Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 97: The Evil Stepmother finally falls

The blade pierced cleanly through his chest. His body stiffened, eyes wide with disbelief, then collapsed lifelessly to the floor.

Staring at his corpse, Zora coldly murmured, "As I have promised, I relieved you of your pain. And it is foolish to think that you can live after attempting to kill someone."

Assassins kill for money.

Those who take lives must be prepared to lose their own.

This world was cruel, but fair in that regard.

"Master, that Jasmine is truly courting death!" Black then growled, fury burning in his eyes. "You already spared her once, yet she still refuses to give up!"

Zora’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Indeed. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The lesson she had given was clearly not enough.

She had never held any goodwill toward Jasmine. From childhood to now, that woman always wore a gentle, benevolent mask, yet every scheme against Vesna and the downfall of Vesna, her mother, had Jasmine’s shadow behind it.

Soft on the outside. But Poisonous within.

"Master," White said calmly, "leave this matter to Black and me. Since we’ve arrived, we haven’t made a move yet."

Zora fell silent for a moment.

She had not wished to push things this far. But if she did nothing, Jasmine would only grow bolder.

If that was the case—

Then end it completely.

She nodded. "Leave it to you."

Black and White’s eyes lit up with excitement. Without another word, their figures vanished into the night.

***

Meanwhile, inside the General’s residence, Jasmine paced anxiously back and forth, glancing repeatedly toward the door.

She had hired a late-stage Sky realm assassin.

Killing Zora should have been effortless.

Only after that woman was dead would she finally be able to vent the hatred festering in her heart.

Vesna had infuriated her in the past. Now, because of Vesna’s daughter, her prodigal son’s future was crippled, her husband’s mana core was destroyed, and even her daughter died...

How could she possibly swallow such humiliation?

That wretched Vesna... that cursed Zora... they should have died long ago!

Yet the longer she waited, the more unsettled she became.

"Why hasn’t he returned yet?" she muttered, unease creeping into her heart.

"Are you waiting for the assassin?"

A sudden voice shattered the silence.

Jasmine screamed in fright and spun around, scanning the room—yet she saw no one.

"Who’s there?"

"You vile woman," a cold voice sneered. "You dared send someone to assassinate our master!"

Before Jasmine could react, two massive silhouettes appeared before her—one black, one white, their bodies radiating a terrifying aura.

In her panic, Jasmine barely had time to process what stood before her.

"You’re... Zora’s people?" she blurted out. "So, she died, and you are here for revenge?"

"The assassin you sent?" Black laughed mockingly, crushing her expectations. "He was nothing but a fool dreaming nonsense."

"Why waste words on her?" White said indifferently. "Kill her."

A flash of power erupted in the next moment.

Jasmine had just turned to flee when her body was blasted violently through the air. She slammed into the wall with a heavy crash, slid down limply, and fell completely silent.

The room returned to stillness as if nothing had ever happened.

Black stared at the scene in front of him, eyes full of helpless resentment. "I didn’t even get a chance to make a move."

White stuck out his tongue sheepishly. "I... forgot."

"...."

***

The next day, a shocking piece of news swept through the Imperial City like a violent storm.

The General’s wife, Jasmine, had been found dead in her residence late at night.

No signs of struggle.

No traces of intrusion.

No clues whatsoever.

A woman of such noble status dying silently within the heavily guarded General’s Residence was no small matter. The General’s House was instantly pushed into the eye of the storm, its reputation thoroughly shattered.

General Helius was utterly stunned.

Luna had only been dead for a few days, and now Jasmine had followed her into the grave. Worse still, the cause of death was inexplicable, with no enemy in sight.

He racked his brain, yet could not think of anyone who would dare, or be capable enough, to do such a thing.

But Icarus understood all too well.

His mother had sent someone to assassinate Zora.

Zora had survived.

His mother was now dead.

If it wasn’t Zora, who else could it be?

Yet he could not say a word.

If this matter were exposed, it would become an earth-shaking scandal for the General’s House. Worse still, his father had already warned them not to provoke Zora again.

Even if he spoke now, General Helius would never openly pursue the matter.

Icarus clenched his fists beneath his sleeves, his eyes filled with venomous resentment.

If not for Zora, how could his family have fallen to such a state?

***

In just one night, General Helius seemed to have aged years.

First, he lost his daughter.

Now he had lost his wife.

The General’s House was battered by blow after blow, each one heavier than the last. He could not understand how, in such a short span of time, everything had collapsed so completely, leaving only himself and Icarus behind.

General Ronald had originally intended to confront General Helius directly. However, upon hearing of Jasmine’s sudden death, even he was left speechless.

"The academy’s assessment is approaching," General Ronald said grimly to Silvan. "There are only a few days left. It’s too late to make a move now."

Everything had happened too abruptly. To arrange another flawless assassination in such a short time was unrealistic. A rushed plan would only expose flaws.

Silvan spoke up, his tone cautious. "General, in my opinion, it would be better to wait until Zora enters the academy."

"There are countless dangers within the academy," General Ronald said slowly, nodding in agreement. "If something were to happen there, no one could trace it back to us."

Within the academy, injuries and deaths during training or missions were far from rare. Killing Zora there would be far cleaner.

Harold, General Ronald’s son, had entered the academy a year earlier than Serestia. He had already established a reputation and was considered one of the academy’s rising stars.

He was General Ronald’s pride.

The future of House Storm.

"Yes," Silvan agreed quickly. Even he was brimming with revenge against Zora, as the love of his life was killed in front of his eyes, but he was too weak and could only use the General’s hatred and influence to fulfill his revenge. "Young Master Harold is strong and influential. Dealing with Zora would be effortless for him."

General Ronald waved his hand coldly. A subordinate immediately stepped forward.

"Spread the news," General Ronald ordered. "Tell Harold that his sister was killed by Zora. He must avenge her."

"Yes!"