Anthony sat in silence as he listened to his parents and grandparents discuss various matters, their voices flowing back and forth as they speculated about the Upper Galaxies like children waiting to catch Santa Claus in the act of placing gifts under a lit up tree during Christmas, their curiosity both innocent and intense despite their immense power and status.

As Anthony was quietly enjoying the rare sense of peace, a thought suddenly came to him: Butler Patrick.

"Ehhh... it seems I just remembered something," Anthony spoke, his voice drawing his parents’ and grandparents’ attention to him as their discussion paused momentarily. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Although he could have simply ignored Butler Patrick’s request and never mentioned it at all, Anthony felt the man was probably bored out of his mind, left behind in the stillness and quiet monotony of the estate with nothing particularly engaging to occupy his time.

"What is it?" Michael asked, as he thought Anthony was about to give them more information about the Upper Galaxies or perhaps elaborate further on the Blood Servant ability or even the Human Bloodline Grade.

"I came here straight from home, and over there, I met Uncle Patrick. He told me to pass along the information that you guys should visit once in a while, as he is drowning in his own boredom," Anthony stated calmly. Of course, Patrick hadn’t worded it like that, but Anthony simply couldn’t care less and passed the information along in his own blunt and unfiltered manner.

Hearing Anthony’s words, Michael nodded and spoke, "Well, it’s indeed been a while since we returned," he acknowledged thoughtfully, a hint of reflection in his tone.

Mitchelle nodded as Collins and Irene seemed to remain indifferent, as they weren’t as close to Patrick as Michael and Mitchelle were to the long-serving butler.

"A thought just occurred to me," Mitchelle stated as she suddenly remembered something important, her expression shifting slightly.

"What?" Michael asked as he turned to his wife, sensing the seriousness behind her tone.

"We were about to leave Patrick behind and ascend, and not just him, what about the butlers, maids, and guards who protect the Null Estate all year round?" Mitchelle spoke, her voice low, but the implications of her words were quite... complicated and far-reaching.

At her words, everyone immediately paused. Patrick had been with them for years; they couldn’t just leave the man behind and ascend without any form of consideration. Although the Null family hardly trusted anyone outside their immediate circle, Patrick was one of the rare few they trusted, although the man was still bound by a Mana Contract.

They remembered that Anthony had even given him the same fruit he gave them, but obviously Patrick hadn’t received the Calling, or he would have said something at the time, which meant his talent might not have met the necessary threshold required for ascension.

They thought about it for a moment. If they took Patrick with them, would he be able to survive the Upper Galaxies without the necessary talent or foundation to withstand such an environment?

And it wasn’t just Butler Patrick, what of the maids, the butlers, and the guards? These people had given their lives to the Null family with unwavering loyalty and dedication. Michael and Mitchelle weren’t emotionless to the point that they would simply ascend without a word or without considering those who had served them faithfully for so long.

But could they take everyone along with them? Certainly, they could.

But would they? Certainly not, as that would create unnecessary complications, risks, and potential instability. Even if every maid, butler, and guard was taken as a reward for their loyalty, they would all remain within the Mirror Dimension forever, which, in a sense, was not particularly difficult for them since they had stayed at the Null Estate all year round. However, that was only because they had previously explored the Blue Planet and understood its limits and boundaries.

In an entirely new Galaxy, curiosity would inevitably burn within them, and even if Michael and Mitchelle eventually set them free, a single individual among them might stir up trouble for everyone, whether intentionally or unintentionally, creating consequences that could not easily be undone.

At this, they understood that they had to dismiss the maids, the butlers, and the guards.

Of course, it would come as a shock to everyone, but Mitchelle and Michael weren’t exactly worried about their futures, as it wasn’t particularly difficult to find a job in a world like the Blue Planet. There was always an opportunity somewhere; if there wasn’t one readily available, anyone could simply become an adventurer and carve out their own path through effort and determination.

Mitchelle’s thoughts then shifted toward the Planetary-level beings who protected the Null Family treasure vault, individuals far beyond ordinary retainers, whose existence complicated matters even further and introduced an entirely new layer of difficulty to their decision.

"It seems we have to give an appropriate explanation to a lot of people, even the Crimson Family," Michael stated, as both his wife, Mitchelle, and his mother, Irene, were from such families, making the situation more delicate.

Mitchelle and Irene nodded their heads in agreement, fully aware of the implications.

They would tell the Crimson Family about the ascension, the Upper Galaxies, the Calling, and the talent requirement. They would also explain that Anthony was the one who gave them the talent; after all, what parent didn’t take pride in showing off their child? Besides, there was no need to lie about the origin of the talent they had gained, as Anthony was already strong enough not to be troubled by any potential consequences that might arise.

However, they wouldn’t reveal any information regarding Anthony’s Blood Servant ability or the Bloodline Human Grade, as those were matters best kept hidden.

Of course, they knew the Crimson Family would go insane at the mere temptation of Ascension. They would undoubtedly attempt to contact Anthony and try to convince him that the blood of the Crimson Family flowed through his veins, that he was half Crimson and half Null, and that they deserved even a fraction of the blessing he had granted to his own immediate family.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time they had attempted such a thing. After all, each of Anthony’s feats was simply too extraordinary to keep hidden. They had tried to invite him to the Crimson Estate, which had failed, and even attempted to present him with a Crimson woman as a potential partner, which had also failed.

But at the temptation of Ascension, they would undoubtedly go overboard this time, far beyond anything they had attempted before, pushing their efforts to an entirely new level.

But at the end of the day, it was futile. To approach Anthony, one would first have to know where he was, a task far more difficult than they would like to admit, making any such attempts nearly impossible in practice.

"We also have to compensate everyone who has served us up until this point," Mitchelle intoned, as she had no intention of simply telling those who had served her faithfully to pack up and leave without proper acknowledgment, gratitude, or reward for their years of service.