Chapter 806: Who Is in Favor?

At last, Henwell understands why Jansen insisted on taking his own life.

No one understood better than Jansen how fiercely Henwell guarded the truth of his origins.

To protect that secret, Henwell would kill as many people as necessary, even if it meant wiping out the entire Phoenix family.

Jansen and a handful of others might have been spared, but the Phoenix family's destruction would have been almost unavoidable.

That is why Jansen offered his own life in exchange for Henwell's mercy, begging him to preserve the Phoenix bloodline.

Henwell kneels on one knee beside Jansen. "Uncle, I am not as heartless as you think. I am a Glory Knight now."

"There are many people I could not protect before, but I can protect them now."

"Back then, both Peace Haven and I were on shaky ground. That was why I had to hide my origins and protect my father's family."

"Things are different now. I am one of the strongest professionals on the continent, and Peace Haven has taken its place among the continent's great powers."

"I was going to tell all of you so much after emerging from seclusion. Why couldn't you have waited for me?"

"I have already reached an agreement with someone. The entire Livos territory will eventually be mine."

"My father is safe. Before the Calamity War ends, his family will be able to live under my protection."

Jansen shakes his head. "Henwell, you will become an emperor one day. Anyone who makes a mistake must pay the price."

"My death will also serve as a warning to many people inside Peace Haven. It will teach them that your will cannot be defied."

"After this, you will not need to punish anyone in Peace Haven. They will serve you while living in constant fear."

"After all, even I, a duke, your uncle, and the man who guided you, must atone with my life for making a mistake. What chance do they have?"

Jansen places a hand on Henwell's shoulder. "Henwell, twenty-six years ago, I spent tens of thousands of gold coins to bring you out of the arena. It was the most successful thing I ever did."

"History will remember me as the man who stood behind a future emperor as he took his first step up the ladder of power."

Jansen's presence begins to fade. He opens his mouth as if he wants to say something to Henwell.

No sound comes out. Henwell says softly, "Don't worry. There will be no brothers killing one another."

The light vanishes from Jansen's eyes as soon as Henwell finishes speaking, and a faint smile touches the corners of his mouth.

Lady Grace covers her mouth as she sobs. A moment later, she takes out a metal cylinder.

"Henwell, Jansen wrote this. It proves that you have the authority to oversee the family and that the Phoenix family will be fully incorporated into Peace Haven."

"It also contains evidence of Tuster and Kaku's treason. This will allow you to take control of the Phoenix family and reorganize it more quickly and smoothly."

A pleading look appears on Lady Grace's face. "Henwell, I should be the one to announce all of this, but I do not want to see the despair on my son's face."

Blood begins to seep from the corner of Lady Grace's mouth.

She drops the metal cylinder, staggers over to Jansen's body, and leans against him. Her breaths grow shallow, then stop.

After a long while, Henwell straightens his clothes and prostrates himself three times before their bodies.

It is his final tribute to two elders of the Phoenix family who have helped him greatly over the years.

Time and again, they stood firmly at Henwell's side.

They may have made mistakes, but those mistakes cannot erase everything they did for him before.

Henwell wipes the tears from the corners of his eyes and picks up the metal cylinder.

He never opens it. Instead, he raises a hand and reduces it to powder.

As the dust drifts through the air, Henwell murmurs, "The dead are gone. Let all the blame fall on me."

"If I choose to stand above everyone else, I must be prepared to stand alone at the top."

"I was too naive about some things. People are complicated. I am not a god, and I cannot control everything."

Henwell turns and walks toward the main hall.

Kaku's furious voice comes from outside. "Where is my father?"

Henwell walks toward the ducal chair in the center. "Dead. Duke Jansen succumbed to the poison, and Lady Grace took her own life beside him."

While everyone stands frozen, Henwell continues, "From this moment on, the Phoenix family is formally incorporated into Peace Haven."

"All noble titles may be retained, but every estate and privilege will be reclaimed."

"I will temporarily serve as head of House Phoenix until Orak returns or one of his descendants proves capable of assuming the responsibility."

Henwell surveys the crowd. "Who is in favor? Who objects?"

Count Tuster immediately shouts, "You have no right to inherit the position of family head, much less make such a decision. This requires us to..."

Before he can finish, Tuster's body collapses into a heap of mangled flesh.

His supporters and guards draw their swords, but bodies burst and blood sprays throughout the hall without pause.

Some of the dead served Ika Kingdom, while others served the church and the empire. Most, however, were members of the Phoenix family.

Graham shouts, "Nobody move! Don't move! If you stay still, you won't die! Do not point your swords at Henwell!"

It does not take long for flesh and blood to cover the entire hall.

Every survivor, regardless of status or strength, stares at Henwell in terror.

Henwell asks calmly, "Who is in favor? Who objects?"

Only deathly silence answers him.

Henwell nods in satisfaction. "Good. It seems everyone has accepted my decision."

Kaku roars in a frenzy, "Henwell! I will never accept you! The Phoenix family will never accept you!"

Henwell turns, sits in the ducal chair, and props his chin on one hand. "You do not need to accept me. You are a traitor, a rebel against your own family."

"Just like Tuster, your estates will be confiscated and your entire clan exterminated."

"As for the Phoenix family refusing to accept me, I will keep killing until it does."

Henwell looks at Viscount House. "Take your men and eliminate every member of the Kaku and Tuster factions."

"Execute every family involved in the rebellion, young or old, male or female. Spare only relatives of mixed-legion personnel. Leave no one else alive."

Viscount House freezes for a moment. Then he steps forward slowly and drops to one knee. "As you command."

Kaku stares at House in disbelief. "You... you... you traitor!"

Viscount House sheds his former air of a reckless brute and says calmly, "I was never a traitor. I was merely acting under my lord's..."

Henwell finishes for him. "Orders."

Viscount House gives Henwell a puzzled look, then lowers his head in silence.

Viscount House and his guards soon take everyone in the hall into custody.

At the castle entrance, he launches a crimson signal flare for Peace Haven.

A chain of signal flares carries the message all the way to Peace Haven's border.

Dalton, who has been waiting for the signal, shouts, "Lord Iron Guards, ride with me! Our target is Silver Claw City! Kill anyone who tries to stop us!"

The four thousand Lord Iron Guards immediately lower their visors, level their lances, and charge toward Phoenix territory.

The Iron Guard Legion and three reserve legions cross the border behind them.