Chapter 143
Lady Stride’s words weren’t spoken loudly, but the entire banquet hall went silent almost as soon as she spoke them. One or two people who had been listening intently even made small gasps. At the head of the banquet hall, some seating was placed for the most important guests. It was mostly the heads of family, as well as the 2nd and 3rd place contests Jordan and Brandon. Somehow, I hadn’t been allocated a seat. Abigail and the woman she was with earlier, Penny, were also up there, while Mara had a spot standing beside them.
All of them were now looking my way. One person who appeared somewhat young compared to most of the bearded men up front stood up with a glass of wine in his hand. He walked down from the stage and walked up to our table. As no one was making a sound, his footsteps sounded especially striking. He stopped next to the Lady Stride with a smile on his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Cousin, you haven’t introduced me to your friend.” His voice contained various levels of intent.
As soon as he spoke, I recognized him. He had been the one to visit Lady Stride. I hadn’t been able to get a look at his face, but I had heard him speak. This must be her fiancé.
Lady Stride didn’t glance at him, but she still spoke. “I wasn’t aware I’d need to introduce the martial champion of the tournament to Cousin. Were you not present earlier today?”
Her words had a slightly biting edge to them, but it didn’t seem to bother him at all. He turned his gaze to me, and while his smile remained, his eyes seemed to be as sharp as daggers.
“It seems my cousin here thinks highly of you. You have a history?” He asked the question in a way that seemed to suggest he was used to getting an answer.
I felt no need to hide anything, so I spoke frankly. “We only met in passing. I admit I’m as surprised as you by her sudden offer.”
When I glanced at her, she gave a smile back. “Once again, is it so surprising that I offer someone unaffiliated who performed so well in the tournament?”
“His success was by pure luck. He depended on nefarious means to get first place. If the competition were to be repeated another hundred times, I can guarantee he would never have reached first for even one of them.”
“Come now, cousin.” She tilted her head toward him. “We are a family of alchemists. Our family line is filled with poison chemists. It is only the fact Grandmaster Bai doesn’t work in poison that our family is even able to hold our own since he arrived in Stormberg.”
“Haha!” Grandmaster Bai spoke up. “I appreciate the compliment, but your youngest Jordan has a great deal of talent. One day, he will outstrip my abilities, I’m sure.”
He lifted a glass in a toast, but no one joined him. It was clear his words were only stated as lip service. It was hard to know what was going through the Grandmaster’s mind. The man who approached us gave him an appreciative nod before turning back to the young lady.
“Still, how can we criticize a man for using poison when such recipes are the backbone of our family? As for his lecherous behavior, I find most men can be this way. Such habits can be trained out of him, given proper guidance and role models.”
The man smiled, but his teeth looked a little clenched as he leaned forward and spoke quietly. “You’re going to be intent on this, are you?”
“I’m only doing what I see as best for the Stride family.” She spoke back, a fake smile on her face just the same. “I won’t pass up such a high potential simply because he stepped on some people’s pride.”
Although she was speaking quietly, the room was still silent and most of those present were paragons with above-average hearing in the first place. Her words could be heard, and Jordan put on a frown while a few others who had been involved in the tournament wore ugly faces. The man in front of her has also lost his smile, but Lady Stride still met him eye for eye.
After a moment, he let out a sigh. “Ah, what can I do? To honor my fiancée and future wife, I suppose I’ll let you have your way… for now.”
“Haha, Timothy, if you’re already conceding the little misses now, I wonder who will wear the bridal veil on the day of your wedding!” One man spoke out loudly, causing the previously quiet hall to burst out in laughter.
“Make your choices, but be mindful of the consequences.” He whispered to her in a voice that couldn’t be heard over the laughter.
He shot me one deadly glare and then turned. He put on a fake smile and raised his hand. He allowed himself to be the butt of the joke, but he wasn’t happy about it. Either way, people started talking again, the one who spoke out seemingly cutting the previous tension. That didn’t mean most of the parties weren’t still listening to the conversation at our table. It was pretty obvious that almost everyone was still waiting for the answer.
“Well, what do you think?” She asked her voice no longer the only one in the hall, which had become filled with lighthearted chatter.
“It doesn’t sound like your family wants me to join,” I told her.
“Him?” She made a face. “He is marrying into my family. He has no say as of yet. With my father currently away, I’m the head of the Stride household in Stormberg. It will be my word that will be honored.”
“And what kind of deal are we talking about here? Am I going to be a glorified gate guard?”
Her eyes flashed. “I suppose that depends on two factors, your accomplishments and your genes. We will know your genes once you join us, but you can change your accomplishments, becoming someone the household places greater importance on.”
“And what difference would genes make?” I asked, mostly out of curiosity, as I already had made my decision regardless.
“If you are truly a superior mutant as your performance suggests, you’ll become a significant member of the Stride family. We’ll look after you and provide your techniques and ample resources. Should you make substantial contributions to the family, you may be allowed to lead a branch sect. In some cases, you may be able to marry a core member of the family or gain the possibility of starting a new paragon family deferential to the Stride family. In that case, you’d be the patriarch of your own family.”
“And what if I’m a dud?”
“If you have no advantageous mutations for the Stride family, you would be offered a position as a servant or guard. However, with adequate contributions, you may be able to serve as a steward to a core member or asset liaison.” She gave an innocent shrug. “This can’t be helped.”
I was a bit surprised that she seemed to speak honestly. By the look on Sammuel’s face, this appeared to be a fair or even expected offer. They seemed to care a lot about genes. I didn’t know how they could check them, and I had no clue how mine would look under whatever method they used.
“And what would I have to do to become your liaison?” I asked, smirking.
Lady Stride’s smile slipped slightly, and she shot me a frosty glare. “You best understand your place. While I offered you a place in my family, it won’t mean I will stand for any disrespect. If you think you’ll be able to act in the Stride household like you acted on the stage, you will be mistaken.”
“In that case, I’ll have to refuse,” I responded, taking a sip of whatever drink was poured next to my plate.
Her smile finally disappeared, and instead, it was replaced with icy coldness. “You seem to not understand the current situation. After your performance on stage, you upset quite a few paragons. Although no family would target you publicly, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have dozens of ways to make someone without a background disappear. I’m not just offering you a chance to rise above your commoner roots, but you will also have the protection of the Stride family. No one would dare target you as long as you joined me.”
“You don’t say?” I raised an eyebrow.
She made a face. “None of the abilities you showed nor your progress in evolution show you to be much more than average. For that, no other family is willing to risk offending other families by protecting you. I’m willing to because I believe there is more to you than you showed me so far, but I’m only willing to go so far. If you don’t take my offer, I won’t take responsibility for anything that happens next!”
Although the crowds were all speaking among each other and she spoke in a hushed voice, a lot of people still heard her and were all nodding. Many people who had at least been curious about me looked on in disdain over my reluctance. Even Sammuel looked a bit uneasy.
“You probably should take up her offer,” Sammuel whispered in my ear. “She’s right. I can protect you for a time, but I won’t be around you forever. In the world of paragons, there is no better shield than status.”
“Thank you for the advice.” I nodded to Sammuel.
Lady Stride let out an aggrieved breath and then forced a smile back on her face. “It seems you can see reason. In that case, stay close to me and keep your mouth shut the rest of the-”
“You misunderstand.” I interrupted her. “I was merely thanking a friend for providing advice. I still don’t plan to take it. My answer is no.”
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