Both families were sitting opposite to each other. On the side of the Handler family, the man on the front seat was the same person who had interacted with Rudard before.
"You have improved quite well, Kino... It won't be long before you reach the same level as your father." Gamus smiled at the man in the front. He was the current head of the Handler family, Kino Handler.
"You praise me too much, Uncle Gamus." Kino replied humbly while addressing Gamus the same way he used to do before.
Gamus smiled, but his feelings were complicated. There used to be a time when this familiar greeting used to sound much more affectionate.
He turned his gaze towards the place behind Kino. A young man with features and build similar to Kino was standing there. His eyes and hair were similar to those of his father, while his pale face carried a disdainful smile.
"This must be your son."
"Yes, Uncle Gamus. He's my son, Selvo, and also the groom." Kino replied as he introduced his son.
He directed a glare at Selvo, who greeted Gamus reluctantly, clearly looking down on everyone from the Safaira family.
Gamus just smiled as he took a quick look at Anom, who had already sat back in his place, and nodded gratifyingly.
But the others, including Kino, took this as Gamus being satisfied with the groom.
Even Crystal furrowed her brows when she took a look at this interaction. Although she knew about it being a farce, the idea of them talking about her marriage irritated her.
She took a glance at Anom, only to find him smiling at her.
Crystal hurriedly averted his gaze while looking down in a shy but joyous mood.
The proceedings progressed as planned, with both sides talking about the terms they had already discussed before.
But this discussion had only happened between the top level members, so the others were unaware of the huge appetite of the Handler family.
Anom also clicked his tongue when he saw Kino demanding control over the whole of the business belonging to the Safaira family so nonchalantly.
Gamus kept a neutral face while also calming the uneasy members who were too shocked by this "peaceful" negotiation. It was more like handing over the lifeline of the family to their enemies.
Kino smiled when he saw Gamus agreeing so easily. He had expected him to put up some terms to save their benefits, which he wouldn't have agreed to anyway, as the situation was completely in their favour. But Gamus did no such thing, just agreeing to everything calmly.
If Kino's uncle, who was the little brother of his father, was present there, he would have found Gamus' behaviour doubtful. But Kino didn't suspect a thing. He had too much confidence in his new-found reliance. Anyone who tries to go against him will have to face the wrath of the behemoth behind his family.
It won't be long before the whole city is under their control. And at that time, the first person he would take special care of…
Kino took a look at Rudard and imagined the kinds of torture he would do to make this bastard regret his past actions.
Thinking about the people he was going to deal with, Kino remembered the next person on his list… Well, there was not much left to worry about him, but still…
"I don't see Brother Bolance here. Has he gone out of the city?" Kino looked around and asked with a confused expression.
Before anyone could say anything, Kio spotted Loreana. He showed a genial smile while asking, "Oh, so you are here, Sister Loreana! Since I didn't find Brother Bolance, I assumed you might be with him too… But why are you sitting at the back?"
Loreana let out a slight smile as she replied, "Thank you for worrying about us, Head Kino. My husband was not feeling well so I came here alone… I want to spend as much time as I can with my daughter…" She looked at Crystal with a gentle expression, looking just like a mother who has to send her daughter away after marriage.
Kino smiled while engaging in some idle talk, but he was also trying to find out more about Bolance. But Loreana was not someone who could be manipulated so easily. She dealt with everything in a subtle way, not letting any thought leak from her face.
Meanwhile, Crystal's eyes turned moist as she couldn't help but feel sad thinking about leaving her family and her parents… Though she wasn't imagining doing that with that stupid son of Kino…
"Don't worry. You won't get separated… ever…"
Anom's gentle and faint voice entered her ears, reducing her sadness but also making her confused.
Suddenly, her expression brightened as she thought that Anom had decided to stay with her family.
Anom noticed her change and couldn't help but get amused as he thought about her reaction when she finds out about him inviting Loreana to come with them.
Kino was also looking at this interaction but he found it weird for Loreana to accept it so easily. But he didn't think much about it. After all, what can she do by herself?
He also noticed Anom sitting between the mother and daughter, but then, he ignored him. Because he found his son also looking at this scene.
Selvo's eyes shone as he saw Crystal. He had seen her before once, when they were kids. But seeing her now made him realize the rumours about her had underestimated her beauty. She was so gorgeous… much more than the girls he had played with till now…
Imagining this girl becoming his bride, Selvo couldn't help but get excited… But then he saw her smiling at a man sitting next to her.
He saw his plain looks and ordinary clothes, and couldn't help but frown. The man looked no better than the servants of his family.
As he was wondering the reason for the man being able to sit near Crystal, he noticed the same man smiling at him…
A simple, harmless smile… But Selvo felt his heart thumping. He felt his life being engulfed by a stifling darkness, trying to take his soul back to the void as his mortal frame withers…
Selvo took a deep breath and tried to control the feeling of terror that had just emerged from within him. He took another look and found the man looking elsewhere, making him question the reality of what had happened… Due to the resources provided by their backer, he had already broken through to the Materialization Realm… But he still couldn't feel any strength coming from that man.
This can only happen in two cases. Either that he didn't have any energy at all… Or that he was a level higher than him…
He shook his head at this ludicrous thought. There was no way a person like that could be here without his family knowing about it.
Selvo decided to investigate it later and turned his attention back towards the meeting.
