Chapter 291

The Narsio family.

One of the six great pillars supporting the Ragnar clan, renowned among the Six Star Clans.

Although their influence had significantly waned over time, the emergence of Wellington brought renewed hope of revival.

Yet, that promising figure met his end, branded as a traitor alongside Hilda and the Ascending Dragon.

Even though he was born as a bastard, the Narsio family placed great expectations upon him.

Naturally, one would expect backlash against the Ragnar clan.

“The silence is unnerving.”

The intelligence network of the Black Snow was absolute within Winterer.

From the affairs of the Six Star Clans to minor street gossip, all information was reported.

And yet, even while approving documents earlier, the Black Dragon hadn’t mentioned anything about the Narsio family.

This eerie silence was unsettling.

“I sincerely hope nothing unusual is brewing.”

Theo’s thoughts were genuine, a silent prayer offered—if not for his own sake, then for Wellington’s.

* * *

Whirl–

The sound of wind howling beyond the window resonated through the room, emphasizing the eerie stillness inside.

The flickering candlelight, barely clinging to life, looked fragile, as if a single gust would extinguish it.

A flame on the verge of going out.

This perfectly described the current state of the Narsio family.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“How did it come to this... It was promising when Welly became the Ascending Dragon’s disciple!”

Though marked by the stigma of being a bastard, Wellington had grown into an upstanding figure.

His acceptance as the Ascending Dragon’s disciple had seemed like a guaranteed path to restoring the Narsio family’s former glory.

But when the news came of his death—branded as a Northern Traitor—the Narsio family was thrown into disarray.

It was understandable. Among the elders and direct lineage, no one had displayed the same level of promise as Wellington.

With no male heirs to continue the family line, Wellington had been the Narsio family’s future.

“Unless Ragnar intends to abandon us entirely…”

Such extreme thoughts seemed increasingly plausible as the Narsio family was pushed to the edge of the cliff.

In the study, Tammus Narsio, the head of the Narsio family, and his elders met daily to discuss countermeasures.

But no meaningful solutions had been reached.

At some point, Tammus realized he’d been staring blankly at his desk for far too long.

Knock, knock.

Creeaak—

Tammus furrowed his brows and rubbed his temples.

Though he hadn’t explicitly forbidden visitors, he hadn’t expected anyone foolish enough to disturb him in these dire circumstances.

This interruption felt like a bitter reminder of how barren the Narsio family’s talent pool had become.

His angry glare shot toward the door—only to soften when he saw who entered.

“….”

An elderly man with snow-white hair and deeply etched wrinkles stepped into the room.

Ralph Nagnik.

The senior steward of the Narsio family, a man who was never one to act out of decorum.

For Ralph to forgo his usual formalities meant only one thing.

“What brings you here?”

Tammus asked cautiously, but Ralph gave no response.

His question hadn’t been directed at Ralph, however.

Instead, the sound of creaking footsteps echoed through the worn floorboards as a second figure emerged behind him.

“Still as imposing as ever.”

A chilling presence, like a raging northern storm, filled the room.

An elder man entered, exuding a fierce aura and cold, piercing gaze.

Tammus immediately recognized the figure he both feared and revered above all.

It was none other than Kalen Narsio, the former patriarch of the Narsio family and Tammus’s father.

“….”

Kalen swept his gaze across the room in silence, his cold eyes lingering on Tammus.

The expression he wore wasn’t one of a father looking at his child.

It was the detached stare one might give a pebble lying on the roadside.

Tsk.

Kalen clicked his tongue in disdain before breaking the silence.

“Still the same, I see.”

Though brief, his words carried unmasked scorn.

Tammus couldn’t muster a response.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he lowered his gaze, unable to meet his father’s.

He had spent a lifetime enduring that same gaze and voice, which treated him as little more than a tool to be whipped into shape.

“It makes me want to die.”

The thought crept unbidden into Tammus’s mind, an instinctive reaction to his father’s presence.

No matter how hard he had worked to lead the family or how tirelessly he labored to resolve Wellington’s death,

Kalen never acknowledged his efforts.

Even so, Tammus didn’t feel bitterness—only fear.

“Still useless and pathetic. Pitiful.”

Kalen’s gaze was one of utter contempt, as if looking at a bug.

Tammus knew the reason behind Kalen’s unveiled disdain.

“He hasn’t given up.”

Kalen’s ambition was simple: to surpass Ragnar’s power in his lifetime.

Wellington had been the key to realizing that ambition.

Now that Wellington was dead, Kalen’s anxiety had reached its peak.

“For now, bow your head. Only by biding your time can you plan for the future. That is the only way to surpass Ragnar one day.”

His icy gaze conveyed an unspoken command, one that struck Tammus like a whip.

“…I will remember that.”

Tammus clenched his teeth as he responded.

Tsk.

With another click of his tongue, Kalen turned and left the room.

