"I never meant to ask you for anything, you must not misunderstand me." Ryan wore an innocent smile, as if he were not the one who had just hinted at lacking resources.

  Everyone silently scoffed in their hearts. This was even more blatant than asking directly.

  Derrick, meanwhile, looked completely confused. Why did it feel like Ryan was trying to trade him for resources?

  Since Ryan had already made his intentions so obvious, Vaelor did not bother responding. He simply took out a storage pouch.

  "There are mana potions and magic crystals inside. Take it," Vaelor said.

  Ryan quickly accepted the pouch with a cheerful grin, discreetly weighing it with his fingers.

  His heart was bursting with joy. Just a few casual words, and he got this many resources. How satisfying.

  People in high positions truly cared about face the most. As long as one used the right excuse, resources flowed in quickly.

  He pulled the still-hesitant Derrick closer, lowered his voice, and whispered in his ear,"Relax. Follow him and study well. From now on, you'll live comfortably with plenty of magic resources."

  Looking at the overwhelming aura surrounding Vaelor, Derrick finally nodded."Alright."

  "Come with me." Vaelor gestured for Derrick and Darlene.

  Just as the three were about to turn and leave, Evelyn who had been silent all this time suddenly spoke."Wait."

  Vaelor turned back, puzzled, his gaze falling upon the veil covering Evelyn's face.

  He did not use his spiritual sense to investigate.

  First, because he felt there was no need.

  Second, because he had no interest in a woman's appearance.

  Perhaps she wore the veil because she was ugly.

  And even if she were stunning, he had seen too many beauties to be curious.

  Evelyn slowly raised her hand and removed the veil.

  An impossibly fair and exquisite face appeared before everyone, leaving all present stunned and breathless.

  This was the most beautiful face they had ever seen.

  Vaelor's pupils tightened slightly as he silently retracted his earlier assumptions.

  Evelyn spoke calmly:

  "I belong to the Glacial Arcana Academy. During my training journey, I encountered a spatial anomaly and was unexpectedly transported to the South Territory.

  I am here to request permission to use the intercontinental teleportation array to return to the Glacial Arcana Academy."

  The crowd immediately began murmuring among themselves, their expressions filled with shock.

  The Glacial Arcana Academy was an apex-level force.

  They never expected this breathtaking woman to come from such a powerful institution.

  "What proof do you have?" Vaelor's tone grew serious.

  The identity of someone from the Glacial Arcana Academy was far too significant to accept without evidence.

  At her thought, a token appeared in Evelyn's hand, shaped like a snowflake.

  A snowflake-shaped token was not something an ordinary apprentice of the Glacial Arcana Academy could ever possess.

  Only individuals of Headmaster rank were qualified to carry one.

  Which meant this woman before them was very likely the next Headmaster of the Glacial Arcana Academy.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  The moment Evelyn revealed the token, all eyes focused on her, and whispers erupted around her.

  "My god! That really is a Glacial Arcana Academy token!"

  "No wonder her aura is so extraordinary. She's a core member! We can't let anything go wrong with her here!"

  "Even though we're not afraid of the Glacial Arcana Academy, the two factions have coexisted peacefully for so long. If something were to happen to her and cause a conflict, starting a war would benefit no one!"

  Vaelor also put aside his previous casual demeanor and nodded solemnly to Evelyn.

  "Since you are a distinguished guest from the Glacial Arcana Academy, you may stay here for some time. I will first make arrangements for these two apprentices."

  As he spoke, he glanced at Derrick and Darlene, motioning for them to follow.

  Evelyn responded softly, then slowly extended her slender finger toward Ryan.

  "And he will come with me."

  "She's joking!" Ryan immediately waved his hands, forcing a stiff smile.

  "I won't bother you. I'll go ahead! By the way, where is the main gate?"

  He turned to leave, but froze after taking a single step.

  The scale of the Sanctum of the Sacred Sword was far grander than he imagined, completely different from its layout millennia ago. He had no idea where to go.

  He had visited the Sanctum of the Sacred Sword thousands of years ago, but it was now entirely unrecognizable, so getting lost was only natural.

  "Can someone tie him up for me?" Evelyn's voice rang out again.

  The moment she spoke, everyone present lit up with anticipation, their gazes landing on Ryan as if he were the perfect tool to curry favor.

