Inside the Vayne Clan’s council hall, the discussion continued long after Dorian’s report.

The atmosphere was tense. Dozens of eyes remained fixed on the documents spread across the table. Every piece of information regarding Lucas and Xavier was being examined repeatedly.

The more they investigated, the more troublesome the situation appeared.

The biggest problem wasn’t Lucas. It was Xavier.

A young martial artist could be dealt with. But Xavier was not easy. His influence, reputation, strength, and connections made him a dangerous variable.

Several elders frowned as they discussed possible solutions.

One elder slowly stroked his beard.

"We should consider negotiation."

A few others nodded.

"The situation hasn’t reached the point of war."

"Neither side has suffered irreversible losses."

"If the matter can be settled peacefully, it would be beneficial for both clans."

For the first time since the meeting began, the atmosphere softened slightly. Several elders genuinely preferred a peaceful resolution. After all, conflict between powerful martial forces rarely ended without consequences.

The Clan Leader remained silent, listening to every opinion.

Just as the discussion was beginning to shift toward possible negotiations, the doors of the council hall opened.

Everyone turned.

Jade had arrived.

The moment she entered, many of the elders visibly relaxed. A few even smiled. Compared to the cold atmosphere surrounding the meeting, Jade’s appearance seemed to brighten the room.

She greeted everyone respectfully.

"Clan Leader."

"Elders."

Several older men immediately softened. One elder who had been shouting moments earlier suddenly looked like a doting grandfather.

"Jade! How are your injuries? Are you fully recovered? Did those physicians do their job properly?"

Another elder spoke before she could answer.

"If they neglected your treatment, tell me immediately."

The contrast was so obvious that even some younger disciples found it amusing. Jade patiently answered their questions. Her complexion had already recovered. Her injuries were healing well.

Seeing her healthy and standing on her own feet relieved many people. At least one crisis had been avoided.

However, that relief lasted only a few seconds.

Another group entered the hall.

This time, the atmosphere changed completely.

Blake was pushed into the room in a wheelchair.

The moment the elders saw him, silence filled the hall.

The young man who had once been considered one of the clan’s most promising talents looked miserable. Bandages covered most of his body. His face was swollen. One arm remained immobilized. Even sitting upright seemed difficult.

The entire room became deathly quiet.

Several elders’ expressions instantly darkened. Moments ago, they had been discussing peace. Now the mood had completely changed.

Looking at Blake’s condition, many of them felt a surge of anger. This wasn’t a minor injury. This was humiliation. The humiliation of the Vayne Clan itself.

One elder clenched his fist. The wooden armrest beneath his hand cracked instantly.

Another elder’s expression became extremely ugly.

"Lucas did this?"

Although everyone already knew the answer, hearing it and seeing it were two completely different things.

Blake lowered his head. His silence answered everything.

The room grew colder. The suggestions about peace gradually disappeared. Nobody mentioned negotiation anymore. After seeing Blake, the image of one of their own reduced to this state erased much of the sympathy for peaceful solutions.

The Clan Leader watched everything quietly. His face remained unreadable.

The direction of the meeting had changed.

Soon afterward, Jade and Blake were asked to leave the council hall. The discussions that followed were no longer suitable for them.

The heavy doors closed once more.

Inside the room, the elders’ attitudes had become noticeably more aggressive. Talk of peace was slowly replaced by talk of action. Several elders began discussing possible strategies. Others analyzed Xavier’s influence. The debate became increasingly intense.

Among everyone present, only Dorian remained uneasy.

Unlike most of the elders, he had personally visited Silvermont. He had seen the situation with his own eyes. He had seen the security, the preparations, the confidence, and the people gathering around Lucas.

That was why he felt uneasy.

In his opinion, their enemy was far more prepared than most people in this room realized. Unfortunately, who was he to challenge the elders directly? The decision was no longer his to make.

The momentum inside the hall had already shifted.

The Vayne Clan had begun preparing seriously. Maps of Silvermont City were brought out. Information regarding Willow Residence was placed on the table. Possible approaches, possible attack routes, and possible escape routes were all discussed.

