Noble Status

As tensions ran high around Fanmuir, a tall, commanding figure entered the grand hall, accompanied by Lucie Orleans, head of the Orleans family. This was Adam Alexandros, the Deputy Director of France's External Security Bureau and head of the EU Special Intelligence Agency's French division. He had been sent by his father, Caesar Alexandros, to represent the family at Thomas Orleans' seventieth birthday celebration.

Adam Alexandros had been riding a wave of success recently. Since his encounter with Fanmuir, not only had he fully recovered from his injuries, but his martial abilities had advanced to the transformative level of a martial warrior. And thanks to the two elixirs gifted by Fanmuir, his progress had been nothing short of miraculous. Dividing each pill into five portions, Adam endured ten days of grueling transformation, leaving him on the cusp of becoming a heavenly martial warrior.

He had no plans to bother Fanmuir, especially after learning his true identity through a slip-up by his older brother, Andrea Alexandros. That revelation had made Adam realize how reckless he had been in their first meeting.

Here's what happened: Adam, curious about Fanmuir's background and his connection to their father, approached Andrea with questions. When Andrea heard how Adam had involved Fan in governmental matters, he was furious. The guest pass Andrea had issued to Fanmuir was purely a courtesy, not an invitation to serve the government. Now, thanks to Adam's intervention, the sacred figure of Fanmuir had been tied to mundane bureaucratic tasks.

Andrea's rage was explosive, leaving Adam rattled. It wasn't until Adam mentioned the two elixirs Fan had given him that Andrea calmed down, recognizing that Fan had been gracious enough not to take offense at Adam's recklessness.

When Adam stepped into the hall and spotted the tense standoff near Fanmuir, his heart sank. He hadn't expected Fan to be here, let alone looking so visibly displeased. Memories of their first encounter came rushing back—Fanmuir's sheer presence had been enough to incapacitate a room of elite operatives. That moment had seared itself into Adam's memory.

If Fanmuir lost his temper now, it wasn't unthinkable that the entire hall could be leveled. Worse, Adam knew that as a junior in this scenario, it was his duty to step in and defuse the situation.

Without hesitation, Adam made his way toward the commotion, ignoring Lucie Orleans' startled protests.

"Adam, let the young ones handle it. We don't need to intervene," Lucie said, puzzled by Adam's urgency.

But Adam brushed him off. Modern hierarchies might have softened, but he understood the gravity of Fanmuir's presence. Recognizing he had no choice, Lucie reluctantly followed behind.

Fanmuir, of course, had sensed Adam's arrival long before he entered. "Good timing," he thought. Though annoyed, Fanmuir knew better than to escalate matters in a setting like this. Even under a fabricated identity, his role as the Hershwell family's leader and the Alexandros lineage's master demanded a certain decorum. A crude confrontation would not befit his station.

"Don't reveal my identity. Let's keep it simple—treat me as a senior from the Alexandros family. And make sure to put these arrogant fools in their place," Fanmuir's calm yet commanding voice resonated in Adam Alexandros' ears as he approached. Adam couldn't help but chuckle wryly to himself. Of all people, these clueless rich kids decided to mess with the head of the Hershwell family? Truly, they have no idea who they're dealing with.

As a loyal member of the Alexandros family, Adam felt outraged on Fanmuir's behalf. A part of him wished he could deal with these insolent brats himself, imagining that such actions might earn him Fanmuir's favor—and maybe even another dose of those miraculous elixirs. Adam had already experienced their transformative effects firsthand, and he knew they were likely the reason his elder brother Andrea Alexandros' martial prowess now matched their father Caesar's.

With these thoughts in mind, Adam's normally composed demeanor was replaced by a barely concealed excitement. His steps felt lighter, and his gaze toward Fanmuir was one of reverence, as though he were looking at a treasure trove of limitless potential.

Naiden, meanwhile, misread Adam's approach entirely. Assuming that Adam had come to back him up and expose Fanmuir's "fraud," he stepped forward confidently. "Director, it's great to see you! This guy here is claiming to be part of your Alexandros family!" Naiden pointed smugly at Fanmuir, his tone dripping with disdain.

Paul Orleans and his group watched the scene with eager anticipation, their assumptions seemingly confirmed by Helena's worried expression and Adam's purposeful stride. Paul, in particular, could barely contain his glee, certain that Fanmuir's humiliation was imminent.

But Adam felt nothing but anger at Naiden's audacity. This fool! How dare he point fingers at Fanmuir, the strongest member of the Alexandros family? If he's calling Fanmuir an impostor, then what does that make me?

Adam suppressed his frustration, knowing he needed to act with decorum. While he privately thought Fanmuir deserved the highest reverence—perhaps even a formal prostration—he recalled Fanmuir's request to keep things discreet. In such a public setting, bowing too deeply might attract unnecessary attention.

Nonetheless, Adam straightened his suit, bowed deeply at a precise ninety-degree angle, and greeted Fanmuir with utmost respect. "Disciple Adam Alexandros pays his respects to the elder."

The room fell silent. Everyone was stunned.

