A figure stepped through the doorway.
Elderly man. Immaculate black suit. Gold hair slicked back perfectly.
Every movent is precise.
[Rank 7 Beast Tar]
The air shifted.
Pressure building.
Not as heavy as Marcus’s aura.
But sharp. Refined. Dangerous.
Like a blade wrapped in silk.
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
"And you are?"
The butler smiled.
Thin. Cold.
"Just a servant of the Rei Family."
He glanced at Alex through the interrogation room window.
"Handling disciplinary matters."
Marcus stepped forward.
"The boy was provoked."
His voice firm.
"Ethan humiliated him publicly."
The butler’s smile widened.
"Provoked?"
He laughed.
Light. Mocking.
"How fascinating."
Walked closer.
"A nobody with an F-rank sli..."
"Dares to feel ’provoked’ by his betters?"
His eyes glinted.
"Perhaps that’s the real problem."
"Not knowing one’s place."
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
"That doesn’t justify—"
"Justify?"
The butler cut him off.
"Mr. Marcus, please."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"Your nephew didn’t just lash out."
"He mutilated."
Gestured toward where Ethan sat in his wheelchair.
"An umbrella through the rectum."
"Opened inside him."
"Force-feeding until unconsciousness."
"Throwing young ladies into vomit."
Pause.
"Dozens of witnesses."
"Security footage."
"dical reports."
He tilted his head.
"Now tell ..."
"What exactly are we justifying here?"
Marcus opened his mouth.
The butler raised one finger.
"And before you ntion ’context’..."
His smile turned colder.
"Let be clear."
"The Rei Family does not care about context."
"They care about results."
He stepped closer to Marcus.
Rank 7 aura pressing down.
"Young Master Ethan was hard."
"Young Master Rex was disrespected."
"That is all that matters."
Marcus’s fists clenched.
"So might makes right?"
The butler’s eyes glead.
"Always has."
"Always will."
He turned to the chief.
"This matter is beyond your jurisdiction."
The chief nodded frantically.
"Y-yes, of course..."
The butler gestured.
Four figures erged from behind him.
Deep gray uniforms. Silver badges with the Rei crest.
Central District Officers - Rei Family Division.
They moved toward the interrogation room.
Marcus stepped forward.
"Wait—"
One officer’s hand went to his weapon.
The butler raised a finger.
"Mr. Marcus."
His voice calm.
"Ask yourself..."
"Is fighting worth it?"
"Do you even stand a chance?"
"Or would it just make things worse for your nephew?"
Marcus stood frozen.
Every muscle tensed.
But he didn’t move.
The butler’s smile widened.
"Wise choice."
The officers opened the interrogation room.
Uncuffed Alex from the chair.
Cuffed his hands behind his back.
Pulled him out roughly.
Lilian surged forward.
"NO!"
Marcus caught her.
She struggled.
"ALEX!"
Tears streaming.
"Let him go!"
"Please!"
Alex looked at her.
Forced a smile.
Mouthed: "It’s okay."
The officers dragged him toward the exit.
Lilian’s legs gave out.
Collapsed.
Sobbing into her hands.
"He’s going to suffer..."
Her voice breaking.
"The Rei Family..."
She knew what that ant.
Marcus stood there.
Fists clenched so hard they shook.
Watching Alex disappear.
The butler adjusted his cuffs.
Turned back.
Looked at Marcus.
"A word of advice."
His voice pleasant.
"Next ti your nephew wants to play rough..."
"Make sure he picks on soone his own size."
Smiled.
"Or better yet..."
"Teach him to grovel properly."
Then he was gone.
The station fell silent.
Only Lilian’s sobs remained.
Bob stood frozen.
Staring at the empty doorway.
Marcus put a hand on his son’s shoulder.
Said nothing.
What could he say?
Against the Rei Family...
They were nothing.
The Rei Family officers left.
Taking Alex with them.
Labeled as criminal.
The golden-haired butler finally withdrew his aura.
Didn’t even look at Marcus.
Gripped Ethan’s shoulder.
"Young Master."
"Let’s get you ho."
"Treat those wounds properly."
Rex followed him toward the exit.
Still shouting.
"I want that bastard DEAD!"
"Of course, of course."
The butler’s smile was kind.
"I’ll handle everything."
"No."
Rex stopped.
"I’m doing it myself."
The butler nodded.
"As you wish, Young Master."
They left with their escorts.
Disappeared through the doors.
The mont they were gone—
Marcus gasped.
Breathing hard.
Like a drowning man breaking the surface.
His entire body was soaked.
Sweat dripping.
Lilian looked up from the floor.
Face streaked with tears.
"Can... can we pay them off?"
Her voice desperate.
