CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 765: Ugly People [GT Ranking Bonus - ]

Asher tore his gaze away, no longer bothering with the monk. Personally, Asher felt like taking a pen or paintbrush and drawing a blue arrow on the boy’s forehead and scalp. Then he would be complete.

’A shame,’ Asher mused to himself, a joke only he could understand in this world, sadly enough.

"I hope to see more geniuses," Asher murmured as he continued to drink. Kimberley had indeed shown him a few geniuses, but their presence didn’t seem nearly as commanding as the other three.

As Asher and Kimberley continued walking around, Asher suddenly came to a halt as he sensed a familiar presence a kilometre away. He smiled to himself before continuing forward.

Before long, a cheerful, sweet, and childish voice entered his ears, "Brother Asher!!!"

Asher turned, and ahead of him, a small girl no older than ten years old could be seen running on her tiny feet while lifting her gown slightly so she wouldn’t trip. She possessed blue hair and blue eyes.

Rachael Whale, sister to Finch Whale.

The next moment, she crashed directly into Asher’s embrace as she jumped into his chest. A huge smile could be seen on her childish face. She was still pure, filled with energy, and brimming with childlike enthusiasm.

"It’s been a while, Rachael. How have you been?" Asher spoke as he carried her gently.

"Brother Asher, I’m not fine," she spoke. "You never came to visit me again. You said you would come back." Her tone was slightly sad.

"Young Lady Rachael, please remember the Baron’s words and act accordingly," a maid spoke as she stood before Asher. It was the maid assigned to Rachael since the Baron and his wife were currently on the upper level. She appeared somewhat panicked, after all, Rachael was behaving so casually around a Wargrave.

"It’s fine. Don’t worry about it," Asher spoke as his eyes shifted towards the maid.

"Forgive me, Rachael. I’ve simply been too busy. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you," Asher spoke as he gently played with her cheeks.

"Make it up to me with a spar," Rachael immediately capitalised on the opportunity.

"Deal," Asher replied, amused. He had no problem sparring with Rachael. At the very least, this way he could see her progress. It had been eight months, after all.

Rachael’s bright blue eyes turned towards Kimberley as she spoke.

"Brother Asher, is this your girlfriend?" Her voice was innocent yet filled with curiosity.

Kimberley almost choked on the wine she was sipping when she heard Rachael refer to her as Asher’s girlfriend. She had just been wondering who this little girl was to be so close to a Wargrave.

"No, this is an acquaintance I just met. Her name is Kimberley Elox," Asher spoke. He then turned towards Kimberley. "Kimberley, this is Rachael Whale, the sister of a friend of mine," he introduced the two of them.

Kimberley’s mind shuffled through the names of various Noble Households within the Zarethorne Empire, but she wasn’t familiar with the Whale Household, which was normal since she only kept up with prominent families and famous individuals.

Rachael immediately lost interest in Kimberley the moment she learned she wasn’t Asher’s girlfriend.

"Brother Asher, have you seen Big Brother?" she asked, as she really wanted to see Finch. She had been searching for him for hours now.

"I haven’t seen him since the gala started, but don’t worry. I’ll take you to his room later, after the gala," Asher stated gently as he lifted her up and placed Rachael on his shoulders, around his neck, completely unbothered by Noble decorum and such matters.

Rachael simply balanced herself properly, not bothering to hold onto Asher’s head for support as she spoke.

"Thank you, Brother Asher."

"You’re welcome," Asher replied. "Oh, and by the way, I thought you and your parents weren’t coming?" he asked, not stating aloud that they couldn’t normally afford such ridiculous expenses.

"Dad said we weren’t supposed to come, but he said your Father sent us a letter and told us to join him on the journey, so we simply tagged along," Rachael spoke, oblivious to many details as she merely repeated what she knew and nothing more.

’Ohhh... so Father paid for their expenses,’ Asher thought as he walked. The last time he had spoken with Azaron, he had told the man about his friends, William, Ryaen and Finch. After all, Asher had informed him about everything happening within the Star Academy at the time. It had been impossible not to mention those three.

’It seems the Canestane family will most likely be present too,’ Asher thought to himself.

To be fair, he had never expected Azaron to do such a thing, although he knew the man was generous. But Asher guessed he had done it because Finch and William were also Star Academy students and might end up participating.

"So, Rachael, how are you liking the new Empire?" Asher asked, seemingly forgetting that Kimberley even existed.

"Cool! Everything is so big and huge," she spoke as she described the towering buildings, moving cars, and countless other things. She had even spent her time watching cartoons and eating large amounts of candy and other sugary treats.

"Seems like you’re having fun," Asher spoke, genuinely happy for her.

Rachael didn’t care about Noble etiquette since her parents weren’t here to scold her. Besides, she knew none of these people, and they didn’t know her, so nobody was going to report her to her parents for being a bad girl.

Asher’s feet immediately came to a halt as his senses picked up a flicker of hostility directed towards him. His purple eyes sharpened instantly, and there he saw a group of boys walking towards him with steady steps.

Asher recognised one of them but failed to recognise the other two. Even so, he could already make a fairly accurate guess.

It was Maximus Zarik, the one whom Asher had slapped into unconsciousness. In front of him was his elder brother, Hilton Zarik, and beside Maximus stood Hilton’s friend, or perhaps more accurately, his lackey. Hilton walked confidently ahead while the remaining two followed behind him.

"We finally meet," Hilton spoke as he came to a stop before Asher.

Kimberley, sensing the hostility and recognising that this was a matter between two Ducal families, immediately took a step back and vanished into the crowd. She was merely an unawakener. What exactly was she supposed to do? Stand her ground? Please, she wasn’t that naive.

"Can’t say the same," Asher replied indifferently.

Hilton remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"I’m Hilton Zarik, heir to the Ducal Zarik Family, and this is my brother, Maximus Zarik," he introduced himself with the composure of a perfect gentleman.

Asher remained silent for a moment before replying.

"And?"

His tone was completely unimpressed as his purple eyes met Hilton’s black ones. The two stood at roughly the same height.

Hilton’s eyes immediately darkened. Usually, whenever he introduced himself, people either flinched, became defensive, or displayed some form of emotion. But this handsome fool before him wasn’t showing the slightest reaction, as though he considered them beneath him.

Hilton’s lackey seemed to view this as the perfect opportunity to kiss Hilton’s ass, "you arrogant common—" before he could finish his sentence, Hilton simply raised a hand and stopped him midway.

"You made my brother kneel, so kneel and apologise, and I will forget this matter," Hilton stated calmly, his voice low and controlled.

Just as Asher opened his mouth to respond, Rachael seemed unable to keep quiet any longer and spoke plainly without the slightest concern.

"Brother Asher, who are these three ugly people?" Her voice was filled with innocent curiosity as she genuinely wanted to know.

_____