Starting with a Military Arms System I Rise to Dominate Another World Chapter 54 : Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Sudden Bad News

In the blink of an eye, five days had passed.

On this day, it was Sophia’s birthday party.

The party was being held in the dining hall on the first floor.

A redwood dining table was covered with a white embroidered tablecloth, its edges draping all the way to the floor.

Twelve high-backed chairs stood on either side of the table, each fitted with a deep red velvet chair cover, with golden satin ribbon bows tied to the backs.

In each of the four corners of the dining hall stood a brass candelabrum. Each one had five tiers, with three white beeswax candles inserted into every tier. The candle flas flickered, casting a warm glow over the surrounding furnishings.

At the center of the dining table stood a large cake with four tiers, each layer smaller in diater than the one below it.

The cake sat on a gold-plated tray, its edges engraved with scrolling vine patterns, with three lion-claw-shaped supports beneath it.

The bottom layer was a dark brown chocolate cake.

The second layer was a pale yellow vanilla cake.

The third layer was a light purple blueberry cake.

The top layer was a white coconut cake.

At both ends of the table stood silver fruit platters filled with sliced strawberries, blueberries, and mango, the fruit plump and glistening under a drizzle of honey.

At this mont, everyone was already waiting in the dining hall.

Nila stood at the door to receive Sophia.

“Miss Sophia, Young Lady and the others are waiting for you in the dining hall on the first floor.”

“Huh? We’re holding the tea party in the dining hall today?”

Sophia asked in confusion.

Normally, they always went straight to Isabella’s room.

Today, they were actually going directly to the dining hall. That really was sothing new.

Nila did not answer Sophia’s question and simply focused on leading the way.

When Nila reached the entrance to the dining hall, she knocked on the door.

“I’ve brought Miss Sophia.”

Sophia followed Nila into the dining hall.

“Sophia, happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday...”

Everyone smiled as they wished Sophia a happy birthday.

When Sophia saw the scene before her, her eyes grew a little moist.

Her family held a birthday party for her every year.

But every single one of those birthday parties beca a venue for the adults to hold discussions.

Under her father’s orders, all she ever did was smile at every guest who arrived.

No one cared whether Sophia wanted to celebrate her birthday, and no one cared whether she was happy.

But today was different.

Everyone here was Sophia’s dearest friend.

There was no business here, and no scheming.

There were only the most sincere blessings exchanged between friends.

“Th-thank you, everyone!”

Sophia’s voice was slightly choked with emotion.

Nika and Nila were the first to present the birthday gifts they had prepared for Sophia.

Of course, their gifts were very simple and had not cost much.

Then it was Ryan’s turn.

Ryan’s gift was even simpler, just a bouquet of flowers.

The servants had prepared it for him.

There was no helping it.

No one had expected Ryan not to prepare a birthday gift for Sophia.

In Ryan’s view, his relationship with Sophia was not that close, so giving a gift might actually feel inappropriate. It would be better just to offer sincere blessings.

After the servants learned that, they imdiately prepared a bouquet of flowers for him.

Ryan did not refuse and simply gave it to her.

In any case, it was not his money being spent.

After that, it was Tina’s turn.

“Sophia, happy birthday. This is the bracelet I picked out for you.”

“Thank you, Tina.”

Tears shimred at the corners of Sophia’s eyes.

Last of all, it was Isabella’s turn.

“Sophia, happy birthday. These are the earrings I picked out for you. They’re the sa color as your hair.”

“Thank you, Isabella.”

Sophia could tell that Isabella had gone out specifically to pick out a gift for her, and she was deeply moved.

The gift-giving portion ca to an end.

Sophia walked to the birthday cake, clasped both hands in front of her chest, closed her eyes, and began to make a wish.

A mont later, Sophia opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

“Hooo...!”

Sophia blew out the candles on the cake in one breath.

“All right, let our birthday girl cut the cake!”

Tina said cheerfully.

Sophia took the knife handed to her by a servant and began slicing the cake.

But everyone knew

that the birthday cake’s main purpose was not to be eaten. It was to be used as a “weapon.”

After most of them had each received a slice of cake,

Tina’s eyes darted around.

Then she picked up the cake in her hand and threw it at Sophia.

“Hya!”

Sophia cried out in surprise and quickly dodged aside.

However, Tina was not the only one who started throwing cake.

Everyone else joined in as well.

“Hah!”

“Hey!”

“Hahaha, take this!”

“...”

For a mont, the scene in the dining hall beca complete chaos.

The instant Tina made her move, Ryan had already run off to a distant corner and hidden himself.

He had no desire to get involved with them.

But things did not go the way he wanted.

Nika walked over in Ryan’s direction.

“Hehe, Master...”

Nika approached Ryan with a grin.

“Hm? Nika, what are you trying to do?”

“Of course I’m letting Master experience the atmosphere!”

Whoosh!

Before Ryan could say anything, the cake in Nika’s hand had already been thrown at him.

Ryan had no choice but to twist aside to avoid it.

