Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 827 191.4 - Sponsor ?

Chapter 827 191.4 - Sponsor ?

"I trust you'll do your part as well, Lilia."
Lilia drew a deep breath, forcing her composure to remain intact. She straightened her posture, lifting her chin slightly as her crimson eyes met Selene's piercing brown gaze. There was no hesitation in her movements, only a calculated grace that reflected years of navigating power games like this one.
Her lips curved into a smile—polished, diplomatic, and unyielding.
"Of course," she replied smoothly, her voice carrying just enough warmth to veil the undercurrent of defiance in her tone. "It's always a pleasure to contribute to the club's success."
Selene's smile widened, though it was anything but kind. Her eyes gleamed with amusement, as if she could see right through Lilia's mask. She inclined her head slightly, an almost patronizing gesture that set Lilia's teeth on edge.
"Wonderful," Selene said, her tone light and melodic, but with a sharpness that cut through the air. "I have no doubt you'll rise to the occasion, as always."
The exchange was brief, but the tension lingered, thick and unspoken. Lilia refused to break eye contact, even as Selene's gaze eventually shifted back to the crowd. Whatever game her sister thought she was playing, Lilia wasn't about to let herself be outmaneuvered—at least, not publicly.
Adrian, sensing the moment had run its course, stepped forward with a clap of his hands, drawing the attention of the cadets once more. His confident smirk was firmly in place as he addressed the crowd.
"To celebrate Miss Thornheart's generous sponsorship," Adrian began, his voice carrying with ease, "we've arranged a small party to mark the occasion. There will be appetizers, drinks—within the academy's regulations, of course—and even a few games to keep things lively."
A ripple of surprise ran through the gathered cadets. The suddenness of the announcement caught many off guard, but few seemed inclined to protest. After all, Adrian's confident delivery left little room for argument, and the promise of food and entertainment was enough to win most of them over.
Lilia, however, was less impressed.
'A party?' she thought, her mind already working through the implications. It wasn't just about celebration—it was about control. Adrian and Selene were solidifying their influence over the club, framing their actions as generosity while subtly shifting the power dynamics in their favor.
Around her, the cadets were already murmuring their approval, their initial surprise giving way to anticipation. And, of course, many of their gazes lingered on Selene, who remained the center of attention.
Selene's choice of attire only heightened the effect. Her fitted dress, elegant and understated but designed to draw just the right amount of attention, accentuated her graceful figure. The subtle shimmer of the fabric caught the light as she moved, adding to the almost magnetic pull she seemed to exert on the crowd.
"She really is stunning," someone whispered, just loud enough for Lilia to catch.
"Yeah… I can't believe she's related to Lilia, though. They're so different."
'Of course, we are. I am not a…..'
She was about to comment, but refrained from doing so. Since it was not needed.
Adrian clapped his hands again, silencing the whispers. "The party will start shortly," he announced. "Please feel free to enjoy yourselves and make the most of the new facilities. After all, this is just the beginning of what's to come for the Archery Club."
The cadets began to disperse, some heading toward the canteen where the first trays of appetizers were already being laid out, while others gravitated toward the vending machines and seating areas. Lilia remained where she was, her sharp eyes following Selene as she moved through the crowd with effortless ease, her every step calculated to draw attention without appearing deliberate.
As the cadets began to disperse, laughter and chatter filling the air as they moved toward the refreshments and games, Lilia remained in her spot, her sharp eyes fixed on Selene. She knew it was coming—Selene never let an opportunity pass without twisting the knife just a little deeper.
And she was right.
Selene's graceful figure wove through the crowd with practiced ease, her fitted dress catching just enough light to draw attention as she passed. Slowly but deliberately, she approached Lilia, her smile as serene as ever. But there was no mistaking the cold glint in her brown eyes, a gleam that made Lilia's jaw tighten instinctively.
When Selene finally reached her, she stopped just a step too close—an unspoken act of dominance. Her smile widened ever so slightly as she tilted her head, her eyes gazing down at Lilia with the kind of condescension that made Lilia's blood simmer.
"How is it, little sister?" Selene began, her voice as smooth as velvet but laced with mockery. "Do you like my new playground?"
The words hit like a subtle jab, not loud enough for anyone else to notice but sharp enough to sting. Lilia's crimson eyes narrowed, the tension between them thick and palpable. She forced herself to take a deep breath before responding.
"Playground?" Lilia repeated, her tone deceptively calm as she locked eyes with Selene. "Is this all this place is to you?"
