Emperor's Reckoning

“Are you looking for something?” Cecile asked.

“Of course,” Lyon smiled. “I didn’t see that icy woman everywhere.”

“She is probably with her matriarch,” answered Cecile as she nibbed some food.

“Hmm, that’s going to be some awkward moment between them,” said Lyon. “I kinda felt bad for her to be honest.”

“Well, you did spasm blood to her face,” said Cecile as she chuckled.

“That’s not what I meant,” Lyon’s brows twitched. “I was talking about her circumstances with her mother.”

“I will warn you, Lyon,” said Cecile. “Don’t interfere with their relation, you will give us unnecessary problems.”

“Hey, I don’t like meddling with other people’s business, at least in general,” answered Lyon.

“That ‘in general’ is what causing our problems,” said Cecile before she sighed. “Every time a beautiful woman is involved, you always followed the sniff of your nose.”

“What? No, I’m not?!” said Lyon before he saw Cecile raising one of her brows. He pursed his lips before nodding, “alright, alright, maybe.”

“Though, I still can’t believe that you wasted the entire island,” Mavis chuckled. “Do you always destroy the place you visit?”

“I still can’t believe it big brother,” said Porealus as he shook his head.

“What’s there not to believe? He is my big brother, Lyon! The strongest there is!” Zet claimed firmly.

(Ah, yes, the fanboy) Porealus sighed.

(I don’t know how to feel about this one) thought Lyon as he sighed as well. “Assid.”

“At your service,” he answered and appeared right by his side.

“Have you done what I’ve told you?” Lyon asked.

The others furrowed their brows as they looked at him. They were sure that he was up to no good, especially with that smile on his face.

“Absolutely,” Assid answered.

“What are you up to this time?” asked Lumina as she furrowed her brows.

“Nothing,” Lyon grinned before he noticed Ivy and the matriarch joining from the staircase. “Oh, you’re back.”

Ivy squinted her eyes with a little furrow from her brows whilst her matriarch chuckled upon arrival.

“I see that you two are getting to know each other,” said the matriarch as she nudged Ivy’s elbow.

“It’s not like that!” answered Ivy.

“Hmph!” Lyon grinned as he crossed his arms, “You’re one to talk when you always have that thick veil covering your face.”

“Oh my, such aggressive tone young master Lyon,” the matriarch chuckled.

“Don’t tease me,” Lyon squinted his eyes.

“Surely you’re not interested in me,” said the matriarch as she feign a fear with her fist clasped on her chest. “I’m but a matriarch of a huge clan, my face must have rotten in your eyes due to the stress of handling such heavy responsibility, please don’t jest.”

“Better be careful with your words there,” said Cecile with her dimples on, “My husband is not the kind of person that would shy away from food given on a silver plate.”

“Then perhaps I should stop here,” the matriarch chuckled.

Lyon pushed his bottom lip upward before the two of them joined in.

“Young master Mavis, do you have any plans in visiting the Mortal World?” Carius asked.

Porealus froze (Damn old man, I never knew you’re thick-skinned). However, he was too keen to know Mavis’s answer, just like the rest of them.

“Hmm, I can’t promise you anything but maybe someday I will,” Mavis nodded with a smile.

“Then can you bring gifts when the time comes?” asked Lyon.

The rest of them immediately gawked upon his response. (Damn, he has thicker skin) thought Porealus as his face reddened. (Damn it! Why am I embarrassed!).

“Hahaha! Sure, why not! I will try to bring a plethora of them!”

“Try?” Lyon raised his brows.

“Err, promise, I will promise!” answered Mavis.

(He got him!) thought Porealus in his disbelief of what had just transpired. (It’s amazing how he kept his cool despite facing a prominent figure from the Sixth Heaven).

“Young master Mavis, we are all looking for you…” a stern voice was heard.

All of their heads turned to see a group of three men wearing a unique garment but had the same color scheme as Mavis.

“Were you?” Mavis raised his brows with a smile. “What’s the sudden arrival, I thought that father would leave me be?”

“It is a sudden summon,” said one from the center.

