At the same time, a similar meeting was occurring in a different place.
It was the royal garden located at the southern end of the palace.
Alec was there with his sister, Kirika.
The two were sitting at a large decorative table under a shady tree.
Alec was casually drinking white wine mixed with rum and champagne.
In front of him was a rum cake with lots of icing.
“You’re going to die of alcohol poisoning you know.”
Said Kirika after seeing that everything he had was meant to get someone drunk.
“I’ll be fine. I once had a seven day drinking marathon with some dwarfs and came out fine. Although I woke up on a different continent.”
Alec said with a laugh.
“Please refrain from doing that again. I was the one who had to come pick you up.”
Said the person who sat beside him.
He looked like a teen, had long purple hair, a “plain” looking face in comparison to Alec, was dressed in full white, and held a book in his hand.
This was Gizmo Dragna, an Alchemy genius who descended from Augustus and one of his many wives.
He fought his way into the main family of the Tertitus branch with his Alchemy skills and Qigong techniques and became a central member of the younger generation along with Alec and Kirika.
Not even Alec couldnt beat his knowledge in medical Alchemy. Although it mostly because he read more than him.
“I won’t and thanks again for that hungover drug back then. I was suffering from the worst headache ever. I’m getting dizzy from just remembering it.”
Said Alec.
Gizmo nodded and began focusing on what he was reading.
“Our guests are here.”
Said Kirika.
Alec and Gizmo looked up and saw a group of people walking towards them.
There were five of them.
They were led by the sole male of the group.
He had azure hair, fierce golden eyes, muscular build, was dressed in a sleeveless military style uniform.
He was Al-Shura Dragna, also known as the Rampaging Dragon Of the Bloodied Path.
Directly behind him was a woman who had similar features but a more docile aura.
Her name was Alesia Dragna, aka the Rattlesnake of the Desolate Path.
They were from the Quintus Branch and were specialized Proxy killers. They were considered future Tyrants by countless people.
Behind them were three women with identical faces.
They were the triplets daughters of Echo.
They were also the daughters of Athena's former proxy thus inheriting her blood as well as the blessing of the stars from Lahmu.
They were called the Heavenly Stars because of this, and were considered unkillable as long as they stuck together.
“You know, there’s something I’ve been wondering about for a while.”
Gizmo said as he watched the group of five approach.
“Is there any other clan that has produced more talents than ours? I mean if you think about it, from your grandfather’s generation to now there have been countless geniuses appearing from the Dragna Clan. So I want to know if we’re #1 or what?”
He asked while looking at Alec.
Out of everyone here Alec undoubtedly held the most knowledge about the world because of his travels. If there was such a clan then he must’ve at least heard rumors of it.
“Well there are a few. There’s the Diabolus Clan that Nine Hells Dante is from. It’s a clan of Lucifer’s descendants that produced countless demon geniuses.”
Alec answered.
This was also the same clan that Ajax and Ishma was apart of.
“There’s Othinus, Odin’s clan in Asgard empire. I also heard a rumor about there being a legendary clan in swordsmen clan in the Wakoku Nation that produced countless sword masters like Lucifer’s 7 swords, but nothing more.”
After Alec said that, the group of five appeared in front of the table.
“You called Bloodflame?”
The one who spoke was Al-Shura.
“Yeah, come on have a seat.”
Alec said while pointing to the free seats.
Al-Shura and Alesia looked at each other before taking a seat.
The triplets sat with carefree expressions on their faces.
“May I inquire what you called us here for, Handsome?”
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Asked the eldest of the triplets, Sylvia.
“It’s nothing much but wanting to get to know you all. Ah, the rest of our guests had arrived.”
Alec looked and saw Momo leading the group consisting of members of the Primus and Secundus branches.
They were Aeon, Christian, Kouta, Karim, and finally Sasha.
Just to note: although Sasha was the youngest of the group she was the aunt of everyone except Karim who was her cousin.
“Yo!”
Momo was all smiles as she took a seat.
Aeon was oddly silent, while those from the Secundus Branch didn’t show much expression.
Sasha was the only who was nervous.
“Now that everyone’s here, let the meeting of geniuses commence.”
Alec said while clapping.
“I’m sure you’re all curious as to why I called you here, but first let me thank you for responding to my call.”
“It was from the great Millennium Genius. There’s no way we could’ve ignored it.”
Said Karim with clear sarcasm.
“Well, I don’t consider myself great. So you didn’t have to come.”
Alec answered with a smile.
“Spit it out. What do you want?”
Said Al-Shura.
His voice was always aggressive as if he was constantly growling.
“Watch your tone when talking to people.”
Said Kirika.
“Oh? And I should be more polite? Like hell I should.”
He leaned back in his seat.
“In my opinion, we’re all enemies and rivals. So being nice to each other is just a meaningless pretense.”
“I hate to admit it, but I agree with him.”
Said Gizmo.
“Even though I don’t want to compete against any of you, but I have to admit that it will happen regardless. We’re all from the same generation and are considered geniuses. Although you’re already considered # 1, Alec.”
He said while reading the book.
“Number 1, huh? I refuse to accept that.”
Said Kouta.
“We never fought, but you’re already considered better than me? That’s just bullshit.”
“I agree. Without your Blood Flame I doubt you can beat us.”
Said Karim.
“Not necessarily.”
Aeon suddenly spoke up.
“The Blood Flame is only used against opponents outside of Alec’s level. Reports say that he’s never lost against anyone in the same Class.”
He then looked at Kirika.
“Besides, if we’re talking about raw power, isn’t she # 1?”
“………”
No one could retort what Aeon said because Kirika was definitely the strongest of all of them.
