<h4>Chapter 93: Viin Simtor, Ch 92</h4>


    E took the me upon herself because she didn''t want the Lawrence family to trouble Lucas.


    Moreover, everyone knew she was much stronger than Terrence; even if she denied it, no one would believe her.


    Ultimately, today''s "family trial" wasn''t just Hubbard''s way of avenging his son''s death—it was also a move to weaken E''s influence within the family.


    E was simply too exceptional, so much so that all her Lawrence peers were overshadowed by her brilliance. If nothing unexpected happened, she was poised to be the next head of the family.


    This trial, however, could strip E of her right to inherit the position, giving Hubbard''s other sons a chance.


    Of course, it wasn''t just Hubbard; other family members shared the same idea.


    "So, you admit that you killed your own cousin?" Hubbard pressed.


    "I admit it," E responded firmly, "but I did nothing wrong."


    "Nothing wrong?" Hubbard mmed the table, shouting, "What is the thirteenth rule of the Lawrence family?"


    E hesitated briefly before responding, "If a family member tries to kill another, fiftyshes shall be the punishment. If the act results in death, the offender will be exiled."


    "Exactly!" Hubbard snarled. "But, in line with the Lawrence family''s tradition of leniency, we''ll wait for you to recover from your injuries before banishing you."


    "I object!" E frowned. "I still maintain that I did nothing wrong!"


    "Then, ording to the rules of the Lawrence family, we''ll settle this with a vote," Hubbard said confidently. "Everyone, raise your hands if you agree with the judgment."


    As Hubbard''s voice fell, the other members began to raise their hands one after another.


    "Agree!"


    "I agree..."


    "I... agree."


    Even those who initially wanted to oppose the decision felt pressured by the oppressive atmosphere and changed their stance.


    Soon, nearly everyone''s hand was raised, and it seemed the oue was set in stone.


    "Bang!"


    At that moment, the doors of the council hall were kicked open.


    "I object!"


    A medium-built man with ck hair and delicate features raised his hand as he strolled in leisurely from the entrance.


    Everyone was shocked. This was the Lawrence family''s council hall, where important family matters were discussed, and for a stranger to barge in was no small matter.


    Of course, the most surprised was E, because this uninvited guest... was Lucas.


    "Ahem..."


    Lucas casually walked in, coughing a few times as he waved his hand in front of his nose and smirked. "Did something rot in here? Why does it smell so bad?"


    "How dare you!" Hubbard roared. "To insult the council hall of the Lawrence family! Guards, seize him!"


    Several Lawrence guards immediately rushed at Lucas, but they were no match for him. Before they could even react, they were all swiftly knocked to the ground.


    "Tsk tsk, the current Lawrence generation is really disappointing," Lucas pinched his nose, running his finger along the length of the hall as he sneered. "I know what that stench is. It''sing from all of you, isn''t it? It seems the rot... is in you."


    Indeed, in Lucas''s eyes, these members of the Lawrence family, who held their titles yet did nothing, were already rotting, exuding a stench of decay.


    "Shut your mouth! Who are you?" Hubbard demanded, seething with rage.


    "Me?" Lucas smiled. "I''m the one who killed your son."


    "What... what did you say?" Hubbard trembled. "It was you?"


    "Exactly. Want to hear how it happened?" Lucas made an exaggerated gesture. "I used a weapon this long... and then... your son''s ass... Boom!"


    Lucas finished with an over-the-top explosive motion.


    Hubbard looked as if he might faint from fury.


    Not only had his son been killed, but the insult went straight to the heart!


    "I... I''m going to kill you!"


    Nearly losing his mind, Hubbard lunged at Lucas.


    But Lucas remained calm, saying, "This is the Lawrence family''s council hall, a ce for reason. If you start a fight here, what do your family rules dictate?"


    E quickly answered, "Thirtyshes."


    "So, what''s it going to be? Are you going to take the punishment first?" Lucas sneered. "Or will you let me finish speaking?"


    Hubbard managed to rein in his anger slightly. "Speak, then."


