The next morning, Charles was surprised by the extravagant breakfast. He mused, "Ten people couldn't finish all this. Does Mr. Chavez have guests?"

"Mr. Chavez, are we expecting guests?" Charles asked.

"Oh, don't worry," Andrew replied weakly, glancing at the food, "Ms. Zeller can eat it all."

Charles was dumbfounded. Was all this food for Yvette? He twitched his mouth, glancing at Yvette, who sat opposite, enjoying her breakfast. Yvette ate heartily in training camp, but this seemed excessive.

Jeremiah emerged from the kitchen, placing a bowl of soup before Yvette. "Chicken soup. Eat it while it's hot," he said.

"I envy Ms. Zeller's morning chicken soup," Andrew sighed, staring at the steaming bowl.

"Didn't you sleep well?" Jeremiah asked, noting the dark shadows under Andrew's eyes.

Andrew grew agitated, launching into a complaint. "Jeremiah, I suspect a ghost in Skyland! Did you hear anything last night when I went to the kitchen for water?"

"What did you hear?" Charles asked curiously.

Jeremiah's hand froze, his expression awkward. Yvette took a bite of bread, glancing at Andrew without comment.

"I heard someone telling ghost stories around midnight," Andrew explained. "The voice was familiar. I was half-asleep, but I'm sure of it. Only a few of us are here. Mr. Chavez and Ms. Zeller wouldn't be telling ghost stories at midnight, would they? And it couldn't have been Charles, his room's at the end of the hall. So what else could it be?"

Charles, an atheist, thought Andrew must have been dreaming. Yvette sipped her soup, a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"You were dreaming. Go home after breakfast," Jeremiah said coldly.

Andrew fell silent at the mention of his father. Yvette, propping her chin in her hands, thought, He's a good actor! Andrew hadn't lied; Jeremiah had indeed told her ghost stories most of the night before. He was a captivating storyteller, and she'd slept soundly.

Jeremiah kept his gaze down. He'd read online that telling girls ghost stories could lead to closer relationships. However, Yvette's interest in the stories had only grown throughout the night; she'd pestered him for more, showing no fear.

After Jeremiah and Andrew left, Charles paused. "Ms. Zeller, Kaiden's arrived in Betrico. He'll likely attend the Clusia-Ybaulla friendly match," he said, looking at Yvette.

Yvette had personally taught Kaiden swordsmanship. He'd been her best student, possessing exceptional understanding and skill. Honestly, he would be difficult to defeat. His fencing was infused with bloodlust, savagery, discontent, and resentment.

Yvette leaned back, her eyes icy. "Let's see what happens," she said. Charles nodded. Clusia had already chosen their contestants; Yvette couldn't intervene.

Meanwhile, in the First Military District, Clifford rubbed his temples. Kyle's intentions, as expected, were not pure. He'd proposed a friendly fencing and chess match with Clusia in front of the media—a calculated move.

Jeremiah opened the door to find his father frowning on the couch. He'd just received the news; the media was already reporting it. The announcement had gone global, and the public response was overwhelmingly positive, trending across official websites.

"The whole world knows about our match with Ybaulla," Clifford said. "You were right. They came prepared. The public is enraged. We can't afford to lose. This isn't just a friendly match; it represents our nation."

Jeremiah's eyes darkened. "They bribed the media," he stated.

Jeremiah nodded gravely. "Yes, the news broke quickly. The press release was prepped in advance." He paused. "My supervisor wants you to represent us in fencing. Louis is the first choice for chess, but he's inexperienced. It's too risky; they're hesitant. We're short on time. If we find no better candidate, it'll be him." He needn't worry; he knew Jeremiah's skill.

"Okay," Jeremiah replied calmly.

Back in Skyland, Charles turned on the television. The Ybaulla-Clusia match dominated the news. He checked his phone; social media was ablaze. He showed Yvette his phone. "Ms. Zeller, is this match really such a big deal?"