Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

Chapter 144: Bonding [4]

"That’s right, it’s me!" President Marron grinned before declaring. "And I officially agree!"

A wave of relief washed over Soren, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"Thank you, sir."

"Haha, don’t be in a hurry to thank me just yet," Marron interjected, raising a warning finger to cut him off. His grin softened into a more measured look as he gestured toward the elven woman beside him. "My approval only gets your foot in the door. You still have to get official recognition from the director here, and more importantly, from the creature itself."

Soren offered a nod before turning his attention toward Director Elenaria, a slight wave of uneasiness rising within him.

Their gazes met, and for a fleeting second, her sharp amber eyes seemed to pierce straight through him, giving him that uncomfortable sensation of having all his secrets laid completely bare under her gaze.

"Since the President thinks so highly of you, I won’t make things difficult for you," Director Elenaria stated, her expression remaining strictly professional. "However, the rules of the facility must still be upheld. You must meet the remaining baseline criteria before entering the habitat. First, we have to verify whether your pathways can handle the sheer elemental strain this specific bond will impose on your core. If your foundation passes the threshold, only then will you be permitted to meet with the young kitsune to attempt to gain its recognition and willingness."

Soren didn’t hesitate. "I am ready."

"Good. Follow me to the testing chamber," Elenaria instructed, turning toward a side door that led deeper into the facility.

Soren and President Marron stepped into the adjacent room, which was heavily lined with defensive runes and another specialized obsidian platform at the center.

Elenaria walked over to the main console overlooking the platform, her fingers tapping a rapid sequence into the terminal to bring the simulation matrix online.

"Step onto the platform," she directed. "We are initializing a localized pressure simulation to mimic the exact passive strain of binding Aurora Kitsune. Do your best to stand your ground."

Soren walked onto the smooth platform and braced himself.

The moment the system engaged, the copper pillars hummed with a low resonance, and a concentrated wave of artificial energy surged inward, bypassing his physical body to lock directly onto his spiritual pathways.

It was a freezing, invasive force that instantly began to constrict his channels, aggressively probing his core to withstand the internal stress of an ancient frost signature.

Director Elenaria kept her eyes glued to the telemetry screen, ready to cut the power the moment his vitals spiked.

Yet, the expected struggle never came.

Soren stood perfectly still in the center of the pressure zone.

Within his core, his already-solidified 3rd Circle foundation rotated smoothly, effortlessly absorbing and dispersing the oncoming simulated force along his pathways. His mana density alone was more than enough to handle the intrusive energy, neutralizing the artificial frost before it could even begin to disrupt his flow.

This level of internal friction didn’t even cause his breathing to falter. He simply stood there, his face completely calm, waiting for the test to finish.

’This...’ Elenaria’s fingers froze over the console.

She looked from the monitor to Soren, then back to the monitor, her calm composure fracturing. The data lines were completely flat, showing zero signs of core stress or pathway constriction. He was handling a high-tier strain simulation as if it were a light breeze.

President Marron let out a low whistle, a small smirk spreading across his face as he witnessed the director’s rare display of shock.

"W-Well," Elenaria cleared her throat, quickly recovering her professional demeanor, though a lingering trace of awe colored her eyes. "Your core stability is... more than adequate. The pathway strain test is a pass."

She shut down the console, the freezing internal pressure vanishing instantly.

"Let’s move on to the young kitsune."

She then led the way out of the testing chamber and down a long, vacuum-sealed corridor that sloped deeper into the subterranean foundations.

As they walked, the temperature dropped sharply, the concrete walls giving way to heavy, frost-rimed steel barriers designed to contain extreme elemental environments.

"We are heading into Sector Five, the isolated sub-zero biome," Elenaria explained as her boots clicked firmly against the metal floor. "The young kitsune was brought here directly from a high-altitude rift zone. Because of its Ancient Tier bloodline, it is incredibly proud and highly sensitive to external mana signatures. You are to enter the enclosure alone."

She stopped before a massive, heavily insulated airlock door coated in a layer of glittering frost.

"The rules are simple," she continued, turning to look at Soren. "Once you are inside, do not force your mana onto it. An ancient bloodline will perceive raw power as a challenge or hostility. Don’t act rashly or aggressively either. Instead, let your energy drift naturally. If your high compatibility rating holds true, it will feel the connection itself. The rest depends entirely on whether it accepts you."

Soren took a slow breath, the cold air biting at his lungs as he gave a focused nod. "Understood."

With a deep, mechanical hiss, the airlock doors unsealed and parted, releasing a crisp swirl of mountain-cold air. Soren stepped through the threshold, and the heavy doors slid shut behind him, locking out the sound of the facility.

He found himself standing on a snow-dusted rocky path winding through a breathtaking, simulated alpine forest. Towering pine trees, heavy with pristine white powder, reached toward a vaulted ceiling that perfectly mimicked a twilight sky. Thick drifts of snow covered the ground, and a gentle, freezing breeze carried the faint, pure scent of winter.

Thanks to his high ice affinity and cold resistance, he felt completely comfortable in the freezing environment, the sub-zero temperature doing little to disrupt his focus.

Despite that, he still stepped forward cautiously, his boots crunching softly against the fresh snow. He kept his hands relaxed at his sides, consciously keeping his internal core calm and steady, letting just a faint, passive trace of his mana ripple outward into the freezing air.

He scanned the quiet treeline, his eyes searching the shadows for any movement.

For a long moment, the sanctuary was completely still.

Then, a sudden, subtle shift in the ambient frost caught his attention. It wasn’t the sound of footsteps, but a strange, iridescent shimmer in the low light off to his right.

’...’

Soren turned his head slowly, and his breath caught in his throat.

Emerging silently from behind a snow-laden bush, the young kitsune revealed itself.

It was stunningly beautiful, looking less like a wild beast and more like a creature born from pure winter myth.

Its size was small, barely reaching his shins, with a coat of fur so pure and pristine that it seemed to radiate a soft, dazzling light of its own. A subtle, pale blue glow traced the edges of its ears and paws, shifting like the northern lights whenever it moved. Behind it, five distinct, elegantly fluffy tails fanned out like a delicate silken crest, swaying gently in the cold air.

The little beast stopped a few paces away, its icy-blue eyes locked onto Soren with an intense, intelligent focus.

Soren held his breath, completely captivated by how dazzlingly cute it was.

Sensing no hostility from the human, the young kitsune blinked. It tilted its small head to the side with a charming, curious innocence, its ears twitching as if it were listening to the silent frequency of his mana.

A moment later, it let out a tiny, soft "Kyuu~" as a puff of frozen vapor escaped its snout.

Cautiously, lifting one delicate, glowing paw at a time, it began to slide closer across the crisp snow toward him.

’...Cute.’