Chapter 35: The Price For Returning

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Price For Returning

The Valemont Young Martial Elite Tournament was only a week away. It was one of the city’s largest martial competitions and was held once every four years.

Only martial artists under twenty were allowed to participate. Arcadia Academy had always taken the tournament seriously.

Unfortunately, this year’s situation wasn’t ideal.

"There’s another reason I came personally," Johnny said.

"The Young Elite Tournament begins in seven days," he continued.

"You already know that participants must be under twenty," he added.

He glanced toward Mira before continuing.

"At the moment, among our students under twenty, only Evelyn has reached at least the third star Foundation Establishment level," he said.

"That’s not enough," he added, his expression becoming slightly troubled.

"The other three major academies, Ironcrest Academy, Silverpeak Academy, and Stormguard Academy, each have several students around Evelyn’s level," he said.

"Depending on the academy, some even have stronger candidates," he continued.

"We can’t expect Evelyn to carry the entire team alone," he finished.

The four academies had earned their reputations through years of competition, and none of them could be underestimated.

Arcadia Academy had lost the top position in the previous two editions of the tournament.

Johnny, as the person effectively responsible for the academy’s internal affairs, remembered those defeats very clearly. He wasn’t willing to watch it happen again.

And Mira could change that.

Seeing that she hadn’t answered yet, Johnny immediately added another incentive.

"If you return to Arcadia Academy, you’ll continue receiving the same cultivation benefits you had before," he said.

Mira remained silent.

Johnny continued.

"Our students receive cultivation resources every month according to their ranking," he said.

"The resources are divided into four main grades, from Grade D to Grade A, with additional distinctions within each grade," he added.

"Grade A is the highest," he said.

"You previously qualified for Grade A resources," he continued.

"If you return, nothing about that changes," he finished.

Mira’s expression remained calm.

Johnny knew he needed something more.

"There’s also the tournament," he said.

"If you place within the top ten, the academy will give you an additional one thousand academy points on top of whatever official reward you receive," he added.

"And for every position you climb after that, you’ll receive another five hundred points," he said.

Even Grant, who was still standing nearby, couldn’t help but pay attention.

Academy points were extremely valuable. They were effectively Arcadia Academy’s internal currency and could be exchanged through the resource department for cultivation pills, weapons, martial arts techniques, and other valuable items.

The offer was undeniably generous. Arcadia Academy clearly wanted Mira back badly.

But Mira didn’t immediately answer. Instead, she looked toward Xavier.

Johnny followed her gaze. Then he understood. He had assumed her hesitation was because of the situation surrounding her marriage.

So he spoke immediately.

"We already know about your circumstances," he said.

"If your marriage is the reason you’re hesitant, that’s not a problem," he added.

"If you want the marriage certificate with Xavier cancelled, I can personally arrange it," he offered quickly, misunderstanding the whole situation.

Mira’s eyebrows immediately drew together.

"No," she said flatly.

Johnny paused.

Mira looked directly at him.

"I’m not divorcing my husband," she said, her answer immediate.

Johnny hadn’t expected that.

Mira continued calmly.

"Returning to Arcadia Academy is not a condition for ending my marriage," she said.

"In fact, I wouldn’t agree to return if that were required," she added.

She glanced at Xavier before continuing.

"My husband works at Arcadia Academy," she said.

"That makes returning here convenient for both of us," she added.

She then addressed the more serious concern.

"And there’s another matter," she said.

"The Carter family," she added.

Everyone became quiet.

"We still don’t know exactly how Ethan died," Mira said.

"We had defended ourselves against the puppet but somehow it had affected him. But then, we can’t exactly accept the blame for his death if anyone tries to put it on us."

"And also, that doesn’t mean the Carter family will leave us alone," she continued.

She knew the family well enough to understand how this would go. Even if they never discovered the exact truth behind Ethan’s death, they would likely blame everyone who had been involved. Especially Xavier.

"I want the academy to arrange accommodation for my husband and me," she said.

"We’ll pay the rent ourselves," she added.