But he was right. There was no way that Anom's level would be higher than him or his father… But the thing that made Anom special was his soul. Despite his level being low, his control over the energy he had amassed till now was seamless. Not even Gamus would be able to detect his energy if not for Anom allowing it.
Anom, who was keeping an eye on Selvo's reaction, smiled. He knew about Kino noticing him but leaving him for his son to deal with. He had purposefully directed his gaze towards Selvo to make him notice his presence. A slight pressure from his spirit was enough to shake Selvo's soul.
Anom's purpose was to make Selvo to make some moves that were outside of his family's pre-planned actions. Only an unplanned situation could allow him to have an opportunity to find some clues.
He took his gaze back and focused on his soul. The little stunt he had done with his spirit was something he had thought of on a whim. It was something he had heard back on earth, about the ancient warriors and… assassins, freezing their opponents just from the pressure of their fighting spirit.
He had previously assumed it just as a metaphorical way of mentioning those warriors' strength. But only now did he conclude that those olden warriors might have already embarked on the path of strengthening their energy and spirit. But sadly, what they could achieve in that restricted environment was limited.
Anom clenched his fists. The 'spiritual attack' he used just now worked better than he had expected… but it was far from enough… He had to get even stronger.
Turning his attention back towards the meeting, he found many members of the Safaira family frowning. Listening to their hushed whispers, he found the reason for their depressed faces.
Just now, Kino suddenly requested a meeting with Bolance. He wanted to ask about the situation of his fellow family head and provide any "assistance", if needed.
Loreana and Gamus declined politely and made the same excuse about Bolance taking a rest.
But this only made Kino smile, while everyone from the Safaira family became worried about their head. The situation of their family head suffering from a strange disease was already known to them. But aside from the slight discomfort, Bolance had always presented himself normally and had fulfilled his role without any fault.
But now that they heard his condition being bad enough to not even be able to attend this meeting, they became worried.
Anom turned towards Kino and found him smiling while the rest of his family members were looking at this situation with sneers on their faces.
Kino began speaking, "Well, it would be bad if both the heads were not present for the ceremony… So, why don't you appoint another head? Oh, I meant till Brother Bolance regains his health and is ready to take back his position." It looked like a good-natured suggestion as many members of the Safaira family, despite not liking Kino, found his suggestion making sense.
He then turned towards Rudard. "And who would be more fitting for the role than Brother Rudard? What do you think, Uncle Gamus?"
Gamus was expressionless as he took in all the expressions of his family members. Their uneasy feelings were clear for all to see, as being without a head in this situation would put them on the edge.
Gamus nodded. "You're right…"
Kino smiled, but then his expression changed as a suffocating pressure began to radiate out of Gamus.
"…I appreciate your concern. But, it is a matter of my family. We can decide the solution to any problem we face…" Gamus' presence changed as the pressure he exuded made everyone fearful.
But it was worse for Kino. He not only had to deal with the pressure he himself was facing, but also had to take care of his family members behind him, especially his son.
"I-I'm sorry, Uncle Gamus… It was just a suggestion…It was my fault to speak carelessly…" He could only apologize, as he didn't want to face the wrath of someone as strong as his own uncle.
Gamus retracted his aura as everyone from the Handler family breathed out in relief. They realized that although their family is progressing due to the various new resources they have acquired recently, it was still a bad idea to belittle a family who used to be at the same level as them not long ago.
The situation settled down as everyone had calmed, but an awkward silence had descended upon the hall, making it uncomfortable for the Handler family to remain there anymore.
Kino stood up from his seat as he bowed towards Gamus. "It was nice talking to you again, Uncle Gamus. I hope that the cooperation between our families will be as fruitful as our meeting today… Please allow us to take our leave now."
Gamus also stood up as he nodded. "Indeed. I also hope for a better future for my family."
The Handler family left the hall as the Safaira family members followed to walk them towards the gate. Soon, the carriages started the return journey.
The members of the Safaira family stood at the gate with complicated feelings coursing through their minds. Rudard and his followers were the only people with composed expressions.
Anom hadn't left the hall this time as he had already seen what he wanted. Now what was left was to take some action.
Gamus turned towards him and asked, "What do you think?"
"They already knew about it. Though it's not like their involvement was surprising," Anom gave his opinion, which only Gamus and Loreana were able to understand, while Crystal was looking at them with a confused expression.
"But I think the situation is slightly different from what we had thought before," he added.
"How so?" Gamus asked hurriedly. Any kind of change in the current situation could create many dynamic factors, and that wasn't something that Gamus wanted right now.
"That Kino didn't seem to like Rudard very much. I mean even if he planned to take care of him later, he should, at least for now, keep his thoughts to himself. But the way he was looking at Rudard, it was as if he had some kind of enmity towards him. Something that was more important than this ceremony… I think that Rudard is dealing directly with the force behind the Handler family." Anom concluded what he had inferred from his observation. He didn't have any proof, but it was the best he could do… for now.
Gamus contemplated what Anom had said and couldn't help but sigh. "He wants the best for our family… But his methods are too extreme… Only if…" He sighed again as he lamented about the precarious situation his family was in.
Even Loreana became worried. "It would still be manageable if it was only the Handler family, but the force behind them is not something so easy to deal with."
Anom got curious as he had heard about this force many times, but he still knew nothing about it. So he decided to ask Gamus to explain it to him.
Gamus remained silent for a while before he began to speak, "That force is a family from the Capital…"