Selene's smile didn't falter, but the glint in her eyes grew colder. "What else?" she asked, her tone light, as though she were speaking to a child. "Do you think a tiny club like this is worthy of being called anything else?" She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just enough to ensure only Lilia could hear her next words. "You should know better, shouldn't you?"
The implication was unmistakable, and Lilia's fists clenched at her sides. Selene wasn't just talking about the Archery Club. She was digging at something deeper, something far more personal—their shared history and the ruthless power games of the Olympus Vanguard.
Selene straightened, her expression turning even more smug.
As if her brown eyes were saying "Did you really think such a small, pathetic place could be one of your operating points?" - "You know I could dismantle it like this."
Lilia's glare sharpened, her crimson eyes blazing with quiet fury as she met Selene's gaze head-on. She knew exactly what Selene was doing. Her sister had always been good at this—tearing her down with a few carefully chosen words, all while keeping that infuriatingly calm, superior demeanor.
For a fleeting moment, a dangerous thought crossed her mind—she wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug expression off Selene's face, to crush her beneath the weight of her own arrogance.
'No,' she reminded herself, forcing her composure to remain intact. Acting on impulse would only give Selene the upper hand, and Lilia refused to hand her that satisfaction.
Instead, she forced her expression to soften, schooling her features into a faint smile that masked the storm raging inside her. "Tiny, you say?" she replied, her tone calm and deceptively light. "A club isn't defined by its size. It's a place where people meet for their shared interests and grow together."
Her smile widened, though her words carried a sharpness Selene couldn't miss. "And just because you've thrown some money at it, Selene, doesn't mean you're one of them, does it?"
Selene's expression faltered for the briefest of moments, her brown eyes narrowing slightly at Lilia's remark. But she quickly recovered, her smile returning with a cold elegance.
Lilia didn't wait for her sister's response. Turning on her heel, she let her hair cascade over her shoulder as she strode toward the exit with purposeful steps. She didn't look back, even as she felt the weight of Selene's gaze lingering on her.
'If I stay another second, I'll end up doing something I'll regret,' she thought bitterly, pushing open the doors to the training grounds and stepping outside. The cool air hit her face, doing little to quell the fire simmering in her chest.
As she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, movement in the corner of her vision caught her attention. Someone else was leaving the grounds, their quiet steps cutting through the faint hum of distant voices.
Lilia turned slightly, her crimson eyes narrowing in curiosity. "Hmm…"
It was Astron.
He moved with his usual aloof demeanor, his gait measured and his expression unreadable. His dark eyes, as cold and distant as ever, gave him an aura of untouchable calm. Despite his quiet presence, he always seemed to carry an unspoken weight, a subtle intensity that set him apart from everyone else.
For the first time in what felt like hours, Lilia felt her tension ease slightly. Astron was someone she could talk to—not because he was warm or comforting, but because his detached, pragmatic nature had a way of grounding her when everything else felt chaotic.
She stepped toward him, her voice cutting through the stillness. "Astron."
He stopped, turning his head slightly to glance at her, his expression as stoic as always. "Lilia," he replied simply, his tone neutral but not dismissive.
She approached him fully, her pace slowing as she considered her next words. "Leaving already?" she asked, her voice lighter than it had been moments ago.
Astron shrugged, his gaze drifting past her toward the horizon. "Not much for parties."
Astron's nonchalant response lingered in the air, and for a moment, Lilia simply studied him. His calm detachment was almost enviable, a sharp contrast to the roiling storm of frustration and resentment she had just endured inside. Seeing him leaving, walking away as if none of it mattered, made her face harden slightly.
Inwardly, she debated. Should I do the same? The idea was tempting—walking away from the suffocating games Selene played, from the crowd that hung on her every word, from the endless dance of power and pretense. But Lilia knew better. If she left now, it would be interpreted as weakness, as retreating in the face of Selene's presence. That was something she couldn't afford.
No, she decided, exhaling quietly. I have to stay. If I walk away, she wins.
Yet, staying didn't mean enduring it alone. Her crimson eyes flicked back to Astron, who seemed wholly unbothered by the tension she carried. His detached nature, his refusal to be swept up in the politics of the academy, was something she found oddly refreshing. In a way, she envied him—how he could exist outside the web of expectations that bound people like her. But more than that, she was curious.
'And I was curious about his prowess,' she admitted to herself, her gaze sharpening slightly as she regarded him. This man, Astron, was an enigma. Quiet, aloof, and infuriatingly hard to read, yet undeniably skilled. She had seen glimpses of his precision and control during training, and it intrigued her. What drives someone like him? What is he hiding behind that stoic mask?
With that thought, she made up her mind. She stepped closer, her tone calm but firm.
"Don't leave yet."