Chapter 132 Doubt

Just as the sun was reaching it's peak, the silent halls echoed with a chime.

In the middle of a grand hall, a large group of people sat. And at the end of the table, a large throne sat accompanied by a smaller seat to his right.

As the people sat on their seats remained silent,  the person sat at the large throne then spoke.

"Now that we are all here... I declare this meeting to start." Said Lord Jade in a respectable, yet domineering tone.

A long silence resonated in the room, not a single soul daring to speak a single word.

Then, a young lady spoke out, her voice slightly wavering. "May I ask... what actions have been taken to achieve justice for my... the previous family head?"

Seeing the young lady holding back her emotions, the other family heads turned their attentions to Lord Jade sat at his throne.

With a stern tone, he spoke. "I have already sent people to try and figure out why and how they got in."

"..." The young lady did not reply and only sat silently on her seat.

Then, an older and more experienced family spoke out. "May I ask what this meeting is about exactly, Lord Jade? Everybody knows that these recent activities are all connected, yes?"

Everybody else nodded in unison.

Then, Lord Jade then replied. "I'm going to say it right now. We are under attack."

"..."

"..."

"..."

After a few moments of silence, another person asked. "Lord Jade, is the reason for this meeting to share information with each other?"

"Yes."

"Then, may I ask... what do we know about the enemy?"

After a bit of a silence, Lord Jade answered. "That's precisely what makes me worried. We know the enemy is here, but we know basically nothing about them. Thoughts?"

"...Are the surrounding mountains still guarded?"

"Guarded as much as we can. The terrain works for us and against us."

"I see..."

Then, another one spoke out. "If they are not in the mountains... they must be in the city then."

After that certain statement finished, a long, deep silence engulfed the room.

The birds chirped outside.

The wild, gentle wind blew into the room.

Yet, the people in the room seemed to have been frozen in time.

A few minutes passed, no one daring to speak.

The family heads remained silent on their seats.

Even Lord Jade himself and Jade, who sat beside him, uttered a single word.

Even the people off to the side, remained silent.

The most trusted advisor that every family head brought, remained silent.

Everyone was silent, all except for a certain group of people.

Standing with the advisors off to the side, seven people were standing guard.

It was Brad, Shan, Dianne, Kenny, Sumsa, Joan, and Deniss.

Simultainously, both Sumsa and Deniss sneezed into their hands, breaking the silence that enveloped the room.

Everyone slowly turned their attention to the two and the others with them.

Feeling the entire weight of the room bearing down onto them, the two of them bowed and said. "I'm sorry."

Hearing the sincerity in their voices, everyone took their attention away from them.

As the advisors and Jade's seven 'goons' continued to stand from the side, keeping guard and awaiting orders, the family heads all glared at each other.

Their gazes simultainously filled with calmness and suspicions.

As the family heads all glared at each other, Lord Jade remained quiet and just observed from his throne.

He then casually took a glance to his right, looking directly at Jade, who sat next to him.

As Lord Jade glanced at her, he saw her expression blank and expressionless, yet he saw something about her that he did not bring attention to.

Turning his head away from her, without her even noticing he was looking at her, Lord Jade faced the family heads that are still glaring at each other before him.

And with a clear, loud, commanding tone, he stated. "Enough."

Almost immediately, everyone in the room stiffed and corrected their postures. But, even though the family heads are no longer glaring at each other, the feeling of distrust still loomed over the room.

Then, Lord Jade spoke once more. "You are all free to speak. If you want to say something, then say it."

After another long, excruciating silence later, a family head then spoke.

"Lord Jade, may I have your permission to be a little presumptuous?"

"You have my permission."

"Thank you, Your Excellency. May I ask... if your Excellence has already prepared a force?"

"Yes." Lord Jade replied in a straightforward manner, needing no further explanation.

Then, the family head then rose from his chair, saying in a proud, confident tone. "I, the current head of the flying boar family, give my full permission willingly to Lord Jade's troops in order for them to search all of our properties as a sign of loyalty and trust."

With a nod, Lord Jade stated. "Very well. It shall be done immediately in order to cause the least amount of inconvinience to you and your family."

Right after he finished, another family head stood up, saying the exact same thing in the exact same manner. "I, the family head of the clawing moles, shall also give full access to our properties as a sign of trust."

One after another, the family heads all took turns in giving their permission to Lord Jade.

While this was happening, a certain group from the sidelines began to converse.

"Oh, look at the way he sits on that throne."

"Ooh yes...!"

"Look at the way he spreads his legs."

"Ooooh yes...!"

"Look at the way he asserts his dominance over everyone in the room."

"Mmm, yes...!"

"He is definitely worthy of the title of 'Lord Papa Jade'."

"Oooh, yeah~!"

"He is giving his balls so much room to stretch despit-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Kenny took a blow to the back of the head, courtesy of Dianne and Shan. But, no one touch his accomplices, mainly Joan, Brad and Deniss.

As Sumsa continued to space out and try to figure out the meaning of life, a few individuals' attention got caught due to the commotion.

Mainly, a particular person, who then took his turn and said with a confident tone. "I, Lord Fang, the current head of the fang family, give my outmost permission to Lord Jade. But... may I ask a question, Lord Jade?"

Lord Jade turned and looked at him, saying. "Go on, Lord Fang."

Receiving permission, Lord Fang continued, addressing the whole room. "I consider everyone here as my family like brothers and sisters, experienced or not, old or young, I treat everyone here with trust and respect."

"But... I can't help but notice..."

Slowly, Lord Fang turned his attention towards Kenny and his group, dragging everyone's attention with him.

"Not everyone here is welcome. Outsiders."

Hearing the intention in his voice, Kenny and the other six tried to remain calm, but their auras stated otherwise.

Also hearing his intent, Jade snapped out of her pondering state and was about to say something while looking incredibly angry.

But, before she could do so, Lord Jade stopped her before saying . "Lord Fang, do you not trust them?"

"With complete honesty, yes, Lord Jade."

With a serious expression, Lord Jade then declared. "Very well. Dianne."

Taking a step forward, Dianne kneld to the ground as she answered. "Yes, Lord Jade."

"Take everyone from your group and go answer a few questions my men will ask you. Any questions?"

With all seven of them kneeling in a neat line, they replied. "No, Lord Jade."

Lord Jade then turnes his attention to Lord Fang, asking. "Is this enough to gain your trust, Lord Fang?"

With a nod, Lord Fang stated. "I trust your ways, Lord Jade."

But right after hearing that, Lord Jade turned his attention back towards the seven people kneeling, ordering them. "After everyone of you are cleared, your group shall be the one to lead the search group in the Fang's estate. Any complaints?"

All together, the seven of them replied. "No, Lord Jade."

Lord Jade then turned his attention back to Lord Fang, who is just standing there calmly.

"I also have no complaints, Lord Jade." He stated.

After giving him a slight nod, Lord Jade then spoke. "Are there anymore concerns?"

"No, Lord Jade."

"Very well. Then, I call this meeting over! Now, go! Protect these lands with your lives!"

"Yes, Lord Jade!"