Chapter 44: The Weight of Hidden Authority
The Weight of Hidden Authority
"This subordinate acknowledges his mistake."
There was neither arrogance nor unwillingness in his tone.
Only absolute obedience.
This black-robed elder was none other than the Epic-grade Imperial Pawn Victor had obtained several days ago through the Eternal Legacy System.
One of the legendary Eight Hundred Veterans who had fought across countless worlds...
A warrior who had once trampled forbidden lands beneath his feet.
Elder Black.
[Follower: Elder Black]
[Quality: Epic]
[Realm: (Within this world, one palm is enough to sweep everything aside.)]
[A veteran awakened from endless ages. His soul is shattered, and his realm remains uncertain. He is being watched by an indescribable existence. For now, he may only act within the territory of the family.]
Although Elder Black’s true cultivation realm appeared only as unknown information...
The system’s description alone told Victor everything he needed to know.
Outside the Salvatore Family’s territory...
Elder Black could not freely display his full might.
But within lands belonging to the Salvatore Family...
He was invincible.
The phrase...
"Within this world, one palm is enough to sweep everything aside."
Was proof enough.
And yet...
Such an unimaginable existence...
Stood quietly behind Victor as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Aiya... Patriarch Victor..."
"Why call me City Lord?"
"Just call me Little Adrian."
Adrian finally snapped back to reality.
Suppressing every instinct telling him to flee, he forced the brightest smile he could manage.
The City Lord who had originally come to establish his authority over the Salvatore Family now had only one wish.
That his legs would remain steady enough...
To stop himself from kneeling.
Adrian Valerius felt that his emotions had become so tangled that even he could no longer describe them.
When he first came to the Salvatore Family, his purpose had been simple.
Establish the authority of the City Lord.
Deliver a warning.
Remind the Salvatore Family that some forces should never be provoked.
Now...
His greatest wish was simply to keep his knees from giving way in front of Victor.
The reason was painfully obvious.
How could anyone remain calm when a majestic Three-Eyed Auspicious Destiny Dragon overlooked the entire Salvatore Family from the heavens?
Its immense body coiled silently through the sky, radiating ancient majesty. Every movement of its scales seemed to stir the currents of destiny itself, while its overwhelming pressure made one’s soul instinctively submit.
And standing quietly behind Victor...
Was Elder Black.
The black-robed veteran carrying the broken ancient sword.
The very existence whose mere presence had nearly suffocated Adrian only moments ago.
Even now, the horrifying vision remained engraved in his mind.
Mountains of corpses stretching beyond the horizon.
A sea of blood roaring beneath the heavens.
Supreme beings falling one after another before a weathered broken sword.
That scene refused to fade.
Every time Adrian recalled it, a chill ran down his spine.
Cold sweat silently formed across his back.
Anyone who still believed the Salvatore Family was an ordinary clan deserved to be beaten senseless.
The more Adrian thought about it...
The more nervous he became.
Victor won’t hold a grudge because I didn’t visit earlier... right?
He swallowed unconsciously.
Probably not...
Even while trying to comfort himself, he couldn’t suppress the guilt lingering in his heart.
Every thought of establishing authority had disappeared without a trace.
Only uneasiness remained.
A flattering smile stayed firmly fixed on his face.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of the lofty dignity expected from the City Lord of Aurelia City.
Anyone familiar with Adrian would immediately recognize him.
Anyone who wasn’t...
Would probably mistake him for one of Victor’s attendants.
Victor naturally paid no attention to Adrian’s inner turmoil.
His expression remained calm as always.
Looking toward the uneasy City Lord, he asked in an even voice,
"City Lord Adrian, what brings you to the Salvatore Family today?"
"Ah... ah... yes..."
Adrian stood there blankly for a moment before quickly regaining his composure.
"Patriarch Victor, I came to inform you about something."
Taking a steadying breath, he continued,
"Approximately two months from now, Aurelia City will witness the appearance of a—"
"A Heavenly Secret Realm?"
Victor calmly interrupted before Adrian could finish.
"Yes, yes, exactly—"
Adrian nodded instinctively.
Then...
His entire expression froze.
"Huh?"
"How do you know that?"
His eyes widened in genuine disbelief.
The appearance of the Heavenly Secret Realm was classified information within the Celestial Dawn Empire.
Only the imperial court, powerful sects, ancient clans, and influential noble families had received the news.
By all logic...
A remote city such as Aurelia should never have possessed the qualifications to obtain such intelligence.
Then a sudden realization struck him.
Qualifications?
He nearly wanted to slap himself.
Had he truly become so foolish?
With the Three-Eyed Auspicious Destiny Dragon guarding the Salvatore Family...
And an unfathomable existence like Elder Black willingly serving Victor...
What qualifications would such a family possibly need?
Perhaps they had known about the Heavenly Secret Realm long before the imperial court itself.
The more Adrian thought about it...
The more convinced he became.
Victor had not explained a single thing.
Yet Adrian had already completed an entire story in his own imagination.
In his eyes...
The so-called major families of Aurelia City had probably never been worthy of standing alongside the Salvatore Family.
The Ashthorn Family...
The Ravencreast Family...
They had merely been insignificant stepping stones.
The Salvatore Family had simply allowed them to exist until something worth acting for finally appeared.
Now that the Heavenly Secret Realm was about to descend and countless opportunities were drawing near...
Victor had casually swept both families aside as effortlessly as brushing dust from his sleeve.
That explanation...
Made perfect sense in Adrian’s mind.
As for Adrian’s question, Victor offered no explanation.
Instead...
He merely smiled faintly and looked at him.
That single calm glance instantly swept away every wandering thought inside Adrian’s mind.
His posture unconsciously became even more respectful.
"For a figure such as Patriarch Victor, learning about the appearance of a Heavenly Secret Realm would naturally be effortless."
"My question was presumptuous."
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