?Chapter 999:


    Wesley, standing nearby, scoffed. His eyes shifted toward Elena, knowing exactly who the real Healer was. N didn’t even know who the true Healer was, and yet she had the audacity to pass herself off as the Healer’s chosen protégé.


    When their eyes met, Elena raised a brow. “What’s with the look?”


    “You’re really going to let her ride on your name like that?” Wesley asked, his voice low.


    A faintugh escaped Elena. “Let her enjoy the spotlight for the time being. Pretending won’t get her far—I’m curious to see how long she can keep up the act.”


    Elena wasn’t in a hurry to expose N’s clumsy lies. The higher N climbed, the harder she’d fall. Besides, she had bigger concerns. There was still no word from Avo regarding her mentor’s whereabouts, and that remained her top priority.


    Meanwhile, Lamont pushed forward with themendation, organizing a full ceremony to celebrate N’s supposed assistance and ordering full attendance from the entire base. Up on stage, he personally pinned the third-ss merit medal onto N’s uniform.


    Head held high, N wore a polished smile, the picture of confidence. Offstage, Glenn pped enthusiastically. “Our hospital is lucky to have a protégé of the Healer. N’s so young and already chosen as the Healer’s only protégé—she’s going to take us ces.”


    In the world of medicine, the Healer stood almost like a myth—spoken of with awe and respected above all others.


    Doctors at the Base Medical Center nodded in unison, swept up in the illusion. “No doubt about it—our hospital is headed for the global stage!”


    “The Healer must value Dr. Vance so much—maybe Dr. Vance will even bring the Healer here one day for consultations!”


    “Imagine if that happened. People would trample each other trying to get through the front doors.”


    “Thanks to Dr. Vance, I might actually get to meet the Healer. That third-ss medal? She earned it.”


    From the front row, Lucinda pped until her palms stung, pride practically glowing on her face. Her eyes swept across the audience beforending on someone in the back—Elena.


    Without hesitation, Lucinda dashed from the front to thest row, beaming with exaggerated smugness. “Did you see that? Deputy Commander Aston personally handed N the award. You must be burning with envy.”


    Lucinda, now pristine and polishedpared to her previous state, tilted her chin high enough to rival a parade float.


    Elena, unmoved, let out a quiet scoff. Only this idiot would ept N’s flimsy lies without a hint of hesitation. What a prehistoric moron. She didn’t bother masking her distaste. “You’re making wild assumptions here,” she said casually.


    Lucinda smirked, nting her hands on her hips with exaggerated ir. “Admit it—you’re just bitter because N’s actually better than you.”


    The usation didn’t sting. It actually made Elenaugh. The thought of her supposedly being jealous of N was so ridiculous it bordered on amusing. Why would she ever be jealous of someone pretending to be the Healer’s protégé? She would have to be downright aimless to waste envy on N.


    Elena looked at Lucinda as if she were staring at a fool, casually saying, “Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right.”


    Lucinda’s lips twitched at the edges, trying—and failing—not to snap. That tone? That nk smile? Elena obviously viewed her as aplete idiot.


    Fuming but speechless, Lucinda shot Elena a re sharp enough to cut ss, the fury bubbling in her gut with nowhere to go.


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