A hushed murmur swept through the gathering as memories resurfaced. Years ago, when the Denvair family was still at the peak of their power, they had taken in an unremarkable man as their live-in son-in-law.
Now, a coffin? Delivered to the Malavant family's mourning hall?
This wasn't just a provocation—it was an outright declaration of war.
"Who dares stir trouble at Valen Malavant's funeral?"
The crowd turned to the entrance. Striding confidently at the front was Kael Renforth, his expression calm, almost dismissive. Behind him followed the enigmatic Eleanor, her cold beauty sharp enough to cut the air. At the rear, Deven walked hunched over, head bowed in submission—a shadow of his former intimidating self.
The room bristled with tension.
Cedric Malavant, the Marquis of the Malavant family, stepped forward, his face twisting with fury. He jabbed a trembling finger toward Kael, roaring: "You! It's you! You killed my grandson!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Elias Malavant, head of the family and father of the deceased Valen, was overcome with rage. His eyes burned with vengeance as he lunged toward Kael, barely restrained by his men.
But Enoc Malavant, the family's second-in-command, had noticed something amiss. He had specifically instructed Deven to return with Kael Renforth's head to honor Valen's memory.
His gaze narrowed. "Deven, what is the meaning of this?"
Pointing at Kael, he growled: "Why is this bastard still breathing?"
Eleanor's eyes turned glacial, her glare locking onto Enoc. It was a look so deadly that even a seasoned underworld kingpin like him felt a pang of unease.
Enoc shook it off and barked an order: "Deven, kill them. Now!"
He trusted Deven implicitly. The man had been instrumental in consolidating Malavant dominance over Port Avallon's criminal underworld. Surely, this would be no different.
But the expected attack never came.
Kael Renforth, seated with an air of indifference, leaned back and spoke calmly: "He knows who t to kill."
The moment the words left Kael's lips, Deven lunged—not toward Kael, but at Enoc. In a blur, the blade of his machete plunged into Enoc Malavant's chest.
The room froze in collective shock.
Deven leaned close to the dying man, his voice low but clear: "Master, don't blame me. Blame yourselves for crossing the wrong person."
With a sharp twist, Deven pulled the blade free, letting Enoc collapse in a heap on the floor. Blood pooled rapidly beneath his lifeless body.
A piercing scream shattered the silence.
"Murder! It is Murder!"
The crowd recoiled in horror, scrambling to put distance between themselves and the carnage. Only Gideon Vortannis, Valen's maternal uncle, remained rooted in place, his face pale as he tried to process what he had just witnessed.
In his years as Port Avallon's chief enforcer of the law, Gideon had seen countless acts of violence. But never had he encountered such audacious, cold-blooded murder—right in front of dozens of witnesses.
Cedric Malavant stumbled, his face ashen. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as rage overtook him. He pointed a trembling finger at Kael, his voice cracking: "You... you devil! You'll die a horrible death!"
Elias Malavant rushed to steady the older man, his own grief and fury barely contained. Looking at Enoc's body, he realized that there was no hope of reasoning with Kael Renforth. The man wasn't simply bold—he was a monster.
Through gritted teeth, Elias addressed the crowd: "Kael Renforth, our family has done nothing to you. Yet you insult us, slaughter our kin, and trample on the sanctity of my son's memory. My boy was pure of heart, and my brother dedicated his life to this city. Our contributions to Port Avallon are countless! But you? You bring death and chaos wherever you go."
Turning to Gideon, Elias commanded: "Arrest him immediately! This man must face justice for his countless sins."
Gideon nodded, a sly smile curling at the corners of his lips. "Leave it to me. I'll ensure he pays for his crimes publicly. The people will see him punished."
Gideon's thoughts were darker than his words revealed. Once Kael was in custody, Port Avallon's prison would take care of the rest. Torture, humiliation, and torment awaited him—a fate worse than death.
Kael Renforth, however, remained seated, unperturbed by the hateful glares and accusations thrown his way. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched the scene unfold, as if he had planned every move long before the game began.