NOVEL NEXT Chapter 183: Pendragon Family
In the Pendragon mansion, Godfrey threw his backpack onto the bed and leaned against the window, looking at the lawn that stretched for several kilometers before trees sprawled out and then the main city beyond.
The mansion was definitely built on a hill, and it was massive. As expected of a super wealthy family.
'I should really focus on some important things,' Godfrey thought. What Arian said rang in his head several times. It was time to stop thinking of himself as a high schooler who needed his mother's money for everything.
Hunting and bringing back beast bodies could make him a multimillionaire in mere weeks.
He had been focused on getting stronger, and that was his primary objective, as it was the only way to learn more about his castle and protect his mother, because as long as she remained alive, she would always be a temptation. That was the reason he left Ballista to guard her.
He looked at his hand, clenched his fingers, and opened them again. The power in that fist was monstrous. Tearing down a storey building with a single blow wasn't a tough feat for him, the same boy who once trained all day just to survive against low tiers.
It was surreal. Two years and some months ago, he had just been a normal human being who would injure his hand if he punched a table too hard.
Now, he stood in the guest room of the strongest family in the region, a family he could only hear about or watch on TV.
His lips curled slightly. He was looking on the bright side. It took a lot to get here, and one of the hardest parts was facing his fear of death with courage and the desire to forge a better life for his mother and himself. The second was taking the life of another.
As Godfrey lifted his hand toward the sky, he heard a knock. He turned, walked to the door, held the knob, and paused.
A huge scorpion flashed through his mind, forcing his eyes to gleam sharply as he opened the door.
'It's Isolde's home, but I still have to be careful.'
Guarded, he opened the door and froze.
Standing outside was Isolde. She wore a black top, and the long sleeves were like netted fabric with black flowers. Below was a plated skirt that accentuated the curve of her hips.
"Finally here," Isolde said warmly.
Godfrey smiled.
She turned. "Let's go. My parents are waiting for us in the dining room."
Godfrey followed after her with a soft smile. "So…"
"So what?" She raised an eyebrow as they walked through the bright corridor.
"What are the requirements? Your mother said something about meeting the elders." Godfrey said, forcing Isolde's cheeks to heat up.
"Can you stop being blunt?"
"Says the girl who said she just liked my face when we just met. Well, now that I know you've been looking at it in your visions for a while, I can understand." Godfrey replied.
Isolde chuckled softly. "I can imagine you blushed."
"I did not!" Godfrey tried to reply calmly but failed.
"I believe you," she replied, though Godfrey could practically drown in her sarcastic tone.
"Isolde…" Godfrey held her hand, forcing her to stop. "Be honest with me. Do I stand a chance? Am I strong enough to impress them?"
"Maybe too strong." Isolde's reply stunned him.
"What?!"
Isolde took a step forward, closing the gap between them. Godfrey squinted as she drew close. Sometimes, he doubted he was the bold one. She definitely was. If she hadn't given him signs that he stood a chance, he would have buried his feelings long ago.
"You stopped Brooklyn's crisis. That's a strength that can't be ignored. But being strong isn't always a good thing. Some members of the Pendragon family don't like my parents because they're domineering and powerful. They can't be controlled, can't be pushed or threatened. Their word is law, everyone bends to them, and many don't want that again."
Godfrey frowned. "So you're saying they'd prefer you with someone controllable?"
"Yes. You fought back against the Authorities. How can someone with that mindset be threatened?" Isolde said, her eyes briefly darting toward the maids watching from afar.
When the maids noticed her gaze, they withdrew.
"Once you meet the others, it won't be smooth sailing. They already don't like my personality. I'm powerful enough to ignore them. Pairing up with you will create an even stronger opposition."
"I see. Here I thought my strength was an advantage," Godfrey replied.
"It is. To my parents, your potential matters more. As long as my father approves of you, the rest of the Pendragons will have to follow. That's what absolute power gives you, control." Isolde said before turning toward the staircase.
"They're waiting."
***
At the dining room, Godfrey sat beside Isolde. Arthur sat at the head of the table, while his wife, Christine, sat to his right.
Godfrey stared at the unfamiliar faces around the table. The only one he recognized was Geoffrey Pendragon.
"You're the one called Godfrey," James Pendragon said. The white-haired, handsome man, Arthur's younger brother, looked to be in his thirties as he studied Godfrey.
"I am."
James smiled softly. "I saw what you did in Brooklyn. That was truly heroic. But what was your intention in appearing at such a crucial moment? To show that humanoid summoners are not a threat?"
Godfrey didn't reply. He knew Arthur fought on behalf of humanity, and James was trying to corner him into saying something that would paint him as selfish.
Godfrey didn't know exactly who this man was, but he could tell James hated him.
Christine and Arthur continued eating calmly, as if they couldn't hear the conversation. Isolde, however, clenched and unclenched her teeth.
"Humanoid summoners are a threat…" Godfrey said. "…and so are beast summoners."
"At least beast summoners don't feed on other people's summons to grow."
"True. But they kill others in contests for resources, advantages, and selfish reasons inside dungeons. Don't you agree?" Godfrey's counter made James clench his teeth, though outwardly he remained calm.
'He's not just brawn,' James thought. 'That makes him even more dangerous.'