"Right now," Davis spoke, "We are still losing out. Valdrey Alstreim, you should be thankful that my mother is being merciful as she understands that the causes are the factor that should be taken into account when punishing rather than the consequences."
"Now that it is clear that Faragin Yantra was the cause and you were merely the consequence that danced to the formerâs tune in my motherâs matter, you have a chance to repent."
"However, punishment is unavoidable since thereâs a person who had died. My motherâs mother was a victim of Weiss Alstreimâs shrewd scheming, and for pampering him, you and Grand Elder Elise Alstreim should be punished without a doubt."
"As Ancestor Dian Alstreim also said, you two should surrender while you can and repent for your wrongs." Davis logically stated and advised.
After that, Davis didnât watch Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreimâs expression but cast a glance at his mother.
Since his mother decided to just punish them instead of killing them as they were just partly at fault, he could understand her decision.
However, he mused that it shouldnât be just that, but another factor stopped her from killing them. He felt that she and Nora Alstreim mightâve reached some kind of consensus. It was just he didnât know what kind of deal they had established.
âWell, as long as it doesnât negatively affect the family... I think I can turn a blind eye...â
His mother was her own person. He was clear that she should be able to make decisions for herself, and as for whether it would be good or bad, only time could tell.
*Sigh~*
Suddenly, a long sigh could be heard.
Everyoneâs attention was grabbed as they looked at Grand Elder Elise Alstreim possess an exhausted expression on her face. Her rosy yet dull lips moved, "Iâm tired..."
Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim and Patriarch Eldric Alstreimâs expression changed.
"No, mother-"
"Donât say anything, Eldric. I finally understand that I was a fool to have taken such a person as my grandchild and nurture him to be an upright person... trying to make him the next Patriarch, as good as you."
"Even though he wasnât up to Edgar Alstreimâs level, I still supported him and pampered him. I believed that as long as obtained the responsibilities of a Young Master, he would shine brightly, just like you."
"All I thought was that he had a liking to women as all men would possess, but I never saw through him until the end..."
Grand Elder Elise Alstreimâs voice trembled before she wryly chuckled, "I never thought that I was blinded by my affection towards him..."
It could be seen that she was regretting to nurture such a character.
"Itâs my fault... I have failed to look after my grandchildren..." Patriarch Eldric Alstreim was full of blame for himself.
Normally, he would be staunch and prideful when it came to every matter, but when it came to his mother, he was nothing more than a child. He couldnât bear to see her suffer as it reminded him of the time whenever his mother would cry while thinking of his father, her husband, who had died in a danger zone.
Furthermore, Weiss Alstreim was his grandchild three generations apart, so it could be said he partly had responsibility in this matter.
He inwardly grumbled before he clasped his hands towards Ancestor Dian Alstreim, "Ancestor, can something be done about this matter without having my mother and grandfather facing a punitive sentence?"
He knelt in mid-air and kowtowed.
But then, Patriarch Eldric Alstreim saw himself standing without his own consent.
Ancestor Dian Alstreim visibly sighed, "Stand up, child."
"You have no need kowtow as you have done nothing wrong but took care of the family all these years to the best of your ability."
"As for your mother and grandfather, they have no way to avoid responsibility. For their wrongs, they should at least spend two thousand years in prison while having their cultivation bases sealed."
The three of their expression shook, but Grand Elder Elise Alstreimâs expression became aghast!
Two thousand years? By the time they crossed that amount of time, her father, Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim, would already be a few steps near to the grave!
Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim was around eight thousand years old, and Peak-Level Law Sea Stage Experts possessed a lifespan of twelve thousand years. If two thousand years of imprisonment passed, then her middle-aged looking father might become an old man instead! Not only would his potential decline, but even the chances of him stepping into the Law Rune Stage would severely be affected.
"No! Compared to what I did, fatherâs actions donât warrant him to suffer for that long. All he did was conceal the wrongs that we did and suppressed information from spreading. It wasnât as if he was the person who was directly responsible for everything!"
"What do you propose?" Ancestor Dian Alstreim asked as he saw that Grand Elder Elise Alstreim seemed to be more inclined to accept her punishment.
Grand Elder Elise Alstreimâs eyes flashed as she knelt, "I ask Ancestor for leniency and shorten my fatherâs sentence as he doesnât have much time to live compared to me."