"I have money!"
"Lots of money!"
"Please!"
Marcus looked at her.
Shook his head slowly.
"Do you think money will be more important than their master’s pride?"
"Pride, that sense of confidence is crucially important for young beast master".
"So... they would do everything to let those two disgusting worm get back their pride."
Lilian’s face crumbled.
Marcus crouched beside her.
His voice heavy.
"If not for what happened years back then..."
He looked her in the eye.
"You could’ve solved this easily."
Lilian froze.
Face going pale.
Whiter than before.
She covered her face with both hands.
Sobbing harder.
"Don’t... don’t say that..."
Marcus stood.
Said nothing more.
Bob opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened again.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
"Alex has a friend."
"From a big family."
His eyes lit up.
"The school’s Ice Queen."
"Raven."
"She’s the strongest girl in school."
Pause.
"Maybe she can help?"
Marcus and Lilian both froze.
Turned to stare at Bob.
.....
A large estate.
White stone. Clean lines.
Cold aesthetic.
Inside the main hall.
A dozen family mbers gathered.
Sitting around a long table.
"Raven is eighteen now."
"The Blaze Family has been patient."
She tapped the table.
"Their eldest son has been courting her for years."
"YEARS."
Another family mber nodded.
"And she doesn’t even look at him."
"Doesn’t respond to his ssages."
"Ignores his gifts."
He shook his head.
"It’s embarrassing."
A younger woman leaned forward.
"That Blaze boy is perfect though!"
"Handso!"
"S Fire-type Beast Tar!"
"Sa age as Raven!"
She gestured wildly.
"Fire Phoenix contract beast!"
"PHOENIX!"
"What more does she WANT?!"
"Exactly!"
Another mber chid in.
"The marriage contract is already signed."
"Both families agreed."
"This alliance would make us untouchable."
"Fire and Ice."
"Perfect combination."
The Patriarch stroked his beard.
Silent.
Listening.
An older aunt spoke up.
"I’m starting to worry..."
She lowered her voice.
"What if she’s... you know..."
Everyone looked at her.
"What if she doesn’t like n?"
Gasps around the table.
"Don’t say that!"
"Aunt Chen!"
The aunt raised her hands.
"I’m just saying!"
"She shows zero interest."
"None of her suitors matter to her."
"Also her friend, that Luna, i do see them... touching each other."
"Breast... butt and sotis they even kiss!."
"Holy shit."
"Omg."
Pause.
"What if she never marries?"
A cousin shook his head.
"That’s why Sebastian delayed the wedding, right?"
"Giving her ti to ’mature.’"
The table murmured in agreent.
The woman in her forties frowned.
"I still don’t understand Sebastian’s thinking."
"Why delay?"
"This is a good match!"
"The sooner we solidify this alliance, the better!"
"Right!"
Another voice.
"The Blaze Family is growing stronger."
"What if they change their minds?"
"What if another family offers a better deal?"
The middle-aged man nodded.
"Sebastian insisted on waiting."
"Said Raven needed ti."
He scoffed.
"Ti for what?"
"To fall in love?"
"This isn’t a fairy tale."
The Patriarch finally spoke.
His voice calm.
asured.
"Sebastian is wise."
Everyone stopped talking.
"He sees sothing we don’t."
The Patriarch leaned back.
"The assessnt is in two weeks."
"City-wide."
"All the families will attend."
Pause.
"The Blaze boy will be there."
"Performing."
"Showing off."
His eyes narrowed.
"That’s when Raven will see him."
"Really see him."
The younger woman perked up.
"Oh! You an—"
"Exactly."
The Patriarch nodded.
"He’s famous in their circles now."
"Charismatic."
"Confident."
"They call him ’devilishly charming.’"
The aunt’s eyes lit up.
"I heard he has admirers everywhere!"
"Girls lining up!"
"Even from other cities!"
The cousin grinned.
"When Raven sees him at the assessnt..."
"Fighting."
"Commanding his Phoenix."
"Looking like a hero..."
He snapped his fingers.
"She’ll fall for him."
"Guaranteed."
The woman in her forties smiled.
"That’s Sebastian’s plan?"
"Clever."
"Very clever."
The Patriarch stroked his beard again.
"After the assessnt..."
"The wedding will proceed naturally."
"Raven will accept."
Pause.
"She won’t even resist."
The table buzzed with excitent.
Nodding.
Smiling.
"Sebastian is a genius!"
"This will work!"
"Finally!"
The next second.
BANG!
Raven burst through the door.
It slamd against the wall.
Everyone jumped.
Turned to stare.
She stood there.
Breathing hard.
Chest heaving.
Face flushed red.
Hair ssy.
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