Was Brando in Valhalla's Hall of Trees when he met the Duke whose name had long been famous, but whom he had never once seen in person.
Grand Duke Golan-Elson, patriarch of this generation of the Tassim Family, wore heavy black armor and a bear-pelt cloak over his shoulders. Though his weapons had been forcibly removed and his hair was somewhat disheveled, his spirit was far from broken.
He held his head high with a composed expression and calmly watched Brando enter the hall. Then he said, "So you're that fellow's grandson? I never thought I would lose not to him, but to his descendant."
"You lost to greed and your own feeble Willpower, Duke," Brando said as he watched the man. His opponent's somewhat harsh gaze concealed a weakness unknown to others—at least compared with Grand Duke Anlek's defiance, this Duke was utterly insignificant. He replied flatly, "From the moment you betrayed Eluin, your defeat was already destined."
"Say whatever you like." Grand Duke Golan-Elson answered.
"Tell me," Brando said. "What exactly is going on with the Royalist Faction? I believe they may be fickle, but if they possessed this ability to endure, they wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat in the last war."
The Duke sneered. "Young man, if you came to make me bow to you and that little girl, I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. I'm not one of you. You may have deceived that old, bleary-eyed fool Viero, but I happen to understand this very clearly."
"In other words, you intend to let the entire Tassim Family be buried with your stubbornness?"
The Duke's expression shifted slightly. After remaining silent for a moment, he replied, "Young man, I must warn you: the Sasar people are not to be trifled with."
"On the contrary, Duke. If