Winning people over came down to threats and inducements.
After Logo promised them substantial benefits, Wellington and Lavier knelt on one knee and swore allegiance in the name of the progenitor.
With that, although Logo had yet to inherit the position of family head, he had effectively taken control of the family.
"Your Excellency, how do you intend to convict Suke?" Wellington asked cautiously. Unlike Lavier, he had many shared interests with Suke.
Logo glanced at him and said calmly, "Don't worry, you won't be implicated. Everything you did before is wiped clean. From now on, as long as you work diligently, you'll get your share of benefits!"
Hearing this, Wellington breathed a sigh of relief, and his expression relaxed.
Logo stretched, took his legs off the table, and stood up. He walked straight to the door and left the study.
Melier followed him like a loyal guard. Wellington and Lavier exchanged a glance and hurried after them.
Having sworn allegiance, they now had Logo as their liege. Their relationship as lord and retainers was established, and their attitudes changed accordingly. They could no longer treat him with the same disregard as before.
Suke had been terrified these past few days. He could not help regretting how he had lost his senses and believed Catherine's lies, taking part in the assassination attempt and even providing a bottle of potion from his collection.
Whenever he thought about it, Suke could not sleep at night. Especially after the assassination failed, he had dreamed more than once of the Royal Court Picket bursting into the castle and arresting him.
Ordinarily, embezzlement, bribery, and dereliction of duty would earn him a prison sentence at most. If it was more serious, he would be sent to the atonement camp and released after a while.
The Gendaya Royal Court had specifically enacted the "Exemption Act" for extraordinary beings of the seventh rank and above. Even if they committed serious crimes, they were generally not sentenced to death.
But attempting to assassinate his own family's young patriarch was clearly not covered by the exemption. The offense was far too grave.
On Blue Star, this would have been a heinous capital crime. There would have been no need to wait for the autumn executions; he could have been dragged straight to the marketplace and beheaded.
What comforted Suke was that Catherine had soon died in prison.
He knew perfectly well who had done it: the Russell Family.
One important reason Suke had gotten on board with Catherine in the first place was that she had told him Duoliya was also involved in the affair.
Among the seven great families, the Russell Family was second only to the Herbert Family. It was growing rapidly and looked poised to replace it.
It was only because he had such a powerful backer that Suke had dared to take the risk.
Although the assassination had failed, the Russell Family had covered its tracks thoroughly and left little evidence.
Suke was not worried that the Russell Family would eliminate him as it had Catherine.
The reason was simple: the risk was too great.
He was a High-Rank Transcendent, after all. Even if Kaluote acted personally, killing him would cause a huge commotion and would not be worth the trouble.
Now that Catherine is dead, no one except the Russell Family knows I took part in the assassination. Even if Logo becomes family head after turning fifteen, the most he can do is convict me of embezzlement and dereliction of duty.
And if I can plug the hole and eliminate all the evidence over these three years, even the family head won't be able to do anything to me...
Suke sat in his chair, making his calculations.
He was enormously fat, with layer upon layer of flesh. He had practically squeezed himself into the armchair, looking like a huge, greasy white grub.
There was so much fat on his face that his three already small eyes had been reduced to mere slits, giving him a rather comical appearance.
Just then, a subordinate came in to report.
"Lord Suke, Sir Logo is here. Lord Melier, Lord Wellington, and Lord Lavier are following him."
"What?"
Suke sprang straight out of his chair, his fat rippling up and down like waves. His expression flickered with shock and suspicion.
Why had Logo suddenly come to see him?
And Wellington and Lavier-why had those two come as well?
Could they have already thrown their lot in with Logo completely? Should he change his own position too?
Still pondering, Suke went out to greet them.
"Seize him!"
The moment they met, Logo pointed straight at Suke. Without the slightest hesitation, Melier held his axe in one hand and strode toward Suke.
Wellington and Lavier hesitated for a moment before moving as well.
Wellington took out his staff. Magical Energy surged through him as he prepared a spell.
Lavier followed behind Melier, a war scythe in hand. Pale cyan Dou Qi surged forth, forming armor over his body.
Logo was now their liege.
As long as their liege's orders were not too outrageous, the two of them could not readily disobey.
"What are you doing?" Suke immediately assumed a defensive stance. Thinking his involvement in the attempt on Logo's life had been exposed, he prepared to fight to the death.
Just then, Logo suddenly said, "It has been established that you embezzled funds, took bribes, neglected your duties, and perverted the law. Why haven't you surrendered?"
"Hm?" Suke froze. The assassination attempt hasn't been exposed?
That made sense. Catherine was dead, and the matter had sunk without a trace. Logo had no reason to know about it.
It seemed Wellington and Lavier really had thrown their lot in with Logo.
Of the four High-Rank Transcendents, he was the only one left. No wonder Logo had come in such an aggressive manner, showing no mercy...
Was it because he had pledged himself too late?
Was Logo displeased?
Many thoughts collided like sparks in his mind. In the end, Suke surrendered without resisting, already prepared to back down.
He was a longstanding member of the family with extensive connections and a high-level extraordinary being to boot. As long as he showed a proper attitude in admitting his wrongs, gave Logo a way to save face, and offered a little flattery, the youngster might just let him off.
Even if Logo was determined to convict him, he would only have to spend some time in the atonement camp. With his strength as a High-Rank Transcendent, his chances of dying there were slim.
But if he resisted, that would be a different matter.
Suke surrendered, and the three captured him with ease.
Wellington used a spell to form ropes and bind Suke. Lavier and Melier took up positions on either side and escorted him before Logo.
"Suke, do you admit your guilt?" Logo demanded sternly.
Suke hurriedly nodded. "I admit it. I lost my senses. I ask the family head to punish me severely!"
Hearing this, Logo narrowed his eyes. The corners of his mouth rose in a faint, inscrutable smile.
"Good. Since you admit to betraying the family, have a safe journey!"
As he spoke, Logo's eyes shifted slightly and his eyebrow rose as he signaled Melier.
Melier's axe rose and fell at once. With a wet squelch, a head hit the ground.
The head, like that of a fat pig, rolled across the ground, its wide-open eyes filled with bewilderment and confusion. Blood spurted from the severed neck like a fountain, staining a broad patch of ground crimson.
Lavier and Wellington were stunned.
"Y-you... how could you kill him?" Wellington pointed at Melier, trembling. His emotions churned so violently that he could barely speak.
Lavier was calmer, but his pupils also contracted as he stared at Logo. His meaning was clear.
Give us an explanation, boss!
Melier shook the blood from his great axe, stepped through the blood on the ground, and stood behind Logo to one side.
To him, killing Suke was like crushing an ant. He was utterly unruffled.