Lily POV
Lily, her father, and Marcus walked past a pair of guards without giving them a second glance. One thing her father told her ever since she was young was to act confident even when you weren't. Otherwise, the other party will take advantage of you and get more out of the deal.
This was the sa case. She couldn't show any weakness in front of whoever they were eting. Not now.
Another guard opened a set of doors for them with a shallow bow. To which the three of them strolled into the room with firm steps.
They were eting Clan Genshen at one of the properties they used for these types of discussions. Her mother had decided to stay behind. Sotis, bringing too many people showed a lack of confidence. Three was already considered a lot for a discussion like this, but her father insisted that Lily co along with him for the experience.
When she entered, she looked around the room. A tall, well-dressed man stood in front of a table alongside two other people. One was obviously a guard, while the other was a young black-haired boy around the sa age as Lily.
She didn't know if they purposefully chose to have this specific number of people because they wanted to match what her father brought, or if it was sothing else.
"Welco, Lord Violet. It is an honor to finally et you after all of the impressive things I have heard about you," the man said, sounding quite genuine.
"The honor is all mine. I also want to thank you for having us on short notice, Elder Kanen. I know you didn't have to," her father said with an easy smile.
"Ha! As if I could deny House Violet a eting when they request for one. And please, just call Kanen, there is no need to stand on etiquette," Kanen said with a knowing look at the three of them.
"Then please, call Thalius," her father said with a short bow, acknowledging the small rebuke like the one it was. Indeed, it wasn't like Clan Genshen could refuse such a request made directly by her father. They hadn't much of a choice in the matter, and in order to avoid any troubles, they accepted.
Lily took a closer look at this Elder Kanen person. From what she could see at first glance, the man was quite young. But if he had an Elder position within the Clan, then he was likely not as young as he seed. Furthermore, she was certain that he was a fighter rather than a bureaucrat. Everything exuded from him was sharp—his clothes, his eyes, and his speech.
Each movent was honed and precise. Even his well-controlled aura had an edge that she couldn't help but notice. A dangerous man indeed. Sothing she believed was a deliberate choice for this discussion.
"I see you have brought your daughter as well. I have also heard many impressive things about her," Kanen said with a short bow toward her. One that Lily returned slightly deeper.
Her father grinned proudly. "Yes, I thought it might be good for her to experience etings such as this."
Elder Kanen nodded, agreeing. "I approve, and that is why I brought along my own son, Brandon, as well. He just graduated the other week and even took ho first place for his school tournant," Kanen said, happily bragging about his son.
"Ah, congratulations. That is quite the impressive feat," her father said with a nod toward the boy, who looked a bit embarrassed at the attention.
"He is about to go off on a little journey to prepare himself for the Tier 3 Luminous Tournant. But before, I wanted to show him so of the responsibilities he might have to deal with when he gets older. Also, it is never too early to start forging relationships."
Her father nodded, recognizing the offer hidden beneath the surface. "That's very wise. I wish more people had the sa thought process."
Lily, on the other hand, had to do her best not to grimace. He was basically offering his own son as a potential partner for her. Or at the very least, soone she could beco friends with.
It wasn't like the other boy was ugly or repulsive. As a matter of fact, he would be considered very handso by anyone's standards. He had his father's height and sharp features. But he also retained a softness that his father lacked.
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She also would assu that he was quite strong for a Tier 3 based on the fact that he had won his local school's tournant. On top of that, his aura wasn't as well restrained as his father's, and she could tell it was quite potent.
However, she wasn't exactly enthusiastic about creating a relationship with him or Clan Genshen at this mont, considering the whole reason they were there in the first place was to essentially threaten them into backing off of Julius.
Elder Kanen waved his arm and invited them all to sit down. "Anyway, what can I do for you? I assu that you called this eting for an important reason."
Her father nodded solemnly. "Yes, you are correct."
"I can't promise anything, but you have my word that Clan Genshen will do its best to make sure that we can help out as much as we can," Kanen said firmly.
"I am glad to hear you say that. Truthfully, we are here because we recently ran into so trouble with so of your own Clan mbers," her father said calmly.
"Trouble?" Elder Kanen asked, sounding a bit surprised, and she would dare say even a bit worried.
"Yes, it would seem that one of your mbers took a job against one of our own," her father said seriously.
Elder Kanen didn't say anything or react outwardly for a little bit as he processed what her father said. However, his son who was sitting beside him was looking noticeably worried. The guard who was standing beside the door also noticed the increase in tensions and looked over at Marcus who was standing very relaxed behind Lily and her father.
Eventually, Elder Kanen spoke. "I apologize, Lord Violet, but I am not aware of any active jobs we have concerning House Violet. We would never risk taking such a job against you or your House. It would be quite foolish."
"The person whom your mber tried to kill wasn't exactly a direct family mber, but he is considered a part of our family in all ways except for blood. Of course, I wouldn't expect you guys to know this beforehand, which is why I am here. I wanted to let you know that any more action against him will not be tolerated and will be t with prejudice," her father said just as calmly as before, but his tone had a dangerous edge.
Elder Kanen pressed his lips together. "May I ask who our mber attacked?"
Lily pinched her brows. This was where she wasn't sure if she wanted to do this. By directly saying Julius's na, it could potentially put a larger target on his back. However, this way, they would be able to protect him outwardly.
Her father looked over at her, letting her know that it was up to her.
"Julius Snow," she finally said, paying close attention to Elder Kanen's reaction.
Elder Kanen frowned ever so slightly. "Julius Snow…" the Genshen Clan Elder repeated softly while picking up an information orb and going through it.
"Do you know who ordered the assassination? Or who requested it?" She asked unwaveringly.
"I believe I do," the man said bitterly after looking through the orb, and he seed irritated for so reason.
"Who?"
He grimaced and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I can't tell you that. I wish I could, but there are certain rules within Clan Genshen, and that is one of them."
She felt so of her anger build up, but before she could lash out, she controlled her emotions. "What can you tell us?" She gritted out.
"I can promise you that I will do my best to make sure that nobody from my Clan will take another mission pertaining to the boy ever again. That, I swear," he said resolutely.
Her father spoke up before she could. "I appreciate that, I really do. But you know just as I do, that is not enough to appease us. Your Clan has crossed a line, and we want to know who ordered your people to cross it."
Kanen nodded at the two of them. "I understand, but I am also under oath not to reveal information about our missions or contracts to people outside our Clan. Even if I wanted to, my soul contract wouldn't let ."
She frowned. They had expected such an answer. However, they also needed to ask.
"Then you also understand that your entire Clan is going to have to pay on behalf of that person, correct?" Her father said, releasing so of his aura. While Kanen didn't react to this aura, his son did.
She didn't know if it was reflex or if he really thought he could fight against her father's aura, but Brandon's aura lashed out. It had the sa effect as a fly trying to stop a tornado.
Kanen ignored his son's actions and nodded bitterly. "I do."
Her father stopped his aura when he got that response and smiled as if he hadn't just made a threat. "Perfect. I'm glad we can agree on that. Now, all that remains is what you will offer us to smooth over this matter."
Lily noticed that Kanen just looked depressed, the man likely knowing that there wasn't anything else he could do unless he wished to offend one of the most influential rchant Houses in the Empire.
However, just when she thought they were going to start negotiating what Clan Genshen was going to give to House Violet. The man's eyes widened as if he just received a ssage or sothing.
Her father noticed it as well. "What is it?" he asked, narrowing his purple eyes.
Kanen gave a terse frown. "There might be a problem," he admitted.
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