Chapter 425: Dominating The Family

Katarina walked to the family’s hall slowly. Her steps were firm as she had no hesitation or worries about this meeting.

This was the time they had to decide the successor. She didn’t intend to hold back this time.

When she opened the doors, she could see twelve elders, her father, and her brother.

Her brother was only one year younger than her, but he didn’t attend Kallarnos University.

Katarina could see several hostile expressions, but she decided to ignore them for the time being because they wouldn’t be able to make such expressions anymore after this.

"Sit down." Her father extended his hand, gesturing for her to sit on his right. On the opposite side, her brother, Caleb, sat down.

Katarina calmly took her seat, and her father began the family meeting. "I’ve informed you about today’s family meeting. I believe you already know what we’re about to discuss here, but I’ll let the person who requests it tell you about it."

Katarina stood up and said, "I formally greet everyone in this room. Thank you for coming to today’s family meeting. I can guarantee that today’s meeting won’t be a waste of your precious time.

"So, allow me to skip the pleasantries and focus on the main topic. I’d like to request the selection of a formal successor today. I believe I am the one capable of leading this family and bringing it to its golden era."

The first one to reject it was none other than her opponent, her brother. "I disagree. You are not worthy of that seat, Sister."

"In that case, would you like to tell me the reason why I am unworthy of this seat, Caleb?" Katarina asked. "I have accomplished a lot in the training program, proving my ability and potential."

Instead of Caleb, the elder next to him was the one answering her question. "While it’s true that you have accomplished something great during the training program, there are several problems."

"Are you going to say that I can’t lead the family because I am a woman?" Katarina smiled coldly.

"No." The elder shook his head. "What I want to say is that you will never be the head. I have checked your progress. It’s truly outstanding to the point where I believe you will surpass your father. However, I’m disappointed that someone like you ends up under someone else."

Katarina narrowed her eyes. "Care to elaborate on that matter, Elder?"

"You know it too. I’m talking about Auric Elfe. While it looks like you are close to Auric Elfe, it’s not about a man and woman relationship, isn’t it? You act like you’re sucking up to him. In other words, you are his subordinate. I have plenty of proof if you want me to show it here."

Katarina smiled. She had prepared for this. "That is correct."

There was no need to feel ashamed working for Auric. She never regretted it.

However, the elders looked shocked, questioning whether she was qualified to lead the family if she ended up working for someone.

Katarina said, "Will that be a problem, Elder?"

"That is exactly the problem. If you are following someone, there will be a conflict of interest."

"In that case, doesn’t that mean Caleb is also unqualified? Maybe you’re going to bring your son into this, thinking your son is the one qualified?" Katarina snorted.

"I am qualified!"

"What is the difference between me and you? You are merely following the elders like a dog." Katarina cut him off. "Unlike you, I have the strength and potential to become a powerhouse of my own. What about you?"

The elder stopped him. "That’s where you are wrong, Katarina. I am merely advising the young patriarch. Rather, you need to watch your mouth."

"I know what I’m doing. I will be polite when I need to, but this time, I don’t think I need to be polite." Katarina took a deep breath. "Okay, let’s assume that I hear your first objection. Anything else?"

"The second problem is that you don’t have the support of the family. Without us, you won’t be able to run this family." The elder smirked. He raised his hand and asked, "Who supports Katarina to be the matriarch?"

The elder smiled. He had brought nine elders, including himself to side with Caleb. There was no way Katarina could beat them.

To his surprise, eight hands actually rose in the air.

"!!!" The elder widened his eyes in shock. Even Caleb couldn’t help but stand up in disbelief.

"What?" Caleb was shaken. They were supposed to have nine elders. In other words, only three elders might possibly support Katarina.

Yet it turned out eight elders had sided with Katarina without him knowing it.

"What did you do?!" Caleb shouted in anger, glaring at Katarina.

"You need to stay calm. I can ignore your rudeness, but this is a discussion where we need to keep a cool head." Katarina scoffed.

"You..." The elder realized this was a trap. Katarina had been preparing for this. Her plan might run deeper than their own plan.

Since when did these elders side with Katarina?

Katarina smiled at the elder. "Anything else?"

The elder gritted his teeth. She managed to gain the support, but she couldn’t deny she was Auric’s subordinate. They still had one more card to play.

The elder stood up and said, "Patriarch, I’d like to inform you that the young master has gained the cooperation of the Sturgeon. He has effectively expanded the family. But what about Katarina?

"She has been utilizing the family’s power for the sake of her master, Auric Elfe. She is going to bring down this family sooner or later. We have to stop her before it’s too late."

"The Sturgeon, huh?" Katarina frowned. "What do you expect from them exactly, Elder?"

"You don’t know the Sturgeon? They are a mid-sized company that is about to become a big one. In just a few years, they will have enough capital to get the manpower for us."

"Yes, but this Sturgeon doesn’t have a Rank 6 human." Katarina nodded in understanding.