Looking at Nika, he said fiercely, “Nika, you’re playing with fire. Tonight, I’m going to teach you a proper lesson!”

“Mmm...”

Nika looked at Ryan with a flushed face.

Ever since their last shopping trip, when she bought those thin and revealing sets of underwear,

every night she had experienced a feeling so intense it left her floating between ecstasy and exhaustion.

She was utterly fascinated by that sensation.

Although she ended up losing every ti, she still could not resist taking the initiative to challenge Ryan.

Whenever she reached the very peak, she would recall the things that auntie at the Slave rchant Guild had once taught her.

Auntie had said that n usually only lasted three to five minutes each ti.

But her master Ryan lasted more than twenty minutes every ti.

After finishing once, he recovered very quickly.

If he was in the mood, going seven or eight tis in a single night was no problem at all.

Ryan did not say anything more when he saw Nika’s smiling face.

Today was an occasion, after all.

Everyone was very happy.

Ryan’s mood relaxed as well.

Only now and then did his gaze drift toward the “battlefield.”

Once Sophia and the others started playing around, they were wild.

They seed to have completely forgotten that there was still a man like Ryan here watching.

As a result, there were many monts when they accidentally exposed themselves.

Ryan was certainly not going to turn his head away.

He watched openly and without sha.

If they were handing out benefits, Ryan would accept them.

After all, if he did not look, it would be a waste.

Anyone who refused to look was a fool.

Just as everyone was happily playing around, Alfred hurried past the dining hall with a grave expression.

Isabella noticed that sothing was wrong with her father’s expression and quickly asked, “Father, what happened?”

“You’re all holding a party, I see! Oh, right, today is Sophia’s birthday. Happy birthday.”

Alfred smiled.

“Thank you very much, Lord Alfred.”

Sophia bowed.

Alfred looked at everyone and spoke of the news he had just received.

“It’s nothing too serious. It’s just that my two older brothers seem to be making so sort of move again.”

Alfred said this very calmly.

Ryan had heard Marcus ntion them before.

If he rembered correctly, their nas were Hermann and Otto.

Because the previous head of the Jurgen Family had passed the position of family head to Alfred,

both Hermann and Otto had always been extrely dissatisfied.

Hermann was the eldest son and believed that he was the true heir of the Jurgen Family.

Otto was the second son and also believed that Hermann should be the family head.

The two of them had always been secretly scheming for the position.

“Mr. Alfred, you...”

Ryan started to speak, intending to help.

But Alfred waved his hands repeatedly. “Ah, Ryan, you shouldn’t get involved. This is, after all, an internal matter of the Jurgen Family. It would not be appropriate for you to be dragged into it.”

“I understand.”

Ryan nodded slightly.

Alfred was right.

This was a matter of the Jurgen Family. As an outsider, Ryan was not in a position to interfere.

“Hmph. They truly don’t know the imnsity of heaven and earth, causing trouble for on a day like this. It seems I really do need to teach my two older brothers a proper lesson.”

Alfred’s tone was low.

Everyone’s hearts tensed, and they could clearly feel that Alfred was angry.

The fury of a top-tier A-rank Mage was not sothing just anyone could withstand.

Ryan silently offered a prayer for Alfred’s two brothers.

Sophia spoke up. “Since sothing has co up on your family’s side, Isabella, let’s end the birthday party here for today.”

“I’m sorry, Sophia.”

Isabella apologized.

“What are you saying, Isabella? This was the happiest birthday I’ve ever had. Once the matter on your family’s side is settled, we can have another tea party.”

Sophia said with a smile.

“All right. Of course.”

Isabella nodded.

Right after that, Tina and Sophia left the castle.

Alfred had already led his people out of the castle.

Isabella looked at Alfred’s departing back with worry in her eyes. “Father...”

“Young Lady, there is no need to worry. The family head is an A-rank Mage. Nothing will happen to him.”

Nila comforted her.

“Yes, I know, but I still can’t help worrying.”

Isabella nodded and spoke softly.

“Young Lady, don’t worry. The family head did not go alone. He brought so many people with him. He will definitely be able to defeat the other side.”

anwhile, in the guest room, Ryan and Nika were also discussing the matter.

“Nika, prepare to leave.”

“Hm? Master, are we leaving?”

“Just make preparations. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Uh... Yes, Master.”

Nika imdiately began packing their luggage.

“Master, are we going to run into danger?”

“Not necessarily.”

Ryan shook his head.

“A great family like the Jurgen Family has many advantages, but it also has many disadvantages. This kind of fierce internal struggle is one of them.”

“There’s no telling how many people covet Alfred’s position as family head and are constantly trying to pull him down.”

“But what I’m thinking is this: they clearly know that Alfred possesses the overwhelming strength of an A-rank Mage, so why would they still dare to make a move?”

“Yes. Why?”

Nika asked.

“I don’t know the exact situation, but one thing is certain. They must be making their move because they have absolute confidence.”

“When the prepared side strikes against the unprepared side, Alfred will probably suffer a major loss.”

Ryan sighed.