CHAPTER 289: CHAPTER 288 - SINCLAIR’S SHOCK.

The silence after Sinclair’s words stretched long enough for the sound of Velric’s ragged breathing to echo across the grand hall.

Then—

Phew...

Alex slumped back against the sofa, arms dangling over the cushions like he’d just survived the end of the world. "Oh, thank god. For a second there, I thought it was something serious."

Everyone turned toward him.

Jessy flicked a pebble at his forehead. "A coup in one of the strongest families on the continent isn’t serious?"

Alex rubbed the red spot, groaning. "Compared to the things my red flagging has done until now? Not even close."

Graye laughed, throwing an arm around the backrest of her seat. "Fair. Honestly, I’ll take a Vaise implosion over a demon tearing the sky open anytime."

Rufus actually exhaled in relief, slumping back on the sofa like Alex. "She’s not wrong. If Alex had red-flagged us for real, I’d have packed my stuff and moved to another continent."

Omni’s drawl echoed out of Raven’s arm, lazy but amused. "Preach. Kid opens his mouth, and the whole damn world trembles."

Even Selena, ever-serene, let out a soft chuckle. The ripple of tension that Sinclair’s announcement had brought merely... evaporated.

Everyone was at ease.

Everyone but Sinclair and Velric.

The two of them stared around the room like the only sober guests at a party gone off the rails.

"...Why are you all so relaxed?" Sinclair finally asked, her voice sharp.

Velric looked between Raven and the group, her eyes wide. He didn’t dare speak, but his expression said, ’Are you people insane?’

Clara’s lips curved faintly as she nestled closer against Raven’s shoulder. "Because it’s not unexpected. We knew this would happen."

"Wha...?" Sinclair’s jaw dropped.

"Raven had even warned Argon about it," Selena added.

Siris grinned wickedly from Raven’s lap. "What did he do in response? He waved it off. Remember that? He actually waved."

Jessy snorted. "Yeah, he said something about Raven not having seen his true power."

"Pffft," Graye burst out again, nearly choking. "True power, my ass. Dude really dropped a dad joke while standing on a landmine."

Even Raven cracked a smirk.

"He didn’t listen," Raven said, his tone carrying the finality of a tombstone.

None of them were lying.

Raven, feeling like he was doing wrong by manipulating Argon into doing things for his profit, had told him about his loss.

He had told Argon that he would lose against the forces of Zephyr, and although he hadn’t said why it would happen, he did warn the man.

Argon, however, didn’t believe it and merely thought that Raven was worried about him, so he laughed.

Yes, that man had laughed and said that he would win, and once he did, he would designate Raven as the next patriarch.

Raven hadn’t said anything after that because he had already done his part.

Now, this happened.

Sinclair blinked at him. "But—Master—you... Aren’t you worried about your family?"

Raven shook his head, almost pitying her confusion. "Do I look like I care about everyone I know?"

Sinclair paused, but she quickly came up with a counter. "But—But what about the people that matter?"

Raven glanced at the others, especially the Vaise family members, and seeing them nod, he replied. "Those who weren’t strong enough to face the things that would be thrown at them were evacuated before anything happened."

"And what about the ones who fought?" She pressed, as she wanted to see at least a hint of worry in Raven’s eyes, but the guy tilted his head.

"Do you think the strongest man in the world dies so easily?" His eyes gleamed faintly. "No. They escaped. All of them who mattered. The moment they realized the kind of power Zephyr wielded... they would have moved."

The words silenced the room for a moment—until Sinclair stiffened, recalling something.

"...There were no bodies found," she admitted, her voice low. "The estate was destroyed, but the report said there was... nothing left. Not even ash."

Velric swallowed hard, eyes darting between them. ’Nothing left? And you’re still this calm?’

Raven leaned forward slightly, gaze sharp but patient. "Then tell me what you know, Sinclair."

She hesitated, then drew a steadying breath. "The main estate is gone. Zephyr has moved to the Cradle. He’s gathered his forces there."

Her jaw tightened. "There are also reports he’s keeping captives. And he’s hunting. Looking for any Vaise survivors. Without them, the family’s foundation collapses."

Raven nodded, unsurprised. "As expected."

Sinclair’s fists clenched. "As expected?! He’s tearing apart the Vaise family!"

For a moment, her voice cracked—not out of loyalty to the Vaises, but from the gnawing fear of what her position under Raven meant now that her old house was crumbling.

Zephyr was ruthless—it was clear to everyone now.

So, would he let a person who was marked as a slave to one of his competitors live?

She knew Raven wouldn’t bow to the guy, so that would automatically make her Zephyr’s enemy.

