Still, his expression hardened. "Do you not even know how to respect your elders?"
Ivy ignored his anger and spoke calmly.
"I have not latched onto Silas because of his power. I am with him because I want him to live a good life. Not once have I thought about clinging to him for protection. You can be assured of that."
General Daniel frowned, then let out another sharp laugh.
"Shaless. Truly shaless. Do you forget so easily? Your parents stole my son’s supplies. Yet here you stand, as if nothing is wrong."
Ivy’s lips curved into a small, cold smile. "Those supplies... I already returned them."
"What?" General Daniel’s eyes widened.
He turned sharply toward Silas, who gave a calm nod. "It is true. You can check the rations in my apartnt yourself."
General Daniel’s chest rose and fell heavily. He did not even need to send soone to check. He knew his son never lied.
If Silas said so, then it was true. Still, his pride would not let him bend. His fist clenched tightly.
"It does not erase her misdeeds," he said in a low voice.
"I know," Ivy said firmly, nodding.
"It does not. But I can promise you sothing. From now on, I will never approach Silas because I want protection. Instead, I will make sure that every kindness Silas has shown , every ti he has protected , I will repay him."
General Daniel burst out laughing again. This ti the sound was loud, mocking, and cruel.
"Repay him? A girl like you? You can never provide support to Silas, let alone anyone else. Stop dreaming so big."
Ivy’s eyes did not waver. She t his scorn with steady confidence.
"Then hear , General Daniel. If the Blackthorn family ever faces trouble in the future, I, Ivy, will be the first one to help you. I will be the first to protect your family."
Her words echoed in the silence.
General Daniel laughed so hard he almost bent over.
"Protect us? You?" He shook his head. "You are truly overestimating yourself. You are nothing but a burden."
General Daniel’s eyes narrowed even more. "The Blackthorn family will never need your help," he said coldly.
Ivy let out a quiet chuckle. "That is what I hope too. That in this life, the Blackthorn family will never need . But even if the day cos, I will help you. I will protect you."
Her words were calm, but they echoed in the air like a promise.
General Daniel shook his head slowly. "Earlier, I thought you were only timid. Now I see you are delusional."
In his heart, he scoffed.
’Does she not know the gap between us? The Blackthorn family has food that will last ten years. We control resources and power in the military base. We will never lower our heads to soone like her. A girl unloved even by her own family, a girl with no great power, no resources, no standing. Even if she can see pieces of the future, what use is that? She cannot provide more than what we already have.’
His disdain grew stronger, showing in his eyes. He looked at Silas and said in a flat voice,
"By now, you should reconsider your choice. This girl acts high and mighty, but she is nothing."
Silas’s face tightened, but he spoke firmly.
"Father, you have forgotten. Who protected Uncle Stephen? It was Ivy’s information. Who helped Mother Freya? Again, it was Ivy. Her knowledge has already saved our family."
General Daniel gave a cold chuckle.
"Even a blind man can hit the bull’s-eye after throwing enough darts. Do you expect to believe this girl has true skill, and not just blind luck? She may have gotten one or two right, but that does not prove anything."
His words were like a slap. Ivy stayed silent. Silas’s jaw clenched, but Ivy placed a hand on his arm.
She understood. ’It is useless to argue with him. His heart is already set against . But I cannot let him punish Silas for this.’
Ivy looked straight at General Daniel. "Then please, take back Silas’s punishnt."
General Daniel smirked, his voice heavy with sarcasm.
"Take it back? Do you think it is so easy? I heard from my daughter that you gave her one thousand zombie crystals to keep her safe. Very well. If you give ten thousand zombie crystals, I will cancel Silas’s punishnt."
Silas’s face turned red with rage. "Father!" His voice shook.
"You call her a gold digger, saying she clings to for benefits. Yet now you demand ten thousand crystals from her? Why not just rob a bank instead? Or do you plan to rob your own daughter-in-law?"
General Daniel’s fury erupted. His finger pointed at Ivy.
"She is no daughter-in-law of mine! And second, do not speak as if she could ever bring ten thousand crystals. Do you know what that ans? She would need to kill more than twenty thousand zombies. A weak girl like her? Impossible. If she even had one hundred crystals more, I might praise her. But ten thousand? You are both dreaming."
Disdain filled his eyes as he glared at Ivy, already sure she would lower her head in sha.
But Ivy only chuckled. Her calm voice carried across the tense air. "General Daniel, keep your word."
His brows drew together. "What do you an by that?"
Before he could understand, Ivy lifted her hand.
At once, crystals poured out onto the ground. They fell like rain, scattering across the earth in shining piles. The sound of them clinking together filled the air, sharp and endless.
Silas’s eyes widened. His heart pounded. ’She... she really has them... this many...’
General Daniel’s body froze. His eyes stared at the glittering sea of crystals spreading across the ground. His breath caught in his chest. For a mont, he could not even speak.
A silent slap. For the next few monts, only the sound of crystals echoed.
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