"Let''s go take a look," Carl said, and without waiting for a response, he headed straight for Cassian.


    I, seeing her father''s eagerness, felt a surge of pride. ''How dare a nobody like that even think aboutpeting with me for Cassian?''


    Carl approached Cassian and, without any airs of seniority, greeted him with a smile, "Cassian, what a coincidence!"


    Cassian looked at Carl with a cool indifference, acknowledging him with a formal, "Mr. Thornton."


    Raven, hearing Cassian''s form of address, was surprised.


    Although she hadn''t met Carl in person, she had gathered information on the heads of Regalhold''s five major families.


    She recognized him instantly as Carl Thornton, head of the Thornton family.


    It seemed Cassian might be from the Lysander family, another one of the five.


    ''That exins why Hugmuinn couldn''t find any information on him.'' Raven thought.


    00


    56%


    +13


    If Cassian was part of the five families, it made sense. Their information was ssified within the national security system, inessible without specific


    authorization.


    While Raven''s thoughts raced, Carl turned to her with a smile, "And you, youngdy?"


    "I''m Raven Valor."


    "Valor?" Carl looked puzzled, as if trying to recall any prominent Valor families in Regalhold.


    I jumped in, "Father, there''s only one minor Valor family in all of Regalhold. They wouldn''t even qualify for the outer circle of tonight''s banquet."


    Carl nodded in understanding.


    Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he turned to Cassian, "Cassian, it wouldn''t do to attend the banquet without apanion. It might raise eyebrows."


    He nced at I, clearly suggesting she could be his date. He believed Cassian was smart enough to realize that his daughter was the one who could stand by his side.


    Raven raised an eyebrow at Cassian, "Banquet?"


    Cassian nodded slightly. "General Drakon is hosting a banquet to celebrate Vyrdenia''s fourth general. It''s a hard invitation to decline."


    Raven remembered Drakon mentioning a promotion celebration ten days ago.


    She hadn''t expected him to start the event without even informing the guest of honor.


    "I''ll go with you," she offered,mitted to keeping her word to cooperate with Drakon.


    But I scoffed, "You? Do you even know what kind of event that is? Not even the head of the Valor family, let alone a nobody like you, would be qualified to attend."


    Carl shook his head. ''Women from such minor families are just so unsophisticated!


    To think she''d dare to utter such nonsense about attending the general''s banquet.


    However, both I and Carl were stunned when Cassian''s handsome face broke into a slight smile. He nodded to Raven, "Alright, I''ll have someone


    arrange an invitation for you."


    16:56 Mon, 14 Apr O


    Raven shook her head. "No need, someone from the military will deliver it."


    ￥955%


    At Raven''s words, Carl''s gaze shifted, his opinion of Cassian''s taste in women plummeting, I, on the other hand, looked at Raven as if she were beyond foolish.


    "Someone from the military is going to personally invite you? If such an idiot actually exists, they''re a disgrace. People like that should get out of the Vyrdenian military!"


    Just then, Raven''s phone rang


    The caller ID disyed-Drakon.