Chapter 523:Arrival.

Chapter 523: 523:Arrival.

Silver had told her something important during their conversation after the disciplinary hearing.

Her father could threaten whatever he wanted but that didn’t mean he possessed the authority to carry out those threats.

Ravenna slowly opened the academy’s student regulations.

She had already begun reviewing the sections concerning enrollment, scholarships, and family sponsorship arrangements.

Her admission had been thanks to the Ruddington’s family placement admission letter. She also held an advantage with her Soul Capacity, her exceptional combat potential and her performance during the academy’s entrance examinations.

Just because she had been required to file her family and everything. He couldn’t simply come to disrupt something that he had no part in.

Not without involving academy administrators.

And after everything that had happened with Silver’s disciplinary investigation, Ravenna was no longer willing to assume that the people holding authority would necessarily act fairly.

She needed evidence, documents and a clear understanding of exactly what her family controlled.

Ravenna opened a new file and began making a list.

Silver found her that evening inside a quiet study room near the disciplinary training wing surrounded by documents, financial records, academy regulations, family correspondence and several old registration forms.

He stopped in the doorway and slowly looked around.

"Should I be concerned?" He asked.

She glanced up.

"About what?"

He gestured toward the documents.

"Have you decided to overthrow the academy?"

She flatly stared at him.

He continued, "Because if you have, I’d appreciate some warning. I’d like to collect my belongings before the revolution starts."

Ravenna laughed despite herself.

"Come here, idiot."

He smiled and approached.

He leaned down to kiss her forehead before taking the seat beside her.

"What are we looking at?"

"My father’s threats."

His expression became serious.

He examined the documents.

"Academy enrollment regulations?"

Ravenna nodded.

"I wanted to know whether he could actually interfere with my placement."

"And?"

"He can’t revoke my admission directly since it was given by your family and the academy’s scholarship covers my tuition and most of my training expenses. While my family is listed on my documents, their authority is limited."

He smiled faintly.

"Good."

Ravenna hesitated.

"However..."

He looked toward her.

"What?"

"There are still some things connected to the family. My legal records, certain financial accounts, and the original guardianship documents."

He nodded slowly.

"So he could make things inconvenient."

"Yes."

"But not impossible."

Ravenna looked toward him.

He continued, "Then we deal with the inconvenience."

She sighed.

"Silver, you make everything sound simple."

He smiled.

"That’s because I haven’t started looking at the paperwork yet."

She laughed, her expression softening.

"Thank you," she quietly said.

Silver raised an eyebrow.

"For what?"

"For not telling me to ignore them."

He studied her.

Ravenna continued, "People always say things like that. Just ignore your family. Stop caring about what they think. Move on. As though it’s something you can decide in a single afternoon."

Silver remained quiet.

She lowered her gaze.

"I know they’re using me. I know they don’t care about me the way they care about Shirley. But some part of me still..."

Her voice trailed off.

Silver waited.

Eventually, she whispered, "Some part of me still wants my father to look at me and be proud."

Silver’s expression softened.

She laughed bitterly.

"Stupid, isn’t it?" She deprecatingly said.

"No."

She looked toward him.

He continued, "You wanted a father. That’s not stupid."

Ravenna stared, tears slowly building up.

Silver leaned back.

"Wanting someone to love you doesn’t mean you’re obligated to keep letting them hurt you."

Her eyes began to glisten.

He reached for her hand.

"And you don’t have to stop wanting that love before you decide to protect yourself," he quietly said.

For several seconds, Ravenna couldn’t speak, then she slowly leaned against his shoulder.

Silver wrapped an arm around her.

They remained quiet for a while.

Eventually, Ravenna whispered, "They’re coming on Thursday."

He nodded.

"I know."

"My father wants to meet you."

Silver smiled faintly.

"Excellent."

She raised her head.

"Silver."

"What?"

"Please don’t antagonize him immediately."

He considered.

"Define immediately," he jokingly said.

Ravenna stared.

He laughed.

"All right. I’ll behave."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Promise?"

Silver smiled.

"I promise to give him an opportunity to behave like a reasonable adult."

She sighed.

"That’s not reassuring."

"It’s the best offer you’re getting."

---

Three days later, a black luxury transport entered Alpha Three Sanctuary through the eastern commercial checkpoint.

The vehicle belonged to the Arkland family, or, more accurately, what remained of the Arkland family’s former wealth.

Once considered a respectable commercial household with investments in transportation, security logistics, and specialized medical supplies, the family’s financial position had deteriorated rapidly over the previous months. The abnormal beast migrations had disrupted several profitable trade routes, while increased military restrictions had made operating outside the sanctuary considerably more expensive.

But the problems extended beyond the recent disasters.

Several investments had been poorly managed. Anumber of contracts had been secured through personal relationships rather than competitive pricing.

And the family’s reliance on borrowed capital had gradually increased to the point where even a temporary interruption in revenue could create serious financial difficulties.

The man sitting in the rear passenger compartment was painfully aware of those problems.

Gideon Arkland was a handsome middle-aged man with carefully styled dark hair, an expensive suit, and an expression that suggested he was accustomed to being obeyed.

Beside him sat his second wife, Marissa Arkland, a well-dressed woman whose elegant appearance did little to conceal the irritation in her eyes.

Across from them sat Shirley, who had met them at the gates after being allowed outside the academy on her parents request. Her brown hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and her green eyes remained fixed on the passing buildings outside the window.

Marissa sighed.

"I still can’t believe we’re having to do this," she said in an irritated tone.

Gideon looked toward her.

"Do what?"

"Come all the way to Alpha Three because Ravenna refuses to answer a simple request."

Gideon frowned.

"She has become increasingly difficult."

Marissa folded her arms.

"She’s always been difficult. Selena spoiled her when she was young, and after that woman died, Ravenna never learned to appreciate everything we did for her."

Shirley remained silent.

Gideon glanced toward his daughter.

"Shirley."

She looked up.

"Yes, Father?"

"Are you certain about what happened with Silver Ruddington?"

She hesitated, then lowered her gaze.

"Yes."

Marissa immediately spoke.

"Of course she is. Why would she lie?" She said, almost defensively.

Gideon raised a hand.

"I’m asking because this is important."

Shirley swallowed.

"Silver and I were talking during the Hollow Creek incident. I thought we were becoming closer, but Ravenna arrived and misunderstood the situation. After that, he started avoiding me."

Marissa shook her head.

"Typical."

Gideon frowned.

"Did he express any interest in you?"

Shirley hesitated again, then answered quietly, "I thought he did."

Marissa reached across the compartment and squeezed her hand.

"Of course he did, darling. You’re beautiful, talented, and far more suitable for someone from the Ruddington family than Ravenna."