Chapter 114: Destroying the Files
Cillian Forrest’s main purpose for this visit had been to let Sophie Wexler review the candidates. Now that he knew she didn’t want to be matched, there was nothing else left to do.
Just as Cillian Forrest was about to stand up and leave, he saw Sophie Wexler reach for the file on the table. An instant later, it was snatched from her fingertips.
Sophie Wexler looked up. "???"
"You shouldn’t need this anymore, so I’ll be taking it."
Sophie Wexler could only watch as the file was transferred from her hand to Cillian Forrest’s.
The man simply took it without even waiting for her to agree.
Sophie Wexler: "..."
’Hold on, I wanted to take another look at the relationships between these various factions.’
But regardless of what she wanted, Cillian Forrest had already taken it.
「Military District.」
Ethan Cross had just finished the tasks Cillian Forrest had assigned him when he saw the Marshal return, a file in hand.
He remembered that the file contained information on the candidates, compiled at Your Majesty’s request.
That was right. After he’d asked last time, the Marshal had said he had his own plans. But not long after, he had requested the files on several people from him.
And those people were all candidates on the current matching list. Every single one of them was a top figure in the Empire with considerable achievements.
Furthermore, Your Majesty had later summoned the Marshal to discuss the matching banquet.
After this series of events, the intention was crystal clear.
The Marshal was choosing a match for Miss Wexler.
When he found out, he was immensely frustrated with the Marshal’s apparent decision to push her away. But once the Marshal had decided on something, there was no room for argument.
So, he had gone and gathered the files on those people.
He had found about ten people, and the Marshal had screened them one by one, examining their files more meticulously than if he were choosing for himself.
His serious and picky demeanor made it seem less like he was choosing a candidate for Miss Wexler and more like he was choosing for himself.
In the end, very few remained.
Knowing that the Marshal was going to see Miss Wexler today, he and Leo Fane had spent a long time lamenting the situation.
But why did the Marshal look so much happier now than when he had left?
He remembered with perfect clarity that for the past two days, not a single smile had graced the Marshal’s face. He had been perpetually somber, and the pressure was palpable.
But now, his brow seemed relaxed, and the corners of his lips even looked to be slightly upturned.
Ethan Cross: "???"
’Watching Miss Wexler pick a match personally made him this happy?’
Just as Ethan Cross was puzzling over this, Cillian Forrest spotted him and called him over.
"Marshal." Ethan Cross immediately stepped forward.
Cillian Forrest first gave some instructions regarding future troop deployments and adjusted the placement of undercover agents among the various other factions.
Since Sophie Wexler didn’t want a match, certain matters had to be set in motion immediately.
Although Ethan Cross didn’t understand the reason for such a major adjustment, he knew that if the Marshal ordered it, there had to be a good reason.
"I’ll make the arrangements at once."
Just as Ethan Cross was about to turn and leave, Cillian Forrest’s voice stopped him. "Wait."
Ethan Cross: "?"
"Is there anything else, Marshal?"
"This," Cillian Forrest said, casually handing over the file. "Take it and have it destroyed."
Ethan Cross took it and glanced down, freezing on the spot.
’Huh?’
’Isn’t this the file you worked so hard to compile?’
"Really destroy it?" Ethan Cross asked, hesitating.
"Yes," Cillian Forrest was in such a good mood that he didn’t mind Ethan Cross’s redundant question. He even explained patiently, "It’s no longer needed."
’Not needed? What does that mean?’
’Under what circumstances would it no longer be needed? It couldn’t be what I’m thinking, could it?’
"Sophie Wexler won’t be choosing anyone at the matching banquet."
Ethan Cross’s eyes widened. ’So it’s true!’
’No wonder the Marshal came back in a good mood. I knew it. Why go through all this trouble? Deep down, you never wanted Miss Wexler to be matched with anyone else.’
"There will undoubtedly be fallout from this. Tell Leo Fane to be extra vigilant for a while..." Cillian Forrest paused to think, then added another instruction. "And one more thing. Regarding her ability to neutralize toxins... lock down all news from Karath. Don’t let it get out for now."
If word got out that Sophie Wexler could neutralize the toxins, things would only become more complicated.
On the Capital Planet, almost every family with a military officer has someone suffering from Starbug toxins. Handling our own people is one thing, but I’m worried other factions will get ideas if they find out.
"The StarNet doesn’t connect between planets, but we should still be cautious, just in case someone decides to investigate in person."
"Understood." Ethan Cross immediately left to carry out the orders.
Ever since the matching application portal opened, new applications had been flooding in daily. However, Sophie Wexler’s Level was so high that very few people met the requirements.
Consequently, most people turned their attention to the other S-Level Healer-class. That’s right—Rosalind Rhodes.
After the spiritual power assessment was completed, even more people became aware of Rosalind Rhodes’s abilities. As a result, she garnered significantly more attention, and many went to great lengths to win her favor ahead of time.
For a time, she was inundated with an endless stream of well-wishers and suitors.
This did much to soothe the hurt she felt from being ignored by the Marshal.
’So, it’s not that I’m not excellent, it’s just that the Marshal is too cold.’
However, all of that came to an abrupt halt with the news that a 3S Healer-class had been discovered during the latest assessment.
Especially when she heard from those same suitors that this person’s name was Sophie Wexler.
Her first reaction in that moment was: ’Impossible!’
’How is this possible!’
’The Empire has never had a 3S Healer-class! Never!’
’How could it be Sophie Wexler?’
’She was clearly just an ordinary F-Level. Forget High Rank, she couldn’t even reach the intermediate levels! How could it be?!’
She questioned it again and again, refusing to believe something so utterly absurd.
But people told her, more than once, that it was true. A 3S Healer-class had genuinely appeared.
Their words were filled with amazement and admiration.
Jean Jennings was just as disbelieving. "Rosalind, don’t overthink it. How could Sophie Wexler possibly be 3S? Besides, didn’t they say there isn’t even a photo in her file? It’s probably just someone with the same name."
"If Sophie Wexler were really 3S, knowing her personality, she would have been unbearably smug and bragging about it long ago."
"But what about the bet?" Rosalind Rhodes recalled how resolute Sophie Wexler had looked when she’d proposed it.
Jean Jennings simply refused to believe that the 3S Healer was actually Sophie Wexler.
So, she was naturally confident they would win the bet. "When the time comes, she’ll definitely have to apologize to you."
"Forget about Sophie Wexler. The most important thing right now is for our Rosalind to think about who she’s going to choose. There are so many candidates, and Howard Sharp is one of them, you know," Jean Jennings said, winking at Rosalind Rhodes.
Rosalind Rhodes said nothing more.
As the days passed and the date drew nearer, she grew increasingly anxious. ’What if that person really *is* the Sophie Wexler I know?’