Summoners War: Only I Summoned Divine Beasts

Chapter 944: Abolishing the Tradition

They had heard the patriarch, who had all the potential in the world to stand toe-to-toe against the likes of the sword saint or the sage. They admired him, but at the same time, they pitied Selena for losing her father.

However, it might not be needed anymore. After all, that person had returned.

”Itʼs been 12 years since I last sat on this chair. I hope you have been alright, elders…” Count Ashton greeted them with casual words, but for some reason, the elders could feel nothing but fear.

They knew Count Ashton was holding a grudge. In the end, even if they didnʼt do anything to Selena specifically, they still didnʼt help her.

”Weʼre pleased to have you return, Patriarch.” Some elders lowered their heads immediately, not daring to fight the patriarch. Even if they were going to be punished, it shouldnʼt be too big since the Ashton family couldnʼt do much without the elders supporting it.

Count Ashton looked down before saying, ”I have seen a lot of familiar faces who have grown older. There are a lot of unfamiliar faces as well…”

For those who hadnʼt seen Count Ashton, it wouldnʼt be weird for them to question it, but they simply couldnʼt speak because of Draculaʼs suppression.

They were simply too scared to speak.

Count Ashton glanced at Jacob before nodding his head.

Receiving his order, Jacob announced, ”With the return of Count Ashton, my job here is officially over. I shall report back to the royal family and return to the main office within seven days. I now return the full authority of the Ashton family to Count Luke Ashton.”

With this announcement, Count Ashton regained the control he previously had. But this time, he didnʼt plan to play with their rule.

He couldnʼt fight them in the past because what he did was considered off from the familyʼs policy. However, as he mentioned previously, just allowing them to have one female vampire progenitor alone was enough.

With the proof right in front of their eyes, he could finally change the stupid tradition that had been plaguing this family.

Count Ashton stated, ”Now that the full authority of the Ashton family returns to my hand, I will now give you an order as the patriarch of the Ashton family.”

”!!!” It was surprising to do this, especially since Count Ashton had been missing for 12 years. He should have learned about everything first before making such a decision.

But all of them instinctively knew what he wanted to say. In fact, some elders already got an idea of what was going to happen the moment Selena returned here, especially with that female vampire.

Count Ashton declared, ”From this point onward, I will abolish the familyʼs tradition and create a new rule. Whether you are the male heir or the female heir, you will now be treated as an equal. Effective immediately.”

”!!!” This was huge. They had been following this tradition for at least four hundred years since there was no point in wasting their resources on the female heir who didnʼt have the chance to summon a vampire progenitor.

However, for the female heir, it was something they should celebrate. In the past, they were just a political tool for marriage, but with this new rule, they could aim for their own dream.

It was as if Count Ashton liberated them from the oppression they had felt this whole time.

Still, making such a huge decision would definitely receive backlash from the seven elders.

Yet, to everyoneʼs surprise, two elders stood up and announced almost at the same time.

”Patriarch is wise. Glory for the Ashton family!”

”Iʼll follow the will of the patriarch and support the patriarchʼs decision!”

”!!!” Instead of objection, two elders actually gave their support. And they were even faster than the ones who would voice their objection.

”Patriarch. If I may be so bold as to speak, may I witness the evidence to support your decision?” One elder stood up and asked boldly. His eyes were clear, as though he just wanted to see the proof of whether he could support the decision or not.

Count Ashton wasnʼt angry. He simply turned to Lilith and nodded at her, as if asking her to show her strength.

”You may summon your strongest familiar.” Lilith gave the permission with a clear voice.

Everyone couldnʼt help but raise their head, wondering what she was planning to do.

The elder hesitated for a moment before summoning a royal vampire to his possession.

But that royal vampire was shaking almost immediately, his eyes staring at Lilith.

”I told you to summon your strongest vampire!” Lilith stated.

For the onlookers, it would look like Lilith didnʼt do anything. But all the elders could see the trace of divinity. They didnʼt know what the divinity was, but they knew there was a force that allowed her to suppress the royal vampire.

This was undeniable proof that Lilith was a vampire progenitor.

The elder hurriedly recalled his familiar and said out loud, ”Please cease your anger, Your Grace. I have been rude in asking you to show your power. I, Rickson, have seen everything and am ready to serve. I support the patriarchʼs decision!”

This was a bold declaration, because this elder had just proven that Lilith was a vampire progenitor in front of everyone. If anyone refused to believe, it was the same as not recognizing the rule of the Ashton family… the rule where they held the vampire progenitors in the highest regard.

Because of that statement, another elder seemed to have made a decision. ”Iʼll support the patriarchʼs decision.”

With four elders giving their permission, this should be enough to remove the tradition. But if that was the case, it would mean Selena would return as an heir. The three elders who desired that position couldnʼt accept it right away.

One of them seemed to have realized he had already been defeated even before the battle even began.

But another elder couldnʼt help but voice his frustration within his objection.

”But Patriarch, this is the tradition that has been ingrained in our family for over 400 years. I can support your decision, but removing the tradition—!”

Before he could finish his words, he widened his eyes and looked down, seeing a huge hole in his stomach.

Meanwhile, Count Ashton was simply pointing his finger at him. He… killed him.