SWNOVELXO CHAPTER 271: DANIEL AWAKENS
"Daniel?! He has awoken?" Lancelot asked, a glint of excitement in his eyes, the edges of his lips curling into a grin.
"You all don't need to worry," Rothschild responded calmly, his tone authoritative yet composed, "He isn't here to interfere in our discussion. His only role is to assist in the awakening of our respective ancestors, as was agreed upon beforehand."
Despite his reassurance, unease still flickered in the eyes of many family heads present. After all, they all knew the terrifying power of an absolute concept wielder. And among them, not a single one wielded an absolute concept—each had only reached the peak of their individual, albeit powerful, concepts.
Unbeknownst to them, Sabbah had quietly surpassed that boundary. His breakthrough into the realm of absolute concepts was perfectly hidden, even from the sharp perception of Daniel himself.
"You truly have nothing to fear," Daniel added, his voice composed and tranquil as his gaze swept across the entire room. "Dominating others has never been my way. I'm simply here as an observer."
With that, he walked to a far corner of the opulent hall and sat with the elegance of a man utterly unconcerned with the political game unfolding before him. Only Rothschild and Sabbah remained unchanged in demeanor—already aware of his awakening—while the rest of the family heads gradually began to ease, shedding their nervousness and returning to their usual confident, often arrogant, disposition.
"Now," Rothschild continued, "onto the third and final rule… or rather, a warning. Any family that breaks any of the stipulated laws—whether openly or in secret—shall be annihilated upon discovery. No exceptions."
The room fell silent for a heartbeat, then every family head nodded, a solemn agreement echoing in their expressions.
"With that out of the way," Daniel said, now standing once more, his tone turning slightly wistful, "it is time to awaken the twenty-two ancestors who remain in slumber."
Though he masked it well, a soft flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. A deep, lingering longing. He wasn't going to admit it aloud, but within his heart, he missed them—his friends. No matter how many centuries passed, time could never blur the bonds they once shared.
Of the twenty-four who once stood together as legends, twenty-three had gone on to establish families, carrying their legacies through bloodlines. Only Daniel had refrained from forming a lineage of his own, choosing instead to live in silent solitude. And as for the Austin family... they had fallen. The cause remained unknown even after so many centuries. In the end, history simply attributed their demise to the failure of leadership—an unsatisfying but accepted explanation.
One by one, the current family heads rose to their feet, each preparing to raise their long-slumbering ancestors. The air seemed to thrum with ancient power, old oaths, and memories buried deep in the earth.
---
Meanwhile…
Kate scoured the family estate, her urgency barely hidden as she searched for her father, Sabbah. She had to warn Greg—immediately. The origin of the dual blades was more complex and dangerous than she had first believed. But her search was in vain—Sabbah had already left for the high council meeting.
"Is there no way to contact Father, Sister? This is urgent!" Kate pleaded, standing before Elena, her eldest sister and acting head in Sabbah's absence.
Elena sighed, her expression conflicted but resolute. "I'm sorry, Kate. There's no method to reach him now. You'll have to give up."
Kate clenched her fists, frustration rising. "Then… can I leave for just three days? I swear I'll return."
Elena shook her head firmly. "You're asking for too much. The answer is no."
"Please," Kate insisted, her tone desperate. "This could affect everything."
"I said no," Elena snapped, her patience thinning. She turned to the shadows near her, issuing a command. "Escort her to her quarters. Make sure she doesn't leave."
From the shifting darkness, two assassins emerged, silent as phantoms. With practiced precision, they restrained Kate, though she didn't resist. Her anger simmered, but she knew better than to struggle—it would only provoke harsher consequences.
The assassins led her to her room and locked the door behind her. One remained stationed outside, guarding the only exit.
Inside, Kate paced restlessly, her mind in turmoil. She couldn't sit by and do nothing—not when so much was at stake.
Eventually, her patience snapped.
With a wave of her hand, tendrils of shadow wrapped around her, concealing her aura entirely. To fool the assassin outside, she conjured a shadow clone imbued with her spiritual essence. The clone mimicked her pacing movements and was instructed to lie on the bed after thirty minutes, as if she'd finally succumbed to frustration.
With her presence masked, she slipped from the room, her stealth surpassing even elite assassin senses—a testament to Sabbah's rigorous training. Silent as a whisper, she escaped the estate undetected, heading toward their hidden base.
---
Later…
"What did you just say?" Elena's voice dropped several degrees, her gaze sharp enough to pierce steel.
The assassin knelt, head bowed in shame. "Forgive us… but she escaped. Her current whereabouts are unknown."
"Useless fools," Elena spat, her aura flaring in fury before she calmed herself. Her fists trembled at her sides, rage barely kept in check.
She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply in an effort to suppress the storm within her. After a long moment of silence, she finally spoke.
"Disappear. All of you."
The assassins obeyed without hesitation, vanishing into the shadows.
Alone now, Elena's face darkened further. Kate's disappearance weighed heavily on her, but not just because of her escape. What truly worried her was how she would face Sabbah once he returned—and what judgment he might pass.
---
The hidden families soon concluded their discussion, each point of agreement etched into silence—the dos and don'ts laid bare with little room for error. The ancient rules had been spoken, the intentions made clear.
Daniel, who had remained seated with a quiet but intense impatience, rose to his feet the moment the last word was spoken. His expression, calm but taut with anticipation, betrayed the truth: he had waited long enough. The revival of his old friends—those bound to him by war, loyalty, and time—was something he had longed for.
Now that the formalities were over, they could finally begin.