Thousand-Faced Dragon

Chapter 435 Family Gathering
Good morning, sister-in-law.

The peaceful morning was broken by a greeting.

It was clearly visible to the naked eye that Sally Mann, who usually had a gentle smile, was starting to lose control of her grin.

What a good girl! With just one sentence, Mina successfully won over Sallyman.

"I heard you arrived yesterday. Why are you only coming now, Anna? Serve tea and snacks. Which one of Paradise Fragrance tea is it?"

The cold rose, who was rumored to be difficult to deal with, was smiling radiantly at this moment.

Her enthusiasm surprised Mina, who was visiting with her maid.

"It's the same as the rumors, yet different."

What she had in common was her stunningly beautiful face, impossible to ignore in a crowd. It was like finding a large, round pearl among a pile of pebbles; her beauty alone was enough to draw all eyes to her from the moment she was first seen.

What's different is this friendliness and enthusiasm.

What is a political marriage? It is an inescapable responsibility, a "burden" that even the sons of noble families are aware of. Basic friendliness towards the partner in a political marriage is rare, let alone the relationship with their relatives.

It's only natural that political couples have no feelings for each other; each goes their own way—that's the unspoken rule. The very few who do have genuine feelings for each other only develop them after a long period of time together.

Mina, however, saw warmth and joy in the other person's eyes. The moment she mentioned her sister-in-law, Sallyman's eyes lit up.

Is she satisfied with this marriage? Is she satisfied with her useless brother?
"But... my brother probably wouldn't like her type."

While warmly responding to her "sister-in-law's" hospitality, Mina secretly thought that this "fat woman" was probably the type of woman Rean hated the most.

That face is too stunning, and that body is too alluring. How can anyone resist it, how can anyone support a family like that? If it were my brother, he would probably complain like that in private.

Add to that the fullness of her willow-leaf waist, the healthy glow of her slightly dark skin, her bright tongue, and the spring-like allure emanating from her eyes—how could Brother Li En, with his small frame, possibly resist?

"Is she really keeping her brother as a pet?" A rich woman might be quite friendly towards small pets.

Mmm, before squeezing it dry.

Although it was somewhat malicious, Mina, who had a slightly wicked mind, genuinely thought that way at that moment.

As for those rumors, Mina, who only heard part of the story, didn't really believe them.

She knew that as long as the aristocratic circles were willing to "create gods," even a good-for-nothing could be molded into a hero. With his small frame and twisted personality, how could Rean possibly support this world?

"My brother's home? Uh, he likes to read and sometimes plays with flowers and plants, but he doesn't really enjoy it; it's just a way to pass the time. He doesn't really have any hobbies. The only thing he wants to do is run away from home. Oh, and he's very timid, even more so than me."

"He seems gentle, but he actually has a terrible temper. If he's laughing, it's probably because he's angry. He's very domineering when he sees something he doesn't approve of, but I like that kind of domineering attitude."

The subtle mix of chicken and duck talk, pieced together, probably tells the story of a madman who is both weak and strong, both abhorring fighting and yet unabashedly judging villains.

"Is that really my brother?"

Mina felt increasingly uneasy as she listened.

"Is that really Rean?"

At first, Suliman was surprised that Rean had this side to him, but she quickly realized that something was wrong.

But then, I thought of the Hall of Heroes. If there were an ancient inheritance, things might change, and it would be normal for personality or even soul to change.

She hesitated for a moment, but then shook her head.

Does it matter what kind of person Rean was in the past? Who he loved, who pulled him out of his anxiety and fear, and who promised him a warm home?
“Well, the journey is very long, and there are many people in his family. I don’t even think he can make it by himself.” Finally, Mina hesitated and expressed her doubts in a suggestive tone.

This is a way of breaking the plan, but how could she possibly accept it if it weren't for her brother!

Suliman was taken aback at first; in fact, she had raised this same question before.

The facial changes caused by degeneration, and the fact that degeneration species lack racial characteristics, is a plausible explanation, but it is itself a 'flaw'. The fact that Rean is a dragonborn could not be hidden from those around him.

“I’ve used the verified potion. It’s definitely from Sudar’s lineage.” Sallyman spoke very softly, seemingly ashamed of the doubt.

The next moment, Sallyman noticed that Mina also breathed a sigh of relief. This undoubtedly made her feel more favorably toward her.

Rean doesn't like to talk about his past. Judging from Suliman's indirect inquiries and the fact that he bought intelligence from afar, Rean is doing quite poorly in the family.

He also mentioned that apart from his younger sister, there wasn't anyone he really cared about, except for the younger sister in front of him.

"Thank you for coming all this way for my and Rean's future, but we don't expect to have a wedding anytime soon." After the pleasantries, it was time to get to the point.

Sending Mina, an outsider to the family, for a visit was a way to use kinship as a bond and also a test of their attitude. The fact that they already knew Rean wasn't home left room for maneuver for both sides, allowing Rean to make further decisions upon his return.

If it were truly a business discussion, the one who would take the initiative to come forward would be either Kane, the leader of the delegation, or the Earl of the Blue Dragon.

After chatting for a while and establishing a relationship, that was enough. Next, we agreed on a time for the next visit. If Rean still harbored resentment and did not intend to acknowledge his family here, he could find a reason to refuse the next visit.

Negotiations between nobles often involve constant probing and adjustments without offending the other party. If someone were to directly slap them in the face, it could easily lead to enmity.

In this world, honor and dignity are far more important than life itself.
"Stay and finish your meal. I'd like to hear more about Rean's childhood. I'm also interested in the interesting stories of the desert."

To Mina's surprise, the invitation was not only genuine, but Sallyman even put on an apron and cooked herself. The banquet-like atmosphere made her feel vaguely uneasy.

The two weren't the only ones having dinner; Hela, who arrived midway, was the woman who made her want to remove her mask. Her face was quite similar to Princess Dania's, inevitably reminding people of the widely circulated rumors recently.

What shadow dancer, what royal family and heir or something.

When Hela, the self-proclaimed mercenary, learned that she was Rean's sister, her originally cold expression melted instantly, making it even harder for Mina to bear.

She had probably never experienced so much warmth and kindness in her entire life.
"very nice."

"Uh?"

"I was talking about my brother. He must be very happy now, living a completely different life than before."

A wise woman's compliment is not just flattery, but also a heartfelt expression of admiration.

Especially when she learned that her brother had adopted a little girl, making it seem like they were truly a family, she smiled and thanked her brother and sister-in-law, and this "sister-in-law" gesture carried a deeper sincerity.

Next, when the serious business was discussed, the parties became more amicable.

"The situation in the desert nations is dire; at least 70% will not survive this crisis."

Empires also have their troubles; large countries with vast territories also face greater pressures.

After just a few brief mentions, Suliman and her group knew that this was probably true.

"A war of gods? A war between the planes of earth and the plane of earth? This is probably impossible to fake."

(End of this chapter)