CHAPTER 294: THE FRACTURED BLOODLINE [ 2 ]

The conference chamber was eerily silent, a thick tension hanging in the air.

Arthur’s words sliced through the stillness like a blade poised above their heads.

"Do you know," he began slowly, "why the Osborn Family was splintered into so many branches?"

No one dared to respond; the room remained mute.

Yet, the eager glint in their eyes revealed an undeniable truth,they craved answers. They needed to understand.

With a deliberate grace, Arthur rose from his chair, his hand gliding across the table’s surface.

Suddenly, the glass walls of the chamber shimmered and illuminated as holographic screens burst into life.

One by one, translucent panes filled the room, casting an ethereal glow on faces that were a mix of shock and intrigue.

At Arthur’s side, Evolon materialized,a sleek figure that seemed like a shadow given form.

The walls transformed into a living tapestry of history.

Old photographs flickered to life,grainy black-and-white images of men in outdated suits and women draped in luxurious gowns; their eyes sharp and knowing.

Footage rolled out: faded reels of parades and assemblies where councils smiled for cameras, blissfully unaware or perhaps all too aware,of the puppet strings being pulled behind them.

Maps unfolded before them, sprawling and dynamic, dotted with symbols that danced across screens like constellations.

Thin golden lines wove through these images, connecting fragments into a glowing web of secrets.

At its heart lay a single crest: the Osborn sigil, regal, ancient, unyielding.

Surrounding it were eleven more crests that blossomed into view,arranged like stars in a night sky.

Each emblem told its own story: a willow encircled by stars, a crowned falcon soaring high, a lion entwined with swords,a raven spreading its wings and more,all steeped in rich history.

As if summoned by some unseen force, the table pulsed beneath them.

A massive projection rose at the center of the chamber like an unwavering standard planted firmly in place,the Osborn crest anchoring it all while others radiated outward on faint luminous threads.

The family members stared wide-eyed at this revelation; some leaned forward as if drawn closer by an invisible thread while others sat back stiffly as they grappled with this staggering enormity.

Julian broke through first with a sharp gesture toward the glowing map.

"So you’re saying... our division,the current state of the Osborn Family,is linked to these families?"

Arthur nodded once with gravity. "Yes."

Silence enveloped them again.

Arthur stepped closer to the projection, his voice heavy with revelation.

"After uncovering that our family has countless branches across the globe, I instructed Evolon to dig deeper. I also instructed my own people who are across continents to investigate as well even chasing the faintest whispers.

What I discovered was deliberately buried, erased from history. Yet enough traces remained, enough threads to weave together a story that all leads back here,to these eleven families."

His words landed like stones in a still pond.

Every Osborn in the chamber stared at him, caught between dread and an insatiable hunger for knowledge.

Oscar leaned forward, his voice steady but thick with curiosity. "Who... are these families?"

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly as he let the question hang in the air.

He scanned their faces before continuing, "Look closely,do any of these crests ring a bell?"

They turned back to the projections, squinting as if trying to recall long-forgotten memories.

The symbols glowed like ghostly relics,sharp and distinct but blank stares filled the room.

Finally, Ashley broke the silence, her brows furrowed in frustration. "Why do we need to know this?"

Before Arthur could respond, Charlotte stirred from her contemplation.

Her sharp gaze had been fixed on one crest for too long; now it lit up with recognition as she leaned forward and pointed decisively.

"A willow tree! Branches spread wide and surrounded by a crown of stars!" she exclaimed.

"Wait..." Charlotte’s voice rose with excitement. "That crest...it belongs to the Whitmore Family, doesn’t it?"

The chamber buzzed with energy as faces turned toward her and then back to the projection.

Olivia leaned in closer, incredulous. "How do you know that’s theirs?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Because Arthur already told us,the Whitmore Family rules the Aurelian Federation! Their crest is exactly that!"

Understanding rippled through the room like waves crashing on a shore,murmurs arose as heads nodded slowly but surely; connections began clicking into place.

Arthur allowed himself a faint smile. "Charlotte is correct,the Whitmore Family is indeed one of them."

