Divine Emperor of Death

Claire's tears cascaded down her cheeks, her smile becoming drowned in untold emotions. Now that both of the Grand Elders had left, she was no longer able to maintain that cold expression.

She flew towards her Edgar Alstreim, once again wanting to feel his fatherly embrace.

Edgar Alstreim embraced her back without any hesitation. He stayed silent, just letting her cry on his shoulders. However, his trembling body sold out his true emotions.

On the other hand, Patriarch Eldric Alstreim, who still stayed, became dumbfounded. This demon, which had just finished making them do shameful things, was now crying herself, sobbing, and embracing her father like a little girl. He finally realized that perhaps, her bravado was an act all along.

He let out a breath of air, and ruefully shook his head.

However, as the Patriarch, he was unable to let go of another matter that concerned the fate of the Alstreim Family in the Fifty-Two Territories.

He turned his head to look at the genius, Alchemist Davis, as his eyes flashed with a splendid light.

"Are you truly Claire Alstreim's son?"

Davis pointed at Ancestor Dian Alstreim, "Your Ancestor even checked my soul..."

Patriarch Eldric Alstreim became taken aback as he turned to look at Ancestor Dian Alstreim, "The Soul-Bloodline Chamber!?"

Ancestor Dian Alstreim perfunctorily nodded his head, "There's no need to worry, Eldric. I have personally checked his soul, and he did indeed positively react to one of our Ancestors' remnant soul wisp."

"Apart from that, I need you to be magnanimous. After all, there will come a time where you would have to step down as the Patriarch, and I hope that you can fairly accept the result." Ancestor Dian Alstreim politely remarked.

Patriarch Eldric Alstreim's expression became complex as he cast a look back at Davis. Indeed, since Alchemist Davis was talented than him, there would come a time where he would have to let go of his position as the Patriarch to reinstate a new Patriarch!

Edgar Alstreim's eyes flashed with a confused light as he saw their communication before realization dawned on him.

'So this was what Ancestor meant when he said that I would willingly let go of my Young Master status...'

Edgar Alstreim couldn't help but softly laugh and feel immense pride. His daughter had given birth to an extremely capable son, but he still felt disbelief over it that he couldn't help but wryly laugh at the heavens.

What was it doing? Taking everything from him one day and granting him everything on another day? 

He couldn't comprehend its mysterious intent!

Claire also stopped crying as she separated from Edgar Alstreim. Looking at him have a starstruck expression on his face, her lips couldn't help but curve into a proud smile as she traced his gaze towards Davis.

She waited for her father to ask about her son and husband instead of introducing them by herself as she felt nervous.

Patriarch Eldric Alstreim visibly sighed, "Does this mean that Alc- Davis Alstreim is going to be one of us and not the Dragon Queen's subordinate? I can't imagine a person of her caliber letting him go..."

Ancestor Dian Alstreim frowned. This matter was precisely in his mind right now, and he didn't know a suitable way to tackle it. He could only look at Davis for some answers since it was Davis who said that he might completely side with the Dragon Queen if he did not help in Claire's revenge.

Now that he aided them, he felt that Davis should have an answer.

"Ancestor," Davis smilingly shook his head, "Before that, there are still nine Elders who have yet to be punished. What are you going to do about them?"

There were ten Elders who had done participated in bringing down Edgar Alstreim in the past, according to Claire, but after Elder Zeno Alstreim died, the number became nine.

"You're still not convinced?" Ancestor Dian Alstreim stared at him in incredulity.

Even after having two Grand Elders punished, was he going to turn the Alstreim Family upside down!?

"Davis..." Claire suddenly echoed.

Davis looked at her and saw her shake her head with a calm yet tear-stained face.

'Oh, it seems mother has finally let go of her hatred...' Davis smiled in relief.

Perhaps, she felt that the two Grand Elders had been collectively punished for all of their wrongs? Was this why she was unyielding and harsh towards them, making them feel extremely worse by having them kowtow to her father?

Nonetheless, he nodded his head and looked at Ancestor Dian Alstreim.

"Ancestor, I said that you need to earn my trust through actions, and you indeed aided us. I won't deny that since you have proved yourself, enough to make me call you Ancestor..."

Ancestor Dian Alstreim revealed a content expression upon hearing that, but he didn't interrupt in this short pause and listened.

"However, I have no wish to become deeply tied with the Alstreim Family." Davis didn't beat the bush and revealed his thoughts.

"What!?" Ancestor Dian Alstreim's pupils trembled.

