yu Xia, "I don't usually smoke. It contains hormones."

He paused, then changed his words, saying, "I've already started quitting."

Yu Xia noticed a hint of irritation between his brows and asked, "How long has it been since you had any counseling?"

“Psychological counseling?” Knicks thought for a moment. “It’s been almost a year.”

This was the mental health counseling he did while he was still working for the federal government.

Federation and Imperial Sentinels earn several times more mission points than regular Sentinels. Mercenaries who want to use points for mental counseling would be lucky to do it even once every two or three years of hard work.

If he were still in federal office, his position would allow him to receive a brief psychological counseling session before entering the contaminated area.

Yu Xia said leisurely, "You've maintained a good condition for so long."

Knicks chuckled, took a vial of inhibitor from his pocket, tossed it in his hand, and said, "This stuff is pretty good."

It's a bit strange that Knicks was in better shape before entering the North Second District than he was after receiving mental counseling from the Federal Guide a year ago.

He looked at the inhibitor in his hand; the guide hormones used by the mercenaries were at a higher concentration than those used by the Federal Empire.

However, higher concentrations do not necessarily mean better results; these substances also have side effects.

The dosage of guides and inhibitors distributed to Sentinels in the Federal Empire is very strictly controlled, and doctors will prescribe the dosage according to the Sentinel's physical condition and tolerance.

Mercenaries don't have as many restrictions, and even with more side effects, it's still better than mutated berserkers.

Most mercenaries find it difficult to get a guide for mental counseling. Points are hard to accumulate, and guides are extremely rare. There aren't enough active sentries in the Federation to fill the queue. Even if it is their turn, they may be deliberately blocked or have their turn cut in line.

Therefore, a wild guide is even more valuable.

Mercenary groups that have their own guides are usually very low-key and will not reveal that they have guides in their team. Even if they are discovered, they will not admit it.

Because of the scarcity of guides, anyone who awakens a guide ability will be immediately taken away by the Federal Empire, either to the White Tower for unified training or to the Watchtower with powerful family capabilities.

Those guides who remain in a mercenary group are not easily shaken. Mercenary groups with guides are the most ruthless, and even sentries dare not provoke them.

That's why Knicks was even more puzzled by the girl in front of him.

What exactly is she?
Could she be a guide for the mercenary group?

Impossible, her spiritual form is a dolphin, he saw it with his own eyes.

Now he suspects she might be an imposter, a sea princess.

Otherwise, why would she pretend? This doesn't seem like the arrogant nature of sea people.

Even her personality doesn't seem like that of a sea creature.

Knicks considered himself quite worldly-wise, but this girl was like a hazy fog, with too many things about her that he couldn't understand.

Is she a sea princess, a guide, or something else entirely?
Nix was certain she was a Sea Clan member; she possessed not only Sea Clan abilities but also the Sea Clan's spiritual essence.

Other things can be faked, but the spiritual body cannot.

But if she is a sea creature, why does she have the aura of a guide?

The sea creatures have no guides; this is the information all the sentinels know best about them.

But a voice inside him told him that she was his guide.

He said that on purpose, hoping she would tell him herself that she was the guide.

Knicks felt a little irritated. He also felt a bit uncomfortable breathing. He tugged at the collar of his combat suit and unbuckled the metal strap between his neck and chest.

Seeing his action, Yu Xia touched the glands on the back of her neck.

The patch was torn off by Flock last night, saying that he didn't need to use it here.

"How are you feeling?" Yu Xia glanced at the faintly visible muscle lines beneath Knicks' collar and asked.

"I have to go." Nix caught her glance and adjusted his collar. "When are they coming back? Can you get in touch with them?"

This villa not only has strong mental defenses, but also instrument jammers, and the communicator signal is directly blocked.

"I don't know," Yu Xia said.

“They’re really carefree…” Knicks: “I’ll go find you a few guards.”

He paused for a moment and then said, "We'll just stay outside; we won't come in."

As he was about to get up, he saw the girl across from him walking towards him and felt a force pulling him back, making him unable to move.

Deep down, I had a vague feeling that I knew what she was going to do.

Images involuntarily flashed through the Knicks' mind...

After a moment of stunned silence, Knicks cursed himself inwardly.

But the next moment, a soft, fragrant, and adorable creature appeared on his lap.

Knicks didn't know when his breathing stopped.

He seemed afraid that if he breathed even slightly heavier, he might blow the girl in front of him away. Yu Xia looked at Knicks' reaction and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

She said, "Do you want to kiss me?"

Upon hearing her words, Nix reacted faster than his mind could process, giving her a light peck on the lips.

Why refuse?
Nix asked himself the same question over and over again. He even felt a pang of regret for having rejected her before.

But when he realized what he had done, he immediately grabbed Yu Xia's waist and put her on the sofa.

Yu Xia: "."

Knicks, you're incredibly patient!
Yu Xia gently pursed her lips, sat on his lap again, wrapped her arms around his neck to prevent him from escaping, and wouldn't allow him to throw her off.

Knicks took a few slow breaths, turned his head and said, "Get down here!"

Yu Xia asked in a slightly aggrieved tone, "Don't you like me?"

