Chapter 576 - 575: Prelude to the war 1

Chapter 576: Chapter 575: Prelude to the war 1

When they appeared, both the Grand Elder and the Ancestor stood at the core of the Molak Family.

A simple wooden cottage sat quietly at the center of the area.

The Ancestor pointed toward a stone table.

"Have a seat," the Ancestor said.

The Grand Elder bowed respectfully.

The two of them sat down as the Grand Elder spoke first.

"I thank the Ancestor for appearing and saving both me and the rest of the Molak Family from the Black Hawk Organization," the Grand Elder began with a bitter smile.

"I also apologize for not being strong enough. Even after breaking through to the Quasi Rank 1 Realm, I still couldn’t relieve the Ancestor of this burden."

"You did well, Riua. I never expected Caesar to break through to the Second Step, but after today’s events... it all makes sense," the Ancestor said as his eyes narrowed.

At first, he had doubted Caesar.

After all, without an unimaginably rare opportunity, Caesar should have remained at Peak Rank 0 for the rest of his life.

That was an established fact.

When he first sensed Caesar’s aura during the invasion, he assumed the latter had simply encountered a great fortune.

But reaching the Second Step?

That was suspicious.

After witnessing everything today, however...

It finally made sense.

Not only Caesar’s strength, but also the overwhelming support behind the mysterious organization and its ability to control so many powerful forces.

"Thank you, Ancestor," Riua replied respectfully.

"But if I may ask..."

"Why did the Ancestor allow Caesar to leave?"

"The fact that he dared to attack the Molak Family today means that even if he is spared now, he may return again in the future."

Riua looked at the Ancestor seriously.

He wasn’t asking simply because he wanted to know why Caesar had been spared.

The real question was...

What had stopped the Ancestor from killing him?

He had clearly seen the Ancestor gather an attack powerful enough to erase Caesar from existence.

Yet after glancing toward a certain direction...

He had stopped.

Why?

For the first time, Riua had seen the normally calm Ancestor reveal such a solemn expression.

He knew things were far more complicated than they appeared.

Even now, when he asked the question...

The Ancestor frowned.

"Riua..."

"The Mortal Realm is..." the Ancestor paused.

Just hearing those few words caused Riua’s heart to skip a beat.

The Ancestor let out a long sigh.

"A being stronger than me has descended into the Mortal Realm."

"That is why the Royal Family’s Ancestor has remained silent."

"It is also why that mysterious organization has been able to gather so many forces beneath its banner."

"I fear..."

"That person isn’t even from the Mortal Realm."

The Ancestor’s words caused Riua to suck in a sharp breath.

No wonder...

So that was why the Ancestor had withdrawn his attack.

Riua’s emotions had fluctuated wildly in a single day.

First, he had celebrated his breakthrough into Quasi Rank 1.

Then he had suffered defeat at Caesar’s hands.

Now...

He had learned an even more terrifying truth.

If what the Ancestor said was true...

Then the entire Mortal Realm had already been compromised.

---

Outside...

News of today’s events spread across the Mortal Realm, shaking every major power.

The spies immediately reported everything they had witnessed to their respective leaders.

The outside world finally realized that even if two experts stood within the same realm...

Compared to ancient monsters like the Molak Family’s Ancestor...

They were nothing more than juniors.

Alongside that news came another announcement.

Princess Rasel had officially joined the Molak Family.

She had become the family’s Saintess.

Upon hearing this, every kingdom, noble family, and major organization was shaken.

This could only mean one thing.

Princess Rasel was officially entering the battle for the throne.

It made perfect sense.

After all, her brothers had already attempted to kill her even when she remained neutral.

Now...

The entire Mortal Realm waited to see how the princes would respond.

Completely unaware that, behind the scenes, the mysterious organization continued taking control of one force after another.

---

Ynvashi Kingdom...

Inside the Royal Palace...

The news had already reached the princes.

The First, Third, and Fourth Princes sat together, each wearing a solemn expression.

"So..."

"The Molak Family has chosen to back her," the First Prince, the former heir to the throne, said quietly.

The other two princes sighed.

"If Father were still alive, we wouldn’t have dared act so openly," the Third Prince muttered.

"Well..."

"He’s dead now, isn’t he?"

"So why don’t we do something about it?" the Fourth Prince replied with a cold smile.

Throughout the Mortal Realm, one shocking piece of news followed another.

Every day brought a new topic that dominated everyone’s conversations.

Ironically...

The king’s death had almost been overshadowed by the Black Hawk Organization’s assault on the Molak Family.

Of course...

That was exactly what the First Prince wanted.

He had no intention of allowing news of the king’s death to spread too quickly beyond the Ynvashi Kingdom.

"Don’t worry about it," the Third Prince said with a smile.

"We already have experts hidden throughout the kingdom."

"Some are chefs."

"Some are merchants."

"And others have been living among the citizens for years."

"If Rasel dares to make a move..."

"Not only will she fall..."

"But the Molak Family standing behind her will fall as well."

The three princes laughed together.

Darkness flickered deep within their eyes.

Just as Leon had once concluded...

They were nothing more than puppets dancing on the strings of the mysterious organization.

At this moment...

The Ynvashi Kingdom had become a barrel of gunpowder waiting to explode.

And once it did...

The entire Mortal Realm would be dragged into chaos.

One by one, every major force began choosing a side.

Some pledged their support to the princes.

Others, after witnessing the overwhelming might displayed by the Molak Family, chose to stand behind Princess Rasel instead.

As a result, the Molak Family’s influence continued to grow.

Both factions quietly prepared for the inevitable battle over the throne.

Even the ordinary citizens could sense that a storm was approaching.

Every day, news spread of another once-neutral force declaring its allegiance to either the princes or the Molak Family.

The battle for the throne...

Had officially begun.