CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 660: Father And Son Talk-1

’Well, whatever, if only these titles came with effects like those systems in novels, then Asher mused to himself, shaking his head and pushing aside the thought of the title with a faint sense of indifference. He forced his mind away from it.

He gave the system screen one last look, memorizing every detail before it vanished with a mere thought. His mind then turned to his Limitless Physical Growth ability, which had recently activated after his battle with Debro. This meant he needed to enter another, even more dangerous situation, one far more perilous than before.

’Maybe I should fight a Voidstar Life Ranker?’ he pondered, almost as a joke, as he didn’t dare believe he could truly do such a thing. After all, during his prior fight, he had only managed to injure Debro once, and Debro had been holding back from the start in the name of love, never truly fighting with killing intent.

Moreover, another fact came to mind: winning against Debro didn't guarantee victory against all Wavestar Life Rankers. Battle prowess varied greatly within each Life Rank, and for all Asher knew, Debro might have been among the weakest Wavestar Life Rankers. It was possible that against a truly talented Wavestar Life Ranker, even with his Star Energy enhancements and the numerous buffs he’d stacked against Debro, he'd be struck down in a single blow, killed before he could even react.

’Sigh... I need to get stronger,’ Asher thought as this reality settled heavily in his mind. ’I need to return to the Star Academy as soon as possible to resume my training after a bit of rest.’ His thoughts spun continuously as he began formulating plans, each one building upon the last.

Although he yearned to leave immediately, he had to meet with Malrik. They had exchanged information, but Malrik hadn’t fulfilled his part of the bargain yet. Furthermore, he still needed to inquire about what transpired when his brother confronted the Emperor, as that matter remained unresolved.

’I’m sure nothing happened to elder brother; after all, I sent backup, and Father returned too,’ Asher reassured himself with this line of reasoning, finding calm in the thought.

’Maybe I should just use the talisman he gave me to summon him,’ his thoughts continued to churn without pause. ’Speaking of summons, Lyra isn’t back yet.’ His thoughts shifted toward her, a faint trace of concern surfacing.

As Asher remained deeply engrossed in his thoughts, a clear and deliberate knock resonated through his room. He knew without asking that it was Zarek, Azaron’s right-hand man, standing at the door.

’You may come in, Uncle,’ Asher stated, his purple eyes flicking toward the door. His mind was already racing through potential reasons for this visit, as only the Duke could issue direct orders to him.

The door swung open, and Zarek entered with his characteristic calm and composed demeanor. He bowed slightly before speaking, ’Tenth Sun, the Patriarch orders your presence,’ his words measured and respectful.

Even though Zarek was a Crownstar Life Ranker and the Duke’s right-hand man, he still showed respect to all Suns and Moons. By law, despite his immense power, he remained a butler by status.

Asher remained silent for a moment, having already anticipated this. He inferred the Patriarch’s summons was likely regarding the incident with the Emperor, as little else would warrant such an immediate request.

Asher rose to his feet, not daring to delay. ’Lead the way, Uncle,’ he said, walking towards Zarek, who stood patiently at the door.

With that, they both exited his room, with Zarek leading him toward Azaron’s office. Within minutes, they arrived. Zarek opened the door, and Asher stepped in without hesitation, his posture composed, his strides steady.

Azaron sat with a calm expression, having just returned from his wife’s closet to his office. Upon seeing Azaron, Asher bowed and spoke, ’I greet the Patriarch,’ delivering his greeting with due respect.

Azaron regarded him for a moment before speaking, ’The last time we spoke, I recall telling you to call me Father,’ his voice low and calm.

Asher stayed silent for a moment, uncertain whether to re-greet the man with a different title or to apologize. He hadn’t spent enough time with Azaron to fully understand him. After a brief hesitation, he spoke, ’I apologize, Father,’ his voice calm and steady, devoid of any visible tension.

"Apology accepted," Azaron declared, his expression unchanging. "Sit," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Asher complied without hesitation, moving to take a seat. He couldn't deny a flicker of nervousness; Azaron had never invited him to sit before, making the current atmosphere feel significantly different.

‘Is this the kind of feeling people get during a job interview back on Earth?’ he mused internally, maintaining a neutral expression and relaxed posture as he awaited Azaron's words.

A brief silence stretched between them before Azaron finally broke it, asking, "So, how is school?"

It was a simple inquiry, the kind a parent might ask their child, yet to Asher, it seemed as though he had misheard, as if his ears were deceiving him. Nevertheless, a response was necessary.

"School is fine, Father," he replied concisely, opting for a brief and composed answer without further elaboration.

Upon hearing his youngest son's response, Azaron let out a slight shake of his head. "I require more detail. Please don't speak as if you're drafting a mission report; converse with me openly, as a son would with his father," he instructed. Raising a hand, a bottle of alcohol materialized, followed by two glasses suspended in the air. He poured a measure into each and offered one to Asher.

Asher caught the glass as it floated towards him, holding it quietly, uncertain how to proceed. ‘As a son would with his father, they say?’ The notion felt alien. As Ethan, he had never known parents, and even now, as Asher, despite having a father, his relationship with Azaron remained distant.

‘Is he suddenly showing concern because the Emperor attempted to manipulate my mind?’ Asher wondered, observing the man before him. He had initially suspected this was the reason for the summons, but it appeared his assumption was incorrect.

After a brief pause, Asher offered a faint smile. He lifted the glass and took a sip of the potent alcohol, its sharpness momentarily hitting his senses, though it hardly registered. He resolved to relax and speak candidly, as if conversing with a friend. After all, what was the absolute worst that could occur? With this thought solidified, his lips parted, and he began to speak.