Chapter 481: The Girls’ Adventure

Although Tita and the other artificial beings hadn't set up any security measures around the Sisterhood's training base, their authority was like an invisible rope tied around each girl's body. That authority came from the flames and explosions, the longswords and detonations that had accompanied their first encounter. It was enough to make any girl think twice before sneaking out to relax.

Tatyana and Vera were a bit disappointed. They had risked being caught by the Ladies to sneak out before morning drills, yet they hadn't been able to see the deity they so revered. It was truly disheartening. However, they did meet a kind man who was far more familiar with the paths around the area than they were. He took the two girls on a shortcut back to the Sisterhood and even promised not to tell anyone about their little escapade.

So neither Tatyana nor Vera thought it was a big deal to let that handsome man pat their heads.

On the way back to their dormitory, Tatyana and Vera were filled with anxiety, terrified of being seen—especially by the artificial beings. If that happened, their training tasks would surely be doubled, and even more brutal drills would follow. Fortunately, no one spotted them. No one pointed fingers at them or loudly exposed their actions.

That was a huge relief.

The atmosphere among the Sisterhood's trainees wasn't as harmonious as outsiders might think. Where there were people, there would be competition. Tatyana's outstanding performance had drawn the attention of several sisters who were desperate to prove themselves superior to her, hoping to win the favor of Lady Tita or the Monarch (Him).

But so far, no one had managed to surpass her.

"If He glows every day, that must be really exhausting. The scientific knowledge the Ladies taught us says that if He's constantly glowing, He'd be burning a lot of energy," Vera declared confidently after they returned to the dormitory. "So maybe He doesn't glow all the time—maybe He only lights up after eating, like a firefly! Next time, we shouldn't just follow the glowing places."

Tatyana agreed, and the two of them concluded that today's plan had been incredibly stupid. They had wandered through the streets and alleys of the Eternal City like moths drawn to a flame, blindly chasing after lights just because Vera believed He would glow. Tatyana almost wanted to cover her face in embarrassment—Vera, who was usually so timid it was almost exaggerated, had a shockingly bold side. She couldn't believe she had been dragged into doing something this foolish by her.

Vera's personality was as unpredictable as a cat's. But the Ladies had said that a cat's brain had fewer neurons than a dog's, so maybe Vera was just a simple-minded fool?

"Morning drills are about to start, and we missed breakfast!" Tatyana jumped up from her bed, grabbed a piece of bread, and shoved it into Vera's mouth. "Hurry up! If we don't get to the training field fast, the Ladies might figure out what we did!"

"Mmmph! (Right!)" Vera mumbled through the bread.

"I'm looking forward to the swordsmanship training." Tatyana grinned mischievously. "The Ladies will definitely go see Him—then we'll find another way!"

"Mmmph! (Yes!)" Vera raised a hand in agreement.

It wasn't just the trainees who were learning—so were the artificial beings. Given Solomon's next objective, their training was now focused on vehicle piloting and airborne deployment. Their simulated targets were aircraft carriers and supersonic planes. The training scenarios involved storming a carrier, forcing a supersonic plane to slow down, and, if the pilot refused, boarding it forcibly for armed confrontation.

With the protection of power armor, such operations weren't impossible. However, even with power armor, not everyone could execute them, so rigorous training was essential. The models used in the simulations were based on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarriers and Quinjet aircraft, as Solomon had specified that the next battle would take place aboard them.

Wakanda had provided state-of-the-art simulation training equipment, allowing the artificial beings to use VR technology to handle unexpected scenarios. This training was primarily designed for commanders, but at Tita's insistence, most artificial beings participated. She demanded that everyone understand the operation plans—Solomon had revealed that the upcoming mission would be divided into multiple squads, and Tita needed to ensure that each battlefield had at least one skilled commander.

This was why Tatyana and Vera had been able to sneak out—everyone else was too busy with training to keep an eye on them. By the time Tita's phone alarm reminded her, she and the other artificial beings rushed back to the base to begin training the girls who had been waiting for them.

"Tatyana, step forward!"

The blonde girl straightened her back and stepped forward from the neatly arranged formation, just as she had been trained to do. Her golden hair was braided into the short, thick plaits common among girls from her homeland, draping proudly over one shoulder with the distinctive charm of Slavic women. As Tita called her name, Tatyana's pale face flushed with red—perhaps from the shame of what she had done today.

This overly adorable expression had been what spared her back at the brothel. The pimps hadn't wanted their "property" to suffer unnecessary damage. And before she could meet an even worse fate, the Sisterhood had saved her.

The training uniforms for the recruits had three adjustable black nylon straps across the chest—one at the top, one at the bottom, and one in the middle. These were designed to restrain the development of girls who matured too early, keeping their chests secured and compressed to prevent unnecessary errors or discomfort during training. Even after they received their own armor, these three nylon straps would always remain part of their attire.

Tatyana's chest strap was sloppily fastened, which was why Tita had called her out. "This is the first time your uniform has been out of regulation." The armored artificial being reached out with her steel-encased fingers, pulling the strap tight and fastening the Velcro securely. After confirming that Tatyana's handgun and dagger were placed correctly according to combat regulations, she allowed her to return to the lineup.

"Pay attention next time."

The scent of metal and the ozone from the power pack filled Tatyana's nose, making her lower her head. She had always been a model student—this was the first time she had been caught making a mistake. When she heard the soft giggles from the formation, she shot a fierce glare in their direction. The moment Tita's gaze followed hers, the laughter stopped instantly, and every girl wore a serious expression.

"Today, we will be learning the swordsmanship granted to us by the great Monarch." Tita donned her helmet, her voice amplified through the speakers, reaching every girl's ears. "But before that, I need to see your faith. Have you prayed to Him? Have you thanked Him? Have you praised Him?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The girls stood with their hands behind their backs, legs apart.

"Who saved you?"

"Who rescued you from your miserable fate?"

"Who gave your life meaning?"

"Who granted you the right to wield violence?"

Tita led the daily ritual prayer before training, and the girls recited it flawlessly. She was pleased with their performance—they were far stronger than those who had been too weak to train. Tita believed that a few of these recruits would soon be ready to don power armor and join real combat.

Tatyana, Vera, Darya, Ekaterina…

She would keep a close eye on these girls.

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