They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 460: Grow A Spine

Arthur didn’t answer. He just stood there, staring at them, his jaw tight.

"Say something," Carl repeated, growing irritated. "You’re wasting our time."

Arthur looked...embarrassed? Then conflicted. His eyes flickered away, and for the first time, Ava found herself studying him in genuine disbelief.

These were expressions she had never seen on his face before. Arthur always wore either an easy smirk or a cold mask.

Finally, Arthur cleared his throat again and spoke up, voice low and almost reluctant.

"Somto... Somto is going to teach her martial arts?"

"Yes," Carl said flatly.

Arthur hesitated, his gaze shifting to Nnenna, then back to Carl. "Don’t you think...you have someone better than Somto to teach her that?"

Carl tilted his head, confused. "I don’t think so. Somto is better than me in martial arts."

Arthur pressed his lips together, clearly holding back something. His brows furrowed deeper.

"Anybody else you can think of?" he asked again, almost as if he were giving Carl some invisible hint.

Carl thought it over with all seriousness, oblivious to Arthur’s growing exasperation. "Nope."

Arthur’s face went utterly blank. He was speechless.

in martial arts. In fact, he was leagues ahead. He

pretend to think it over and finally agree, reluctantly, of course. It would have been the perfect chance to get closer to Nnenna, to show

of a friend hadn’t even thought

felt a sudden, childish urge to just blurt it out himself, I’ll teach her! but he swallowed it down, his

something else you want to say?" Carl

and Arthur felt strangely cornered,

me on purpose? he thought warily. But Carl’s expression was as unreadable as a

it out, so he

said at last, voice low but

Carl’s reply left Arthur absolutely

like he had just remembered something trivial.

without even sparing Arthur a second glance, he turned

continued as if nothing had happened, "and we’ll find teachers for the

calm. She trusted Carl completely. If he thought this was the

herself when she heard him say he was better than Somto. But since Carl hadn’t recommended it, she decided

deflate in his chest.

Ava had finally pieced everything together. She glanced at her brother and felt a twinge of pity. So that’s what this

speak up for him, nudge Nnenna a

liked Nnenna, he needed to learn

decided: No, I

purpose. He could see it clearly, the way Carl deliberately didn’t mention him again after he had reminded

through his fingers.

of his neck. He didn’t know what else to do, so he just blurted out his intentions in

arts," he said