Chapter 2070: Views on Marriage and Family

Adam didn’t know what to expect from the head of the Rouzet Family.

After all, the only heads Adam had met were Erik and Kogen, and technically only one of them was the leader of his family, since Erik was simply the strongest member of his family, while the Wurhen Family had only a candidate for that position – Skara.

When Osana asked Adam to save her from a marriage against her will, one forced upon her by Nirosh Marzo and his family, Lagred was not at the Citadel.

The heads of the Twelve Branches were at the Citadel only for a limited time. After all, they were, first and foremost, Second-Rank Phantoms and only secondarily high nobles.

This was important because the Twelve Branches were governed by elders, while their heads could be in the Dead Lands, carrying out government missions, which most often came from the Gamma Division.

Recently, Adam had experienced this firsthand. Sure, he wasn’t a Second-Rank Phantom, but his mission, to kill Breydar, was of a fairly high level.

As a result, Adam had wondered several times what the head of the Rouzet Family’s reaction would be to his interference in Osana’s wedding.

Now, more than a year later, Adam learned what Lagred had been thinking about it.

“Lagred, it’s been a while.” Erik smiled as he placed his hand on Skara’s shoulder. “This time, there won’t just be an interesting Star Rail, but also a lot of important guests, won’t there?”

In response, Lagred gave a short laugh.

“Hahaha, Erik, you know that no matter how much the Radiant Branch prepares, most of them won’t show up anyway. We’ve never had 100% attendance!”

Silvana blinked, confused.

“100%? What does that mean?”

Kogen waved his hand as the waitress brought him a salty, meaty snack. When he simply picked up the meat sticks and began chewing, she sighed with relief.

“That’s when everyone who was supposed to come to the Radiant Branch shows up, everyone who was invited and everyone strong enough to make it. That’s never happened once before, and this Radiant Branch won’t be an exception.”

Lagred crossed his arms over his chest and nodded deeply.

“Indeed. I’ve heard that many of those who usually ignore our event will be coming today, but even so, it won’t be enough.”

Adam turned to Lagred. He had a question for him, too.

“Mr. Lagred, may I ask you something?”

“Sure, go on.” Lagred waved his hand casually.

“Why didn’t you help Osana yourself?”

Osana’s face froze at such a blunt question, and Skara and Silvana reacted the same way. However, everyone else, including Baren, remained unperturbed.

“If you’d been against it, this wedding between her and Nirosh Marzo would never have taken place in the first place. Even if you’d been in the Dead Lands at the time, a single order from you over the com would have been enough to call the whole thing off.”

Silvana’s eyes gradually filled with panic.

It didn’t matter that they were currently at the event; Lagred was a powerful man whom they barely knew. The way Adam was speaking sounded more like an accusation than an innocent question.

However, Lagred reacted to this casually.

“Oh, right, that was just recently. You see, Adam, there was no need for that.”

“Hmm? What does that mean?” Adam frowned. “If I hadn’t shown up, Osana would have been miserable as the wife of some bastard who just wanted to claim her as a trophy and a display of his power.”

“Yeah, maybe. But in a few years or decades, this Nirosh Marzo would have died on another mission or at the claws of some random monster. But most likely, in a few weeks, Osana would have slit his throat, and new problems, with their own consequences, would have begun.”

That was not at all what Adam had expected to hear. In fact, he was so focused on the fact that he had to help Osana and save her that he hadn’t considered any other possibilities.

“Look, Adam, I’m glad my daughter has a friend like you, especially given your newfound fame and the speed of your progress, but I stopped thinking about my family like a typical father a long time ago.”

Lagred scratched the back of his head, looking for a moment not like a fearsome titan, but like a weary man.

“Do you even have any idea how many children and wives I’ve had over the years? How many of them died during missions or simply of old age? At some point, you just don’t care anymore. That’s it.”

Adam was speechless. He understood that what Lagred was saying made sense, but his heart refused to accept that reality.

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about Osana, Baren, or the others.”

He ruffled Osana’s hair with his hand.

“She didn’t want to marry Nirosh Marzo, and she found a way out of that situation. That’s what matters most. What’s more, she didn’t turn to another family for help, nor to some psycho like Kogen, but to you, Adam, to no one else.”

Strange as it may seem, it sounded like a compliment to both of them.

“She got what she wanted, her losses were minimal, and in the process, you grew stronger and gained recognition among the high nobles. She didn’t just come up with a plan of action – she saw talent in you.”

Lagred smiled contentedly as a sparkle flashed across his pink eyes.

“That’s exactly why Osana is here now, standing next to me, and not somewhere underground in the Dead Lands. It doesn’t matter who you are, a high noble or just a boy from the slums.”

His gaze swept over Osana and Adam.

“If you want to survive, you have to find a way out of any situation. That’s a rule that applies to everyone, without exception.”

“I see.”

Adam nodded deeply.

Then, he took a step to the side, stopping between Skara and Baren, and looked at Baren.

“I take it you’re also a Star and not the Future One, right?”

Baren’s expression remained calm.

“Indeed. I’m going to become the next Second-Rank Phantom. All that’s left for me is to deliver the final strike against the Grand Barrier.”

Adam held out his hand, mimicking Kogen’s earlier gesture.

“How about a handshake?”