MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 1133: Half Crimson Half Null

Anthony remained silent, absorbing the exchanges between his parents and grandparents as they pondered the Upper Galaxies. Their curiosity, a mix of innocent wonder and intense focus, mirrored that of children anticipating holiday gifts, despite their considerable power and influence.

Amidst this rare moment of tranquility, Anthony's thoughts unexpectedly drifted to Butler Patrick.

"Uh... I just remembered something," Anthony announced, his voice causing the ongoing discussion to pause as his family turned their attention to him.

Though he could have easily overlooked Butler Patrick's request, Anthony suspected the man was enduring profound boredom, left alone in the estate's quiet monotony without any stimulating activities.

"What is it?" Michael inquired, anticipating news about the Upper Galaxies, the Blood Servant ability, or the Human Bloodline Grade.

"I came directly from home, and I met Uncle Patrick there. He asked me to relay a message: you all should visit occasionally, as he's drowning in boredom," Anthony stated frankly. While Patrick hadn't expressed himself so bluntly, Anthony conveyed the message in his typically direct and unfiltered manner.

Michael nodded upon hearing Anthony's words. "It has indeed been some time since we made the trip," he acknowledged with a thoughtful expression, a note of reflection coloring his tone.

Mitchelle concurred, while Collins and Irene appeared unconcerned, lacking the same closeness to Patrick as Michael and Mitchelle did with the long-serving butler.

"A thought just surfaced," Mitchelle remarked, her expression shifting subtly as something significant came to mind.

"What is it?" Michael asked, turning to his wife, detecting the gravity in her voice.

"We were about to leave Patrick behind and ascend. And not just him, but what about the butlers, maids, and guards who diligently protect the Null Estate year-round?" Mitchelle inquired. Her voice was low, yet the implications of her question were profound and far-reaching.

Her words brought everyone to an immediate standstill. Patrick had been a loyal figure in their lives for years; simply abandoning him to ascend without consideration felt wrong. Although the Null family was inherently distrustful of outsiders, Patrick was among the select few they relied upon, despite being bound by a Mana Contract.

They recalled Anthony had even shared the same fruit with Patrick as he had with them. However, Patrick hadn't received the Calling, indicating his potential might not have met the necessary threshold for ascension.

They paused to consider: if they brought Patrick along, could he survive the Upper Galaxies without the requisite talent or resilience for such an environment?

And the concern extended beyond Butler Patrick to include all the maids, the other butlers, and the guards. These individuals had dedicated their lives to the Null family with unwavering loyalty and commitment. Michael and Mitchelle were not so devoid of sentiment as to ascend without acknowledging or considering those who had served them so faithfully.

But was it feasible to take everyone with them? Certainly, they possessed the means.

Yet, would they? The answer was likely no, as such an action would introduce unnecessary complications, risks, and potential instability. Even if every maid, butler, and guard were taken as a reward for their loyalty, they would remain confined to the Mirror Dimension indefinitely. This prospect wasn't particularly daunting, given their constant presence at the Null Estate and prior familiarity with the Blue Planet's limitations. However, in a completely new Galaxy, their inherent curiosity might lead them to explore. Even if Michael and Mitchelle eventually granted them freedom, a single individual among them could inadvertently cause widespread trouble, triggering consequences that would be difficult to rectify.

With this realization, they understood the necessity of dismissing the maids, butlers, and guards.

Undoubtedly, this decision would bring disappointment to many. However, Mitchelle and Michael were not unduly concerned about their employees' futures. Finding employment on a world like the Blue Planet was generally not difficult; opportunities often arose, and for those that didn't, one could always embark on the path of an adventurer, forging their own destiny through sheer effort and determination.

Mitchelle’s thoughts then shifted toward the Planetary-level beings who protected the Null Family treasure vault, individuals far beyond ordinary retainers, whose existence complicated matters even further and introduced an entirely new layer of difficulty to their decision.

"It seems we have to give an appropriate explanation to a lot of people, even the Crimson Family," Michael stated, as both his wife, Mitchelle, and his mother, Irene, were from such families, making the situation more delicate.

Mitchelle and Irene nodded their heads in agreement, fully aware of the implications.

They would tell the Crimson Family about the ascension, the Upper Galaxies, the Calling, and the talent requirement. They would also explain that Anthony was the one who gave them the talent; after all, what parent didn’t take pride in showing off their child? Besides, there was no need to lie about the origin of the talent they had gained, as Anthony was already strong enough not to be troubled by any potential consequences that might arise.

However, they wouldn’t reveal any information regarding Anthony’s Blood Servant ability or the Bloodline Human Grade, as those were matters best kept hidden.

Of course, they knew the Crimson Family would go insane at the mere temptation of Ascension. They would undoubtedly attempt to contact Anthony and try to convince him that the blood of the Crimson Family flowed through his veins, that he was half Crimson and half Null, and that they deserved even a fraction of the blessing he had granted to his own immediate family.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time they had attempted such a thing. After all, each of Anthony’s feats was simply too extraordinary to keep hidden. They had tried to invite him to the Crimson Estate, which had failed, and even attempted to present him with a Crimson woman as a potential partner, which had also failed.

But at the temptation of Ascension, they would undoubtedly go overboard this time, far beyond anything they had attempted before, pushing their efforts to an entirely new level.

But at the end of the day, it was futile. To approach Anthony, one would first have to know where he was, a task far more difficult than they would like to admit, making any such attempts nearly impossible in practice.

"We also have to compensate everyone who has served us up until this point," Mitchelle intoned, as she had no intention of simply telling those who had served her faithfully to pack up and leave without proper acknowledgment, gratitude, or reward for their years of service.