Dian's trip continued. He didn't want to delay this matter anylonger. It was bringing a financial crisis to the family.
From the financial statements he read before. Their family's revenue were reduced by a total of 40%. Five years ago their revenue was a total of 290 Platinum, 17 Gold and 50 Silver coins.
Now it reduced to only 176 Platinum coins. And these numbers are devastating for a big family like Dian's..
So, a loss of total 11,617,500$ last year. Dian thought. And this loss is of only a single year. These things are going for 5 years now.
[ 10 Bronze coins -1 Silver
10 Silver coins - 1 Gold
100 Gold coins - 1 Platinum coin
1 Platinum coin = 1,00,000$ ]
Everywhere they went, the conditions were the same. They were selling the crops on their own names instead of Skyster family.
The Punishment was also the same. If they are seen again on Skyster Family's land, their heads will roll. But this time there wasn't bloodshed.
All of them admited their wrongdoings, some even just stood outside the castle to get Dian's Judgement.
This isn't normal, is it ? Dian thought
As if reminding her existence. The system spoke. " Offcourse it isn't host". Her tone cringy.
" Look at their faces closely".
Abiding her suggestion, he looked. Their faces normal at one glance, but their eyes filled with uncertainty and fear.. ?
" The news must have reached them ". The system spoke. " About how you punished Abils and they obviously don't want that ".
Hmm... That do make sense. Dian thought. Peices combining, everything marking sense now.
They stayed at hotels, sometimes camped beneath the starry sky. Like that weeks passed and Dian was now on his last inspection.
Wait..., am I forgetting something ? Dian thought as the carriage made it's way. As nothing came to his mind he shook his head and lookwd ourtside the window.
The Arbor Flat town castelet. Dian's last destination and the farthest from the Main Castle. Near the dense forest, a natural border of Kingdom of Rikos and Kingdom of Elves.
.
.
.
Inside the castle.
Balios Bia, manager of land in this area sitting on his chair, looking outside the window behind him. His frame short, white hair, wrinkled face and a big belly.
" Once the clock clicks midnight, the time will finally come". He spoke, a creepy smile tugging his lips.
Sitting infront of him, behind the table his son Aether Bia too smiled. " Then... Can I have her, father"
He asked, his frame just like his father. But with grey hair and younger. His voice dripping lust.
Balios turned towards him, his smile still on his face. " Offcourse and you have to take her today at midnight. I have prepared the room upstairs too ".
Aether's smile widened and he nodded. I don't know why father didn't let me touch her till now. It's been months now. But today he finally aggred ! I wanna taste her soo bad ! He thought.
Outside their room, deep in the castle. A voice whispered. " S-someone... P-please...help me ". A female's voice, barely a whisper, broke, struggling to spill these simple words.
...
Outside the castle, the carriage stopped. It 'creaked' as Dian gets off.
His eyes scanning his surroundings. No guards at the gates, people with full eyes, weak frame working in the fields. The whole surrounding a little creepy, odd.
Breaking the odd atmosphere and silence a voice chimed. " Mother ! Look ! Big brother looks rich. He will definitely give us something to eat ".
A small child around six years old, thin body, blonde hair made his way towards Dian as he saw him.
Dian looks toward him as his small steps closes in. His eyes getting soft and anger raging as he saw his conduct.
Scattered clothes, bruises all over the face evidence of his work, malnutritioned body.
The little one tugs Dian pants. " B-big brother, you will give us good. Wouldn't you ? Me and my mother are starving for 2 days now". He asked, despiration in his voice.
Her mother working in the fields comes out hearing her son's voice. She frozes as her eyes falls on him.
" Maria !" She shouts and with a astonishing speed darts towards her and Dian.
She pulls her back. " I'm sorry young master ! P-please forgive my daughter for ruining your clothes ! ". Her forehead touching the ground, her body shivering in fear.
Her blonde long hair cover the ground near her, getting lost all over them.
Dian heart pangs as he saw this. Controlling his rage, he gets a little down, helds her both shoulders and makes her stand.
" Hey, what are you doing ?" Dian spoke his voice soft. " Don't worry about the clothes, what happened to you two".
She didn't speak anything for a moment, her mind captured by his looks. W-what is he... He.. is... So. Handsome ! A blush crepts on her her face.
Coming out of her thoughts. " N-no, y-young master. I must apologize for my daughter's behavio— ". She stops mid sentence.
Her eyes falls on his robe, exactly on the crest on the robe. The Skyster Family ? She thought. Her eyes darting behind Dian, his grand carriage symbolising his influence and wealth and the crest she was looking for. ' A bird flying'.
Her body relaxes, her eyes gets moist. " Y-young l-lord ?" She asked shuddering.
Dian notices her change. " Hm? Yeah. What is it ?" He asks.
" Are you– ". Before she could ask anything further, castle's door opens with a thud.
A figure emerging from behind the doors. Aether Bia, hearing noises coming from outside he came.
The moment her eyes fall on him, she hides her daughter behind her. " L-lord Aether ". She bows.
Since last 5 months, Aether was the one inspecting the fields and managing the whole area himself his father was....busy. That was what he told Aether.
Aether's eyes turns toward her, then towards the new, handsome man standing beside her. Tch ! Who is this motherfucker now ? And that bitch, when I tried to touch her. She got me beaten by those workes ! He thought.
His face twisted at the thought as he made his way towards Dian. " Hey, are you the one making commotion here ".
Aether asked, his tone as of a master ordering his servent around. But his figure spoke of somthing else. He a 5 ft 2 inch stood infront of Dian a 6 ft.
Dian didn't speak anything, He just looked at him.
Already irritated, got angry as he didn't get any answers. " Hey, You ! Are you deaf or so–". Before he could complete his sentence, a super fast kick met his face.
BOOM !
He was shot flying back to the castles door. Dust scattered all over. The woman and her daughter's eyes shot wide.
" Yay ! Big brother is so strong ! ". Maria chimes coming infront from her mother's behind.
Seeing her smiling, a soothing feeling wraps Dian's heart. " Am I ?" He asks jokingly.
" Who dares to touch my son !! " A piercing voice come out of the castle, shattering the moment.