Chapter 190: The Next Small Goal
After discovering this thrilling possibility, Yuki had masked her intentions beneath a veil of playful teasing. She playfully plucked a few strands of Rovel's hair, feigning a minor sibling squabble, before swiftly driving off.
She headed straight for a private hospital in a neighboring province. Canghai City was the undisputed territory of the Zhou Family; even the slightest misstep or unusual errand there would be instantly reported to the elders, and she couldn't afford any prying eyes.
Sitting in the sterile waiting corridor, her slender fingers tapped anxiously against her knee.
Soon, a physician approached, handing her a sealed manila envelope. Yuki took it with bated breath. She peeled the seal back millimeter by millimeter, her heart hammering against her ribs as if she were scratching off a grand lottery ticket.
[No Blood Relation Confirmed]
The bold, crimson letters stamped across the medical report reflected in her trembling pupils. She didn't gasp or cheer. Instead, she silently folded the document and tucked it securely into her designer bag.
After paying a hefty, discreet sum to wipe the hospital's medical records clean, she returned to the secluded parking lot.
The moment her hands gripped the leather steering wheel, the dam broke. A radiant, uncontrollable smile bloomed across her lips.
This meant she could actually do it. She could marry Rovel.
She could even do all those incredibly H-rated things with him...
'When Brother sees this result, he won't have a single excuse left to reject me, right?'
She drove back toward Canghai City. Just as she was mapping out how to confront Rovel with the evidence, her phone buzzed. The caller ID displayed the Family Head.
"My informants tell me you left Canghai City," the elderly man's voice crackled through the speaker, sharp and demanding. "Where exactly did you go?"
"I just went for a drive to clear my head," Yuki replied, her tone perfectly flat, betraying none of her earlier euphoria.
"You know very well that there is an active thirty million dollar bounty on your head in the dark web right now! How dare you run around unescorted at a time like this?!" The Family Head's anger flared, echoing through the car's interior.
Because Yuki had secured second place in the global [Chiyou Descends] event, she had inevitably drawn the predatory gaze of numerous foreign syndicates and rival player factions.
While the Zhou Family had used her fame to garner support and massive profits from various domestic factions, they had simultaneously painted a massive target on their own backs.
The VRMMO 'Honkai' was no longer just a game; its mechanics were bleeding into reality.
Certain elite players had already witnessed the devastating might of an A-rank Valkyrie firsthand. Himeko's recent display of combat prowess in Shenzhou served as a terrifying benchmark. A single, casual swing of her greatsword smashing into the earth could effortlessly obliterate dozens, if not hundreds, of heavily armed men.
And above the A-rank Valkyries stood the S-Rank Valkyries—walking calamities, human nuclear weapons capable of leveling entire cities.
If Yuki were allowed to fully mature and synchronize her in-game strength, it would spell absolute disaster for foreign powers vying for dominance.
Yuki didn't bother arguing. She simply leaned back against the headrest, listening quietly to the Family Head's lecture with a bored expression.
"By the way," the old man continued, shifting gears. "The third-place finisher in the last dungeon was Zhang Changgong from the Zhang Family. Tomorrow evening, our two families will be hosting a joint banquet to discuss some mutual cooperation. Make sure you have time. You two should get to know each other."
"Zhang Changgong? What a sloppy, old-fashioned name," Yuki couldn't help but scoff, a genuine laugh escaping her lips.
"Yuki, I am not joking with you," the Family Head warned, his tone turning deadly serious. "Zhang Changgong unexpectedly acquired a lost ancient martial art from Shenzhou called the [Jade God Skill], which grants him the ability to manipulate and control fire. If possible... you two are similar in age, and equally outstanding in talent..."
"Gotta go, I'm driving." Yuki didn't even let him finish. She tapped the screen, instantly terminating the call.
She tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, muttering under her breath, "Tch. Outstanding? Could he possibly be more outstanding than my Brother?"
A sudden, mischievous thought crossed her mind. 'But... should I use this guy to stir up Brother's jealousy? Make him realize how much he loves me?'She tapped her chin thoughtfully.'Hmm... never mind. What if Brother actually misunderstands and thinks I like that guy? That would be an absolute disaster.'
The moment the horrific scenario played out in her head, she decisively shook it away. If Rovel didn't crash the wedding to steal her away, but instead showed up with a warm smile to give his blessings, Yuki knew her heart would truly shatter into a million pieces.
