Chapter 4: Unexpected Circumstances

Travelling in their chopper the team quickly exited the snow realm of Kjerag before the matriarch of the Silverash family cooks up something.

With Emperor's instruction, the team was quickly able to find the landship of Rhodes island. Texas positioned themselves nearby it and she communicated with them via their radio.

"Rhodes island, come in. This is Texas, over." She repeated that a couple of times and they received a response a bit later. "Affirmative Texas, this is LeaderOne. I demand a blood sacrifice before you land on our helipad. Over."

A woman was heard on the other line and Texas sighed heavily. "I'll tell Kal'tsit that you're being an ass right now Closure. This is a very important business deal even if it's gonna be quick." Texas threatened her and the woman named Closure didn't talk anymore.

"Clear to land, Texas." Another voice was heard and Texas snickered, making Exusiai gasp. "Did Texas just laugh? Even if it's a snicker, that's a laugh right?" Exusiai looked towards Croissant and she nodded extensively.

"Shut up you two, be quiet. We'll be meeting up with a troublesome individual." Texas remembered Kal'tsit's no bullshit attitude. The cat woman's a lady with blood as cold as ice.

Ash was quite curious about them, but he just shrugged and waited to see them as they landed on Rhodes island's helipad.

His guard just positioned themselves well around him because it was more tense here than in Kjerag. As professionals, they can feel it in the air.

"Hello, Texas. Is this him?" A woman with short hair and cat ears looked at Asmodeus with a flat, but sharp expression on her face. Full of distrust and suspicion like a paranoid schizophrenic. (pic)

"Good afternoon, I'm Asmodeus. Did Emperor tell you what I have in store for you?" He smiled at the woman and he analyzed her. He then squinted his eyes when he felt electromagnetic signals in her spine.

It was something mechanical, sending signals to her brain directly. He raised a brow at that, but didn't pry because the woman was already anxious and suspicious.

"Emperor did tell me, can you give me a sample of it?" Kal'tsit wanted it to be over quickly and she was quite impatient based on her expression.

Ash didn't mind though and took out one of the anti-oripathy suits. "This, is an AOS. A skintight film that filters particles in the nanometer range. Wearing it, you'll basically be wearing a mesh that will prevent originite to infect you and make oripathy stable because you won't receive any more of it."

He then asked Franka to walk up and Kal'tsit observed the fox woman. Franka showed some of her oripathy crystals on her body and the feline doctor knew she was an infected.

"This is originite prime, observe." He used his arts and made shards of originite fly right at Franka which made Liskarm nervous and even the stone faced Kal'tsit widen her eyes.

But it just bounced on her and the film of nanotubes held true. "Wow, I trusted you Asmodeus. But it's much better than I thought." Franka was really happy with the effectiveness of the AOS.

"As you can see, it's like body armor, but in every part of your body. Even fine originium particles will not pass." Ash ended his demonstration and put his originite prime back in an AOS pouch that he carries.

"Wow! Let me have a look Kal'tsit!" A small woman with long black hair was like a woman possessed and snatched it from the feline's hands. Ash looked at her and confirmed that was Closure due to her voice. (pic)

"Gunununu, this just looks like plastic wrap! How can it be so durable and how is this material made exactly?" She stretched it and tried tearing it. But the carbon nanotube matrix of the film was really sturdy.

The lead engineer of Babel was simply astonished by it and she would definitely research it to hell later. "How'd you made this Asmodeus!? Ah, I'm Closure by the way, Babel's lead engineer and IT specialist."

Closure walked up to him, Liskarm squinted her eyes a bit and tensions rose. But Closure apologized and raised her hand.

"Hehe~ sorry about that. We're not allies yet after all." Closure's flippant attitude made Kal'tsit sigh and massage her temples. But before things could calm down, Closure gave the air a good sniff and she went into a daze.

"Hmm? What's wrong Closure?" Ash raised a brow and leaned closer to check what's wrong with her. But what happened next shocked him as the woman lunged on him and bit him on the neck.