One thing became clear very quickly.

If conflict became unavoidable, they could not fight recklessly.

Willow Residence was located inside a populated area. Wealthy and some important people lived nearby. A large-scale battle would attract unwanted attention. That was something neither clan wanted.

Therefore, if they moved, they would move fast and finish everything before outside forces could react.

Sebastian was eventually summoned into the council hall.

The moment he stepped inside, his legs felt heavy. The pressure in the room was suffocating. Every elder sat in their designated seat. The Clan Leader remained at the head of the table.

Yet not a single person acknowledged Sebastian’s presence.

He stood there awkwardly, waiting silently.

Minutes passed. Nobody spoke to him. Nobody even looked in his direction. Instead, the elders continued discussing Lucas, Xavier, Willow Residence, and the possible conflict that was looming over both clans.

It was as if Sebastian didn’t exist. As if he were nothing more than a decorative object placed in the corner of the room.

The humiliation burned far worse than any beating. Sebastian knew his status in the Vayne Clan wasn’t high. He was merely an outer member who provided financial support year after year. But being ignored like this, completely disregarded by everyone present, was unbearable.

His legs were beginning to ache from standing. Yet he didn’t dare move.

Thirty minutes passed. Then forty.

By then, Sebastian felt as though he might collapse from the pressure alone.

Finally, one of the elders slowly raised his head. Only then did he seem to notice Sebastian.

The old man’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Oh? You’re still here?"

The room erupted with faint laughter. Several elders smirked.

Sebastian’s face turned pale.

The elder’s voice suddenly became cold.

"Sebastian, do you know why you’re still alive after everything you’ve done?"

The laughter vanished instantly.

Sebastian’s heart nearly stopped. He wanted to answer. Wanted to speak. But his mouth had become dry. Not a single word came out.

At that moment, countless thoughts ran through his mind. Were they planning to cripple him? Expel him from the clan? Take away everything he owned? Or perhaps something even worse?

The Clan Leader finally spoke.

"You gave us false information."

His gaze settled on Sebastian.

"You told us Lucas was an ordinary student. You told us he came from a poor family. You told us he was insignificant."

Every sentence struck Sebastian like a hammer.

The Clan Leader continued.

"You dragged clan members into a private conflict created by you and your useless son. You embarrassed the Vayne Clan. You endangered Jade."

His voice remained steady. But every word felt heavier than the last.

Then his eyes shifted briefly toward Blake’s empty wheelchair.

"And Blake. One of our most promising young disciples. He may recover. Or he may never return to his previous level."

The room became deathly silent. Sebastian’s knees nearly gave out.

The Clan Leader leaned back slightly. For a long moment, nobody spoke.

Then one elder suddenly laughed.

"It’s honestly a waste punishing him."

Several others nodded.

Another elder sneered.

"Exactly. What’s the point? Someone like him isn’t worth our effort."

Hearing those words, Sebastian felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps they were going to let him off. After all, he had contributed money to the clan for years. Perhaps they would simply give him a warning. Maybe a fine. Maybe a temporary punishment.

For the first time since entering the hall, hope appeared in his eyes. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Then the Clan Leader spoke again.

And that hope died instantly.

"From today onward..."

His voice echoed through the room.

"Every cent of profit generated by your company belongs to the clan."

Sebastian froze.

The Clan Leader continued calmly.

"You will no longer retain ten percent. You will no longer retain five percent. You will retain nothing."

The words struck harder than lightning.

Sebastian’s eyes widened. His face became completely white.

The Clan Leader’s expression didn’t change.

"All profits will be transferred to the Vayne Clan. As compensation and punishment."

Sebastian felt dizzy.

That company was his entire life’s work. Decades of sacrifice gone. Just like that.

Before he could even react, the Clan Leader delivered the final blow.

"And make sure the company remains profitable."

His eyes became cold.

"Because from this day onward, the company lives, you live. The company dies, you die."