God From The Abyss

Chapter 39: Chapter 039: Bureaucracy.

Dinner was fried rice, roasted quail with chilled, freshly squeezed fruit juice and brown cakes as desert.

Throughout the meal which was eaten in almost complete silence, save for the normal chatter of the last child, the Duchess quietly and subtly studied the boy genius.

Just this afternoon, her husband had all but run into her, wild and near ecstatic with joy that he couldn’t speak for a few minutes and she had to calm him down! While his usual emotions usually included grinning before close friends and family, this afternoon’s was different. And the cause?

Mikael had built a device- a relic that pushed Sir Valerian from Grandmaster to Sage! In less than a few hours, with no side effects! Something even the greatest minds of humanity couldn’t even achieve!

Such feat could earn him a place as one of the Saints, in view of the upcoming war with the Khyronians.

The dinner plates had long been cleared, the laughter and mild conversation from after the dinner hall were still nothing but ghostly echoes, though the house was abuzz with the news of the midday miracle.

Now, the Duke’s closest circle, with the unusual guest, had gathered in the study — no ordinary chamber was the study, the heart of the Limo Estate.

White shelves lined the walls, heavy with boxes, tomes, and scrolls. The furniture was solid oak, polished to a deep sheen. The long table in the center bore the weight of books, parchments and the subtle scrawling of decisions.

Clinton, the old butler, moved first. Tall, narrow-shouldered, and strong despite the gray hairs, he guided the others in silence. He closed the double doors with a soft click, ensuring privacy. Then he arranged the chairs without scraping, already aware of which seat went where.

Duke Alan settled into his high-backed chair, his expression warm and composed. His hazel eyes dimmed under the single chandelier, casting a golden hue on the room.

Across from him, the Duchess lowered herself into her seat, her movement measured and graceful. Her green eyes, matching her midnight green gown, were clear and sharp. Watchful, unbelieving, betraying what she did not voice: that she was on still suspicious and on guard.

After all, her children were under this roof.

Evander lingered behind his father. His composure was trained, his posture nearly mirroring his father’s. Every now and then, he cast a glare at the white haired ’guest’, clad in the color of the night.

And there he sat, one leg crossed over the other, a picture of undisturbed grace. His smile was warm as usual. His posture relaxed, neither dominant nor submissive. At ease with everyone, yet belonging nowhere.

The room settled into stillness.

It was Clinton who began, his voice low and even. "Shall I have the tea brought, Your Grace?"

The Duke shook his head slightly. "No need. Let us begin immediately."

He laid out parchments marked with great columns of figures — the family coffers, expenditures, revenue. The heavy weight of the armies wages and the tuition for a few children entering the Silver Arcane soon, both of which paled very slightly in comparison to the ledgers containing revenue.

"The Academy’s fees have grown a bit steep for us at the moment," he said in a neutral voice, although the effect in the room could be felt behind it.

"And since Kthyron began moving once more, the Empire has been heavy-handed with their tariffs and levies. Every gold is in the danger of being phased out in this era of unrest. And resource-wise, we cannot compete with the other families.

Mikael leaned back slightly in his chair, golden eyes flicking between them with mild curiosity. When he spoke, his tone was light and friendly.

"Then, it is good fortune that it is around your

house, Alan. In the form of a small shard."

The remark drew the faintest of tightening at the corners of the Duke’s mouth — a crack of humor beneath the formal and white serious situation- he could hardly hide.

The undoubtedly Relic-grade treasure — the Rank Breaker as Mikael had dubbed it, was a miracle and their greatest gamble at good fortune. Likewise, it could be their path to doom and misfortune.

"It is no small matter," the Duke admitted, a crease forming as his hand crossed the parchment.

"This treasure, capable of forcing the impossible cannot remain confined within our walls. Word about it will eventually get out, and we might be branded traitors at best. The question now is... how do we survive it? And without making too many enemies? Of both the Emperor, and the rest of the Houses.?"

Inward, he cursed the fact that his emotions had gotten the best of him, causing him to not forbid the word of what transpired from ever seeing the light of day outside the House.

Selena’s voice followed. "Of course, to parade it as a spectacle would be reckless and foolish, may even be considered rebellious. Blood would spill, and it might be ours."

"Just like everytime with something new, the Empire’s first demand would be safety, Your Grace," Clinton said in a quiet voice. He turned to face the inventor. "Are we sure this device of yours is.....safe? Is it something we could guarantee, even before His Imperial Majesty?"

Mikael’s eyes glinted with a hint of amusement.

"Safety? And here I thought mortals feared power most when it was perfectly safe." He laughed. "Or do your libraries deceive me?"

The Duke chuckled once, genuinely.

"You are not far from the truth, boy. The safest of powers is a threat still. Maybe even much bigger than those deemed unsafe."

Evander finally spoke, careful but earnest. "A gala could display it, Father. Let the right witnesses see it, and the word would spread clean."

His father’s gaze softened, yet he shook his head. "Too many eyes, too soon. And a gala invites gossip."

"And," Mikael began, "I might not have said it before, but I will not mass-produce the Rank Breaker. Scarcity begets a high price, you know. The laws of your ’capitalism’, no?"

A faint amusement lingered distantly on his lips. "That means I will set the price based on my mood. Add that to your considerations, Alan."

The efforts he made to visit a ’library’ and read up as much as he could of the books there. Further increased and complemented Adrian’s memories of the world.

Silence ensued for a bit as they considered the impact of his statement. The fortune they had just received was temporary!

Although Mikael could not care less.

The Duchess placed her hand lightly on the table. "Then perhaps we should first seek the approval of the Imperial Merchant Office. That go ahead is an absolute necessity, and it should prove more than enough to dispel any dispute."

Alan nodded as he did.

Another bout of silence followed. Even Clinton, who rarely offered his opinion, gave a slight nod — the faintest concession of agreement.

Mikael tapped a finger lightly against the wood of the table.

"Merchants. The currency of a gatekeeper. I love that.

But you are right. Since the tension in the Empire will move regardless, you may as well try to set the board,as much as you can, yourselves. Though I think you all fear this Emperor of yours a bit too much."

His tone was casual, as though he were offering advice to a close friend. That, perhaps, was why it landed with ease.

It was the Duke who shifted the atmosphere of the room. Next, he turned to his son.

"Evander."

"Father?" He straightened.

"There are matters of the Empire now that you are not yet ready to hear. Not tonight." His voice was firm.

"Go. You will attend to your siblings and see them settled for the night. Clinton will ensure you are kept informed of what you must know."

For a brief moment, Evander hesitated as the look of surprise slowly crept in.

He was being dismissed, whereas Mikael, whom he was older than, the guest, was one of the pillars of this important meeting that would potentially change the future of the family. Pride and anger wrestled with obedience, but he bowed.

Rising from his seat, he said, "Yes, Father."

He cast one last glare at the guest before leaving.

As he left, Clinton opened the door with quiet efficiency, then shut it again once the boy was gone. The air changed. Now it was heavier and more solemn.

The Duchess spoke first, her voice soft but edged with something steel-like.

"Mikael... There is a reason why the Empire’s eyes cannot be taken lightly. We do not merely fear the bureaucracy, or the greedy nobles. We are one of the Six, very few are the people in this empire who can threaten us."

" Then why are your finances not on par with the name?"

His question though was ignored as the Duchess continued

"There exist rumors, in this realm, of one human who stands above all others. The strongest."

Mikael smiled as his excitement grew.

Somehow, these days he found himself willing to face challenges above himself. And he did not hate it.