Troy was spinning a web of lies, hell–bent on pinning the blame on Raven,
He’d already burned bridges with her, and letting her snag that promotion slot? No way. That’d be like handing a rival a loaded gun.
Better to clip her wings now, before she could soar too high and threaten his power.
Raven caught wind of his scheme and let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Oh, you’re so sure I can’t whip up an advanced elixir tablet, huh? What’s your proof?”
Troy’s eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with smug certainty. “Don’t worry about how I know, kid. I just do. Quit yapping and less up already.
“Confess, and maybe you’ll get off easy. Keep lying, and you’re toast. Admit you cheated–now!”
Raven’s lips curled into a smirk. “Wow. Acting all high and mighty, like you’re running the whole show. Someone might mistake you for the big shot organizer of this selection event.”
A cold glint flashed in Raven’s eyes as she leaned in, her voice low and deliberate. “I put you in charge to pick talent for Deariton, fair and square. Not to play dirty and settle personal scores.
“You’ve been lording over the Robinett family too long, old man. Forgot there’s always a bigger fish out there, didn’t you?”
“Shut your mouth!” Troy roared, his face reddening. “How dare a nobody like you talk to me like that?”
Raven’s words had sliced right through his facade, and he was fuming, humiliated that his little plot was out in the open.
“I’m not letting a conniving liar like you anywhere near Deariton,” he spat. “If Scion’s surrounded by sneaky rats like you, Forreb’s done for. Finished!”
He jabbed a finger at her. “Even if I let you slide, you’d never catch Scion’s eye. I don’t know how you got your hands on those fancy elixir tablets, but your cheap tricks won’t fool me.
“The four lords of Deariton treasure Scion too much to let a rotten apple like you slip through. They set up test after test to weed out trash like you.”
Troy straightened, his tone final. “So here’s the deal, Raven. You’re not advancing. You’re not worthy of being Scion’s vassal.
“As judge of the Forlunda City selection event, I’m disqualifying you. Guards! Drag her to the Inspection Bureau. She’s got a date with justice.”
Troy, a hulking figure with a voice like thunder, bellowed, “Guards, grab this nobody who thinks he’s bigger than the damn sky!”
As one of the top dogs among Forlunda City’s elite families, Troy’s word was law. The second he barked his command, nobles from the spectator stands leaped to their feet, charging straight for Raven like a pack of wolves.
But just as things were about to get messy, a sharp voice cut through the chaos. “Hold it right there! Who’s got the guts to mess with our Lady Valor?”
It was an executive from the Cloudshadow Sect, perched on the judging panel, eyes blazing with fury.
A handful of judges stormed down from the panel, planting themselves in front of Raven like a human wall, glaring down the oncoming mob. The nobles skidded to a halt, jaws dropping.
“What’s your deal, huh?” one of the aristocrats snapped, eyeing the judges. “Why’re you sticking up for some lowl
nowhere?”
The arena was a madhouse–shouts, stomping feet, and the hum of a thousand side conversations. Timothy had been yelling so fast earlier that most folks missed his words in the uproar.
Now, seeing these big shots shielding Raven, the crowd was floored. ‘Why are these high–and–mighty judges throwing their weight behind some no- name contestant? Is Raven secretly the new lord’s right–hand woman or something?‘
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10:52 Wed, 25 Jun
Chapter 974
But then they remembered: when Raven signed up, her background was a big fat blank. No family, no crew, no nothing. They thought no way she had a powerhouse backing her.
The nobles, who’d been ready to throw down, let out a collective breath, their shoulders loosening. Still, they shot wary glances at the fuming judges, confusion written all over their faces.
Timothy locked eyes with the Chang patriarch. “You deaf or just dumb?” he roared. “I said, nobody touches her. Try it, and you’ll see who’s left standing
AD