She refused to take that risk. Not even if there was only a one percent chance of failure.
'It's better to just stick to the most direct, foolproof method. I'll buy some computer parts online.'
This time, she would be carefully careful. She definitely wouldn't be discovered.
Meanwhile, the Family Head, left listening to the dial tone, fumed in his study, utterly powerless to control his most valuable asset.
When Yuki finally returned to the Zhou estate, she spotted the Family Head sitting rigidly on the living room sofa, his face a mask of stern displeasure. Without offering so much as a polite greeting, she walked right past him, heading straight to her room to shower and sleep.
However, the next evening, Yuki was still forced to attend the grand dinner hosted by the two prominent families.
The ballroom was bathed in the warm glow of crystal chandeliers. Dozens of young masters and corporate elites attempted to strike up conversations, all desperate to curry favor with Yuki—the publicly acknowledged second-strongest Descender in Shenzhou.
Yuki, however, was an impenetrable fortress of ice. She only entertained strict business topics, skillfully deflecting or outright ignoring any inquiries about her personal life.
If any suitor foolishly tried to steer the conversation toward romance or flirting, Yuki would abruptly excuse herself, flee to the restroom, and refuse to emerge for at least ten minutes.
Her blatant avoidance tactics quickly sent a clear message to the attendees.
Want to discuss commercial cooperation? No problem.
Want to flirt with her? Keep dreaming.
Retreating to a quiet corner beside a towering pillar, Yuki pulled out her phone. "Brother, it's so incredibly boring here. Please talk to me," she whined softly into the receiver, her cold persona melting instantly.
Just at that moment, a handsome, elegantly dressed man exuding an aura of aristocratic nobility stepped into the banquet hall.
His arrival immediately drew the attention of the crowd. It was none other than the second son of the Zhang Family, Zhang Changgong.
His gaze swept the room, his goal incredibly clear. He bypassed the eager socialites and headed straight for Yuki's corner.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Yuki Suou?" Zhang Changgong asked, curving his lips into a practiced, charming smile as he approached her.
"Sorry, Brother, it's a bit too noisy here. I'll find a quieter spot, wait for me," Yuki said into her phone, completely ignoring the man standing right in front of her. She didn't even spare Zhang Changgong a passing glance as she turned on her heel and walked briskly away.
Zhang Changgong's charming smile froze awkwardly on his face. However, he quickly masked his irritation, adjusting his expression and pretending nothing embarrassing had just occurred as he turned to chat with the nearby guests.
He had fully intended to wait for Yuki Suou to return from her 'quieter spot' so he could resume his charm offensive.
But... Yuki simply slipped out the back doors and quietly went home alone.
By the time the Zhou Family Head realized his star heir had vanished from the venue, Yuki was already comfortably lounging in her bed, having happily chatted with Rovel for over half an hour.
Miles away, after an unknown amount of time, Rovel finally ended the call. He lowered his phone, a faint hint of helplessness coloring his features.
"Husband, what's wrong?" Yae Sakura asked softly, her fox ears twitching as she picked up on Rovel's shifting mood. She walked over, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"It's my sister, Yuki. She's the designated heir to the Zhou Family now," Rovel sighed softly, leaning back into Sakura's touch. "I don't want her to stay in that stifling place, but I simply don't have enough power to pull her out of there yet."
Even though the [Ashen Extinction] event had concluded, Rovel's current physical condition meant he could, at most, synchronize about one-fourth of his total in-game attributes.
That brought his real-world stats to roughly two thousand points—a level of strength comparable to an A-rank Valkyrie.
In this mundane world, assassinating an A-rank Valkyrie would require immense effort and heavy ordnance, but it wasn't entirely impossible.
What he truly desired was to build a sanctuary for Yuki. A home that was absolutely safe, completely free from the scheming of aristocratic families and the threats of the dark web.
At the very least, he needed a fortress that could effortlessly withstand the threat of modern firearms and artillery.
He wasn't quite paranoid enough to start prepping for a nuclear strike; after all, even a fully awakened Herrscher would have a hard time brushing off a direct hit from a nuke.
Once his body fully recovered from the recent strain, Rovel planned to dive straight into the [Shattered Swords] dungeon. He needed to find a way to activate the Xuanyuan Sword and unlock the fourth Authority of Taiyi.
With the spatial manipulation abilities granted by that Authority, conventional firearms would be entirely rendered useless against him.
And that was Rovel's next small goal.
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