Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 332: The Tri-Academy Exchange Arc (Part-24)

It seemed their guess was not wrong at all.

Harold truly did have feelings for Zora.

Even knowing that she already had someone in her heart, those feelings still quietly lingered, unwilling to fade. Otherwise, he would never have said such words so openly, nor would he have repeatedly offended the two imperial princes for her sake.

Reesa and Tiffany both glanced at Zora with unmistakable envy. To be a woman like her was simply too enviable.

Prince Kael was peerless in talent and status, yet he abandoned noble ladies and fixed his heart on her alone. Now there was Harold as well, fully aware that Zora already belonged to another, yet still willing to stand against powerful enemies for her.

That kind of charm was truly terrifying.

Zora herself felt a trace of awkwardness. Harold’s sudden words had caught her off guard, and even she found it difficult to respond naturally.

"Master, Harold probably likes you too," Black exclaimed excitedly, his tone filled with amazement. "Your charm really has no limits!"

It seemed Prince Kael’s absence had changed nothing at all. Marriage or not, it didn’t dull her brilliance in the slightest.

"Heh, I wonder when Prince Kael will come back," White added gleefully, clearly enjoying the chaos. "No wonder he always wants to keep Master by his side."

Zora felt a headache coming on. She truly wanted to knock both of them on the head. These two had grown bolder by the day, even daring to tease her like this.

At the same time, far away in Sapphire’s Exchange, Eamon had gathered once again with the others. Yet no matter how he searched, he couldn’t find even a trace of Zora, leaving him no choice but to question the attendants.

"Master Eamon," the waitress replied helplessly, "the young lady left that day after you departed. She never told us where she was staying."

Her expression was filled with resignation. Today alone, all three masters had asked her the same question.

"But someone so important, and you don’t even know where she lives?" Eamon frowned deeply, clearly dissatisfied.

The moment he finished his research, he had rushed back, only to find that everything had unfolded exactly as Zora had predicted.

It felt nothing short of miraculous.

A problem that had troubled him for years was solved so effortlessly. Eamon was convinced that if he could exchange ideas with her more often, his own achievements would advance by leaps and bounds.

He no longer regarded her as a junior. Instead, he treated her as an equal, a true peer.

Rumors had already begun circulating that Zora’s inscription skills had reached the level of a master.

And yet, he didn’t even know where to find her.

If she truly left the imperial city like this, wouldn’t that drive him mad?

"Master Eamon, was your experiment successful after you returned?" Anselm asked.

Eamon nodded vigorously. "Completely. The little girl’s idea was something I’d never even imagined, yet it was the most direct and effective method. It truly left me stunned."

Godfrey also wore an expression of deep admiration. "Same here. I went back and tested it immediately. I really don’t know what kind of extraordinary master taught her. It’s unbelievable."

"It’s a pity we don’t even know where she went," Anselm said, frowning. "I’ll have someone investigate her whereabouts at once."

That day, the problem had plagued them for far too long. Once the answer finally appeared, they were so absorbed in verification that they left in a hurry, not even sparing a thought for anything else.

Right then, Eamon and Godfrey’s eyes lit up at the same time. There was no way they could allow Zora to vanish just like that.

Such talent was simply too precious to lose.

Eamon said decisively. "I’ll immediately have people investigate the little girl’s whereabouts."

The attendant from Sapphire’s Exchange stood there, utterly stunned. Watching three lofty inscription masters panic and mobilize their connections for the sake of a single young woman was almost surreal.

Who exactly was that girl?

To make three grandmasters abandon all composure like this... once word spread, the entire imperial city would be shaken to its core.

The three inscription masters were legendary figures. Their influence reached far and wide. Countless people wished for a chance to curry favor with them, yet even knocking on their doors was difficult. Now, however, the masters themselves were asking for help to locate someone.

Who would dare miss such an opportunity?

In an instant, countless forces began quietly searching for Zora. If anyone could provide a lead, they might gain the goodwill of an inscription master or even receive a personally crafted inscription.

Such rewards were treasures people couldn’t obtain even if they begged for them in ordinary times.

Meanwhile, back at the academy, Zora remained completely unaware of the stir she had caused. She was calmly waiting for the third round of promotion to begin.

