After three days in solitary, Shirley was finally released. The moment she got out, she rushed straight to Thora's quarters and obediently apologized first—no matter what she had done, as long as she sensed even a hint that Thora might be upset, apologizing first and then acting cute was always the right move. That was the lesson she had learned from years of being by Thora's side. But this time, Thora wasn't angry. Shirley's personality had always had its share of flaws. The fact that she had reined it in this much was already impressive. Forcing more restrictions on her would only warp her nature. They weren't a by-the-book regular military unit, and they didn't need model students who followed every rule. That was why Thora rarely held them to the rigid standards of conventional soldiers. Because of this, the members of Wolffang possessed the fine qualities of soldiers without the stiffness. Flexibility, quick reflexes, and independent thinking—those were the essential traits of elite special forces. Thora's philosophy was simple. If they stirred up trouble, she could handle the fallout. And if they caused a serious mess, she would just eliminate the problem at its root. ... Over the past few days, aside from completing her daily training courses, Thora had spent all her time at the Nine Tower fighting in the arena. She had started later than Tristan and Ryan, yet her progress far outpaced theirs. She had already fought her way to the second floor and was just one step away from advancing to the third. Meanwhile, Tristan and Ryan had only just set foot on the second floor. ...The commotion at the Nine Tower had also caught the attention of the academy's higher-ups. Though they rarely interfered with Nine Tower affairs, they couldn't help but take notice of a student who had achieved such impressive results in such a short time. "Thora's record is quite impressive." Valen looked at the footage that had been sent over and nodded approvingly. Jeremy, standing beside him, smiled in agreement. "Impressive indeed. Even more eye-catching than Roxen's performance last year." Valen pondered for a moment, then picked up the coffee on his desk and took a sip. "What's the situation with the Command Institute's dean?" "He hasn't made any moves recently, but he's been keeping a close eye on Thora." Jeremy replied slowly. Valen nodded. "That old fox won't give up so easily. The academy-wide comprehensive assessment is in two weeks, and the rankings are about to get a major shakeup. Once Roth sees Thora's performance, there's no way he'll stay this calm." Jeremy chuckled. "Mr. Mercer, it sounds like you care quite a bit about Thora." Valen scoffed. "That little punk nearly gave me a heart attack. Care about her? I just want to watch the fireworks when the two institutes fight over her." Jeremy glanced at him, clearly not buying it. Valen changed the subject and asked casually, "How are things at the Command Institute lately?" Jeremy understood the real question and answered honestly. "Ashley rarely attends classes, but her stunning performance has left a strong impression on both faculty and students. She's hardly ever seen on campus, and her whereabouts are nearly impossible to track. What's more impressive is that despite the school being covered in surveillance cameras, none of them have captured any footage of her unless she deliberately shows herself. Aside from her, there's another standout student named Ryan.""Ryan?" Valen seemed slightly surprised. He had expected a different name. "Yes. Ryan has excelled in every subject at the Command Institute. The only one close behind him is Tristan." Valen couldn't help but wonder if he had misjudged things from the start. He had initially paid far more attention to Tristan than Ryan. He barely had any impression of Ryan at all. He hadn't expected the guy to be a hidden powerhouse. "Also, that student named Draven hasn't shown up once since enrollment. He's probably not coming back." Jeremy added. Valen nodded without comment. He knew Draven's true identity was actually Darius. Someone of Darius's status had no need to attend Blue Star Military Academy for further training. He even suspected that guy had only taken the entrance exam for fun. "From now on, keep a close eye on Ashley." Valen said in a low voice. "Understood." Jeremy acknowledged. ... Valen's brow furrowed deeply. The near-breach of the 66th floor of the Data Building remained a major concern for the academy's leadership. This wasn't the first time Blue Star Military Academy had faced external threats—there had been attempts to illegally steal data from the Data Building or outright destroy the school, but they had always detected and stopped them in time. An intrusion as silent as the last one, leaving no trace and vanishing without a clue, was a first. The intruder had to be an ability user, at least S-rank or higher, with exceptional reconnaissance and counter-surveillance abilities—extremely dangerous. And right now, Valen's prime suspect was Lance, who went by the alias Ashley. Mercenaries always appeared with a clear objective. Perhaps ... his target had been connected to Blue Star Military Academy all along. Valen's expression turned icy as he pressed his palm firmly against the desk. Jeremy's eyes flickered. He gave a respectful bow and quietly excused himself. ... Thora had just left the Nine Tower. As she passed by the Shooting Institute, she suddenly spotted Shirley standing with a man, chatting. The man looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't immediately place where she had seen him. She was about to approach when someone suddenly bumped into her from the side. "Sorry ... Thora?" Thora looked up and finally saw who had bumped into her. She took a small step back and nodded politely. "Mr. Moore."Jeremy returned the nod with a smile, then continued on his way. But in the instant he stepped past her, Thora caught a faint yet familiar scent. That was... She whipped her head around to stare at Jeremy’s retreating figure, her gaze sharpening with sudden realization.