CHAPTER 501: THE GROWING WHISPERS OF THE MANOR

Meanwhile, back at the Zorken Manor...

A battalion of men gathered in the manor’s kitchen, where most of its soldiers dined. As usual, the entire house was packed, with different departments coming together to enjoy their meal.

"I heard the master brought his wife to the main town," one of the soldiers said.

Despite the loud chatter filling each table, those around him paused and turned to look. Their expressions were a mix of surprise and disbelief.

"What?" he asked, confused. "The boss isn’t here, and I didn’t say anything wrong."

What he said was true. Atlas had indeed taken his wife, Lola, to the main town.

However, what was wrong was the way he addressed her. Everyone here would politely approach or respond to Lola. The majority either disliked her or felt neutral toward her, but none dared be openly disrespectful. They didn’t know her, and for years, everyone had assumed Scarlet would one day take the role of matriarch.

Who wouldn’t think that?

Scarlet held the highest position a woman had ever reached in the family—except for Sybil, of course. That was if they didn’t consider the fact that the original heirs from generations past were women.

On top of that, none of them had a good impression of a woman leading them. The last time someone tried, it almost ruined the entire Order—not just their lives.

"Even if you don’t say it out loud, once the master hears about this, he won’t let you off," someone warned quietly. "He’s very fond of his wife."

Another snickered. "You think the master is that shallow?"

"Or rather," another added, "what makes you think he isn’t aware of everyone’s feelings about his marriage? It’s not that I dislike his wife or that I have a problem with her being an outsider who knows nothing about the secret society."

He paused, glancing around the cafeteria as the noise gradually mellowed. "All I’m saying is... I don’t know her. So I don’t trust her."

"Exactly," the first man chimed in. "She’s been here a month and hasn’t done anything. And on top of that, the guy she took with her is pathetic."

A wave of ridiculing laughter erupted as they thought of Haji, who had been nothing but weak and pitiful.

"Not to mention, she looks like the type who’ll be fooled easily," another added, but this time, the laughter and chatter in the entire dining hall came to a dead stop.

All eyes shifted to him. Although they were talking about Lola, no one directly insulted her—for their own good. But this guy...

"What?" the man frowned. "You gonna rat me out to the master?"

"Not us..." one of them hummed, tilting his head toward a direction. "Don’t forget there’s a group who thinks sucking up to the boss’s wife will push them higher up the ladder."

Everyone followed his gaze toward a certain table where Izu and his group were seated. Izu remained unfazed, quietly eating despite sensing the attention on them.

"Don’t," he whispered sharply, snapping his eyes at his men around the table.

His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp and barely concealing his frustration. His men clenched their teeth, gripping their cutlery so tightly their hands trembled. Their expressions darkened, biting their tongues until they tasted faint hints of blood.

"Heh." The man who had shifted his attention to Izu leaned back, resting his elbow on his chair. A mocking glint sparkled in his eyes. "Hey, Izu. I know you’re keen on making it to the elite team, but don’t you think babysitting a woman is a little too low?"

Izu drew a deep breath and cast him a cold glare. "Careful with what you say about the madam."

"Why?" the man smirked. "You gonna tell on me to her?"

"You—" one of Izu’s men hissed, but stopped when the colleague beside him pressed a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"Don’t let him get in your head," the latter muttered under his breath.

Everyone at Izu’s table glared at the other man—Chuck, the most insufferable person in the inner circle.

The Zorken family’s security tier was divided into different teams and groups. Each belonged to specific circles focusing on different kinds of protection. The combat team alone was divided into three circles, each with a minimum of five teams.

Izu’s team belonged to the third circle—the outer circle. Chuck and his tablemates belonged to the first circle—the elite inner circle.

Only the best made it there, and for a long time, that hierarchy dictated everything. Naturally, those in the inner circle looked down on those in the outer circle. Those in the middle circle often tried to curry favor upward.

"Well, what else can I say?" Chuck sighed dramatically. "You guys train the most, but even if you train your whole lives... there’s no way you’d get inside the inner circle. So, sure — tell on me to her."

He smirked, eyes gleaming maliciously. "Maybe that’ll get you promoted."

Everyone at Izu’s table trembled with barely contained anger. Others from the outer circle—though belonging to different teams—could only frown, not daring to step in and face the inner circle’s wrath.

"Finish your food," Izu muttered to his team. They scowled—they’d long lost their appetite—but they nodded, anyway. Izu then turned to Chuck and his lackeys.

He rose with his tray, followed by his men. But before leaving, he looked back at Chuck.

"A word of advice," Izu said, voice low and cold. "Don’t underestimate the madam. Because you’re right, Chuck. You don’t know her... or what she’s capable of. Don’t make me say ’I told you so.’"

With that, he faced his team. "Let’s go... and don’t look back."

Chuck smirked mockingly as he watched Izu and his "pathetic" men walk away without a fight.

"Pathetic," he scoffed. "A word of advice—screw that. I’d break her limb by limb if not for the master."

The conversation may have ended, but the tension between the groups — and their clashing opinions about Lola — remained.