"Don't misunderstand me." Davis shook his head, "As long as my mother belongs in the Alstreim Family, I will help the Alstreim Family in times of need."

Ancestor Dian Alstreim descended into silence, but his eyes clearly revealed some hesitation that said he wasn't agreeable with this result.

However, Patriarch Eldric Alstreim frowned, "That's not right..."

"How can we let you go?" 

Davis slightly widened his eyes as he looked at Patriarch Eldric Alstreim in both shock and amusement. He couldn't help but sneer, "Isn't it advantageous to you if I leave?"

Patriarch Eldric Alstreim snorted, "Hmph! I won't deny that but do I look like a person like that? The Alstreim Family has only two goals, and that is prosperity and growth! As long as you can beat me, I am willing to let go of my Patriarch's status to you like a man!"

"Just because my mother was unlucky and accidentally nurtured a rotten apple doesn't mean I am rotten as well."

Davis became flabbergasted. He didn't jab at his mother or say that he was similar to Weiss Alstreim, so why did he take it personally?

He shook his head.

"If I invite a calamity that far outclasses you and your family's experts, will the Alstreim Family risk its life and death to protect my family?" 

Patriarch Eldric Alstreim became taken aback before he smiled as he shot a look at Ancestor Dian Alstreim. Matters regarding powerhouses at the level of the Ninth Stage wasn't something he could make a decision for, and he didn't dare to answer that question in front of the Ancestor.

Those decisions that related to the life and death of the Alstreim Family relied solely on the whim of the Ancestor!

Ancestor Dian Alstreim chuckled, "Such a foolish question. The Alstreim Family might have internal squabbles, but united, no one can do anything to us. Did you know that the Ancestor after the Founder self-destructed when the Young Master at that time invited a calamity from a power belonging to a large-sized Territory?"

"That history caused all of us descendants to be united in the face of external threat, and even in death..." Ancestor Dian Alstreim smirked, his voice laded with unconcealed proudness.

"If you were brought up here from when you were a child, you would've been taught about the Alstreim Family's grand history..."

"Time flows; people change... Don't claim past glories that don't belong to you; instead, re-enact the glory in the present..." Davis coldly spoke, "I owe the Alstreim Family nothing!"

"Just say if you are capable of protecting or not?"

Ancestor Dian Alstreim's expression fell. He took a deep breath, calming himself down.

'He's an arrogant brat who had probably faced no setbacks with his power... Calm yourself, Dian. It isn't worth getting heated over the insolence of a less than thirty-year-old child...'

Patriarch Eldric Alstreim became dumbfounded. How can he be so disrespectful to the Ancestor!? Looking at Ancestor Dian Alstreim's dark face, he felt goosebumps all over his body.

He hurriedly wanted to stop the Ancestor from accidentally killing the Alstreim Family's genius but relaxed as he heard the next words.

"The Alstreim Family will protect your family even if you invite a Peak-Level Emperor Grade calamity..." Ancestor Dian Alstreim coldly spoke, "Is this enough?"

Davis's cold expression turned into an abnormally cold smile, "Remember your words, Ancestor Dian Alstreim. If the Alstreim Family doesn't, then I will raze it myself to the ground, letting it be engulfed in its very own fire its proud of..."

The temperature of the surrounding suddenly increased. 

Everyone looked at Davis in incredulity, wondering what was wrong with him?

Logan blinked as his mind stopped working.

Evelynn practically had her heart almost leap out in terror.

Edgar Alstreim and Claire were practically covered in a cold sweat. 

It was one thing to be bold against the Grand Elders who had wronged them, but to maintain that same attitude to an existence which only needs a twitch of their finger to kill, even going far as to threaten that existence, wasn't that practically courting death?

Claire's lips quivered, wanting to warn her son not to go too far with his words. However, she was unable to as she was afraid to break this silent atmosphere. She was afraid that her voice might inadvertently be the reason for a fire to ignite in this atmosphere. She wasn't even able to think of sending a soul transmission at this instant.

*Bzzz!~*

The side of the concealment barrier abruptly broke, and three figures entered from the crack. A terrifying dark golden-horned wolf flew in, and two women were riding on it.

Riding on the front while having a cold expression on her face was a purple-haired woman, and behind her was a black-haired woman who seemed to be afraid of the purple-haired woman as her body trembled.

"How daring..."

"To snatch my subordinate without even saying a word about it to me, it seems like the Alstreim Family really has a..." The purple-haired woman's expression became frighteningly frigid before her rosy lips moved.

"... death wish!"