Chapter 141: Strange Family

"Overseer, during the purge, did you discover any other Arachnids?"

?Louis raised an eyebrow at the unexpected question, but nodded. "I did. Several groups were hiding among the terrorists, while others had established concealed facilities across Planet Roca. Why do you ask?"

?"I need the corpses."

?"..."

?Louis stared at the young Lord through the holographic projection.

?For several seconds, neither man spoke.

?Cassian maintained his usual calm expression, seemingly oblivious to how suspicious his request sounded.

He had just neutralized a planet-destroying device, and now he was casually asking for the bodies of the very creatures responsible for the crisis.

?Louis had a few guesses about what Cassian intended to do with them, but none of those possibilities inspired much confidence.

?"Cassian," he began carefully, "whatever you’re planning to do with those corpses, will it endanger the Astral Dominion?"

?"Hopefully not."

?"..."

?Louis closed his eyes.

?Hopefully?

?He had spent centuries dealing with ambitious Lords, scheming nobles, and powerful individuals who believed the laws of the universe were merely suggestions.

He was accustomed to people making unreasonable demands, but Cassian had somehow managed to make the entire experience feel different.

?The young man wasn’t even attempting to reassure him.

?After a long sigh, Louis opened his eyes again. "I don’t know what you intend to do with those corpses, and I suspect asking for an explanation might only give me a severe headache. But I trust you, Cassian. I’ll have them delivered to your location."

?Cassian’s expression brightened slightly. "I didn’t know it was so easy to earn your trust, Overseer."

?Louis laughed. "Believe me, it isn’t. I’ve spent centuries learning not to trust people too easily. However, I suppose you’re a special case."

?He shook his head with an amused smile.

’?A special case, indeed.’

?If someone had told him yesterday that he would spend today worrying about a newly awakened Lord who treated a planet-destroying weapon like a minor inconvenience, he would have laughed in their face.

?Yet that wasn’t even the strangest part of his day.

?He had met Seraphina Voss, a woman whose hidden power was so terrifying that even his own strength felt inadequate by comparison.

Her son, who had awakened as a Lord less than two days ago, had somehow accomplished what even Ascendant Lords would fail to achieve.

And then there was Ruby, a little girl who appeared innocent at first glance, but possessed a peculiar personality that made him wonder what sort of fate awaited anyone foolish enough to cross her.

?The Voss family was strange.

?No, strange was an understatement.

?They were far more formidable than most of the pompous, prideful clans he had dealt with throughout his long tenure.

Those clans were constantly flaunting their ancient bloodlines, competing for political influence, and using their authority to intimidate others.

?The Voss family, however, was entirely different.

?Their strength was undeniable, yet they didn’t seem particularly interested in displaying it.

They bickered, worried about one another, and went about their lives with the casual ease of people who had never needed to prove themselves to anyone.

?For all their peculiarities, they genuinely felt like a real family.

?Louis found himself smiling warmly at Cassian through the screen.

?The young Lord tilted his head slightly. ’What’s with that look?’

?Before he could ask, Louis cleared his throat. "Don’t worry about the corpses. I’ll arrange for transportation and have them delivered to your location as soon as possible."

?"Thank you, Overseer. I appreciate the help."

?"Think nothing of it. After what you’ve done for Planet Roca, it’s the least I can do."

?With a soft chime, the holographic projection flickered and vanished.

?Cassian lowered his wrist, his communicator returning to standby mode.

?For a moment, the subterranean chamber fell completely quiet.

?Then Nyxara, who had been listening silently to the entire conversation, glanced over at him. "That man seems to have taken quite a liking to you."

?Cassian shrugged casually. "Elderly people have always liked me."

?Nyxara raised a dark eyebrow. "Have they?"

?"You should have seen how much money I collected during New Year’s when I was a child."

?Her expression grew even more curious. "New Year’s?"

?Cassian paused, then chuckled softly.

?Right, she was an Undead Champion from another world, and even her connection to the Nether World hadn’t taught her much about mundane human customs.

?"It’s a festive holiday," he explained. "A time when families gather, exchange gifts, and wish one another good fortune for the coming year. In many cultures, children visit their elders, and the elders give them red envelopes filled with money as a blessing."

?Nyxara considered the concept carefully. "So you received money simply because you visited older people?"

?"Not exactly. Usually, you visit relatives and family friends. Sometimes, though, even strangers will give children money if they’re in a good mood."

?Her violet eyes widened slightly. "Strangers give children money?"

?"Occasionally."

?"And you benefited from this arrangement?"

?"Quite generously."

?Nyxara stared at him for a quiet second before her lips curved into a faint, mischievous smile. "I see. So you have been exploiting the generosity of the elderly since childhood."

?Cassian burst into laughter. "That’s one way to put it!"

?"Perhaps I should have accompanied you," she added thoughtfully. "I might have earned a fortune."

?"I’m afraid you’re a little too old to qualify for red envelopes."

?Nyxara’s smile vanished instantly.

?She narrowed her violet eyes into sharp, dangerous slits. "Cassian."

?He raised both hands in immediate surrender, his blue eyes gleaming with amusement. "I’m joking!"

?"You had better be."

?Her threatening tone did little to hide the subtle warmth in her gaze.

?Cassian shook his head with a grin and turned his focus back to the Arachnid undead standing motionless nearby.

The creature had gone back to kneeling on the cold floor, awaiting its master’s commands, its eight black eyes fixed obediently forward.

?The lighthearted banter had been a pleasant breathing room, but he still had work to do.

?With an influx of high-tier alien corpses on the way, he could finally begin experimenting with [Fusion] to test the absolute limits of his necromancy.

?He had zero intention of settling for merely "good" results.

?If he was going to build a legion capable of standing against the strongest entities in the cosmos, he would ensure every single advantage was pushed to its absolute threshold.

?And with [Fusion], the possibilities were limitless.

’?Let’s see what kind of monster I can create.’

....

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