Captivity

Austin's proposal was constructive and sincere. However, he was then dragged out and beheaded, his body thrown to feed the ferocious beasts. It's tragic that despite his devotion to the family, he met such an ignoble end. With Austin's death, the countdown to the family's downfall began. The family head, dismissing the most viable option for survival, chose to confront the issue head-on. Austin's words, taken seriously, compelled belief, and after much consideration, the message was relayed to the other three families.

If Lord Serpent truly was killed, then that man was no ordinary individual. He wouldn't just be a standard S-rank Awakened; at the very least, he'd be a highly specialized S-rank. His strength was formidable; otherwise, he wouldn't dare challenge the Austin family. Facing such a potential powerful enemy, the best strategy was to unite with the other three families.