Chapter 645: Second Princess Lyra
The elder with the moustache let out a disbelieving snort, clearly holding back his displeasure. "Princess Lyra, are you joking with us?" he asked, lips curling slightly. "With all due respect, are you truly saying this... boy at the 8th level of Expert Rank is to be our final seed? That position is reserved for geniuses who stand at the very peak of Master Rank. If this isn’t a joke, then it’s a waste of a seed spot."
Even though his words remained formal, the disappointment in his voice was clear. The others didn’t speak, but their silence spoke volumes.
The woman with the phoenix robe narrowed her eyes, clearly questioning Lyra’s judgment, while the bald elder shook his head lightly, lips pressed in a thin line.
They all knew who Lyra Shade was. Not just a princess by title, but one of the most dazzling geniuses the Middle Domain had produced in the past century. Her talent was unquestionable, her strategic mind sharp, and her loyalty to the Great Ruler Empire unwavering.
Time and time again, she had proven her worth on and off the battlefield. But even so, the elders had never stopped questioning her methods. She was young—bold, unpredictable, and sometimes too unconventional for their liking.
And now, this? Handing the last of the five coveted seed participant spots to someone who hadn’t even reached the Master Rank yet? To them, it wasn’t just a bad decision—it was a reckless gamble.
Every participant mattered. Every seed slot was a carefully chosen by them to ensure their force would get some good members every year. To see one handed to an 8th-level Expert Rank junior—a level any elite academy disciple could achieve—felt like a slap to the face of their hard-earned standards.
Their hearts were heavy with disappointment. Not because they didn’t respect Lyra. But because this time, they feared she might be wrong.
"If he isn’t strong enough, he’ll be eliminated anyway," Lyra said casually, her tone indifferent and unshaken by the elders’ disapproving looks. She didn’t see the need to waste words. In her eyes, strength spoke louder than status, and Max would prove his worth when the time came.