Chapter 2 The Brothers Who Changed Sides Before the Battle

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Brothers Who Changed Sides Before the Battle

The situation in the Mercer Family courtyard was close to breaking.

The air felt heavy.

One wrong word could turn the confrontation into a fight.

For the sake of the younger clan members, the Grand Elder forced down his anger once again.

He looked directly at Gideon Rourke.

"What exactly does your family want?"

The question was almost unnecessary now.

Everyone already knew.

Gideon smiled.

"Do you really need me to explain?"

He glanced around the courtyard.

"We’re here to destroy the Mercer Family."

Several faces went pale.

Gideon continued as if he were discussing something ordinary.

"Wexford City is too small for four families to keep fighting over the same resources."

His eyes settled on the Grand Elder.

"So someone has to disappear."

The Grand Elder’s heart sank.

He had hoped there was still room for negotiation.

There wasn’t.

He had expected the Rourkes to make demands.

He had not expected them to come here with the intention of wiping out the family.

His hand tightened.

There is still one possibility.

He took a slow breath before speaking.

"Even if your Rourke Family is stronger than us, don’t forget about Adrian Mercer."

The name changed the atmosphere.

The Grand Elder continued.

"Our clan’s greatest young talent is currently studying at the Aldercrest Order."

"If you destroy the Mercer Family, the Order will surely investigate."

"Once they learn that one of their disciples’ families was attacked and wiped out, can your Rourke Family bear the consequences?"

For the first time, Gideon stopped smiling.

Then he laughed.

"Adrian Mercer?"

His expression carried open contempt.

"He barely counts as a threat."

The Grand Elder’s eyes narrowed.

Gideon continued.

"If he were still an Inner Disciple of the Aldercrest Order, perhaps I would show some restraint."

"But now?"

The Grand Elder’s heart skipped.

"What do you mean?"

Gideon’s smile returned.

"You really don’t know?"

He shook his head.

"How careless."

The Grand Elder stared at him.

Gideon spoke slowly.

"Your precious genius was attacked by the Ashen Thorn Sect while carrying out a mission for the Aldercrest Order."

"He survived."

"But his Dantian didn’t."

Silence.

Gideon let the words sink in.

"His cultivation was completely crippled."

"And not long ago, the Aldercrest Order expelled him."

The courtyard exploded into noise.

"What?"

"That’s impossible!"

"Adrian..."

Several Mercer elders exchanged stunned looks.

The younger members were even more shaken.

Adrian Mercer had been the family’s greatest hope.

For years, everyone had believed that once he grew stronger, he would return to Wexford City and help restore the family to its former position.

He had been talented.

He had been ambitious.

And, most importantly, he had the backing of the Aldercrest Order.

Now that protection was gone.

His cultivation had been destroyed.

He had been expelled.

The hope the family had placed in him had disappeared almost overnight.

The Grand Elder’s face became grim.

"If Adrian really has been expelled..."

He didn’t finish.

He didn’t need to.

Everyone understood.

Without Julian Mercer, without Adrian, and with the Rourke Family standing in front of them, who could protect the Mercer Family?

The Grand Elder slowly looked around.

Then he noticed something.

Three men standing near the edge of the courtyard were exchanging glances.

The Marlow brothers.

They had served the Mercer Family for years.

They were not members of the main bloodline, but they had enjoyed the position of clan retainers and had received cultivation resources from the family.

The three brothers had always been considered reliable.

At least, until now.

The eldest brother, Elias Marlow, looked toward his younger brothers.

Corin Marlow and Tomas Marlow understood immediately.

Their eyes met.

No words were needed.

The Mercer Family was finished.

Their Patriarch had been missing for six years.

Their strongest young genius had been crippled.

The Rourke Family had arrived prepared for war.

And the three brothers were not willing to die for a family that could no longer protect them.

If the Mercer Family still had a chance of winning, staying would have been the sensible choice.

But now?

Why throw their lives away?

Elias made his decision.

The three brothers stepped out of the Mercer crowd.

Several Mercer members looked at them in confusion.

Then the brothers walked straight toward Gideon.

Elias stopped a few steps away and cupped his fists.

"Patriarch Rourke."

Gideon looked at him.

Elias lowered his head.

