Chapter 99: Chapter 99

Returning home that night, Sokram found his family and teammates waiting for him.

Even Leona was present, with Karini and the twins, Kara and Kiren.

As soon as he stepped through the door, a chorus of voices erupted: "Surprise!"

He barely had time to react before laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, and Leona pulled him into a bear hug.

Hilda had prepared a celebration.

The exhaustion from the day had been weighing on Sokram's shoulders.

Yet, the moment the rich, savory scent of roast boar's ribs hit his nose, causing his stomach to expand and groan in hunger, a jolt of energy shot through him, a surge that made his weariness disappear.

They celebrated his success until late at night, even watching the highlights of the night’s event.

Recording every significant moment became a habit Sokram had developed for safety reasons. Newest update provıded by novel·fire·net

The echoes of joyous laughter bounced off the walls, filling the room with the warmth and relief that Sokram's heart ached for in all the eons he spent with only Nhiria for company.

He watched as his family and teammates, their faces flushed with joy, made jokes about the highlights of the night's event, their voices a comforting mix of excitement and contentment.

The air was thick with the smoky aroma of roasted meat and the sharp tang of Brunhild’s favorite spiced liquor.

Finally, after what felt like a long time, he felt the weight of relaxation settle over him, allowing sleep to claim him completely, instead of resting through cultivation under the moonlight and sunlight.

The next day, Sokram's biological clock woke him up right before sunrise. But he felt well-rested despite sleeping so little, an advantage of his bloodlines' gifts.

He was surprised to find his team already in the backyard cultivating.

Sensing his presence, Hannah and Margiory also came downstairs.

Sokram had requested them to go with him as backup since the Heads of the Greyfur and Goldenmane would probably ambush him with marriage proposals.

Upon arriving back at the stables after being called by one of the guards, he saw he was indeed right.

As Sokram stepped into the stables, he noticed a shift in the air.

Usually thick with the scent of hay and earth, the air was now perfumed with expensive foreign oils and a subtle sweetness.

The nine girls Kanami brought, Koma’s granddaughters, were just as stunning as she was, dressed in their finest, their gazes sharp and appraising, immediately locking onto him.

Kanami, with an almost predatory grace, stepped forward, a retinue of stunning young women, all bearing the subtle hallmarks of the Greyfur family, fanning out behind her.

Even before a single word was spoken, the not-so-hidden agenda hung heavy in the air, but before Kanami could even broach the topic of strengthening their families’ bond.

Margiory, in the most subtle manner, firmly shut that down, saying that Sokram’s marriage would only be discussed after he inherited the position of head of his three families.

But proposals would only be considered after he came of age, so his growth wouldn’t be interfered with while being distracted by teenage love.

As Margiory finished her speech, Lazar arrived with the Goldenmanes, followed by the Armfrosts.

Sokram looked at the gathering and realized that a marriage arrangement wasn’t their end goal; they were after something else.

And looking at Sahvus’s morbid grin, Sokram understood what they were truly after.

“Did you set this up for the sake of the city or just to benefit our friends, Great Uncle?” Sokram’s voice cut through the crowd, which was still pressing their proposals.

Sahvus met Sokram’s gaze, a surprised, impressed smile spreading across his morbid face, “Not only ingenious, business-oriented, and ultimately talented, but also very perceptive, even more than your elders. Impressive.”

Sienna looked at her father, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes.

Not even she had ever been complimented by him so bluntly.

“Did you tell them?” Sokram stared at Sahvus intently, not bothering with wordplay.

“No, but I hope you will. As you said, for the sake of our friends and our beloved city.”

While the crowd looked around, confused and not understanding the meaning of their conversation, only Hannah and Margiory finally grasped the situation.

“Have the City Lord schedule a meeting with all founding families for when I return from my next mission, but ensure that the Chrystalia, Whitefur, and Blackfur families are also included in the meeting. I’ll have what you need ready by then.”

Sokram didn’t bother being overly polite or cordial, but also didn’t leave room for further discussions.

But before he could move on, Sahvus spoke, “The token I gave you, do you still have it on you?”

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Without a word, Sokram extended his gloved hand.

With a faint shimmer, the token appeared as if slipping by an invisible gap in the spacetime. But before Sokram could even register its familiar shape, it pulsed with a sudden, intense cold.

The token dissolved, not shattering, but melting into a wisp of frost that danced in the air, condensing within moments into a heavy, platinum medallion.

The Armfrost sigil, intricately etched, seemed to hum with latent Magi.

Emerald gems and polished mana stones glittered within its surface.

It rested in his palm, a chilling weight, its cold mirroring the calculating amusement in Sahvus’s smile.

Despite the shocked looks on the women from the Armfrost family, all Sahvus offered as an explanation was, “This is the highest token of friendship I can grant someone who doesn’t carry the name Armfrost. When the time comes, you will see that almost every door will be open to you because of it. Only our core secrets won’t be exposed, but you’re not offering that either, right?”

Sokram nodded, storing his new token, “True, but in the future, I’ll be sure to honor your trust, Great Uncle.”

He finished saying that by saluting Sahvus, knocking his fist over his chest, and slightly lowering his head.

Seeing that, although the others around didn’t understand anything about what happened, for a dragon to lower his head publicly, it surely was something grand.

After that, Sokram gave Sahvus the scroll for the guided cultivation technique for the crows, hiding it inside a ring, making their exchange even more mysterious.

After the deal was finalized, Sahvus called his family, and they left.

Lazar and Kanami didn’t like feeling left out.

But Sokram assured them that it was something good for all founding families, but still insisted they wait until Licarus announced the meeting.

After that, the proposals to arrange marriage died down, and Sokram managed to focus on hatching the egg and binding the contracts, quickly returning home afterward.

Once there, he called Brunhild and the rest of his family to explain what happened.

