Chương 431: Chapter : 431

It was a brilliant display of elite combat capabilities. The spear became a blur of silver light. She thrust the weapon forward, the wind howling softly around the metal tip. She spun the shaft behind her back, her movements incredibly fast and perfectly controlled. She did not stumble. She did not lose her balance. Her form was flawless, completely sharp, and absolutely disciplined. Ken's eyes went completely wide. He did not look lazy anymore. He looked totally, comically terrified.

The moment she spun the spear, Ken violently slid his wooden chair backward. The legs made a loud scraping sound against the floor. He scrambled off the chair and dived directly behind Naomi's seat. He crouched low, wrapping his arms over his head.

"Whoa! Whoa!" Ken screamed in a high-pitched, panicked voice.

"That is a very sharp spear! Please do not point that thing at my nice suit! I just got the mud washed out of it yesterday! And my face is very delicate! I do not want to get sliced!" The girls in the room burst out laughing. Laxmi clapped her hands together, a small flame popping from her knuckles.

"That was amazing, Olivia! Your form is perfect! We absolutely have to spar later! I want to see if my fire can catch your silver spear!"

"Perhaps later, Laxmi," Olivia said. Her face did not show any pride. She remained completely serious. She smoothly tied the spear back onto her back and stood at attention. Zinia nodded approvingly.

"She is strong. Her balance is perfect. She has the discipline of a true vanguard." Naomi looked down at Ken, who was still crouching behind her chair. She smiled a very warm, gentle smile. She reached down, grabbed his arm, and helped him stand back up. Her touch was soft, and she did not scold him for being a coward.

"You can stand up now, Ken," Naomi chuckled.

"She put the spear away. You are perfectly safe."

"My heart is still beating at a million miles an hour," Ken whined, dusting off his pants. He slouched his shoulders again.

"I think I need another cookie to calm my nerves." Sayma closed her notebook with a soft snap. She looked at Princess Iris.

"Princess, her report is completely airtight. Her strategic recommendations are highly logical. She has a deep operational understanding of the border territory. Her presence on this team is invaluable." Princess Iris stood up. Her violet eyes shone with a deep, proud warmth. She walked over to Olivia and looked at her with immense gratitude.

"Thank you, Olivia," Princess Iris said. Her voice was soft but carried the weight of a true leader.

"Your thorough briefing and your demonstrated elite combat capabilities have convinced us all. You are a highly valuable asset for our critical future operations." This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Olivia bowed her head deeply.

"It is my honor to serve you, Princess. I am ready for whatever lies ahead." The rest of the vanguard gathered around the table. They looked at the map together. The atmosphere in the room was no longer anxious or stressed. The return of their eighth servant had brought a sense of completion to the team. They felt stronger. They felt safer. The unit's cohesion was strengthened. Ken slouched back in his chair, taking another bite of his cookie. He watched his teammates chatter and plan.

He smiled his lazy, goofy smile.

"This is perfect," Ken thought to himself, completely happy.

"They are all highly motivated. They are all working hard. I can definitely sneak back to the couch now. My job here is officially done."

Ken Eliot sat on the floor of the living room. He held an empty juice box in his hand. He placed it carefully on top of a large stack of other empty juice boxes. He was building a massive tower. The tower was almost three feet tall. It wobbled slightly. Ken did not blink. He stuck his tongue out of the corner of his mouth. He focused his entire mind on the task. Olivia walked into the room. She carried a long silver spear on her back. Her dark blue uniform was perfectly clean.

Not a single wrinkle existed on her clothes. She stopped and looked at Ken. She frowned deeply.

"What are you doing?" Olivia asked. Her voice was strict and disciplined.

"You are making a massive mess. This is a royal command room. It is not a playground." Ken did not look away from his juice boxes.

"I am practicing my architecture skills. Building a strong foundation is very important. This is highly technical work, Olivia. Please do not disturb my creative process." Naomi walked out of the kitchen. She carried a plate of sliced apples. She wore her dark combat pants and a simple gray shirt. She did not look angry. She smiled a very warm, friendly smile. She walked over and gently nudged Ken's shoulder with her boot.

"Leave him alone, Olivia," Naomi said softly. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement.

"He is just relaxing. He actually helped us a lot during the last mission. Let him play with his garbage."

"It is not garbage," Ken argued lazily. He reached up and placed one more box on the very top.

"It is a masterpiece." Sayma sat in her comfortable armchair. She read a large textbook. She pushed her thick glasses up the bridge of her nose.

"Statistically, that tower will collapse in less than two minutes. The structural integrity is very poor."

"You guys have zero faith in my engineering," Ken complained. He slouched his shoulders. He grabbed an apple slice from Naomi's plate. He popped it into his mouth. He chewed happily. Laxmi sat near the window. She tossed a tiny orange spark of fire between her fingers. Zinia did push-ups on the floor. Luna slept peacefully on a long wooden bench. Ira stood perfectly still near the wall. Risa sat on the rug, drawing a picture with colored pencils. Princess Iris sat at the dining table, reviewing a map.

It was a very quiet, very normal afternoon. Suddenly, a loud, sharp knock echoed from the front gates. The sound was very demanding. It was not a polite knock. It was a command. Zinia stopped her push-ups. She stood up and wiped sweat from her forehead.

"I will go see who that is." Zinia walked out to the courtyard. A few moments later, she returned. She did not look happy. She crossed her strong arms.

"We have a visitor," Zinia announced. Her deep voice filled the room.

"And she did not bring snacks." The front door swung open. A very tall, incredibly elegant woman stepped into the living room. She wore a pristine, flawless white silk dress. Golden embroidery lined the edges of her gown. A small golden tiara rested on her perfectly styled auburn hair. Her green eyes looked incredibly sharp and completely judgmental. It was Hera Belmontia. She was the 2nd Princess of the Empire. Behind her stood Jenny. Jenny was an elite warrior. Jenny wore a spotless white and gold uniform.

Her posture was totally rigid. She looked like a carved statue. Princess Iris stood up immediately. Her violet eyes widened slightly. She did not expect a personal visit from her older sister.