She was a X Class who could fight XX Classes with her sword alone. Many believed that it won’t be long before she reaches the level of Sword Master or even Sword God.
“Since that settle the title of strongest, let’s get down to business, shall we?”
Alec took the chance to say.
“First, let me ask you all a question. What would be the ideal outcome for you from the Five Clans meeting?”
“The Dragna Clan united with my Branch as the head.”
Al-Shura didn’t hesitate to reply.
“Moreover, isn’t that the ideal outcome for everyone here? The remerging of the clan with our individual branches at the helm?”
Said the middle of the Triplets, Sophia.
“Not necessarily.”
Momo interjected.
“In my eyes, the ideal outcome would be Miko leading the clan into the future.”
“Are you sick in the head?”
Al-Shura retorted.
“That brat may be Tiamat’s proxy, but there’s no way in hell he can lead our clan. I don’t know about the other clans, but my Quintus Branch wouldn’t accept such a brat as our leader.”
“My branch wouldn’t either.”
Said the youngest of the Triplets, Sylphy.
“Hmph! Miko is more than worthy to lead your branches. Don’t look down on him because he’s young. In a couple years he’ll overshadow you all!”
Momo aggressively argued.
“I heard that you were his master, aren’t you just hyping up your own student? After all, the greater the student seems the better it makes the master look.”
Said Al-Shura.
“You piece of shit…..do you want me to turn you into mince meat!”
Momo suddenly started fuming and stared at Al-Shura with the intention to kill.
“Now, now.”
Alec tried to calm her down.
“What about you of the Secundus Branch? Do you wish to see your branch at helm of the clan or like Momo you wouldn’t mind Miko as the leader?”
“I don’t care either way, to be honest.”
Karim answered.
“I don’t know much about Miko other than everyone seem obsessed with him from the moment I woke up from my coma. Well, him smashing the skulls of your branch leaders was impressive even if he was borrowing power.”
Karim stretched his arms apart.
“But that also requires unimaginable talent and will power. He’s also shown that he’s a very innovative person from him building up the city to its current state. In my eyes he’s very interesting and shouldn’t be looked down upon because of his age.”
“For someone who said that he didn’t care, you sure are raining down praise on him.”
Said Gizmo.
“Well, I admit that even I was impressed when I looked into his past actions. I can at least say he’s no fool.”
“Is that so? Even so, he still isn’t worthy to lead the clan.”
Al-Shura stubbornly said.
‘If the person who created the clan in the first place isn’t worthy, then who is?’
Alec thought with a wry smile.
“What do you think?”
Sylvia looked over at Sasha who was silent for entire time and asked.
“He is your son isn’t he?”
Everyone brought their attention to Sasha.
To be honest, most of them had forgotten about her because of how quiet she was.
Out of everyone present she was one of the three who hadn’t spoken a word since they’re arrival.
The other two were Alesia who sat quietly like an obedient child, and Christian who was of course asleep.
When they remembered Sasha's existence they all became serious.
Sasha was special among all of them.
She was youngest and the weakest, but that didn’t mean that they could underestimate her.
She was Nero’s and kimiko’s daughter as well as Nova’s sister.
The only reason she had the current strength she held was because she only began training half a decade ago.
If that wasn’t the case, it wouldn’t have been odd if she was among the top five among them.
But all that was inferior compared to another fact about her.
She was Miko’s mother.
Her son was the young king who was constantly creating storms and always at the center of attention.
This was enough to increase her value in the eyes of everyone here.
They all stared at her awaiting her answer.
After a while she finally spoke.
“It might sound bias coming from me, but I honestly believe that Miko can bring the clan to the next level. He’s smart, charismatic, decisive. He has all the qualities of a great leader. But…..”
Sasha paused her before continuing.
“He’s also fragile.”
“Fragile? Him?”
Kirika asked in disbelief.
The kid she heard about was nowhere near fragile.
Even so Sasha nodded.
“He’s clumsy, blunt, short-tempered, arrogant, a little naughty, and really really inconsiderate. To be honest, I think I spoiled him too much as a baby.”
She said with a small laugh.
“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that no matter how much he tries to deny it, my son is nothing but a mortal. He makes mistakes like everyone else, cries like everyone else, laugh like everyone, and feels pain like everyone else. To be honest, I don’t want him to lead the Dragna Clan. I mean I’m sure it would just increase his burdens and there’s only so much that his small shoulders can handle.”
She smiled before continuing.
“I mean, which mother would want to see her child go through constant hardships?”
“………”
Everyone listened to Sasha’s words and were unable to respond immediately.
They all thought that she would want for her son to become the leader of the clan and make him sound like the perfect leader, but it was the opposite.
She listed his flaws and even declared her wish for him not to lead.
Her words were without a single ounce of self interest and gain, but her honest feelings as a mother watching over her son.
“With a mother like this, I’m starting to become even more interested in this Miko.”
Sophia mumbled.
Her sisters nodded their head in agreement.
“As expected of a mother, you didn’t hesitate to embarrass your son even when he's not here, by calling him fragile.”
Alec teased.
However one could see a warm light in his eyes.
He placed his hand on his chest.
“I for one wish for Miko to take the helm.”
“?!”
Alec’s words shocked everyone except Kirika and Gizmo.
It was one thing if the members of the Primus and Secundus branch had said so, because they were on the same side as Miko, but when it came from someone like Alec it was shocking and held a lot of weight.
He smiled under everyone’s eyes and boldly declared-
“By the end of this affair, I'm confident that the Dragna Clan will fall into Miko’s hands whether he wants it to or not.”