In the royal hall, King Natu Rioshi listened to the flowers around him, especially the one in the Itar province.
"The Chameleon Forces, isn't it? That queen wants a piece of the cake. I see everything now. She wants to get them and start a war between Amoritchi and Ostiferos, then join as an ally to destroy one of us."
His eyes grew cold as he said,
"I think one person isn't enough for this operation."
He summoned one of the Big Four, Epiata.
It was minutes before Repo Epiata showed up.
"Your Majesty."
King Natu looked at him and said,
"I want you to monitor that man from Itar."
Without asking any questions, Repo nodded his head and said,
"I will, Your Majesty."
His body turned into colorful gas and went out of the palace.
King Natu sat on his throne and said,
"Jord Joul. Shuna Fida. Let's see who will win."
---
Shion arrived at his home and saw a carriage outside the gate.
"What is going on? Maybe some friends?"
Shion didn't think much of it and went inside, but he found the guards looking anxious.
"What is happening?"
Shion asked, but the guards felt terrified upon seeing their lord.
"Yes, my lord!"
One of them stepped forward.
"My lord, there are two men who got into the mansion. They said they wanted to discuss something related to your family, but we don't know anything more."
Shion felt anxious.
"I'll enter. Don't announce my arrival."
Shion went inside and found two men in the living room, facing his mother, who had an angry expression on her face.
Shion approached quietly to listen.
"The great lady of the Lan Family. My lord wants to marry you. Have you thought about it?"
"Huh?!"
When Shion heard that, he wanted to crush their heads.
Rita Lan remained cold and said,
"Tell your master that I'm not interested in that marriage."
But one of the two men said,
"Lady Lan, Lord Stroman really wants you. Don't waste this chance! You can become the wife of the head of the Noble Alliance!"
"Noble Alliance?"
Rita and Shion were confused.
The man said,
"You will gain a lot by joining the alliance. You will get money, authority, and protection. Isn't that amazing?"
Shion smirked inwardly.
'Money, authority, and protection?! Who do you think you are?! The king?!'
Rita said indifferently,
"You came here a month ago and talked about this. Do you remember what I said to you?"
The man wanted to speak, but Rita interrupted him coldly.
"The head of the Lan Family isn't here, and I can't make this decision on his behalf. But what did you do? You sent a proposal? I doubt that your lord is sane."
Shion was surprised. He hadn't expected his mother to be this tough.
'What happened to my mother?'
'She's amazing, isn't she?!'
Shion was about to shout instinctively, but Solan Neumann quickly covered his mouth.
"Love!"
Solan was happy because she knew that Shion was free. She had heard it from the spirits, so she came to the mansion as fast as she could.
Shion looked at her and caught his breath.
"Solan! You terrified me!"
Solan felt guilty and apologized.
"Sorry, Shion... I just wanted to surprise you...."
Shion couldn't do anything but smile faintly. Then he asked,
"Do you know what's going on here?"
Solan frowned while looking at the men.
"A month ago, that Stroman came here to propose a marriage between you and his daughter, Nell."
"What?!"
Shion couldn't believe it, especially when it came to Nell. Everyone knew how much she hated him.
But Shion remembered.
"I think she abandoned Kin Light, didn't she?"
"Yes. When she saw that you had taken first place, she shouted at Kin, who couldn't stand her anymore. Then they each went their own way."
Shion understood.
"So, Stroman wants me to marry his daughter because I came in first, erasing the conflict between Nell and me while also gaining the protection of His Majesty."
Shion's expression turned cold, but Solan continued.
"With Marie's advice, Auntie managed to stop that arrogant man, but that thick-skinned man didn't give up and wanted Auntie to be his wife! That lowly ma—"
Solan felt the killing intent coming from Shion, who entered the living room with a smile.
"Mom! I'm home!"
Rita immediately changed her expression and looked at Shion kindly. But then she remembered the situation and acted like a noble lady.
"The head of the family."
Shion wanted to laugh, but he looked at the two men and asked,
"I didn't expect we had guests."
The two men didn't stand to greet him. Instead, one of them spoke indifferently.
"Young Lord Lan, we are here to propose an alliance."
Shion noticed that the two men were fourth- and fifth-level.
Shion said coldly,
"Get out. We don't receive the likes of you."
The two men expected that kind of behavior from Shion, so the man said,
"I came here to offer you the opportunity to join the Noble Alliance. So—"
Shion unsheathed his sword and placed it against the man's neck.
"Don't you understand human language? I said, OUT!"
The other man, who was at the fifth level, tried to charge at him, but he suddenly felt pressure from someone at the same level as him.
Solan Neumann entered the living room after changing into her spiritual form.
"Don't you know? That's called aggression. We can kill both of you without any problem."
Solan spoke indifferently while summoning a spirit beside her.
Shion was surprised inwardly.
'When did she reach the fifth level?! She didn't even tell me!'
The two men felt afraid for a moment, but the first man said,
"You are facing the Noble Alliance! Are you sure about this?!"
Shion regained his focus and said,
"What is the Noble Alliance? I've never heard of it. All I know is that you were behind Kin during the tournament."
Shion looked into the man's eyes.
"Are you saying there's an organization that the king doesn't know about?"
"You!"
Shion continued,
"You wanted me to become a member of your circus so I could get protection? Don't tell me you're planning a rebellion."
The man became frightened at this point.
Although they weren't planning a rebellion, Shion could say something that would make the king suspicious of them.
