Chapter 152 Making Trouble

“Family meeting, now in session.”

Sak, fully seated at the head of the table, spoke.

“First, since the Ironclad Golden Dragon’s nest is no longer under our control, I intend to change the family name from the Irongold Clan to the Crystal Clan.”

“Second, the family meetings have long served as a battleground for the direct nobles of the clan to check and balance the current count, leading to needless disputes that severely hinder our progress. Therefore, I have decided to abolish the family meeting system.”

“Third, I plan to consolidate the family’s power. All direct nobles must hand over control of their respective nests to me by next month, or they will be treated as traitors to the family.”

“Fourth, since the family previously compensated Duke Rock with one million Sea Serpent gold coins, our funds are now extremely tight. As direct nobles of the clan, you should stand up and help the family through this hardship. Thus, I decree that each of you contribute funds according to your rank until the one million Sea Serpent gold coins are fully replenished.”

Without giving the assembled nobles a moment to react, Sak spoke rapidly, one decree following another.

“Enough, I’ve said my piece. If anyone has questions, now is the time.”

Sak’s gaze swept over the other nobles.

An elderly noble trembled as he raised his hand and stood.

“Sak, you change the family name, destroy the family meeting system, and force many direct nobles to submit entirely to you. Do you even know what you’re doing?”

“You are dividing the family. You’re dragging it straight into the abyss!”

Before Sak could respond, the old noble shouted sharply.

“Baron Mua, I am well aware of what I am doing. What I do will not divide the family or drag it into the abyss; on the contrary, it will make the family stronger.”

Facing Baron Mua’s accusations, Sak spoke calmly.

“You are making enemies of all the direct nobles of the family!”

Another noble stood up and shouted at Sak.

The rest, though silent, glared at Sak with fury.

It was no wonder they reacted so strongly. Changing the family name might have seemed trivial, but handing over control of their nests was like uprooting their very foundations.

Without their nests, can they still be called nobles?

“If you stubbornly refuse to see reason, then we have the right to mobilize the military, remove your countship by force, and elect a new count.”

At that moment, Viscount Lei Hu suddenly stood and spoke.

As one of the two highest-ranking nobles present aside from Sak, Viscount Lei Hu’s declaration effectively represented the will of all direct nobles.

“Remove my countship?”

“I think everyone should be clear about one fact…”

“The Crystal Beetle nest I control bears no prohibitions left by the family ancestors.”

Sak said expressionlessly.

At once, the hall fell silent.

The reason the Irongold Clan’s direct nobles were never afraid of the contemporary count, even when he controlled a count-level nest, was because the Ironclad Golden Dragon nest carried a restriction placed by the ancestors: the Ironclad Golden Dragon could never attack members of the Irongold family.

Because of this, though direct nobles showed basic respect to the count, if he harmed their interests, they would unite against him without hesitation.

And if the count didn’t control other nests, he was usually at a disadvantage against their combined forces—like Rex, the stepfather of Li Jie in this world.

But now, the Ironclad Golden Dragon nest is gone, and Sak, as the Crystal Count, controls a nest free of any restrictions. This means he can command the creatures of his count-level nest to attack the territories of the direct nobles at will.

“Don’t forget, you just obtained the Crystal Beetle nest. Given the incubation cycle of count-level creatures, you probably have no count-level creatures under your command yet.”

“Even though your own strength has been enhanced by the nest to that of a level 43 count, a level 43 count would still fall before an army composed of viscount-level nest creatures.”

Viscount Poisonfang Snake suddenly spoke.

“You’re right. He doesn’t have any count-level creatures under his control yet. If you unite, you could indeed take advantage of the fact that his nest hasn’t produced any count-level creatures and surround him to death.”

Crackling sounds suddenly filled the hall.

A swarm of blood-red bats fluttered inside the family meeting hall.

The bats gathered around Sak and slowly formed a humanoid figure.

The assembled nobles watched the figure with mixed suspicion and awe.

“Of course, this is assuming we do not intervene.”

“Turrell, salute the nobles present.”

Turrell bowed to the nobles who looked at him.

“Seems the Ice Spirit Count has made up his mind to meddle in the affairs of our Irongold Clan.”

Viscount Poisonfang Snake ground his teeth and spoke deliberately.

He had been puzzled how Sak, just having acquired a count-level nest, dared to directly challenge all the direct nobles. Even if he intended to weaken them, he should have built up his strength first.

But now it seemed Sak already had a force ready to back his actions.

The Ice Spirit Count, Sak’s grandfather, had arranged a marriage between Rex, who had just become the Irongold Count, and his only daughter for alliance purposes.

Turrell is the Ice Spirit Count’s son. Although he controls no nest, he is an immensely powerful count-level warrior, reportedly having reached level 49, the peak of count rank. Rumors recently said that the royal court intended to summon him and bestow upon him a court noble’s countship.

“No, no, no. How can this be called meddling in your family affairs? I came at the invitation of your Crystal Count Sak. Out of the unbreakable friendship between our families, my father specially sent me to assist Sak.”

Turrell smiled.

“Is the Ice Spirit Count not afraid of reprisals from the Irongold Clan?”

Viscount Lei Hu’s gaze turned cold.

“Reprisals? Does your Irongold Clan still have such strength?”

Turrell laughed as if hearing a joke.

The direct nobles of the Irongold Clan all turned pale at Turrell’s laughter.

In its prime, the Irongold Clan would have scoffed at the Ice Spirit Count. Though a strong and seasoned count, he was far weaker than the Irongold Clan at its peak.

But now, the Irongold Clan faces disaster; its strength has plummeted from a top-tier count to a newly minted count.

In this state, the Ice Spirit Count is truly a foe the Irongold Clan cannot match.

“Since no one has any objections, I will say one last thing.”

Sak looked at the direct nobles’ sullen faces and casually turned his gaze toward Li Jie’s position.

“I have decided to strip Terner Irongold of his knightly title and all nests under his control. I revoke his Irongold surname, no longer recognize him as a family member, and hereby permanently expel him from the clan.”