CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 760: Merchant Bloodline

Without wasting too much time, Asher stepped into the building. The moment he entered, various sounds, smells, lights, and other sensations slammed into his senses. The hall was simply too... large... and wide.

People were already present inside, and more and more continued to enter, so Asher did not dare stand by the doorway. However, he had already guessed there was more than one way of entry. Various chandeliers hung down from above, while different types of lamps had been fitted into the walls to illuminate the hall.

Asher could sense that some form of spatial ability had also been used to expand the space within the hall; perhaps it was only for this evening before they returned it to its normal state.

Unlike when Asher had attended the Royal Birthday Party, this time there was no one to announce his presence. After all, he was merely one person among millions here, and everyone present held one title or another. Having someone announce every important guest would consume the entire night and likely continue into the following day.

A butler passed by carrying a tray of drinks. Asher casually took one as he sipped from the glass and walked with calm ease while observing his surroundings. Just by looking around, he could already tell that the hall was almost divided into four distinct sections, with each Empire occupying one corner. Although they still interacted with one another, an invisible boundary existed, one that Asher could see quite clearly.

"I’m guessing you’re not from this Empire," a voice echoed into Asher’s ears, prompting him to turn toward the source.

There, a girl stood with a glass of wine in hand as she smiled at Asher. She possessed black hair that reached her back, tied neatly into a ponytail, along with a pair of pink eyes. She was neither exceptionally beautiful nor unattractive; she simply looked pleasant.

"You guessed correctly. This is my first time visiting the Thalvorn Empire," Asher replied with a gentle smile. "I’m guessing you’re from the Thalvorn Empire?" he asked.

"I’m not. I’m from the Vandross Empire," the girl replied without missing a beat.

Asher smiled before responding, "Your words were somewhat misleading. From the way you spoke, I thought you were from the Thalvorn Empire."

"I’m sorry for the misunderstanding then," she replied with a calm smile. "And sorry again for the late introduction. My name is Kimberley Elox. It’s nice to make your acquaintance," she stated as she extended a hand.

Asher took her hand, lower himself slightly as he kissed it as he spoke, "Asher Wargrave, Tenth Sun of the Wargrave Family of the Zarethorne Empire," his tone smooth and low.

Hearing Asher’s words, Kimberley froze for a moment. Her legs seemingly began to shake slightly as she stared at him in horror.

"A War... grave..." she muttered as she silently cursed her luck.

She wanted to pull her hand away immediately, but Asher did not let go. Instead, he simply smiled and spoke.

"You seem to recognize my family name despite being from the Vandross Empire and also being an Unawakener," his tone calm.

He was genuinely surprised that the first person he had spoken to recognized the Wargrave name. After all, he had already come to understand that most people of the younger generation and those around his age were not particularly knowledgeable about the noble households of foreign Empires.

Kimberley took a deep breath before exhaling. Her composure gradually returned as she forced herself to calm down before speaking.

"Please forgive my reaction from earlier. I was simply too surprised and shocked," she forced a smile. "After all, I only approached you because you are the most handsome person I’ve ever seen in my life, not knowing that you would end up being a Wargrave," her tone calm, though still carrying traces of strain and nervousness.

Asher finally released her hand as he spoke.

"I’ll accept the compliment then." He looked around before asking, "So, how do you know the Wargrave name? That is rather surprising. You’re even an Unawakener on top of that," he asked calmly. "You also need to relax. We Wargraves don’t exactly eat people alive, you know," he smiled, attempting to ease the atmosphere.

Kimberley smiled as she tried to calm her heart, which was beating far too quickly and completely out of rhythm.

"Well, the Elox Family is basically the richest family within the Vandross Empire, as we’re a merchant family responsible for trading with every single Empire," Kimberley began to explain, a small smile of pride appearing on her lips.

"A merchant family?" Asher asked rhetorically.

"Yes. My family possesses a bloodline ability tied to business and coins, so we’re practically gods when it comes to commerce. Although not everyone awakens within our family, and I’m a living example of that," Kimberley stated calmly, not bothered in the slightest that she had failed her awakening years ago.

"Due to our trade relations with every Empire, my family possesses immense information and knowledge regarding all the Empires and most of their noble households, or at least the important ones," she continued. "As a member of the Elox Family, I’ve spent the majority of my life visiting all three foreign Empires almost once every quarter of every year, which is how I’ve come to know about you, Tenth Sun," she explained.

"Impressive," Asher spoke. He was genuinely impressed.

"That means a lot coming from a Wargrave," Kimberley replied with a smile.

"So, since you possess so much information regarding the various Empires, you’ll be my tour guide for the night," Asher spoke with a smile as he decided it would be useful to have someone capable of explaining a few things to him.

"Gladly," Kimberley replied with a smile as she gradually returned to her normal self.

Internally, however, she was floating on cloud nine.

She was talking to a Wargrave. A literal Wargrave.

Although she had visited the Zarethorne Empire many times, she had never once spoken to a member of the Wargrave Family. In fact, she had visited the Wargrave Ducal Territory three separate times after pestering her father endlessly about it, yet during all three visits she had never managed to meet a Wargrave personally. They were simply not people one could casually encounter.

’I’m finally talking to a Wargrave!’ she screamed within the depths of her mind.

She could not help but begin imagining all sorts of nonsense, such as Asher taking a liking to her, eventually falling in love with her, and through her, her family gaining a connection to the Wargrave Family. She knew all about the Wargrave rules regarding marriage and heirs, but she did not care.

Unfortunately... Kimberley’s fantasies were destined to remain exactly what it was; fantasies.

"So, let’s begin with what you’ve heard about me, the Tenth Sun," Asher spoke with a calm smile on his face.

The moment Kimberley heard those words, she felt her fantasies immediately crack and shatter into countless pieces. Her heartbeat could not help but accelerate once more as she wondered how exactly she was supposed to tell the Tenth Sun directly to his face that she had heard he was an untalented trash.

"Don’t worry. It’s only the information you’ve received, not your personal opinion of me, so there’s no need to worry that I’ll lash out and kill you," Asher reassured her.

Kimberley remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"According to what I heard while I was in the Zarethorne Empire and from the information I received back in the Vandross Empire, it is said that you failed your awakening twice, only succeeding on your third attempt. It is also said that the Duke bought you a seat within the Star Academy of the Zarethorne Empire," she summarized.

Asher nodded and said nothing further.

’It seems they know nothing about my one year at the Star Academy,’ Asher mused.