The oppressive aura vanished with his retreating figure, but Tammus’s breath came in ragged gasps.

“Hah… Hah…”

Grasping his chest, Tammus slumped back into his chair.

His bloodshot eyes stared at the door where Kalen had exited, but the strength had drained from his body.

Leaning back heavily, he could only sit there, overwhelmed and trembling.

***

Kalen’s expression remained tightly knit.

It had been a long time since his children even registered in his thoughts.

His mind was still fixated on the towering obstacle that was the Ragnar clan.

"I thought everything would fall into place once Kyle was gone."

The greatest wall, one that seemed insurmountable, had disappeared with Kyle's absence.

He had believed this was the right time to act.

But.

“Theo Ragnar.”

No sooner had the seemingly indomitable wall vanished than another, equally imposing, rose in its place.

“What a shame.”

Kalen clicked his tongue bitterly, recalling Wellington.

The boy had so much potential, so many possible uses.

But that was all he had been—useful.

Even the death of his grandson mattered little to Kalen.

To him, Wellington had simply been one of many tools, and losing a single tool didn’t rattle Kalen in the slightest.

Even so, caution was always prudent.

“Contact the Imperial Palace immediately. Begin preparations.”

“Understood.”

With a single command, Ralph swiftly moved into action, and Kalen disappeared silently into the shadows.

* * *

Theo wanted to make a swift decision about how to handle the Narsio family.

But the Black Dragon, after some thought, shook his head.

"It’s not time yet. We can observe their actions after the succession ceremony and decide accordingly."

Recognizing his impatience due to his personal feelings about Wellington, Theo nodded in agreement.

Now, Theo had gathered his retainers in one place.

Sitting in the Gaju's seat—a place that had once been Kyle’s—Theo scanned the faces of his vassals.

The familiarity of seeing allies he had long known eased the pressure of sitting in such a position of authority.

Taking a deep breath, Theo opened his mouth to speak.

The murmurs in the room ceased immediately as all eyes turned to him.

"I believe we’ve established sufficient justification now. With the disappearance of the former Gaju, Kyle Ragnar, I know there are those who are beginning to bare their fangs at us. Therefore."

Bang!

Theo slammed the table with his hand, his voice resolute.

"I intend to remind them who the true rulers of the North are. At the succession ceremony, we will gather the Six Star Clans. And there—"

His sharp, determined gaze swept across the room.

"Blood will be spilled. Prepare yourselves."

It was nothing short of a declaration of war.

Theo wasn’t asking them to shed blood for him—he was demanding it.

Yet there wasn’t the slightest murmur of dissent.

Some even nodded with determined expressions, as if they had been waiting for such a moment.

"I’m finally being recognized."

The Black Dragon couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

The neutral factions, which had remained on the sidelines after Kyle’s disappearance, had finally revealed their stance.

They had observed Theo carefully, trying to gauge whether he was a leader worth following or if they should distance themselves from Ragnar.

But Theo’s achievements had erased all doubts.

Hunting the Bipper, the King of the Beastlands, a feat that earned him the title of the Beastlands' King.

Forging an alliance with Van Harald, the Sea Sovereign.

The young Gaju of Ragnar had accomplished such feats that refusing to follow him now seemed unthinkable.

Some even began to harbor greater expectations for Theo’s rule than they had for Kyle’s.

"The journey to the Beastlands did wonders for him."

The Black Dragon’s smile deepened.

Without those achievements, some vassals might have viewed Theo’s decision as reckless.

And it would have taken much longer to bring peace within Winterer.

But now, even those who had served Kyle with the highest of standards recognized Theo’s value.

The commanding presence Theo exuded further solidified their trust.

"Send messengers to all corners. Prepare thoroughly."

“Understood!”

The resounding responses echoed through the chamber.

Even Theo seemed momentarily surprised by the strength of their replies.

The Black Dragon nearly chuckled at the sight—it seemed as if these men were now eager to prove themselves to Theo.

"They may not be sycophants, but this is still amusing."

Even families that had pledged loyalty to Ragnar for generations now scrambled to show their devotion.

As the meeting concluded and the retainers left the room, their disciplined demeanor remained evident.

Once only a few members of the Nine Dragons were left, the sound of clapping broke the silence.

"It reminds me of when our elder brother held his first meeting."

"Back then, he had to endlessly prove his authority before ascending as Gaju. It was passionate, but this isn’t bad either."

Julius and Robert reminisced with smiles on their faces.

Hearing stories from before his birth piqued Theo’s interest.

"Now, prepare the official message to send with the messengers. We’ll return shortly."

"Don’t stress over it. Just write from your heart."

The Black Dragon handed Theo a sheet of paper, while Julius reassured him with a smile.

As they left the room, Theo stared at the blank page for a moment.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and then opened them with renewed determination.

Grasping the pen, he began to write.