Published: March 12, 2025
Chapter 537: The Last Request (Seeking Subscription)
Ivan has his pride, and Zhao Hai understands this. He is proud in his own right, so he won't say anything to persuade Ivan to leave. Now, all he can do is take good care of Ryan and the others.
Noticing that Zhao Hai didn't respond immediately, Ivan knew he understood his meaning. He turned to Zhao Hai and said, "Little Hai, I have one last request. I hope you can agree to it."
Seeing Ivan's expression, Zhao Hai couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He could roughly guess what the request would be, but it was indeed a difficult one for him to accept.
When Ivan saw Zhao Hai frowning and not immediately agreeing, he couldn't help but sigh as well. He continued, "Little Hai, consider this a request from your uncle. You must agree; this is the last thing I will ask of you."
Zhao Hai also knew that Ivan likely wouldn't survive this time. Even if he didn't die at the hands of the orcs, he would eventually fall to the Church of Light. The Church is well aware of the relationship between Ivan and him. They might spare some inconsequential members of the Versailles Family, but they would definitely not spare Ivan. Firstly, he is close to Zhao Hai, and secondly, he is the family head of the Versailles Family and has shown dislike for the Church. With Ivan around, controlling the Versailles Family would be very unfavorable for the Church.
Zhao Hai sighed inwardly, but he turned to Ivan and said, "Uncle, go ahead. I'm listening."
Ivan looked at Zhao Hai and said, "You should be able to guess it; my request is for you to marry Ryan. Little Hai, I don't want you to marry Ryan just for her sake, but for the entire Versailles Family. After this incident, the Versailles Family will decline. Those people are too young, and without an identity, you won't be able to control them. I will pass the position of family head to Ryan. As long as you marry her, they will listen to you. I believe that under your leadership, the Versailles Family will thrive again."
Zhao Hai smiled bitterly. He had anticipated this. When Ivan mentioned he had a request, Zhao Hai knew it would be about this matter. He had a betrothal with Ryan in the past, but then the Budah Family fell into misfortune, and Ryan called off the engagement. Given Ryan's reputation, Zhao Hai had no reason to marry her now; their statuses were no longer on the same level.
However, he couldn't disregard Ivan's request. Ivan had already resigned himself to death; he was destined not to survive this time. Coupled with the help Ivan had given him in the past and his relationship with the Budah Family, Zhao Hai had to seriously consider Ivan's words.
Seeing the expression on Zhao Hai's face, Ivan grew anxious, thinking that Zhao Hai might not agree. Ivan wasn't lying; he genuinely wanted Zhao Hai to marry Ryan for the sake of an alliance. Regardless of how their marriage would turn out, as long as that relationship existed, others on the continent would have to give the Versailles Family some respect.
As he said, the people accompanying Ryan this time were indeed elites, but they were too young. Young people are often impulsive, and with the Versailles Family facing such a dire crisis, everyone was anxious. Even if he passed the position of family head to Ryan, her prestige wouldn't be enough to control these people. However, if Zhao Hai stepped in, it would be a different story.
What identity does Zhao Hai possess? He is the family head of the Budah Family, the son-in-law of the Karlqi Family, the Duke's Manor's son-in-law, the lord of Golden Island, and one of the most powerful family heads on the continent. With all these identities, he could certainly reign in the situation. As long as he could unify those people, the Versailles Family would still have hope.
In fact, there was someone else who could achieve this—Primordial Sword Saint. He is a ninth-level expert, and as long as he appeared, those people would surely behave.
However, the Primordial Sword Saint wouldn't meddle too much in such matters, and his status wouldn't allow him to do so. Ivan also had some concerns; after all, the Primordial Sword Saint was not young, and no one knew how long he could live. If he were to die and another ninth-level expert didn’t emerge from the Versailles Family, they would be doomed and would never have a chance to revive.