This meeting served as a subtle yet unmistakable message, urging Eren to abandon any schemes he may have devised against Demonmir.
A smile played on Eren's lips as he observed Demonmir approaching the table, seemingly elated by his recent attainment of the A-Rank. Although the A-Rank was not the ultimate pinnacle of power within Anfang, Eren knew that Demonmir's achievement was no small feat.
It was rare for a Master rank individual to progress to the A-Rank due to the inherent challenges and risks involved. The fact that Demonmir had accomplished this within a decade showcased both his exceptional talent and his mastery over the demonic arts.
Alephee's voice resonated in Eren's mind, acknowledging that Demonmir's antagonistic actions against an entire kingdom had indeed yielded significant rewards. Alephee had been monitoring Demonmir closely through Eren's senses and had anticipated his rapid advancement in rank. However, even she was taken aback by the swiftness of his progression, not only reaching the final stage of the Master rank within nine years but also obtaining a rank promotion.
It became evident to Alephee that Demonmir had skillfully utilized the vast resources and support offered by the half-bloods of the Last Blood Bastion, facilitated by Sage JJ Edgar of House Lowin.
Alephee further informed Eren that Demonmir had successfully become a half-blood, although the chaotic nature of his bloodline energy hindered a precise determination of his specific lineage. Nonetheless, it was clear that he had assimilated with a draconic bloodline and was on the verge of unlocking his bloodline genesis.
'Grandmaster rank and bloodline powers, huh? Keke. Even better. It's like a sheep taking efforts to fatten itself to serve as a good sacrifice. I expect nothing less from this bastard.'
Eren, unperturbed by this information, locked eyes with Demonmir, devoid of any apprehension. He had foreseen Demonmir's remarkable growth and had long ceased plotting against him on a personal level.
Instead, the butcher harbored a bold plan—a plan to manipulate Demonmir's powers to his advantage. All he needed was to ensure the smooth execution of his agenda during this meeting. Contrary to House Lowin's assumptions, Eren believed that the timing of this gathering could not have been more opportune.
After all, Eren had just recently gained access to the means necessary to leverage Demonmir as his pawn.
"Haha! Welcome, lad. Join this old man," Seth Lowin, the Grandmaster Ranker of House Lowin, greeted Demonmir with a warm smile and a gentle tone, gesturing to the vacant seat at his right. With his flowing white hair and long beard, Seth appeared to be in his eighties by mortal standards.
Despite addressing Demonmir with a term of endearment and treating him as a junior with his way of address, Seth regarded him as an equal with his body language. A glimmer of admiration shone in Seth's eyes, reflecting his firsthand understanding of the arduous journey required to attain the Grandmaster rank. As a fellow Grandmaster, Seth recognized the magnitude of Demonmir's accomplishments.
Ariella Lowin, seated to Seth Lowin's left, greeted Demonmir with a nod and a gentle smile, her gaze then shifting towards Eren to gauge his reaction.
Eren maintained a neutral expression as he observed Demonmir settling into his seat beside Seth, engaging in conversation with the others in an ideal manner. The initial tension gradually dissipated, and everyone participated in the discussions with Demonmir, overcoming the lingering sense of restraint. Demonmir possessed social skills to make people gravitate towards him.
"Congratulations on achieving the Grandmaster rank, Demonmir," Brandon offered his greetings, his curiosity piqued by the lingering energy emanating from Demonmir's bloodline. "I suppose you're now one of us, right?" the bear-type half-blood inquired earnestly.
"Haha, indeed. I am now one of you, Grandmaster Brandon," Demonmir responded with a smile. His gaze shifted towards Eren, amusement glimmering in his eyes as he made a sarcastic remark.
"Unlike certain individuals with a feeble sense of pride, born from what can only be considered to be weak bloodlines, my bloodline heritage is something upon which all of us half-bloods can depend. Although I have yet to fully assimilate with my bloodline, I assure you that I will lead my fellow half-bloods towards a brighter future in due time," he proclaimed confidently, his tone exuding unwavering assurance.
Ottoman's eyes locked onto Eren, brimming with malicious intent and a cruel gaze as he continued, "And when that time comes, Grandmaster Brandon, we will no longer need to rely on feeble men who refuse to step outside their comfort zones and wholeheartedly support the Last Blood Bastian. Their lack of resolve tarnishes our pride as half-bloods. It would be better to rid ourselves of them once they have outlived their usefulness, rather than celebrating their cowardice."
Eren detected a subtle undercurrent of intent-based magic interwoven in Demonmir's voice as he indirectly addressed him. While such words would have stirred the blood of any other Expert-ranked individual, Eren merely chuckled in response, meeting Demonmir's gaze with a blatant disregard that denied him the satisfaction of evoking anger.
'Hmm? He doesn't seem angry at all. Did my Draconic Tongue fail?'
Demonmir wondered to himself, momentarily astonished as he observed Eren. He clicked his tongue in irritation as if blaming Eren for not reacting to his words as intended.
Unlike Eren, Demonmir hadn't dismissed the possibility of killing his arch-nemesis right there in the meeting hall. He awaited a valid reason to take action against Eren, eagerly contemplating the opportunity to rid himself of this problem now conveniently seated nearby. Furthermore, within the confines of Last Blood Bastion, Anfang Alliance would be powerless to intervene or prosecute him for such an act.
At Demonmir's level, his true fear lay solely with the Anfang Alliance. Even most of the Sages failed to exert significant pressure on him. However, to his surprise, an Expert-ranked individual, whom he regarded as a nobody, had resisted the effects of his Draconic Tongue—a newly acquired innate bloodline ability he had unlocked upon becoming a half-blood.
Eren absentmindedly scratched his jawline and the back of his ear, surveying the individuals gathered around the table before sharing his thoughts.
"Everyone, I believe Agatha's presence is no longer necessary now that our crucial matters have been concluded, wouldn't you agree? She is a busy woman, after all—my manager.
It would be a waste of her time to remain involved in petty affairs and with unimportant individuals," he remarked, his gaze sweeping across the room, even meeting Demonmir's eyes as he concluded his statement, intentionally signaling that his words were directed specifically at him.
The hall suddenly brimmed with the remnants of a cold war between the two adversaries, and the atmosphere charged with tension. Neither Eren nor Demonmir displayed any intention of backing down, and it became evident that a clash was inevitable should circumstances continue along this path.
