I stood at the head of the long mahogany table in the Thornton family's grand eting hall. My gaze swept over the faces of Eldoria's most powerful family patriarchs—n who had controlled this province for generations.
Now they would answer to .
"Gentleman," I began, my voice firm and asured. "Thank you for accepting my invitation."
Conrad Thornton sat at my right hand, his expression neutral but his eyes watchful. The ssage was clear—this was my show now.
Jaelen Wyatt of the Pierce family shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Knight, what's the aning of this gathering? We all have businesses to attend to."
I smiled thinly. "Your businesses can wait. My ti, however, is precious."
The room fell silent as I walked slowly around the table, studying each man's face. Donnie Alcott from the Alcott family avoided my gaze. Curtis Pierce kept his eyes fixed on the table. Joel Denholm fidgeted with his gold ring.
But Archie Denholm, the patriarch of the Denholm family, t my stare with defiance.
"I've summoned you here to establish so new arrangents," I continued. "Eldoria is entering a new era—my era."
"What does that an exactly?" Donnie Alcott asked, his voice carefully neutral.
I stopped pacing. "It ans from today forward, each of your families will provide a monthly tribute to . Fifty-year-old herbs, at minimum. The rarer, the better."
The silence broke instantly.
"Tribute?" Jaelen Wyatt's face flushed red. "You can't be serious! This is nothing but plunder!"
I turned to face him directly. "Plunder? Interesting choice of words from a man who's been bleeding this province dry for decades." My voice hardened. "Tell , how many businesses have you crushed when they couldn't pay your 'protection fees'? How many families have you ruined?"
Jaelen's mouth opened, then closed without a sound.
Curtis Pierce cleared his throat. "Sir Liam, while we respect your strength, this demand seems... excessive."
"Does it?" I leaned forward, placing my palms flat on the table. "I'm offering you protection. Security. A place in the new order I'm establishing."
"And if we refuse?" Archie Denholm finally spoke, his weathered face twisted in disdain.
I straightened up and smiled. "That would be unwise." The genuine article resides on M|V|L&EMPYR.
Archie snorted. "You may have defeated a few cultivators, boy, but you're not as untouchable as you think. What have you actually accomplished? You humiliated a few Ashworth lackeys and now you think you can demand tribute like so ancient emperor?"
The room temperature seed to drop several degrees. Conrad's expression darkened beside .
"Mind your tongue when speaking to Sir Liam," Conrad warned softly.
Archie laughed. "Or what? The Denholm family has stood in Eldoria for eight generations. We won't be threatened by a nobody with delusions of grandeur."
A palpable tension filled the room as the other family heads stiffened, eyes darting between and Archie.
I simply nodded to Conrad.
What happened next happened so quickly that several n gasped. Conrad moved like lightning, his hand flashing out to grip Archie's throat. Before anyone could react, a sharp crack echoed through the chamber.
Conrad released his hold, and Archie Denholm's body slumped forward, his neck bent at an impossible angle, eyes still wide with shock.
"Anyone else have objections?" I asked into the horrified silence.
Joel Denholm stared at his father's body, his face ashen. "You... you killed him..."
"No," I corrected calmly. "Conrad killed him. At my instruction. Because your father failed to understand the new reality of Eldoria." I looked around the table. "I don't have ti for lengthy negotiations or political maneuvering. I need resources, and I need them now."
Jaelen Wyatt's hands trembled as he raised them in surrender. "The Pierce family will comply with your demands, Sir Liam."
"The Alcott family as well," Donnie quickly added.
Joel Denholm, still staring at his father's corpse, simply nodded.
"Excellent." I reached into my pocket and withdrew three jade bottles. "Consider these a gesture of goodwill."
I slid one bottle toward each family. "Foundation Establishnt Pills. They'll help your chosen cultivators break through to higher layers. Think of it as an investnt in our future relationship."
Jaelen Wyatt eyed the bottle cautiously before taking it. "Thank you, Sir Liam."
"I expect the first delivery of herbs tomorrow," I continued. "Conrad will provide you with the details of where and when."
I turned to leave, considering the eting concluded.
"One more thing," I added, pausing at the door. "Speak of what transpired here today outside this room, and what happened to Archie will seem rciful compared to what I'll do to your entire families. Am I understood?"
A chorus of affirmatives followed as I walked out.
Conrad quickly caught up with in the hallway. "That was... decisive, Sir Liam."
"It was necessary," I replied, feeling no satisfaction from the violence. "I don't have the luxury of ti for political gas."
"The families will hate you for this."
I shrugged. "Let them hate , as long as they fear enough to obey. Their herbs will help refine the Divine Rank Pill I need."
Conrad nodded slowly. "I'll arrange for the removal of Archie's body and ensure the others deliver as promised."
"Thank you, Conrad."
I walked toward the mansion's entrance, my mind already racing ahead to my next steps. The Eighth Layer of Foundation Establishnt was good progress, but I needed more. Much more.
Caspian's demonstration had shown just how vast the gap truly was between my current strength and what awaited in Veridia City. If I wanted to save Isabelle from her family, from Dashiell Blackthorne, from whatever sches were brewing—I needed to beco exponentially stronger.
As I reached the main entrance, I sensed sothing—or rather, soone—waiting outside.
The heavy doors swung open to reveal an elderly man standing in the courtyard. He wore simple gray robes, his white beard neatly trimd, his hands clasped behind his back. But despite his ordinary appearance, my instincts scread danger.
He had concealed his aura completely—a sign of extraordinary cultivation.
The old man studied with piercing eyes, then spoke in a clear, strong voice that carried across the courtyard.
"The King of Eldoria is indeed overbearing."
Conrad imdiately stiffened beside , his hand moving toward his weapon. I raised a hand to stop him, my eyes never leaving the stranger.
Who was this man? And more importantly, what did he want?
Reviews
All reviews (0)