Chapter 280: Chapter 280 - Family Fractures
Roberts Joshua swirled his wine glass, speaking with indifference, "There are certain things I should share with you."
I stared at Roberts Joshua before me, tension building inside me.
I drew a deep breath and spoke deliberately, "I need to understand everything about the Sean family."
Roberts Joshua appeared to have anticipated this request.
He remained quiet for a while, simply rotating the wine glass in his grip.
After a pause, Roberts Joshua spoke deliberately, "The Sean family’s power exceeds what you can imagine. Even within Capital City, they stand among the elite few."
I nodded repeatedly but chose not to cut off Roberts Joshua’s explanation.
Roberts Joshua went on, "The intricacy of such an enormous family surpasses your understanding."
"While the Sean family appears powerful, they’re not as unshakable as their exterior suggests."
I couldn’t stop myself from frowning, "What’s your meaning?"
Roberts Joshua glanced at me and explained, "The Sean family might look unbreakable from outside, but within, chaos reigns."
"The sole reason the Sean family hasn’t crumbled is that Jerry Sean remains alive."
"While he exists, the Sean family won’t collapse."
My expression darkened.
I couldn’t avoid remembering Vance Johansson’s words.
Jerry Sean’s time was already running short.
I quickly turned to Roberts Joshua, anticipating his next words.
Roberts Joshua proceeded, "Within such an enormous family, the branch count exceeds your comprehension. They present themselves as family, yet they’re actually battling internally."
"Jerry Sean has four sons, and every one of them competes for the Sean family leadership position."
"Take Miss Sean’s father, Soren Sean—his standing within the Sean family isn’t as elevated as you might assume."
I stayed quiet, uncertain what to consider.
Roberts Joshua proceeded, "However, since Jerry Sean shows preference for Miss Sean, Soren Sean has managed to advance along with her."
"But what happens when Jerry Sean passes? Will Soren Sean maintain his present standing then?"
"And Miss Sean—will she remain the Sean family’s treasured daughter?"
My face grew worse, and I spoke with some bitterness, "Even if Jerry Sean truly passes, his four sons remain blood relatives..."
"Blood relatives?" Roberts Joshua scoffed at this notion.
"Large families lack genuine affection. When interests are at stake, even the strongest bonds become meaningless."
At this moment, Roberts Joshua looked at me and declared, "I have unfortunate news for you."
"Among the Sean family’s four branches, the most powerful is the eldest, Logan Sean."
"And the relationship between Logan Sean and Soren Sean is poor—extremely poor, actually."
"Due to Jerry Sean’s favoritism toward Miss Sean, Logan Sean has grown resentful."
My brows knitted tightly together.
I couldn’t grasp these large families or comprehend their internal conflicts.
"What person at the summit hasn’t climbed there through blood and tears? For them, emotions were discarded long ago." Roberts Joshua shook his head, appearing somewhat resigned.
I remained quiet.
I lifted my wine glass and emptied it completely.
I hadn’t anticipated that Mabel Sean also confronted a challenging situation.
"Jerry Sean lives, and Miss Sean can shield you presently, but once he passes, I fear she won’t manage to protect even herself." Roberts Joshua set down his wine glass.
I suddenly experienced an intense crisis feeling!
While I didn’t grasp the Sean family’s internal battles, I understood one thing clearly.
That was, once Jerry Sean died, it would signal Mabel Sean’s position declining rapidly! She might even invite trouble upon herself!
"Mason Raymond, Miss Sean holds high hopes for you," Roberts Joshua stated indifferently.
I tightened my fists, my eyes burning with resolve as I looked at Roberts Joshua.
"I won’t disappoint her."
"If she ever truly encounters difficulty, I won’t allow her to endure any unfairness."
"Even if the enemy is the Sean family, or the Johansson family!"
Roberts Joshua chuckled.
He patted my shoulder and declared, "Mason Raymond, certain things can’t be achieved through words alone. Without complete strength, you lack the authority to make such claims."
"While your advancement is remarkably swift, your present accomplishments mean nothing before the Sean family."
I fell quiet, understanding the distance between myself and the Sean family was vast, but I hadn’t expected it to be so crushing.
"I hope you can shield Miss Sean for her entire life," Roberts Joshua spoke half-playfully and half-earnestly.
I looked at Roberts Joshua and declared sincerely, "I will place Mabel at Capital City’s summit."
Upon hearing this, Roberts Joshua couldn’t resist wanting to laugh.
"Not that I’m underestimating you, but this is impossible," Roberts Joshua shook his head.
"Unless you can become the next Ignacio Richard before Jerry Sean’s death."
Ignacio Richard—that name again.
I had encountered that name numerous times!
After extended silence, I raised my head to Roberts Joshua and inquired, "What level does Ignacio Richard represent? What realm has he achieved?"
Roberts Joshua looked at me and stated casually, "Simply put, he exists beyond the Grandmaster level. At thirty years old, he had already achieved the Marquis realm."
Marquis?
This was my first encounter with this realm.
Roberts Joshua smiled and explained, "Regardless, you simply need to understand that a Marquis’s strength far surpasses a Grandmaster’s."
"Even a hundred Peak Form Grandmasters are worthless before a Marquis."
I nodded and replied, "I understand."
At this moment, I looked at Roberts Joshua and asked with some confusion, "Why are you suddenly sharing all this with me?"
Roberts Joshua sighed and admitted, "Honestly, I didn’t think highly of you when we first met."
I nodded. I was completely aware of this.
"But I didn’t expect you to achieve so much in such little time."
"Furthermore... I genuinely admire your determined spirit, even when facing families and forces far exceeding your reach."
"These days, who isn’t bowing and groveling, desperately clinging to survival?"
Roberts Joshua sighed softly, as though mourning something.
I shared the sentiment. I also recognized that every person at the summit had climbed there through blood and flesh, and by seizing resources.
This caused those at the bottom to always gaze upward at them.
"Let’s stop discussing this—I should leave," Roberts Joshua rose and announced.
"Thanks for the wine. The flavor isn’t excellent, but I appreciate it."
After speaking, Roberts Joshua prepared to depart.
"Wait!"
At that moment, I suddenly called out to Roberts Joshua.
I stared at Roberts Joshua and asked, "Between you and Vance Johansson, who’s stronger?"
Roberts Joshua paused briefly before responding, "Vance Johansson is the Johansson family’s legitimate heir. The resources he accesses aren’t something I can match."
While Roberts Joshua didn’t state it directly, his implication was quite obvious.
"Incidentally, I have some unfortunate news."
"Logan Sean, the Sean family’s eldest son, maintains close ties with the Johansson family. Should Jerry Sean die, Logan Sean would most likely arrange Mabel’s marriage to Vance Johansson."
