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Seeing Mengdie’s hands, Aiya finally felt relieved. But while Aiya's worries were eased, Mengdie was somewhat dissatisfied with her own hands.

If possible, she actually wished the scar on her face wouldn't disappear. Scars are a man's medal, after all! But her skin, healing instantly no matter what, lacked the manliness she desired. Sometimes Mengdie even thought about scarring her face with scissors. But self-mutilation for no reason? That’s not the mindset of a warrior.

In the following days, everything returned to calm. Aiya recovered quickly, able to walk the next day. Mengdie’s wound healed even faster, her once again flawless face greatly relieved Aiya. The soldiers didn’t come back to trouble them, apparently preoccupied with some special task, leaving the poor district alone. Niya, following Mengdie's instructions, didn’t seek out diamond buyers and stayed home doing housework, waiting for Mengdie and Aiya to return each day.

Another day at dinner, the three of them sat around the table as usual. The selection meeting was only a month away. Aiya’s forced smiles became more strained, and Niya’s eating slowed down. Mengdie, seeing this, felt increasingly anxious.

"Niya, come here, I have something to talk to you about." After a few bites, Mengdie got up and called Niya. After nodding to Aiya with a smile, the two walked towards the bedroom.

"Give me the diamond." Mengdie glanced at Aiya, who looked puzzled in the living room, and extended her hand to Niya.

Niya hesitated at first but then, with a trusting look, took out the diamond, the size of a finger joint, from her waist pouch and placed it in Mengdie's hand.

"Sister Mengdie! Are you... going to sell it for me?"

Niya’s eyes were filled with hope.

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"No, I'm confiscating it." Mengdie pocketed the diamond, speaking earnestly, "It’s too dangerous for you to keep it. If the knights find it again, you won’t be so lucky. I’ll find a better place to dispose of it."

Hearing Mengdie was going to discard the only thing that could save her sister, Niya panicked! She almost cried, trying to snatch the diamond from Mengdie's pocket, yelling, "Give it back! Give it back! Waaah, you thief! Robber! Give the diamond back to me!"

"Diamond? What diamond?"

Aiya, hearing her sister’s shouts, hurried over worriedly. Mengdie quickly covered Niya's mouth, whispering, "Trust me! I will definitely help your sister out of trouble! Can you believe in me, please?"

Niya, still agitated, gradually calmed down under Mengdie's promise. As Aiya approached, she nodded tearfully, looking at Mengdie.

"What's going on? I thought I heard something about a diamond?"

"Hahaha! Nothing, but there's something I want to ask you two."

Mengdie pulled the sisters back to their seats, sitting opposite them with a smile, "I was wondering, where can I sign up to join the bandit annihilation mission?"

Aiya didn’t understand Mengdie's intention at first, "You mean the registration for the mercenary group going to annihilate the bandits? There’s a temporary camp outside the city where many mercenaries and soldiers are staying. Just register there. Mengdie, what are you planning to do?"

Mengdie smiled faintly, finished her barley porridge, untied the ribbon binding her hair, went to the water tank, scooped up a bucket of water, and started washing her silky hair.

"You're thinking of joining?!" Aiya finally understood and stood up abruptly.

The reflection in the water showed a delicate girl with a triumphant smile. She gently combed her wet hair with her fingers, letting the droplets glide effortlessly off the ends. The stunning girl, with her long hair draped around her, looked at the two stunned sisters with the most confident smile.

"No way! I absolutely disagree! Sister Mengdie, it's too dangerous! Even if you can defeat that knight captain, the Black Flame bandits are ruthless killers! Even the kingdom struggles against them!"

"Oh? So these bandits are the Black Flame?" Mengdie glanced at Niya, who lowered her head, avoiding eye contact. Mengdie turned back to Aiya, smiling, "Don’t worry. I've done this sort of thing before (oops, I’m amnesiac, can’t say 'before')... um... Anyway, it’s easy. Once I bring their leaders back, many of our problems will be solved."

Aiya wanted to stop her, but Mengdie responded with nothing but a calm, confident smile. Aiya, trying to be more convincing, exaggerated the bandits’ prowess, describing them as nearly invincible warriors with many renegade mages, stronger than an army!

The persuasion lasted from dinner till bedtime. Exhausted and flushed, Aiya finally gave up against Mengdie’s ever-calm smile.

"Let's sleep for now. But Mengdie, I’m telling you, you must not join the mercenaries! Let men handle such dangerous tasks, okay?"

Mengdie loudly agreed: "Okay—!"

Aiya didn’t believe Mengdie’s promise. After washing up, she took Niya back to the bedroom, changed into nightwear, and lay down. She was determined to stop Mengdie from undertaking such a dangerous task.

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