Laycon gritted his teeth, and clenched his fists.
"Alright, I can see you're still hesitating." Kaiser said and immediately caught a hold of Laycon's shirt. He pushed him hard and he found himself kneeling before Anthony.
The startled Anthony jumped back wide eyed, watching Laycon who was groaning in pain before him. Kaiser lightly clenched his fist with a huge smile on his face, and Laycon's groaning increased. He felt a vicious, invisible hand wrap around his throat, trying to cut off his breath.
Kaiser released his hand and he gasped heavily holding his chest. Laycon turned to look at Kaiser with fear in his eyes. Kaiser was standing meters away from him but he was able to strangulate him using just his cultivation energy. The most terrifying part of it was that Kaiser was still smiling at him with his hands behind him, and others didn't seem to notice. Only he alone feeling the pain knew what was going on. Was this the proverbial killing someone while smiling?
Kaiser gave him a meaningful smile and tightly closed his fingers, making Laycon's eyes widen in pain.
"I will do it! I will do it."
"Okay, go on." Kaiser said with a smile, releasing the invisible pressure.
Laycon clenched his fists and took a deep breath, and kowtowed once to Anthony.
"Ancestor." He whispered, willing the ground to open up and swallow him. He was not the only one clenching their fists, quite a few people were. But they were unable to do anything against Kaiser's tyranny.
"That was not so hard now, was it? You should get used to it. After all, he's our future leader." Kaiser said with a smile and rushed to pull him up.
Brent knocked his hand away and pulled his brother up on his own.
"Patriarch? That's if he can stay alive till then. I heard that this brother of yours is pretty useless. Even little jack in the cage can eat him up." Brent said with a 'friendly' smile of his own, returning Kaiser's medicine to him. It was a game they were both conversant with— testing each other's patience while keeping a huge smile on their faces. They were the twin tyrants of the dragon clan who hated each other's guts to the core.
Kaiser took a step forward in anger.
"Do you dare to repeat what you just said?"
Brent grinned widely and took a step closer to Kaiser.
"I know it hurts to hear this, but your brother is pretty useless. Even a mere woman could trick him into signing off his entire assets and years of hard work, and sell him to slave traders. And he would have also remained there if he was not rescued by the Smith girl. He is a useless man who is easily played around like a ball by women; a real pussy sucker, a woman's slave. Even you as mighty as you are can't protect him all the time. Trash is trash, irrespective of birthright. We all got here through our abilities, but he just had it from the moment he was born. Do you think he deserves it? You're fighting your brothers for a bastard who will probably sell out the entire family once a pretty woman flashes her pussy at him!" Brent said coldly, his voice loud and clear as he challenged Kaiser while still smiling.
"What did you just say?" Kaiser growled taking a step forward.
"Stop it!" Their grandfather roared, pushing them away from each other with a blast of his energy.
"Stephen and Laycon, the both of you should be ashamed of yourselves, letting your younger brothers fight for you. Shouldn't it be other way around? If you would make brothers fight against themselves because of some silly blood ties, the both of you might as well get lost!" The old man shouted, his eyes never leaving Anthony. Even though he added Laycon to the mix, it was obvious that his rage was directed at Anthony.
'What did I just do? I didn't even say a word.' Anthony thought bewildered, wondering why the stray bullet had to hit him again.
"All of you can leave. Stephen, or is it Anthony, go prepare for the family dinner, and tomorrow morning, someone would come to send you off on your first mission. Everyone can go back. Stop the noise!" The old man shouted and went back to his throne.
Kaiser stood before Anthony scowling. He suddenly stomped hard on Anthony's feet, making him wince in shock and pain.
"Why did you do all that, letting yourself develop a stigma because of a lowly woman not qualified to be our slave? Remember this, no woman is worth it. You're above such silly emotions. In our world, power reigns supreme. Love is nonexistent. If you're horny just fuck, why must you fall in love to the point of stupidity? Or even better, stay celibate. If you dare to make me embarrassed again, you will get it from me." He whispered and stomped him again, making Anthony outraged. Before he could say anything Kaiser enveloped him a heartfelt hug.
"I'm so glad to see that you're alive and well, hyung-nim (my older brother.)" Anthony felt speechless, not knowing how to react to the hug. Why was Kaiser so unpredictable? One minute he was scolding him, the next he was getting all cheesy. He sighed and returned the hug, trying his best not to scowl.
Kaiser pulled back with a smile and looked Anthony in the eye. He suddenly smiled.
"We are truly brothers. However you're too calm to survive here. Congratulations on getting the daggers by the way. You don't know this but you just did the impossible. If there was a way to enter the other world safely, I might have said perhaps you have the potential to become the next martial god."
"Why did you step on me?" Anthony asked coldly, making Kaiser chuckle.
"To wake you up, and also punish you for making me get insulted by those brats. If you don't like being stepped up, hurry up and become the legitimate heir, or the patriarch even. Stephen, no matter what happens, as your only brother, I will always stand with you and protect you every step of the way. But I hope I won't have to do that. You need to be powerful to survive here. Otherwise, even your bone won't be left. Let's go and eat." He whispered and grabbed Anthony's hand.
"It's Anthony, not Stephen. Call me Anthony." He whispered as Kaiser dragged him forward.
"Alright, Anthony. Make sure to prove them wrong and face slap everyone who looked down on you, till even their parents can't recognize them." Kaiser added, making Anthony smile. He was already loving this enigmatic brother of his.