“…” Nix turned to look at her, then turned his face away again, veins bulging on his neck. “It’s not that I don’t like you. Get down here and stay away from me.”

As he spoke, he tried to remove Yu Xia's hand; if she didn't leave, he... he would...
Yu Xia tightened her arms, puffed out her cheeks, and called him by his full name: "Knicks, I'm giving you one last chance."

The Knicks' minds started to go blank. Opportunity? What opportunity?
Was it the opportunity he was looking for?

Yu Xia: "If you want it, just say so. Don't do this."

Knicks: Want? Want what? What can he want?
A jumble of random images popped into his mind again.

At this moment, his body was like a volcano about to erupt, and his consciousness, which had been shielded by the mental defenses here, became sharp again.

But only for the girl in front of me.

Her movements, her breath, everything about her was magnified infinitely before his eyes.

Gradually, he felt as if he could only see her and hear her voice, and the things around him became blurry.

"call"

The Knicks let out a heavy sigh, making one last desperate attempt.

He grabbed her hand that was wrapped around him, trying to pull it away, but when he touched her soft skin, his last bit of resistance vanished.

"Come on," he said, his voice hoarse, as he closed his eyes.

Knicks released her hand, leaned back resignedly, and gradually relaxed as he let go.

Yu Xia looked at him with a mix of amusement and exasperation, as if he were going to war. She gently rubbed the back of his head to comfort him. "It's okay, Knicks. You've gotten used to me. It won't be too uncomfortable."

Knicks opened his eyes abruptly upon hearing her words.

Adapt? Adapt to what?
When did he get used to her?

"What are you talking about?"

Yu Xia leaned forward, her forehead touching his, and looked tenderly into his eyes. "It's okay, you'll remember soon."

Knicks was taken aback. "I really don't understand."

Seeing his reaction, Yu Xia wanted to tease him, but before she could speak, she heard Amu's shocked voice, "What, what are you doing?!"

Yu Xia looked over Knicks' shoulder and saw Amu holding a piece of frozen meat in one hand and a bottle of milk in the other. The pancake he was biting into had fallen to the ground.

"You...you..." Amu couldn't believe what he was seeing. "You really like my boss?"

Yu Xia rested her chin on Knicks' shoulder and looked at the silly little wolf with a smile, "Yeah, he's mine now."

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt Knicks' heart rate increase.

"What about me?" Amu asked, a little sadly. "Aren't you thinking about me anymore?"

Yu Xia: "You, let me think about it."

"Stop thinking about it." Knicks grabbed her neck, forcing her to look at him. "He hasn't met the standard yet."

Amu panicked, "You mean I haven't met the standard yet! Boss, I'm not much worse than you. I'm younger, I have more energy, and I'm better looking than you!"

The Knicks' forehead vein throbbed. "Have you said enough?"

"No, I have many good points!" With that, Amu threw down the food in his hand and walked quickly toward them.

Knicks knew this kid could be stubborn and difficult to deal with when he got into trouble, and he was just about to deal with him when he heard a muffled thud behind him, and then the living room fell silent.

He turned his head and saw that Amu was lying sprawled on the ground.

Yu Xia: "They're quite easy to deal with."

The Knicks turned to look at her.

“He’s fine, he’s just asleep,” Yu Xia said. “I wouldn’t hurt your teammate.”

“You are the guide,” he said.

Yu Xia smiled. "Would you believe me if I said it wasn't true?"

Nix's expression turned serious. "The sea creatures don't have guides, do you?"

Seeing that he seemed hesitant to speak, Yu Xia said, "What is it? Tell me, Knicks."

She wanted to hear what the Knicks would imagine.

Knicks considered for a moment and said, "Tell me, are you a sea creature or not?"

Yu Xia did not answer him immediately, but instead released her spiritual body.

The tiny dolphin, only the size of a normal cat, circled them twice before kissing Knicks on the cheek.

Knicks was at a loss for words; this spiritual entity was the best answer Yu Xia could give.

She is a sea creature and also a guide.

The sentry couldn't possibly release his spiritual form in this villa. If he didn't know this was Maki's territory and that Yu Xia was here, he would never have come in.

Just look at Amu lying on the ground and you'll know.

There is another person here with powerful mental strength who can kill them at any time.

"Are you in danger?" Knicks snapped out of his thoughts and asked Yu Xia only this one question.

"Those sea people, they know your true identity, will they harm you?"

Yu Xia looked at him in surprise.

Knicks: "Or do they already know who you are, and that's why you're hiding from them?"

Yu Xia: "You're so smart."

Knicks: "Did I really guess right?"

"I guess so."

"Don't count it." Knicks cupped her face in his large hand, his tone worried and serious. "Tell me, sweetheart, will they..."

Nixton lives there.

Wait, what did he call her?
Yu Xia looked at him with a smile, "Knicks captain, what did you just call me? I don't think I heard you clearly, say it again."

"He didn't say anything." Nix snapped back to reality. "Don't interrupt. Did those sea people discover your disguised identity?"

Yu Xia shook her head. "They probably won't find out."

"Probably?" Yu Xia wasn't entirely sure either.

Knicks: "So you're going back?"

Yu Xia: Not for now.

Before Knicks could say anything more, Yu Xia simply shut him up, saying, "Knicks, think about yourself first."