The orange glow of the setting sun cast long shadows across the manicured grounds of Victoria Hill.

Evren walked out into the stone path that wound through the quiet pine garden behind the manor. The mountain air was cool, carrying the fresh scent of evergreen needles.

Near a carved marble bench, Zephyra was walking slowly along the gravel.

Her hands were tucked into the pockets of a long black coat, and right behind her, the white RX-9 medical droid hovered silently on its magnetic tracks.

Hearing the crunch of his boots on the gravel, Zephyra paused and turned around. "Chairman," she said softly.

"How are your hands feeling this evening?" Evren asked, stopping a few paces away.

Zephyra pulled her left hand from her coat pocket. She held her fingers out in the fading sunlight.

There was a faint, almost invisible static twitch near her fingertips, but the violent tremors that had crippled her mana veins for months were completely gone.

"Much better," Zephyra said quietly. "The static is getting weaker every day. There is no pain."

Evren nodded, looking at her with a calm expression. "I and Amber leave for the Imperial Capital tomorrow morning," Evren said plainly.

Zephyra’s dark violet eyes flickered slightly, but she kept her face carefully blank, waiting for him to finish.

"You’re staying here at Victoria Hill," Evren continued in a relaxed tone. "The manor is completely secure. Arthur and the estate staff will take care of everything you need. You don’t have to fight, and you don’t have to travel."

Zephyra looked up at him, a flicker of genuine confusion crossing her face.

"You spent twenty million dollars on me at the arena," she said in a low, tight voice. "And you risked your life in an S-Rank rift to bring back an astral lotus just to heal my veins. Why leave me behind?"

"Because you’re not a weapon, Zephyra," Evren answered honestly. "And you don’t owe me your life. If you stay here, you will always have a safe home where nobody can touch you."

Zephyra stared at him in complete silence.

In the underworld, every coin spent came with a chain. Every favour demanded blood. Balthazar had treated her like cattle, and Varek Drossian had planned to lock a neural slave collar around her neck.

Evren had spent a fortune to save her, yet he was standing here offering her total peace with zero strings attached.

Her chest tightened with an emotion she had never felt before.

"And if I want to come?"

Evren smiled faintly.

"Then you come," he replied. "But only because you choose to, not because you feel obligated to repay a debt."

Evren gave her a small nod, turned on his heel, and walked back toward the warm lights of the manor.

Zephyra stood alone in the cool evening breeze for a long time. She looked down at her open palms, then slowly closed them into fists.

The following morning, the sun had barely risen over the eastern horizon when Evren and Amber arrived at Horizon Plaza for the handoff meeting till his return.

Inside the private conference room on the fortieth floor, Commander Derrick and Tobias were already standing by the mahogany table with Mikay.

"Morning, Boss," Derrick said with a respectful nod. "The guild’s daily training schedules are locked in. The new recruits are running physical conditioning in the morning and combat drills in the afternoon. If the city’s hunter bureau requests assistance with any low-rank rift anomalies, we have teams ready."

"Good," Evren said, taking a seat at the table with Amber beside him. "Keep the hunters focused on their training. If anything unusual happens in the city, coordinate directly with Mikay."

"Understood, Chairman," Derrick replied.

Evren turned to Mikay. "How are the corporate facilities?"

"All under control, Boss," Mikay reported, tapping his tablet. "Private site security is posted at the Sector One mines and both Sector Four foundries. The furnace upgrades at Iron-Spire are already underway, and the Commerce Bureau has approved our registration filings."

"And the guild logistics?" Evren looked at Tobias.

"I’m managing the daily supply deliveries to the training hall," Tobias said with a smile. "Training gear, medical supplies, and rations are fully stocked."

"Good work, everyone," Evren said, standing up from the table. "Hold down the fort. Amber and I will be back in a few days."

An hour later, Evren and Amber returned to Victoria Hill.

Three black-and-gold armored SUVs sat idling in a neat row outside the manor’s wrought-iron gates.

Arthur stood by the front steps of the manor, his hands folded neatly in front of his tailored suit.

As Evren and Amber walked down the marble steps carrying their travel bags, Arthur bowed deeply from the waist.

"The convoy is fueled and inspected, Chairman Evren, Vice-Chairman Amber," Arthur said with utmost respect. "The security arrays across the entire estate are active. I will guard Victoria Hill with my life."

"Thanks, Arthur," Evren smiled, handing his bag to the driver. "Keep an eye on the staff, and make sure Zephyra has everything she needs."

"Of course, Chairman."

Amber walked over to the passenger side of the lead SUV and climbed into her seat, rolling down the window to catch the cool morning breeze.

Evren walked toward the vehicle as the driver checked the convoy’s navigation screen.

CRUNCH.

The sound of footsteps echoed against the stone gravel path behind them, making Evren pause and turn his head.

Walking through the manor’s front gate was Zephyra.

She carried no luggage at all. She was wearing a simple dark traveling coat, black trousers, and boots that Arthur had provided from the estate’s guest wardrobe. Her long dark hair was tied neatly behind her neck, and her pale face looked calmer and more alive than ever before.

Right behind her shoulder, the white RX-9 medical droid followed as usual.

Zephyra walked past the guards, stepped straight up to the SUV, and stopped directly in front of Evren.

Her dark violet eyes were calm, but she looked determined.

"My choice," Zephyra said simply.

Evren looked into her eyes for a moment. He noticed she didn’t even have a bag; just the spare coat on her back and the droid behind her.

A warm, approving smile spread across his face.

"Get in," Evren said, pulling the rear door wide open for her. "We’ll buy you a proper wardrobe when we reach the Capital."

Zephyra gave a single nod and climbed into the backseat beside Amber. Amber smiled warmly at her, shifting over to give her plenty of room.

Arthur stepped forward, gently lifting the droid so Zephyra wouldn’t have to strain her healing hands, and placed it securely on the seat between the two women.

"Safe travels, Miss Zephyra," Arthur said with a respectful bow.

Evren climbed into the front passenger seat next to the driver and closed the armored door with a solid thud.

The driver shifted into gear, and the three-vehicle convoy smoothly began rolling down the private mountain road.

At that exact second, a brilliant flash of golden light exploded across Evren’s vision, accompanied by a chime that echoed directly in his mind:

[DING!]

[TARGET: ZEPHYRA NIGHTSHADE — TRUST LEVEL HAS REACHED: 25%]

[25% MILESTONE SYSTEM REWARD UNLOCKED: SYSTEM FORTUNE WHEEL SPIN!]

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPIN NOW? (YES / NO)]

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