Chapter 250 — The Fall of Graveborn

Chapter 250: Chapter 250 — The Fall of Graveborn

Chapter 250 — The Fall of Graveborn

Gravius Graveborn sat behind his desk, his expression darker than it had been in years. Across from him stood his son, Alex, who remained silent beneath his father’s furious gaze.

Gravius had every reason to be angry.

His own brother had been a member of the Evil God Organization, and Daniel’s involvement had nearly destroyed everything the Graveborn family had spent generations building.

For years, Gravius had worked toward a single goal: making Graveborn the most influential family in the Alchemy Tower.

Now, he would be fortunate if they remained among the three prominent families.

Their reputation was in ruins, business partners were abandoning them, and the Tower Master himself had ordered an investigation into their affairs.

Gravius rubbed his forehead.

"Who would’ve thought my own brother would get involved with the Evil God Organization?"

He shook his head.

"That stupid idiot."

His eyes moved toward Alex.

"What have you learned about our partners in the slave trade?"

Alex straightened.

"We’ve lost the Axels."

Gravius said nothing.

"And both the Bourbons and the Lexingtons have terminated their partnerships with us."

Gravius closed his eyes.

"So our three most important contracts are gone."

"Yes, Father."

"Daniel really screwed us this time."

He leaned back in his chair, and for several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Eventually, Gravius sighed.

"Well, our family started from nothing once before. It looks like we’ll have to do it again."

Alex considered his father’s words.

"We still control the slave trade throughout the Tower."

Gravius looked at him.

"The contracts only affect who we’re selling to," Alex continued. "Our supply and operations are still intact. We just need to find another market."

Gravius slowly nodded.

"You make a fair point, boy. But who exactly do you suggest we sell them to?"

Alex remained silent.

"Do you think any of the prominent families on the Third Floor will purchase slaves from us right now?"

Gravius shook his head.

"Not a chance. Not until this entire investigation is finished."

His gaze fell to the documents scattered across his desk.

"And that’s assuming we survive the investigation in the first place."

Alex frowned.

"The Tower Master is examining everything, Alex. Every transaction, every contract, every business arrangement we’ve made."

Gravius’s fingers tightened around the glass in his hand.

"Before long, all our secrets will be exposed. Even the ones that have absolutely nothing to do with the Evil God Organization."

CRACK!

The glass shattered in his hand, sending shards scattering across the desk and floor.

One flew directly toward Alex, who jerked his head aside just before it passed his cheek.

He froze.

His father’s cultivation was so far above his own that even a carelessly shattered glass could have seriously injured him.

Gravius stared at the broken pieces still resting in his palm.

"Daniel..."

His jaw tightened.

"You’re lucky you’re already dead. Otherwise, I’d rip those ears off your head and shove a knife through your throat myself."

He slowly opened his hand, allowing the remaining shards to fall onto the desk.

Alex wisely said nothing.

Gravius drew a long breath.

"We’ll have to keep our heads down for the next few years. No unnecessary attention, no unnecessary conflicts. We focus on surviving until this blows over."

Alex nodded.

"We’ll redirect our slave trade toward the main Tower," Gravius continued. "Lower our prices significantly if necessary. Our profits will suffer, but if we handle this properly, we should be able to recover."

"Yes, Father."

Alex hesitated.

"What would you have me do?"

Gravius stared at him.

"First, you need to resolve your issues with Victor."

Alex’s expression immediately changed.

"But Father—"

"Listen carefully."

Gravius’s voice hardened.

"Victor Ashcroft is no longer someone our family can afford to offend."

Alex frowned.

"My sources tell me he’s currently on the Fourth Floor."

Alex’s eyes widened.

"The Fourth Floor?"

"Yes. And from what I’ve heard, the Tower Master has taken quite an interest in him."

Gravius paused.

"There’s even a possibility that Victor will become one of his personal disciples."

Alex stared at him.

"There’s no way."

His expression twisted.

"That little—"

"Silence!"

Gravius’s voice thundered through the office, immediately shutting Alex’s mouth.

"You will either resolve your problems with that boy, or I will serve you to him on a silver platter myself."

Alex went pale.

"Father..."

"You have no choice in this matter."

Gravius stood and walked around his desk.

"We cannot afford to offend the Tower Master any more than we already have. Do you understand the position we’re in?"

Alex lowered his head.

"We no longer have the influence we once did."

Gravius stopped in front of him.

"Every family on the Third Floor is watching us right now."

He gestured toward the window.

"They’re circling like vultures, waiting for the opportunity to tear apart our businesses and purchase our properties."

His expression turned bitter.

"One by one, they’ll take everything they can until Graveborn is no longer considered one of the three prominent families."

Alex swallowed.

"At this point, I’d be surprised if we made it through the next few years without losing most of what we’ve built."

Gravius returned to his desk.

"We may even have to align ourselves with one of the eight royal families."

Alex looked up.

"Father?"

"I don’t believe we have much choice."

Gravius sat down.

"If we want to survive, we need someone powerful enough to discourage the others from tearing us apart."

Alex nodded slowly.

"I understand."

"Good. Then you’ll find a way to reconcile with Victor."

Alex hesitated.

"I’ll try, Father. But I don’t think he’ll be willing."

"Then find a way to make him willing."

Gravius’s eyes narrowed.

"Whatever it takes, Alex. We cannot afford to earn any more of the Tower Master’s anger."

Alex lowered his head.

"Yes, Father."

Gravius leaned back and rubbed his temples.

"Daniel..."

He shook his head.

"That idiot went and got himself killed, and now we’re the ones left dealing with the aftermath."

His expression darkened.

"If only I hadn’t been so blind."

Alex remained quiet.

"Ever since Scarlet died, he was never the same."

Gravius stared at the ceiling.

He had known his brother had changed. Daniel had become obsessed with fighting, throwing himself into increasingly dangerous situations and seemingly caring less and less about his own life.

Gravius had taken it for grief.

Perhaps that had simply been the easiest explanation to believe.

He had never imagined things had gone this far.

Gravius lowered his head.

"Alex."

"Yes, Father?"

"I need you to contact the Bakerfield Royal Family."

Alex straightened.

"Immediately?"

"Yes. I believe they’re our best chance of surviving this onslaught until we can get back on our feet."

Alex nodded.

"I’ll contact them right away."

"Good."

Gravius’s expression hardened once more.

"And Alex."

His son stopped.

"If I hear that you’ve antagonized Victor Ashcroft in any way..."

Gravius paused.

"Any way whatsoever..."

A chill ran down Alex’s spine.

"You’ll follow in Daniel’s footsteps."

Alex’s face went pale.

"Yes, Father."

He bowed quickly.

"You won’t have to worry."

Gravius waved him away.

"Good. Now leave me."

Alex didn’t need to be told twice. He turned and hurried out of the office, closing the door behind him.

Silence returned.

Gravius remained seated for several moments before slowly standing and walking toward a cabinet along the wall.

Several bottles of liquor rested on its shelves. He selected one and poured himself a glass.

As he raised it, however, he stopped.

Gravius stared at the liquor for a moment before setting the glass back down.

Instead, he grabbed the bottle, tilted his head back, and drank directly from it.

Several long gulps.

When he finally lowered it, his gaze wandered across the office.

The expensive furniture, the decorations, and the documents representing generations of business, favors, and influence.

Everything he had worked so hard to build.

And now, because of his own brother, it was all at risk.

Gravius slowly sank back into his chair.

For the first time in years, the patriarch of the Graveborn family looked utterly defeated.