Published: March 12, 2025
Chapter 152: Unfathomable
Once everyone had gathered, Caesar stood up, slowly making his way to the podium in the center of the venue. He looked at the crowd and said in a deep voice, “Family head, esteemed elders, the Versailles Family has recently encountered many issues. Those shameless merchants have the audacity to take advantage of the pest outbreak in our territory on the Ika Plain to inflate grain prices. Fortunately, thanks to our collective efforts, we have avoided significant losses. However, now someone dares to challenge the dignity of the Versailles Family, and that is absolutely unacceptable.”
He paused at this point, scanning the faces in the room, feeling a sense of mastery over the world. This feeling intoxicated him. It is often said that power is the best elixir of immortality, and he couldn't agree more. Caesar felt that the first time he stood at this podium, his body was filled with vitality. He felt he could live for hundreds of years, that he was still young, and that he could do even better.
The people in the room were whispering among themselves, confused about why Caesar was making such a serious statement. Caesar glanced at the crowd and continued, “Just now, the steward of the Budah Family, Galen, arrived at the Duke's Manor. He is here to cancel the engagement. Not long ago, there was a beast disaster in the Black Earth Wilderness. Fearing for the Budah Family's safety, our Versailles Family sent death warriors to investigate, only to be killed by Galen. Now he comes to break the engagement; this is simply an affront to the Versailles Family. Such arrogance cannot be tolerated!”
Everyone in the conference room was taken aback, looking at Caesar in confusion. Although Caesar's words were eloquent, the elders understood the underlying meaning. They knew that the concern for the Budah Family was merely a facade; they had sent people to probe for weaknesses and were preparing to act against them. The Budah Family killing their people was hardly a big deal, so why bring the Duke's authority into the fray?
Only the second elder and the third elder, seasoned veterans, realized that Caesar was determined to take action against the Budah Family. However, they were puzzled as to why he was so insistent on attacking them, so they remained silent, looking at Caesar with confusion.
Caesar was aware that his rhetoric would not easily sway these elders. Though he held significant power within the Versailles Family, he could not act alone, especially with the second and third elders keeping him in check.
He continued, “As you all know, Galen is already a peak-level eighth-tier expert. Although we in the Versailles Family had an engagement with the Budah Family, given their current status, they are unworthy of our family. While they initiated the cancellation, it relates to us as well. Have you considered the consequences if Galen holds a grudge against us and ascends to become a ninth-tier expert one day?”
After a long-winded speech, this point struck home, and everyone in the room understood Caesar's implication. They shared his growing concern. They all knew that they had acted against the Budah Family when they were in trouble, creating a significant enmity. If Galen became a ninth-tier expert, it would undoubtedly be disastrous for the Versailles Family.
“No wonder the grand elder wants to deal with the Budah Family.” Once Caesar explained his reasons for taking action, everyone instantly had the same thought, except for Ivan, who sat quietly at the family head's seat, knowing that anything he said now would be pointless.
At that moment, the second elder spoke up, “The grand elder is right, but Galen is already a peak-level eighth-tier expert. It won’t be easy for us to deal with him. Even if we can kill him, our losses would be significant. Has the grand elder considered this?”
Caesar anticipated this pushback from the second elder, but he was prepared. He nodded and said, “Of course, I have considered that. Therefore, I have already arranged for an old cart to be prepared. I intend to personally invite the guardian deity to assist us. One reason is to eliminate Galen and prevent future troubles; the other is to intimidate those unscrupulous merchants, making them aware that the Versailles Family has the power to annihilate them.”