"We three have long admired the Rourke Family."

A few Mercer elders immediately sensed something was wrong.

Elias continued.

"We’ve wanted to join your family for some time, but never had the opportunity."

He glanced back at the Mercer Family.

Then he turned toward Gideon again.

"Since fate has brought us here today, we hope Patriarch Rourke will be willing to accept our service."

The courtyard became silent.

The meaning was obvious.

The three brothers were defecting.

Right now.

In front of everyone.

A few Mercer members stared at them in disbelief.

One elder finally snapped.

"Elias!"

The eldest Marlow brother remained silent.

The elder pointed at him.

"Has the Mercer Family ever treated your brothers badly?"

"You received cultivation resources from us. You were given status. You were allowed to live under our protection."

"And now that trouble has arrived, you immediately run to the people who came to destroy us?"

Another elder shouted.

"At least have some dignity!"

The Marlow brothers lowered their heads.

They knew the words were justified.

But they didn’t move.

They had already made their choice.

Elias finally spoke.

"We’re sorry."

His voice was quiet.

"But we’re not willing to die for a battle we cannot win."

That answer only made the Mercer members angrier.

They weren’t angry because the brothers were afraid.

Fear was understandable.

What hurt was the timing.

The Rourke Family had barely arrived.

The battle had not even begun.

And the three brothers had already decided which side they wanted to stand on.

Gideon suddenly laughed.

"Good."

He stepped forward.

"You’ve made the right choice."

He looked at the three brothers with approval.

"A bird chooses the branch where it can survive."

"There’s no shame in knowing when the wind has changed."

He glanced toward the Mercer Family.

"Join the Rourke Family."

"You’ll receive the same treatment as our other retainers."

Then he smiled.

"Perhaps better."

"After all, our family has far more resources than the Mercers can offer you now."

Elias immediately bowed.

"Thank you, Patriarch."

Corin and Tomas followed.

"We’re honored."

The three brothers had barely finished speaking when they knelt before Gideon.

They had made their choice.

There was no turning back now.

Then Elias lifted his head.

"We also have something you should know."

Gideon’s eyes narrowed with interest.

"What is it?"

Elias glanced toward the Mercer elders.

Then he spoke.

"We three haven’t seen Julian Mercer for six years."

The courtyard went dead silent.

The Mercer elders’ expressions changed instantly.

"You..."

One of them stepped forward.

"Traitors!"

Another shouted.

"Ingrates!"

"You dare reveal that?"

The Marlow brothers immediately stood and moved behind Gideon.

They knew they had crossed the line.

There was no reason to pretend otherwise.

Gideon, however, looked satisfied.

He had suspected as much.

But hearing it directly from people who had served inside the Mercer Family carried more weight.

Six years.

Not a single person had seen Julian Mercer.

No one knew whether he was alive.

No one knew whether he could still cultivate.

And now three of his own family’s retainers had confirmed it.

Gideon turned toward the Mercer Family.

The casual amusement had disappeared from his face.

His eyes were cold.

"That’s enough."

He took one step forward.

"Today, the Mercer Family ends."

His killing intent spread through the courtyard.

The temperature seemed to drop.

The Mercer members felt the pressure settle over them like a heavy weight.

Some younger members struggled to breathe.

The Grand Elder gritted his teeth and released his own cultivation to resist it.

He knew the battle was coming.

There would be no negotiation now.

Gideon’s hand moved toward his weapon.

"Kill them."

The Rourke warriors stepped forward.

The Mercer guards drew their weapons.

The courtyard was one heartbeat away from erupting.

Then a voice came from behind the crowd.

Calm.

Warm.

Almost casual.

"Destroy the Mercer Family?"

The Rourke warriors stopped.

Gideon’s hand froze.

Everyone turned toward the sound.

The voice came from the entrance of the hall.

A man slowly walked into view.

White robe.

Calm expression.

Steady footsteps.

The Grand Elder’s eyes widened.

For a moment, he thought he was dreaming.

The man stopped beneath the courtyard’s stone archway.

His gaze moved across the Rourke warriors.

Then across the three Marlow brothers.

Finally, it settled on Gideon.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"With trash like you..."

His eyes became cold.

"...do you really think you’re capable of it?"