Undercurrent

In the dark of the night, a study room in the Grey family's mansion was still lit.

Albert was seen tapping on his desk impatiently.

Edric was standing obediently on the side like a little mouse. He knew his father was in a bad mood.

He had told his father about his humiliation and near-death experience during the day. He didn't forget to twist the story of his life on campus and make himself out to be the victim and Leon as the bully.

He wanted to borrow his father's hand to kill Leon, since he didn't have the capability himself.

Albert was furious and sent his steward out for the job. Of course he didn't believe everything his son told him. He understood his son's character well.

His son nearly dying should be true enough. That reason alone was sufficient to warrant Leon a death sentence from him. He only had one son and heir. Even if his son was a complete disappointment, he was his son nonetheless.

Having learnt that Leon was a commoner with the strength of a 4th or greater, Albert had his doubts.

Wasn't the little bastard from the Golden Lion gang also in possession of similar strength? They were both young as well. Could there be such coincidences in the world? He didn't believe it.

Albert had inferred that Leon was the young boss of the Golden Lion gang from those small clues. Even Leon would be shocked if he knew his secret identity had been so easily compromised. He would have regretted not disguising his voice.

Just when their investigation couldn't garner any results on the background of the Golden Lion gang boss, his son gave him such important intel. His son wasn't completely useless after all.

Albert didn't hesitate to send his steward Gael to finish the job. A well trained 5th step awakener should be more than enough to take care of the little bastard!

He still had a stomach full of anger whenever he thought of that arrogant and contemptuous letter he received a while ago.

However, he was a proud noble at the 7th step and wasn't willing to take action himself. What would others think of him if he was forced to take action himself?

A whole day had passed and the steward had yet to return. This wasn't good news for him. Even if the steward decided to take action at night, he should have long finish the task and brought the little bastard's head back for him.

When the time clocked over midnight, Albert grabbed his coffee cup and smashed it on the ground, startling Edric.

"Gael is dead." Albert said darkly.

"That's impossible! That commoner can't possibly be that strong!"

Albert was in deep thought as he had to reevaluate Leon. He went from a nameless commoner to a powerful awakener capable of killing his 5th step steward.

It wasn't rare for people to be able to naturally awaken, but most resort to pills to awaken quickly to get the head start. The nobles knew that the pills would cut their lifespan each time they take it, but it did not deter them from doing so.

The one with the bigger fist, has the bigger say and the weak would just be stepped on and bullied. No one was willing to be weaker than the others, especially the higher the status they held.

Albert no longer felt anger for his steward's death as greed filled his being. There must be some great secret on Leon's body to allow him to advance his strength so quickly.

He had no intention of sharing his discovery with his fellow corrupted nobles as he plan to take the secret for himself.

He stood up excitedly.

"Where are you going, father?"

"Treasure hunting. Go wake up all of the servants and tell them to gather in the courtyard for me." Since his steward was no longer around, he ordered his son. Albert did not grieve for the steward who had accompanied his for 3 dozen odd years. He was a cold and ruthless person.

"A-All of them? Wouldn't mobilizing such a large force alarm the others? Do you not fear alarming the Queen, father?" Edric was confused and fearful.

"So what if that Demon is alarmed? She would be no match for the 9th step ancestors of the other 3 families if she leaves her palace." Albert snorted. The four corrupted nobles have entered an alliance and called themselves the 4 great families. They were namely; the Grey family, Weld family, Esmond family and Acker family.

They don't fear the queen anymore, but if she turtle herself in the palace then there was nothing they could do. In her palace, she was invincible.

"What?" Edric widen his eyes in shock. The queen was a peak existence in his understanding. He had thought that her position was unshakable along with the Duke and his wife siding with her.

He had no idea that the other 3 great families all had a peak existence as well. The power of both sides are roughly equal. "What about our family?"

"We are a bit behind. Your grandfather is still at the 8th step." However the secret on Leon's body could be the impetus he needed to push through to the last hurdle to the 9th step.

"Huh? Grandfather wasn't dead yet?" Edric hadn't seen his grandfather in many years.

"What!? Nonsense! How dare you curse your grandfather!" Albert smack him on the back if the head and glared at him. "He had been in secluded training all this time."

"Oh...I'm sorry, father." He apologized after being reprimanded. But he became confused about another matter.

If his friends, Adrian Esmond and Cayden Weld both had peak existences in their family, why did they willingly treat him as the big brother of the trio? Did they butter him up so he could carelessly spill family secrets to them? Did they treat him like an idiot?

Edric's expression darkened as his thoughts came to that conclusion. He should be more careful around these so-called 'friends' of his. It is fortunate that his father didn't trust him with important matters. The alliance's unity wasn't as strong as he thought... which makes sense. There were 4 families but only one throne. They would end up fighting each other after they topple the royal family.

"Go now!"

"Y-Yes!" Edric snapped of his thoughts and did and ran to wake the servants.

...

"Ugh..." Leon groaned as he woke up in an unfamiliar room and his body bandaged. He didn't make further sound and movements as he surveyed his surrounding with vigilance.

He noticed his left hand was held by someone. He traced the hand to the person's body and realized who it is.

'It seems Teacher Lina was the one who found me and brought me back home.' He thought as he looked at her sleeping face on the side of the bed, while the rest of her body laid uncomfortably on the floor.

The flowery scent of the bed entered his nose as he realized it was her own bed he was laying on. He was touched by her care.

Hold on... where's Mia? He searched the room only to realized she was sleeping soundly right next to him.

One could still see the dried tears on the corners of her eyes. She must have been really scared for his sake. The concept of being alone again was probably scarier than death for her.

He rubbed her head gently. Little Mia was too tired to be affected by Leon affectionate head rub, but his small movement woke Lina up instead.

Yawn~ Lina felt very tired having slept in such an uncomfortable position, but she seem to be energized the moment her eyes rested on another pair of eyes staring right back at her.

"Erm..." They both slowly shifted their gaze down to her hand that was still tightly hold on his.

"Ahh! This isn't what it looks like!" Lina exclaimed as she release her grip in a sudden manner.

Her movement jolted his left arm as he groaned in pain.

"I-I'm sorry... are you okay?"

"I'm okay..." Leon smiled wryly. Of course he wasn't okay, but he will just suck it up like a man. He glanced at Mia, whom was still in deep sleep.

"Where is the body of the other person that was with me?" He jumped straight to the important issue.

"Ah? You mean the Grey family's steward? I left it where it was. What exactly happened between you two?" She naturally was going to bring a cold corpse back home. Why would she want to carry the corpse of a middle aged man?

Leon didn't hear her second question as his eyes turned sharp. So it was the Grey family after all! He wasn't curious how she knew. Social gathering and tea party wasn't uncommon among nobles.

He didn't go looking for trouble with the Grey family, but they came looking for him! Under his true identity no less. Edric's image crossed his mind.

He should have killed him sooner.

Leon did not know that danger was drawing closer and his identity as the gang leader was already exposed.

Leon was thinking how to take his revenge on the grey family. Haven't they been exploiting commoners for many years? Their treasure vault would surely be stacked with riches.

He was lacking resources to manage his gang and improve his cultivation and could surely use those riches. He has his Book of Life's world space. It had a lot of space for storage.

'You people better pray I don't find my way into your vault or else there would be nothing left!' Leon mentally swore.