Chapter 317: Odin!

Chapter 317: Odin!

The sudden intrusion of the three disrupted the peculiar atmosphere in the conference room, which had already been altered by the arrival of Pompey Catuso.

Caesar and Chu Zihan instantly felt more at ease, even though Lu Ke had his flaws, but his strength and reliability were undisputed. His presence brought an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

"You two seem to have gotten along well in the past two days. How did the mission go?"

Lu Ke strode in, his arm wrapped around Hanae, his gaze never leaving her. Behind him, an elderly man with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot glared at Lu Ke's hand resting on Hanae's waist.

"The Demon Hordes have been dealt with. The most crucial third-in-command is in custody, with most of them locked up in the Black Prison, and a small number of severely injured members in the hospital."

Caesar diligently reported the situation, his face soon showing discontent, especially when he noticed the youthful and beautiful Hanae beside him.

Lu Ke had taken the most beautiful daughter of the Serpent Clan out to play while they were dealing with the Demon Hordes?

"How dare you come back like this?"

Chu Zihan had no time to complain, feeling like this line was straight out of a wife's script to her late-returning husband. He covered his heart, still feeling inexplicably irritable, and remained silent.

"Don't say that. Everyone should do what they're best at. You two like fighting, so you dealt with the Demon Hordes to showcase our strength. I like romance, so I built a close relationship with Hanae. We're all helping to unite the main branch and the sub-branch."

Lu Ke guided Hanae to one of the three chairs at the top, as if placing her on a throne. He smoothed her silky hair and provided a well-reasoned analysis.

"Hanae is the head of one of the top three families and the noble Tsukuyomi. Her being with me symbolizes the unbreakable bond between the main branch and the sub-branch, just like true love."

You have a few screws loose with your idea of true love!

Caesar almost laughed in anger. It was often said that people emphasized what they lacked, and Lu Ke was a prime example. He was a scoundrel who constantly talked about true love and pure love.

Caesar looked at Hanae, feeling a sense of familiarity. Upon recollection, he noticed her resemblance to Nonno. He wondered if Lu Ke had recently developed a taste for a sister-themed fantasy, hence his pursuit of Hanae.

It was highly possible!

"How could her family allow her to be in his care?"

Old Dad's face bore a bitter smile as he remained silent. His role was merely to ensure that Genji Shina and Hanae's foster father image didn't crumble suddenly, allowing for a smooth transition of power. He had no right to object.

Genji Shina also didn't show much anger, even though he felt uncomfortable with his sister being with such a scoundrel. However, Hanae's health had indeed improved, and she was no longer treated as a strategic weapon with a limited lifespan. Being able to live a healthy and happy life under the sun was already a significant step forward, and he dared not ask for more.

Seeing the vivid guilt on Hanae's face, Genji Shina sighed helplessly, his voice softening.

"Hanae, do you want to go out and live a normal life?"

"Yes."

Hanae answered without hesitation, her heart's desire clear.

"Your quick response shows that you truly want to leave. Only now do I realize my negligence. You should have your own life, fall in love with someone, and live freely. I haven't done enough for you, and I haven't done enough in general. Later, I'll discuss with Lu Ke about sending you to Cassel Academy as an exchange student."

As the current Family Head, he had the authority to make decisions that were previously off-limits. Hanae was like a human nuclear bomb, and theoretically, she couldn't be let go. However, with Lu Ke's status and his substantial shares in the Serpent Clan's enterprises, no one would dare to object.

"Brother."

Hearing this decision, Hanae opened her mouth in a daze, instinctively looking at Lu Ke, then at Genji Shina and Old Dad, as if contemplating whether she should leave home. After a moment, she flashed a radiant smile, as fleeting as the aurora, and nodded earnestly.

"Thank you, brother."

Hearing her response, Genji Shina's heart relaxed, but he also felt a sense of emptiness. He looked at the elderly man behind Lu Ke and asked, "Lu Ke, who is this guest?"

From the moment he entered, Genji Shina had noticed the old man observing him with intense excitement in his eyes. When asked, the old man stepped forward but hesitated to speak, his face flushed with excitement.

"Oh, this is your biological father, Kusanagi Etsu."

Lu Ke casually dropped the bombshell, "Yes, Hanae is indeed your sister, a full-blooded one. All three of your Imperial Bloodlines originate from the same man."

Click!

Genji Shina, who had just calmed down, was once again petrified, his mind in turmoil. Lu Ke had been here for less than three days, but those days felt more dramatic and eventful than his entire life.

After handling the family drama, Lu Ke approached Chu Zihan, who had been frowning, and lightly patted his shoulder. The activated spiritual vision fell silent, freeing Chu Zihan from his irritable mood.

Lu Ke glanced at Caesar and Chu Zihan, nodding slightly, "You did well with the mission, even though it wasn't particularly challenging. No merit without effort, and your efforts deserve recognition."

Chu Zihan, now calm, felt like he was waking from a dream, still carrying a hint of irritability in his eyes. "My emotions just now were off. What happened?"

"Your mark was activated because the mark's owner was too close."

