"So you still haven't gotten the rights over that dungeon?" Jayden said, an annoyed look on his face.
"Young Master, we are trying, but the World Association is attempting to claim it as well," his personal secretary replied.
"So what?" Jayden retorted.
"If they are not backing down, use the name of the Hargrave Family," Jayden instructed. His secretary looked worried.
"But Young Master, doing that might not be the best op-," The secretary stopped midway as Jayden rose from his seat.
Jayden began walking towards his secretary, stopping a meter away and looking down at him.
"Choose your words carefully," Jayden warned, his mana pressure beginning to increase.
"You are standing in front of the Heir of the Hargrave Family," Jayden reminded.
"I apologize, Young Master," the secretary immediately apologized.
Seeing his secretary's expression, Jayden retracted his mana pressure.
"Go handle that problem. I don't care what you do, but I need that dungeon under my control," Jayden commanded as he returned to his seat.
"As you wish, Young Master," the secretary replied, stepping out of the room.
"A bit more and my position will be solidified," Jayden mused, considering the number of people he had won over to his side.
"Nobody deserves to be the next head of the Hargrave Family more than me," Jayden muttered, glancing at the message he had received that morning.
"Is she still looking for me?" Jayden examined a message from his Aunt, who wished to meet with him.
Jayden had ignored his Aunt's summons for some time, but he knew that prolonging this evasion wouldn't be beneficial.
After all, his Aunt was one of the key players who had helped him become the Heir to the Hargrave Family.
The Hargrave Family had a rule stating that only the strongest in the family would ascend to the position of Family Head. Because of this tradition, the heirs were selected from among the children with the most potential.
Jayden had been named the Heir for this reason.
Instead of his younger brother, who was the son of the current Family Head, Jayden, the nephew of the Family Head, had been selected.Despite the tradition of the strongest becoming the heir, maintaining his position as heir was not easy for Jayden.
To solidify his position, he required significant support from others to ensure that no one could threaten his position.
One of these supporters was Casie Hargrave, the younger sister of the Hargrave Family Head.
"Should I visit her?" Jayden found himself in a dilemma. Out of all people, he, being closest to Casie after the Family Head, understood what kind of person she was.
"Why is she moving so much?" Jayden considered the information he'd received from his secretary about Casie's recent activities.
For more than a decade, Casie had done nothing more than stay at her mansion. Occasionally, she would venture out to vent her frustrations in a dungeon, but apart from that, she rarely left her home.
Jayden didn't fear anyone outside his family, understanding the extent of his power as a Hargrave.
This was precisely why Jayden kept a close eye on those who were allied with him.
Casie was the reason Jayden had been declared the Heir of the Family. Her mother, who was Casie's younger sister, had somehow managed to secure Casie's support for her son.
Typically, Jayden would have needed to demonstrate his strength before the whole family and gain the approval of everyone, including his grandfather and the current Family Head.
However, due to Casie's influence, he was made the Heir when he attained Rank 1 in his first year at the World Academy.
Such was Casie's influence within the Hargrave family, despite her years of isolation.
After much thought, Jayden finally decided to personally visit Casie at her mansion.
Although he disliked being manipulated by others, he didn't want to become enemies with his Aunt.
It took him an hour to reach her mansion, where he saw very few servants.
All of them were undeniably loyal to Casie Hargrave, whether out of sincerity or fear. Jayden understood how difficult it had been to glean information about his Aunt's movements.
"Tell Aunt Casie that I have come to visit," Jayden instructed a bowing servant.
"As you wish, Young Master," the servant replied.
After waiting for two minutes in the lobby, Jayden saw the servant returning.
"Young Lady has given her permission," the servant informed him politely.
"Lead the way," Jayden instructed, following the servant to a garden brimming with roses.
The intense scent made him frown slightly, but he ignored it as he noticed a beautiful woman dressed in a long gown, seated in the middle of the garden.
"It seems my nephew doesn't bother replying to his Aunt anymore," Casie remarked as she closed her book.
"You're mistaken. I was just a bit busy because of my assignments," Jayden explained, feeling somewhat intimidated by Casie's presence.
"Do you see these flowers?" Casie inquired, plucking a rose.
"Yes," Jayden replied.
"They are so beautiful and full of life. But the moment we stop watering them, they become lifeless and unattractive," Casie reflected as the rose in her hand instantly withered.
Jayden understood the underlying meaning of her words. The rose was symbolic of him, and the water represented Casie's support. Her words served as a reminder that even though he was the Heir, he was not superior to her.
"But you like these roses, so you wouldn't stop watering them, would you?" Jayden asked, turning her analogy around.
"Of course not. But the moment these thorns hurt me, I might just burn this garden down," Casie retorted, the withered rose in her hand igniting into flames.
"Well, I know you're in your last year, so I won't waste your time anymore," Casie said as she pulled out a letter from her spatial ring.
"It's an invitation to the Kalvas Gala," she informed, but her next statement caused Jayden to raise an eyebrow.
"I'll attend the Kalvas Gala," she announced.
"What?" Jayden questioned.
"Is it strange for me to go there?" Casie inquired.
pandasnovel.com "N-No, it's fine," Jayden stammered, taken aback.
Casie Hargrave, who hadn't attended a single event and even skipped family gatherings for over a decade, suddenly wished to attend the Kalvas Gala. It was no wonder Jayden was taken by surprise.
"I was going to tell my brother myself, but I thought you might be a better choice," Casie explained.
However, her decision to have Jayden deliver her message had a double meaning. Firstly, it served as a reminder to Jayden of his place in the family. Secondly, it was an opportunity for Jayden to demonstrate that Casie Hargrave, who was finally re-emerging in society, was backing him.
"I'll do it," Jayden confirmed. Although he needed to show her respect, gaining her support when she was about to reenter society was a chance he didn't want to miss.
Two hours later, Jayden was back at his place and immediately called for his secretary.
"Did you call me?" the secretary asked as he entered the room.
"If it's about the Dungeon, I'm still trying--," he was cut off mid-sentence by Jayden.
"Call back all the people keeping an eye on Aunt Casie," Jayden ordered.
The secretary was taken aback by Jayden's abrupt decision but didn't challenge his instructions.
"Yes, I will call them back," he replied, before exiting the room.
A/N: Casie Hargrave is currently 35 years old. I have corrected the error in the Heist Arc.