"W-what!? What is it? Did she just bit me?" Ash felt some pricks on his neck and Kal'tsit gasped. "Closure! What the hell are you doing!?" The feline doctor yelled out in panic.

Liskarm charged her arts on her shield, ready to zap Closure off of him. While Exusiai pointed her gun at Kal'tsit that was about to run to Closure and peel her off.

"Everyone calm down! Don't make any sudden moves!" Texas shouted out and she broke into a cold sweat. Things were about to go down just a second later and she breathed in a deep mouthful of air.

"Uhhhh, why did Closure just cling to me? Hey, I can still hear you gulp you know? I'm not a juicebox." Ash tried to take her off of him, but the woman held him tightly like her life was on the line.

"S-sorry about this, Closure is a vampire Sarkaz. But this is unexpected..." Kal'tsit's mind was running a mile a minute. The vampire is in one word, a nerd. A technological nerd that her vampire brethren thought was weird, because she doesn't do vampire things.

"Pwah~ Your blood is so... Delicious. It has a nice deep flavor, just like demiglace sauce. Ahhhh, you also have a really nice, sweet scent." Closure rubbed her face on his neck and had a feverish look on her face.

"Okay, calm down lady, Jesus Christ." Ash put her down as her grip loosened up. Kal'tsit immediately took her away and she bowed to him for an apology.

"Sorry about that, I don't know, but she was probably just starved because Closure doesn't drink blood bags often." Kal'tsit explained and Ash raised a brow.

"Okayyy? It's fine really, but keep her on a tighter leash next time you know? She's gonna cause an international incident if she's starving." Ash thought that was the case, but Kal'tsit knew that there's something more to his physiology that is very special.

"Can you please wait here, I'll bring the payment for this agreement and I'll sign the contract when I return? I'll just take Closure away for now, she's... Incapacitated." Kal'tsit looked at Closure that had a dopey face on and was smiling like a loon.

"Sure I guess." Ash nodded and they watched Kal'tsit carry Closure back to Rhodes island in a hurry. "That was quite tense, good thing I have amazing trigger discipline!" Exusiai had a smug look on her face.

"Good job Exusiai." Texas patted her on the back, surprising Exusiai and Croissant. "What's with the faces? It was good decision making on your part." Texas took some pocky from her pocket and her hands were trembling.

'That was fucking close... We were a hair's breadth close to disaster.' Texas started to calm down after nibbling on her pocky.

"What in the world was that? Are you fine with that sir Asmodeus? She assaulted you, you know?" Liskarm squinted her eyes and Ash just laughed. "I guess she did, I'll cash on in this later Liskarm. Babel owes me a lot due to this."

Meanwhile, Kal'tsit pried open Closure's mouth and tried to save as much blood samples from her mouth. "This is contaminated by her saliva and natural flora. But it's the best I can get... That person might be a Feranmut."

Kal'tsit wiped her brow of pooling sweat because her anxiety was also through the roof. Feranmuts aren't called gods for nothing, their arts were so strong that the ancients served them as deities in Yan.

Leading to a misunderstanding on her part, because Ash wasn't really able to progress much in his arts. Burdened by business and originite's special properties, he doesn't really rank research about it as his top priority.

He thought that stabilizing the geopolitical climate was much better because he will be able to research in peace without wars going on all over the place. There was also a budding terrorist organization called Reunion that rumors about it were going around.

Kal'tsit quickly took some files about the research on originium and catastrophes from a lead researcher of theirs and went back to Ash's group.

"Sorry for the wait, this is the files you requested. About originium and catastrophes right? The Naumann are well known in Leithanien for its research in ecology and environmental effects of it right?" Kal'tsit presented the files on a table.

"Yeah, it's to help my sister understand more about catastrophes and the like." He checked it out if it was legit and after a short skim of the files. He was satisfied with it, presenting the contract.

"Contact Emperor about how many you'll need. We'll proved AOS' at a premium price for this. Penguin logistics will deliver it to you, that'll work for the delivery of the product right?" Ash smiled and shook hands with Kal'tsit who nodded.

