Chapter 78 Removal

"Trang and I have mentioned you, Mr. Brody," Marquis Bateman stroked his cane and nodded gracefully. "You are the second-year head of the St. Bartolomeo Warlock Academy, a seventeen-year-old high-level apostle warlock of the Light Element, a young man with a promising future."

This was definitely not what little Batman said. Percy subconsciously thought, what kind of ivory could that guy spit out of his dog's mouth?

"His Excellency, Duke Cam, the Speaker of the Royal Court, is busy with official duties, so he had to ask me to come, but he asked me to bring you a birthday present." Marquis Bateman handed Percy an envelope, and something seemed to be bulging inside. He said meaningfully, "It's a little surprise—believe me, you'll definitely like it."

Outlets' hands were shaking with excitement, and he believed he knew what the other party was referring to.

"Ah, dear Lord Bateman, please be sure to express our highest respect to His Excellency Duke Kamu on behalf of the Brody family. In the future, the Brody family will continue to follow in His Excellency's footsteps!" He held Marquis Bateman's hand tightly, but did not notice the disgust that flashed across the other's face.

"I will convey it truthfully." Marquis Bateman withdrew his hand calmly and responded lightly.

It's sad and ridiculous that a little bit of insignificant favor can buy off the family of a young genius, just like throwing some leftovers on stray dogs to make them wag their tails and beg for mercy - but why not do it?

"The time is almost up, sir." A servant walked up to Outles Brody and whispered in his ear.

Oletus Brody glared at the tactless attendant, first apologized to Marquis Bateman with a flattering smile, and then walked up the steps of the stage with his son.

The surroundings gradually quieted down. Percy saw many faces. Besides the same fake smiles, those eyes flickered with different lights: curiosity, sarcasm, indifference, jealousy. Percy suddenly felt something, something... something. He couldn't put his finger on it. He only knew that at this moment, he didn't feel as confident as he had imagined. Instead, his stomach was tightening with some strange emotion, like a sinking stone.

"Welcome! Distinguished guests from afar!" Outlets stepped forward and raised his voice: "You all gather here to witness the coming-of-age ceremony of Percy Brody, the sixth-generation heir of the Brody family. At the same time, I have one more announcement—"

"Come to me, Percy." He smiled lovingly and waved to his son, but Percy inexplicably remembered the heart-wrenching pain when the whip hit his back when he was a child, and his father's cold and twisted face.

"Stupid! Cowardly! Compared to your cousin, you are a complete waste!" The whip kissed his back like a poisonous snake. In the severe pain that his young body could not bear, he couldn't help crying, but was soon kicked by an adult and almost died. The face that looked like a devil in the eyes of the child gradually overlapped with the old face in front of him.

"Percy?" The other man still smiled, but the name seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth. Percy was immediately aware of his father's anger. He trembled subconsciously, pursed his lips, and quickly walked to the other side.

Ottis Brody glared at his son with a warning, cleared his throat, and was about to continue speaking, but he was interrupted again.

The door of the banquet hall was pushed open, and everyone couldn't help but look towards the door - the uninvited guest was wearing low-key black clothes, alone, and had an indifferent expression.

"Nova Brody." Soon, someone recognized the identity of the man in black - the true heir of the Brody family in name only. However, because of the host of this coming-of-age ceremony, he was forced to postpone his succession and was even very likely to be deprived of his title.

There was something interesting to watch, and they exchanged gloating glances with each other without saying a word.

"Long time no see, my good nephew, I almost thought you were not coming. I really hope that the light will still protect you." Outlets was the first to react. He walked down the stage and stretched out his hand in the direction of the black-haired young man, but received only a cold nod.

"I went to get a gift, so I was delayed for a while."

Outlets snorted coldly and withdrew his hand nonchalantly, acting like a kind elder. "How long has it been since we last met? It seems like you haven't been home since you took up your post at Baita University."

"There's nothing wrong with your brain," he replied expressionlessly. His black clothes made him look cold and solemn, but his gray eyes were as sharp and bright as cold stars.

The corner of Outles Brody's mouth twitched involuntarily, and he gave a forced smile: "Really? I thought you had forgotten about me, your uncle."

"Obviously, there's nothing wrong with my brain either," the man gave him a strange, infuriating look, as if he were looking at a madman.

...No matter how many times this happened, as long as he talked to this guy for a few more words, his blood pressure would always soar.

Outlets didn't want to waste time with this freak - the other party had better have some self-awareness, he calmed down and thought sinisterly and complacently, otherwise he would not dare to guarantee the lives of the mother and child.

Today, today! Edmund, oh Edmund, you've been fighting with me all your life, relying on your status as the eldest son to drive me out of the Ironthorn Territory, and now I'm still the winner!

