She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother

Chapter 427: The Sacred Order

”What? You don’t believe me?” Alex teased, a playful smile on his face as he looked at Viktor.

Viktor remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.

’Did he believe Alex?’ He asked himself.

’Yes... he did.’

’How could he not?’

After everything he had witnessed... the impossible things Alex had done, the miracles he had performed... how could he doubt him?

Alex always delivered on his promises.

Viktor, who once believed he might never break through into the Apex realm, had not only reached it but had done so in an unbelievably short time.

Now, he stood at the Middle Stage of the Apex realm and could even fight against a Peak Apex cultivator.

All of this... was because of the man standing in front of him.

Slowly, Viktor lifted his head and met Alex’s gaze. His voice came out calm, but heavy with unshakable sincerity.

”I will never doubt you, sir... It’s because of you that I’m standing here alive and well. And even able to meet her again.”

Alex’s expression softened. He shook his head gently, the teasing smile fading into something warmer.

”You’re family, Viktor. Not my servant. Don’t call me sir.”

Viktor looked at him for a moment, then gave a small, respectful nod. The word family settled in his chest like a quiet warmth he rarely allowed himself to feel.

Alex studied him for another beat, then his tone shifted... curious, but edged with something more serious.

”Viktor... weren’t you part of the Sacred Order before? Tell me more about them. How powerful are they really?”

The playful atmosphere vanished instantly. Viktor’s face grew solemn, his posture straightening as the weight of the question settled between them. He turned his gaze toward the distant city lights, the wind tugging gently at his dark hair.

”The Sacred Order,” he began, voice low and measured, ”is the most powerful organization in existence... second only to the sacred families themselves.”

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

”They only listen to the elders of the sacred families. Even the heads of the families have no direct authority over them.”

Alex listened in silence, his expression attentive.

Viktor’s voice dropped further, carrying the gravity of ancient history.

”Originally, the Sacred Order was created as a single entity by the founding members of all seven sacred families. Its purpose was to maintain balance between the mortal world and the divine realm... and to prevent any one family from growing too powerful and offending the gods. It was meant to be an independent force that served the gods directly, not the families.”

He glanced out at the endless sea of lights before continuing.

”But over time, politics and power struggles between the families tore it apart. The Sacred Order fragmented into six separate branches. Now each sacred family has its own except one. They no longer work together. Instead, each one serves the god of its own family and has become the true backbone of that bloodline.”

Viktor turned his head and looked directly at Alex, his eyes steady and grave.

”Only because of the Sacred Order has there never been a large-scale rebellion or open war against the sacred families. They have always maintained the established order and kept the balance intact.”

The wind whispered between them, carrying the distant hum of the city. For a long moment, neither man spoke. The weight of those words lingered in the cool night air, heavy with implication.

Alex finally broke the silence. He turned his head slightly, brows furrowed in genuine confusion as he looked at Viktor.

”Viktor... If even the family leaders have no power over the Sacred Order, how come you were working for your family leader?”

Viktor remained quiet for a few seconds, his gaze still fixed on the glittering city below. The question seemed to pull him back into memories he rarely revisited. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, carrying a quiet trace of the past.

”I was part of the Sacred Order. That much is true,” he said. ”But only on paper.”

He glanced at Alex, his expression steady.

”After the leader of a sacred family is officially decided, the Sacred Order sends a small group of its members to serve that leader and protect them. It’s tradition. A way to show respect... and to keep an eye on things. I was one of those members.”

Alex listened carefully, his confusion slowly giving way to understanding.

Viktor continued, his tone thoughtful.

”I served directly under the family head, carried out their orders, and stood as their shadow when needed. But my true loyalty was never to the leader itself. It remained with the Sacred Order... until the day I left.”

He let out a soft breath, the wind tugging lightly at his dark hair.

”That’s how I know so much about them. And why I can say with certainty... even the most powerful family leaders still walk carefully when the Sacred Order is involved.”