"Do you think it’s that easy to get Rank 6 humans? In Esfrata, there are about 70 Rank 6 humans. All of them are already affiliated with the country, a powerful company, organization, or mercenary group." He snapped.

Katarina walked around, approaching the elder. "In that case, does that mean bringing Rank 6 humans will be considered a major contribution to the family?"

"Of course, it is! However, we don’t have enough resources to do it." The elder gritted his teeth. However, he abruptly stopped and froze, realizing what Katarina was trying to imply. "You..."

Unfortunately for him, it was too late. Katarina was already standing behind her brother while looking at the elder with a confident smile. She raised her hand, gesturing for them to shift their gaze to the door.

"Elders, allow me to introduce you to the Kefflin brothers. Please come in, Mr. Kleff, Mr. Ileff."

The door was opened from the outside, and two Rank 6 humans entered the room.

"Impossible!" Caleb stood up again, but Katarina simply grabbed his shoulder and forced him to sit down. She glared at him. "Sit down."

The elder gritted his teeth. "What did you do?"

Katarina introduced them. "Father, Elders! Allow me to introduce you to the famous Kefflin brothers. From now on, the Kefflin brothers will be assisting us. That includes the company they’ve created, Synx."

Kleff came forward and nodded politely. "I am Kleff, and this is my brother, Ileff. Young lady Katarina has impressed us, and we believe in her potential. That is why we will be supporting the decision she makes. As long as this family remains stable, we will continue to support young lady Katarina, so please support her."

Katarina smiled, knowing that it was time for her to close the meeting. "Elder, do I need to continue?"

"..." The elder realized Katarina had been planning for this from the start. However, he couldn’t imagine how Katarina was able to gain their support.

She had become Auric’s subordinate, and she had been busy preparing for the training program. There was no way she had enough time to recruit the Kleffin brothers.

Yet she actually brought them here. The reason her father could become the patriarch was simply that he had the biggest fist in the family.

He was the only Rank 6 human in the family.

This time, Katarina brought two more into the family, and it looked like Katarina had their full support.

In other words, they now had three Rank 6 humans. Only one family had three Rank 6 humans in their family, and that family was considered the most powerful family in Esfrata.

Of course, they also needed to take into account the fact that these two elders were an outside force. While they had their support, they couldn’t utilize it fully.

Still, it could work for a bluff or other things.

So, she had indeed made a huge contribution to the family. No one could ignore her opinions anymore.

She wasn’t supposed to achieve all this because all she had been doing was getting ’chummy’ with Auric.

When the elder reached that thought, he couldn’t help but drop his jaw. "Don’t tell me..."

Katarina smiled. "Do you still think I have made a mistake, Elder? Anything you’d like to add?"

The elder was unable to speak. If Auric was the reason, she could recruit the Kefflin brothers. It meant she didn’t make a mistake. Auric could do that when he was still weak, so he couldn’t imagine what would happen when Auric surpassed everyone in this country ten or twenty years from now.

The elder gritted his teeth. He couldn’t refute her anymore. If she continued like this, she would definitely use the Kefflin brothers to keep him in check.

Besides, eight out of the twelve elders had supported her. She knew they had no choice but to acknowledge her.

Her brother wouldn’t be able to turn the situation around. After all, Caleb was less talented and a bit dumb. His achievement wasn’t significant. Caleb could be controlled by the elders, but Katarina couldn’t. She would reign supreme in this family. That meant she could get full control over the family’s progress.

If she wanted, she could expand this family to become one of the biggest families in Esfrata.

The elder clenched his fists and lowered his head. He truly had lost.

However, Caleb ended up proving why he shouldn’t be the patriarch. He suddenly stood up and started shouting, "You are cheating. You didn’t achieve all this by yourself. You are just a woman, and I am the one who is supposed to lead this family. You—"

Katarina’s expression turned cold as her eyebrows twitched. "Caleb, oh, Caleb! I know you are not as smart as I expect you to be, but you should have figured out by now that it’s over.

"Are you trying to demonstrate that you are not only too foolish to figure out the situation, but also incapable of doing anything but shout at me in denial?

"Maybe I have been too lenient with you." Katarina grabbed Caleb’s shoulder.

Katarina just looked at him coldly. "I thought your voice was the only thing that was high, but it seems your head was high too. You keep standing when I tell you to sit. It looks like you don’t want to sit, so..."

"You—!" Caleb wanted to scream at her, but before he realized it, he had fallen to his knees.

"On your knees!"

Katarina’s voice sounded cold as though she didn’t plan to receive any more objections.

There was nothing else to discuss. After this, there was no need for another argument.

Katarina was just one step away from surpassing her father, but even if her father tried to fight her, he couldn’t win because of the Kefflin brothers.

Even the elders who opposed her earlier had no choice but to submit to her if they wanted to survive.

No one would be able to stand in her way anymore. Yes, the new matriarch of the family had been decided.