Chapter 23: Alfox's Invitation

As the Fox family fell, the dispute that had shaken all of Eastern City finally came to an end. The families who had come to witness the drama were instantly terrified upon seeing the complete destruction of the Fox family. They quickly tried to retreat, eager to leave the villa unnoticed. However, before they could escape, they were captured by the warriors of the Martial Department under Alfox's command and brought before him. With his hands clasped behind his back, Alfox swept his gaze over the crowd and said coldly, "What happened here today must not be disclosed by anyone. Otherwise, you will face military punishment. I hope you won't bring trouble upon yourselves." After delivering the warning, Alfox turned to one of his subordinates and instructed, "Have each of them sign a top-level confidentiality agreement and assign people to monitor them closely. If anyone dares to leak what happened, they will be severely punished." Everyone's faces turned pale as they quickly assured him, "Sir, rest assured, we will definitely not reveal anything about today's events!" In their hearts, they had already decided that once they returned home, they would bury the memory of what they had seen today. Even if threatened, they would never utter a word, for fear that a slip of the tongue would land them in Saultrouge Kingdom's Martial Department prison for the rest of their lives. After ensuring the secrecy of the witnesses, Alfox approached Ruxley and said, "Mr. White, may I have a word with you?" Ruxley eyed him with indifference. "What is it?" Alfox smiled slightly, a glimmer of hope in his gaze as he asked, "Mr. White, you are a citizen of Saultrouge Kingdom, aren't you?" "That's right," Ruxley confirmed with a nod. He was indeed from the Saultrouge Kingdom, as were most of the warriors of the Shura Palace. "Mr. White, would you be interested in joining the Saultrouge Kingdom Martial Department?" Alfox asked, his eyes lighting up as he extended the invitation. His tone carried a note of anticipation. The Shura Palace was an infamous force on the battlefield, and although small in number, each member was an elite warrior. Especially the Eight Great Shura and the Thirty-Six Heavenly Fiends—each of them was a powerful fighter capable of facing entire armies alone. If Ruxley could lead the Shura Palace to join the Martial Department, their strength would increase dramatically. Ruxley raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Mr. Marsh, are you serious? The Shura Palace has enemies across Kyushu. Aren't you afraid of bringing trouble upon yourselves?" The Shura Palace had earned its reputation through bloodshed. Over the past three years, they had killed countless powerful figures. Ruxley alone had slain dozens of war gods. Nearly every major force across Kyushu held grudges against them. If the Shura Palace were to join the Saultrouge Kingdom's Martial Department, those grudges would surely transfer to the Department. Alfox, however, remained unfazed. "Rest assured, Mr. White. Since we dare to invite you to join us, we're not afraid of retaliation." He paused briefly before adding, "If you agree to join, we would even make you the fifth permanent elder of the Saultrouge Kingdom Martial Department." Ruxley's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. The position of an elder in the Martial Department was extremely prestigious, second only to the Secretary himself. Elders held significant power, including the authority to mobilize the Martial Department's war gods. Currently, only four individuals held such a position, each of them a legendary figure with immense contributions to the nation. Ruxley had not expected the Saultrouge Kingdom to offer him such a high position. After a moment of contemplation, Ruxley responded, "Mr. Marsh, I appreciate your sincere offer, but I must decline. I'm used to my freedom and don't care for being constrained. I hope you understand." While Alfox's offer was tempting, Ruxley valued his autonomy too much. His ambitions extended far beyond Saultrouge Kingdom—he aimed to conquer all of Kyushu. Even if he were offered the highest rank in the Martial Department, it wouldn't interest him. Alfox's face showed a flicker of disappointment. He sighed and said, "Since Lord White is not interested, we won't insist. However, the Martial Department and the Shura Palace have long had a good relationship. Would you consider becoming an honorary elder instead? That way, we can still collaborate in the future." "An honorary elder?" Ruxley asked, intrigued. "Yes," Alfox confirmed with a nod. "It's purely an honorary title, with no obligations. On the contrary, it comes with benefits. As an honorary elder, you'd be able to temporarily mobilize local Martial Department members, access relevant information, and operate more freely within the Saultrouge Kingdom. It would make things more convenient for you." Ruxley pondered this for a moment before nodding. "In that case, thank you, Mr. Marsh. I accept." Alfox's face brightened with delight. He quickly pulled out a token from his pocket and handed it to Ruxley. "Mr. White, this is your identity token. Should you need any assistance, simply present this token to any member of the Martial Department, and they will aid you." Ruxley inspected the token and saw that his name and title were already engraved upon it. He glanced at Alfox and chuckled, "It seems you were well-prepared, Mr. Marsh." Alfox laughed heartily. "Of course! We are sincere in our respect for you, Mr. White. And should you ever wish to change your honorary title to a permanent elder, simply say the word." Ruxley pocketed the token with a small smile. "This token suits me just fine. Thank you, Mr. Marsh." Alfox grinned and said, "You're very welcome, Mr. White. Should you need anything in the future, do not hesitate to reach out. I will do all I can to assist you." Ruxley bowed slightly. "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind." Alfox nodded in return and, with a courteous gesture, took his leave from the villa. Once Alfox had departed, Theoleon approached Ruxley with a knowing smile. "Lord, it seems the Martial Department hasn't yet realized you're the former young master of the White family." Ruxley smiled faintly. Ever since being cast out of the family by Fennick, he had taken a new name. Over the last three years, his appearance and demeanor had changed so drastically that no one in the Saultrouge Kingdom—save for those closest to him—would have recognized him.