Everyone nodded to what Grace said and wanted to enter the mansion when someone said:
"I don't think that it's a good thing to start with the meeting, instead let's directly start with the competition"
Grace looked towards who said this and when she saw who it was she scowled.
"Of course it wouldn't have been anyone beside you, are you so eager to see me step down from my position ?" Asked Grace as she looked at Victoria.
"Of course, each second that passes with you being the head of the branch is a torturous one" replied Victoria.
"Oh, if you so much desire my position, you can always come and take it from me" taunted Grace while using her mana to press on everyone present.
"You think that I'm afraid of you ?" replied Victoria even though she knew that she was the weakest between the two of them.
As both of them were ready to use their strength and battle it out right now, Adrian intervened.
"Ladies, ladies, we are not here to fight - beside those participating in the competition -, we should instead concentrate on what we are here to do, please stop this nonsense"
Both looked at each, then at Adrian, before snorting and turning their faces away.
'I don't know how you managed to stop those two women from tearing each other's throats all those years, but you merit respect, bro,' thought Adrian with an internal chuckle.
"Although, I wouldn't say it as Victoria said it, I also think that we should begin with the competition" said Madison.
"I also think the same" supported Abigail.
Seeing that everyone was hell-bent on starting with the competition, Grace shrugged her shoulders.
"If you want, we can start with the competition"
"Good, let's go" said Adrian.
With Grace at the front, the large group of people made their way around the mansion, where a kind of arena was set up for this kind of occasion.
"Why do you look so worried ? Is it about the competition ?" Asked a feminine voice addressing to Amelia.
Amelia glanced to her side, and the face of a beautiful girl with pale blue eyes and a gentle smile came in her sight.
The woman had long, almost too long hairs that had at their tips a tinge of purple.
She was the first child of Alex and Amelia's uncle Richard, so she's their cousin, her name was Talia, and she perfectly embodied the definition of a busty woman.
She had breasts so big that they jiggled each time she took a step, they were so large that although the clothes she wore were pretty conservative, one could clearly see they round shape.
She didn't only have a big chest, no, she also had a big and round ass, but despite all of thoses attributes she also had a toned body, proving that she also trained her body. All in all, she was a woman truly desirable for those who appreciate curves.
"No, I'm not really worried about that" replied Amelia with a smile.
"Then what is worrying you ?" Pressed Talia with a curious expression.
"It's nothing really important" brushed off Amelia, not wanting to expose the fact she was worried about the fact that Alex hadn't appeared till now.
From what Lilia said yesterday, Alex will continue his training alone and would join the others when the other members of the branch arrived, but he still wasn't here even though everyone was already here and the competition was about to start!
'I hope he doesn't miss the start of the competition' prayed Amelia.
"You are no fun" said Talia with a tone tinged with disappointment.
She could see that Amelia was worried about something and wanted to know what it was, which was normal since Amelia was her best friend, but since she clearly didn't want to tell her what it was about, she dropped the subject and changed the subject.
"Who do you think will win the competition?" Asked Talia, curious about what Amelia's answer will be.
Amelia first impulse was to say 'Alex', but she remained silent, knowing that Alex might have gained a great boost in his strength in the last week, it didn't mean that he would be the winner.
"I...don't know" answered Amelia after a slight pause.
"Well, I myself have an inkling of the ones that have the greatest chance to win" replied Talia.
"And who might they be ?" Asked Amelia with a raised eyebrow.
"Firstly, the number one genius of our branch, Jonathan" said Talia while pointing her finger to a tall man with broad shoulders and black neatly trimmed hair.
This man, Jonathan, was the second oldest of their generation - with Alex being the first-, he was a man of few words that only spoke when he thought it was necessary, the rest of the time he just kept his mouth shut.
He was the first son of Alex's uncle Robert -the rival of his father and the one that treated Alex as useless.
Jonathan had been for a long moment the one that was always the strongest of the branch and even though now everyone had the same level as him, everyone still considered him the strongest.
Next, Talia pointed to Amelia, "you are also one of the contenders for the first place".
Talia sighed in disappointment and continued, "if you weren't younger than Jonathan by a few years, I would have bet all my money on you".
Although everyone accepted the fact that Jonathan was the most talented, it was only for now as Amelia's potential was far greater than his and even Jonathan himself know about this fact.
Talia then pointed to a young man with auburn colored hair and a big build.
The one she pointed at this time is the grandkid of Adrian.
"Ector. He had been the close second to Jonathan all those years, perhaps it will be his chance to prove that he is better than him".
"And finally..." Talia pointed at herself, then said with a big grin, "me".
"Of course you will include yourself" replied Amelia while rolling her eyes.
"Well, it's not my fault if I'm among the strongest" said Talia.
"Anyway, beside those I have just listed, the twins and those two brats might create some surprise" said Talia, quickly pointing between two men that looked exactly the same and two others men.
The two men she pointed to were her little brother and Jonathan's little brother. As for the twins, they were the adopted sons of Robert, thus they were also the younger brothers of Jonathan.
"Beside those, I don't think there is another person that might win this competition" expressed Talia.
Amelia smiled at her words and thought :
'No, you are wrong, there's another person'