Arrival of the Royal Clan's Young Adventurers

Everyone present was stunned—thunderstruck by Helbram's final proposal.

That Finn should stay temporarily in the Sacred Dragon Family's territory to be protected and guided made sense. After all, he had shown unmatched promise.

But to take him as a personal student…

That was another matter entirely.

Who was Helbram, after all?

He was the king's right-hand man. The second strongest adventurer in the entire Sacred Dragon Kingdom—a 4th Level Sky Rank powerhouse whose life had spanned countless battles and triumphs. His knowledge of the world was immeasurable.

Any youth would have dreamed of studying under him.

And if Finn accepted, not only would he gain vast insights, he'd also secure the most coveted protection any clan could hope for.

Profound Rank or not, Finn's strength remained leagues below a Sky Rank Adventurer's.

Nearly every young contender watching felt a savage envy burn in their hearts. Their fists clenched as they tried to accept that no matter what they did, none could match Finn now.

Silence fell. The wind alone sighed across the scarred earth.

All eyes fixed on Finn, waiting for his reply.

Moments passed.

Then, slowly, Finn smiled.

"It is an honor," he began, his voice quiet but clear, "to be offered the chance to become your disciple. It is the dream of every young adventurer…"

He lowered his head a fraction, his tone softening.

"But I must apologize, Lord Helbram. I cannot accept."

A refusal.

A clear, unequivocal rejection.

Gasps swept the clearing.

Even the veteran adventurers' eyes went wide.

Reject Helbram's offer?

Madness.

This was a man revered throughout the kingdom—his influence second only to the king's. His knowledge, his authority—untold.

Why would Finn simply turn away?

Many thought he must be blinded by arrogance.

Yet there were a few whose brows furrowed in thought. Perhaps… he had a reason.

Helbram himself hadn't anticipated the answer. For a moment, he only stood there, caught off guard.

Then, slowly, he smiled—a wry, almost admiring smile.

"I did not expect you to refuse me so plainly," he said, voice low. "You are, without question, the most extraordinary young Adventurer I have encountered in my life."

A murmur of confusion rippled through the onlookers.

Instead of anger, Helbram praised him?

What was going on?

The older Adventurers were silent, their expressions thoughtful.

Perhaps, they were beginning to understand.

Finn did not want to be bound.

To accept Helbram's tutelage would mean accepting Helbram's guidance—and, inevitably, his expectations.

Expectations that could hinder Finn's plans.

For he had plans—ones no one could be allowed to interfere with.

Plans for revenge.

In the end, only one side could remain standing.

Either the Azure Wood Family would survive…

Or the Nine Ice Family and the Black Tiger Family would.

Nothing else would suffice.

Helbram had only made this proposal because he hoped to prevent the inevitable war.

He did not want a noble clan erased from the kingdom.

Nor did he want to see Finn—a prodigy unmatched—cut down by enmity.

So he tried, in his own way, to guide Finn onto a gentler path.

"Finn Doria," Helbram said earnestly, his voice dropping to a grave note, "I ask you to consider the state of the kingdom. If we do not stand together against the Crimson Blood Kingdom's encroachment, all will fall. Your clan among them."

"I can guarantee your safety—and theirs. But if you insist on pursuing vengeance against the Nine Ice Family… there will be limits to what I can do. The Sacred Dragon Family will not stand idle, and we will intervene if necessary."

"You are precious to us, Finn. But so, too, is the Nine Ice Family."

His eyes—usually so calm—held no trace of command or threat.

Only a deep, pained sincerity.

It was the duty of the king's right-hand man to keep the peace. To keep all the great clans and adventurers from tearing the kingdom apart.

And in this tangled feud… he saw no easy solution.

Finn closed his eyes, as if weighing the plea. When he opened them again, his gaze was cool, steady.

"Lord Helbram," he asked quietly, "if I were just an ordinary Adventurer… and war came between my clan and the Nine Ice Family… would the Royal Clan still intervene?"

A hush fell.

Every person there went still.

Because everyone knew the answer.

If Finn were a nobody…

The Azure Wood Family would already be gone.

No one would have raised a hand to stop it.

An Ordinary Clan was disposable.

That was the cruel truth.

And now, because Finn was not ordinary—because he mattered—they were all expected to pretend peace was the higher virtue.

Helbram stood, as if struck by lightning.

Then, with a weary, rueful smile, he said, "Is there truly no better way?"

Silence stretched as all waited on Finn's reply.

He was not an ignorant boy anymore. In this moment, he was the voice of the entire Azure Wood Family.

Finally, he looked up.

"There is a way," he said evenly. "But I doubt the Nine Ice Family would ever agree to it."

Every eye turned to Tiffanya, who stood pale and stricken, unable to meet Finn's gaze.

"If there is any chance at reconciliation, I am prepared to hear it," Sheeha of the Ice Feather Sect interjected gravely.

Her voice betrayed the tension coiling in her chest.

Because if war broke out, she knew she would be caught in the middle.

Finn turned his calm, unblinking stare to Tiffanya.

"The Nine Ice Family—and Tiffanya Frois—were responsible for the deaths of my clansmen," he said softly. "They butchered my people. They shamed my father and me before the entire kingdom."

"And so…"

"If you truly wish to beg forgiveness, you will kneel before the graves of the dead. All who were complicit—every last one of you."

"And if you want my personal pardon…"

"Then Tiffanya Frois, the family head, and every elder of the Nine Ice Family will kneel before my father."

"Only then will I consider this debt repaid."

A collective gasp.

And then—sighs.

Was Finn proposing to humiliate the entire Nine Ice Family before the kingdom?

Before the shock could settle, Tiffanya's voice rang out, shrill and furious.

"Finn Doria! You—!"

"I will never kneel before a grave or before anyone!"

Her pride was unyielding.

Finn only looked at her, his eyes unreadable.

"Finn Doria." Sheeha's voice was cold. "You may be the most gifted adventurer alive. But you would do well to remember—there are limits to what you can demand."

Slowly, Finn smiled.

His eyes locked onto hers—calm as a winter lake.

"Are you afraid, Sect Mistress Sheeha?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Afraid of what will happen if you must face the consequences of your choices?"

"You were one of the reasons all of this began. You—blinded by ambition—sought to control Tiffanya and her Ice Sky Pathway. You helped the Nine Ice Family try to erase me."

For a heartbeat, no one spoke.

Everyone had suspected the Ice Feather Sect's involvement.

But no one thought Finn would lay it bare here—in front of everyone.

Sheeha's face went scarlet.

"You dare accuse me?" she hissed, her finger trembling as it jabbed toward him. "You have no proof!"

Finn's smile didn't waver.

"No," he agreed. "But there is someone who told me the truth."

Someone?

Who could it be?

Many glanced at Noah, suspecting him.

But Noah's expression darkened. One name echoed in his thoughts.

Kiden.

Of course.

It had to be Kiden who had whispered these things to Finn.

And Kiden had always been too shrewd to underestimate the boy's ambition.

Finn turned back to Helbram, his tone steady.

"So, Lord Helbram… it seems neither the Nine Ice Family nor the Ice Feather Sect intends to accept my terms."

"Finn Doria," Helbram began, voice heavy, "your demands are too—"

He never finished.

A soldier sprinted up, saluted crisply, and announced:

"Lord Helbram! The princess and the two princes have arrived!"