  The future Headmaster of the Glacial Arcana Academy was worth their full effort to befriend.

  Helping her with a small favor now might earn them significant goodwill in the Academy later. It was a guaranteed win.

  They had no idea that the seemingly young woman before them was actually Grand Magus Evelyn.

  According to the Sanctum of the Sacred Sword's intelligence, Evelyn was still the reigning authority of the Glacial Arcana Academy, very much alive.

  Within the Academy, only a select few knew of this.

  Evelyn's reincarnation path should have followed its preset course, but due to the spatial turbulence, she was unexpectedly transported to the South Territory.

  The Glacial Arcana Academy had already dispatched countless elite disciples to search for her in secret, but after all this time, there was still no trace.

  Just as Ryan attempted to escape again, he suddenly felt a tight constriction around him.

  A magical glow instantly wrapped around him, binding him completely.

  It was a rope woven from golden threads, inscribed with binding runes.

  No matter how he channeled his magic or struggled, it could not be moved an inch.

  "Let me go!" Ryan twisted his body wildly, but all his efforts were in vain.

  "Thank you," Evelyn said with a slight nod, taking note of his face.

  "Evelyn! Don't do this!" Ryan shouted, flailing his limbs in desperate, ineffective resistance.

  The commotion surrounding Ryan finally came to an end, and everyone suddenly remembered Lydia, who had been left standing silently aside the entire time.

  "Almost forgot about these young friends!"

  In an instant, they swarmed forward, surrounding Lydia, Charlie, and Giles, their voices eager as if they were seeing priceless treasures.

  The three of them felt their eyes grow wet, nearly brimming with tears.

  When they had been neglected earlier, they secretly doubted whether their talents were insufficient to even catch anyone's attention, yet now they had become the coveted ones.

  ……

  Night fell. The guest rooms arranged by Evelyn and Ryan were on the west side of the VIP pavilion. Originally, two luxurious rooms had been prepared.

  Evelyn refused the second room outright.

  "One is enough. I need to watch him and prevent him from escaping."

  The person who had led them to the rooms froze for a moment, then suddenly realized.

  "I didn't think this through!" they quickly said, not daring to question her further, and immediately prepared a larger luxurious guest room.

  Inside the room, Ryan was tossed onto the bed by Evelyn like a bound package, wriggling and twisting, looking every bit like a kidnapped victim.

  "Come back with me to the Glacial Arcana Academy," Evelyn said calmly from the chair by the bed.

  "Once you arrive, if your aptitude meets the standards, I will take you as my apprentice. Even if your aptitude is insufficient, I will still provide you with sufficient magical resources. You will not lose out."

  Ryan froze mid-struggle, utterly shocked.

  Wasn't the Glacial Arcana Academy traditionally closed to male apprentices?

  The Academy was entirely female, so how could Evelyn take the initiative to invite him, even to accept him as her apprentice?

  Had the rules of the Glacial Arcana Academy changed?

  "Do you invite someone to your house by tying them up?" Ryan motioned to the ropes around his body.

  Evelyn waved her hand, and the ropes instantly loosened."I was afraid you'd run."

  "So you're saying I have to go whether I want to or not. Then my struggle just now was for nothing?" Ryan twisted his limbs, still numb from being bound.

  Evelyn said nothing, merely nodded slightly, implicitly agreeing with his statement.

  Seeing her act as if it were perfectly reasonable, Ryan's anger flared. He stiffened his neck and threatened,

  "If you forcibly take me to the Glacial Arcana Academy, I'll scream! Everyone will know you kidnapped an innocent person!"

  "Scream then," Evelyn said, unmoved.

  "I really will!" Ryan's eyes stayed fixed on her, trying to see a flicker of panic.

  "Scream," Evelyn glanced at him, a barely noticeable curve forming at the corner of her lips before she returned to her usual cold expression.

  Ryan froze mid-action, still eyeing her, and repeated,"I really will scream!"

  "Scream," Evelyn's response was even firmer this time.

  Damn it! Ryan cursed inwardly. What screaming?

  This was the VIP pavilion of the Sanctum of the Sacred Sword. Outside were countless attendants and guards.

  If he shouted, it would only embarrass himself.

  Moreover, given Evelyn's status, even if he screamed his lungs out, no one would believe he had been kidnapped.