Chapter 74: Aveela Misquila

Who could have predicted an incident like this?

With everything they’d just witnessed, it wasn’t hard for a few people to conclude that the Mivelo family had once tried to get rid of Kina.

Only a handful of families had actually managed to get their hands on information that the Mivelo family had one heir they considered defective.

Meanwhile, most of the families gathered in that room had never once heard a story like that, sparking a low murmur of gossip.

After all, none of them wanted to be the ones openly offending the Mivelo family over this, right?

Watching everything now exposed, watching the reputation he’d worked so carefully to maintain crumble in an instant, left Cessel utterly speechless.

His expression turned dark, boiling with fury. He glanced around briefly, finding countless eyes fixed on him, several also glancing toward Kina.

He wanted to threaten them all into silence about what had just happened here. He genuinely wanted to, but his gaze met a few individuals from other great families, smiling at him with mischievous grins.

That alone was more than enough.

No one here was going to pass up this opportunity to tear down the reputation the Mivelo family had spent so long building.

Cessel clicked his tongue, shot Kina one last sharp glare, then turned his face away and spun around.

His gaze then landed on the person who might be the true source and cause of all this misfortune.

The man who called himself Julian Clair, Kina’s Guardian, Kina’s Master, and, apparently, the so-called Hidden Master?

Cessel’s lips curled into a crooked line, his gaze brimming with murderous intent. But it lasted only a moment before he turned his back entirely.

"Let’s go."

He couldn’t stand this situation any longer.

But at least, he knew exactly what needed to be done.

***

Kina watched Cessel’s departure with a satisfied smile on her face. She felt an incredibly heavy weight finally lift from her shoulders.

Watching Cessel’s reaction was one of the best things Kina could have hoped for right now. After all, this was the first real step she’d taken toward proving to them just how wrong they’d been, that they’d come to regret ever treating her so poorly.

Kina wasn’t going to let herself get emotional over this. Her journey was still long, she still needed to grow stronger, and only then would she decide what came next.

No, actually, that wasn’t even something she needed to dwell on. Kina already knew exactly what she needed to do and what to prioritize, so her attention shifted elsewhere.

She glanced briefly at the headmaster, watching her with a complicated mix of emotions, then at the spectators, the host, the Association staff, all of them staring at Kina in stunned silence.

Then, finally, Kina turned toward Lurker and her Master.

"Um... Lord Lurker, when are we done here?"

***

’Finally, it’s all over.’

Julian felt his heart pounding hard, trembling the entire time Kina had been exchanging words so casually with Cessel. Listening to everything they’d said, hearing how boldly Cessel had tried to sway Kina’s mind, all of it had been genuinely nerve-wracking for Julian.

Fortunately, Kina hadn’t been swayed in the slightest by that murky, ambiguous show of "affection."

’As her Master, she really does make me proud.’

Julian was thoroughly satisfied with that performance.

Beyond that, if there was anything worth dwelling on, it was the look Cessel had shot him right before leaving that private room.

That gaze had been genuinely unsettling, Julian could sense the discomfort radiating from it, laced with clearly malicious intent underneath.

Thinking back on it now left Julian’s entire body trembling, his expression darkening.

’Not what I’m thinking, right?’

He pressed his lips shut tight.

He probably should just stop dwelling on it. Because whatever he feared happening usually ended up happening anyway, the more he tried denying it.

Julian let out a low groan. Every necessary procedure had finally wrapped up. But they didn’t head home right away, he’d wanted to follow Kina, who’d invited him for a walk, but right then, a guard called out to him, saying someone wished to meet with him.

Julian hadn’t been told who exactly wanted to meet him, but the guard mentioned it was someone extremely important, someone Julian really shouldn’t ignore.

Following the guard, Julian was led back to the central building, riding an elevator up to a much higher floor.

Once the elevator doors opened, Julian once again found himself in a long corridor. The corridor was spotless, its floor gleaming, the walls, potted plants, and other decorations all impeccably maintained.

Julian followed the guard. They eventually arrived at a particular door leading into a large room.

Without a shred of hesitation, the guard knocked on the door firmly several times, the sound echoing down the corridor before he spoke:

"Lord Julian is here, Mrs. Aveela."

’Mrs. Aveela?’

Julian heard the name mentioned, feeling a flicker of familiarity, as though he’d heard it somewhere before. But before he could recall it, a woman’s voice, mature and remarkably gentle, rang out from inside.

"Send him in alone."

Julian’s brow furrowed slightly. Meanwhile, the guard opened the door, revealing an expansive room within.

It wasn’t an office, but rather a room someone actually lived in. A large bed big enough for two, a living room with two single sofas and one long sofa around a central table, a television mounted on the wall above a drawered cabinet.

On the other side stood a room leading to a kitchen and bathroom, wardrobes for changing clothes, and a balcony overlooking the whole of Central.

Then, seated on one of the single sofas was a mature woman with purple hair flowing down to her slender waist, her eyes a deep red, curving like a crescent moon.

Beneath her eye sat a mole, her lips curved into a smile, her cheeks flushed a soft pink.

Julian studied her for a moment, then hesitantly stepped inside, trying to recall exactly who this woman was. Her appearance felt familiar, as though he’d occasionally seen her somewhere on social media.

Then, before the woman could say anything, Julian finally remembered.

’Ah.’

The current leader overseeing the Association.

One of the living legends, holding Rank-A progress.

Aveela Misquila.

Julian froze instantly on the spot, having just come face-to-face with someone he never would have imagined meeting in his lifetime, or at least, not anytime soon.

Why would someone at that level want to see him?

Had he unknowingly made some kind of mistake?

Julian was certain he hadn’t done anything wrong. So what exactly had brought him here?

There was no way this was simply because he’d been mistaken for some Hidden Master, right?

Cold sweat soaked his face, and Aveela, who’d stayed completely silent until then, suddenly curved her lips into a mischievous smile.

"Ah, so it really is my beloved Julian~"