The thing was that she had people who relied on her, so she couldn’t even run away.

She was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Raven caught her dilemma instantly.

A low chuckle slipped past his lips as he leaned back again, utterly composed. "Relax, Sinclair. Your comfortable life won’t be disturbed."

Her head snapped up, stunned.

Raven’s gaze was steady, his smirk knowing. "I know why you’re worried. You’re not afraid of Zephyr. You’re afraid of being crushed between him and me. Don’t be. You’re one of my people, and I intend to keep it that way. So, you won’t be harmed."

Sinclair froze, her face paling, but her chest heaved like a weight had been pressed down on it and then lifted away.

Meanwhile, Alex raised a hand. "So basically, Zephyr’s playing hide-and-seek with Vaise leftovers, and we’re just... chilling until he shows up?"

Raven shook his head slowly, amusement flickering in his eyes at Alex’s summary.

"Chilling?" His voice carried just enough weight to still the room. "No. We move."

That made a few brows shoot up.

"Wait—move?" Clara asked, lifting her head from his shoulder. "You mean... to the Cradle?"

"Exactly." Raven leaned forward, brushing a hand over Lia’s hair before resting his elbows on his knees. "Zephyr made his play. Now we make ours. Sitting here is wasting time."

The group exchanged looks—most of them had assumed they’d wait, let the nobles stew in fear, then pick them off.

Jessy raised an eyebrow. "So... we’re skipping the palace games? Just marching into Vaise territory?"

"Yes." Raven’s tone was final. Then he added, "But not all of us would be moving. The meeting tonight still matters."

That made a few heads tilt in confusion.

Raven’s eyes slid toward Selena, Nibbles perched proudly on Alex’s shoulder, and finally Graye, who had been cracking her knuckles in anticipation.

"Selena, Nibbles, and Graye will stay. They will handle the nobles. We can’t be sure if a demon worshiper shows up, so we need to be alert."

Selena’s lips curved, her shadow flickering under her feet like it agreed with the assignment.

Nibbles squeaked proudly, tail standing like a battle flag.

Graye, however, froze. Then her jaw dropped. "Wait—what?!"

"You’ll do fine," Raven said smoothly.

Graye shot to her feet, pointing at him like he’d just declared war on her personally. "You’re leaving me out of the real fight?! No! Not fair! Why do others get it, but I am stuck with the squirrel and the shadow queen, hoping that at least one demon shows up?"

Her protests echoed through the hall.

Raven’s smirk was wicked as he leaned back again. "Because if you do this right... maybe you’ll earn yourself a hug."

The room went silent.

Graye blinked. Once. Twice. Her cheeks flared crimson, but her fists clenched tight as she stomped once on the marble floor. "Damn you, Raven... You know exactly how to motivate me."

Then she punched the air with fiery determination. "Fine! I’ll wait here and hope that I’ll get to enjoy some action! Then, once it’s done, you’d better hug me!"

Omni’s laugh crackled out of Raven’s arm. "Bruh, she really sold her soul for a hug."

Jessy groaned into her hands. "Gods, we’re doomed."

Raven, however, merely glanced at Selena, saying nothing, but she understood it.

What he wanted to tell her was that she should rely on Graye if things looked bad.

The best thing about Graye was that they merely needed to send her into a battle while others hid.

One way or another, she would return victorious.

Then, Raven glanced at others, and the mood had shifted—energy buzzing through the group.

He rose to his feet, his presence filling the hall.

"The rest of us move for the Cradle," he said, calm but unyielding. "Zephyr thinks he’s hunting Vaise survivors. He has no idea... he just became the prey."

A hush fell—charged and expectant.

Sinclair and Velric exchanged wide-eyed looks, both struck silent by the casual way Raven commanded the group.

He was talking about moving the whole kingdom as if he were talking about the weather.

It was normal for them to think like that; after all, they didn’t know how strong Raven and his group had grown.

Then, almost as if on cue, Nibbles squeaked sharply, tail lashing like a banner.

The squeak hadn’t even finished echoing before Nibbles’ "elite squad" came scurrying out of nowhere.

One squirrel wore half a walnut shell like a helmet, squinting like he was about to charge Normandy.

Another dragged a twig three times his size, grunting like it was a legendary spear.

The smallest one slapped leaves onto his chest and declared, "Armor ready!" while they immediately slipped off and fluttered away.

As everyone stared at the scene unfold, Omni’s voice cracked through the room. "Ayo... I swear, if these squirrels actually win us a war, I’m retirin’ early. Ain’t no way my street cred survives gettin’ upstaged by a dude wearin’ half a walnut."