....
Sen City, on Ninth Avenue, inside a luxurious convoy.
Kid Vives leaned against the velvet-covered window, his gaze swept calmly over the passing street scenes outside. Those snake eyes showed no hint of emotion.
"Rejected? I see."
Upon receiving the message, he simply responded calmly.
His handsome yet somewhat cold face remained expressionless.
There was not the slightest change due to the news he heard.
No anger, displeasure, surprise, or regret. There was only a calmness as deep as a pool.
He had indeed sent someone to invite the other party merely out of a whim.
Although he had long been managing his own adventure group outside, he was not entirely uninformed about the Vives Clan’s decisions. In fact, he was well aware of most of the family’s slightly noteworthy affairs.
Of course, it was not because he took the initiative to find out, but rather there were people within the family who helped pass the information.
And amidst his busy schedule, he took the time to understand various intelligence and reports.
In reality, those in high positions are busier than many imagine.
He naturally felt curious about Gauss, a low-level adventurer who rejected family investment.
So, when he spotted him at the dock earlier, he went with the flow and sent someone to recruit.
The family’s power didn’t entirely belong to him, but the Big Snake Adventurer Group was an independent kingdom he could absolutely control.
If those who rejected the family could be used personally by him, he would find it very interesting.
As for Serdur, it was a matter of blood relations.
Yes, he invited Gauss and Serdur merely out of interest, with nothing else involved.
So, being rejected didn’t bring him much thought.
This was originally just an inconsequential little interlude.
To him, what truly mattered was his own strength, along with the size and development of the Big Snake Adventurer Group.
Everything else was mere noise.
"Master Kid, the Elder Council requests your presence in the family council hall once you land," reminded a beautiful attendant not far away.
"Understood," he replied, his voice still steady and calm.
The luxurious carriage rolled down the smooth cobblestone road, heading toward the oldest and most austere complex at the city center.
The scenes outside the window shifted from the bustling docks to the solemn and tranquil aristocratic district.
What met the eyes were high walls and profound courtyards, heavily guarded.
The Vives Clan’s council hall was located at the core area of the family castle.
The heavy oak doors were carved with an intricate family crest—a white wave encircling an eye of insight—symbolizing the family’s mastery over the sea and secret knowledge.
As he passed the hall entrance, his gaze silently lingered on the family crest for a moment. He raised his mouth into a slightly mocking smile before stepping into the hall.
The air was filled with a mixed scent of ancient timber, sealed documents, and a faint magic incense.
A few elderly figures, male and female, were already seated around the long council table.
Each person here was a key authority figure holding the lifeblood of the Vives Clan—in other words, the true masters of Sen City.
Some of them were responsible for the family’s finances and properties, others for intelligence and certain "special" affairs.
Still, others took care of the family’s core interests in the military, magic research, and the Adventurer’s Guild.
Kid’s arrival focused all eyes on him.
"Kid, your recent actions have become a bit too conspicuous."
The leader, an elder with hair and beard all white, named Lawrence Vives, was referring to the expanding influence of the Big Snake Adventurer Group and Kid’s increasingly independent handling of certain affairs.
"The Elder Council hopes you can rein in your underlings."
"I’ll do my best."
"And those sea folks, don’t tell me you can’t control them?" Lawrence tapped the table, his tone more interrogative than inquiring.
The so-called sea folks were those humans with partial Sea Race bloodline.
Due to their lineage, some of these people, with good mutations, possessed superior talents over ordinary humans.
But the mixed lineage also made these individuals more susceptible to "bloodline sickness," significantly increasing the risk of losing control.
Recently, there had been several bloody conflicts between sea folks and ordinary humans in the city.
"The ones involved in the conflicts aren’t my people." Kid shook his head calmly.
Lawrence just stared at him intently, silent for a long time.
"I don’t care whose people they are; I want to see results," Lawrence snorted coldly.
"Understood." Kid nodded slightly.
"Also, make sure to weed out some of the sea folks from your group. As for those outsiders with impure bloodlines, I suppose I don’t need to remind you how to handle them?"
Lawrence, like a hawk, locked his gaze on Kid, his fingers lightly tapping the table rhythmically as if applying pressure.
"Don’t forget, Kid, you are first a second heir of the Vives Clan and then the leader of the Big Snake Adventurer Group."
The undertone of his words was that although the Big Snake Adventurer Group was Kid’s power, its operation was still dependent on the family. They had numerous ways to halt the organization.
Kid’s face finally showed some expression.
He took a deep breath.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"Elder Lawrence, I believe what the family needs is a snake capable of biting its prey, not a docile and harmless sheep, right?"
"Can you control them? Not breeding a pack of beasts that will eventually bite back? Even if you didn’t directly orchestrate recent conflicts, your indulgent attitude can’t be disentangled! Sen City needs stability, not chaos!" A female elder, Lady Majoli, in charge of the family intelligence, spoke coldly.
Beasts...
Kid’s gaze swept over every elder present.
He suddenly chuckled softly.
"I understand."
He stood up, his tall figure casting a long shadow under the magical lights.
"Since this is the Elder Council’s unanimous decision... I will address it."
After finishing, he did not look back at any elder and turned to leave, his steps still steady.
After he left.
Elder Lawrence and Lady Majoli exchanged glances.
"He’s becoming increasingly difficult to control."
"I just received information that Kid privately had someone connect with that adventurer Gauss, who was already under provincial guild attention, trying to recruit him."
If Gauss were here, he would probably be shocked, for it had been only a short time since the dock, yet information had already reached the core decision-makers of the Vives Clan as if it had sprouted wings.
"Did he agree?"
"No, that kid refused."
"Then there’s no need to bother; that personage has already taken notice of him, and we can’t defy that person’s wishes."
"Another impure bloodline freak... Never mind, even if he cannot be used for the family, at least he won’t become the next untamable wolf."
Her tone seemed contemptuous, but that brief pause and subtle actions revealed her insincerity.
Making her words sound a bit sour.
The weight of that personage’s pin was not something she could disparage with a few words.
The others didn’t chime in, and soon the council hall fell silent.