Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 826

Lilia’s crimson eyes narrowed, her sharp senses immediately picking up on the weight behind his words. A cold, sinking feeling settled in her chest, though her outward composure remained unbroken. She knew Adrian well enough to recognize when he was laying groundwork for something significant. And this? This wasn’t just idle posturing.

Her voice was calm but laced with suspicion. "What are you talking about, Adrian?"

Adrian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced down at his smartwatch, the faint glow of the screen reflecting in his eyes as he checked the time. His smirk widened.

"Everyone should be around here by now," he said smoothly, his gaze lifting to scan the training grounds.

And he was right. Cadets filled the area, gathering in clusters around the canteen, the vending machines, and the various platforms. The hum of conversation had grown louder as more members trickled in, the atmosphere charged with a sense of anticipation. It was almost the exact time the notification had stated, and from the look on Adrian’s face, this was no coincidence.

Lilia’s unease deepened. Whatever Adrian was planning, it wasn’t something minor. Her instincts, honed from years of navigating both guild politics and battlefield strategy, were screaming at her that this moment was pivotal.

Adrian clapped his hands together, drawing the attention of the club members. The noise settled almost instantly, the cadets falling silent as all eyes turned to him. He had a commanding presence, and he knew how to use it.

"Thank you all for coming," Adrian began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the grounds. "As you may have noticed, the Archery Club has seen some remarkable improvements recently. New facilities, new equipment—investments that reflect the academy’s belief in us as one of its most promising organizations."

His words were met with a murmur of agreement and scattered applause. Lilia remained silent, her sharp gaze fixed on him as he continued.

"But," Adrian added, raising a hand to quiet the noise, "these improvements didn’t come from nowhere. They were made possible by a very generous benefactor—someone who believes in the potential of this club and its members. And today, I’m honored to announce that this benefactor has officially agreed to sponsor the Archery Club."

The murmurs started again, this time louder and more excited. A sponsor? That was no small matter. Sponsorship often meant additional funding, exclusive opportunities, and connections that could elevate the club to unprecedented heights.

But Lilia wasn’t focused on the applause or the chatter. Her mind was racing, piecing together the implications of Adrian’s words. A benefactor… no, a sponsor? She clenched her fists at her sides, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach as a terrible suspicion began to form.

Adrian’s smirk grew as he stepped to the side, gesturing toward the entrance of the training grounds. "And without further ado, let me introduce her to you."

The silence that followed was deafening as every head turned toward the entrance.

And then she appeared.

"Huh?"

Someone that she had not been expecting at all.

The silence in the training grounds stretched thin as every head turned toward the entrance. Lilia, still as a statue, felt her chest tighten as the figure stepped into view.

Her emerald-green hair cascaded in soft waves, catching the sunlight with an effortless shimmer. The way she moved—graceful, deliberate, and captivating—was almost a mirror image of Lilia herself. Her slim waist, poised demeanor, and the subtle, seductive sway in her step commanded attention with the ease of someone who had long mastered the art of presence.

And yet, there was a difference.

Her eyes.

They weren’t crimson like Lilia’s; instead, they were a deep, rich brown, warm yet piercing in a way that seemed to strip away layers with a single glance. Those eyes held a calm confidence, an undeniable authority that sent a ripple through the gathered cadets.

"Hello," the woman greeted, her voice smooth as silk, carrying just enough weight to command attention without raising it.

The reaction was immediate. Cadets shifted uneasily, their whispers low but not quiet enough to go unnoticed. Awe, curiosity, even a tinge of lust painted their expressions, though most tried to mask it under the veneer of composure befitting their high-ranking family backgrounds. Still, the atmosphere was charged, the energy palpable.

"Who is she?"

"She looks just like… no, but her eyes are different…"

"She’s gorgeous."

"She has to be someone important."

The silence stretched taut as Selene Thornheart, Lilia’s step-sister, stood at the entrance, effortlessly commanding the room without uttering another word. Her emerald hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her brown eyes scanned the training grounds with a piercing calmness, carrying a subtle mockery that didn’t need to be spoken aloud.

Lilia’s crimson eyes locked onto her, and for a split second, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension. Selene’s lips curved into a faint smile, one that was more a challenge than a greeting. It was the kind of expression that could light a fire in Lilia’s chest, and it did.

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