Outside the city, in the vast expansive plain, lord Aleron was staring at the gigantic beast with widened eyes.
Maverick felt excitement rushing through his body when he saw his father's reaction. Finally, After years of hard work, his father finally would compliment him.
"Is this really a Xer Xai?"
"In the flesh," Aldred said with a smile.
"How is this possible?"
"Father, Aldred fought this beast and defeated it on Mount Fargon. After killing it, he turned it into his undead."
Aleron stared at the boy. "You are clearly a vampire, but why have I never seen you before?"
"I only turned into a vampire recently."
Not A pure born? How was that possible?
Aleron looked at Maverick and tapped his shoulder. "You have done well. Go treat your friends to anything. Make them feel at home."
Maverick widened his eyes. This was the first time his father talked to him like that. "I will father."
Aleron's lips raised a bit, others might not have caught it, but Maverick did. He had been waiting for his approval for decades.
Maverick smiled wide. He sighed in satisfaction as if all the burden finally disappeared. He jumped and punched the air. "Fuck yeah!"
Maverick then danced around like a child winning a fortnite game. He then bowed at Aldred. "Thank you, Aldred. Thank you."
"Hey, we're friends. You don't need to thank me."
Maverick laughed.
"Humph. It's just a Gold Rank Xer Xai. What is so special about that?"
A man with pale skin suddenly shouted as he approached them with dozens of subordinates.
"I see you have return from Mount Fargon, Brother."
Maverick's expression turned dark. "Renwick. What are you doing here?"
"This is my home as well. Or perhaps do you want to kick me out, brother?"
Maverick bit his lip.
Renwick grinned. "So you have obtained the astrolabe. Humph. While you go climb the mountain and sacrifice your blood and tears, I have my subordinates to do it for me."
An astrolabe came out of his body, and floated in front of him.
"A true lord must have capable and competent subordinates. We don't do the grunt work ourselves. That's not what a lord would do."
"And who are those behind you? Are they your subordinates?"
"They are my friends. I would expect you to not insult them in any way."
Renwick laughed. "Why would I stain my lips for that? My eyes are already dirty enough just by looking at them. If I insult them, they might take it as a blessing."
"Don't make trouble with me." Maverick glared and pulled out his dagger.
Two elite guards stepped in front of Renwick.
He grinned. "Did you see that, brother? My guards fight for me, but you risk your own life. That's just how cheap your life is."
"For Mareona's juicy boobs! I have enough of this shit!" Aldred shouted. "If your subordinates are so great, then why don't you let your men fight against my lord's men."
"My lord?" Renwick raised an eyebrow. "I thought you are his friend."
"I am his subordinate, but he treated me as a friend unlike you who treated your subject as trash. But I guess that's suitable for a trashy lord such as you."
Renwick frowned. "Are you sure about this, brother?"
Maverick hesitated for a bit. Renwick wasn't exaggerating when he said his subordinates were competent. Climbing Mount Fargon and successfully obtaining the astrolabe was proof of what they could do.
Aldred nodded at him.
Maverick nodded back. Aldred was a powerful fighter too. With numerous undead and skills, he might defeat Renwick's subordinates.
"I will take that challenge."
Renwick grinned. "What a fool. If you think that Gold Rank Xer Xai can stop my men, you're dead wrong. If it was a real Xer Xai, then I would back down, but that one is merely a fake."
Aldred wondered what his reaction would be if he knew that this one was the queen of all Xer Xai. He didn't bother telling him. Not that the arrogant man would believe him anyway.
"How do we set the rules?" Bartrem asked.
"Only two rules. The winner takes all, and the loser has to run around the city naked."
Aldred laughed. "You are SO going to regret that."
"What do you say? Do you agree?" Renwick asked.
Maverick was about to agree until someone shouted from the distance.
It was a beautiful woman with pale skin and tight dress with wide and long sleeves.
"You guys! Stop fighting!"
Both brothers glanced to the side and said: "Zafrina. What are you doing here?"
"What does it look like I'm doing? I am preventing you from killing each other." She put her arms akimbo and pouted.
"We're not barbarians," Renwick said. "We won't kill each other."
"Humph! Now both of you go home or I will pull your ears."
Renwick stepped forward. "Little sister, why are you so fierce?"
SLAP!
"Stop asking questions and go home now!"
Renwick blinked a few times and rubbed his cheeks like a child. "A—alright."
She then glared at Maverick who flinched under her gaze.
"Don't slap me. I didn't do anything wrong."
"Go home."
"O—okayy. Come on, guys. I will take you to your room."
They followed Maverick back to the mansion. Zafrina was following Renwick into his room, and then they all heard the sound of slapping and hitting for a few minutes.
Zafrina opened the door and went out of the room.
"Maverick. Go to your room. I will escort the guests to their chambers."
"But—" Maverick stopped himself when he saw his sister's glare. "I will go to my room now. Sorry, you guys."
Aldred scratched his head. Both brothers were completely submitted to the sister.
She then removed her scary expression and showed them the sweetest smile the world had ever seen.
"I apologize about that. My brothers are not bad people, but they can be troublesome when near each other. Let me bring me to your quarters."
Aldred and Mira looked at each other and then followed Zafrina inside a beautiful courtyard. The trees were bent in such a way that they made chairs and tables around the place.
"All the rooms here are for you to use. Let me know if you need something. I will have Maverick come here later. Be sure to enjoy yourself."
Zafrina looked at them with a smile and then her eyes landed on the boy. Her eyes immediately widened when she detected a powerful blood from him.
Such power… That made Zafrina blush and she immediately said goodbye and left.
"Wait… ahh too late," Aldred said.
"What did you want to say?" Mareona asked.
"Well, Maverick said his sister has some back problem, and after some 'careful' inspection with my eyes, I do detect problems within her body."
Aldred left out the fact that he saw through her clothes as well. And he loved what he saw.
