Chapter 294: Chapter 213: Legal Loli

Su Mo focused on eating barbecue in the lounger, occasionally swallowing a sip of beer, letting out a satisfying sigh.

At this moment, a figure sat down on the lounger next to him.

Su Mo initially didn’t pay attention, assuming it was a passerby.

Unexpectedly, the person spoke first, with a faintly familiar voice: “What a coincidence meeting ’Omen Star’ here.”

Su Mo was stunned to hear his nickname, turning his head to look.

This was a petite girl, one might even say “jewel-like,” slightly shorter than Dongdong.

She wore a swimwear with a classic paper-cut style, her long black hair casually draped over her shoulders, and her exquisitely carved face showed a subtle coldness.

Her coldness wasn’t out of hostility, but a naturally indifferent coldness to everything.

Su Mo was surprised to see this girl, muttering: “Captain Shangguan?”

This girl named “Shangguan Li” is a popular NPC character in the game “Dawn.”

Despite her petite figure, she’s actually about the same age as Su Mo, a legal loli.

Shangguan Li is the leader of the Mo Xue Mercenary Corps in New Moon City, having entered the industry a year and a half before Su Mo, making her mark early last year, expanding her mercenary group to 500 in eight months, becoming a superstar with the nickname “Yao Guang Star.”

It’s worth mentioning that the concept of “New Moon Seven Stars” only emerged in recent years, with four of the current seven leaders rising last year.

Therefore last year, Dawn 151st Year, is also known as the “Golden Year” of the New Moon City mercenary realm.

As for Shangguan Li, she was last year’s “Best Rookie of the Year.”

To be named Best Rookie in such a golden year full of rising stars, you can imagine how powerful and influential this seemingly petite girl is.

Su Mo has actually crossed paths with Shangguan Li twice.

Once during the Rust-Wall’s fall, in a hostage rescue operation meeting organized by Sikinkov.

Another during this year’s mercenary summit hosted by Zhou Hanyan, where both were invited attendees.

Just that neither exchanged words at the time.

This chance encounter on Saint Rivelan’s beach was their first face-to-face conversation.

Su Mo glanced at Shangguan Li’s paper-cut swimwear: “Captain Shangguan, is this?…”

Shangguan Li casually said, “Just like you, I’m here on vacation, came a few days earlier than you.”

Su Mo nodded, looking around the beach: “Are Mo Xue Mercenaries also in Saint Rivelan?”

Shangguan Li: “No, I don’t like being too close to my subordinates. We work together, but live our own lives otherwise.”

After speaking, she looked at the edge mercenaries on the beach, slightly squinting: “But you enjoy mingling with your subordinates.”

Su Mo had no grudge with Shangguan Li, relaxed at the moment, he stretched lazily on the lounger: “I don’t like those tense team atmospheres. Always having a stern face, isn’t that exhausting?”

“Seems like you prefer a friendly image, aiming for an approachable route.” Shangguan Li looked at Su Mo’s profile, said deeply, “I must admit, I really didn’t expect the Fang Tiger to be eliminated by someone like you.”

Su Mo countered: “Oh? Someone like me. What kind of person is that?”

Shangguan Li: “Do you know how the outside world views you now?”

Su Mo: “I actually haven’t paid attention to that.”

Shangguan Li opened a folding fan she carried, slowly fanned herself, saying: “Su Mo, Captain Edge, the rapidly rising superstar rookie, Dawn 152nd Year’s Best Rookie, Crow’s Nest Nemesis, savior of countless children, New Moon City’s hero.”

Su Mo: “Overrated.”

Shangguan Li suddenly changed her tone, her voice becoming profound: “But some also call you— the authority’s lackey, a sycophant to the powerful, a borderlands traitor.”

Su Mo smiled faintly.

Such external evaluation wasn’t unexpected.

Looking at New Moon City’s mercenary realm, he’s one of the few leaders closely aligned with the authorities.

And his rise to the Seven Stars, in a sense, wasn’t entirely… glamorous.

Because he’s the only one among the Seven Stars who rose through annexing hostile forces.

Annexing in normal ways is nothing, the mercenary world is survival of the fittest, big fish eat small fish is common.

But in taking over Fang Tiger, he heavily relied on the authority’s power.

This behavior isn’t breaking any rules, nor is it disallowed.

Being able to have the authorities intervene is also a skill.

Just privately people are inevitably sarcastic about this.

The title “borderlands traitor” goes without saying.

Originally, Crow’s Nest kidnapped Inner City elites’ children, making the Border District residents thrilled, finally feeling triumphant.

But Su Mo thwarted the entire plan, dragging the Border District back into the mire, crushed by the immense Inner City influence.

Now nine out of ten Border District residents hate Su Mo, hating this person from the Border District who now serves the Inner City as a “traitor.”

Of course, Su Mo is indifferent to these evaluations.

Everything he does, he feels true to himself.

If outsiders want to curse, let them curse.

No matter the criticism, it won’t sway his steps forward.

“How others evaluate me doesn’t matter.” Su Mo said with a smile, “What matters now is whether Captain Shangguan sees me the same way.”

Shangguan Li waved her hand, slowly said: “Just like you said, how others evaluate you doesn’t matter, so my view of you is equally unimportant. I never pay attention to others’ evaluation of me.”

“Just advise you one thing—don’t get too close to the authorities.”

Su Mo shrugged: “What’s wrong with being close to the authorities? Many things are very difficult for us citizens, but are mere efforts for the authorities. Why not make full use of such power?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep