Harvey''s breathing grew increasingly rapid.


    He didn''t know what to do anymore.


    If he was truly expelled from Regalhold University today, his future would bepletely severed. He would never climb back up again-not in the military, not anywhere. And with his dominant arm broken, even his position within the militar could vanish like smoke.


    The despair in his eyes deepened.


    Just as he was weighing whether he should swallow his pride and beg Raven for mercy, a voice-sharp with fury-rang out from the distance.


    "Did youy a hand on my father?!"


    Harvey''s head snapped toward the source of the shout, and the moment he saw the figure charging toward them, his face I up with sudden relief.


    "Kolton!" he called, eyes gleaming.


    The young man, no older than twenty-three or twenty-four, was none other than Kolton Cardenas-Harvey''s son, and one of the youngest Colonels in the military.


    Kolton arrived at his father''s side and offered a crisp salute to General Corey Jackson. Only then did his eyes fall on Harvey


    arm.


    "Dad... your hand?" Kolton asked, his tone low.


    Harvey, trying to stayposed, quickly shook his head. "I''m fine. It''s nothing."


    But Kolton''s jaw tightened, his fists slowly curling at his sides. "Who did this?" he asked, voice growing cold.


    Harvey''s gaze instinctively shifted to Raven.


    But then, catching himself, he nced toward Corey instead.


    Thest thing he wanted was for his son to act impulsively in front of someone like General Jackson, jeopardizing his future


    So Harvey forced a smile and said quickly, "It''s nothing. Just go back. Don''t get involved."


    But Kolton had already seen the hesitation in his father''s eyes. And that was enough.


    He turned his head sharply toward Raven, eyes like frost. "Was it you?" he asked. "You''re the one who did this to my father?" Raven met his gaze without flinching. "Yes," she replied evenly. "Any problem with that?"


    Kolton''s expression darkened. The calmness in her voice, the indifference in her eyes-it all fanned the mes of fury in his


    chest.


    He chuckled coldly, though there was no humor in his voice. "Any problem? Let''s see if you still think that after I break your


    arms."


    Without another word, heunched toward her.


    Kurt''s expression shifted instantly. "Stand down! You dare raise your..."


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    13:05 Mon, 21 Apr


    But he was cut off as Corey ced a steady hand on his shoulder.


    Corey''s eyes never left Raven. He''d been wondering how to test her true strength-and now, Kolton had handed him the perfect opportunity.


    A momentter, the sound of a dull thud echoed across the field.


    Raven had struck-just one palm to the chest. Not too hard, not too soft.


    Kolton grunted, stumbling backward, forced to retreat several steps before regaining his bnce. He reached up to wipe his mouth-only to find his fingers stained with red.


    His


    eyes widened in disbelief.


    He''d been hurt?


    He-Kolton Cardenas, the prodigy who''d been praised since childhood, one of the youngest Colonels in the military-had just been injured by a girl younger than himself?


    Corey''s breathing hitched.


    His eyes remained locked on Raven, and in that moment, he knew.


    He had found it-a true gem.


    No exaggeration-Raven was the most gifted warrior he''d ever seen.


    And there was no second ce.


    With her potential, there was no question-she could earn a ce in the Hundred- Man Unit. Not just enter it, but rise to the very top of it. She had the spark, the


    instinct, the control. All she needed was the right environment to ignite.


    Corey took a deep breath, steadying the excitement building in his chest.


    Then he stepped forward, his tone solemn and deliberate.


    "Comrade," he said, "I wonder if you''ve heard about the new Hundred-Man Unit being formed under the new General?"


    Raven''s gaze finally shifted away from Kolton. She looked at Corey, her voice as calm as ever.


    "I''ve heard. Why?"


    Corey was briefly surprised by how unaffected she was. Most would be thrilled just to hear of the opportunity.


    But Raven... she acted like it was nothing more than a formality.


    Still, he didn''t let it faze him. With a faint smile, he said, "If you''re willing to follow


    me and be one of my direct subordinates, I can offer you a guaranteed spot


    in the Hundred-Man Unit. Not just a nomination. A confirmed ce-one of


    the


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