Out of respect for the principal, Lyra refrained from directly asking what he was after, though she could already guess his motives.
Moments later, a knock echoed from the door.
The secretary, barely able to contain her excitement, quickly opened it. "Lieutenant Commander Whyte... Oh, wait—no, Commander Whyte has arrived!" she corrected herself with a grin.
Lyra's gaze naturally drifted to Cohen's shoulder, taking in the new insignia that marked his promotion.
She remained composed, though the timing didn't surprise her.
It all made sense. New star development was essentially a treasure trove, and Cohen had skillfully navigated through it, seizing every opportunity.
His recent feats—quelling the level-eight beast riots and fending off the Seething Fires, even capturing their leader—had cemented his reputation. Those accomplishments alone were enough to propel him upward.
