Baan

Genghis Baan asked. "So it is about the your past worries and the current state of the battle for succession? Are you regretting your choice back then?"

Rufus shook his head. "No, I will announce to the family soon about his death. It has been delayed enough already, right now I am just worried about the current heirs as I do not wish for history to repeat itself once again. I wish that it was not the case but even if I am more involved this time, it still seems to be slowly making its way towards that destination. Just like with me.. and my children.. just now it is my grandchildren."

Baan shook his head. "You should not blame yourself too much about how things are, only one can take the place at the top of the family but I know you still have guilt in your heart about how your son turned out.. so who is the one that has troubled you and caused you to hesitate about this? You were usually so firm and strict about your families way of doing things."

Rufus looked surprised and then nodded. "Mm.. I think I may have changed these past few years. It is due to an oddity within my family that is destined to face much targeting and ridicule because of her differences and her inability to inherit the family head position even though she has the blood of the main line. Her talents in many areas are outstanding and she has a unique body that has more potential with her Sulong form and her Electro so I do not wish to see her talents be wasted, suppressed or destroyed by those that see her as a threat."

Baan looked thoughtful. "Hmm.. so she is a great talent but she is the odd one out in the family. I see why you have come to me. You want my help to come up with a solution?"

Rufus nodded. "Yes please. If it is possible, I need someone who can support and provide an extra layer of protection for her until she can mature. I believe that her potential could be even greater than Duke Dogstorm and Cat Viper but if she remains within the family without any support then it could end badly either way.

He meant that the elders or the maternal families belonging to the main heirs would begin to protest and put further pressure on him to remove her from the family registry or it could turn worse as the bullying and scorn could turn Pixel against the family which would result in them breaking ties completely or a large battle in order to get her revenge.

Rufus had lived his younger years as a main heir and had went through the same succession battle so he knew what kind of tactics could be used.

He had been the brave one who had spared his siblings rather than killing them but it was also the wrong decision in the end.

They had banded together with some elders to trap and kill him and his allies so they could seize power but their alliances would only last so long after they had eliminated their common enemy.

Once he was gone, they would be left to fight among themselves due to their own greed and differences.

He had survived and had eliminated them all without showing mercy the second chance that he had to choose but it had left him with an indifferent approach towards his family and he had only focussed on official business of the family.

Due to his distance, his children had to go through the harsh battle for succession when their time had come and they had to deal with a distant father that never had time for them.

His efforts were not in vain and he was able to rebuild the family back up from the damage that had been done by the betrayal back then.

The problem was that while he had worked on strengthening the family and working upon many external matters of the family, he had neglected the internal ongoings of the family due to his own personal scars.

Many children were taught to be ruthless and to show no mercy just like their father had if they wished to inherit the position of head and be able to survive b their parents or the elders so the battle for succession was much more fierce.

Pixel's and the other young heir's father had emerged as the victor but what happened next would only put a bigger emotional scar on Rufus.

Baan nodded. "Let me meet her and then I will try to think of how we should proceed."

Rufus showed a look of relief. "Thank you."

He got up after finishing his meal and bowed before leaving. "I have to go and tell the family part of the truth."

Baan shook his head as Rufus had left. "Even if he told the whole truth there would be nobody that would blame him. It was a difficult choice to make but it was for the good of our race. I wish he would not blame himself too much, even if he had been a better parent back then.. the results may have been the same. It cannot be blamed on him but I do hold another party responsible. However I have no proof of their involvement in the events of the past."