Let the Game Begin
'Rubrum Trivia'
The city of Mediolan was founded since the 'Age of Segregation' before the first Tridon invasion.
The city was built upon the foundations of three great clans; Aemilia, Sergia and Atilia. The city was ruled by a council directed by the heads of the three clan. Aemilias were the warriors, Sergias were in charge of espionage as well as intelligence and, Atilias were the diplomats.
After the first Tridon invasion and the subsequence formation of first Solas Empire by High King Alexios Avitus, Mediolan submitted under the rule of the King of the kings.
Mediolan became an important center of trade due to its strategic location and access to the sea. The city prospered and the three great clans enjoyed the fruits of their labors.
After the death of Alexios Avitus; while many provinces, vassals and tributaries broke free from the Solas Empire, Mediolan remained a strong city under the rule of Solas.
Then, the second Tridon invasion happened.
Mediolan, once a prosperous city near the heartlands of the empire, became a bloody frontline. Fighting battles after battles during the second Tridon invasion and the following 'Hundred Years War,' the people and resources of Mediolan were exhausted.
The greatest tragedy was that the Atilia clan's main family was nearly wiped out, except for the sole heiress.
And it brought about a shift in power.
The last heiress of Atilia clan married the heir of Aemilia, forming a union between Aemilia and Atilia.
After the discovery of cultivation, the three clan followed their traditional paths in cultivation. Thus, the combination of Aemilia's battle-oriented cultivation and Atilia's cultivation of mind arts completely overshadowed Sergia's assassin cultivators.
The influence of Sergia clan decreased in a steady rate over the following years. And when the formation of second Solas Empire happened; the new Aemilia clan, created from the union between the old Aemilia clan and the extinct Atilia clan, was more or less ruling over Mediolan.
When the High King Caius Avitus reformed the administration in 254 ASE (After Second Empire), Mediolan was placed within the jurisdiction of the newly formed Northern Farnese Dukedom.
The duke of Farnese recognized the Aemilia clan as the lord of Mediolan and gave them rule over the surrounding land, and thus, forming the County of Mediolan.
And so it was, to the present days.
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After Helen's outburst of aura in anger; another equally strong, if not stronger, aura surrounded the room.
"Although I'm an outsider in this situation, I'm still a guest elder of Sergia clan. And it is my duty to make sure that none of Sergia clan members get hurt under my watch. I would like to request Lady Aemilia to refrain from making rash decisions."
Vicent calmly stated as his aura easily battled Helen's, and thus, giving the members of Sergia clan a breathing room.
If Marcius had to guess, Vicent would be at least at the peak of Foundation Lord realm or maybe even at the True Lord realm.
'Still, he sure is flaunting his influence as an elder of the Order of Purple Sun. Trying to intimidate mother in front of grandfather, the clan head.'
Marcius thought with a bitter smile.
"Helen, enough."
Titus's voice rang loudly throughout the hall.
"But father!"
"It is enough, wife."
This time, Marcius's father also interfered. Both men were looking at Helen with disapproving stares.
'Thanks the gods grandfather and father intervened. Mother almost ruined our clan. If she attacks Vicent, it is over.'
Marcius's mother was a brilliant woman. A very cunning and intelligence woman even. But when it came to her children, Marcius and Livia, she threw most of the rational thinking out of the window.
It was the same with the case of Felix. Back then, she only stayed her hand because there was no evidence that Felix assassinated Marcius; and also because Marcus managed to stopped her. But once Marcius himself requested her to arrest Felix, she immediately took action.
Helen reluctantly backed down under the pressure of her husband and father. And Marcius immediately took the lead to avoid any more accidents.
"I'm willing to return Arius's spirit weapon to give face to elder Vicent. But we want some reparations. The heir of Sergia clan dared to blatantly attack the heir of Amilia clan in broad daylight. If we don't make demands, the very reputation of Aemilia clan will forever be trainshed."
The clan members of Sergia had very ugly expressions on their faces after listening to Marcius. He could guess what they were thinking.
It was probably along the lines of, 'You beat up and humiliated our young master in the public's view. You also took his spirit weapon and now you are asking for reparations. Shameless!'
And if they said it to his face, Marcius would proudly declare that he is, indeed, shameless.
But they couldn't say it to his face. Because if they did, Helen would pop their heads like a bunch of watermelons.
"What do you want?"
Elder Lucio gritted out his question.
"Five hundred orange spirit shards." Marcius said.
"Five hundred orange spirit shards! That is robbery!"
Elder Lucio replied in anger.
"It maybe robbery, elder Lucio, but your clan heir committed an attempted murder. If all things considered, I'm going easy on you." The heir of Aemilia clan countered.
"Also, I want Arius to come and apologize to my grandfather, for his slander to the clan. If my demands are fulfilled, we can forget about this accident."
"You!"
Elder Lucio wanted to argue, but a warning look from Vicent and the murderous face of Helen stopped his actions.
"I'll see what I can do. I have to report back to our clan head before any decisions could be make."
Elder Lucio's face was as if he sucked a lemon.
They came here to humiliate and make demands to the Aemilia clan. And now, they played right into a teenager's hand and the situation was reversed.
Although they also brought along the guest elder Vicent, he knew that the elder in purple robes would not go very far and offend the ruling family of Mediolan for such a small matter.
Everyone only had eyes on benefits. If there were no benefits, there would be no help. It was the game cultivators played. They were no true allies.
They played the game and they lost to Marcius.
"If that is all, we would be going back to our clan to report. Farewell, clan head Aemilia."
There was nothing elder Lucio could do but to retreat.
Titus just nodded in acknowledgement. But it was Marcius who actually replied.
"Farewell elder Lucio. If my demands are met, I'll be immediately returning the spirit weapon."
As Marcius watched Lucio, Vicent and the group left, he knew it had begun.
The battle for the control of Mediolan.
The lords of Mediolan, Aemilia clan. The cunning underdogs, Sergia clan. And, Sergia's backer from the shadows, Order of Purple Sun.
Right now, it was two to one. But Marcius would be evening the odds very soon.
'Well, let the game begin.'
Let the game begin, indeed.
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Author Notes
Hello! MidnightMK here!
Things are going to be heating up after this chapter.
Marcius's expedition as well as the fight for control between Aemilia and Sergia clans. There will be a lot of actions and the story will be picking up the pace.
Anyway, that is all!
Please leave comments and feedbacks. I really appreciate it.
Please enjoy the chapter! And please vote if you do!