"Thank you very much for this opportunity, this is helpful for the staff." Kal'tsit wasn't lying, it was simply a valuable tool so people won't spread infection and worsen theirs if they already contracted oripathy.

"Yeah, let's exchange research later. I have made advances to my research about originite in my spare time after all. Though this will do for now, I hope we'll have a good partnership." Ash took the files and Kal'tsit returned to the landship's interior.

"Hah, I guess it was pretty good overall? That Closure woman did surprise me though." Ash furrowed his brows and shook his head.

"You don't particularly smell sweet, boss." Exusiai went up to him and sniffed him. "Hey, don't sniff me you perverted angel." He bopped her on the head and they chuckled at the angel's antics.

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Back at Leithanien, Ash shared the files with Adele and they learned a lot about catastrophes. Especially in its patterns, the person who made the paper had extensive knowledge about the phenomena.

"Hmmm, so my hypothesis is correct huh? This guy has been observing the telltale signs of a catastrophe and it is connected to concentration of originite in an area." Ash wanted to meet the researcher and discuss it further.

"Un, it's basically confirmed. This professor can predict disasters with changes in weather, temperature, wind speeds, humidity, and originite concentrations. And your hypothesis says that the energy from it that leaks naturally is the main cause." Adele pieced it together.

"Yeah, it's like a gas leak that gets ignited without warning. Hmm, where did I hear that before?" He thought about it, but he ignored it after a while.

"Ash, thank you very much for your insights and this research! I think I'll be able to make great strides in my research. I just need to go on the field and test it for practical applications." Adele smiled and she was delighted by the combination of the theoretical research he got.

"Aww, you're gonna make me blush." He ruffled her hair and he smiled at Adele's progression on her research.

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Back at Kjerag, the tri-clan council of course received the news that Enciades Silverash blew the contract with Asmodeus. And with the two other families, the Paleroches and Browntails. They called for a council meeting at the Karlan Sanctuary where it is thought that their god, Kjeragandr.

With their overseer as the grand elder of the Vine-Bear court who's like a grand cardinal. The families gathered and Enciades attended with a heavy heart.

"We're gathered here because of aforementioned reports of the Browntails and Paleroches that Karlan trade had tried to fool and exploit Asmodeus enterprise. A company that promised a myriad of services and produce for the snow realm." The grand elder started the meeting.

Enciades had a frown on her face and they discussed a suitable punishment to the Silverash family. And Enciades didn't have much leeway about their decisions because she was on the weak side.

The Silverash family was just reinstated in the tri-clan council about a year ago. And Enciades' scheme of turning one of her sisters into the saintess. The pope of the Kjerag theocracy, is still underway.

So she was in a precarious situation due to this huge mistake. Even the conservatives that are opposed to her industrialization of Kjerag were furious due to the really sweet deal. It was dirt cheap food that was delivered to their door.

Even the most conservative of people that didn't want outsiders in the country would have second thoughts about it. The deal was a big boon for the country.

"The matriarch of the Silverash family will make amends to Asmodeus Naumann through this treaty. Are all in agreement to this covenant?" The grand elder looked towards the three clan heads and acted as the arbiter.

He saw all three votes in agreement, but Enciades looked like she swallowed a bitter pill. It was a huge price to pay for her mistake. She then had doubts that she could instruct her sister to make decisions about the political matters of Kjerag once she is instated as saintess.

Enciades snorted and had a self deprecating smile. Her sisters were estranged to her due to her pursuit of centralized political power in Kjerag. The youngest does not talk to her and just continues to hike, which is her hobby.

While the middle child who was caught in her lust for power despises her for condemning her to a life of solitude at the top of the Karlan peak where he will spend her days there as the messenger of Kjeragandr.

"This Tri-clan council meeting is adjourned. We will be contacting Asmodeus Naumann for this arrangement. If he does not accept, Enciades Silverash will be exiled permanently from Kjerag and Enya Silverash will step down from her trials to be saintess in order to be the head of the family." The grand elder announced the decision.

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At the Naumann household, Ash just partnered up with Black steel and MountainDash logistics to his company.

