"The representatives of the people are now entering the Ghoul Hall!" The usher was already present as he announced the arrival of about fifty people into the hall. These fifty weren't from any of the clans, but they were representatives to convey any needs and requirements of the people to the four clans.
However, there was no rule that they had to be present for every meeting except for ones that involved making decisions that could affect the people of the city.
And this made Akira subtly frown. Her War Elder, Nahur, who was standing beside her, slowly lowered his head and said to her in a low voice, "Matriarch, I think Mehron must have purposefully called the representatives to act as witnesses for what happened."
"I know, but it doesn't really matter," Akira said with a hard gaze. She had came prepared and she knew what had to be done. The only thing that weighed on her mind was Damien's determination to take part in the duel.
All fifty ghouls, men, and women were neatly dressed and bowed deeply before their Chief Warlord. They didn't dare to look at her eyes since simply standing in her presence was enough to make them feel like their bodies were ten times heavier. As for the young men among them, they also had to worry that they might offend her by getting captivated by her noble charms.
Everyone knew that among ghouls, nobody was as beautiful as their Chief. If not for her ruthlessness and her indomitable power, countless suitors would have been standing in long queues outside her home every day.
But since they knew she wasn't married, they were curious about what kind of man she would marry to produce an heir.
Akira subtly nodded as the fifty of them split into two equal groups and stood on either side of the halls in an orderly fashion.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"Warlord Khun and his Lady Rayna of the Windblood Clan are entering the Ghoul Hall!" The usher announced as a young good looking man wearing a maroon leather jacket entered the hall along with a pretty young woman wearing a long-sleeved outer garment of matching color.
She had a friendly smile on her face and even smiled at the fifty representatives as some of the young men bashfully smiled back at her as well.
The two of them stepped forward and gave a bow to Akira, who acknowledged their presence with a nod.
Khun corrected his sleeves and sat down on the dark red chair placed for him. On the back of his chair, there was the symbol of a bat spreading its wings. Everyone would recognize it as the symbol of his Windblood Clan.
However, behind this hall, there was a secret chamber where a man and a woman were hiding in a tight space.
"Stop fidgeting, will you?" Mira clicked her tongue as she said in a low voice upon feeling Damien's body rubbing against her. He was standing right behind her, and she couldn't even make him stand beside her since there wasn't much space.
"Come on. There isn't enough space for me to stand properly. Just stay still and tell me why this Warlord Khun didn't bring any elders with him?" Damien asked while looking through the transparent wall. From the outside, it would look like a solid wall, but due to a special, secret formation, this chamber allowed those inside to look at what was going on in the hall.
Damien already learned that this secret chamber was built by the Godwin Clan long ago to let a high-ranking elder secretly monitor the proceedings and record them. But Mira said her Master doesn't use it, which allowed them this opportunity.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Lady Rayna is more than just a simple wife of Warlord Khun," Mira said as she added, "The reason he didn't even bring any elders was that Rayna is his closest advisor and probably the only one who is holding together their clan."
"Oh…" Damien understood what she meant since he learned that the Windblood Clan was the weakest among the four.
"Warlord Mehron and his entourage are entering the Ghoul Hall!" The usher announced as an attractive man with a gallant demeanor, stepped in with a subtle smile. He had long black hair and was wearing an exquisite yet dark blue leather jacket over a white shirt and pants to match them. On the white fabric covering his arm, there was the symbol of a dark blue scorpion-like creature.
He was the first to enter the hall along with his War Elder, Ruhar, whose eyes were looking as sly as ever. And accompanying these two were two other elders of the clan who had stoic expressions and looked old.
All four of them, including Mehron stepped forward as they bowed before Akira. Akira nodded at them as Mehron raised his head and subtly smiled before taking his seat on the biggest dark blue chair.
"Warlord Moldark and his entourage of the Icefall Clan are entering the Ghoul Hall!" The usher announced as a middle-aged looking man with a thick mustache without any beard entered with two women with revealing clothes behind him. An old man dressed in dark silver robes was also following them from behind.
He was tall and stout and was wearing a dark silver jacket and pants with shiny ornaments adorning his wrists and neck.
"Are those women his wives?" Damien asked Mira as he looked at these two women who appeared too sultry. It was like they were here to seduce men and not to attend a meeting.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Mira snorted as she said, "What an eyesore. Those aren't his wives but his whores but they are quite powerful as well. Those two might use various tricks to look young, but they are just old hags. If not for them being at the First Level of the Prime Nethereal Realm, I would have gotten rid of them myself. Their entire clan is filled with lustful perverts who become stronger by indulging in licentious acts."
Damien raised one of his brows as he deduced that Mira surely had something against this clan as well. But he understood that the Icefall Clan probably practiced forbidden dual cultivation arts. He felt he had to keep tabs on this guy definitely, feeling an uncomfortable air surrounding him.
"Unfortunately, their clan's strength can't be overlooked, and it could be said that they are almost as strong as our clan now," Mira explained with a disgruntled look.
Hearing this, Damien realized that his clan was worse off than he expected.
Warlord Moldark stepped forward along with his entourage as they all bowed before Akira.
Akira narrowed her gaze and nodded as all of them raised their heads. However, before Moldark walked towards his dark silver chair, he took a quick, short glance at the reflection on the metal ornament on his wrist which made his eyes shine with a strange light and made his hands quiver.
Damien noticed his weird behavior and squinted his eyes.
"Let's begin," Akira briefly said upon seeing those from the three clans being seated. At the same time, War Elder Nahur and Clan Elder Jayna also sat down on the smaller chairs placed beside their Chief's.
