Chapter 179: The Big Four

"Who are they?" Nyx turned to her grandpa, eager to know what would make him react like this. Her grandfather was mostly a calm, easy-going person. There had only been two times Nyx had witnessed him being angry.

The encounter with Kron and Hendrix.

Nyx knew the reason for his anger then... but what was the reason this time?

Because everyone was speaking at the same time, it was very hard to make out who was speaking. She only heard a few people mention the term "Big Four" from time to time, but that was too vague.

After a while, the thick bloodlust that was emitted from Nathan gradually subsided, clarity returning to his eyes as he briefly glanced at his granddaughter and said in a tone filled with undisguised disdain:

"Those are the four most powerful noble families... they're also known as the four biggest scums." His face darkened as he added the last part in a lower tone, hate evident in his voice.

Despite his effort to prevent Nyx from hearing, she still clearly heard. The hate was heavy in his voice, and the raven-haired girl was forced to look at the carriage once more.

As if on cue, before Nathan could speak, someone close to Nyx spoke.

"House Velarius," whispered a well-dressed woman, her eyes fixed on the carriage embellished with a golden sunburst crest. "They always make a grand entrance."

"House Silver," murmured another, nodding towards the carriage draped in deep hues of midnight blue, decorated with silver moon motifs. "They're known for their mysterious ways and ancient knowledge."

"House Ironcrest," chimed in a man, pointing to the carriage adorned with intricate patterns resembling gears and swords. "Their wealth and technological advancements are unmatched." Searᴄh the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"And House Duskwood," added a nobleman, gesturing towards the carriage adorned with pristine white stones and a flowing river emblem. "The bastion of justice and cultural refinement."

Nyx briefly glanced at the people speaking and noticed they were telling their clueless children about the Big Four. Like her, most children didn't know about them, so they turned to their parents for answers.

As the carriages finally came to a halt, various knights rushed to attend to the occupants. From House Velarius, a tall, dignified figure with dark hair streaked with strands of grey emerged from the carriage. His piercing grey eyes seemed to hold a lifetime of wisdom and diplomacy.

This man was none other than Lord Alaric Velarius, the chief treasurer of the kingdom. He was clad in robes of gold and crimson, embroidered with symbols of the sun and sky, exuding a regal air that commanded respect. Around his neck hung a pendant with a plain design.

However, this pendant was rumored to contain a fragment of a fallen star.

Of course, not many believed this as it had never been confirmed.

Beside him was a young girl who seemed to be the same age as Nyx and Nox. She was Lady Elowen, dressed in a long, flowing deep blue gown.

From House Ironcrest, a short man with a large stomach stepped out with braided hair. His attire, a blend of sturdy fabrics and refined craftsmanship, bore subtle motifs of gears and swords. Despite his large stomach, his gaze was sharp and calculating. In his arm, a gauntlet adorned with intricate mechanisms gleamed.

This man was Lord Cedric Ironcrest! The Ironcrest family was famous for their blacksmithing. From selling their products to foreign nations, they had earned millions of gold coins.

The third noble that came out was from House Duskwood. A beautiful woman emerged with ethereal grace, her attire in midnight blues and shimmering silver threads that seemed to capture and reflect the light around her. Her dark hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders, adorned with delicate crystals that glinted softly.

Eyes of deep amethyst gazed out from beneath a hood and she carried an ornate staff adorned with runes.

This woman was Lady Seraphina Duskwood. Not only did her family boast the most powerful mages in the Vermilion Kingdom, but she was also the guild leader of Duskwood Guild, a Gold-Ranked guild and one of the top five strongest guilds in the Vermilion Kingdom.

The last was none other than Lucas Silver. With his silver-white hair and piercing blue eyes, he was as intimidating as ever. There was no knight beside him; instead, the one standing behind him was a blindfolded man with long silvery hair.

No one really knew what role the Silver family played in the kingdom, but they were among the top three most powerful, wealthy, and influential families in the Vermilion Kingdom.

They were also known as the most isolated and secretive family. Unlike the other families, no one knew how the Silver family operated.

Because of the status of the big four, no one present was foolish enough to stand in their way. They all moved to the side, making a clear path for the Big Four to pass by, their knights looming menacingly behind them. Although they were not obligated to bow their heads as they did to the Royal Family, the crowd subconsciously lowered theirs.

Most of those outside were merely commoners. In the past, a commoner had simply bumped into a noble, and their legs were cut off. As usual, the king did nothing about it. Ever since then, the commoners always showed great respect to any noble they came across.

Click! Click!

The once rowdy gathering was now as silent as a graveyard, only the clicking of the nobles' footsteps echoed throughout the surroundings. Time seemed to slow, and most present appeared to hold their breath. These nobles were known for coming up with the pettiest reasons to make a commoner's life miserable.

It wouldn't come as a surprise if they beat up a commoner for tainting the air.

Hence, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Hmmm." Lucas Silver suddenly came to a stop, his eyes scanning the crowd, making the people in the direction of his gaze nervous, their heartbeats accelerating.

Lucas's gaze continued to roam through the surroundings before it settled on the old man and the little girl standing beside a powerful wyvern emitting the aura of a King-tier Beast.

Those people were standing straight and looking ahead as if the nobles were not present in the gathering.

Then Lucas started approaching Nathan, and at that moment, the onlookers glanced at Nathan with a pitiful gaze, silently offering a prayer for the old man.