He extended his hand again, shifting the projection seamlessly as he traced each crest with deliberate calmness,a name dropping like iron weights into their minds.

"Alongside them are: The Valerian Royal Family... The Caelthorn Family... The Draemonts... The Kryvos Family... The Lysander Royal Family... The Leyrons... The Serenholts... The Mordain Royal Family... The Ravencrofts and finally The Ashwyn Family...."

Each name resonated deeply within those gathered until silence enveloped them once more,a weightier silence than before.

They gazed in awe at the twelve crests shimmering like stars in a constellation, Osborn at the center, with the others radiating outward like a cosmic web.

The weight of their reality began to sink in.

Arthur paused, his eyes sweeping over their astonished faces. He spoke again, his voice steady and composed.

"These eleven families are not just rivals or mere names of power. They are the true rulers of this world,together, they forged what we know as the Panterra World Council. The PWC serves as their mask, their mouthpiece, and their tool and our Osborn Family was part of it."

The impact of his words detonated in the air.

"What?!" Ashley gasped, springing to her feet, her voice quaking with disbelief. "You mean,the PWC... is controlled by them?"

She wasn’t alone in her shock. Edward recoiled in his seat; Eva’s hand flew to her mouth; George muttered incredulously; even Julian’s calm demeanor faltered, his brow furrowing deeply.

Arthur rolled his eyes dryly. "Come on now! You should have seen this coming. Even if you didn’t recognize the faces behind it all, you should have grasped the truth by now. The PWC is nothing more than a figurehead."

His tone sharpened, almost cutting. "You are Osborns! From a prestigious lineage! Stop acting so shocked when confronted with truths that should be glaringly obvious if you’ve studied history closely enough."

A few bristled at his words,Ashley especially pressed her lips together but none dared to speak up; they knew he was right.

Taking a soft breath, Arthur turned back to the projection and let his voice drop into a solemn rhythm.

"About a century ago, Panterra was ruled by these twelve families."

His hand swept across the glowing crests illuminating the room. "Each family held dominion over an entire continent. To outsiders, they appeared merely as houses of wealth and influence,but behind closed doors? They ruled from the shadows. Their reach extended into governments, militaries, economies,their will was law."

He paced slowly as he wove history like an intricate spell.

"It was they who formed the Panterra World Council,a union hailed publicly as a symbol of peace and governance but in truth? It was simply their tool,a mask for controlling every government beneath the sun. Their power was absolute; any resistance vanished without a trace,entire movements erased and nations silenced."

Gasps rippled through the room as eyes widened in shock; some clutched their screens tightly while skimming through archives Evolon had unearthed: old decrees, clipped headlines, blurred photographs of officials standing behind cheerful PWC banners,all blissfully unaware of the iron chains binding them.

Arthur’s voice cut through again,sharper now.

"The Osborn Family was not just one of the twelve powerful clans; we were one of the families at the top. Our strength and influence were unrivaled, and the Noctis Continent was our kingdom,a throne that commanded respect.

Suddenly, the chamber fell into a stunned silence.

"What?!" The word burst forth from half a dozen mouths simultaneously, each voice tinged with disbelief.

Their faces reflected shock, eyes wide as saucers, lips parted in astonishment, hearts pounding like drums.

Arthur had ignited a spark that set their world ablaze once more.

Above them, the holographic display expanded with vivid images,faded photographs showcasing sprawling Osborn estates across the Noctis Continent, armies marching in ceremonial splendor, ancient ledgers overflowing with wealth that dwarfed entire kingdoms.

Decrees sealed with their proud crest whispered tales of power long forgotten.

Every family member leaned closer to their holographic screens, hands trembling as they scrolled through glimpses of a past erased but not entirely lost.

Images,documents,scattered clues hinting at a history waiting to be rediscovered.

Shock held them fast,bewilderment swirled in their eyes like a tempest.

And there stood Arthur amidst the glowing light, observing their reactions with an unsettling calm and cold satisfaction.

The room buzzed quietly with the hum of holograms illuminating faces filled with awe. Yet still, Arthur’s voice rang clear above it all.

"This," he declared passionately, "is who we were and this is who we are destined to become again."