Lu Ke spoke nonchalantly, his gaze shifting to the motionless Pompey Catuso, who maintained his composure even upon hearing the word "mark."

"It's an honor to meet you, Pompey Cato. The Board of Directors has always been represented by Frost, so I've never had the chance to meet you in person."

"The honor is mine. It's a privilege for the Cato family to work with a young hero like you."

Pompey's face remained expressionless, and he took the initiative to speak, "I'm here on behalf of the headquarters to offer our condolences. After all, eliminating the rift between the Japanese branch and headquarters is an important and dangerous task. I also wanted to check on Caesar."

"Hmph!"

Caesar's sarcastic cold laugh was the first response.

Luke rubbed his chin and suddenly looked up at the sky, as if gazing through the ceiling at the vast starry sky, then looking towards a distant direction, a deep and bottomless sea trench. A corner of his mouth curled up in a smile, and he spoke leisurely.

"To aim the space-based weapon 'Damocles' Sword' developed by the Cato family at this location, bringing the Earth and Mountain Monarch to the Japan Trench to execute the Dragon King's remains in Takamagahara, and awakening the Sea and Water Monarch of the Lenin... Quite a grand gesture of consolation, instantly providing two Dragon Kings for the Half-Dragons to boost their achievements. You're indeed diligent."

Upon hearing this, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Pompey and Luke in unison, their eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

Caesar stared at his father in bewilderment. As Luke's long-time challenger and closest friend, he trusted Luke more than anyone else.

The only one who could bring two Dragon Kings was another Dragon King. Recalling the abnormalities after his bloodline was activated, everything pointed to the same truth...

Chu Zihan seemed to have realized something, and his body began to tremble violently. His previously expressionless face now showed a shocking murderous intent, so pure and direct that it chilled everyone to the bone.

Amidst the intense gazes, Pompey Cato's face turned as dark as water.

"This joke has gone too far. I don't understand what you're talking about."

"There's no need to be shy. Isn't it better to show everyone your true self? If not for us, then for Caesar. After all, parent-child communication requires honesty. Since you've come to see Caesar, you should do so in your true form."

Luke smiled and extended his right hand, his thumb and index finger forming a circle, aiming at the direction where Pompey was.

Thump, thump, thump.

Pompey's heart pounded wildly, his body covered in goosebumps. His biological instincts screamed danger, and he raised his arms to defend himself. In the next instant, he felt an indescribably powerful impact.

Boom!!!

A terrifying force erupted like a whirlwind, destroying everything in its path in an instant. The enormous impact tore through the walls of the conference room and the solid ground, creating a hideous fissure that extended from his fingertips to hundreds of meters away.

A bottomless canyon appeared, and the cause of this strike was not the world-destroying Incantation, nor was it the pinnacle of advanced technology. It was merely a simple, casual snap of the fingers.

Still reeling from the initial shock, everyone was now faced with an even greater surprise.

Kusanagi Etsu and Genji Shina swallowed hard simultaneously, recalling their previous intention to cause trouble, and a chill ran down their spines.

Could this be the power of a human? No, even a Dragon King would struggle to achieve this feat!

Luke slowly retracted his hand, but his gaze remained fixed.

In the thick darkness, the elements in the air began to rage as if a supreme ruler had appeared from the void. A strong wind suddenly blew, dark clouds gathered swiftly in the sky, and rain began to fall without warning. Lightning flashed and thunder roared, creating a scene reminiscent of the end of the world.

Amidst the thunderous roars and flashes of lightning, a mountain-like majestic horse emerged from the darkness. It wore heavy armor adorned with intricate metal patterns, and its white fur shimmered with crystalline brilliance. Its eight sturdy legs resembled the support beams of a crane, stabilizing its massive body.

On the horse's back sat a massive black shadow, clad in heavy dark golden armor. The rain fell on the armor, making it appear as if it were covered in a faint glow. In his hand, he held a curved spear, its shaft curving like the trail of a meteor across the sky.

The iconic eight-legged horse and spear identified the deity without the need for an introduction.

"Odin."

Chu Zihan's voice, mechanical and emotionless, spoke the name of the god-like figure before him.

Odin, the king of gods in Norse mythology!

Without anyone noticing, he had drawn Murasame, and the rain left no trace on the blade. In that moment, he felt as if he had returned to the past, to that rainy night filled with regret. He now had the chance to make a different choice.

His murderous intent now had a clear target, and he glared like an angry lion, roaring with fury.

"God! Come! It's time for us to settle the score!"

Odin paid no heed to the roaring mortal. His single eye focused on the only target he deemed worthy, and his majestic voice echoed from all directions.

"You're too straightforward. I thought you'd prefer to play a game with me, using a more subtle approach to humiliate me before revealing the truth."

Luke tilted his head, his expression calm. "I wouldn't mind playing along, but another player has already started making their move. Although I don't mind being ganged up on, it would make me look rather foolish."

As soon as he finished speaking, a violent tremor shook the ground, and in the distance, a pillar of crimson blood soared into the sky!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end