"Hmm, Emperor won't be complaining like a little bitch now for me overworking his employees." Ash chuckled and MountainDash will now be handling their logistics in the west.

And having a realization that Closure, a small woman that looked like she didn't exercise at all can have ridiculous speeds at command. Ash was now working more on his project about increasing his physical abilities.

"Radio calisthenics aren't gonna cut it. Being just healthy will not help me in fighting off surprise attacks like that later." Ash went to his lab and began to research more. Experimenting on his cells extensively.

With his new passion for arts, he decided to include it in his experiments. The problem he had was his cells were resistant to the changes of the stem cells. He already completed trials in other animals like cats and dogs. So the problem lied on his own physiology.

"This film of energy is being a pain. It's like an extra thick condom, Jesus." Ash couldn't manipulate it well like it was a pre-programmed defense system that attacks anything that tries to make changes to his cells.

"Is it time?" He thought about contracting oripathy and use the material as a conduit for the stem cells. Because the originite magic cancels his energy defense system.

"No, no, no. It has too many unknown factors that I can't recklessly dive into." He sighed and wracked his brains for another way to enhance his body as a contingency for attacks.

"Think, Ash, think. Fire, my neurons, fire!" He thought about it real hard. He then got annoyed by the bots he had that was drilling some holes on some metal. They were constructing more chinooks for MountainDash.

"Wait a minute..." He thought of Wolverine getting his metal skeleton through drills and it gave him an idea. Before it left his head, he quickly started writing it down and made a schematic for the device he will make that is similar to it.

"Hahaha, this might just work!" He designed special originite prime drills and he will be conducting the surgery himself while he was fully awake.

It was an insane procedure in which he will give the originite drills and needles the integrity needed with his arts. Manipulating its molecular bonds and making it stronger to go through his body.

Then needles with the serum will inject the formula at multiple key places and it will slowly spread throughout while he gives the stem cells the energy from the originite prime.

"Fuck, I'm crazy aren't I? I just might get terminal oripathy from this crap. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. If I fail, it's a skill issue. I could probably stave away my oripathy if I don't turn to crystals in an instant which is unlikely with the amount of originite going through my body."

Like a madman, he began constructing it post haste and just holed himself up inside his laboratory for now.

After working on it, he was surprised that it didn't really take that much time. It was honestly simple, the problem was his skill in controlling his energy and the originite.

The design was similar to the tub of water that Logan lied on and the drills coming in contact with his body. But his was a capsule that will be filled with water. The drills would also be coming from behind too, not just the front.

"Fuuu, I'm crazy alright... Maybe I'm a mad scientist or something? Did I get oripathy in my brain?" He checked his brain and there was no source of oripathy anywhere.

"Fuck me, let's do this." He entered the tub and started controlling the mechanical parts with his telekinesis on the control panel.

'This is gonna hurt like a bitch.' He saw the incoming drill on his forehead and he could feel the vibrations on the back of his head where another one is slowly getting nearer.

Gritting his teeth, already wearing a mouthguard. He breathed in deeply at his respirator and opened his eyes wide to see everything.

An immediate stabbing pain was felt on the parts where the drills started doing some work. The steel shackles all over his body creaked from him struggling due to the insane pain.

His breathing becoming erratic, the electrodes that was on his body to check his vitals got the sudden spike on his vitals. The machine he was controlling beeping like crazy.

Feeling the procedure that was like hours of pure agony, he saw in his periphery that the drills reached the necessary depth to start the real dangerous part.

Breathing deeply, he activated the needles to infuse the serum to his body and the originite needle pierced his muscles and bones.

The originite prime drills then glowed from his control of the magic in them and the serum received it. Like lava was flowing throughout the affected parts that was slowly spreading he screamed through gritted teeth.

His teeth cutting through the mouth guard from the intense clenching of his jaw. His eyes went bloodshot and the blood vessels in his eyes popped from the sharp increase of blood pressure.

Adrenaline rushed through his system, but they were useless in decreasing the stimulus. Clenching his hands into fists, he was unconsciously thrashing against his restraints like a mad dog.

