When the steward saw Julian’s figure, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face, and this old man also felt the reverent gazes of the nobles around him. Although Julian hadn’t communicated with them about this matter in advance, since the implementation of the steward’s plan, the members of the orthodox faction had been waiting for this day. They all knew that as a high-rank swordsman, Julian’s pride certainly wouldn’t allow him to beg them like those desperate fellows. Even if he really needed to return to his territory immediately, he would surely want to maintain control over this matter. The nobles of the orthodox faction had naturally prepared for this and didn’t intend to completely fall out with this young high-rank swordsman. So if his demands weren’t too excessive, they were planning to agree and maintain a good relationship with him.

Of course, there were still some doubts. Although these nobles familiar with the steward’s plan believed that Julian’s visit to the Zach Family this time was because he knew there was a problem in his territory and needed to return quickly to resolve it. But this raised a new question: what about those who completed the mission? Why hadn’t they reported back? In fact, since sending those warriors into Twilight Forest, the nobles of the Zach Family had lost contact with them and hadn’t received any news since. To avoid alerting this terrifying and cunning high-rank swordsman and letting him discover anything, they could only restrain themselves.

But this time, when Julian appeared before everyone, some people couldn’t help but feel uneasy inside. Would everything really go as smoothly as the steward had planned?

Of course, they could only keep such doubts to themselves, especially after the small figure appeared. Everyone put aside these small worries.

“Young Master Zach!”

Seeing this small figure, almost everyone present felt excited and elated. Many of them were loyal family members of the old patriarch. Now, seeing this child who inherited the old patriarch’s only bloodline naturally evoked feelings different from ordinary people.

Walking into the room, Julian casually looked around. He saw about a dozen nobles in formal attire, either sitting or standing, and the old man who had previously dealt with him was standing in their midst. He looked around and then found Kaister’s figure. This man with only half orthodox bloodline now seemed to have been completely forgotten. He just stood silently behind everyone, expressionlessly watching the small boy beside him. What was he thinking? Anger, regret? Or mockery?

“On behalf of the Zach Family, I welcome you, esteemed Lord,” the steward’s voice filled the entire room, immediately drowning out all the noise.

“No need for formalities,” faced with this old man, Julian didn’t say much. He just shrugged his shoulders, then elegantly bowed slightly in return.

“This is what I should do. I once promised young Mr. Zach that I would safely return him to the Zach Family. Now, I think it’s time for me to fulfill my promise.”

“I see,” faced with Julian’s words, the nobles weren’t surprised. In fact, they were also guessing what kind of excuse this young high-rank swordsman would use to find a suitable reason for himself. They just didn’t expect him to come up with such a strange reason… But looking at young Master Zach’s appearance, it didn’t seem like something he had made up on the spot. Could it really be true?

“Young Master Zach, welcome back,” the old steward stepped forward and opened his arms.

“We’ve been waiting for this day to come. We all knew you would return.”

“Grandpa Steward…” After getting Julian’s permission, the boy immediately turned around and quickly ran towards the old man not far in front of him, throwing himself into his arms.

“I was so scared… I’ve been so scared since I left here…”

“It’s alright now, Young Master Zach,” the old steward gently stroked the boy’s head, softly comforting him.

“You’ve returned to the Zach Family, and we swear we will protect you forever until you become a qualified family head. This was your father’s dying wish and our hope…”

As the old man was speaking softly to the child, Julian’s gaze fell on the cane he was holding. He frowned slightly, then in the next instant, he grabbed Ophariel’s hand and pulled her behind him. Then, he revealed a peaceful, gentle smile and spoke.

“A touching reunion, old sir.”

“I apologize, we were a bit too excited,” hearing Julian’s words, the old man let go of the child he was hugging. Then he coughed once, putting away the smile on his face and returning to his original serious and solemn expression.

“So, I think my promise has been fulfilled?”

Originally, in the old steward’s plan, this high-rank swordsman should have proceeded to discuss the matter of rewards with him. But unexpectedly, before he could invite the other party to have a good talk, Julian gave such an answer. What was this about? Was the situation in his territory really so urgent that he didn’t even have the mood or time to negotiate terms?

If that was really the case, it would be even better. But the old steward’s intuition told him that the truth of the matter seemed somewhat different from what he had imagined.

“Yes, sir,” thinking of this, the old steward stood up straight. He gripped the cane in his left hand tightly, tapped it lightly, then skillfully pulled the boy to his side.

“You have indeed fulfilled your promise. This is truly the good quality of a noble gentleman.”

“I think so too,” Julian nodded. It seemed he hadn’t inherited the noble quality of “modesty” at all. But then, his next words made everyone’s hearts inexplicably rise.

“And in my view, a noble gentleman would also be someone who follows the rules of the game, wouldn’t he?”

“Of course, Mr. Julian,” the old steward frowned slightly. He twirled the cane in his hand, seemingly pondering why this young man was talking nonsense about these strange topics with him here. And those nobles who were still excited also came to their senses. They instinctively sensed that the development of things seemed to be moving in a direction they couldn’t predict, but they didn’t know where the problem lay.

“Then, as a man who keeps his promises, I think I should fulfill my next promise.”

Just as Julian said these words, the old man suddenly raised the cane in his hand. Then, a dark red light point burst out from the ruby at the top of the cane, forming a huge fireball in the blink of an eye, exploding towards Julian who was standing not far away.

The scorching wind and air waves immediately burst out from the old steward as the center, spreading to the surroundings, forcing those nobles to instinctively retreat. Julian, who was at the forefront, obviously had no chance to dodge. But at this moment, he made a move that no one could have imagined at all – faced with the huge fireball coming towards him, Julian instead grabbed Ophariel’s hand behind him, then suddenly turned and pushed her in front of himself.

“My lord?” Ophariel hadn’t reacted to what had happened at all. She was originally hiding behind Julian, feeling uneasy about the direction of the whole situation, but in the next instant, she was suddenly pushed to the front by Julian, and what she faced was a huge, burning fireball rushing towards her.

Although Ophariel was now a soul body, when faced with this terrifying and huge fireball, even she momentarily forgot her identity. The scorching flames seemed to be able to turn her to ashes in an instant, and death was so close to her, almost within reach, about to take her life again.

Ophariel instinctively closed her eyes, waiting for her death once again.

But, contrary to her expectations, just as she felt that scorching heat was about to surround her, suddenly, all the hot sensation disappeared. Whether it was the raging tongues of flame or the scorching air that could dry everything, they all vanished in an instant. When Ophariel opened her eyes in surprise, she found that somehow, those faint black mists had appeared around her again. Now they were slowly rotating around her body, as if protecting her. And that terrifying, fear-inducing fireball had completely disappeared without a trace.

“Shadow attribute,” seeing the illusory black shadows swirling around Ophariel’s body, the old steward’s face tightened. Then in the blink of an eye, he raised the cane in his hand high. A semi-transparent magic barrier appeared from it, firmly protecting him and young Master Zach within. At this moment, the old steward realized that the young nobleman was no longer beside Ophariel.

Where did he run off to?

Just as this question popped up in the old steward’s mind, a scream suddenly rang out. When he looked towards the sound, he only saw Julian leisurely standing at the door on the other side of the room, pulling his black long sword out of a convulsing noble.

“I told you,” noticing the old steward’s gaze, Julian raised his head, a leisurely smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. Then, he shrugged his shoulders, revealing Kaister’s figure that he had been blocking behind himself.

“I’m a man who keeps his promises.”