Things had been relatively calm at the Estate on that day even though they were expecting Hal Payne who killed their young Master Rad.

While they, the guards and servants of Payne Estate, might not know what their lord was planning and he might really have been doing it for the good of the family, it did not really change how any of them felt about Hal.

They had waited with bated breath for the two to be embroiled in conflict once their dinner had begun but all through, it was calm. And then they both exited the Estate, boarded a carriage and trudged off.

Now they all wondered what might have caused the quick departure and where they might be headed. Their questions were answered soon when the Elites of Payne Estate arrived at the mansion and raised the eyebrows of many.

No one who worked at the Estate was unaware that the family's true elites did not train here but only a scant few of them, who could be referred to as kinsmen or men of status, knew where the hideout was.

Soon the Elites were in the Estate and once they all gathered together in the courtyard, despite their still-large numbers, it occupied them quite well.

The guards and servants soon noticed that the clothes of the Elites were covered in blood and they looked to have been embroiled in a particularly difficult battle.

A while after they arrived, Gregory walked into the Estate with Burt right at his side but unlike the clear hierarchy as well as trust that was usually felt between the two, the tension between them was as though they were strangers.

Once Gregory was in the courtyard, everyone wondered what had happened and where Hal Payne was, with a majority of them hoping he was dead and gone.

It looked as though Gregory had been where the Elites had been since he was also injured. And so it was assumed that he w9uld now address the situation.

So you can imagine their surprise when a carriage stopped outside of the Estate and out of it came Hal, Melinda and Rita.

Castor stayed behind with the carriage while the trio walked in with their poise full of confidence.

After that, the surprise only increased when Hal and Gregory stood at the top of the stairs and imbued their voice with Cosmic Energy and voiced out to the city at large that they had settled their differences and reconciled.

"Lord Gregory" some of the guards were quick to protest but Gregory said nothing.

Once the announcement was done, the noise of protest increased in volume as they all sought to get their Lord's attention, even as he ignored them.

*Whoosh*

A large Arrow of a vivid toxic green color suddenly flew towards the protesting guards after which it exploded, creating a cloud of green smoke.

Quickly, all those behind the row of victims stepped back with their eyes widened from shock at the swift attack, the unfortunate guards had been unable to survive.

The smoke cloud only remained for a while before it faded, leaving behind the discolored bodies of the protesting Guards.

It was clear from their still-protesting expressions that their deaths had been instantaneous.

Those that had stepped back soon doubled over as well while clutching their chest as their faces discolored as well and they died.

It seemed that while they had been able to escape contact with the poisonous fog, they had not been able to do without taking a whiff of the fog.

And just like that, a large number of Payne family guards died and all eyes turned to the one who had caused their deaths in the form of a large undulating Green serpent twisting her body protectively in front of Hal.

Hal stretched his hand and stroked her green serpentine head with a doting smile,

"Good work, Sassy" he said.

Then he looked up and nailed the Guards and servants with his piercing sapphire blue eyes as though he was looking at Lambs for slaughter.

There was no guard and no servant who dared to say another word after the terrifying display from Hal's familiar.

Hell, Even the Elites who were the best of the Payne Family forces looked upon the scene as though they were suffering from trauma.

Which was not far-fetched considering what they had been through on that day.

"Now that I have your attention... and your silence, I can proceed.

Hem Hem, from now on, I am the lord of Payne Estate and if you don't like it you have the opportunity to leave. However, before you leave, know that anyone who steps out of this Estate will die.

As long as you keep that in mind, you are welcome to take your first step.

Now, I have no interest in making the Payne family Great, in fact, at the end of this war, I guarantee the Payne family will be completely destroyed.

But until then, -should you decide to remain- you will continue what you have always done.

This speech would have gone on for much longer but I don't see the point, none of you are strong enough to warrant my attention anyway and whatever else you need to know, the Elites will fill you in."

With that, Hal turned around and walked into the Estate with Melinda and Rita at his sides and Sassy slithering ahead of him.

Gregory who walked behind them looked completely desolate. While he knew Hal was not particularly interested in making the Payne family prosper, it still depressed him immensely to hear that it would be destroyed.

Hal paused ahead of him,

"Do you hear that Greggy?" He asked.

Gregory looked confused,

"Hear what?"

"The sound of all your hopes and dreams collapsing. Haha, it sounds wonderful" Hal laughed boisterously and walked in while the eyes of the Payne Patriarch reddened.

Whether out of hatred, anger or pain was uncertain.

It was most likely all of the above.

...

Three Days later...

On an Afternoon...

Horst Manor...

Invitations were out for the big remarriage ceremony of Marlon Edgar and his wife Olivia and all those of the Great families were invited.

It could be seen as an attempt to be civil in hope that the long friendship and good relations between the four families would still hold strong enough for neither to launch a sneak attack.

Emily however, did not see the sense in having the Marriage ceremony now when war was certain to break out very soon.

Of course, she did admit that Marlon might have come to accept his mortality and the likely possibility that he would die during the war and as such decided to have the ceremony before then,

But even then, she still saw no sense in it or at the very least, saw no sense in inviting those who were bound to become their enemies once the war began.

In her opinion, they were putting way too much stock on the ability of people to not be selfish and attempt to take advantage when they could.

At least they had the sense not to invite the Plebeians on account of fully blown enmity.

Emily walked to the door of her room after having taken a walk in the Manor's gardens and reminiscing of life back home.

She opened and stepped inside to see Hal sitting in a chair and facing her as she made her entry.

Hal noted that there was no surprise in her slightly grey eyes as she regarded him.

He smiled at her and said in a half-joking tone of voice,

"It took a while for me to finally get past your spell. You have some nerves messing with my Mind"

Emily shrugged with a smirk,

"I don't know what you're talking about"

Hal chuckled,

"Oh, I think you do, 'Masked Lady'"