None of them could forget what had happened to the Ranus Family.
The man said,
"It's a misunderstanding, Lord Lan!"
Shion said,
"Now, get out of here. I don't want to see you again."
The two men retreated and fled from the mansion.
Shion smiled again and said,
"Who are these mo—"
"Shion!!!"
Rita embraced her son tightly, refusing to let him escape.
Solan laughed, but Shion didn't hesitate.
"Someday, I'll do the same to you."
Solan turned red, which made Rita push Shion's shoulder.
"Don't bully my little Solan! Do you want to get punched in the face?!"
"No, Auntie! Don't hurt him..."
Solan was warm-hearted and didn't want Shion to be punished, even if it was only a joke.
But that gave Rita another chance to tease her.
"'Don't hurt him'! Okay, I won't touch your future husband."
"..."
Solan couldn't do anything but cover her face with her hands.
Shion laughed, but then he heard the guards.
"Lord Lan, greetings."
Marie, the maid, bowed slightly and said,
"The head of the Jewel Guild wants to meet you."
Shion complained inwardly,
'That's mean! I've just come home! Now I have to deal with another annoyance?!'
But he said,
"I'll be in the office."
Shion moved to his office and waited for the head of the Jewel Guild—in other words, Pearl's father.
Within minutes, a bald, red-bearded man with wild green eyes entered the office, intending to discuss something with him.
Shion thought,
'Pearl told me she has problems with her father, which made her found her own guild. I have to be cautious.'
"The young Lord Lan! Greetings! I'm Avar Jewel, the head and manager of the Jewel Guild."
The guild's manager bowed while greeting Shion, who interrupted him.
"Are you here for my little brother?"
"What?"
Avar didn't understand what Shion was talking about, but Shion said,
"You called me 'the young Lord Lan,' and there's no young lord here but my brother, isn't there?"
Shion smiled, waiting for the answer, but Avar said,
"No, I was talking to you."
"That's strange... If I remember correctly, I'm the head of the Lan Family, not the young lord. Did you forget, or are you trying to belittle me in my own mansion?"
"Don't say that, Shion. I—"
"And now you've forgotten your place and are talking to me carelessly. I think you're trying to belittle me."
"You have to speak politely when your elders are talking to you!"
"My elder? You should see a physician. If you forgot, I've already sent some of them to their final destination."
"..."
Avar looked at Shion differently.
'I thought I could control him, but he didn't even let me begin the conversation!'
The atmosphere was tense and cold as the wild green eyes met the calm silver eyes.
Knock! Knock!
Marie entered with cups of tea, breaking the tension, and then left.
"Well, greetings to the great Lord Lan."
"Well, take your seat and enjoy your tea."
Shion took a cup, enjoying its aroma, but Avar didn't like this situation, so he began.
"Lord Lan, I want to apologize for my little daughter's actions."
"???"
Shion didn't understand, but Avar didn't let him ask.
"I didn't expect my little Pearl to do something shameful that would make you upset and refuse to work with my guild. I hope you forgive me for not raising her properly."
Shion listened to him and asked,
"Are we talking about Pearl Jewel? Your daughter? Or someone I don't know?"
Avar smiled and said,
"No, just Pearl Jewel."
Shion said,
"I don't have any problems with her—"
"Very good! I thought my little Pearl had done something wrong—"
"You dare interrupt me? You have a brave heart."
Shion's eyes turned cold, but Avar didn't care and smiled.
"It's not like that, my lord. But I'm happy, so I couldn't hold myself back!"
"..."
Shion didn't speak this time, so he changed the topic.
"Tell me what your business is."
Avar, who had taken the cup, said,
"I am interested in cooperating with you. Why don't you invest in my guild?"
Shion said,
"I don't know why you want my investment. I'm not that rich."
"I thought of you as my daughter's friend, so I wanted to build a relationship with you."
Shion shook his head.
"Unfortunately, I've already invested in the Ocean's Core Guild. I'm sorry."
"I know you invested one million in that guild."
"You have good information."
"I know, so—"
"Still no."
Shion refused him and said,
"I have an agreement with them not to invest in other guilds unless they agree."
"!!!"
Avar didn't expect that, so he felt enraged and said,
"Lord Lan, why did you do something like that?!"
"Their offer is great for me. Even friendship can't interfere when it comes to money."
Avar thought for a while and said,
"I think I have a solution for you."
Shion nodded, letting him continue.
"Lord Lan, why don't you join the Noble Alliance?"
Shion pretended not to know.
"Who are these... Noble Alliance?"
Avar smiled as if he had caught his prey.
"The Noble Alliance is a powerful organization of second-rank nobles. I think you can communicate with them and gain their protection."
Shion sneered.
"I'm a third-rank noble. Why would they accept me?"
"Lord Lan, you are special enough to become a member of the Noble Alliance."
Shion smirked.
"I've never heard of that organization. Doesn't that mean they're illegal?"
Avar said,
"They aren't supposed to show themselves, but because of your—"
"Avar Jewel, why do you all want me to join your stupidity?"
"Shion! Behave yourself!"
"I think being around these nobles has made you arrogant. You've forgotten your place again."
"You're the one who has overestimated himself. You think you can breathe beneath the Noble Alliance and my guild freely?!"
"(Stellar Aura)."
The aura filled the room, and then Shion added (Pressure), making Avar unable to move.
"Y-You—"
"Tell those idiots that if they try to approach my family again, I'll visit them personally."