Alex nodded slowly, absorbing every word. The night felt heavier now, filled with unspoken history and the quiet bond between the two men.

Alex stood in silence for a while, his gaze fixed on the endless sea of lights below. Thoughts turned in his mind, one after another, until finally he spoke.

”Viktor...” Alex’s voice was calm but serious. ”Since you abandoned not only your leader but even the Sacred Order... is it going to create any problems for you?”

Viktor listened quietly. Then, a soft chuckle escaped his lips. He turned his head and looked at Alex with a faint, knowing smile.

”Why, Alex... Are you afraid of them now?”

Alex smiled at first, the corner of his mouth lifting in amusement. But the smile slowly faded. His expression turned calm, steady, and filled with unshakable conviction.

”Afraid?” he said quietly, his voice calm yet carrying an unshakable weight. ”I’m afraid of nothing, Viktor. Not those families. Not even the Sacred Order. One day, I’ll create something that everyone will have to bow to... even the Sacred Order.”

Viktor stared at him for a long moment.

The sheer scale of Alex’s ambition hit him like a sudden gust of wind. Most men would have trembled at the mere thought of standing against the Sacred Order. Yet here was Alex, speaking as if it were only a matter of time. A man like him would never bow to anyone.

There had been countless prodigies who rose and fell over the years... talented cultivators who built their own forces, their own organizations, their own legacies.

The most noticeable figure among them was a man in the Blackwood Domain, famous for his assassin organization.

Yet none of them had ever dared to stand against the Sacred Order, not even him.

But Alex was different.

He possessed something none of them had ever possessed... resources and methods that defied the natural order of this world.

Viktor slowly nodded, respect flickering in his eyes.

”I’m not afraid of problems, Alex. In fact, I’ve been waiting for them to come.” He said, accepting the truth without hesitation.

”I’ve already noticed a few of them have entered Blackwood territory. They’re still small figures... but I’m waiting for the big fish to come.”

He paused, his gaze turning calculating. ”As for the Sacred Order... it’s still too early for them to interfere in such a small matter.”

The wind swept past them once more, carrying the distant hum of the city. Alex remained silent, but the faint smile that returned to his lips said more than words ever could.

After a brief silence, Viktor turned slightly toward Alex, his expression turning more practical.

”Well, Alex... I wanted to talk about the recruitment of new members you mentioned earlier,” Viktor said. ”I’ve already selected a few trustworthy people with good potential. But the problem is... we’re not an established group yet. People are hesitant to join an unknown organization, even if the promises sound too good.”

Alex remained quiet for a moment, his gaze still fixed on the glittering city lights below. He nodded slowly, as if he had already considered this possibility.

”Hmm... That much I expected,” he said calmly. He paused, thinking for a few seconds before continuing.

”But don’t worry about it for now. Just point out the potential people to me. Don’t approach them yet.”

Viktor gave a small nod, respecting Alex’s decision without question.

After a moment, Viktor glanced at Alex and spoke again, his tone shifting slightly.

”And one more thing...” he said. ”I think this will be a very good opportunity for us. To get what we wanted.”

Alex turned his head slightly, giving Viktor his full attention.

Viktor continued, his voice calm but carrying a hint of excitement.

”The Steele family is organizing an event... a large-scale competition with a very big prize: fifty million dollars. But this isn’t just about the money. It’s also a recruitment event. All the smaller families, and even some bigger ones, will be sending their eyes to this competition in search of good candidates. This could be a big opportunity for us.”

Alex’s lips curved into a smirk the moment he heard the name.

”Steele family?” he repeated, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. ”Very good. This will be the moment when we will show ourselves to the world.”

Viktor watched him quietly, a faint smile forming on his own face.

The night wind swept past them, as if acknowledging the weight of those words. For the first time in a long while, the path ahead no longer felt uncertain... it felt inevitable.