Undeniably, the talents that Seraphina Starling and Phoenix Starling proudly claim are but mere dust in the presence of Vance Starling. Moreover, Vance Starling's father is the highly esteemed second son of Arcanus Starling, and the most likely candidate to become the next head of the Bennu family, Firene Starling. Even Vladimir Starling dares not easily cross swords with Vance Starling.
"Grandfather," Vance Starling began, his voice clear and resonant, "though my seventh sister has reached the age of fourteen, her mind is as innocent as a four-year-old's. How could she possibly be clever enough to seize the opportunity of the guards' absence to sneak into the dungeon? I have not had much interaction with my seventh sister, but I know she rarely leaves her courtyard, let alone venture to the other end of the mansion to the dungeon's entrance. To suggest that she stumbled upon the dungeon entrance by chance and found the guards absent is a coincidence too great to be believed."
A stunning reversal!
Aurora Starling stood quietly in place, inwardly applauding Vance Starling's unexpected and brilliant move. From her memory, Vance Starling rarely interacted with Aurora Starling in private, yet he was relatively courteous to her in public, not subjecting her to the harsh criticism that others in the Bennu family did. However, there was no real friendship between them, so his sudden interjection on her behalf was truly surprising.
It seemed more like Vance Starling was trying to drag Seraphina Starling and Phoenix Starling into the mire rather than actually helping Aurora Starling. Aurora Starling was content to sit back and enjoy the spectacle, after all, she was the "idiot" who couldn't "understand" what they were saying. She could simply laugh and let them worry about it.
Thus, with a healthy attitude of watching a drama unfold, Aurora Starling witnessed the impending conspiracy.
Sure enough, Vance Starling's words did not sit well with Vladimir Starling's face, and it was clear that Seraphina Starling and Phoenix Starling had also deduced their father's previous subtle protection. They harbored a deep resentment towards Vance Starling for his sudden intervention. They already had a strained relationship with him, and now this just fueled their hidden animosity.
Vance Starling's words were a fuse that ignited suspicion in the hearts of everyone present.
Arcanus Starling watched Vance Starling, who wore a smile, and then shifted his gaze to Vladimir Starling, whose eyes were downcast.
"The identity of the perpetrator is no longer important," Arcanus Starling spoke slowly. "Today, I have gathered you all here for a matter of greater importance."
Vladimir Starling secretly exhaled a sigh of relief. He didn't care about the life of the "idiot" Aurora Starling, but when it came to Seraphina Starling and Phoenix Starling, he couldn't let things continue.
Vance Starling was taken aback for a moment but didn't press further. Although he was highly regarded by Arcanus Starling, he was still a junior to Vladimir Starling and couldn't be too confrontational.
Is that it? Aurora Starling raised an eyebrow in her mind, expecting a confrontation between Vladimir Starling and Vance Starling, but unexpectedly, it ended without further incident. Arcanus Starling's attitude was enigmatic; wasn't today supposed to be about questioning her? Why was she being ignored now? Saying that the matter was unimportant, what play was this?
Aurora Starling's mind was filled with doubts, but she didn't forget her current role. She simply continued to feign ignorance and enjoyed the show, as the rest had nothing to do with her.
Arcanus Starling paused before continuing, "You all assume I am angry because someone trespassed into the forbidden area, but do you know what kind of creature the 'Monster' locked in that dungeon is?"
Arcanus Starling's question hung in the air as the other members of the Bennu family exchanged glances. Apart from Garrick Starling, who had some knowledge of the matter, no one else knew what the Monster in the dungeon looked like. Ever since the Monster was brought back to the mansion, Arcanus Starling had issued strict orders that no one was to enter without permission.
The others were curious, but Arcanus Starling's word was law in the Bennu family, and who would dare to defy it?
Even Seraphina Starling and Phoenix Starling, who were extremely curious about the Monster, only dared to playfully urge Aurora Starling to sneak a peek in secret; they themselves would never dream of stepping foot inside.
To their astonishment, when Aurora Starling was carried out by the guards that day, she was covered in wounds and drenched in blood, her entire form looking as though it had been steeped in a bath of crimson. Had it not been for the faint rise and fall of her chest, everyone would have believed her dead.
As for what exactly transpired in the dungeon, or the nature of the Monster, only Garrick Starling and Arcanus Starling had any inkling.
Today, upon hearing Arcanus Starling mention the Monster, the others dared not utter a word.
Arcanus Starling snorted coldly, "That in the百年since our founding, no one in the Bennu family has been able to rouse Bennu again, is a disgrace that brings shame upon us all."
His words struck everyone with shock. The Bennu family's ascension to the pinnacle of power in the Dragon Pavilion Empire was entirely due to their ancestor's acquisition of the ancient divine beast Bennu. With Bennu's aid, the forebearers of the Bennu family helped the sovereign establish a significant advantage in the war that founded the nation. Bennu's majesty among the beasts was such that a single cry could strike terror into the hearts of all avian Monsters.
Bennu's might far surpassed that of ordinary Monsters, known only through whispers and speculation. Yet, after two centuries of prosperity, the Bennu family had fallen into tranquility. For nearly a hundred years, not a single member of the Bennu family had been able to awaken the slumbering Bennu, let alone form a bond with it.
This was a source of great sorrow for the Bennu family over the years.
It was common knowledge that he who possessed Bennu held the power of the Bennu family and could restore it to its former glory.
This was the dream of every member of the Bennu family, yet for years, no one had even managed to awaken Bennu from its slumber in the Lava Valley, let alone form a contract with it.
"Lord, it's not just our Bennu family," whispered Varne Starling, Arcanus Starling's third son. "The Wyrm, Chromalux deerlion, Xuanwu, and Griffin families have also seen no one able to awaken the divine beasts for a century."
Varne Starling spoke the truth. At the dawn of the Dragon Pavilion Empire, the nation was blessed by the protection of the five ancient divine beasts, earning glory in the founding of the state. But for the past hundred years, these five divine beasts seemed to have made a pact, falling into a deep slumber all at once, with none stirring from their rest. This left the five families, founded on the strength of these beasts, in a state of anxious impatience.
Arcanus Starling shot a disapproving glance at Varne Starling. Of his six sons, Varne was perhaps the least accomplished, spending his days in debauchery and carousing with noble scions. If not for the blood that ran through his veins, Arcanus Starling would have been tempted to cast this ungrateful son out to the branch family to fend for himself.