7. The Round Table
"Well, aren't you real funny today? SENIOR sister?" the figure mocked by senior sister retorted, refusing to lose in a battle of tongue.
"Hoh??? Did you just call me old little brat???" senior sister asked with an elegant smile on her face, an act that will definitely look as she acted if not for the pulsing veins on her temple.
"Nah, you must be hearing things senior sister, I'm just emphasizing how much I respect you, the ELDEST amongst us, master's disciples." the figure continued with a grin on his face.
"THE FUCK YOU SAY YOU LITTLE!!!" senior sister, sporting a vicious grin completely shed all of her elegant pretense and is ready to reveal what is underneath, something that makes all of them shiver in fear, well except for the one mocking her.
Luckily, before the situation escalates, another figure intervened with his serene voice in attempt to diffuse a huge havoc just about to happen.
"Now, now, why don't we all calm down and don't forget that we're on an official meeting and not a family gathering, Old Twelve, let's stop hitting senior sister's sore spot─" the figure stopped speaking and started sweating heavily when he notices the fierce glare now aimed at him.
"Little Three, it seems like you're seeking some guidance as well." senior sister looked at the figure while cracking her fingers.
'Shit!!! I messed up!!! Old Twelve you bastard, if I die here with you, I'll drown you in the Nether River!!' the figure thought to himself as he hurriedly think of something pleasing to say.
"NONONO, senior sister, I mean Old Twelve should stop saying you're old when you clearly look more youthful even compared to those young ladies of the younger generation!!" the figure exclaimed, clearly quite skilled in the art of bootlicking.
"I look younger than them?" senior sister glared at all the figures, this time, scaring even the figure called Old Twelve.
All the figures nodded in unison, afraid of offending the angry lady.
"Well, that is indeed true, indeed, I look so young that even the younger generation pales in comparison, fufufu" senior sister returns into her elegant and refined self, as she pulls out a teapot and twelve cups of tea out of nowhere and distributed it across the table.
"Serve yourselves little brats" she said as she looks at the others with eyes filled with filial affection that make others repeatedly reminded, 'Even if she's a witch, she still cares for us more than what a normal senior sister should'.
"Well senior sister, how about bringing out that stardust tea that you─" a feminine figure said only to be cut in the middle of speaking by the senior sister's teasing.
"Little seven you big glutton, that thing contains too much energy for your body to handle, if you get fat, no man will ever like you, but it's fine, here I'll take it out just for you, you should drink it all up as big sis gave it to you, if not, big sis will be sad."
The feminine figure's face got drained of color as she replies, "N-Never mind senior sister, actually, I'm not even a fan of tea so why should I even bother, I'll just pour myself some water."
The other figures all laughing when they are rudely interrupted by a loud zooming noise coming from the east. They look into each other and state in an unpracticed unison.
"He's here"
"Well, just about damn time." someone added as he stared into the figure coming closer and closer into the island, a figure with hair as black as night and a nonchalant look on his face.
The figure gradually descends into the place, near the white seat where he unceremoniously slouched on as he snatched the closest tea, this time, Little Three's, making Little Three's mouth twitch.
"Erm, senior brother, that is my─" but before he could finish speaking, the teacup in Arthur's hand is already drained of its content.
"Your what?" Arthur asked.
"Nevermind…" Little Three sighed as he poured himself another cup.
Senior Sister smiled as she looks at what just happens, enjoying the little encounters she have with her junior brothers and sisters. After a while, her face turns serious as she waves her hand causing a bunch of paper to appear in front of each person seating on the table, prompting all the others to turn serious as well, even the seemingly happy go lucky and nonchalant Arthur straightens his back as he read through the documents, each passing second making him look more and more terrifying.
"Who would've guessed that they have the audacity to do that."
"Seems like even at this stage, dumb people are not few."
"Heh, we can't do anything about dumb people being everywhere but we sure can do something to make this dumb people disappear."
The others also interjected lines of mockery towards the subject, and even the eldest, Senior Sister, couldn't help but have a mocking grin on her face based on what she read.
"Let them be for now, there's no substantial damage that they can deal given what they are doing now, in fact, let them do some more of this crimes, Little Three, get the shadow unit to trail them close, do not let them get away, try to catch as much higher ups of this bands of dogs as possible and send them to the blood desert until they are willing to say something"
All of them look at senior sister with surprise on their face, this is something that only happen on rare occasion, her calling shots means that she takes this issue seriously, which also makes them wonder as it is no big deal for them.
Senior sister smiles when she notices their gaze, but before she manages to explain why she's doing this, Arthur interjected.
"Look at you trying to scare the young ones, there's no need for so much trouble, send me there, I'll make an example out of them so no one will dare to even think of offending us again, I mean, it's been a long time since we show off our might to the outside but for this level of clowns to jump around our yard, there's definitely someone behind them" Arthur said as his eyes gradually turns vicious, a manic grin plastered on his face.
"I'll smoke them out and make a mess out of them."
Senior sister just looks at him with a wry smile on her face as she said, "Nah, just leave it to us, showing your presence here is more than enough deterrence for them, let us on the same level play among ourselves."
"Fine…" Arthur lets out a defeated sigh.
They talked more about how they should deal with the problems, well more like annoyance, they are facing, as well as develop a proper plan to proceed with.
"That's all for the major agenda today." Senior sister said as she dropped the document all while showing a proud smile towards all of them, as she continues, "By the way, the Federal Academy Exam will start soon, I'll have you know that my dear disciple Lucia is already at the 7-star World Core Stage, so I guess she will be leaving your descendants into dust."
This time, even the seemingly gentle Little Three refuses to just let their senior sister brag.
"Humph, isn't it just 7-stars??? my dear daughter is already at 6-star of the World Core Stage, it's just a small difference and sooner or later, my precious will soon catch up to your disciple."
"HAHAHAH!!! My son might be no match for Old Three's as well as Senior sister's descendants, but they will definitely not lose out to the others."
"Wishful thinking, my son is…."
"Oh yeah, compared to that, my daughter is…."
While all of them are bragging, Arthur just watched them calmly, enjoying the entertainment like an audience watching a show, making him the most conspicuous among them.
"Hey senior brother, why aren't you speaking, could it be possible that your son is─" before the sharp tongued Twelve could finish speaking, senior sister tried to stop him, but it's too late.
"HAHAHA, Old Twelve, let me share you a good thing, your nephew, that son of mine, inherited this great gene from yours truly and is already at the Soul Source Stage, and that was when I left two years ago." Arthur said, not letting the opportunity to praise himself go.
All of them with exception to their senior sister widened their eyes due to what they just heard. Staring into the void, all of their vision arrived at a young man who's currently asleep with a silly look on his face. They peered at the young man's strength, making them filled with shock.
'Peak Soul Source!!!'
They stared at Arthur and his smug face, now completely understanding why senior sister tried to stop Twelve from speaking.
'They're both monsters!!' all of them shout in their mind.