Chapter 178 A Battle Of Life And Death
Raven’s fingers paused above her phone screen.
She slowly lifted her gaze to Lorne, and with a calm, almost amused smile, said, ” Doesn’t Vyrdenia still have four million idle troops? Let Mr. Macy lead them to the front. And if they still can’t win, he’s welcome to carry the military’s resources in hand and come begging me to send reinforcements.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Many shook their heads at her words.
If those four million could be mobilized so easily, would Lorne have rushed here, practically breathless?
No one knew how she’d secured her general title, but one thing was clear: if she truly tried to force those troops into battle, the powerful figures presiding over them would never let her walk away unscathed.
As for Benson humbling himself to plead for her help?
That was pure delusion.
Even hearing that Vyrdenia had suffered a string of losses at the front hadn’t fazed them.
War had its ups and downs–if Vyrdenia were truly weak, it would’ve been wiped out long ago.
Benson scoffed. “Beg you? With the military’s resources? For someone your age, your arrogance is astonishing. You’d better watch that mouth, girl. It’s easy to end up choking on your own words.”
Ignoring him, Raven finished sending a message to the Sirius Pack, then slipped her phone into her pocket.
She didn’t spare Benson another glance, turning instead to Lorne. “At dawn tomorrow, the Sirius Pack will return home for recovery. Notify the appropriate airspace
authorities along the route to clear the way.”
Hearing her tone–so decisive, so final–Lorne could only nod bitterly.
He glanced at Benson, whose expression flickered with unreadable thoughts. Inwardly, Lorne sighed.
He could only hope that Raven’s seemingly reckless decision might just be the spark the aging military needed to wake up.
Just then, the Sunset Empire’s general stepped forward, smirking as he looked at Raven. “So, does our death match still stand–your so–called Hundred–Man Unit
against my elite troupe, ten days from now?”
Raven answered without hesitation. “Of course. Since I said I’d kill you as an offering, I see no reason to go back on my word.”
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Chapter 178 A Battle Of Life And Death
The general’s smile twisted into something sharper, darker. “Very well… I’ll be waiting.”
With that, he ordered his troops to carry off the unconscious Jedidiah and left without another word.
Soon after, Benson, Lorne, and the others also withdrew.
In the courtyard, many lingered, but now that they knew this so–called Hundred–Man Unit would be facing the Sunset Empire in a life–or–death match in just ten days, their enthusiasm waned.
A few patriotic souls remained determined–but most wore expressions of unease, even dread.
Thirty minutes later, after the crowd had mostly dispersed, Raven asked Edric to take her to the Lysander family’s inner quarters.
According to Dominic, that was where the second half of the Star Key was hidden.
But just as Raven stepped into the rear courtyard, a flash of white–so fast it was nearly invisible–shot through the shadows.
The moment it vanished, Dominic’s voice rang out in her mind. “Star Key… I sensed its aura on that man!”
Without missing a beat, Raven took off after the blur.
Edric, who’d been standing nearby, was left rooted to the spot.
He stared at the space where Raven had disappeared, a chill running down his spine as he felt the residual warrior pressure lingering in the air.
After a stunned pause, he murmured under his breath, “That… that was beyond King Warrior. The Chariot? That’s impossible…”
Half an hour later, Raven returned to the villa Cassian had just purchased the day before.
Dominic, still preoccupied, muttered the same thought for the tenth time. “I almost caught up. He was right there–and then he just vanished. How does someone just disappear like that?”
Raven shot him a glance and replied flatly, “You saw his clothes matched Jedidiah’s, didn’t you? In a few days, we’ll be seeing the Sunset Empire’s elite troops. We’ll find him soon enough.”
Dominic huffed. “I know, but something about it feels off.”
“Then keep thinking about it,” Raven said as she walked toward the bathroom. “I’m taking a shower.”
Without another word, she grabbed him by the scruff and casually tossed him onto the couch.
Dominic watched her retreating silhouette, a sly, calculating gleam flashing in his
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silver eyes.
Sometime later, Raven stepped out of the bathroom.
The moment she did, she froze.
Her gaze instinctively went to the bed–only to see Dominic, now in his human form, lounging there like a model in a painting.
He was stark naked, save for a thin white sheet draped lazily around his hips.
One arm propped up his head, his silver–white hair falling artfully across his forehead, casting soft shadows over his impossibly refined features.
Under the soft glow of the chandelier, his pale skin seemed almost luminous.
And when he saw her emerge, his lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile.
“Master,” he said, voice low and seductive, each syllable dripping with devilish charm,” I’ve already warmed the bed. Why don’t you come test it out?”
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