Johnny stared at her for a moment. So did Caleb. Even Evelyn and Grant looked toward Xavier. None of them had expected that answer.

Mira had only been married for a few days. Her future had suddenly become incredibly promising after awakening the Frost Phoenix Bloodline.

Yet instead of trying to distance herself from Xavier who is the cursed guy, she was actively thinking about how to protect him.

Johnny’s impression of her changed again. This wasn’t merely loyalty. It showed a level of character that was difficult to teach.

"That’s not a problem," he said, laughing.

"I agree to everything you’ve requested," he added.

"In fact, you don’t need to pay the rent. The academy will take care of it," he said.

He glanced toward Xavier.

"And I’ll personally speak with the Carter family," he added.

Mira’s expression softened slightly.

Johnny nodded.

"Then it’s settled. Come with me and we’ll restore your student registration," he said.

He turned toward Caleb.

"Caleb, take Xavier home and help him get his things," he instructed.

Mira suddenly stopped him.

"Wait," she said.

Johnny looked back.

"I need to hear my husband’s opinion first," she said.

Everyone’s attention shifted to Xavier.

Xavier smiled.

"I listen to my wife," he said.

He shrugged.

"Whatever she decides is fine with me," he added.

Mira looked at him for a moment, and warmth appeared in her eyes.

Xavier had no objection to moving.

A house was a house. As long as Mira was there, he had no reason to care where they lived.

And if staying at Arcadia Academy meant avoiding unnecessary trouble from the Carter family, there was even less reason to refuse.

With everything settled, Mira followed Johnny to complete her registration while Xavier went with Caleb to pack their belongings.

But while the two of them were making arrangements for their new life, something very different was happening across Valemont.

The Carter Family’s Fury

At the city hospital, the atmosphere inside the morgue was suffocating.

Ethan’s parents stood before their son’s lifeless body. For several seconds, neither of them could speak.

Then Ethan’s mother broke down.

"My son..." she sobbed, throwing herself against the body, her cries echoing through the room.

"Who did this to you?" she wailed.

"Who killed my son?" she demanded, her voice filled with grief and rage.

Beside her, Ethan’s father, Pete, stood motionless. Tears streamed down his face.

The couple had spent most of their lives focused on their business. They were rarely home.

Perhaps because they knew they had neglected their son in other ways, they had always compensated by giving Ethan almost everything he wanted.

Whatever Ethan asked for, they tried to provide. They had never imagined that their son would leave home that morning and never return.

Martha slowly lifted her head. Her eyes were red and swollen.

"Pete..." she said, her voice trembling.

"Find whoever did this," she pleaded.

Pete looked at his son. His expression hardened.

"Ten million," he said.

His wife stared at him.

"Ten million isn’t enough," she said.

He clenched his fists.

"I’ll offer one hundred million," he said.

"I’ll use every connection the Carter family has," he added.

"We’ll find whoever killed our son," he vowed.

But his wife shook her head violently.

"One hundred million?" she said, her eyes filled with fury.

"Make it three hundred million!" she demanded.

"I don’t care how much it costs," she said.

"Three hundred million. I want the person responsible found," she insisted.

Pete’s face became grim. He nodded.

"Three hundred million it is then," he said.

His wife’s breathing became heavier. The grief had already begun turning into something darker.

"And it isn’t just the murderer," she said, gritting her teeth.

"Mira," she said.

"Evelyn," she added.

"And that Xavier," she continued.

"They’re all responsible," she said.

"If they hadn’t provoked Ethan in the first place, he wouldn’t have gone to that plaza," she said, her hands trembling.

"They took my son from me," she said.

"So I’ll make sure they pay for it," she vowed.

The grief-stricken mother stared at Ethan’s body.

"We’ll bury every one of them with him," she said.

********

The villa Arcadia Academy had assigned to Xavier and Mira stood within a quiet residential compound on the northeastern side of the academy grounds.

It wasn’t particularly large, but it was far more comfortable than Xavier had expected.

After spending some time putting everything in order, Xavier stepped back and surveyed the neatly arranged room. A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"So this is what it feels like to live off my wife," he chuckled to himself, as his smile widened.