Prelude to Attack

  After his breakthrough, Ryker spends the rest of the day stabilizing his cultivation. When he was done, he went to find his family. He easily found them, all at the dining hall, having dinner.

  He soon did the same. His group was seated with the patriarch and his family. Ariana took the chance to climb on top of the old man, who merely let the small girl play on his lap, a fond look on his face as the baby giggled in delight.

  He had some brief conversations, from the daily activities, to what happening inside the city and barony, to the current progress of the extermination of the four traitor families. Though he was mostly interested in the latest news.

  From Solail, he got to know that while they were able to capture most of the four family members, it was just the grunts and some low-level higher-ups. As to where the most important personnel is, it was something they couldn't determine, their ability to hide shows they had made some preparation in case they were outed so soon.

  Ryker wondered where those people were. He hoped that the uprooting would finish soon. He likes to have some quality time with his lovers and doing it in someone else house is beyond improper despite him doing it, though only touching Ina and the others.

  -x-

  "Damn it! How did they know about us!?" a Genesis Core expert yelled, his aura pushing down some of his subordinates all too afraid to say something.

  "From what I could tell, the Hal Family's young master escaped his ambushes and had warned his father about the Uru Family. Resulting in the situation, escalating.

  "Don't blame my family," one of the men, the leader of the Uru Family, said, "We had put much effort into killing him. We even send an elder to the Genesis Core only for him to be killed. If not for his luck in finding a very powerful ally, we wouldn't be here,"

  The others didn't bother to speak up. While they still blame his family, in the end, they put the most effort into killing the young master. If not for his having some backup, they would have succeeded, the reason why the Uru was given a slap on their wrist.

  "What should we do now? With how the security tightened, we couldn't even think of escaping. Even if we can escape, we still can't run fast enough from the Baron, Captain of Noble Guard and the Advisor," another patriarch told them.

  The four patriarchs shivered. While the most important person in the entire barony strength was known, the strength of his subordinates was not known to the general public. However, the powerful families know some of the secret strengths. 

  Their being allies allowed them to share what they knew. In the end, they learned of the higher strength of the Barony. 3 Genesis Source experts belong to the Noble House, 3 Genesis Source experts from the 3 Great Families, all of whom are the ancestors of the Family, and the Head and Vice-Heads of the Adventure Guild Branch are at the Genesis Source as well, the number also being three.

  All in all, there are 9 Genesis Source Experts though the last one wouldn't interfere, so the numbers would be around 6 Genesis Source experts. The enemy nation had around 5 experts of the sample level so the advantage belonged to the Mariz Barony.

  However, they knew that the enemy nation had made some preparations, the reason why they dared to invade the Mariz Barony. While they didn't know of the advantage, they decided to throw their lot with the enemies. So the Barony wouldn't allow them to get away.

  So, they were mostly stuck. With no way out. At least that was until one of them suggested one big attack. After thinking this through, they began to make their preparations, planning to make the culprit to their current state pay in full.

  -x-

  Ryker was busy taking a stroll in the garden of the estate, taking in the beautiful sights. He wished to do the same with his backyard and front yard as well but the fact is they would leave the barony one day, so he decided to not do it.

  He soon spotted Shuri, who waved at him, he returned it immediately. "Enjoying the garden?" she asked, Ryker replying to the inquiry quickly, "Yes, it is a beautiful garden," he gave his praise, the two walking side by side as they enjoyed the scenery.

  "By the way, where are your other family members?" he asked.

  "Father and uncle had gone to the Baron's Mansion, discussing some plan to lure out the remaining traitors. Grandfather and ancestor also followed them, the baron asking the strongest fighters from each great family to hit what they believe an important base in the outskirts, belonging to the enemy," she told him.

  Ryker nodded. "So, where is Solance?" "He currently taking some lessons with an elder regarding ways to lead the family. He is the future Family Head after all," she said, looking back at the garden.

  Ryker did the same, enjoying their time in the peaceful garden, not knowing of the danger coming their way.

-x-

  "Ah!"

  "Run away!"

  "No!"

  "Spare me! I'm willi- "

  Screamed can be heard as a big enemy base was destroyed by the collective might of 4 Genesis Source experts along with nearly a detachment of 30 Genesis Core experts. A huge number of guards with various cultivation realms are also present, with none being lower than 9th Stage Genesis Condensing.

  "To think they will put a Genesis Source expert so close to our city," the ancestor of the Gurdon Family exclaimed, surprised by their audacity and the fact they actually put such powerful experts near their enemy's main city.

  "Yes, at least he was killed with little casualties," the Captain of Noble Guard said. While a Genesis Source expert is hard to kill by others in the same realm, unless the disparity in the minor realm is too much, a group besieging a single expert in the same realm would lead to a quick death of the single expert.

  However, the base was rather big, making it a slightly worrying prospect as the enemy was somehow able to make a large base without their notice. In the end, the Gurdon Family spots the people moving to the base and informs their findings.

  The baron told the Great Families to assist in the attack and send in their strongest warriors. While the Great Families had been reluctant, though they did comply with the order, it turned out to be a sound decision as their strength allowed most of their men to leave with little to no injuries, the only death was 2 guards.

  Meanwhile, the Hal Family ancestor was busy interrogating a Uru Family member, who was busy laughing maniacally at him. 

  "I wonder why you can laugh even though you going to die soon," the ancestor said, cruising another knee with no mercy.

  The interrogatee continued laughing despite his destroyed knees, "It's because you didn't know the danger your family is in!"

  The ancestor and Solance's grandfather's hearts turned cold as the man continued telling them, 

  "As we speak, the remaining survivors are heading towards the Hal Family Estate, around 20 Genesis Core experts and 120 Genesis Foundation experts,"