Right now, Ancestor Dian Alstreim felt that he needed young talents to strengthen the family, and joining or cooperating with an external power might help them, but it might also completely swallow them.

It was a risk, a gamble.

"Who is Conferred Queen Isabella and her Protector?" He couldn't help but muse with his knowledge of the Fifty-Two Territories but eventually shook his head.

"Sigh... According to the previous reports made by Havle Alstreim, the Conferred Queen's Protector once said that his Young Mistress would visit the Alstreim Family in due time..."

"Should I wait? Or pay them a visit myself, inadvertently lowering my status in the process?"

Ancestor Dian Alstreim ruefully laughed as his expression possessed ounces of self-mockery.

======

Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim walked along the hallway as he possessed a solemn expression on his face. However, his expression became taken back before a crafty smile appeared on his wizened face as he turned to look at the one beside him.

"Congratulations on being acknowledged by the Ancestor, Elder Havle Alstreim."

Havle Alstreim replied with a slight bow, "I am deeply honored."

But then, he became taken aback before his expression brightened, "Grand Elder... It's true?"

Grand Elder Valdrey smiled and nodded his head as if he were deeply heartened, "The Grand Elders have all approved for you to become a genuine Elder."

"I thank the Grand Elders with all my heart."

Havle Alstreim's expression was one of happiness, but inwardly, it was within his expectations. With this much of contributions, he was rather surprised that he didn't become a Grand Elder straightway.

'The only thing that's blocking me from becoming a Grand Elder is my cultivation... Sigh...' He also couldn't help but feel that there were some other adverse elements that suppressed him from obtaining the status of Grand Elder.

In the past, Havle Alstreim already had the required strength to become an Elder but not enough contributions, so he chose to become an Envoy instead.

Not all Eighth Stage Experts of the Alstreim Family can become Elders as there is a massive gap between each level in the Eighth Stage, not to mention that the prowess one shows at the same level could also have a tremendous difference that couldn't easily be filled.

The disparity in prowess was prevalent among experts of the same level, so only those at Mid-Level Law Sea Stage with ample achievements can become Elders.

In any case, it was possible to have both the statuses, so Elder Havle Alstreim wasn't aversed to becoming a Head Envoy.

In fact, he considered it his blessing bestowed by the heavens; otherwise, how could he have gained this many contributions if he didn't become the Head Envoy and met the Conferred Queen's Protector?

Thinking about it now, he couldn't help but praise the past himself for his decisions.

Grand Elder Valdrey and Elder Havle Alstreim reached the end of the pathway and exited. They then clasped hands towards each other and went their separate ways in opposite directions.

Once they gained enough distance, their expressions simultaneously experienced some changes, becoming severe and solemn. It could be seen that they wore fake expressions when conversing with each other.

In a big family, fake expressions were always adorned and accompanied by the people who possessed high statuses.

These two were no different, except one did it to defend and make himself look like a fool while the other did it to feign civility.

Elder Havle Alstreim's eyes flashed.

He was out of Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim's radar since he portrayed himself as a fool and a father who doted his only daughter, but since he had to display his intelligence to the Ancestor and successfully gained Ancestor's recognition, he entered Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim's radar again....

This all started when his daughter fell in love with the previous and crippled Young Master, Edgar Alstreim.

At that time, everyone knew that he was a doting father, so he used that to his advantage and married her to Edgar Alstreim despite facing pressure and ridicule on all sides.

Nevertheless, he didn't care for their taunts and only cared for his crippled daughter and came to possess a weak body because of her crippled state. If he could grant her what she wanted, he felt all that ridicule and scorn were worth it.

As for Edgar Alstreim, his son-in-law, he was clear and convinced what resulted in his son-in-law's fall.

He would be a fool to think that Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim had no hand in orchestrating the fall of the previous Young Master. Instead, he was convinced that it was because of Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim's suppression that no other Grand Elder stepped in to save Edgar Alstreim at that point in time.

Although he had no evidence, it didn't need a smart person to figure this out. Besides, his Ancestor's disappointment to Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim's actions basically confirmed his baseless thoughts, making him all the more convinced!

'I have to warn Lia and son-in-law of the change in the status quo...'

Elder Havle Alstreim was convinced that he would be schemed against in the future.

As for when? He didn't know.

======

Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim calmly walked to his room before he sat on his beloved, comfortable, and expensive chair that was also designed like a throne.

A beautiful woman walked towards him with a tray held on her hands, filled with delicacies and refreshments. She kept it on the luxurious table in front of Grand Elder Valdrey and completely bowed before withdrawing like a servant.

Grand Elder raised his hand, making her stop, and then he gestured her with his hand.

The servant woman nodded her head and walked towards Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim before standing behind him. Her small and soft hands reached for his shoulders before she started massaging him.

Grand Elder Valdrey closed his eyes as he enjoyed the massage. He had to retract and suppress his Body Tempering Cultivation as much as possible to enjoy the feeling of being massaged.

After all, he had a Martial Master Stage Body Tempering Cultivation. How would the weak servant woman be able to massage him when his shoulders remained rock-hard like a stone?

He enjoyed her massage for some time, feeling her soft and dainty fingers on his shoulders while thinking about some matters while also waiting for a few people.

In a few minutes, he felt some people stand behind the door to his large and spacious room.

With a gesture, he made the servant woman withdraw and spoke, "Enter."

The door opened, and four people entered the room in grand strides, their heads tall and their gazes straight. They all stood in front of the Grand Elder and smiled expressively.

"Grandpa!" A young woman yelled in delight as she cheerfully smiled.

Her expression shone with happiness while her face looked extremely beautiful enough to make her fit into the category of a kingdom-toppling beauty! Especially her silky blonde hair resting on her shoulders and her purple eyes, made her look incredibly entrancing and alluring.

Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim's expression broke into a genuine smile as he focused on this young woman.

"Haha, Nora... You don't have time to see your Grandpa anymore after becoming the Young Mistress?"

"Grandpa!~" Nora Alstreim coyly echoed, "I was training in one of the fire attributed Peak-Level Sky Grade Training Formations."

"Good! Good! You have not disappointed your Grandpa!" Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim nodded his head as he felt heartened.

His gaze retracted and then roamed, looking at the other three who stood along with Nora Alstreim.