Chapter 105: Victoria’s Proposal

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Victoria’s Proposal

Victoria handed her the award, then looked directly into her eyes.

"Mira, I’d like to ask you something," she said. "Would you be willing to become my personal disciple?"

The entire podium fell silent.

Before anyone could process the offer, Victoria continued.

"If you agree, I’d like you to accompany me to the southwestern frontier in the near future. I’ll personally guide your cultivation there."

For a moment, Mira was too surprised to respond.

Everyone in the martial arts community knew that Victoria had never formally accepted a disciple.

Despite her extraordinary standing and the countless talented young cultivators she had encountered throughout her military career, she had never chosen anyone to inherit her knowledge.

Now she had made an offer to Mira, a young woman she had met only recently.

What an opportunity!

The other contestants looked at Mira with undisguised envy. If they could exchange places with her, they would have accepted without a moment’s hesitation.

However, Mira’s response took everyone by surprise.

"General Quill, it’s an incredible honor that you’ve considered me worthy of becoming your disciple," she said carefully. "I’d genuinely like to accept, but this is a major decision. Could I discuss it with my husband first before giving you my final answer?"

The moment she finished speaking, the surrounding students stared at her as though she had said something unbelievable.

What was there to discuss? Victoria Quill herself wanted to take her as a disciple!

This was the kind of opportunity countless martial artists dreamed of, and Mira was actually asking for time to think about it.

"Has Mira lost her mind? Does she understand who just offered to teach her?" one student whispered.

"If General Quill wanted me as her disciple, I’d agree before she even finished asking!" another said.

"Maybe geniuses really do think differently from the rest of us," a third murmured.

A student nearby lowered his voice and asked, "Who exactly is Mira’s husband? He must be something special if she needs to consult him before accepting an offer like this."

"I’ve heard he’s incredibly handsome," another student replied. "Looks like she’s completely smitten with him!"

The whispers spread, and more than a few students struggled to understand Mira’s hesitation.

To them, refusing, or even delaying, the chance to become Victoria Quill’s disciple was practically unthinkable.

Victoria, however, showed no sign of displeasure.

"That’s fine," she said with an easy smile.

"I’ll be staying with the Extraordinary Division for a while. Once you’ve made your decision, come and see me."

Mira let out a quiet breath of relief and thanked her.

Not far away, Xavier had watched the entire exchange.

He could not help smiling to himself, feeling both touched by Mira’s thoughtfulness and amused by her response.

My silly wife. Why do you even need to ask me?

He knew something Mira did not. The offer had not come about entirely by chance.

Earlier that day, he and Samuel had discussed having Victoria accept Mira as her disciple.

Their original intention had been to give Mira the protection of one of the Valemont’s most formidable martial artists, making the Lindsay family think twice before targeting her.

Mira had simply taken the proposal more seriously than either man had expected.

* * *

Victoria had returned to Valemont only a little over an hour earlier.

Yet even before arriving, she had already spoken with Samuel about the plan to take Mira under her wing.

Samuel, in turn, had discussed the matter with Xavier.

The timing was no coincidence. Two days earlier, after Samuel had submitted the ledger exposing the Lindsay family’s dealings with underground organizations, the higher authorities had examined its contents.

The records described assassinations, kidnappings, and other disturbing transactions that suggested the family had been abusing its influence for years.

The revelations had infuriated the officials who reviewed the evidence.

They had finally decided that the Lindsay family needed to be investigated and held accountable for its actions.

Victoria’s return was part of that response. Her superiors had ordered her to remain in the Valemont region and prepare for the measures that would follow.

The region was entering a period of intense uncertainty.

The Lindsay family was powerful, and an investigation of this magnitude would inevitably provoke resistance.

With Victoria overseeing matters, however, the family would find it much harder to act recklessly.

For Xavier, that was excellent news. Victoria’s presence would provide Mira with a powerful layer of protection while giving him more time to cultivate and strengthen himself.

If he could use that time wisely, he might become strong enough to face the Lindsay family without having to rely on disguises and careful maneuvering.

He could only hope the situation remained stable long enough for him to reach that point.

* * *

After the award ceremony, Victoria, Samuel, and Xavier gathered in an office to discuss the situation.

Samuel wasted no time voicing his frustration.

