The Ancient Genes

Edwinson House, Capital.

Max led Victor through the main gates. Since Max himself was present there, no one questioned about the cloaked guy behind and let them through.

When they reached the old man's mansion, Max asked the servant to seek permission to meet the old man. Since he wanted to bring someone along, he had to get his permission first.

Soon the servant returned with the old butler. The old butler gave Victor a look but didn't ask anything and led the way.

…

Lord's Chamber…

When Max and Victor entered the room, the old man's shoulder jerked a bit. A simple cloak couldn't possibly hide Victor from him.

Victor pulled down his hood and revealed his face.

Max stood by the door as he looked at Victor facing the old man.

"Not happy to see me, my Lord?" Victor smiled as he looked at him.

"So you did betray the family...." The old man said with a calm look. He had heard from Max but Victor was gone...there was no evidence...not to mention at that time, the situation between Max and the old man wasn't the best...

"What if I did?" Victor asked with a smile.

"If you hadn't betrayed the house, I would definitely have welcomed you but now there isn't a place for you here….." The old man replied in a calm tone.

"Hahaha...you say as if I had a place to begin with…" Victor shook his head with a sarcastic laugh. "You didn't care from the start...you only had eyes for your own people...the rest didn't matter…"

"Is it because of Nathan?" The old man asked as he looked at him.

"Oh...you realized it too...didn't you?" Victor smirked. "That day I was the one with the upper hand...even though it ended up in a tie….you should have seen it….I went easy on him to retain the main family's dignity….yet what did you do?"

"Honestly, I don't care anymore about this family...but I still want to hear it…'' Victor looked at the old guy.

"You were indeed better than Nathan that year….but you think that things are so simple?" The old man shook his head.

"Didn't you choose him because he was your grandson?" Victor snorted.

"Yes, you are right...but do you think you could have gotten the position of the Young Lord?" The old man asked him.

The position of the successor could only be passed to someone from the mainline that is how it always has been. Because, they had the purest bloodline and hence could produce better descendants leading to longer prosperity.

Normally, a guy would inherit the position. But if things don't go as planned and there is no male, the female could do it too. But the thing is, that they would need to have a guy marry into their family...

Currently, the Roxley House was in this situation. But Lora's parents were capable of going for another child…..so it was too early to decide…

So obviously, Victor couldn't inherit no matter what….

"I know...I couldn't become a successor. But that isn't what I care for...I wanted to be recognised…all the resources which should have been given to me had been given to him….I was stronger than him!!" Victor frowned as he remembered it.

He saw the guy who was weaker than him leaving him behind….not even because of his own efforts…..it should have been him not Nathan...

"Idiot! What do you think would happen when you are far better than even your own Young Lord…don't you realise it?"

"So, you were afraid of me? Just because I was better than everyone else?" Victor smirked as disdain flashed through his eyes.

"I did what was right to protect you and the house…I have always been kind towards my own people but others are not like me….just because I didn't intend to do anything to you, doesn't mean others won't....not to mention, there are many people who would try to use you to overthrow the current main family….as a Lord I did what was right..." The old man replied with a sigh.

"In the end, you still denied me my rights…" Victor's expression eased a bit but he still hated him.

"If you really had the heart, you wouldn't need anyone's support…." The old man further said as he looked at Max, "Look at him…his strength is his own….he didn't have anyone behind him…"

"What about you? You became depressed after that event…..someone with a fragile heart as yours is easily swayed....I did the right thing…..if I knew you would have betrayed us one day...I wouldn't have gone easy on you back then... " the old man's eyes flashed with killing intent.

Victor involuntarily took a step back. He looked at the old man with an ugly face but didn't reply. The old man's words had hit a few important chords in his brain making him unable to retort any longer..…

Max now understood a bit why Nathan had snapped so badly at Victor's death. The guy had a guilty conscience….but Max had nothing to do with it….

He didn't want to have any opinion about what was being discussed here. They could discuss right and wrong for the entire day and still not come up with anything….it was just a matter about which side you were standing on….

There was no more discussion relating to this topic and Victor started to talk about the real thing.

From what Victor provided, Max easily deducted a few things.

It seems that Ovens House was trying to get Edwinson House on their side by installing Saleos as the Lord. It was to assert dominance on the capital under the control of the Two houses….

Getting the Walker House was impossible for them and Blackwood on the other hand had a bad relationship with them...not to mention, the House was very stable unlike Edwinson House...

As for why Zack was missing, well probably because they tried to remove a possible competition for the throne….

As for whether he was alive or not? Victor had no idea as Zack disappeared after the fight between Max and Victor…

"Bang!" The old man slammed his fist on the table with bloodshot eyes. He was truly angry now. "Ovens…they think that they can get away with this…." 

"Don't do anything foolish now…" Max frowned and stepped up.

"You think this old man is weak? I will slaughter the entire Ovens House…" the old man snorted. It seemed that people had forgotten why he was once called the White Demon.

"Calm down...you are seriously injured because of the fight earlier...even if you succeed in slaughtering them, at what cost? ….what about the wrath of the Ancient family….not to mention, are you confident that you can pull down Saleos without triggering a revolt now?" Max looked at him. "That guy would surely try to kick you down knowing that you are at your worst…"

The old man calmed down and looked at him, "Saleos….he really disappointed me."

"Focus on healing first..." Max was calm.

It only was a matter of time. He won't let a single guy escape….he would send everyone to their graves….