Chapter 76 - 77 the two conditions

76

the two conditions

Vaelra slammed her hand onto the table.

"Do you understand what you are saying?"

The warrior maintained her posture.

"We understand, Elder."

"Are you saying that you would obey the princess even if the Council ordered otherwise?"

"Yes, Elder."

Vaelra’s expression became harder.

"And if the Queen herself gives the order?"

This time, there was silence. The three looked at Seraphina, but the princess said nothing.

After a few seconds, the first warrior looked back at Vaelra.

"If the princess orders us to protect the Necromancer, we will protect him."

The room became heavy. Ariselle remained motionless.

It was not the answer she had expected.

She had known those three warriors for many years. She knew they were bound to her daughter, but she had never stopped to understand the depth of that bond.

"You would protect him against me?"

The question came out softly.

The third warrior clenched her fingers.

"We do not wish to fight against the Queen."

"That is not what I asked."

The warrior slowly took a breath.

"If necessary..."

She stopped.

"Yes."

Seraphina lowered her eyes. Vaelra immediately stood up.

"Seraphina!"

The princess raised her face.

"I did not order them to defy my mother."

"But you know they reached this point because of you."

"I know."

The calm response made Vaelra fall silent. Ariselle continued looking at the three warriors.

For years, those three had served her daughter. They had grown up alongside her, accompanied her through difficult moments, and remained close when no one else was there.

Affection could be seen in their eyes. It was something even deeper than obligation. Ariselle finally looked at Seraphina.

"You built your own loyalty."

Seraphina did not answer. The Queen slowly exhaled.

"And I didn’t even notice."

Seraphina remained serious.

"I did not do this to defy you, Mother."

"I know."

Ariselle turned toward Yun Che.

"But now this is no longer merely a matter between mother and daughter."

Yun Che remained silent, the white mask completely hiding his expression.

Ariselle placed her hands on the table.

"Then let’s talk about you."

Yun Che raised his eyes.

"What do you really intend to do?"

"I already told you."

"No." Ariselle shook her head. "You explained what you received. You still haven’t explained what you intend to do with it."

Yun Che remained silent for several seconds before answering:

"The Medusa territory belongs to the mausoleum, obviously."

Vaelra’s expression immediately darkened, but Yun Che continued:

"The mausoleum belongs to me."

Nysara narrowed her eyes.

"Are you claiming that the entire mountain range is your property?"

"Yes."

Thesira stood up.

"You are talking about a land where our people have lived for generations."

Yun Che looked at her.

"The mausoleum existed before the Medusas occupied this region."

Thesira clenched her fists.

"And that gives you the right to expel thousands of people?"

"According to the authority I received from Rafael, the territory connected to the mausoleum is under my authority."

Nysara remained thoughtful.

"If what you claim is true, then the situation is far more complicated than a simple territorial dispute."

"Exactly."

Vaelra let out a short laugh.

"Complicated?"

She stared at Yun Che.

"You appear in our land, receive the inheritance of an alchemist who died centuries ago, and now decide that everything belongs to you."

"I didn’t decide."

Yun Che replied calmly.

"The inheritance decided."

The answer made Vaelra even more irritated.

"Then you intend to drive us out?"

"That is one possibility."

Mirevra raised her hand.

"Wait."

Everyone looked at her.

"We are not going to turn this conversation into a battle before knowing exactly what his intentions are."

Mirevra turned her eyes toward Yun Che.

"Then answer clearly."

Ariselle also looked at him.

"If you truly believe you are the owner of this mountain range, what do you intend to do with us?"

Yun Che did not avert his gaze.

"There are two options."

The four elders became attentive.

"The first is simple."

Yun Che spoke with the same calmness.

"You leave the mountain range."

Thesira’s expression changed.

"Are you insane?"

Yun Che continued as if he had not heard her.

"I will provide enough resources for the Medusas to establish another territory."

Nysara frowned.

"What kind of resources?"

"Enough resources for you to survive."

Yun Che paused.

"And more."

The elders remained motionless.

"I will help four other Medusas reach the Profound Nascent realm."

Silence.

This time, even Ariselle showed surprise. Four new Profound Nascent warriors. Four cultivators capable of significantly changing the strength of the Medusas.

But Vaelra was the first to react.

"And you think that buys our land?"

"I’m not buying it."

Yun Che replied.

"I’m offering you a choice."

Thesira stepped forward.

"A choice?"

Her voice carried anger.

"You call abandoning our mountains a choice?"

Mirevra tried to intervene.

"Thesira."

"No."

Thesira did not take her eyes off Yun Che.

"These mountains are filled with our dead."

Her voice became heavier.

"They were buried here."

Vaelra added:

"Our families have lived here for generations. Our homes were built in these mountains. Our resources, our graves, our memories... everything is here."

Nysara also spoke:

"Abandoning the mountain range would not simply mean changing territories."

She looked at Ariselle.

"It would mean abandoning a part of the Medusas’ own history."

Thesira clenched her fists.

"I would rather die defending this mountain than leave and settle somewhere else."

The words echoed throughout the hall.

"Enough."

Ariselle’s voice cut through the discussion. Everyone fell silent. The Queen remained standing, her eyes passing over the elders before settling on Yun Che.

"And the second option?"

Yun Che remained motionless before giving his answer without hesitation, his determination unwavering.

"Submission."

Complete silence descended upon the great hall. No one moved as they heard that word.

The three warriors behind Yun Che remained firm. Seraphina did not avert her eyes.

The four elders stood frozen at the word, and Ariselle silently stared at the masked man.

The word fell into the hall like a blade.

"Submission."

For several seconds, no one moved.

Vaelra was the first to react. Her eyes narrowed and her crossed arms slowly fell apart as spiritual pressure began to emerge around her body.

"You truly have the courage to say that before the Queen?"

Thesira stepped forward.

"After everything our warriors have suffered to protect this land, you appear here and demand that we submit to you?"

Nysara remained silent, but the neutrality had completely disappeared from her expression. Mirevra also watched Yun Che carefully, trying to understand how far this negotiation could go.

Ariselle, however, was even more direct. She slowly rose from her seat.

"Enough."

Her voice was not loud, but it made all the elders stop. The Queen’s eyes were fixed on the white mask.

"You entered our territory, received our protection, grew close to my daughter, and now claim that our lands belong to you."

She took a deep breath.

"And you still demand submission."

Yun Che remained seated.

"Yes."

The simple answer caused the pressure in the hall to increase. Ariselle clenched her fingers.

"If necessary, I will kill you."

Seraphina turned pale.

"Mother..."

Ariselle did not avert her eyes.

"And if necessary, I will kill you as well if you continue opposing me."

The entire hall became motionless. Yun Che, however, began to laugh.

It was not an exaggerated laugh. It was merely a low and calm laugh, as if that threat carried no weight whatsoever to him.