Chapter 207: Witch Yvette

White River City's prosperity far surpassed the scale of Graystone Town.

On a white stone arch bridge near Violet Academy—

Lance casually leaned against the stone railing, looking down at the dense crowds passing along the river below.

Completely unlike the rough linen clothing and metal plate armor that filled the streets of Graystone Town, the city was overflowing with a powerful sense of fashion.

Everywhere he looked, young women in off-shoulder chiffon dresses filled the streets, while cropped tops paired with pleated skirts seemed to be particularly popular.

Just moments ago, he had even seen a catgirl walking by wearing a tight sleeveless crop top and hot pants.

“So feline Demi-Humans really do tie little bells onto their tails as decorations.”

Lance secretly marveled.

Further away, several Wingfolk girls walked past chatting and laughing. They wore daring backless outfits, with the front held together only by intricate crisscrossing straps, giving them an elegant appearance as they walked.

If not for the occasional beast ears atop someone's head or wings extending from their back, Lance would have suspected he had returned to his previous life.

Compared to them, his own outfit today felt completely out of place in this city.

He wore a linen shirt beneath a dark tanned-leather vest.

His sturdy trousers were wrapped with tactical bandages, while his feet were clad in thick-soled travel boots fitted with dark metal buckles.

It was the standard appearance of a small-town youth.

However, his outstanding appearance was simply too striking.

Combined with the aura enhancement brought by 【Dragon Form】, he still attracted frequent glances from passersby despite his simple attire.

Just ten minutes ago, a luxurious carriage had even stopped beside the bridge.

Several wealthy noblewomen had attempted to recruit him as their family's personal steward or close attendant, speaking in heavily suggestive tones.

Faced with such blatant lust for his body, Lance naturally maintained a polite smile while firmly declining.

“Lance!”

A crisp voice suddenly came from the direction of the bridge entrance.

Turning around, Lance discovered Yuna standing among the crowd and waving enthusiastically at him.

Finally.

He had been waiting.

However, seeing the familiar face also caused a trace of confusion to arise in his heart.

Yuna hurried over.

Before Lance could ask anything, she immediately delivered surprising news.

“You came looking for Cecilia, right? Unfortunately, you're too late. Her family already took her back to the royal capital.”

Hearing that, Lance paused briefly.

“My luck really is terrible.”

He silently sighed.

Earlier today, he had visited the Stardust Cross base.

Yet he had not found Amber there either.

Because the Summer Crown had been moved forward, the Stardust Cross main force had already packed up and departed in full.

At the time, he had only been able to entrust a letter he had written to the personnel remaining behind, asking them to deliver it to Amber.

He had originally thought he would at least get to see Cecilia when he came to Violet Academy.

Instead, he missed her as well.

Just as Lance adjusted his mood and prepared to exchange a few casual words with Yuna before heading to the Veterans’ Institute to complete his registration—

A figure silently approached them.

The newcomer wore Violet Academy's custom uniform.

However, it was obvious she had personally modified it.

The originally knee-length skirt had been deliberately shortened.

The girl wore two neat braids and a pair of delicate rimless glasses.

Several thick magic books rested in her arms.

Her entire demeanor radiated the atmosphere of a quiet literary girl.

Yet Lance's keen senses detected something different.

Within those seemingly obedient eyes, he caught a fleeting flash of cunning.

However, what surprised Lance most was not her gaze.

“So this world's textile technology has already developed something like stockings?”

Lance was deeply shocked.

His gaze unconsciously lingered for two extra seconds on the thin, form-fitting fabric covering her legs.

Although this was merely curiosity regarding the unusual direction of this world's technological tree, it was enough to demonstrate how eye-catching the garment was.

The girl's features were exceptionally refined.

Simply standing there made her resemble a beautiful painting.

Yuna clearly knew her and immediately greeted her cheerfully.

“Senior Yvette!”

The senior called Yvette nodded lightly before shifting her inquisitive gaze toward Lance.

“And this is?”

“This is the senior we met during our internship in Copper Creek Forest! He's incredibly amazing!”

Yuna did not hold back her praise at all.

Upon hearing that, Yvette discreetly examined Lance from head to toe.

Finally, she revealed a gentle and elegant smile.

“My name is Yvette. It's a pleasure to meet you.”

Freeing one hand, she proactively extended it toward him.

Out of basic courtesy, Lance shook her hand briefly.

Their skin touched for only half a second before separating.

“I happen to have some urgent matters to deal with, so I'll excuse myself for today.”

