In a quiet, simple room decorated with beautiful murals of many myths on the wooden walls, an old man was leaning against the wooden corner of a window.

His exquisite golden eyes stared out at the distant twilight sky with a bored look on his aged yet still vigorous face.

"You were really aggressive and decisive this time, Father."

Sam heard the relaxed voice of his son behind him, but he didn't even bother turning around.

He simply took out a cigarette, stared at it for a few seconds, and then replied, "They went too far. Slavery is forbidden, yet they actually dared to use them in those dangerous mines. Not to mention, they were trying to contact demons."

"They were?" His son was obviously surprised, as this wasn't public information.

"Yes, they were planning to sell the mana stones found in those mines to the demons," Sam said, finally lighting up the cigarette. "They should be happy I didn't have their whole bloodline eradicated."

His son, a middle-aged man with handsome features and striking red hair, could only nod in agreement. Still, something felt off about all this.

"You aren't usually this hasty, Father," the man said. "Is it because the news came from the Valerian?"

Sam didn't reply immediately. He released a puff of smoke from his nostrils, then inhaled deeply and exhaled again before speaking.

"I owe his family too much, Michael," Sam sighed. "We owe them everything. Their contributions are immeasurable."

"That is certainly true," Michael nodded in agreement, his eyes flashing with admiration. "Everyone in our family knows that."

"They know it but don't want to acknowledge it. Bunch of trash," Sam snorted, taking another drag from his cigarette. "Anyway, I just didn't want him to have a bad first impression of this Empire. It's the home his family shed blood for, so I don't want him thinking it's a garbage pit."

"Father, you like him a lot, don't you?" Michael smiled faintly. "That's surprising, considering you don't even like your own grandchildren."

"It has nothing to do with that," Sam said, a flicker of hope rising in his eyes. "He's the key to our survival from Retribution."

Michael felt his body tremble as the meaning of those words registered in his mind. He couldn't believe it at first but then he did. He knew his father wouldn't joke about something like this.

Retribution.

Most of the people on the Triana Continent wouldn't understand the true meaning of that single word, but Michael did. He knew exactly what it represented and that was what sent chills down his spine.

"Are you serious?" Michael blurted out, forgetting the respectful tone he usually used with Sam.

"I wouldn't say that without meaning it," Sam replied in a stern voice. "He's the only one in the past ten thousand years to have this chance."

"You truly hold him in high regard," Michael said, wiping the sweat forming on his forehead. "So… all of this is to appease him?"

"Michael, when did you become so dumb?" Sam closed his eyes, as if the future he saw behind them was filled with Retribution. "A Valerian can never be controlled. It's always best to let them be free. Dragons aren't meant to be slaves, they're born with wings to rule the skies."

His finger brushed past the burning part of the cigarette, extinguishing it as he continued, "We have no role in the Retribution. Aegon will see it and make the decision himself. I just believe he will make the right choice."

He smiled faintly and said, "He's the Sun, after all."

"The Sun can preserve, not save," Michael said, stepping closer to him. "But if it's really as you say, then you just want him to see the world and learn more about it, don't you?"

"Yes, his choice depends on the person he will become," Sam nodded slowly. "I believe in the potential he bears as a person. I like him."

A warm smile automatically formed on his lips as he remembered the nonsensical arguments he often had with Aegon.

"Really, he's just an innocent child who tries to act like an old soul," Sam chuckled softly. "But all I see is a kid, nothing else. An excited and enthusiastic child who yearns to learn more about this world. And that's something I love about him."

"Haha, he sounds like an interesting person," Michael laughed. "I really expected the worst when I heard he was born with both Augustus and Valerian bloodlines."

Sam hummed in agreement, since even he had been worried back in those days. It truly was a dangerous combination.

"The ironic thing about all this is that the lass from the Chen Clan raised him," Sam said, laughing at the memory.

"I still can't believe someone like her actually managed to raise a well-mannered child," Michael sighed in disbelief. "It's a miracle."

After a few moments of silence, Michael asked, "Father, are you really sure we can survive the Retribution when it comes?"

"I wasn't sure before, but I am now," Sam replied calmly. "Aegon will make the right choice."

"I truly hope so," Michael muttered before glancing at the cylindrical object in Sam's hand. "Can you give me one?"

"No, I have a limited stock," Sam quickly hid the half-burnt cigarette, as if afraid Michael would snatch it away.

"Father, you can just have someone make more of them," Michael said irritably, wrinkling his nose. "I just want to see what it's like."

"It's not mine, so I don't have any right to reproduce it," Sam grunted, pushing his son aside. "And that damned brat won't give me more. How is that my fault?"

"Father, since when did you start following rules? You and morality don't belong in the same sentence," Michael shot back, trying to snatch the cigarette. But Sam was quicker and easily slipped out of the room, leaving behind his words.

"I'm the most honest man in this whole world, so don't slander this old man! Go find it yourself!"

"This shameless old man!" Michael muttered in disbelief. Sometimes, he really wondered if there existed anyone more shameless than his father.

He turned to look out the window, the twilight glow reflecting in his eyes, and whispered, "Aegon… are you really the one who will stop the Retribution?"

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