The Heiress They Lost Came Back Overpowered

Yvonne Lowell froze for a moment, unable to recall what he was talking about. "What competition? What reward?"

Pfft!

Jasper Hayes cleared his throat. "Instructor, what competition? They’re probably just trying to shake you down!"

Thinking Yvonne Lowell was just teasing them, Stanley Sutton spoke with a hint of grievance,

"It was that time you had us go up the mountain to find the flags. You said you’d grant the first-place winner one request, and we told you we’d save it for later."

Yvonne Lowell genuinely didn’t remember the incident. It only came back to her as he spoke, and she scratched the back of her neck, a little embarrassed.

"Ahem, so that’s what this is about. I remember. So, what do you want for your reward?"

Stanley Sutton shot a sidelong glance at Jasper Hayes. "Originally, we were thinking of asking for a day off and a feast for everyone before the final assessment."

"But we’ve changed our minds. The Dragon’s Ascent Squad is so dedicated, they must look down on slackers like us. In that case, let’s just make it a reward for our three squads."

In truth, what they really wanted was the potion from before, but they’d hinted at it several times to no avail; Yvonne Lowell wouldn’t budge. So, they decided they might as well make her treat them to a huge, indulgent meal.

Hearing this, Jasper Hayes’s expression changed in an instant. "My good brother! My dear big brother! It’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! I was just joking!!!"

Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow. "You can have the feast. The day off is a no-go."

"Why not? Didn’t you promise you’d grant us one request?!"

Theodore Zane was shocked. Theodore Zane did not understand. Theodore Zane’s eyes were wide as saucers.

"You yourself said it was *one* request, right? Besides, I reserve the right of final interpretation," Yvonne Lowell said with an innocent shrug.

’Alright, alright, so we’re splitting hairs now, are we?!’

Blake Paxton’s expression was complicated. "Instructor, I think you’d be more successful in business than in the military."

’Ha! What a capitalist. Who could possibly be more ruthless than you?!’

"Thank you for the compliment. I’ll consider it for the future." Yvonne Lowell smiled, completely unbothered. ’Isn’t this exactly what I’m doing, running a business?’

The Anomalous Abilities Unit was left speechless, unsure how to respond.

They couldn’t beat her, and they didn’t dare talk back. All they could do was curse her out in their heads. ***

Yvonne Lowell stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets. "Let’s make it tomorrow night. The Anomalous Abilities Unit is in charge of compiling a list of what everyone wants to eat. Get it to Assistant Knight by tomorrow morning at the latest."

"If there are no other questions, you’re dismissed."

Jasper Hayes rubbed his hands together. "Instructor, what about our squad? The Anomalous Abilities Unit is isolating us. You can’t just let them! This is a low blow. It’s terrible for morale and undermines our unity!"

Yvonne Lowell shot him a meaningful look. "What’s the use telling me? I’m just the one paying. You should go find the person in charge of the list. Dismissed."

With that, she turned and left without a backward glance.

The members of the Dragon’s Ascent Squad exchanged glances, then menacingly surrounded the Anomalous Abilities Unit.

"What are you doing? Don’t block the path. We’re in a hurry to get a food count for our brothers and sisters in the other two squads."

"Back up, back up, please. Make way."

"I think we’re standing a little too close for comfort. It’s not good for my reputation. Back off, thanks."

Jasper Hayes cracked his knuckles and extended his clenched fists toward Stanley Sutton.

Stanley Sutton stood his ground, arms crossed and perfectly composed. "What? Looking for a fight?"

But, just as Stanley Sutton expected, the fists landed on his shoulders not as blows, but as a massage. Jasper Hayes wore a fawning smile.

"Brother Shane, is this pressure okay?"

Stanley Sutton scoffed. He knew it.

’They’d known each other for over a decade. Of course he knew what this guy was like.’

Jasper Hayes continued to grovel. "We’ve known each other for so many years. You know I can’t control my big mouth. You’re the bigger man, you can forgive your little brother this one time, can’t you?"

The other squad members followed his lead, each grabbing a person and showering them with a chorus of "Big brother, big brother, big brother."

The members of the Gray Wolf and Snow Phoenix squads stood to the side, watching the scene with unconcealed glee. Thank goodness they’d kept their mouths shut earlier.

With a limited number of people to go around, Theodore Zane was left out, looking a little dazed. ’What’s the meaning of this? Am I not even worthy of being groveled to?’

"Ahem," he coughed. "I am... a vice-captain, am I not?"

At his words, a squad member immediately freed up a hand to massage his shoulders. "Brother Donovan, how’s the pressure?"

"Hmph, it’s just okay, I guess. You know, I think I’ve got a week’s worth of unwashed socks piled up. It’s such a chore. Ah, forget it, you can stop. I should go back and wash them now," Theodore Zane said, his expression troubled.

The squad member cursed him out in his head before saying through gritted teeth, "How could we let Brother Donovan wash his own socks? I’ll do it! I’ll come over tomorrow night and wash them for you."

’Anyway, the list gets turned in tomorrow morning. After I’ve eaten my fill, who cares who you are? Hehe, I’m such a genius!’ he thought.

Truly, life was hard; Dragon’s Ascent had to stoop to performing for their supper...

"Alright, that’s enough." Having been sufficiently appeased, Stanley Sutton put a stop to their antics. "Everyone, gather ’round. What do you all want to eat?"

"Let’s get some seafood?"

"I want big meat skewers!!"

"I want a big pork knuckle!!"

"I’m not picky, I just want to stuff my face with meat! Any kind will do!"

"Get extra beef and lamb, ’kay? Little Eight in our group doesn’t eat pork."

"And some ’liquid happiness’! We can’t drink booze, but indulging in a bit of the ’source of all sin’ isn’t asking too much, is it?"

...

There was no need to wait until the next morning. In less than two hours, Stanley Sutton had delivered the food list.

Looking at the note Finn Knight handed her, Yvonne Lowell couldn’t help but laugh. "I was prepared for my wallet to take a serious hit, and this is all they’re asking for?"

Nina Jennings leaned in for a look and immediately saw the word "MEAT," written in extra-large, bold letters. She, too, was a little speechless.

"I’m dying. It’s not like the cafeteria skimps on the meat. When have they ever not had enough to eat? Was this really necessary?"

Yvonne Lowell handed the note back to Finn Knight. "Prepare what’s on their list, but get extra. And add a few other things for them. End training an hour early tomorrow afternoon and have the kitchen start preparations ahead of time."

"Understood, Lowell."

Nina Jennings slung an arm around her shoulder. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such favoritism. If that bunch found out, they’d probably be singing your praises for the rest of their lives."

"Tch. When have I ever deprived them of food or drink?" Yvonne Lowell said casually. "We’re nearing the end. What’s wrong with letting the kids have one good meal?"

"That’s true. It’s not like they’ll ever see you again after this."

Yvonne Lowell shot her a sidelong glance. "Since you feel so strongly about it, why don’t you pay for it?"

’She might be rich, but what does that have to do with her being cheap?’

Nina Jennings quickly changed the subject. "I haven’t seen my Sid in a month, I really miss him."

"So, Silas Lynch finally let you out of the doghouse?"

"Damn it! Yvonne Lowell, you just had to bring up a sore subject, didn’t you?!"

...

Knowing there would be a feast that evening, everyone trained with exceptional enthusiasm the next day.

Even the instructors on the platform, who normally looked ferocious, seemed so dashingly handsome and elegantly beautiful in their eyes today.

At six in the evening, Zachary Jacobs picked up a nearby megaphone on schedule.

"That’s it for today. Training ends an hour early. Everyone, assemble at the cafeteria."