Chapter 1177: Persuading the Grand Duke

"!!!"

There were four people in that picture. Although he could barely see them, he recognized one of the four. It was the person before him.

Next to him was a beautiful woman, gentle and mature. The one in front of them was a young man. He crouched in front with such a cheerful face.

The last person was even further in front, leaning against her big brother’s chest while raising her hand as if she were waving to the painter.

However, the emperor mentioned that during the retaliation, the duke lost his entire family. Evelyn might not look similar, but Nathan had the same hair color and eyes as his son.

Seeing them might actually have triggered the grand duke’s trauma.

It was as if he was trying to push them away so that they wouldn’t experience the same thing.

Nathan fell silent for a moment. It looked like the grand duke and Evelyn’s fight would escalate even further, so he raised his voice. "Stop! You two are adults, so act like one!"

"Shut up, kid. Since you are just a kid, you should listen to what your elders say!"

"Sorry, but I’m a rebellious child, you see?" Nathan’s expression turned grim. "Do you really not want to work with us? Does working with us remind you of your family?"

"I have been polite enough not to go all out here. Don’t give me a reason to do it." The grand duke gritted his teeth.

"Reason, huh? Even though what you’re doing is just your way of running away?" Nathan squinted his eyes.

"Running away?" The grand duke became even angrier.

Before Nathan said anything, Mae suddenly dissolved her illusion and reappeared next to Nathan.

"!!!" The grand duke widened his eyes. He might have been so focused on Evelyn that he didn’t even notice her.

Mae handed him the letter so that Nathan could understand the circumstances.

’These two are the people from another continent, and thanks to them, I have found a resolve to confront the Death Society. The imperial decree can’t be given, but I promise you that I will give everything you need in order to take down the Death Society.’

He read only the first part, as the rest of the letter explained their relationship and Nathan’s information.

Nathan said, "It looks like your resolve to strike down the Death Society is not as high as I originally expected..."

"What did you say?" The grand duke gritted his teeth.

Nathan ignored him. He simply glanced at Evelyn. "Let’s go back. We’re done here. Since the other party doesn’t wish to cooperate, there’s no need to. We will readjust our plan."

Evelyn clenched her hands into fists as if she were unwilling.

Nathan frowned. Even after trying to break away from this conversation, for some reason, Evelyn’s fighting intent still remained. It was something he had never seen from Evelyn.

’Don’t tell me... Is the grand duke doing something that provokes her this much? It’s not just about words... something hidden, maybe his ability?’ Nathan paused for a moment before sending another order to Mae. ’Can you sense if the duke is using another ability?’

’Not at the moment, but I can feel something weird from the grand duke...’

Nathan frowned and grabbed Evelyn’s wrist, forcefully pulling her away. "That’s enough. We’ll adjust our plan and deal with the Death Society ourselves. There’s no need to trouble the old man, who can’t overcome his sadness. Let him be relieved in a pathetic way, seeing his archenemy die without being able to do anything. Let him carry that shame even to the underworld."

"You bastard!" The grand duke roared as he smashed the wall next to him. His anger soared even higher. This time, it might be genuine hatred. "Do you know what they have done?"

"We know close to nothing. That’s why we are here, trying to find everything out through you." Nathan wanted to add, "Yet, you are here provoking us with no explanation," but it would just cause the fight to explode, so he left that last part to himself. Instead, he said, "That’s why, please enlighten us."

The grand duke gnashed his teeth as if he wanted to chew Nathan. An image flashed in his mind.

In that image, he saw his son killed in the most gruesome way. Even his corpse was not spared either. His eyes had been gouged, his limbs had been severed, and his insides had been pulled out. The only thing clean was the stab wound on his neck.

It was the first wound and the one that actually killed him. It was as if he had no other choice but to make a decision to end himself.

Next to him were his wife and daughter. Both of them were in similar states. Their limbs had been dismembered. They might face unimaginable torture before their death. He even found his son’s eyes on their mouths. It was as if they were forced to swallow his son’s body parts while being tortured.

There was no father who could withstand seeing his family die in such a way. When he looked at them, the image resurfaced. Nathan might be talented, but he reminded him of his son. Evelyn and Mae were charming, so they might even face what his wife and daughter experienced when they were defeated.

There was no way he would allow such a thing to be repeated.

Nathan took a deep breath before saying, "We know what happened. They escaped to our continent, so we had experienced almost the same thing. Hell... that is probably the best way to describe it..."

"!!!" The grand duke’s body shook.

"We know what awaits us. Yet, despite the danger, we choose to do it. I understand... you are trying to push us away so that we don’t have to experience such a thing, but we have. All of us deserve closure, Grand Duke.

"If needed, we are prepared to walk into hell to kill the god residing in the underworld." Nathan clutched his hand and pressed his chest, showing his resolve. "Please. We ask you to allow us to walk forward. We don’t want to be cowards. Please grant us the opportunity so that we can move on and finally see the future instead of isolating ourselves in the past."