Absolute Beast Dominion

"Count Ember, do you really mean to say that your sons can freely mobilise a Captain with the strength of a Low 4-star without your authorisation?" Leo asked in a calm voice.

"No, what I mean to say is that it really was a misunderstanding." Ashton pointed at Nirvan.

"This fool never actually clarified what had happened or with whom it had happened, and I was very distracted at the time of passing the decision," Ashton said.

Nirvan already had his fists clenched hard at the wrongful accusations. Ashton knew each and every detail of the event.

Fucking coward! He gritted his teeth, but under Ashton's overwhelming pressure, he couldn't utter a single word.

"Hm, may I ask what exactly was informed to you? Because you must know something, right?" Leo asked, already becoming suspicious. He couldn't read Nirvan's mind even when he was barely Mid 1-star; it simply meant Ashton was interfering.

"Well, I knew that this girl was falsely accused and was about to be arrested, and that this fool was attacked by you."

"Pfft, hahaha!" Leo laughed.

"Just that? And you blindly believed your unworthy kid? How does that even make sense? You are simply saying that the young masters of your family literally have free rein to destroy anybody's life. Tell me, what would have happened if it were someone other than me?"

Leo's voice grew deeper.

"I am sure he would be rotting in some prison and taking whips up his ass until he or she died by your son's hand. Is this what this city holds up its name for? Punishing any people who don't suit its young master's eyes?"

"NO!" Ashton immediately panicked when Leo dragged the city's name into this.

"I-It was all Nirvan's clever wordplay that got me when I was tired... and my negligence..." Ashton was compelled to add the last part because he could never blame Nirvan completely for the whole thing.

"And what about this eyesore? What does she think of herself?" Leo said, pointing at Hilda with one hand without even looking at her.

"Blaming my servants for manipulation and theft out in public for no apparent reason—are you giving inheritance rights to such wastes?"

Ashton sharply looked towards Hilda, traces of suppressed fury leaking into his eyes.

Since, in the end, it would really be someone from the main family who would get the inheritance—or rather, Ashton would make sure of it—he never actually paid attention to who was given rights from the branch family. The process was half-automated, with Ashton simply putting a stamp on the papers. In other words, Hilda had passed with no actual assessment and solely on the basis that she had a fire affinity.

But of course, Ashton could not reveal such information to the public.

"I just thought giving her a chance would not hurt... who would have thought she would end up causing so much trouble?"

At that moment, Leo leaned forward.

"As you can see, my servants were troubled and framed, along with being looked at in a perverse manner by your son, which traumatised them. One of them was so hurt that she didn't even accompany me to the banquet and remained holed up in my quarters."

Leo continued.

"I was accused of attacking your son, my image was dragged through the mud in public, and then you shamed me by attempting to arrest me at the banquet where so many important figures gather... tell me, Count Ember."

Leo looked directly into his eyes as Ashton listened intently.

"You are so concerned about the reputation your city has held in the empire for centuries. And I'm sure a small incident like this isn't going to affect that reputation at all. But for me, who is just a fledgling in the dirty mud of politics, going through all this because of this girl, your son, and your negligence... if you aren't stunting my growth, then what are you doing?"

Ashton cursed internally after hearing Leo.

Fuck! Stunting his growth? The compensation he is about to squeeze out of me will push him a decade ahead!

Even Gunther was impressed.

Wow, kid. I never knew you had the knack for it... Now hit the hammer on the hot metal.

Leo smiled imperceptibly.

"Tell me, what will be your way of covering all these damages? And of course, what will happen to them? I am owed to know that much, since they will be punished for the actions they took against me," Leo finished.

Ashton nodded.

"Of course, you should absolutely know. Just so you know, Student Leo, the whole city, including me, wishes to establish a positive connection with you. In other words, we will leave no stone unturned to mend the strained relationship between us. That even includes dealing with my son."

He looked towards Nirvan, whose eyes widened in disbelief. Even Vulcan seemed to know what was about to happen, and even he couldn't believe it.

"From this day on, Nirvan Ember, son of Ashton Ember, is no longer a part of the family and is to be permanently banished from Ember City. Effective immediately."

He looked towards Jubal, who curtly nodded. The next second, Jubal grabbed Nirvan by the collar and flew out of the window.

"N-no! NO!!! FATHER, YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!! NOOOOOO!"

Nirvan started to cry the moment Ashton released the pressure on him.

In the last moments, he clearly saw the mocking smile on Leo's face directed towards him.

As if telling 'Things settled inside the castle.'

Rage instantly filled him, but his curses were completely unheard because Jubal immediately directed the wind in the opposite direction to block his voice.

His cries fell on deaf ears as Ashton turned his gaze towards Hilda.

"L-Lord Emb—"

"Hilda Bon Ember, due to the misuse of your authority and for defaming an honourable guest of the city, you are stripped of your nobility and title. From this day onwards, you will no longer carry the Ember family name, and you will be sent to the frontlines of the firewall in the east to defend against the continuous waves of draconic beasts for 10 years. Earn your freedom back or die trying."

"B-but that place only High 3-st—"

"Are you saying no to my words?" Ashton asked, his fist catching fire as though he would truly kill her.

Hilda suddenly started to perspire profusely as the chill of death crept over her. She immediately lowered her head.

Ashton glanced towards a particular empty space in the chamber, and suddenly a shadow emerged.

"Get the work done and inform her family."

The shadow nodded and disappeared along with Hilda.

Leo raised a brow. He had been fully expecting Hilda's whole family to suffer the consequences, but that was really taking it too far.

Leo was satisfied with the outcome. The last one remaining was Vulcan.

Though his crimes weren't that great, Ashton still needed to appease Leo. So Leo was interested in seeing what would happen to him.