blogombal Page 174
Page 174
Leading the way was Heath Ledger Phoenix, the patriarch of the Phoenix family.
He still maintained his refined demeanor, with even a faint smile on his face, but his golden eyes held a chilling coldness capable of freezing the soul.
Behind him stood the current Demon King, Sir Zephyr Lucifer.
Sazex looked somewhat helpless. He glanced at the standoff in the arena, then at Zhou Ye sitting leisurely on the sofa, and finally fixed his gaze on the photo still floating in mid-air, letting out a soft sigh.
"Father!"
When Leval saw his father, it was as if he had found his pillar of support; humiliation and anger surged into his heart instantly.
Heath Ledger merely glanced at him indifferently, and the disappointment in his eyes made Leval feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
Heath Ledger's gaze passed over his son and landed directly on Zhou Ye.
His voice was calm, revealing no emotion.
"Young man, very energetic."
Chapter 142 A Test from Phoenix 3
Heath Ledger Phoenix spoke softly, yet his words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating heavy ripples in the room.
Leval's humiliation, Sazex's helplessness, Nami and the others' vigilance—all these emotions converged on the man who was still lazily sitting on the sofa.
Zhou Ye finally managed to tear his gaze away from the half-finished glass of cola.
He met the cold gaze of the Phoenix family head with a bright, almost blinding smile.
"If you're not energetic, can you even call yourself a young person?"
He asked back matter-of-factly, then leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees, and glanced at the ashen-faced Leval and his feigned composure with a look of amusement.
"The younger ones haven't even finished fighting yet, and the older ones are already eager to step in and save the day."
"That's too much trouble."
Zhou Ye shrugged, his tone as relaxed as if he were discussing what to have for dinner.
“Why don’t we just say it all at once and figure out how to resolve this?” He said this to Heath Ledger, but out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the red-haired devil, Sir Zephyr Lucifer, who stood behind Heath Ledger without saying a word from beginning to end.
[An old fox with a cub, followed by the final boss.]
Zhou Ye knew exactly what was going on.
This isn't about standing up for one's son; it's clearly a job interview.
In the original story, when Issei Hyoudou ruined Rias and Riesel's wedding, it was his brother-in-law, Sirzechs, who personally intervened and forcibly resolved the aftermath in the name of the Demon King.
Now, this future brother-in-law is just following behind, not expressing his opinion or making a sound.
Isn't this a more advanced test?
If they win, Zhou Ye's status as "brother-in-law" will naturally be legitimate, bringing honor to the Gimonli family.
Lost?
Need I say more about the fate of the losers? The aristocratic circles of the underworld are far more realistic than those of the human world.
The chill in Heath Ledger Phoenix's eyes intensified, but his smile grew even more refined.
He had lived for over a thousand years, and this was the first time he had ever seen a human being so presumptuous in front of him.
"Young man, don't be so arrogant."
Heath Ledger walked slowly to the center of the room, and the floating photograph of his daughter Rachel silently turned to ashes under the influence of his magic.
"I don't want to be labeled as someone who bullies the weak."
He stopped in his tracks, his golden eyes staring directly at Zhou Ye. The oppressive aura emanating from him was enough to suffocate even an ordinary demon.
"Since you think my son's games are boring, how about we try something different?"
“I will have my son Leval, along with your retinue, engage in a ranking game.”
His voice was steady and clear, each word carrying an undeniable weight.
“We, the Phoenix family, have lost. My daughter, Ravir Phoenix, is now yours. Her engagement and her future are all up to you.”
He paused, and the air in the room seemed to freeze.
"but……"
"you lose……"
Before Heath Ledger could finish speaking, Zhou Ye interrupted him.
"stop."
A single word, spoken lightly, caused the Phoenix family patriarch to choke on the second half of his prepared statement.
Zhou Ye leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and looked at the other person with an almost pitying gaze.
"First, even if I lose, it will definitely not be to your Phoenix family."
"second……"
He drew out his words, his gaze sweeping over Leval's face, which had turned a deep purplish-red, before finally settling on Heath Ledger, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Cooking, just practice more."
"If you can't afford to lose, don't play."
boom!
These two sentences were even more scorching than the flames that Leval had unleashed earlier, leaving a deep imprint on the dignity of the Phoenix father and son.
"you!"
Heath Ledger's composure, which he had maintained for a thousand years, finally cracked slightly, and the corner of his eye twitched uncontrollably.
Zhou Ye didn't give him a chance to retaliate at all. He didn't even bother to look at the father and son again and turned his head directly to Sazex.
"Lord Demon King Lucifer."
His address was respectful, but his tone was casual, as if he were greeting a neighbor.
"It doesn't matter if I lose. My life is not for them to take."
"How about we ask you to be our witness?"
The entire room was deathly silent.
Nami's palms were sweaty; she felt her boss had gone way too far today.
This is no longer just provoking the Phoenix family; it's rubbing the face of the entire underworld nobility into the dirt!
Saeko Busujima's fingers, gripping the hilt of the knife, trembled slightly with excitement.
This is the man she's been following!
How domineering! How arrogant!
Leval's mind had completely shut down. He looked at the human who had manipulated his father and the Demon King, and for the first time, he felt what true fear was.
Heath Ledger's chest heaved violently as he stared intently at Zhou Ye, his eyes filled with a murderous intent that seemed to want to devour him alive.
He had imagined countless possibilities, but he never imagined that a human would use this method to force him into such a humiliating situation...
promise?
Where is the dignity of the Phoenix family?
Don't agree?
In front of the Demon King, wouldn't that confirm Zhou Ye's assessment that he "can't accept defeat"?
dilemma!
In this suffocating atmosphere, Sir Zephyr, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
His bloodshot eyes held no anger, but rather a keen interest.
He looked at Zhou Ye as if he were admiring a treasure he had never seen before.
"A very interesting suggestion."
A gentle smile appeared on Sazex's face.
"Since Mr. Zhou Ye is so confident, then I will be the notary."
With a single sentence, he sealed the fate of this absurd gamble.
Heath Ledger's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
Sazek's statement was like a heavy hammer, completely shattering the last vestige of elegance on Heath Ledger's face.
He didn't look at Sazex; his golden eyes were fixed on Zhou Ye on the sofa, and deep in those eyes was the fury and murderous intent of a thousand-year-old nobleman whose sore spot had been violated.
[Sazex, you little brat!]
Heath Ledger roared inwardly.
[You're really going to great lengths to pave the way for your sister's marriage; you've got no shame whatsoever!]
But as the head of the Phoenix family for many years, he was filled with raging anger, but on the surface he quickly regained his cold demeanor.
However, you underestimate the Phoenix family.
His gaze swept over his eldest son, 2.5, who, despite being humiliated, was still a top-ranking demon in the underworld.
My son Leval, a veteran of countless battles, possesses pure magic. How could he possibly lose to some human brat who appeared out of nowhere and has only recently come into contact with mystical powers?
Even if he has some ridiculously powerful artifacts, the gap in combat experience is an insurmountable chasm!
With this in mind, Heath Ledger felt much more at ease.
He straightened his back again, and the oppressive aura of a superior demon emanated once more, attempting to regain control of the situation.
"it is good."
He forced out a single word through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse.
"Then, how about we start a new match after my son Riesel's ranked game is over?"
This was a delaying tactic, and the last concession he could make as the head of the family.