Chapter 121: Revelation
Tang was silent. He knew about Asher’s strength and background more than anyone in this cutthroat city. Not only did the young Patriarch command immense physical assets and terrifying power, but he was also the newly awakened head of an Ancient Family. To hold the title of butler for the Aetheldawn, meant his personal reputation would instantly eclipse even the head of the aristocratic Lebreton family.
The title came with immense weight and world-shifting responsibilities, but did he know anything about managing a household of such standing? Wouldn’t he mess things up and embarrass a family name meant to symbolize the rising of a new era?
"Don’t think so hard about things, all you need to do is say yes, and everything will be settled. You don’t need to worry about lack of experience, just take everything slow, and grow," Asher explained, his eyes reading the manager’s swirling anxieties with ease.
"If that’s possible, then I agree." He said, giving a small, resolute nod.
Asher nodded his head, turning to Juliana and Sara, who simply nodded back in silent solidarity before continuing their meal. He was the absolute head; whatever he decided stood as law. Besides, it wasn’t as if they had anyone else in Silverspire they could implicitly trust with their lives.
"Alright then, it’s decided... Eat your food," Asher said, turning back to his own plate.
Tang nodded his head and took a hesitant bite of the food before him, then completely froze in shock.
’My God!! This is so good... I didn’t know the Boss can cook this good!!’ he thought in absolute disbelief, his eyes wide open. His palate, refined by years of managing a luxury hotel, had never experienced such pure perfection. Without another word, he started eating ravenously.
Asher looked up at him, a faint smirk playing on his lips, and nodded his head. ’Everything is going on track.’
____
[Hours Later - 10 Am.]
"I am finally here!"
Marianne yelled, walking boldly inside the cavernous, sunlit sitting room of the main house, a bright smile plastered on her face.
"Is that how you entered someone house?" Juliana asked coldly, her aura flaring instantly as she sat perfectly poised on the designer couch beside Asher.
’Whoa! Is that Asher? How is he so handsome? But his wife...’ Marianne sighed Inwardly:
"Sorry, I just can’t help myself, this is the first time I am entering such a mansion," Marianne said with a small, apologetic smile, while her Vice Guild Leader standing beside her lowered his head in profound embarrassment.
"Alright, I have a lot to do today, what do you want to say?" Asher asked, casually crossing his newly muscular arms over his chest.
"Come on, no drinks?"
Asher narrowed his eyes at her, his overwhelming presence radiating a subtle, terrifying pressure. It seemed this woman had already forgotten the apocalyptic display of power she witnessed last night.
"I was just joking... Can I seat?" Marianne asked, her playful expression instantly turning dead serious.
Asher nodded his head, and she sat down. "Alright, I will get straight to the point."
She opened her palm, triggering a subtle ripple of spatial magic, as a thick, enchanted file appeared out of thin air. She placed it deliberately on the tempered glass center table and opened it, revealing dozens of pictures of countless men and women in high society.
Seeing the faces, both Sara and Juliana visibly stiffened, raising their eyebrows. Even Tang, standing dutifully behind Asher, was speechless at the sheer volume of influential targets.
"Who are these people?" Asher asked, the temperature in the room dropping.
"You should recognize some... But in short, these people are responsible for what happened to your three wives."
"...?"
Asher was stunned, staring at the scattered files, then slowly looked up at her. "Elaborate."
"Your first Wife, Kelly got a childhood trauma from when she was a kid. This was because her mother got killed before her... Everyone suspect monsters did it, but the ones who lead the Monsters to her mother are right on these files, her father’s family who also bullied her all the way, are all there too," Marianne explained, her voice steady as she exposed the vile corruption of the elite class.
Asher was dead silent, his dark eyes turning frigid, waiting for her to continue.
"As for your second Wife Kelly; everyone thinks it was the dungeon, which is mostly the truth, but she was poisoned before reaching that dungeon, which drastically reduced her strength, and her energy efficiency... She herself must have felt something wrong then." She revealed, turning her gaze directly toward Sara.
Asher blinked, his mind flashing back to the system interface. He remembered Sara’s status profile explicitly stating she was poisoned; this finally confirmed there was a coordinated conspiracy behind her downfall, not just a tragic rift accident.
"And for your Third Wife, the full list of everyone who conspired, and attacked her in the past, including those who hid evidence, and turned blind eyes to what happened are all listed down. In short, every single soul who had a hand to your wives’ current situation, are all down there." She relaxed back into her plush seat, staring carefully at Asher’s increasingly dark, murderous expression.
"It wasn’t easy getting this information..." She paused, letting the heavy silence stretch, then continued:
"Actually, we paid more attention to Lady Juliana’s situation, but after digging deeper, we discovered more secrets, which led to your other wives, and more people. Your wives aren’t the only one who suffered from them." she said with a soft, weary sigh.
Asher slowly nodded his head, his face an impenetrable mask of rising wrath, and looked up at her. "Tell me, what is your gain in all this?" he asked.
"Well, I want you to join my guild, but seeing what happened last night, I gave up on that idea, and with my strength, I am not even qualified to be your ally... So I only need one thing from you."
Asher stared at her in silence. Was she seriously attempting to leverage his wrath?
"I want my Holy Sword Guild to be under your family’s flag... In short, I want an Ancient Family as my backer. We submit to you, while you help us with resources. Of course, any income the guild made will be given to you." she said, her gaze resolute and unflinching, offering total vassalage in a society where absolute power ruled all. She continued:
"Holy Sword Guild are also ready to help you get all these people down there. If you accept, we will always be at your service."
Asher stared at her, completely silent, not saying a single word as the colossal implications of her offer settled over the room.