Seeing that everyone was in attendance, Kaiser stood up. He slowly walked towards the middle of the room and onto the stage. He stood at the stage, looked at everyone, and with a sinking voice, said, âClan Lord, fellow elders. Our Purcell clan has been struck by a string of troubles recently. Those shameless merchants, looking for a chance to pressure our clan due to the Ica plain incidence, have taken this opportunity to increase the price of food. Fortunately, under everyoneâs efforts, our clan hadnât taken significant losses. But now, someone dares to challenge the dignity of the Purcell clan. This absolutely cannot be permitted.â
He paused for a while, looked at some of the people in the room. He felt like he were the master of the world. This feeling fascinated him. As some said, power was the best elixir of life. These words were truly accurate. Kaiser felt as if his body was full of vitality as he stood upon the stage. He felt that he could live for a hundred years. Since he felt so young, then he could still do better.
The people in the room soon began to whisper to each other. They didnât know what had happened that would make Kaiser be this serious. Kaiser looked at the crowd and continued, âJust a moment ago, the Buda clan member Green came to the Grand Dukeâs Mansion to break off the engagement. Some time ago, the Black Wastes had experienced a magic beast attack. For fear that a disaster would befall the Buda clan, our Purcell clan sent members to go observe and search for them, but they are now already dead. They were killed by Green. This time, they came with a desire to break off the engagement. It simply seems like they are looking at my Purcell clan as if it was nothing. Such as thing as this, he cannot be left alive.â
Everyone in the conference room was surprised for a moment and looked puzzledly towards Kaiser. Kaiser saying this had confused them, but the elders understood how and what had happened. They wanted to look for the Buda clan so they had sent people to observe and even lend a hand. But the Buda clan member had killed them, which wasnât good. Now that person had even come to the Grand Dukeâs Mansion?
Only the Second Elder and the Third Elder, these old men, had understood why Kaiser had sent the men to the Buda clan. What they didnât understand was why Kaiser was speaking so highly of the Buda clan. Thus, the two didnât say anything and just watched Kaiser, puzzled.
Kaiser knew that what he said wasnât enough to impress these people. Although he was powerful within the Purcell clan, it was impossible to cover the skies with his hand1. Furthermore, the Second and Third Elders also kept him in check.
Kaiser continued, âGreen is now a Peak Rank Eight expert. Everyone knows that we initiated the engagement with the Buda clan, but now with the Buda clanâs status, they are simply not a match for our Purcell clan. Although this time they offered to break off the engagement, havenât you all thought about the effects this would have towards us? Seemingly, this Green bears a grudge against us. Once he reaches Rank Nine, what will happen then?â
After saying this long speech, everyone understood the point within the sentences Kaiser had spoken and they were of the same mind with Kaiser.
They all knew that the Buda clan was suffering and had even added insult to the injury, thus making the Buda clan have a great hatred towards them. If Green really does become a Rank Nine one day, it definitely wouldnât be a good thing for the Purcell clan.
âNo wonder the First Elder wants to deal with the Buda clan.â After Kaiser said his reasons for wanting to deal with the Buda clan, everyone agreed to the idea. Evan could only sit at his station. He said no words as he knew they would be useless.
Second Elder said, âThe First Elderâs words are justifiable. However, now that the Buda clan has a Peak Rank Eight master, wanting to deal him wonât be easy. Even if we can kill him, our losses wouldnât be small. I wonder what are the First Elderâs thoughts about this?â
Kaiser knew that the Second Elder wouldnât be so easily swayed by his words, but he was well prepared. He nodded and said, âNaturally, I had thought of something beforehand. The carriage is now prepared and ready to go and ask a Rank Nine deity to extend his hands2. First is to kill Green, avoiding any future troubles. Then, to deter those profiteers, letting them know that our Purcell clan is capable of extinguishing them.â
The quiet conference room suddenly broke out in a huge burst of applause. As Laura had said, these aristocrats had large aristocratic pride; they wouldnât allow anybody to encroach on their dignity.
Kaiserâs words naturally aroused the sympathy of the people in the room. Even the Second Elder, the Third Elder, and Evan didnât say anything about it.
The Second and Third Elders had been struggling for power against the First Elder. Looking at the now popular First Elder, they were naturally not in a good mood. Even now, Evanâs heart was complex.
He was nominally the Lord of the Purcell clan, and the Grand Duke of the Purcell Duchy. But here in the Elders Assembly, he didnât have any right to speak. In fact, him sitting there was just him being a decoration. This was something all the elders knew. On the surface however, they were still respectful towards him. This matter was what Evan was most angry of.
