Into the Tiger's Den...

Dante watched as the doors flung open.

The room was massive with many books on the left and right sides, it was like a library with two floors.

In the middle of the room was a large oak desk with many pieces of paper laid on top of it. Infront of the desk were a few chairs and a smaller table with a tea set on top. Dante assumed that it was used for business meeting and of course the tea set matched, to be respectful for the guests.

On the back, furthest away from Dante, was a huge set of windows. They could see the outside perfectly.

He had never been in this room before so he was in a little shock, however, his main attention was not the room itself. His eyes were stuck on the extremely dangerous person infront.

There was a man sitting behind the desk looking at papers. He was dressed in a red suit with a golden dragon on his left breast pocket, it went all around creating a magnificent look for the suit.

He had golden eyes and magnificent white hair, his red hair disappearing as he grew older. Despite being 56, he looked as young as a 30 year old. The perks of being an awakener is with every Large Realm passed their lifespan extends too.

Dante took a few steps in, when he instinctively felt when to stop. A cold sweat ran down his forehead as he knew taking the next step would have held serious consequences.

Dante remained calm as his cold expression did not budge. He continued to lock his eyes on Salazar's own. Sadly, he was not paying attention and continued reading the papers.

'The strong had has no need to pay attention to the weak.'

This was a phrase Salazar would say and believed truly. Only the strong can gather respect and can only bow to the weak. Any other form of rebellion or actions is insolence.

5 minutes passed and Dante still did not move, he just continued to stare at Salazar. When suddenly he put aside his papers and lifted his eyes, his piercing golden pupils staring into Dante.

It was just a simple stare yet Dante felt as if three thousand pairs of eyes were avidly watching him, these golden eyes left no secret unturned and exposed him completely.

Dante calmed his mind, his previous experiences knew this was not even a technique but his pure gaze. He wanted to intimidate Dante and the capabilities of a Peak A rank close to breaking into Sainthood of being an S rank was terrifying.

Dante did not look away. He calmed his mind doing his best to remove the prying feeling and glared back.

Salazar left eyebrow twitched slightly changing the dynamic of his expressionless and ruthless face.

Before he knew it a minute had passed.

Dante felt the feeling quickly disappear as thousands of eyes vanishing in a flash. His instincts were correct they were all an illusion. If they had been stronger things would be different.

"Take a seat."

Salazar extended his right hand out, pointing at the leather seat Infront of the table.

Dante obeyed and sat down, he did not say a word and stared at the teapot.

Salazar followed his eyes and stood up. He began to brew the tea in his room and used a mix of water and flame arts to control the process. Within a few seconds it was ready and had been poured out. Dante stood up and held the teacup with two hands, bowing and showing respect.

"Thank you, Family Head."

"Family Head?"

"I apologise would you prefer I call you Patriarch?"

Dante did not lift his head up and Salazar continued to observe him.

His other children uses familial terms with him in hopes to gain his favour.

Whereas Dante is the one who distances himself instead.

He wasn't sure which he preferred.

"No... Continue as you have."

"I understand Family Head."

Salazar nodded his head and returned to his seat, waving his hand giving Dante the blessing to sit down.

He sat in an upright posture whilst leaning back slightly, it held a mix of elegance and comfort.

He picked up a sheet and passed it over to Dante. Dante's eyes analysed the words and saw the expense report. It was for Danny's medical.

He was about to say something, but before he could Salazar interrupted and spoke first.

"I already know the situation... So you already know why your here."

"Yes..."

Salazar was silent for a second his hand on his chin pondering something.

"You've been going very wild recently haven't you..."

"First at your sister's celebration party. Next you beat a man close to an inch of his life, even sustaining heavy injuries yourself."

Salazar looks at his hands which have healed. His eyes linger for a moment before speaking once more.

"It seems Jason favours you quite a bit now..."

He gauged Dante's reaction to this new information, yet his face did not change. It was still as cold as when he entered. He knew he would be entering a tiger's den and willingly stepped in.

But where there is danger, there is opportunity and with opportunity, comes rewards.

Salazar's sharp golden eyes were reading him closely.

"You knew didn't you..."

"What do you mean by that, Family Head?"

"I would find out about your deal with Jason..."

"Truthfully it was only a matter of time."

Dante honestly thought he would not find out this quickly, Salazar was sharper then he knew and he made a mistake with this calculation. This would basically mean Dante would be forced to sacrifice Jason down the road for his own survival if this does not go well.

"Did you use his wife and children as bargaining chips..."

Dante's eyes wavered slightly as he did not know how Salazar knew. However, thinking about it closely it would be more strange if he didn't. The question over Dante's mind was why did he not act upon it. Surely it would impress the emperor more and his family status more if they gave him up.

Well since he was exposed there is no point of lying. Even in a fight Dante would die before the second was over.

"Yes, I did."

"You've become crueller..."

His eyes met Dante's once more.

"Those eyes are not one of a child... I can see deep anguish in between them and a cold resentment and in between lay madness and bloodlust."

Salazar stood up now, turning around and walking to the windows staring at the deep fields in the lands he owned. The garden was beautiful as the moonlight shone on the flowers which had blossomed.

"Dante never held these eyes. Those movements. That experience."

"Who are you?"

Those three words shook Dante's heart as he tried to calm himself down. Had he been discovered?

He could see his fatal end already as even if he ran now, he would have no chance of escape. He could only answer the question.

"..."

"I... Am Dante."

He replies back after a long pause of silence. Salazar maintained the same expressions as he held his hands behind his back.

He did not speak as if he was pondering on what to say, he just continued looking at the petals dancing in the air, falling from the tree.

"You have the appearance of Dante and yet are completely different."

"I am Dante, I have been since birth and I shall always be..."

"I see..."

Dante couldn't tell what he was thinking, It was as if a whirl of emotions were swirling him all at once but he stood firm like a mighty tree.

Salazar spoke in a deep clear tone.

"You have until after the academy."

Dante seemed to be confused for a moment.

"I shall leave you be to face the consequences of your actions."

Salazar turns around to face Dante.

The aura of the room became incredibly hot instantly as Dante struggled to breath from the dense heat of the air.

It was the Aura of a Peak A rank.

The mansion began to shake slightly as Dante kneeled to the floor.

Salazar's golden eyes glowed with bloodlust as he focused on Dante.

He was like a predator ready to devour his prey.

"After the academy I shall come and kill you myself."

"I swear this on the Demiscue name."

Dante now fell on the ground and spat out blood. His aura was too dense for him to protect himself and without mana he was being crushed.

Dante repeatedly tried to stand up yet kept failing, falling down even harsher.

"You are still weak Dante. I suggest you gain strength quick if you value your life."

Salazar once again walked to his desk and picked up the papers laying on the side and a quill, beginning to continue his work once more.

"Until that so called time, you are free to do what you like."

"You are dismissed."

His aura vanished swiftly as Dante slowly stood up and began to walk towards the door.

He knew his father's actions were serious as he had used the Demiscue name. To him it was basically like swearing upon his soul.

Dante's best hope was to become S rank himself to be safe. Yet he was not fully sure of how he could with his potential.

This made him realise how weak he truly was, unless he can gain strength or rely on someone else. His death was imminent.

In his previous life his potential was a Middle C. If it was still the same, his chances of living were slim to none.

This life however he possessed something different. The system...

If he could figure out the workings and gain it's full ability and help, his chances of survival will rise.

Before Dante could step out of the room Salazar said a few more words.

"Oh, I had forgotten to say."

"I have received a letter from the Duke's family earlier."

Dante turned his head as he knew the next few words would be unpleasant ones.

"Florence shall be visiting in two weeks time..."