Emperor's Reckoning

Both ways... the word stunted his course of thought before he turned. "What do you mean?"

"It means that the humans and the demi-humans, they also owned slaves for their own, it doesn't even have to be of a different race than the owner, it's not a black and white situation, Lyon," answered Cecile. "I thought that you would know of this by now."

"What? Of course I didn't know any of this!" Lyon widened his eyes.

"Really?" Jin raised his brows.

"What?! Why are you squinting your eyes, father-in-law?" Lyon frowned.

"Well," Jin shrugged his shoulders. "I mean..."

"You mean what?"

"The way you act around women... well... I must say that I thought you would own at least one of them, you know, for your dark fantasy or some sort... I mean... this is surely not a good place to talk about it, but if you need an ear to hear you out, I'm all in... I mean personally... I mean just the two of us... you know... man to man, no women needed to hear this... especially not my daughter or my wife... you know... when they're not around—"

"Avalanche Fist please keep your honor intact!" Verdu shouted as he slammed the table.

"His right big brother Jin!" Garuda stood up as both of them glared at Jin.

"Calm down both of you," Jin waved his hand. "What are you talking about anyway? Why would my honor be at risk, we are talking about how to end this madness." However, the more compelling the words spouted out of his mouth, the more they became skeptical about his point of view.

"Enough," Cecile simply tapped the marbled table before it made a jarring crack that stunned the entire room.

They all looked down with a gulp before their eyes turned to pity as they darted at Lyon. "Huh? What are you looking at?"

(Nothing) thought the rest of them.

"Let's continue where we left off," said Cecile.

"I agree," Yunesa nodded. "However, it's truly hard to find right or wrong, since both have the rights and the wrongs."

"Then shouldn't you defend the human race because... you're human?" asked Lyon as he raised his brows. (Then again, she is dressed up like a witch so...).

"That's a default premise but then again, they too deserve to live a better life," said Yunesia before she sighed. "Alas, maybe bloodshed between us is as inevitable as it was predicted by our ancestors before us."

"Hmm..." Lyon crossed his arms, "I think there is something more to this than what you told me."

"There is," Cecile nodded. "Things are way more complicated than just slave trading."

"Oh?" Yunesia raised her brows. "You seem like you know something that we don't."

Verdu nodded. "Any information might benefit us as a whole."

"It won't," Cecile shook her head before she darted at Lyon. "Come with me, I will tell you something that you need to know."

"Huh?" Verdu raised his brows. "Don't you think that it would benefit us as a whole, we might be able to conjure up something with your information."

"No you don't," Cecile shook her head.

"But!"

Cecile flashed a murderous glare before Verdu's sword jumped out of his grasp. The sword fell on the floor and rattled intensely against it. The sight left the rest astounded but Verdu with shrunken pupils. He looked at his trusted sword as if it was squirming and struggling. Never in his life, he had seen such a reaction from his sword, not even when it was near Lyon.

Verdu gulped before he nervously darted at the auburn beauty's back leaving the room. Just a murderous glance was all it took from her to make his fighting spirit waver. His crawling skin didn't stop even after the woman had left the room. The strangling cold sensation in his nape suffocated his mind and clouded his soul as a swordsman with innate fear he had never thought he had within him.

Lyon stood up with a chuckle, "She is pretty cold when it comes to it." Lyon turned and waved before the rest of the party followed him."

Jin took a cold breath with his teeth gritted as he looked at Verdu and the sword laying on the floor. "Want me to pick it up for you?"

Verdu shook his head, "No it's fine, I will do it myself."

"Alright..."

Verdu stood up before he approached his sword and knelt down. "To think that she would make me knelt in just one glance."

The others shut their mouths, not willing to add more misery to his current state.

"Though," Verdu turned, "Maybe I'm growing old and the next generation should take over."

"Nah, don't think too much about it," answered Jin as he waved his hand.

"It amazes me that you can always take this so lightly, Jin," said Verdu. "I should learn more from you."

"You should learn more from your father," Jin shook his head. "That old codger seems to have been enjoying life as of late while you are doing the opposite."

"His name is Master Tael," remarked Verdu.

"And my name is Jin," Jin rolled his eyes, "You are so formal even your sword looked like it's dull— like a ceremonial sword or something."

Garuda and his daughter had their eyes opened wide hearing Jin's unfiltered words. Argonauts were famed for their prowess with curved swords. They could even share their feelings with them. The sword was their other half, yet the Avalanche Fist didn't bat an eye,

Meanwhile, Yunesia sighed at the situation.

Verdu took a deep breath before he sighed. He leaned his sword against the cracked marble table before sitting back on his chair. "Your daughter seemed to be stronger than you, Jin."

Jin laid back, "Well, I won't deny that, I've been trying to enjoy living lately and let these problems to the next generation."

"Brother Jin, we are the next generation," added Garuda. "My daughter's generations are too young to handle this sensitive matter."

"Kuh?!" Ayumu glared at her father, "No I'm not?! I'm a grown woman father! Do you know how much I've grown ever since you passed out half of your life?"

"See, that's my point, you have your emotion clouded your judgment," said Garuda with a wide grin.

One of her eyes twitched (I was trapped?!). She stomped her foot before she pouted and crossed her arms. "Whatever," she strode herself away from the room.

"Oi Garuda, are you sure you're alright with that?" Jin lazily raised one of his brows. "You haven't been able to embrace your own daughter before."

Garuda sighed. "It's alright, it's part of her becoming an adult."

Jin sighed, "At least you get to see her as a child, I can't even remember when was the last time Cecile cried."

Suddenly the three of them sighed.

(Eh? Why does it come to this?) Yunesia sighed. She never thought to be stuck with three depressed middle-aged men in a room.

"Though, then again, why would we need Lyon to act?" asked Jin. "I mean, he is pretty strong, but this is practically none of his business."

"Hmm, I'm afraid I would have to agree with brother Jin," Garuda nodded. "This matter has nothing to do with Lyon. The young man is carefree, he would only stick his nose if he wants to."

"That's your answer, Garuda," said Yunesia. "I'm trying to make him stick his nose into this."

"You want him to eradicate the orcs?" Verdu raised his brows before he shook his head, "Impossible, their cultivation is special, hardly our magic and artworks on them. We are only lucky that their numbers are few."

"Perhaps they knew something that we don't? I mean, the world is vast and has many secrets we had yet discovered."

"Then we would have to ask where they originally came from," added Jin.

"Have you guys heard Hell?" Yunesia burst the bubble.

Verdu frowned. "You mean the heretic place?"

"We have no sure idea that the place is a heretic," Yunesia shook her head. "All we know is that the place was considered to be opposite of heaven."

"You think that's why their numbers are few?" asked Jin. "I've heard in my traveling years that Hell did exist, but the way to that place had been sealed out of existence. But as years came to be, fewer people believe that it existed."

"Yes, certain ancient cultivators that had lived a long life know the existence of Hell, but the signs of it are still clouded."

"Brother Jin, are you implying that their numbers are few because they originated from Hell?"

"I think so," Jin leaned back before he sighed as he darted at the ceiling. "Then again, Hell eh, I wonder why their existence is so kept from us—Nah I'm too old for this new adventure." He stood up and yawned. "We will continue this tomorrow—farewell." He waved his hand with the other scratching his stomach.

"Where are you going?" asked Verdu.

"I can't hear you," Jin disappeared.

Verdu sighed, "Why is my generation so difficult."