    "First of all, I killed Terrence, not E. She didn''t break any family rules," Lucas said, patting E''s shoulder. "Second, even if E had killed Terrence, ording to Mondstadtw, she wouldn''t be punished... unless, of course, you believe the Lawrence family''sws should override Mondstadt''s."


    This statement was a heavy usation. If Hubbard admitted it, it would mean openly challenging Mondstadt''sws.


    "But, I think..." Lucas''s tone shifted. "E, why don''t you take this opportunity to leave the Lawrence family altogether?"


    "W-What?" E murmured in disbelief.


    "Wouldn''t that be better? With your talent and hard work, you should have achieved great things long ago, but because of the Lawrence name, you''ve been held back," Lucas said, eyeing the scowling Lawrence members with disdain. "I really don''t understand why you choose to stay with these gutter rats."


    At this moment, Lucas didn''t seem to realize that the [Ring of Maniption] on his wrist had taken on a faint purple hue, representing the Sin of Pride.


    Lucas was unaware that he was already being influenced by dark thoughts. He was simply enjoying the feeling of looking down on others from a superior position. The [Ring of Maniption] couldn''t control the mind but amplified emotions linked to dark thoughts.


    Lucas walked toward the sword pedestal like a performer on stage, ncing at the dazzling family heirloom sword. "Is this the Lawrence family''s treasured sword? E, take it. No one in this family, except you, is worthy of wielding it."


    Even E now noticed that something seemed off with Lucas''s demeanor.


    The Lucas she knew was a kind and gentle person. But now, he was acting haughty and cruel, as if he were an entirely different person.


    "Enough!" E shouted. "Stop it!"


    "You!" Hubbard''s face showed clear panic. "Don''t you dare touch it!"


    "And what if I do?"


    Lucas smirked as he reached for the hilt of the Song of Broken Pines.


    The origin of this greatsword was quite interesting. It had yed an important role a thousand years ago during the rebellion against the old aristocracy.


    Back then, as both a rebel and a former Lawrence himself, Kreuzlied left this greatsword behind for the Lawrence family to pass down through the generations.


    Its purpose was to serve as a reminder to the Lawrence family, to prevent them from repeating the mistakes of the past.


    But as time passed, the proud and decaying Lawrence family naturally didn''t want to be reminded of their past humiliation. However, being an heirloom, they couldn''t just dispose of it.


    So, they erased the sword''s story, turning it into a mere family heirloom.


    Using a weapon that had once been used to overthrow their own power as an heirloom was ironic enough.


    What was even more ironic was that Kreuzlied had ced a curse on the sword: only a Lawrence descendant with a repentant heart could wield it.


    The result was obvious; over a thousand years, only a few had ever managed to wield the greatsword. By now, its symbolic significance had long surpassed its practical use.


    Seeing the sacred family sword held by an outsider, the members could no longer hold back. Some even stood up, cursing.


    These "noble" Lawrences couldn''t tolerate amoner touching their sacred relic.


    But then, something even more astonishing happened.


    With a crisp "ng," Lucas effortlessly drew the Song of Broken Pines from its pedestal.


    "Hahaha! So this is your so-called family heirloom?"


    To Lucas''s surprise, the greatsword, despite its massive appearance, felt as light as a feather in his hand. He could easily swing it with one hand. "They say only the heads of the family are worthy of wielding it, but it doesn''t seem like much after all."


    He didn''t realize that the reason he could wield the sword might be because... he had indeed been the head of the Lawrence family before.


    "P-Put it down!" Hubbard''s voice trembled. "Just wait—you''ll be cursed by the ancestors of the Lawrence family!"


    "And what of it?"


    Lucas even began twirling the Song of Broken Pines in front of everyone. Although he hadn''t learned any techniques for wielding a ymore, the sword was so light that it was no problem to handle it like a one-handed weapon.


    "If your ancestors were so powerful..." Lucas performed a few elegant sword flourishes, the blue glow of the sword dazzling the onlookers. Then, with a swift motion, he struck the floor with the sword, smirking. "Then why did they get overthrown in the first ce?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, a crisp "crack" echoed through the hall. The blue de snapped when it hit the ground, and a third of it flew off.


