A few meters behind Seraphina sat Mia, Felicia, and ra. Felicia and ra''s husbands, Euwen and Bernard, were engaged in a close discussion nearby.


    Mia wore a bored expression. This banquet felt like a tedious chore. She had high hopes for tomorrow, and the anticipation made tonight seem even more dull. Having made her obligatory appearance, she saw no reason to stay any longer.


    With a long sigh, she stood up from her seat.


    "You''re leaving, Sister Mia?" both Felicia and ra asked simultaneously. Mia, the eldest and most experienced of the four sisters,manded a certain respect from them.


    "Yes, and goodnight. Have fun enjoying the so-called banquet," Mia replied, her tone tinged with irony.


    She didn''t know why, but a sense of unease had settled over her. An inexplicable bad feeling gnawed at her, making it impossible to sit still and enjoy the evening. The urge to leave grew stronger by the minute.


    She proceeded to walk out, her footsteps echoing softly in the grand hall.


    A few seconds after Mia walked out, a man who had been watching her during the banquet stood up and bowed to the Viscount. His distinguished robe and the aura he carried made both the Viscount and Seraphina frown. They could vaguely guess why he was here, and their guess wasn''t good. Both hoped their suspicions were wrong.


    "I''ll have to go relieve myself, Lord Dawnde," the man said, bowing. His calm but loud voice pierced through the chatter of the banquet.


    The room fell silent for a moment, and whispers began to spread, mostly from the Viscount''s faction.


    "That attire, that insignia, it can''t be..."


    "Of course it is, it''s a disciple of the Royal Academy."


    "But what could he be doing in this lowly ce, with the Deathbringer squad? I didn''t know the Deathbringer Mercenary squad possessed such a profound connection with the Royal Academy..."


    "Dream on. Although the Deathbringer squad is the top mercenary squad in this region, it''s trashpared to the Royal Academy. What can the Royal Academy benefit from a connection like that? Hmmph!"


    "He''s definitely here on some mission. The Deathbringer squad must be riding on their coattails."


    "Or perhaps they''re just pawns in arger scheme. The Royal Academy wouldn''t waste their time otherwise."


    Deathbringer and those in his faction turned pale as they heard the whispers. They couldn''t refute the words, as there was truth in them.


    While the whispers spread like wildfire, the Viscount, with a deepening frown, waved at the young man to leave. Normally, anyone wanting to exit would do so quietly, but the man''s public announcement was a calcted move. It subtly confirmed the Viscount''s worst fears and hinted that he would reveal the truth to Mia, who had just left.


    The Viscount understood theyered message and, with a bitter expression, allowed the man to proceed.


    The man nodded and departed swiftly. He had coincidentally traveled with the Deathbringer mercenaries, as they were headed to the same location. His mission was clear: deliver the news to Mia and return to the Academy immediately. There was no time to waste.


    In a deste pathway illuminated by glowing stones lining the sides, the middle-aged man silently hurried after Mia. The scene was serene, with the stones casting a soft, ethereal light that made the pathway appear almost magical. His movements were graceful, his footsteps nearly soundless.


    Each step was calcted, not a single one longer or shorter than thest, creating a rhythm that was both natural and pleasing to the eye.


    His approach was so silent that Mia remained unaware of his presence.


    Back at the banquet, the Viscount''s faction continued to murmur among themselves.


    "Why is someone from the Royal Academy mingling with the likes of Deathbringer?"


    "It must be something significant. They wouldn''t waste their time otherwise."


    "Perhaps there''s a hidden agenda. The Deathbringer squad is just a pawn."


    "I heard they''re scouting for new talent. Maybe they found something—or someone—of interest here."


    "Or maybe they''re looking to eliminate a threat. The Academy doesn''t take risks lightly."


    Deathbringer and his faction grew paler with each whisper. The spection was rife with truth and stung deeply.


    Meanwhile, outside, the man finally caught up to Mia in the quiet solitude of the pathway. He called out softly, "Please halt, Lady Mia. The Academy sent me with a message for you."