Just a minute has passed, but he felt like it was an eternity ago. His eyes that was roaming around restlessly looked at the elapsed time and progress, but it wasn't nearly finished.

Muffled screams continued in his laboratory and his physiology started to change. Like a spartan II, his bones got stronger and stronger. The stem cells turning his bone matrix into dense carbon nanotubes, graphene.

His muscles multiplied like controlled cancer and contracted with his energetic pressure creation. Then twisting his muscle fibers into ropes, braiding them to save space and be much more stronger.

Thicker skin started to form like hide, compressing it to the maximum with his heightened energy reserves due to the originite prime.

Internal organs were encased in an endoskeletal spongy material that reduced the effects of shocks greatly.

All of his cells were reprogrammed to multiply much faster, even faster than cancerous cells. Giving him regeneration, already in the clear with his genealogy upon sequencing it earlier.

After minutes of mind boggling pain and stress, his vitals started to drop due to the immense strain and his eyesight that was clear like an eagle's sight earlier was starting to darken.

'F-fuck, just a bit more.' He gritted his teeth and breathed as much as he could. Emergency endorphins and adrenaline got pumped into his system. But it didn't do much. 'Ahh, so tired.'

His eyelids started to feel like lead and he was exhausted, his body could only twitch from the pain. "Ash? What's going on?" He heard a voice and it was Adele.

He was unresponsive due to exhaustion and his eyes were starting to droop. Adele then saw his vitals and she froze, wide eyed and gaping.

"Ash! Ash! Brother! What the hell are you doing!" Adele went up to the control panel in a panic and she didn't know what to do, she was bawling her eyes out.

'Ahhh, don't cry Adele.' His slow consciousness that saw her cry in pain and pure panic recognized her.

With something to focus on, he was able to stay conscious and control the last vestiges of the procedure and the originite prime energy sources on his body in the form of rods that stabbed him all over got pulled out.

His vitals soon started to slowly stabilize and he went unconscious as he closed his eyes. "Crazy bastard! What the hell were you doing!?" Adele hit the glass capsule and breathed in deeply to catch her breath.

After an hour, he woke up and he was assaulted by an aching body. Like he worked out in hell. Seeing Adele that was closely watching him, he smiled wryly and drained the capsule.

Adele glared at him like he murdered their family and he took off his respirator and electrodes. "Hi, that was intense, wasn't it?" He awkwardly smiled at her and Adele hit her on the face.

Though he didn't feel it and Adele's knuckles almost cracked, she cried on his chest and hugged him tightly. "What the hell were you doing you idiot!?"

Sighing, he caressed her head. "It was necessary, I'm famous now Adele. And unlike your kind of famous as a researcher too. The business kind of famous, which is super dangerous. I had to upgrade my body."

"Why didn't you consult me!? Mom, dad!?" Adele's puffy eyes from crying glared at him and he felt a little bad in putting her in that position.

"Because you won't agree?" Ash chuckled and Adele hit him on the chest multiple times. "Idiot, stupid. I thought you were going to die." Adele dropped down to the ground on her butt as she lost her strength and was now relieved.

"I won't do it again, I promise." He carried her and he went to her room and plopped her down gently on her bed.

"You better!" Adele was still glaring at him and he kissed her forehead. "Sorry little one, it was just necessary. Now go and rest, you look terrible."

Adele didn't let him go for a few more hours, but her fatigue caught up to her and he was able to escape her grasp.

"Hah, that was a bit close... But I feel, good~" He clenched his fist and his estimate was a strength increase of 500 percent. And the best pro of the procedure in his opinion, was he could siphon magic from originite prime without the terrible pain.

"Did I build a resistance to it? This is awesome... I should research what led to this result." He sat down on a couch and sighed.

"Asmodeus sir, you received a letter." Their butler gave him a letter and he wasn't contacting anyone lately.

"Kjerag's seal?" Ash looked at the letter from Kjerag and thought it must be a new deal from the country itself, not just from the Silverash family.

Ash started to read it and he was pleased with the changes, it was a surefire way that he'll dominate Kjerag through its economy in due time like Leithanien.