Adam's unexpected display of reverence left the gathered crowd utterly speechless. Here was one of the most prominent figures in France—both in government and among the martial families—bowing deeply to a man they had just mocked moments earlier. Yet here he was, showing an unimaginable level of respect to Fanmuir.

Even Lucie Orleans, who had accompanied Adam into the venue, was left bewildered by the scene unfolding before him.

Adam Alexandros' display of respect for Fanmuir had already left the room in stunned silence, but what came next was even more shocking. Nelson Mason, the self-proclaimed golden boy of the Mason family, boldly stepped forward, completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Pointing at Fanmuir, he shouted at Adam Alexandros, "Director, that man is pretending to be a member of the Alexandros family! You've got it wrong!"

Adam couldn't believe what he was hearing. Despite his clear show of deference to Fanmuir, this arrogant fool still had the nerve to speak out. Now, it made perfect sense why Fanmuir had been so displeased.

The crowd stared at Nelson Mason as though he were a complete idiot. Even Paul Orleans and his group, who had been all too eager to embarrass Fanmuir earlier, now understood they had picked a fight with the wrong person. Their smug expressions had vanished, replaced by uneasy silence.

Naiden, on the other hand, looked as though he might faint. His face was pale, and panic was written all over it. If even Adam Alexandros—his superior's superior—was treating Fanmuir with such respect, what kind of disaster had Naiden just brought upon himself? What was I thinking? Why didn't I keep my mouth shut? he thought, praying in vain for the chance to undo his actions.

Adam Alexandros fixed his cold, piercing gaze on Nelson Mason. "You're Nelson Mason, right? The eldest son of the Mason family?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with authority.

Nelson's chest swelled with pride, believing his family name had earned him recognition. "Yes, that's me," he replied, his tone smug. "It's an honor to be known by you, Director."

But his smugness didn't last long. Adam's next words landed like a thunderclap.

"No wonder the Mason family has been in decline lately. With an heir like you, how could they not?" Adam's voice was icy, and his words carried a sharp edge of disdain.

After a brief pause, he added with finality, "Go back and tell your father this: all Alexandros family businesses will immediately cease cooperation with the Mason family."

The words hit Nelson like a sledgehammer. His self-satisfied grin disappeared in an instant, replaced by a look of utter despair. The room buzzed with murmurs of disbelief, and for the first time, Nelson realized the true consequences of his arrogance.

When Fanmuir had ordered Adam Alexandros to teach these people a lesson, Adam wasn't about to show mercy. While the Four Great Families were influential, their combined strength still paled compared to the Hershfield family and the Alexandros clan.

The Four Families, deeply intertwined, understood that what harmed one could hurt them all. So, when Adam made his declaration, Lucius Orleans quickly realized the potential fallout. He stepped forward to de-escalate, fearing Adam might take things too far. After all, the ultimate authority in the Alexandros clan rested with Adam's father, Caesar Alexandros.

"Adam, let's not blow this out of proportion," Lucius said diplomatically. "It's a misunderstanding. These young people didn't realize they were addressing a senior member of the Alexandros clan. It's not entirely their fault."

But Adam wasn't having it. He stood coldly, his gaze locked on Nelson Mason, who was now visibly trembling with fear.

Lucius, as a family patriarch himself, wasn't used to being dismissed. Feeling slightly insulted, he said with a touch of irritation, "Adam, perhaps you should call Andrea. Decisions like this regarding the Alexandros clan's external affairs aren't yours to make."

It was true that Adam didn't hold final authority over the Alexandros clan's business dealings. However, what Lucius failed to grasp was that the man standing before them—Fanmuir—was the true master of the Alexandros clan. His word was law, and even the highest-ranking members of the clan, including Andrea, would obey without hesitation.

If Andrea were to hear that someone had insulted Fanmuir, his reaction would likely be far more severe than simply severing business ties. Andrea had once nearly taken his own life in remorse for offending Fanmuir and had even considered eliminating Adam Alexandros for dragging Fanmuir into governmental matters.

Seeing no objections from Fanmuir—who even appeared to approve of his actions—Adam had no intention of retracting his statement.

Had it not been for the longstanding relationship between the Alexandros clan and the Orleans family, Adam might have already suggested severing ties with them as well. Paul Orleans' involvement in the incident had not gone unnoticed. If Adam had known that Paul was the mastermind, he would've likely called for the Orleans family to face consequences, too.

Carefully weighing his words, Adam responded to Lucius, "That won't be necessary. If Andrea were to step in, the outcome would likely be the same—or even worse."

Lucius, however, remained unconvinced. Nelson Mason's pitiful pleas only strengthened his resolve. While Lucius felt there was more to this than met the eye, he couldn't see what made Fanmuir special. To him, the young man was probably just a senior member of the Alexandros clan, and Adam was being overly cautious.

With a mix of frustration and skepticism, Lucius dialed Andrea and explained the situation.

Andrea, hearing the details, was perplexed. Why would Adam, known for his measured decision-making, act so drastically? But then a thought struck him, and his heart raced. Could Fanmuir be there in Paris?

Frightened by the possibility, Andrea urgently asked, "Lucius, is that young man's name Fanmuir?"