    Mia''s expression turned grim as she stopped and turned to face him. The man''s face was stern, his jawline sharp, though marred by a prominent scar. His voice, half-apologetic and half-cold due to his nature, conveyed the gravity of the situation. "I''ve got bad news, Lady Mia. Your husband, Lord Garvin, is dead."


    He handed her an envelope. "This contains the details of when and how he died, why, and hisst words, which are for you."


    Mia''s expression shifted from shock to sorrow as she took the envelope, her hands trembling slightly. The weight of the news settled heavily upon her, her heart sinking as she began to process the reality of her loss.


    Meanwhile, remembering this, Mia sighed and clenched her first subtly by her sighed...


    ''Instead of griefing over the death of myte husband I''m here lusting over another man''


    But still, her emotions for Leon was great, she and her husband just answer that in name, heck! She doesn''t even know what he looks like, they''ve only met once in a lifetime, and even then he haven''t fucked her not even once. She was still a Virgin, it was for this reason, she had felt so curious as to how Amelia felt when fuck hard by Leon.


    From what she had been hearing at that time, it definitely feels good...


    She nced at Leon again, bitting her lower lips before quickly looking away...


    ''Who''s dead is dead, I don''t love him, so I shouldn''t grief over him. My heart yearns for Leon, I hope I can make him feel the same way I feel for him... If he could do that to me, I''ll definitely be d'' she closed her eyes, her cheeks reddening at this thought.


    Leon walked confidently, nked by three girls, each lost in their own thoughts. Two of them had a blush on their cheeks, their eyes asionally darting toward him, while the third girl struggled to hide a smirk. Their steps, though purposeful, carried a sense of anticipation.


    As they neared the battle arena, the grandeur of the structure came into full view. It was a colossal edifice, reminiscent of ancient cultivation worlds, with towering stone walls adorned with intricate carvings of mythical beasts and legendary battles.


    The entrance was framed by massive pirs, each inscribed with runes that glowed faintly, a testament to the arena''s ancient origins and its significance in the cultivation world.


    Normally, the arena would be a cacophony of shes, with multiplebatants testing their skills against one another. Today, however, the air was thick with anticipation. All other duels had been canceled, allowing everyone to focus on the much-anticipated duel between Leon and his opponent. The stands were filling rapidly, murmurs of excitement and spection creating a low hum.


    As Leon and the girls approached the entrance, they crossed paths with the Viscount. The girls immediately bowed in respect, their voices harmonizing, "Father..."


    The Viscount, with hismanding presence, nodded at them. Beside him stood Seraphina, her face as cold and stoic as ever. Her attire, a flowing ck robe with silver embroidery, contrasted sharply with her icy demeanor. She looked beautiful, but her aura andposure made her seem unapproachable to anyone.


    Just like the Viscount, she was here to spectate the duel. She had no doubt that Leon would win, but seeing him in action would be a magnificent sight. She was curious as to how a powerful cultivation master like him would choose to end the duel—whether he would do so without injuring his opponent or overwhelm the crowd with a showcase of sheer strength.


    She subtly nodded at Leon. "Master," her voice resounded in his head, her cold face softening for a moment with a hint of respect.


    Beside Seraphina, the Viscount smiled and said, "I have no doubt you will win this duel, Leon."


    Leon nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Viscount. I won''t disappoint."


    With that, the Viscount turned and walked away, his presence leaving a ripple of silence in the crowd. Seraphina had already begun to walk away, her robe fluttering slightly with each step.


    Leon and the girls continued their approach to the battle arena, the murmurs of the crowd growing louder, filled with anticipation and excitement. The stage was set, and all eyes were on Leon as he prepared to face his opponent.


    Leon''s opponent stood on the stage, exuding an aura of confidence and defiance. He wore a robe simr to Leon''s, distinguished by its jet-ck fabric and red lining. However, his robe was sleeveless, allowing the onlookers to see the sculpted muscles of his arms and shoulders, which glistened slightly under the sunlight.


    His chestnut hair was tousled but neat, and his tanned skin bore the marks of countless battles. His fierce face, framed by a strong jawline and high cheekbones, was set in a determined expression. His eyes, sharp and focused, locked onto Leon with a look of defiance and unyielding resolve.