The underworld queen come back and slays novel Chapter 159

Chapter 159

BJ

The moment Caleb caught sight of Raven, his entire body tensed on instinct.

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‘What the hell is she doing here?‘ he thought, his heart skipping a beat. ‘Wasn’t someone else supposed to handle the selection for her? Why did the Iron Queen show up in person?‘

And more importantly–he’d heard the new general hadn’t made a public appearance yet. ‘Should he be saluting her?”

Off to the side, Corey’s smile faded the instant he saw Raven walking over. His eyes sharpened, all amusement gone.

Raven strolled toward Caleb, unhurried but deliberate, stopping just in front of his stiffened figure. Her gaze swept him from head to toe, and then she smiled–not warmly, but with a faint, knowing amusement.

“I didn’t realize you had such lofty ambitions,” she said calmly. “But with your current strength, you’re not quite equipped to carry them.”

She reached out and gave his shoulder a light pat.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll need to train twice as hard.”

Caleb was speechless.

Lofty ambitions? What lofty ambitions? He just wanted to make it into the Hundred–Man Unit, that’s all!

Sure, he thought he was capable of getting in even without Corey’s promised spot, but how did that somehow translate into unchecked ambition in her eyes?

And twice the training? He already felt like he was on the verge of death every day–if he trained any harder, he really would die.

Still… there was something in Raven’s smile that made him deeply uneasy.

Was she disappointed in him?

‘Does she think I should’ve gotten in on my own merit instead of relying on Corey’s favor?‘ Caleb thought.

The realization struck him like lightning. Caleb’s expression sharpened.

Yes that had to be it.

Straightening, he turned to Corey, his tone suddenly firm and resolute.

“It’s an honor to be noticed by someone like you, sir,” he said. “But I believe that if I want to earn a place in the Hundred–Man Unit, it should be through my own ability. If I’m not strong enough to take a spot fairly, then claiming one would be disrespectful–not just to others, but to myself.”

Between Corey and Raven, he knew which side he feared more.

And if he had to choose–he was choosing her.

Corey blinked, clearly taken aback.

‘He rejected the offer… again?‘

This was the second time his direct appointment had been declined.

But then he looked at Caleb’s steady gaze, and the genuine conviction behind his words–and found that he didn’t feel insulted at all.

In fact, he felt… impressed.