Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 210: Red anger

"Father is dead?" Vale asked flatly. He did not understand what he was hearing. He was trying his best not to comprehend the information, but his brain had already arrived at the truth, so he clung desperately to what Captain Orin would say next.

’...Father died? That’s impossible. Yes, it is. That man is a wall... an iron mountain... nothing can shake him...’

Captain Orin seemed particularly happy to be the one to deliver the news. "The former Clan Leader, Thorold Athrimir, is dead. The new Clan Leader, the heir, is now the one holding the position—Clan Leader Thrain Athrimir."

Vale continued staring. He felt a buzz in his mind, a low rushing sound. Everything was crashing down around him, and he just stood there, face blank. "Impossible."

"It is what happened. He is dead," Captain Orin said, and Vale could almost hear the good for him in his tone.

But Vale wasn’t feeling well. The air around him felt too hot, and the words ringing in his head were—Father is dead! Father is dead! Father is dead!

The mountain that had stood in front of him all these years, the mass of steel, was gone just like that? Vale was supposed to be the one to kill him. What went wrong? What happened? How? When?

His head spun, and he wanted nothing more than to go out there and shake the answers right out of Captain Orin. Instead, he made sure what he was feeling didn’t show on his face, even as the air around him increased in temperature.

"How?" he demanded. Who killed him? Because he was sure the man did not die a natural death, and he had his suspicions about who it might be.

"It was Commander Wrt. He rebelled and attacked the Clan Leader in his palace."

Vale was taken aback. Commander Wrt? Isn’t that one of the commanders of the Clan’s army? He’s the one that killed Father? Out of everything he expected, this wasn’t it.

’.....who was the controller behind Wrt? And how was he able to rebel without Father knowing? The web must have been spun so tightly... with such skill... because how? Just how?....’

"And where is the Commander now?" Vale asked, not expecting a straightforward answer.

"He was killed. The Lord Lieutenant, the new Clan Leader, was able to find out about the plot and led the guards to stop Commander Wrt, but it was already too late. The Clan Leader was already dead by the time they reached the place."

Vale’s face twitched.

’.....sh... the classic one... so Thrain is the one that killed Father with the help of others... and Commander Wrt took the fall for it...’

’.....Thrain is now the Clan Leader... and he’s out to kill me... enemy of the Clan... he’s isolating me... not bad... you win this round, Thrain. But honestly, I don’t see how he was able to kill him... Intentional? Or is there something more at play here...’

"Is that so?" Vale said, then he gestured. "Well then, you can return and tell Thrain that I reject his order and message. This is a family matter, not a Clan matter. Let the Elders be involved... unless they’re dead as well?"

Captain Orin stood stiffly. On one hand, he knew what Vale said to be the truth, but on the other, he also knew the Elders had been turned into beasts without fangs.

"No, they are not dead, but I cannot allow you to reject this. You can sort this out with the Elders later, but for now, you are an enemy of the Clan as commanded by the Clan Leader."

They stared at each other, almost eye level, as Takoda lifted the platform higher. Tension cracked in the air, charged as if little lightning filled the space between them.

’...I should attack. And only I alone should be able to take care of a ship... maybe... but what of the others? I’m not sure the Flagbearers have made up their minds about supporting me... What should I do... what should I do...’

’....those bastards are directly above the core, and I don’t want to affect those who might later join my army...’

Vale shrugged as if he hadn’t been just moments ago considering burning things. "Enemy of the Clan, huh... Well, is that all? I want to eat something good. No offense, Takoda."

The chief grunted. He was their cook in the Rift, and the brief meal he ate made him miss Xan even more.

Captain Orin turned to the letter in disappointment. He had been ready for a reaction from Vale, to see his face and arrogance fall. He scanned the letter again and then saw a few words written at the bottom.

He cleared his throat and began to read. "Ah, Vale. You can also come home for a while because of the funeral. You will not be arrested. Instead, you will be treated as a guest of the Clan. I know how much you hold Cleir in your heart. She will be buried together with the other servants....." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Blood roared in Vale’s head, an inferno bursting out in red around him. His eyes blazed, glowing blinding green. But his voice came out soft. "Cleir?"

Even though he was on the ship, Captain Orin took a step back as the pressure from Vale washed over him, making the air throb with heat. "Yes, Cleir, your maidservant, died in the fight..."

Vale didn’t hear anything else as red crawled over his eyes and static cracked in his head. When his vision cleared, he found himself clinging to the hem of the shield, his hand pounding on the barrier that was now covering it, preventing him from moving in.

The Coiled Fangs shouted at him. He heard Slya call his name and Tiber shouting that they were coming to assist. Everything splashed around him harmlessly. His green eyes landed on Captain Orin, who had taken several steps backward with the others.

But he was shouting orders.

The two ships on either side turned toward him, the symbols written on them flashing. On either side of each ship, a metal pole extended outward, glowing with restrained power.

"Back off now, Vale. I will kill you, but I don’t want to dirty my ship with your blood. They are quite difficult to clean."