97 Troublemakers

As Lucien was crossing the Empire, he felt the Ghoul Clone transmitting him information. These past years the business Elena was leading already grew to a level where it was known in the whole world. Maria had already gotten quite a few bandit strongholds ensuring that the merchant side could travel unimpeded through the whole Scarlet Empire.

And in their eyes, this business was owned by the patriarch or the SilverMoon family, a Rank 3 Practitioner. It might have been deterring in the past, but now this pie was big enough to make a couple of Rank 3 Practitioners ally to take it over.

The Ghoul Clone had just send him the news and had made a prediction that they would strike the headquarters of the SilverMoon family any moment now. The only reason he got hold of this information before the actual attack was the network Maria had spread across the Scarlet Empire.

'Ohhh, it seems the Empire will be slightly weaker starting tomorrow.'

He was taking his time traveling through the Empire on foot, but now he spread his pitch black wings and changed course toward the headquarters of the family, which was a hundred or so miles outside of the capital. In this world families didn't have the habit of making the coordinates of their family manors a secret, it was just too much of a hassle and making sure no spies were among their ranks was a tall order. Since it would be revealed anyway, they didn't care to hide at all.

As Lucien flew with only his wings open, his armor started spreading over his body and horns grew on top of it. It was the perfect mask for what he was about to do, not to mention he would need the extra stats in the fight.

As his pitch black figure streaked across the skies of the Scarlet Empire, the attack the Ghoul Clone mentioned happened.

There were only two Rank 3 Practitioners attacking with a bunch of Rank 2 underlings who were there to make sure nobody escaped.

"Get out here, SilverMoon."

As the voice spread out, a middle aged man walked out of the compound alone, his eyes were much deeper hue of crimson compared to those elders Lucien had seen many years ago. It was obvious his bloodline had it purity on another level compared to them. Nowhere near Lucien, but still passable.

"It seems you guys are bent on kicking a metal wall."

Even though he was alone against two Rank 3 Practitioners, he knew that there was a mysterious backer that only Elena could contact. There was even a person in the compound that was send to supervise, someone not even he was allowed to meet. At first he was about to blow the door and see which person could deny him a simple visit, but then calmed down considering the speed the organization was growing.

The Rank 3 Practitioners were just about to drop the trash talking and finish the job, when a chuckle spread through the air.

"Heheh, Commander, your luck sure sucks. To take such a stupid task."

Both of them turned to look at the source and saw a man walking out slowly. He had white hair and wore a silver robe. His skin also gave off a silver hue. He looked a little bit like a statue made from the visage of the gods.

But that wouldn't have been enough to impress them, and one of the Rank 3 Practitioners was indeed not impressed. It was not the same for his companion, who suddenly seemed as pale as a sheet. This didn't go unnoticed by the SilverMoon Patriarch, who was even more certain that the background of this person were not small.

The Practitioner that recognized him was one of the Commanders that participated in the war again the Beasts, the only one Lucien talked to. At first the Commander though Lucien was a hidden seed of the military, but later found out that he was actually the Third Prince, as it was announced to the Empire by the Emperor himself.

At the thought that they were attacking an organization backed by him, cold sweat broke all over his body. He hurriedly knelt down.

"Apologies, Your Highness."

This time it was the other enemy Rank 3 that was dumbfounded. Why were things happening like this?

"There is no need for this, Commander, the moment I revealed myself... you were dead."

Lucien had only revealed himself after his main body used its Domain to seal off the whole area. Even if they tried to communicate, nothing would go past. He didn't care about commoners finding out he was backing a merchant organization, but was deeply interested in who actually gave the guts to these ants.

His main body was already here, but he didn't reveal it yet. He wanted to see how would this unfold, as nobody could escape anyway.

The Commander didn't dare to rise, he knew that fighting was completely pointless. This Prince was the one His Imperial Majesty favored the most, there was not way he would let him die inside his own Empire. His only hope was the prince would be merciful if he kept his head down.

'Damn that stupid blockhead, he sent us to attack the third prince himself. This won't end well for anyone.'

The other Rank 3 didn't ask who this person was, he already realized things had gone south. But different from the Commander, his believed his way out was killing everybody and leaving the Empire.

"Kill them all."

He uttered the command without a hint of the disdain he felt previously.

He also shot forward towards the SilverMoon Patriarch, because he didn't feel that mysterious fellow to be strong, not to mention he looked like he was around 20 years old.

Lucien didn't pay attention to the event unfolding and still had his attention on the Commander.

"Seeing you being so smart... I'll give you a chance. Who sent you?"

"DawnStar Patriarch."

"Ohhh, they were not a family on this level, what is giving them the guts to meddle in affairs of this magnitude?"

"He has been riding on the fame of Your Majesty after the war to grow his family, since they are your maternal family."

The Commander answered every question without hesitation, seeing how calm was the prince in this situation made him even more unsettled.

"It seems I will have to put them in their place..."

Lucien muttered as he turned his attention towards the fights. Most of the attackers were smart enough to avoid him like the plague, but some were not so bright. A Rank 2 Practitioner ran towards him in his attempt to get into the limelight.

Using his main body, Lucien could sense that some of these people were part of the DawnStar family, after all they partly had a matching bloodline.

Everybody still payed attention to this mysterious man, and were shocked when they saw he didn't even get into a fighting stance, in fact he didn't even spare a second glance at the rushing enemy.

Just as the Practitioner smiled at the sight of his hit almost landing, an invisible blade formed near his head and cut it off like a hot knife cutting through butter.

The fights suddenly stopped at the unbelievable sight that unfolded.