"You kid, you just love to joke around." Outlets feigned magnanimity and advised, "Go find your mother. She doesn't look too happy. Explain to her why you're late and don't make her angry."

"No need, time is precious, I just want to say a few words."

Nova glanced at Mrs. Brody, who had a gloomy expression, and Miss Carleton, who was nervously pinching the hem of her skirt behind her, and ignored his uncle's suddenly ugly face and walked up to the stage.

Percy subconsciously made way, but was only met with an emotionless glance. He stood there in shock, and after a long moment, he finally received his father's gaze and muttered, "Cousin, you..."

But the next second he was shocked by the other party's actions - to be precise, everyone present was shocked.

The man pulled out an ancient scroll woven from silver thread. Its cover was inlaid with ornate gemstones, and its background was covered in intricate runes, shimmering with a faint silver light. With a gentle shake, the scroll unfurled like flowing water, floating lightly in mid-air.

Nova Brody brought the Brody family genealogy, which is also the carrier of the blood spell "Soul Litigation".

"The master's ring."

Percy asked stupidly, "...what?"

"The Royal Court Council has decided that you will inherit the Brody family's fiefdom and title," the other party said calmly. "The deliberation verdict and the empowered family head ring should have been handed to you. Don't you have them yet?"

There would be no "eligibility review upon adulthood," and all Mrs. Brody's struggles would be in vain.

Young Brody stared at him blankly: "You, you know all——"

"Let's stop this stupid conversation." The elder frowned, looking a little impatient. "Give me the Patriarch's ring. Don't make me say it a third time."

When Percy came to his senses, he found that he had shaken out the ring made of mithril thorn-shaped band and gray crystal from the envelope with trembling hands.

"Put it on and repeat after me." Those cold, calm eyes were like a mirror. Percy saw his own expression was extremely stiff. The cold ring in his hand felt like a burning pain. "I, Percy Brody, swear in the name of the sixth-generation head of the Brody family to remove Nova Brody, the sixth-generation descendant of the Brody family, from the family."

"No……"

"No! I won't allow it! What the hell are you doing!"

The very light whimper of the former came from Percy Brody, the new head of the Brody family; the heart-wrenching scream of the latter came from Mrs. Brody, Nova Brody's mother.

But the man didn't hesitate for a moment, calmly repeating the words of the family precepts: "From now on, he will not act in the name of the Brody family. He will no longer enjoy the protection of blood and kin. The silver blood that flows endlessly will disappear from his body. He will drift to the ends of the earth, bearing scorn and shame, and will never be able to return to his homeland until his death."

"——Those who betray their family will be forever alone."

A dead silence fell, the entire room stunned and stunned. No one had anticipated this unfolding situation. Even Marquis Bateman was surprised, and little Bateman's eyes widened. Outles Brody, however, was the first to react. He suppressed his inner excitement and, hypocritically, stepped forward to offer advice, "What's going on? Even if your cousin were the head of the family, it wouldn't have gotten to this point."

The other party ignored him and just stared at little Brody with a cold expression.

"Percy, put on the ring," he said softly, "and repeat what I just said."

No! I don't want to! Those screams, coming before his eyes, pounded wildly in Percy's throat. Being expelled not only meant losing the name "Brody," but also completely losing his noble status. He would become a commoner, no longer protected by a series of imperial privileges, including the Soul Litigation. What difference would that make? Was that any different from sending someone to their death?

What's more, what's more... Percy gritted his teeth, an emotion so huge that it almost made him lose his mind, rising from his stomach until it exploded in his chest. He glared at his brother who had abandoned him with almost hatred, and an urge to kill him made him want to rush forward and strangle the man's pale and fragile neck - but he couldn't do it, he couldn't even move a finger.

"I, Percy Brody, swear in the name of the sixth-generation head of the Brody family..."

He saw himself putting on the ring and heard himself speaking tremblingly - no, this was not what he wanted to say. He wanted to hide and cry. He was still the stupid and cowardly waste who trembled under his father's anger and his brother's oppression.

But he had no control over his tongue, and the ring on his finger emitted a bright silver light.

"——Those who betray their family will be forever alone."

Mrs. Brody rushed towards the stage like a madman.

But as the new Viscount Brody finished his words, a silver light rose from the gray crystal and fiercely slammed into the only two names on the last line of the scroll. The cloth embroidered with the words "Nova Brody" gradually disappeared from it, as if burned by fire. Soon, only a burnt black hole remained to the left of "Percy Brody."

Except for Outlets, no one in Brody's bloodline showed any joy.

The older man quietly gazed at the black-haired boy whose features were somewhat similar to his, but whose face was as pale as death, and said softly, "Happy birthday, Percy."

The author has something to say:

Edmund, the protagonist's father, I don't even remember his name

Outlets, the protagonist uncle