Corey let out a heartyugh. "Goodd you''ve got promise."


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    He pped Caleb on the shoulder, clearly pleased, and was just about to lead him through the Lysander estate gates when a gentle, melodious voice suddenly called out behind them.


    "Corey."


    He turned slightly and saw K, stepping gracefully out of a white ted luxury car, dressed to the nines. Just that morning, she''d been rescued from the library vault by Raven. Now, she stood poised and immacte, as though none of it had ever happened.


    The moment Corey saw her, his entire demeanor shifted-he straightened his spine and dipped into a small bow. "K."


    K quickly stepped forward and gently took his arm. "Corey, how many times have I told you not to bother with such formalities?"


    Caleb blinked, momentarily stunned. The fact that Corey-a grand general-was bowing to this woman said everything. He didn''t know her full identity, but it was obvious she held serious weight.


    He immediately bowed his head with deference. "Ms. Macy."


    K gave him a faint, polite smile. "No need to be so formal."


    Then she tilted her head ever so slightly and turned her gaze toward someone standing quietly off to the side-Raven.


    Corey followed her line of sight, and when he saw Raven standing therepletely still, not even attempting a bow, his expression darkened. His tone snapped. "You See Ms. Macy and don''t think to show respect?"


    Raven didn''t move. Her gaze remained steady on K, her tone calm and detached. She didn''t bow. She didn''t flinch. She didn''t even blink.


    She already had a good idea of K''s status based on how Corey addressed her. But so what? She was now a general.


    Even if she were still just a lieutenant general, she wouldn''t bend the knee to some noblewoman whose entire existence was propped up by ast name.


    That went for K-and it went for the father Raven barely acknowledged as well.


    Corey''s face grew colder by the second. He was one heartbeat away fromshing out.


    But before he could explode, K gently raised a delicate hand and spoke in a soft,posed voice. "Corey, this isn''t Valha. She''s just a civilian. It''s not surprising she doesn''t know me. I don''t take offense."


    With that, she turned without so much as a nce back and walked gracefully through the Lysander gates.


    Corey gave Raven onest look of frosty disapproval before following K inside. In his heart, he was now even more relieved that he hadn''t wasted a


    Hundred Man Unit slot on someone like Raven.


    She had no tact. No decorum. No idea how the world worked. With emotional intelligence that low, how could she ever rise to real power?


    But just as he smugly came to this conclusion, Edric Lysander himself came hurrying over.


    "Ms. Macy, Commander Corey," Edric said warmly, "forgive me for not greeting you sooner."


    K''s lips curved into a polite, elegant smile. "Mr. Lysander."


    Edric froze for a half second before quickly waving his hands. "No need to address me like that, you''ll ruin me. I''m hardly worthy of such courtesy."


    K didn''t press it. Instead, she got straight to the point. "Where''s Cassian?"


    10:59 Tue, 22 Apr


    Edric blinked. "You know my son?"


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    K nodded gently. "I was trapped in the Regalhold library vault earlier. It was Cassian who rescued me. If not for him, I might not be standing here now."


    Edric''s expression turned serious. "I see... Is that so?"


    Then heughed lightly. "Well then, fate must be bringing the two of you together. I''ll be sure to tell him to seize the opportunity."


    Of course, he was just being polite. After all, he''d seen with his own eyes how close Cassian had been with Ravenst night.


    Between K-whose title held little real power-and Raven, who was the trusted right hand of a newly appointed general withmand over


    Hundred-Man Unit slots... it wasn''t even a contest.


    But just as that thought crossed his mind-Raven walked through the front gates.


    Edric''s eyes flicked toward her. She met his gaze, her lips curling into a faint, casual smile. "Mr. Lysander. We meet again."


    K''s brows furrowed slightly. She didn''t like the familiarity in Raven''s tone-not one bit.


    Corey, standing beside her, let out a cold, almost mocking scoff. Meet again? In his mind, Raven was barely more than a colonel.


    Someone like Edric-Regalhold nobility through and through-wouldn''t give her the time of day.


    Originally, based on Raven''s strength alone, Corey had thought she might have been worthy of a spot in the Hundred-Man Unit. But now? Now that she couldn''t even manage basic etiquette in front of a figure like Edric? She was going to sabotage her own chances.


    He was almost enjoying the moment, waiting to see her crash and burn.


    But then, Edric, whose expression had visibly stiffened just moments ago from his own awkward slip, finally spoke.


    And the words that came out of his mouth made Corey''s smug expression freeze on his face.


    BB