A while after meeting Finn, Max walked back to the inn, his expression calm.
âOh?â Just as he was about to enter the inn, his steps paused. Turning his head around, he looked up at the window of the top floor of an Inn a hundred or so meters away. Then, as if nothing happened, he calmly entered the inn.
In a room on the top floor of the inn where Max had just glanced at, the
young master
stood by the window, looking at the place Max disappeared, his expression dark.
"He is too audacious for a worm." He muttered through gritted teeth, Maxâs cool expression just now flashing in his mind.
Despite noticing him, Max didnât show any fear or nervousness which was aggravating to him.
Standing behind him, the Emperor let out a helpless sigh and said, "Young Master, do you really have to force yourself to make him your enemy? Didnât they just refuse to dine with you?"
"You donât understand, Uncle Yagui." The young master shook his head, not wanting to explain himself. Though even if he tried, what could he say? That his ego was bruised and he was just like those useless young masters he used to disdain?
âTsk! Why did she have to be so beautiful and charming?â He clicked his tongue and was just about to cook up some plan which wouldnât need, or very minimal if needed, uncle Yaguiâs help when he heard him say:
"You are not forgetting you are here for an important task assigned by the Master and not to waste your time on other things, Young Master Torin, right?"
Torin Xuno froze when he heard this, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes as the image of his stern father appeared in his mind.
"Haha, you jest Uncle Yagui. Of course, I havenât forgotten." He forced a laugh and then opened the window and flew out, "Letâs go meet the City Lord and finish the task first."
The old Emperor smiled wryly and shook his head before vanishing from the room.
...
City Lordâs Mansion...
Zenovia Zen, Matriarch of The Zen family and Malta City Lord, was sitting in her study, reading a scroll when she sensed two presences outside.
Immediately alert, she was about to ring the alarm formation that would bring her familyâs ancestor, the Early-Stage Emperor, and other reinforcements over but right then, a voice sounded in her head, stopping her.
Bang!
A moment later, the door swung open and Torin, heeled by Uncle Yagui entered the room.
Zenoviaâs expression turned dark for a moment before she forced herself to calm down and stood up to greet the duo, "Greetings Young Master Xuno and Senior Yagui."
Torin looked at her up and down before losing interest. He pulled out a chair and plopped into it, "Hello, Matriarch Zen. Iâm here on behalf of my Xuno family to discuss something with you. I wonder if you are willing to hear me."
Zenovia felt a rush of anger rise in her heart. Though she was just a Peak King Mage, even ordinary Emperors spoke to her with respect because she was the head of the Zen family, but here he was, a puny High-Stage King Mage, acting so disrespectfully in front of her.
She glanced at Uncle Yagui who smiled apologetically at her and took a deep breath. Even if Uncle Yagui wasnât with him, she knew she wouldnât have dared to do anything to Torin for no reason other than the fact he was the son of Xuno familyâs head.
âWhat are these titans trying to do?â She felt the urge to rub her temple in frustration. Hers was a small family, couldnât they leave them out of their power struggles?
"Please take a seat Senior Yagui." She said to the old Emperor, who shook his head, "Itâs alright, Matriarch Zen. Please donât mind me and begin your talks."
Zenovia nodded and sat down before looking at Torin and asking, "Are you here to talk about
the Key
, Young Master?"
Uncle Yaguiâs eyes flickered when he heard this and even Torin raised his brows, "Hm? It seems others have come for the Key, right?"
Zenovia nodded before sighing in resignation, "Young Master, Iâm going to tell you what I told othersâWe donât have the Key. Even if we had it, we would have already exchanged it for treasures and resources at the Beast Emperor Hall."
"So you are saying... my father believed in the rumors?" Torin asked, his expression calm.
Zenovia opened her mouth but no words came out. Was she supposed to say that his father, a Monarch, had really believed in rumors? Wouldnât that be an insult of his intelligence?
"I understand." Torin nodded, stood up and left with Uncle Yagui without bidding her farewell.
Shua!
After they had left the mansion, a figure appeared in the roomâIt was a solemn looking, gray-haired old man, Zen Familyâs ancestor and the sole Emperor Mage.
Zenovia hurriedly stood up and bowed to him, "Ancestor!"
Ancestor Zen nodded and sat down in a chair, his brows furrowed in thought.
Zenovia kept quiet until he sighed and looked at her, "You have something to say, child?"
Zenovia nodded before cautiously asking, "Ancestor... Isnât this a too dangerous game we are playing and are putting our familyâs survival at risk for them? Is there... really a need to do this?"
Ancestor Zen stared at her until she started feeling uneasy and lowered her head, "Iâm sorry, Ancestor, but I donât want our family to die because of them."
Sigh!
Ancestor Zen sighed, "I understand, child, but you should know they are the reason elder brother and I were able to create this family and develop it into an Emperor Rank Power. Everything we have is because of them. So no matter what, we canât be selfish and betray them when they need us."
"Even if it means our death?" Zenovia asked, angry.
Ancestor Zen nodded, "Yes,"
Saying this, he stood up and said, "If more people come for the Key, handle them the same way. Also, put out a notice that we are activating the teleportation formation for the people wanting to participate in the Beast Emperor Hallâs recruitment. As long as they arenât suspicious and can pay 500 High Grade Mana Stone, they can use it."
Zenovia took a breath and nodded, "I understand."
Shua!
The ancestor Zen disappeared but his voice rang in her head, [All hope is not yet lost, child. The Beast Emperor Hall...
should never be underestimated.
]