"Victoria, I asked you to accept Mira as your disciple so the Lindsay family would think twice before touching her," he said.

"I never said you should take her away from Valemont!" He rubbed his forehead, looking thoroughly exasperated.

"Do you realize what will happen if Vice Principal Johnny finds out? Mira just won the Barley Cup. She’s one of Arcadia Academy’s most promising students. If you take her to the southwestern frontier, he’ll probably come looking for me to demand an explanation!"

Samuel had originally intended for Victoria’s acceptance to be more of a formal arrangement.

As long as Mira could be publicly recognized as her disciple, anyone considering harming her would have to weigh the consequences of provoking such a powerful figure.

There had been no need to uproot Mira from her current life.

Yet Victoria seemed to have developed plans of her own.

"Leave Johnny to me," she replied with a smile. "You don’t need to worry about him."

Samuel looked at her skeptically, but Victoria remained unbothered.

Initially, she had indeed intended to accept Mira mainly to discourage anyone with malicious intentions from targeting the young woman.

Protecting a rare talent of Asterra was reason enough.

However, after watching Mira’s final match against Derek Yannick, Victoria’s opinion had changed.

Mira’s swordsmanship, composure, and ability to adapt under pressure had impressed her.

The young woman had far more potential than Victoria had initially realized, and the desire to train her was no longer merely a matter of protection.

She genuinely wanted Mira as her disciple.

Besides, Victoria had little reason to fear resistance from Arcadia Academy.

Her position in the military gave her considerable authority, and few people could compel her to abandon a decision she had made.

There was also a personal connection that worked in her favor.

Victoria herself had once been a student at Arcadia Academy before leaving school to join the army.

Back then, Johnny had been her homeroom teacher, long before he rose to his current position.

With that history between them, she was confident she could settle the matter with him.

Of course, Mira still had to agree. Once that happened, Victoria intended to personally guide her cultivation rather than leave her training to someone else.

Having finished addressing Samuel’s complaint, Victoria finally turned her attention to Xavier.

"You must be Mr. X," she said, studying him for a moment before offering an approving nod.

"Samuel has told me quite a bit about you. After hearing so many compliments, I was curious about the man behind the name. Now that we’ve met, I can see why he speaks so highly of you. You’re young, composed, and clearly talented."

Samuel had already explained the circumstances surrounding Mr. X’s relationship with the Extraordinary Division.

He had also told her about the remarkable contribution Xavier had made by supplying more than two hundred valuable elixirs, including three 6th-Grade elixirs.

That alone had left Victoria impressed. One of those treasures, the Divine Descent Pill, was now safely stored in her own spatial ring.

Xavier responded with genuine respect.

"You’re too kind, General Quill," he said. "My achievements are insignificant compared with what you’ve accomplished. Your service to the Dragon Kingdom is something I can only admire."

His words were not empty flattery.

Whether in his previous life or this one, Xavier had always held soldiers in high regard.

Their willingness to face danger for the sake of others had earned his respect, and Victoria’s record made her especially deserving of it.

For all his growing strength and the extraordinary advantages his system provided, Xavier knew there was still much he could learn from someone who had survived countless battles and risen to the peak of the Star Sea Realm.

Victoria Quill was undoubtedly such a person.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xavier decided it was time to get to the point.

"General Quill, may I ask why you specifically requested to meet with me?" he said. "Is there something you need my help with?"

Victoria Quill and Minister Samuel Bush were among the key figures preparing to deal with the Lindsay family.

Xavier understood that his position as Mr. X, an alchemy expert whose true identity remained concealed, did not give him much influence over the investigation itself.

Unless Victoria had a particular reason for summoning him, he could not see how he would be of much use.

Her answer quickly confirmed his suspicion.

"I’m looking for someone who can provide me with more than ten Lesser Enlightenment Pills," she said.

"Alternatively, I would accept 7th-Grade Great Enlightenment Pills or a 7th-Grade Saint Purification Pill."

Victoria studied his reaction before adding, "I’m willing to negotiate a reasonable price. Consider this a deposit."

She opened her spatial ring and produced a palm sized rune fragment.

A pale, frosty glow surrounded its surface, and the moment it appeared, the temperature in the office dropped noticeably.

It was an ice type rune fragment.

Xavier’s eyes lit up. He immediately recognized the value of such an item.