And what Sahvus was expecting from them.

Brunhild was enraged, and Hilda was once again overwhelmed with worry because Sokram insisted on exposing more and more of his secrets.

But Sokram also knew that this presented an unmatched opportunity to further cement his family's standing in the city and to ensure the loyalty of the other founding families, not just now but for future generations as well.

For the rest of the week, Sokram focused on studying, training his team and the Androny family guards, helping Sayuri, and instructing the tamers Oliver had hired for the stables.

On the last day of that week, when Sokram finally received his next mission, it also made clear that Licarus was pushing him for the position of captain because the next hunt would be a piece of cake: Cockatrices.

But while Sokram was still speaking to the courier, he learned that several nobles from Icewall, Frozen Root, and Frozen River were waiting for him at the stables.

Expecting problems, Sokram asked for backup, this time bringing his three grandmothers with him.

And as Sokram expected, as soon as he entered the stables, a gaunt young man, roughly 1.8 meters tall, with unnervingly pale, flawless skin and dark brown hair, strode forward.

He wore a set of medium-plated armor that did little to hide his slender frame.

His chin jutted forward, lips curled into a sneer as he spat words laced with arrogance, each syllable dripping with entitlement, oblivious to the formidable figures behind Sokram.

"You damn lizard!" he shrieked, "Do you dare make this young master of the Ebonlance Family of the Great Icewall City wait in this shitty place after extorting our merchants? Do you take us for fools…"

But suddenly, a man 1.9 meters tall with pale skin, green eyes, raven hair, and a lean yet muscular build, clearly the young noble's personal guard.

Who Sokram deduced to be an Exalted Existence at the very least, pulled the young noble back and apologized.

“Lady Androny, Grand Duchess, Lady Dracnakrid, and Young Lord Dracnakrid, please forgive my young master.”

The guard rushed to speak while offering a deep bow, trembling slightly, “The journey was stressful, I believe he might have hit his head too. Please forgive him.”

“Whatever, a rock thrown towards the sky will never reach it,” Sokram ignored the young noble, walking past the guard who was still bowing. The young lord of the Ebonlance family went quiet when he saw that all his and the other nobles’ guards were either subdued or surrounded.

Margiory, seeing Sokram’s nonchalant reaction, spoke as she stepped past the other nobles, “Well, since my grandson is feeling magnanimous, I won’t be petty…”

She paused for effect, then added, “…this time."

Her gaze swept through the crowd of nobles, menacingly as she warned, "And I hope there won’t be a next, especially from people owing me money.”

Hearing that, they all lowered their heads, because it wasn't just one.

All three noble families owed the Androny family money.

But Hannah, a mischievous glint in her eyes, added, “Why not hold them hostage until they pay?”

Brunhild joined the fun, “Yes, we could also send them back piece by piece if their houses ask to pay by installments.”

Her grin was evil, her eyes alight with pure killing intent.

“There won’t be any need for it, Nana. They paid me, and they shall receive…”

Sokram’s gaze found Wallace, and he asked him, “So, who’s first?”

Wallace’s face had gone slack and bloodless, a sheen of cold sweat already beading on his forehead and tracing a clammy path down his spine.

He wasn't alone; a ripple of visible unease spread through the other guards, their stances subtly shifting, eyes darting nervously between their trembling young lords and the unyielding figures of Sokram’s grandmothers.

The reason? They were all still Flawless Existences, very aware of the difference in power that separated them from even a Tier 5 Exalted like the Ebonlance guard.

But the true terror lay in the hushed knowledge that Alain was a Tier 10 Exalted, and Hannah, a formidable Tier 10 Semi-Perfect Existence.

Their very presence radiated an oppressive weight, a silent promise of irreparable consequences, all because of a loose-mouthed young noble in an arrogant charge.

Their fear was a tangible thing, a knot in their stomachs, predicting the potential for swift, brutal retribution.

The cherry on the top was that even Margiory’s and Brunhild's energy flow felt stronger than theirs.

Sensing that the tide had shifted against them, the young miss of the Starfrost family was a beautiful human girl with a slender and elegant build.

With long, silky black hair, light brown eyes, a perfectly sculpted heart-shaped face, not taller than 1.75 meters, and dressed in plated armor, she stepped forward, bowing toward Sokram as she spoke politely.

“Young Lord Sokram, I apologize on behalf of my family’s employee. I heard that his offer to buy your techniques insulted you, but that was far from our intention.”

For a heartbeat, Sokram saw her dying in his arms, and the light in her eyes disappeared, the same fierce spirit, the same quiet strength beneath polished armor.

Sokram struggled to maintain his neutral expression when he saw her. Yet, he still managed to fool the others around as he winced, “Lady Starfrost, I’m not a noble. So, please don’t call me that.”

Being called a Lord always made him grimace.

“Aren’t you Lady Androny’s chosen successor?” The Starfrost’s young lady asked in confusion.

“Yes, he is,” Margiory answered proudly.

“Then you’re indeed a noble. Lord Sokram.” The Starfrost’s young lady insisted.

“Sigh… Look, I understand that your employee didn’t want to offend. Perhaps he saw the state of these stables and thought my partner and I might need the funds. So I didn’t take it to heart.”

Sokram stepped forward with a sincere smile, hand extended. “I’m not in the business of making enemies for petty reasons. I much prefer to make friends and form a good network of contacts, so how about we start from scratch, on the right foot this time?”

“I…” She blinked, lips parting slightly as her gaze lingered on his outstretched hand, hesitant for a beat, then responding with a quiet nod and firm grip.

“I’m Grace di Starfrost vid Lionheart, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Sokram di Dracony vid Dracnakrid. The pleasure is mine, Grace.” Sokram spoke without shyness or hesitation.

But his heart ached to see her again.