    The Lawrence members fell silent.


    Hubbard was silent.


    E was silent.


    Even Lucas himself was silent.


    In the quiet council hall, the only sound was the steady snoring of the family head, Joseph.


    This sudden turn of events snapped Lucas back to his senses, and the "pride" that had taken hold of him quickly retreated.


    Oh, crap!


    He''d messed up!


    Lucas couldn''t understand why he had impulsively put on such a performance just now.


    Logically, all he needed to do was deliver his message and ensure that E avoided punishment—then his task would beplete.


    But now, not only had he insulted the entire Lawrence family, but he had also broken their treasured heirloom sword.


    If they demandedpensation, would the Mora in the card Diluc gave him even be enough?


    Eh.. Maybe not.


    Well he just have to deceive these foolish nobles.


    With this thought, Lucas hesitated no longer. He suddenly knelt down, and when he rose, his eyes had transformed from ck to a vibrant purple, radiating a powerful aura as he regarded everyone with an air of indifference.


    The sudden act stunned everyone.


    E rushed forward in worry, eximing, "Lucas, are you... are you alright?"


    "I am not Lucas."


    Lucas suddenly flipped back up, standing upright. His entire demeanor changed from before. "I am Kreuzlied, the ancestor of the Lawrence family! Who dares act presumptuously?"


    Kreuzlied.


    Even if a Lawrence couldn''t remember all the names of their famous ancestors, the name Kreuzlied was etched into their history like a symbol.


    Back during the rebellion led by the Lionfang Knight, Vennessa, Kreuzlied''s organization yed a significant role. After the war ended, it was due to Kreuzlied''s efforts that the Lawrence family managed to survive.


    Seeing the stunned expressions of the people around him, Lucas continued in a booming voice, "The Song of Broken Pines was left behind when the Lawrence family fell a thousand years ago. I left this sword as a reminder for you to reflect upon yourselves. But it seems you have learned nothing. Today, I have descended upon this young man''s body to teach you ungrateful descendants a lesson!"


    This tactic was inspired by Stephen Chow''s movie King of Beggars.


    However, while Stephen Chow''s character, So Chan, deceived a group of uneducated beggars, "So Chan''s" audience now consisted of a group of self-proimed elite nobles.


    As expected, Hubbard was the first to express doubt, sneering. "What a pathetic act! You think you can really fool us?"


    "Hmph, Hubbard, those two mistresses you''re keeping, Shaline and Cici, haven''t been very well-behavedtely, have they?" Lucas countered. "I''ve been watching the Lawrence family, watching all of you. I know all your dirty secrets."


    Lucas was taking a gamble.


    Every Lawrence family member present, including E, had appeared in the simtor.


    As a former Enforcer in the simtor, Lucas Lawrence had been well aware of all the internal affairs within the family.


    For example, Hubbard''s mistresses—this was something that had happened in the simtor. Lucas spected that it might also be true in reality, so he used it as leverage.


    "W-What are you talking about?" Hubbard, who had been calm earlier, now looked flustered. "I''m utterly loyal to my wife!"


    However, the expressions of the other members turned subtle. Hubbard''s affairs weren''t exactly a secret; many people knew about them.


    A middle-aged woman suddenly rushed out of the crowd, wailing and pounding on Hubbard''s shoulder. "I knew it! That night you were drunk, you called out those two names! You... you even lied, saying they were your stray cats!"


    "D-Darling! Don''t listen to his nonsense!" Hubbard stammered, clearly embarrassed. "He''s just trying to deceive you!"


    "Hubbard''s wife, you''re no saint either," Lucas shrugged, grinning. "Of your husband''s three sons, do you even know how many are actually his? And what about that stable boy who was dismissed three years ago—are you still in touch with him?"


    "W-What!" This time, Hubbard''s face turned green. "You wretched woman! I knew it! That''s why you always smelled like horse manure back then!"


    ----


    Author''s Note: Well...