"Master," Black said seriously, "Ragnor Blackstar is already at the third level of the Red Realm. Strength-wise, you can handle him, but he definitely has hidden trump cards."

Zora nodded slightly. "He does have trump cards. But whether his are stronger than mine remains to be seen."

With the royal family’s backing, Ragnor Blackstar might had access to countless resources, and his greatest reliance was on the imperial martial arts.

However, in terms of foundations and hidden means, she had no reason to fear him.

Seeing her calm confidence, Black and White exchanged glances and smiled. Their master had never lost when it truly mattered.

Shihtzu lazily pawed the ground, looking bored and disgruntled. There was no chance for it to join the fight. Being idle like this was pure torture.

Not long after, Gerrad and Sebastian returned, though Miel and Raphael were still absent.

Clearly, Raphael’s condition had not improved much, and Miel was staying behind to help him recover.

"How is Raphael doing?" Alaric Von Seraph asked immediately.

Sebastian sighed, shaking his head. "Not good. The blow was too severe. It’s very hard for him to shake it off."

For someone once filled with pride and confidence, having everything crushed so thoroughly was devastating. Rebuilding that shattered belief would not be easy.

Everyone’s hearts sank at his words, and the anger in their eyes burned even brighter.

If Raphael could not recover from this, his future on the path of cultivation would be severely limited.

"For now, don’t dwell on it," Sebastian said firmly. "Focus on finishing the competition. I believe Raphael has the strength to break through this setback and achieve even greater things in the future."

Although Sebastian tried to sound optimistic, everyone understood in their hearts that breaking free from such a blow was never easy.

Raphael had been completely innocent from beginning to end. The one who pushed him into this situation was Ragnor Blackstar. Because of this, the disgust and anger in everyone’s hearts only grew heavier.

Gerrad also returned to the high platform. His expression, usually calm and gentle, now carried a trace of chill that was difficult to conceal.

Raphael had ended up like this because he represented the academy in the exchange. If not for the competition, he would never have suffered such humiliation. As vice-principal, Gerrad felt both anger and guilt burning in his chest.

When Gerrad took his seat again, Cindral, Hector, and Malrick showed no reaction at all. It was obvious that, since the start of the exchange, the academy’s people and them were no longer of one mind.

"The third round of promotion begins now!" Cindral announced.

"Because there are five Spirit Warriors remaining, lots will be drawn. Whoever draws the blank lot will advance directly to the next round."

As soon as these words fell, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Drawing a blank lot meant skipping the fight entirely. That kind of luck was enough to make anyone envious.

Zora and the others stepped forward to draw lots. When she opened her hand, her gaze paused slightly.

The blank lot... was hers.

"Ragnor Blackstar versus Alaric Von Seraph!

Ignar Dragovic versus Reesa!

Zora draws a blank lot!"

The moment the results were announced, a wave of astonishment spread through the audience.

No one expected such luck to fall upon Zora.

Advancing straight into the finals at the most critical stage, without expending any strength, was an unbelievable advantage. Even if she placed last in the finals, simply reaching that stage was already enough to make her name resound.

The Imperial Academy’s side was also surprised. Originally, Zora had been prepared to face Ragnor Blackstar head-on. Instead, fortune had handed her a free pass.

From a strategic standpoint, this was excellent news. She could conserve her strength and enter the finals at full power, which greatly increased the academy’s chances.

Ragnor Blackstar looked at Zora and let out a cold laugh. "Your luck is really good. But in the finals, we will meet sooner or later. Even if you kneel and beg me then, I won’t let you off."

Zora lifted her dark eyes slightly, the corner of her lips curving into a faintly mocking smile. "You’re thinking too much."

"The first match of the third round," Hector announced, "Ragnor Blackstar versus Alaric Von Seraph!"

At that moment, Zora suddenly spoke up.

"Principal," she said calmly, "may I ask whether the qualification for this round can be transferred to someone else?"

The moment her words fell, Gerrad, Cindral, Hector, and Malrick all froze.

No one had expected Zora to make such a request.

In truth, this was exactly the kind of development Cindral and the others secretly wished for. From everything shown so far, Zora was clearly a formidable opponent. If she chose to give up this advantage and step into danger herself, it would only benefit them.

But what none of them understood was this:

Why would Zora, who had just been handed a perfect opportunity, voluntarily ask to throw herself into the fray?