"A-am I reading this right?" Ash's eyes almost popped out from his head. "Enciades Silverash extends an offer of marriage, the matriarch has repented from her dishonorable acts and it is her desire to be wed to you. This will result in stronger ties between Kjerag and your honorable self."

"F-fuck. Did they just sell the Silverash matriarch to me as reparations?" Ash massaged his head from the incoming migraine. "They probably decided this for her. And with her out of the way in Kjerag's politics as my wife, being a member of the council in name only. They think they'll have control of the country."

He did not expect that development at all, it was so out of the blue. And with him tied to Kjerag, he won't be able to exploit Kjerag. Not that he planned to, he's going to develop it and make it into one of the countries he owns from the shadows.

"Fuckity fuck. This is a mess!" Ash ruffled his hair and groaned on the couch. "I can't reject this willy nilly, they'll say it's disrespect and I'm not giving them face. Especially because we're only commoners."

Nobility and its bullshit was something he did not like at all. "Hah, I need to go to Kjerag." He planned on just going alone and test his new abilities. He can recharge with some originite prime now after all.

The reserves of his magic was also much higher now. Which was more than enough for him to travel to Kjerag, especially because he could basically decrease drag to 0.

Waiting for Adele to wake up, he showed her the letter and Adele was surprisingly amicable to his need in going to Kjerag immediately.

"I might be gone for some time now Adele... This is a huge mess." Ash sighed and Adele understood his position. And she thought that keeping him here in his lab would give him more ideas and probably kill himself next time.

"It's fine, did you perhaps fornicate with the Silverash matriarch and made her pregnant!? You have to take responsibility!" Adele yelled at him and he choked on his saliva.

"F-fornicate!? What the hell Adele, I did not get her pregnant..." He deadpanned at her and Adele looked at him suspiciously. "Hmmm, then why do they want you to get married so badly, huh?"

"Hah... This is politics Adele, they want to make ties with me. I'm really valuable for any country. Getting married to the Silverash matriarch would weaken her influence in Kjerag and the other oligarchs think they'll lose a troublesome competitor for their conservative ways." Ash sighed.

"And with your marriage, you'll be allied through matrimony so you have duty towards Kjerag... Sly people they are." Adele pieced it in her mind and he nodded.

"Ugh, go then. Bring me a niece okay? I don't want a nephew that might get your suicidal tendencies in experimenting with one's self." Adele rolled her eyes.

Ash groaned and he started sweating. If Emperor and penguin logistics hear of it, they won't leave him alone for sure.

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At an abandoned area in Leithanien, he focused and created wings of energy like the Sanktas. Crouching, he jumped and flapped his wings at the same time. Flying freely in a large space for the first time.

"Wooohoooo!" Ash shouted because of the thrill. He increased his kinetic energy and checked a speedometer. He was currently travelling at mach one and it was his max speed for now.

It also needed a wind up, creating an energy shield that absorbed the force of drag in front and constant propulsion got him to that speed. He then decided to cruise for now and used his gliding plan from earlier.

Flapping his wings from time to time with a burst of energy directed behind to accelerate. And without drag, it was a pretty efficient low energy air travelling method.

After a few hours of flying, he arrived at the snow realm and landed at the train stations. He paid a ticket to Turicum, the Silverash's capital city in Kjerag.

"Hah, I'm not really looking forward to meeting up with the Kjerag's ruling body..." He made his way to the snowy streets and went to the estate of the Silverash.

And of course the guards let him in, he was a guest of honor. They couldn't have forgotten about him easily.

Waiting inside a saloon in the mansion, he was served some tea and he sipped it calmly and popped some gummy bears, he loved gummy bears and he was pretty stressed.

The door opened suddenly and one Enciades Silverash appeared, panting from her run towards the saloon once she got informed that he was in their estate.

"Asmodeus!? Why are you here already? And did you come here alone? How?" Enciades was freaking out and Ash gave her a dirty look.

"I should be asking the questions here... Hah, you just had to rope me in with your political fallout eh?" Ash squinted his eyes and the matriarch had the decency to look guilty.