Since Cecilia was not here, Lance had no intention of lingering.

After exchanging a simple farewell with Yuna, he turned and walked down the stone bridge along with the crowd.

Yvette quietly remained where she stood.

Her gaze followed that tall figure the entire time.

Bright sunlight reflected from her glasses, creating a glare that concealed her emotions.

At that moment, the literary girl's thoughts were turning rapidly.

“A unique soul mark left behind by Senior Ilysia?”

That was precisely why she had approached him.

Faced with such a discovery, Yvette's first reaction had not been surprise.

Instead, she had immediately used a soul spell.

During the brief moment their hands touched, she completely concealed and hid the mark.

At the same time, she had secretly left behind one of her own marks.

For a witch, the first rule upon discovering a treasure was to seize it firmly in her own hands.

Absolutely no one else could be allowed to follow the clues.

However, after the initial excitement passed, reason quickly regained control.

Yvette recalled the prophecy her elder sister had once obtained through great effort.

Just now, she had carefully sensed Lance's soul.

It seemed to carry an aura similar to that of a Red Dragon, with absolutely no traits connected to a White Dragon.

“Since he's not a White Dragon, that means he isn't my fated partner.”

Originally, her fate had been tied to a Red Dragon.

Just like the legendary witch Ilysia.

However, for some unknown reason, her sister—the Fate Witch—had contacted her some time ago and informed her that fate had changed.

It was not a Red Dragon.

It was a White Dragon.

Because this latest prophecy had also revealed the “Star Ember Lake” in the northern lands, the entire vision had become blurry and difficult to interpret.

But one thing was certain.

A Dragon-blooded individual and Star Ember Lake together clearly pointed toward a White Dragon.

However...

Yvette softly snorted inwardly.

Even if he could not become her partner, so what?

A treasure of a man so highly recommended by a legendary witch—

Even if he did not belong to her, keeping him firmly under her control would still be a tremendous asset.

Later, introducing him to close friends as part of a favor exchange would undoubtedly yield enormous returns.

There was never anything wrong with claiming valuable things first.

“Senior?”

Beside her, Yuna noticed Yvette staring blankly into space and called out softly in confusion.

Yvette instantly returned to her senses.

The harmless literary-girl smile returned to her face as she adjusted her glasses.

“It's nothing. I just think your senior is very interesting. Let's go.”

She smiled at Yuna, and the two of them walked side by side toward the academy gates.

Suddenly, she remembered something.

Her sister had apparently tried to contact her again last night.

However, when she attempted to contact her sister in return, there had been no response.

Still, her vacation would begin soon.

Once she returned home, she would find out what had happened.

……

White River City's Veterans’ Institute stood within a peaceful plaza in the city's eastern district.

It was a majestic complex of granite buildings.

Towering spires pierced the clouds, while rows of relief sculptures depicting nameless knights wielding longswords and greatshields adorned the outer walls.

After entering through the main gate, Lance asked a passing guard where the registration office for the Heroic Spirit Baptism was located.

After receiving clear directions, he followed a spiral staircase to the preliminary review office on the second floor.

Since several others were already waiting ahead of him, Lance could only lean against the corridor wall and pass the time.

Apparently, quite a few people participated in the Heroic Spirit Baptism every year.

Suddenly, he recalled what Uncle Ryan had once said.

If Heroic Spirit Baptism slots could truly be sold on the black market, then was it possible there was corruption involving quotas within the Veterans’ Institute itself?

At that moment, a loud argument shattered the corridor's silence.

Lance looked downstairs through a nearby window.

A graying veteran with a noticeable limp was being forcibly dragged toward the exit by two large guards holding his arms from either side.

“You bloodsucking maggots!”

The veteran's face was red with rage as he struggled desperately while shouting toward the office.

“When I was chopping magical beast heads off on the Eastern Coast, you little bastards were still drinking milk in your mothers' bellies!”

“My nephew already crossed the threshold of becoming a professional! What right do you have to say my paperwork isn't complete? What right do you have to cancel my slot?!”

The guards completely ignored the veteran's accusations.

They roughly shoved him through the corridor doors without the slightest trace of sympathy.

Hearing the veteran continue cursing outside, Lance's brows gradually furrowed.

From the sound of it—

The Heroic Spirit Baptism slot that the veteran had intended to transfer to his nephew seemed to have been privately confiscated by someone inside under some pretext.

A faint sense of foreboding rose within Lance's heart.