Chapter 49: Ozai’s Jealousy!
Meanwhile, time passed and soon...
"Huh? Is that... Sophie of the Reign Family?"
"It’s really her."
"How come no one knew that a descendant of one of the Ten Great Ancient Families would register as an adventurer? They already have the right to venture into the Outlands without a license!"
"Yeah, but still, how was this kept quiet? Normally something like this would’ve leaked instantly!"
"The Reign Family’s different, bro. Unlike the other Great Families, they live in seclusion and hate public attention. Everyone knows their name, but no one really knows much about them, aside from their role in the Great First Invasion."
"Hmm..."
The murmurs spread through the hall like wildfire. Male and female voices alike filled the air with admiration, curiosity, and disbelief.
Bruce turned slightly, his instincts prickling as the commotion behind him grew louder.
He followed their gazes toward the expansive lobby entrance, then froze when he saw who was approaching.
A familiar figure walked gracefully through the open space.
Long, silky black hair that gleamed under the hall’s light. A composed, cold face marked by elegance. And eyes, piercing crimson, that carried both focus and quiet confidence.
Sophie.
She wore fitted black jeans, a white top that hugged her frame, and a stylish coat almost identical to Bruce’s own. The coincidence made him exhale through his nose, half amused.
Of course. Same academy, same taste.
The crowd’s whispers only grew.
"Damn... look at her."
"Those eyes... they’re so sexy."
"Her body’s unreal... not too big, not too small. Just perfect boobs and butt..."
"Shut it, idiot. She’s from our academy, trust me, you don’t want to draw the ire of the Reign Family!" one voice hissed, quickly silencing the murmuring circle.
Even so, none of them could deny the truth. They all agreed Sophie’s beauty bordered on divine. Her outfit didn’t flaunt, yet it accentuated everything perfectly—the smooth line of her waist, the elegant curve of her hips, the long, toned legs that moved with effortless grace.
Every step she took drew eyes. And yet her own eyes were searching for someone.
Bruce watched as her crimson gaze swept over the crowd, cold and scanning, until it landed on him.
For a split second, her face changed completely.
Her expression softened, her lips curved, and her entire presence seemed to light up.
"Bruce..." she breathed, her voice barely audible but warm enough to cut through the noise. She began walking straight toward him, waving slightly.
Dozens of eyes followed her movement.
Those who had attended the same Academy immediately deflated, their shoulders slumping in collective resignation.
"Of course," one muttered bitterly. "She’s still hung up on Bruce."
A chorus of disappointed sighs followed. For them, Sophie had been a goddess; untouchable, flawless. And yet, the moment she saw Bruce, she smiled like a girl seeing her crush after a long time.
Every man there knew it instantly. Whatever faint hopes they had of catching Sophie’s attention just died right there.
Bruce’s existence erased all competition.
Meanwhile, at the far corner of the hall, a fist tightened.
Ozai.
His eyes were sharp, his jaw locked as he watched Sophie sit beside Bruce with that gentle, radiant smile.
’Unbelievable,’ he thought bitterly. ’I’m from a Great Ancient Family too, but she acts like I don’t even exist. Like I’m just some background extra in her story.’
His teeth ground together slightly, but his face remained composed.
’Fine. Once the Adventurer’s Guild fulfills its deal with me, you’ll see. You’ll all see.’
A faint smirk crept onto his lips, small and venomous.
’You’ll be amazed by my strength, Sophie. And you, Bruce... enjoy her attention while you can.’
He turned his head slightly, his eyes glinting with cold amusement.
"Give me a show, Bruce," Ozai muttered under his breath. "Because if this turns out to be too easy, I’ll be disappointed. Not in you,"
His gaze flicked briefly toward Sophie, sitting close to Bruce, her smile bright and soft.
"but in her."
....
Meanwhile, Sophie, after sitting beside Bruce, turned to him with a sweet, familiar smile.
"Hi, Bruce," she said softly, her red eyes warm. "What about your relatives’ incident? How did it go?"
Bruce exhaled deeply, leaning back slightly in his seat. "It turned out to be more troublesome than I thought."
He paused, then continued, his tone quiet but edged with fatigue. "They brought records, old ones. It turns out my father made a lot of mistakes while blinded by their hypocrisy. And now, the family’s paying the price."
Sophie’s brows furrowed slightly.
Bruce continued, "We owe over six million gold coins in total. The Order of Knights gave us two weeks to pay at least four million, or they’ll enforce debt collection directly. Meaning," he sighed, "we’ll lose everything."
Sophie’s smile faded, her expression darkening. She hadn’t gone with him then because she believed he could handle it, but this, even for someone of Bruce’s ability, was a mountain.
"Six million," she murmured. "That’s absurd."
He gave a small, bitter smile. "Tell me about it."
She hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip and spoke. "Do you want my help? I can lend you the money, Bruce. You can pay me back whenever you want. I don’t care about interest or time. Just let me help."
Bruce looked at her, his dark eyes calm, unreadable. Then he shook his head. "I’m not out of options yet."
"You always say that," she whispered, her voice soft but a little pained.
"I still have Jordan," Bruce said firmly. "And this trial. Remember?"
He met her gaze, his tone steady, not cold but certain. "I can manage. I’ve been through worse."
Sophie sighed quietly. Of course, he was going to refuse. He always did.
Still, her heart tightened. She knew him too well, his pride, his independence, his need to fix things with his own hands. But six million, even she, with her background, knew that kind of debt was too much.
She wanted to argue but stopped herself.
Instead, she looked down at her hands.
"He’s not wrong," she admitted inwardly. "He’s not out of options yet."