"I didn't have a choice, the tri-clan council decided it arbitrarily. They used the chance to make me a member of the council that has no real power." She frowned heavily and plopped down on a chair, massaging her temples.

"Hah... What a fucking mess, come on. Let's talk with the council or whatever." He rolled his eyes and Enciades was not looking forward to meeting them again.

She then remembered that if he didn't accept, Enya. Her sister, would be dropping out of her trials as a saintess. She will also be exiled and her sister would be a puppet head of the family.

Gritting her teeth, she thought that was unacceptable. She will bring greatness to Kjerag, it won't be brought down by traditions and stagnation. That's what their father fought for before a train accident that claimed them.

And she fought tooth and nail to raise her sisters Enya and Ensia. Enciades can't accept that her sisters will be left in their care.

"Are you going to refuse?" She squinted her eyes and he raised a brow at her. "It's like you don't want to?" He looked at her really closely and she nodded.

"I... They'll exile me and my sister would be a puppet in the tri-clan council. The Silverash family would be a hollow ruling family that they'll exploit after I am gone... And I do not want that for my sisters." She bit her lip bitterly and Ash rolled his eyes.

"Why isn't that the consequence of your own actions." Ash glared at her, but he remembered Adele and he would accept a marriage in a heartbeat too if he didn't have a choice.

The matriarch kneeled and swallowed her pride. "Please, the Silverash family will be loyal to you. We will take over Kjerag with your company just like how you did it in Leithanien."

"I could do that without you though?" He stared at him blankly and she gasped. Thinking that was true. "Then you leave me no choice." She growled and lunged at him. Trying to take off his clothes.

"Are you crazy!? You're seriously trying to rape me?" He frowned heavily and put a hand on her neck, reversing their position with his new tyrannical strength.

Enciades squeaked as he slammed her on the wooden floor and he saw the look in her eyes. She was determined to do everything for her family.

"Is this really what you want?" He stared at her right in the eye and she nodded. Loosening up his grip on her neck, Enciades coiled her tail on his torso and she sat up. "For the Silverash family." She had a fire in her eyes.

She then put her arms around his neck and bit his neck. And her subordinate, Weiss took a picture and ran away like the wind. Enciades then tried to buy as much time as possible by clinging to him.

"GO Weiss!" She yelled and held on to him like her life depended on it. She hooked her foot to the hole he made from slamming her down and her tail coiled onto a pillar with all her might.

And without a way to not hurt her if he was going to give chase, he thought of zapping her unconscious. But he just sat down and sighed. "I underestimated your resolve, let's just say you got me with your plan."

He admired her will to protect her sisters, besides. There's no downsides in marrying her anyways. Its not like they needed to consummate the marriage. It would be like a partnership with her having to be nearby him at all times instead of being in Kjerag.

"Really? You finally agree?" She stared at him and he nodded. Sighing in relief, the snow leopard let go of him and relaxed a bit.

"I promise that you won't regret it." She gave him her hand for a shake and he shook it. "Well, I guess I can turn you into my secretary. You're perfect as my second in command for my enterprise."

Ash sighed and was thinking of the positives. And that was the biggest one, Enciades will be a free worker who is very competent. And he would basically have an iron grip on her.

"I also marked you as my mate already, but your skin is too hard. Are Onis really that durable?" She poked him and tried to check the elasticity of his skin, but it was essentially normal.

"Well, I guess it's an innate trait. Come on, call the clans and let's get this over with, what a pain." He scratched his head and she was ashamed of relying on him in order to keep the Silverash family afloat.

It was a massive blow to her pride as the matriarch of one of the three major clans in Kjerag. And with her status that is the equivalent to a duchess it was a demoralizing string of events.

"Walk tall Enciades." He propped her up, now that he looked at her. She was pretty tall, almost as tall as him even. She was 192 cm tall, a good 6'3. Enciades was speechless for a moment and she shook her head.

She nodded at him and put her game face on. Enciades swore in her mind that she'd fulfill her father's wishes and save Kjerag from eternal stagnation that will lead to destruction.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.