Ancestor Dian Alstreim seemed to descend into contemplation for two seconds before he nodded his head, "Indeed, what youâre saying has a point. I can only shorten Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreimâs sentence by a few hundred years, reducing it to a thousand and five hundred years."
Grand Elder Elise Alstreimâs expression lit up, but it was still large that it left her feeling anxious for her fatherâs health. She took a deep breath and spoke, "Ancestor, everything was due to my fault. I shouldnât have... nurtured an ingrate. Nevertheless, since everything that happened to Edgar Alstreim was mostly due to me, Iâd like to take my fatherâs sentence upon myself."
"Mother!!!"
"You! Stop speaking drivel, Elise!!!"
Both Patriarch Eldric Alstreim and Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim bellowed at Grand Elder Elise Alstreim, but she remained staunch and stubborn.
"Do you realize what youâre saying?" Ancestor Dian Alstreim frowned.
Three thousand and five hundred years is a long time even for him.
Just because it was almost just ten percent of his lifespan doesnât mean that he wouldnât feel the passage of time. It was only when he fully immersed himself in seclusion he would not be bothered about it much.
However, prisoners would have their cultivation bases sealed, so how would they cultivate during their sentence period?
It was basically torturing to be unable to do anything at all!
It was said that many went insane, so there was a stop-gap method that they were allowed to be visited by a person at least once a year during their imprisonment. It helped them not lose themselves to insanity or to their heart demons.
"I am aware..." Grand Elder Elise Alstreim perfunctorily replied.
Ancestor Dian Alstreim saw her beautiful purple eyes and saw that they had no determination but was rather dull and lifeless.
Even without his Heart Intent, he could tell that Elise Alstreim wanted to be somewhere alone, never disturbed by anyone again, but while she was at it, she chose to take her fatherâs wrongs upon herself as well.
"Shut up!" Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreimâs face fumed with anger as he pointed his finger right at his daughterâs nose, "I order you to stop uttering nonsense! If weâre being punished, it is I who should beg for leniency and plead to lessen your sentence!"
Grand Elder Elise Alstreimâs eyes became filled with a bit of gleam as she bit her lips, but she didnât retract her words.
Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim turned around and clasped his hands, "Ancestor, while I accept that I certainly committed a huge wrong against Edgar Alstreimâs family by covering up, what needed to be said has been said by my daughter. However, please donât take her drivel into account. If possible, instead of my daughter being punished, I would like to-"
"Donât bother... I canât reduce the sentence or do anything of that sort anymore as it wasnât I who suffered. The two of you must be punished. Otherwise, I donât have an explanation to provide to Edgar Alstreimâs family."
"If you want to plead for leniency," Ancestor Dian Alstreimâs eyes flashed as he cast a look towards Davis but rested on Claire Alstreim instead, "You might want to try to implore Claire Alstreim, the daughter of Edgar Alstreim."
"..."
The atmosphere became silent.
Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreimâs expression twisted. To plead for leniency, no, mercy from a junior, and that too a woman?
He felt his face burning up as he didnât even dare to imagine himself doing it!
"Claire Alstreim..." Patriarch Eldric Alstreim took a few steps forward, "As the Patriarch, I request you to shorten my motherâs and grandfatherâs punishment."
Claire coldly stared at him without a change in her expression. She didnât have enmity with this person, but since he was Grand Elder Elise Alstreimâs son, they were not bound to be allies either.
Hearing no reply, he frowned.
"Why donât you try asking nicely... Patriarch...?" Davis smiled as he pressed.
Patriarch Eldric Alstreim cast a look at Davis as he stared, but he quickly took his gaze away and took a deep breath before he asked with his waist bowed ninety degrees, his gaze looking at the bloody surface!
"I plead that you may reduce their s-sentences!"
âWoah, he sure can swallow his pride for his mother...â Davis smiled as he looked at the trembling Patriarch.
The head of a High-Level Emperor Grade Power, bowing his head to his mother. Just that fact alone brought immense satisfaction to him. Nonetheless, he rather approved this person when compared to the degenerate Weiss Alstreim. He could see that Grand Elder Elise Alstreim had brought up a good son with a commendable temperament who knew when to show his pride, unlike that piece of trash Weiss Alstreim.
After a moment, a cold yet melodious voice echoed.
"I can consider shortening their sentences if they apologize by kowtowing to my father, asking for forgiveness, and acknowledge that theyâre regretful for the death of my mother, Julianna."
Claire possessed an indifferent expression on her face while the expression of the other three went a broad change.