The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven)

Chapter 159

Chapter 159

BJ

The moment Caleb caught sight of Raven, his entire body tensed on instinct.

62%

'What the hell is she doing here?' he thought, his heart skipping a beat. 'Wasn't someone else supposed to handle the selection for her? Why did the Iron Queen show up in person?'

And more importantly-he'd heard the new general hadn't made a public appearance yet. 'Should he be saluting her?"

Off to the side, Corey's smile faded the instant he saw Raven walking over. His eyes sharpened, all amusement gone.

Raven strolled toward Caleb, unhurried but deliberate, stopping just in front of his stiffened figure. Her gaze swept him from head to toe, and then she smiled-not warmly, but with a faint, knowing amusement.

"I didn't realize you had such lofty ambitions," she said calmly. "But with your current strength, you're not quite equipped to carry them."

She reached out and gave his shoulder a light pat.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll need to train twice as hard."

Caleb was speechless.

Lofty ambitions? What lofty ambitions? He just wanted to make it into the Hundred-Man Unit, that's all!

Sure, he thought he was capable of getting in even without Corey's promised spot, but how did that somehow translate into unchecked ambition in her eyes?

And twice the training? He already felt like he was on the verge of death every day-if he trained any harder, he really would die.

Raven's smile that made

in on my own merit instead of relying on Corey's favor?'

struck him like lightning. Caleb's expression sharpened. Yes that

turned to Corey, his tone suddenly firm and

an honor to be noticed by someone like you, sir," he said. "But I believe that

a place in the Hundred-Man Unit, it should be through my own ability. If I'm not strong enough to take a spot fairly, then claiming

Raven, he knew which side

if he had to choose-he was choosing

blinked, clearly taken

rejected the

second time his direct appointment

he looked at Caleb's steady gaze, and the genuine conviction behind his words-and found that he didn't feel insulted

fact, he felt...

1/2

Tue, 22

Chapter 159

returned to Corey's face. "You've got potential," he said with clear

61%

agreed. Caleb was right-if someone had the strength, they didn't need favors. And if they didn't, then forcing them in only made things unfair... and

the young man before him, Corey's appreciation

and sharp-but clear-headed, with

would

he'd chosen to follow

him

pocket and pulled out a silver

gift, for now,"

it carefully. "What is