Chapter 2183

The clan elder couldn't tell if it was an illusion. Though Benjamin didn't appear much different from what he had left, the pressure radiating from his divine soul made one inexplicably uneasy. It wasn't just the innate dominance of a Dragon Vein bloodline crushing them. There was something else layered beneath it, like a faint, ancient energy that seemed to belong to a primordial demon. The clan elder wasn't the only one who had felt it; even Louise and Reuben had. The one who had just shown open displeasure at Thalia's words instantly fell silent under the weight of that pressure. The irritation on his face vanished, and almost reflexively, he lowered his gaze before the one standing before him. At that, Benjamin toned down his energy and finally piped up, his voice deep with hints of indifference. "I agreed to whatever my mother-in-law had said. Also, I suggest you all remember your place." No one dared to speak up, nor did he care for their response. He continued, "Shannon and I have only just returned to our bodies and need rest. If there's nothing else, I suggest you guys take your leave." The clan elders were speechless. Take their leave to… where? They were of the Wynthorpe clan, staying at Wynthorpe Manor. Instead of being concerned about where the clan elders were supposed to go, Louise and Reuben were more taken aback by one thing: "My mother-in-law". If they remembered correctly, Benjamin and Shannon had never officially gotten married. If Thalia was his mother-in-law, what exactly did that make them? Like them, Hector had also raised an eyebrow at that new form of address, though he chose not to voice his curiosity. What was more important was Shannon's safe return. Seeing that the clan elders had fallen silent, Hector gestured for Shannon and Benjamin to return and rest. Then, turning to the Wynthorpe clan elders, his expression remained warm and courteous, a gentle smile gracing his face. That said, his words left no room for argument. "Shannon has been away training for the past two years and hasn't had much time at home. I'll be taking her and our mother back to the Jensen residence for some well-earned rest. "I trust that you guys are perceptive enough not to trouble her by showing up uninvited at our door." Though Hector said it with a smile, the sarcasm and warning in his words were unmistakable. If being scolded by a 400-year-old half-demon stung the elders' pride, being subtly chastised by a mere twenty-something, barely old enough to be considered a proper demon, left them feeling even more stifled. Everyone heard him loud and clear—Hector's sudden decision to bring Shannon home wasn't just out of brotherly concern but a clear statement of discontent toward the Wynthorpe clan elders. At another time, they might have had something to say about it. But right now, with Shannon potentially being the only one in the clan capable of manifesting ten tails, none dared risk offending the clan's greatest hope. Unbeknownst to them, Hector's timing was anything but coincidental. In the past, their side had been the weaker party, forced to lie low and bide their time. With the tides now shifted and the balance of power changed, it was crucial for them to display their stance. Otherwise, hesitation would only invite control. If they didn't draw the line now, Shannon would never escape being manipulated by these so-called elders, even if she did manifest her tenth tail in the future. Of course, a large part of it also came down to something even simpler—what Thalia had said was entirely on point. Hector had long been pissed when hearing what the elders had to say. Shannon wasn't important simply because she had the potential to manifest ten tails, or because she knew how to bend mystic arts to her will. She was simply important because she was her.