Chapter 73: Kina Mivelo of the Great Mivelo Family

The electronic signing device lit up, its red light flickering gently. An alarm sounded, loud enough to command the entire field.

"What’s happening? Something wrong with that girl?"

"Maybe she’s an Invader? That’d explain her absurd talent."

"Wait, that’s clearly not it."

Under the watching gazes of every great family’s envoy, Kina calmly lifted her head, her eyes locked on the deep-red screen glowing from the electronic device.

[Identity Verification Failed.]

[Identity Discrepancy Detected.]

[Initiating True Identity Disclosure Procedure.]

The next instant, a burst of deep-red smoke erupted from the machine, completely engulfing Kina, right beneath the stunned stares of everyone present.

Right then, Adelle, who’d been watching from a designated seat, moved toward Julian, standing not far from Kina’s position, alongside Lurker.

"Lord Julian... this... what’s happening?" Her brow furrowed in confusion, visibly anxious as she realized Kina had apparently been using a false identity all along.

But whether it was Julian or Lurker, both remained calm. Lurker was calm because this was something he already knew was coming, while Julian was calm because, well...

’Don’t ask me. We’re currently in a genuinely nerve-wracking position here!’

Julian couldn’t stop himself from breaking into cold sweat as he occasionally glanced toward the great Mivelo family’s room. All he could do was hope that whatever happened next stayed firmly under Lurker’s control and unfolded exactly according to plan.

Too panicked to answer, Julian simply stayed silent. At the same time, the smoke that had swallowed Kina whole finally began to fade, revealing her true form.

Dark hair streaked with blue underneath, several layers cascading gently down to her waist, pale blue eyes shimmering as though scattered with stars, a face so distinctive and flawless it perfectly showcased a beauty still very much in bloom.

Her long lashes fluttered slightly, and those eyes blinked a few times, followed by a smile so sweet no one could possibly ignore it.

Behind her, the electronic signing device displayed a deep-red screen, glowing brilliantly.

[Identity Verified.]

[Kina Mivelo of the Great Mivelo Family.]

The girl’s gaze shifted toward the private room belonging to the Mivelo family, and the moment their eyes met, Kina couldn’t help but let her smile widen further.

Cessel rose from his seat, his hands trembling as he gripped the barrier railing tightly, his face twisted ugly with fury.

"Hello, big brother. I think you’ve gotten a bit older lately, haven’t you?"

***

’This can’t be...! How is she still alive!?’

Cessel found himself utterly bewildered, watching Kina standing there very much alive, her expression carrying an arrogance so infuriating it made his blood boil.

’She was supposed to be dead.’

He remembered it clearly. Cessel had personally ordered the Scavengers to hunt Kina down, paying them handsomely for that job.

But what was this?

Kina looked perfectly fine, hadn’t lost a single limb, and worse still...

Cessel’s grip tightened further, causing cracks to spread across the barrier railing.

’How could someone with only an F-Grade Talent make it this far?’

That shouldn’t have been possible!

Kina was supposed to be the sole disgraceful, filthy stain on the Mivelo name. Yet, that very stain now stood right here, showcasing her talent, receiving offers from every great family present, and even, deliberately, humiliating him.

The reason Kina had turned down his offer was clearly because she still harbored resentment toward Cessel and the Mivelo family.

Cessel felt his breathing quicken, his expression darkening as he glared sharply at Kina.

His hand, gripping the barrier railing, began leaking Mana, and the next instant, the railing froze over completely.

The air turned bitterly cold, snow slowly began falling around him, and the next moment, Cessel resolved to do something he genuinely shouldn’t do, but this was the only chance he had left.

"Stop right there, Cessel. I didn’t think you’d actually consider something like that. Or... are you far stupider than I gave you credit for?"

Cessel bit down on his lip, his gaze shifting toward Kina’s side, and he let out a low growl. "Lurker..."

Right, Kina had chosen Lurker not just to secure a sponsor, she’d actually switched sides entirely, choosing to stand with Zoldia instead.

That made everything even more infuriating.

"She’s my sister, who exactly do you think you are, sticking your nose into this?"

But Cessel had no intention of giving up so easily. He wanted to find any opening he could exploit, he couldn’t let Kina live after all of this.

It was genuinely a shame that Cessel and the rest of the Mivelo family had never noticed that talent in the first place. But now that talent had chosen to defect, and Cessel would rather kill Kina before she became a genuine threat.

A crooked smile spread across his face. "Don’t you think so too, Kina? So, come back now. The others might still be willing to accept you, yes, with a talent like that, you’ll finally get everything you’ve ever wanted."

’That foolish girl’s always been the same. She wants nothing more than affection, always crying for the smallest bit of attention, too pathetic to ever make a single decision on her own.’

So what if she’d switched sides? So what if she’d finally clawed her way back up?

Kina was still Kina. As her older brother, he knew exactly who she was supposed to be.

"Father will love you, mother will come see you every day, your brothers and sisters will play with you, and... you’ve even got a little sister now, isn’t that exactly what you wanted? If so, come back, Kina."

For a moment, Cessel felt a certain emotion take hold of him. He didn’t quite register it, but it was likely the exact feeling that arose whenever he started losing control of himself, acting impulsively as a result.

But that didn’t matter, did it?

What he’d just said was true.

And Kina would come back soon, and after that, Cessel could kill her, or... raise her up as the family’s obedient dog.

But what he’d been hoping for never came. Cessel froze completely in place, the look Kina gave him leaving him utterly transfixed.

Those eyes, so cold, staring at him as though gazing upon something pathetic and disgusting.

A gaze so arrogant and haughty, the exact same look Cessel had always given little Kina back then.

And now Kina was returning that exact same look toward him?

Kina, out of everyone in the world?

That shouldn’t be possible. Kina wasn’t a girl like that. But...

"Haha...haha...hahaha..."

He glared at Kina, a killing intent flashing in his eyes. "Kina, you’ll regret this. After this, not a single one of our family will ever stand on your side."

Kina would be alone, without any family, so if she wanted to come back, this was the last chance remaining.

But Kina simply let out a small sigh.

"Wasn’t there never anyone on my side to begin with? What would change if I refused? Nothing."

A mocking smile spread across Kina’s face as she watched Cessel with clear amusement.

"Turns out you’ve always been this stupid, big brother."