Chapter 155

"Break!"

With a flash of golden light at Aria Bennett's fingertips, the long-standing fortune array crumbled to dust.

Master Alden's compass clattered to the ground as his eyes widened in disbelief. "It—it's really broken?"

Agent Brooks sucked in a sharp breath. "Master Luna truly lives up to her reputation!"

Aria wiped a faint sheen of sweat from her temple, her lips curving slightly. "The array was already weakened by backlash. I just delivered the final blow."

What she didn’t say was that she had spent three months meticulously setting the stage for this moment.

As the last wisp of dark energy dissipated, Aria suddenly felt lighter.

"What’s this—?" She looked down in surprise as a golden thread of light sank into her chest.

Master Alden clasped his hands excitedly. "Karmic Radiance! The heavens reward those who break such curses!"

Aria’s eyes sparkled. Who knew revenge could come with such a bonus?

"Master Luna." The old master handed her a gilded business card. "The Arcane Society would be honored to have you."

She accepted it politely. "Once I settle some personal matters, I’ll pay a visit."

Internally, she smirked. When she finally revealed her true identity, those old-timers would lose their minds.

"Professor Aria!"

The moment she stepped into the VIP lounge, her students swarmed her.

Aria laughed, high-fiving each one. "Miss me after just a few days?"

"Like crazy!" Caleb Monroe clutched his chest dramatically. "Food tastes bland without you around."

Wesley Hart rolled his eyes. "You posted a hotpot feast on social media yesterday."

As the group burst into laughter, Damian Cross entered.

Dressed in a navy trench coat that accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs, his stern expression softened visibly the moment his gaze landed on Aria.

"Professor Damian’s looking extra sharp today!" a student teased.

Damian calmly took the seat beside Aria. "Just decent genes."

Aria nearly choked on her water.

The door swung open again, revealing Serena Blake, her face pale beneath thick layers of makeup that couldn’t hide the dark circles under her eyes.

"Serena—" A student started to greet her but was quickly hushed by their peers.

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Aria lowered her gaze, suppressing a smile. The morning headlines had announced the downfall of the Blackwell family—no wonder the so-called "Fortune’s Darling" looked like she hadn’t slept.

"Sorry for the wait!" The director bounded in, beaming. "Guess where we’re headed this time?"

Wesley hugged his backpack warily. "If it’s another survival island, I’m jumping off this ride."

"Relax!" The director lowered his voice conspiratorially. "We’re going to—Aldercrest Mountain!"

"What?!" Caleb leaped up. "The legendary Aldercrest Mountain with the 72 lost arts?"

Aria’s eyes lit up instantly. She’d always wanted to visit in her past life but never got the chance.

"Better yet," the director waved his access pass triumphantly, "we’ve got clearance to the inner sanctum!"

The livestream chat exploded:

[Holy—! Did Orchard Network unlock some secret achievement?!]

[Even government officials need appointments for the inner sanctum!]

[Signing up for VIP just to see Aria wield a sword!]

The director glanced at the skyrocketing viewer count, grinning ear to ear. When Damian gave him a subtle nod of approval, he straightened with pride—this favor was paying off big time.

During boarding, the director "coincidentally" assigned Damian and Aria adjacent first-class seats.

Damian took the blanket from the flight attendant and draped it over Aria’s lap. "Rest. It’s a two-hour flight."

Her ears tinged pink, but she didn’t refuse. "Wake me when we land."

As clouds rolled past the window, she allowed herself a small, secret smile.

This trip just got a lot more interesting.