“Really now?” Mavis raised his brows as he smiled.

“You should go, Mavis, don’t let me stop you,” added Lyon as he waved his hand.

The men nodded before the leader said his gratitude, “Thank you for your understanding—We must go, young master Mav—”

“If you’re an idiot that is.”

The party froze the moment they heard what Lyon had just said. They already saw how he destroyed the First Hall, heard how he wasted an entire island with a mighty beast residing in it. Now, in the Third Hall where everyone was eating happily, he offended the men from the Sky Clan upon their arrival.

Hilde was aghast as she gulped her food with slight tears in her eyes. She looked at the man that did the impossible with his arm crossed and his chin raised. (Is the Third Hall next?! Are you serious?!).

The men glared at Lyon with their brows furrowed. “Are you insulting, the Sky Clan?”

The ones eating on the first floor had their ears perked up.

“Oi, that’s where the kunpeng team is at…”

“Ye-Yeah… I saw them walking upstairs with my own eyes.”

“Are those three going to start a fight? Didn’t they know that the leader was rumored to have destroyed the—?!”

They opened their eyes wide before standing up. “We need to get out of here!”

Lyon smirked as they heard the hustle and bustle from the first floor trying to make it outside the Third Hall.

“Are you challenging the Sky Clan?” asked the leader as his presence ignited.

“Are you challenging my young master?” Kesya grinned before she raised her brows and her presence pulverized his like burning paper.

He opened his eyes wide before taking a step back. (This woman! An elf?! This strong?! Is she one of the elites?!).

“O-Oi…” Porealus smiled wryly, “Are we really?”

“I will let this slide—young master, we need to go,” said the man in the center.

Hilde let out a sigh of relief.

“Are you chickening out?” added Lyon as Hilde’s eyes bulged and challenged its sockets. (What the hell are you doing?!).

(Did he figure something we didn’t?) thought Cherie as she contemplated. (Does he know these men? No, from their exchange words, it seems not likely… then… what is it? Did I miss a little detail? I must have, but what is it?).

“Looks like we need to teach you a lesson to respect the Sky Clan,” said the man in charge.

“Are you going to take a fight here? At the Alchemy Union?” asked Lyon as he raised his shoulders.

“You are the one inciting this fight, I’m sure you understand what that means,” the man smirked.

“I wouldn’t recommend having a bout with this guy,” commented Mavis as he smiled.

“Y-Young master, is he your friend?” the man wide-eyed.

“What do you think?”

“Kh, I deeply apologize for my unworthy presence,” the man bowed with his heart palpitating before the two men followed.

“Now, this is some level of dedication,” added Cecile as she put down her glass.

“What?” the party was confused.

“Hahaha!” Mavis laughed. “I never thought that you would pick it up too, you husband and wife sure is scary.”

“It’s all in the details,” Assid pushed his glasses.

Mavis laughed. “I await the day where you meet Yuri.”

“Huh? Who’s that?” Lyon raised his brows.

“You will know,” Mavis nodded before he addressed the three men. “Now, then, this isn’t the first time I deal with this kind of thing, and you really put in some effort.”

“W-What’s going… on?” Hilde asked.

“If a hotshot like Mavis’s father wants to summon him, why would he use another to get him?” Cecile smiled. “He could just use the Summoning Ruby Stone.”

The party had their eyes widened before the leader of the three men threw a needle at Mavis from such a short distance.

Mavis opened his narrowed eyes before a hand grabbed the thin seamless needle.

“Nice catch, Graham,” Lyon smirked.

“Tch!” The three men leaped backward before reaching out their Returning Jade Stone. “Huh?!”

They saw the same elf leaping toward them with a grin on her smile and darkness on her hair. Her hands were opened with destructive claws that reflected their death.

“Guha!!”

Their screams were heard as no jade light was seen shooting out from the first floor.

“Since you promise me a gift, I will give you one first,” said Lyon as he smiled. “Kesya.”

“Here ya go,” Kesya threw all of their Returning Jade Stones before Mavis caught them. He grinned (Yuri, you have to meet this one!).