Deciding it was easier to ignore them, she walked over and sat down next to Julian.
She looked toward the two Dragon-Thorn Operatives who had just finished preparing the bodies for transport. "Thanks for your hard work. Come grab something to eat before you go."
The two operatives looked simultaneously terrified and deeply honored.
Their minds were still blown by the revelation.
This Elyndorian student—who had saved their lives in the underground garage and then relentlessly lectured their elite squad—was their captain's biological sister?!
They swallowed hard and waved their hands frantically. "No, no, thank you, Miss Lancaster! We need to get these bodies back to the lab immediately. Staying here too long might draw unwanted attention."
"Yes, exactly. We'll just get to work!"
Serena didn't push. She only offered one final warning: "Make sure you dig the chips out of their skulls before you bring them onto your base."
The operatives nodded vigorously.
Not daring to linger a second longer, they hoisted the corpses and practically sprinted out of the room, clearing the scene with record speed.
Soon, the suite was left to the three siblings and Nicholas.
Steam drifted up from the lavish spread of food.
A strange, cozy warmth settled over the room.
Julian placed a piece of Serena's favorite dish onto her plate. "Try this, Serena."
He had flown out specifically to check on her and offer his support.
Watching her eat, Julian pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose, unable to hide the profound pride in his eyes. "I was in the audience today. I watched your entire performance."
"Everyone back home watched it too. Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, and your third brother were all glued to the livestream."
"You were absolutely spectacular. Grandpa was so thrilled he asked for a second serving at dinner."
Julian smiled, his demeanor soft and deeply affectionate. "They wanted to call you immediately to celebrate, but they were afraid of interrupting your focus for the rest of the tournament. So, they sent me as the official ambassador to check on you."


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