Unfortunately, he didnât have any other way to change this situation. In fact, this matter was a Purcell clan secret. He had no way of telling other people. While outside and in front of other people, the elders were still very respectful towards him. This made outsiders think that the Purcell Grand Duke was still respected.
Before, there had been no reason for the Purcell clan to deal with the Buda clan. Furthermore, Evan was a friend of Adamâs3 father, which naturally made him wish for the Buda clan to not disappear.
Unfortunately, he had helped the Buda clan in the past which greatly diminished his power. Now, he had no ability to help the Buda clan. Even if he wanted the support of the First Elder, it would be impossible.
Evan was a warrior and one could say he was not made for political plays. It was precisely because of this that he could be the patriarch of the Purcell clan; since he didnât understand politics, he was easily controlled.
Even though these three didnât take their stand, it wouldnât matter much as the other elders had already approved of the words of the First Elder which had made their blood boil.
Kaiser satisfyingly watched the result and said, âPlease raise your hand if you share my opinion.â
More than half of the people in the conference room raised their hands, which ultimately decided the outcome. Those whom hadnât raised their hands were the diehard supporters of both the Second and Third elders.
Kaiser nodded his head and said, âMore than fifty percent of the votes approve.â He then turned his head and bowed to Evan, saying âClan Lord, Sir, may I ask the exalted deity now?â
Evan looked at Kaiser with a calm face and nodded without saying anything. As Kaiser saw Evan nod, he also didnât say anything. He bowed once more to Evan and turned around, proclaiming, âThis meeting is adjourned.â He headed outside after saying that.
The elders in the conference room had also left one after the other. The Second and the Third Elders sighed, then exited the room.
Although they had grabbed several elders under Kaiserâs these past few days, obtaining a better position to speak up, when compared to Kaiserâs power they were just almost there. But this time, this matter had made Kaiser more attractive. His popularity would surely reach a new height. When that happened, they wouldnât be able to put up a fight against Kaiser anymore.
To be honest, their moods were quite complex right now. They wanted Kaiser to be victorious in order to make the Purcell clan maintain their dignity, frightening this generation of hoodlums.
However, in their hearts, they hoped Kaiserâs plan would go wrong. They hoped that the Buda clan could resist, thus making Kaiserâs move void. When that happens, they could attack Kaiser, bringing down his prestige. They could then take the opportunity to deal with Kaiser.
Sadly, they knew this was impossible. This time, in order to succeed, Kaiser was willing to go please and request the Guardian Deity. The Guardian Deity was a Rank Nine expert, synonymous to invincible. It was easy for them to get rid of others, yet hard to be defeated.
* * * * *
What they didnât know was that when the Purcell clan rang the bell, Zhao Hai had also received the message. Zhao Hai had previously instructed the Night Shades to observe the Purcell clan. These Night Shades were high ranked undead. In addition to being undead, they could also restrain their auras. The Purcell clan didnât have any high ranking light magicians, thus making the Night Shades even harder to detect.
The average person might not know what the sound of this bell meant, but these Night Shades knew. Donât forget, these Night Shades were high ranked undead made by Zhao Hai that also had their memories retained. Their prior organization had a certain understanding of the large clans within the continent. Since the Purcell clan had its own Duchy, then of course they were also investigated. This naturally made them understand what the bell represented for the Purcell clan.
When the Purcell clan sounded the bell, the Night Shades immediately informed Zhao Hai about the situation and what this matter meant.
Around this time, Zhao Hai was lying in his bedroom, afraid of going out. He feared Meirin would insist on continuing the discussion of the issue of marriage to him. Upon receiving the message however, Zhao Hai immediately stood up and went out.
Green was sitting in the living room and staring at the screen. He had to pay attention to his room in the hotel while in the living room. If he let others enter his room and they found out that he disappeared, then there would be trouble.
Zhao Hai also saw Green in the living room and immediately said, âGrandpa Green, thereâs been changes in the Purcell clan. They had just rung the emergency bell.â
Green also knew a little about the emergency bell. After hearing Zhao Hai, his face couldnât help but change as he said, âReally? Did the Night Shades send the message?â
Zhao Hai nodded. âYes, the Night Shades had sent the message. Since the Night Shades werenât detected by the Purcell clan, after the emergency bell rang they immediately notified me.â
Green stood up, raised his brow, and said, âWhy do they have to pull the emergency bell? We only went to break the engagement, which was what they also wanted to do. So, they shouldnât be planning anything against us, right?â
Notes:
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