"Melia, leave and take them with you as well.

I need to talk to him, alone."

Orpheus ordered, Melia glanced at Nux for a while, and then, she turned towards her father and bowed her head,

"As you command, Father."

Saying those words, Melia turned around and walked towards the room Nux's wives were in.

Nux and Orpheus watched Melia leave, unusual silence fell over the place no one spoke anything.

Orpheus just observed his daughter leaving as for Nux, he was looking at Orpheus's face, trying to figure out what he was thinking.

Of course, Orpheus's emotionless face didn't give him much information, but the fact that he wasn't saying anything even now made it clear that he was waiting.

Waiting for Melia and Nux's wives to leave.

And Nux was right,

The moment Nux's wives and Melia walked out of the room, Orpheus spoke.

"Thank you."

His words, however, confused Nux.

For the past 2 minutes, Nux has been wondering what Orpheus was about to say to him, different things came into his mind.

Will he go back on his word and try to peer into his secrets?

Or was he going to attack him for attacking his daughter so ruthlessly?

Nux was thinking of many things, and how could he not? Standing alone with a Divine Stage Cultivator near him for 2 whole minutes… it was not an easy task.

Orpheus may not radiate any kind of aura, however, just his presence alone was intimidating enough.

Even Eisheth had this sort of intimidating presence, she, however, seemed more of a playful type, and honestly, even though Nux still had his guard up against her, he knew the two of them clicked off.

They had this strange kind of bond with each other.

Orpheus, however, was different from Eisheth, the fact that Eisheth herself admitted that he was stronger than him aside, Orpheus's silent nature alone radiated solemness.

And this 'solemness' made Nux uncomfortable.

He was expecting to hear many things, however, a 'Thank you' was something he was not expecting.

"W-What?"

Nux stuttered.

"I said thank you."

Orpheus repeated himself with a small nod.

"Lord Orpheus, I haven't done anything to…"

"You don't have to act in front of me, I can tell, you held back in the duel. The reason you disappeared at the last moment was that you were afraid that Melia wouldn't be able to take your attack, was it not?"

"Huh?"

Nux had no clue what Orpheus was talking about.

"As a leader, I should be criticizing your move, and should tell you how foolish it is to hold back in a duel, however, in truth, I am grateful to you.

You held back against my daughter, even that Mist of yours, I can see that you have already raised the Mastery over your Physique to the maximum level, allowing you to Devour Life Force.

If you had used that when Melia was down, you could have easily won the battle, however, Melia's state would have been irreversible.

Even at the time when Melia was down, you could have just continued firing your Fire Lances, in a defenseless state like that, there was no way she could have won. However, you still decided to wait for her and allowed her to heal before starting the duel again.

Nux Leander, for holding back in a situation like that, as a father, I cannot express enough gratitude.

Thank you."

"..."

Nux didn't know what to say. : owner of this content.

Someone like Orpheus was expressing his gratitude to him with such a genuine look on his face.

No one in this world would have a perfect response to that.

"Lord Orpheus, I only did what had to be done. I am not here to harm Melia, I genuinely want her to be part of my clan. A talent like her, I just know how much of a help she will be to my Clan. I wanted to win, however, that did not mean I wanted to harm her, that wouldn't benefit me at all.

I would like to claim that you owe me one, but in truth, I did it all because of my own selfish reasons. You do not have to thank me like that, I do not deserve it."

Nux replied.

With Orpheus acting like that in front of him, he couldn't help but be honest.

Orpheus smiled as he glanced at Nux, then, his face turned serious and he spoke,

"It is good to be honest, Nux.

However, keep in mind,

The straight trees are cut first."

Orpheus spoke with a meaningful expression on his face.

"You need to be more tactful in your approach if you want to become a good clan leader.

A Divine Stage Cultivator is showing you genuine gratitude, rather than coming out honest and making him feel like a small person, you should try to use this opportunity to ask for a favor.

You wouldn't get this type of opportunity every day.

So be a smart person and ask for something that would help you or your clan in the future."

Hearing those words, Nux couldn't help but smile a little. There was no change in Orpheus's expression, however, Nux could feel that change in the atmosphere around him.

That overbearing and intimidating feel around Orpheus, it did soften a little.

"I was going to target Lord Lazarus, but since Lord Orpheus is asking me himself, then I shall be a little greedy."

Nux then glanced at Orpheus and with a determined look on his face, he questioned.

"I need your help, Lord Orpheus.

I have a few questions I need the answer to."

"Ask."

Orpheus replied with a small smile on his face.

"What is the Ancestral Order? And I don't want to know basic details that everyone knows, I want the know the actual truth, who are the leaders? How strong are they? How does the Order have such high influence?"

"Starting with the big questions, I see."

Orpheus commented, but then, he shook his head.

"I do not have the authority to tell you about it, however, I can tell you one thing,

You can be rest assured, they are not your enemies."

Hearing that answer, Nux narrowed his eyes,

"A Divine Stage Cultivator saying he doesn't have the 'authority' to do something…

Why would the Strongests not have the authority to do whatever they wish, that doesn't make sense.

Does that mean…

There are people stronger than Divine Stage Cultivators in Yrniel?

Beings above the Divine Stage?"