The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven) novel Chapter 168

Chapter 168 Investigation

Fury churned in the air like a gathering storm, and despite standing before Edric–the head of one of Regalhold’s Five Great Families–the surrounding crowd had little patience left in their tone.

Edric’s face was equally grim as he stared at the young man from the Sunset Empire.

His voice dropped cold as steel. “Slipping past multiple layers of security to sneak in? I‘ Il admit that takes some skill. But since you came here uninvited–don’t expect to walk out again.”

At his words, the heavy tension in the air eased ever so slightly, though the killing intent in everyone’s eyes remained sharp and burning.

All eyes locked onto the Sunset Empire youth with open hostility–yet the man himself remained unfazed.

With a slow, condescending sweep of his gaze across the gathered elites, he let out a low, disdainful chuckle.

“Your monarch practically begged for cooperation with Sunset Empire,” he said. “And you–just a lowly family head–dare stand against us?”

His words stunned the crowd into brief silence.

Then the fury came rushing back, fiercer than before.

But Jedidiah Ortega, as if oblivious to the temperature plummeting around him, smiled calmly and continued, “Before coming here, I did my research. Anyone under twenty- five is eligible to enter Vyrdenia’s new Hundred–Man Unit. There’s no mention of

nationality. No rules that say only your people can join.”

He turned his gaze toward Caleb. “If I’m not mistaken, he just received an official spot, didn’t he? Then according to your own rules, if I defeat him… that spot should go to me.”

The moment his words fell, the entire courtyard erupted into disbelief.

Indeed, the regulations never restricted entry by nationality.

They didn’t even mandate that applicants be members of the Vyrdenia Military. But no one ever imagined another nation would dare send someone in, much less try to seize

a spot.

This man wasn’t here to compete. He was here to humiliate them.

Across the courtyard, Caleb–who’d still been riding high from earning the very first nomination–felt his blood run cold.

“You think you can beat me?” he said sharply. “What an arrogant-”

But before he could finish, something slammed into his throat.

A crushing force clamped down without warning.

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Chapter 168 Investigation

Caleb’s words choked off into a strangled rasp.

“L–let go-” he gasped.

He clawed at the hand wrapped around his neck, panic overtaking pride. He poured everything he had into trying to break the grip–but it was like trying to bend iron with bare hands. His strength made no difference.

The suffocating pressure mounted second by second, and with it came a wave of fear unlike anything he’d felt before.

A second later, Jedidiah flung him aside like garbage.

Caleb’s body slammed into the ground with a sickening thud, skidding fifteen feet before coming to a halt.

All eyes followed the arc of his flight–then snapped back to the Sunset Empire youth, who stood tall amidst the silence, eyes gleaming with ruthless scorn.

Jedidiah swept his gaze over the crowd like he was staring down insects. “This kind of trash wouldn’t even qualify for military service in Sunset Empire. And here, in a country that outnumbers us nearly ten to one, he’s treated like some kind of treasure?”

He let out a derisive laugh. “No wonder on the battlefield, you Vyrdenians bleed ten men for every inch of progress. Your forces are weak, your leadership worse, and your country is rotting from the inside. The only thing saving you is that you can breed fast enough to keep dying in waves.”

His smile widened, colder now. “And I still can’t understand why my mentor insisted on sending elite troops to ‘study‘ in a backwater like this. What could we possibly learn from a nation of savages, aside from your absurd fertility rate?”

For a heartbeat, no one moved.

Several family heads had already been about to charge–but now they paused, stunned by what they’d just heard.

‘Sunset Empire is sending military observers to Vyrdenia? Impossible. The high

command would never allow it.’

“Enough nonsense!” one family head finally barked. “You’re full of lies!”

But Jedidiah just sneered. “Lies? In Sunset Empire, power speaks louder than words. I‘ Il make this simple.”

He stepped forward, voice/sharp and calm. “If anyone here under twenty–five can defeat me, I’ll shut up and leave quietly. But if no one can–then you’d best shut up and

listen.”

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