Chapter 87: The Thorne Family’s Enemy

The Eclipse Concord’s meeting hall was already crowded by the time Damon arrived.

He stepped inside without hesitation, his expression calm as his gaze swept across the assembled members.

Several conversations faded as people noticed him, and the hostility that followed was difficult to miss.

Some looked at him with open displeasure, while others watched him with the guarded expressions of people waiting to see what kind of trouble he might bring.

Nobody came forward to welcome him.

Damon didn’t mind. He hadn’t come here to make friends.

He walked farther into the hall, his footsteps steady against the polished floor.

His gaze eventually settled on the old man seated farther inside the hall.

Alistair Veyron looked much as he had during their previous encounter, his aged face composed and his posture relaxed.

There was no obvious tension in his movements, and he didn’t appear particularly concerned by the hostile atmosphere surrounding Damon’s arrival.

Damon had paid attention to the old man before, but his own condition had been different then. His body had been weaker, his cultivation less developed, and his ability to judge the strength of those around him more limited.

That was no longer the case.

As Damon studied Alistair, he began to form a clearer assessment of the man’s strength. He paid attention to the way the old man carried himself, the faint traces of power he could perceive, and the overall impression his presence created.

The picture gradually became clearer.

A smile almost appeared on Damon’s face.

So that’s how strong you are.

He had expected the leader of an organization like the Eclipse Concord to be formidable. Alistair certainly wasn’t weak, and an ordinary person would have found the old man’s presence intimidating.

But compared with what Damon had begun to recover, the difference wasn’t nearly as great as he might once have imagined.

In fact, Damon believed he could defeat him without much difficulty.

The realization brought him a wave of genuine pleasure.

There was something satisfying about discovering that a man sitting at the center of such a powerful organization might not be able to defeat him in a direct confrontation.

Alistair had the position, the influence, and the backing of the Concord, but none of those things automatically made him stronger than Damon.

Damon continued forward and took his place.

The conversations around the hall gradually resumed, though the occasional hostile glance still came his way. He ignored them all.

If these people wanted to judge him, they were welcome to do so. Their opinions would matter only if they possessed something he wanted or the power to interfere with what he intended to accomplish.

For now, he was interested in hearing what Alistair had to say.

The old man finally turned his attention toward him.

"So, Master Thorne, have you considered where you stand?"

His voice carried easily through the hall. The casual manner in which he spoke made the question sound almost ordinary.

Damon met his gaze without answering.

Alistair didn’t seem bothered by the silence. He rested his hands comfortably before him, then continued in the same composed tone.

"Will you join us and help us kill your parents? In return, you can enjoy the resources and benefits available through the Concord. Your family once held a position of considerable influence here, and there is no reason you cannot benefit from that legacy, provided you understand where your interests should lie."

The words settled over the hall.

For a moment, the surrounding members seemed content to watch Damon, waiting for his reaction. Some wore expressions of expectation, while others appeared to find the situation entertaining.

Alistair was once again laying out the benefits of cooperation- wealth, influence, and access to the resources of one of the most powerful organizations in the country.

All he had to do was help murder his own parents.

Alistair watched him for a moment before continuing.

"Of course, you are free to refuse. You can leave the Concord and abandon the position your family once held. No one is asking you to remain here against your will."

The old man’s expression remained unchanged.

"But I should remind you of something. By now, you should already have learned from the Ashfords that the Thorne family is considered our enemy. That situation will not disappear simply because you decide to walk away."

His voice carried a faint note of warning.

"If you leave, there may be implications you haven’t considered. I would advise you to think carefully before making your decision."

The words were polite enough, but their meaning was unmistakable.

Alistair wasn’t simply offering Damon a choice. He was reminding him that refusing the offer would not necessarily allow him to escape the consequences of his family’s history.

These people weren’t waiting to see whether Damon would prove himself worthy of the Thorne name.

They were waiting to see whether he would submit to the arrangement they had already decided was best for them. If he cooperated, they could turn him into a useful participant in his own family’s destruction. If he refused, they would have to decide how to deal with him as an enemy.

Damon leaned back slightly in his seat.

He remained silent for a few moments, then he smiled.

"All right. I accept."

The casual answer caught the attention of several members. Even Alistair’s expression shifted slightly as he studied the young man sitting before him.

Damon rested an arm against his chair, looking directly at the old man.

"I’ll help you kill them."

For a moment, the hall fell quiet. The hostility that had filled the room didn’t disappear, but several expressions changed. Some members looked satisfied, while others seemed surprised that the Thorne heir had agreed so readily to turn against his own parents.

Alistair watched Damon carefully. "You’ve made your decision rather quickly."

"What’s there to think about?" Damon replied.

"You offered me resources and benefits in exchange for helping you deal with my parents. I see no reason to reject an offer that suits me."

His answer was straightforward, without the hesitation or indignation some might have expected from a son being asked to participate in his parents’ deaths.

Damon had little attachment to people he barely knew, and he wasn’t going to pretend otherwise. If the Thorne family had enemies this powerful, understanding their intentions and gaining access to their resources could prove useful.

Besides, accepting Alistair’s offer didn’t mean Damon intended to let the old man dictate how he handled his parents. For now, he had agreed to cooperate. What happened afterward would depend on what he discovered and how much he stood to gain.