From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

Irene approached with a calm demeanor, entering Grandma Narda’s room in East City District under the extremely respectful gazes of those present.

Grandma Narda lay motionless on the bed, her breathing incredibly faint, like a thin thread that could disappear at any moment.

She was not ill.

She was simply old.

“Irene, Madam Irene… I envy you so much…”

A look of longing and reluctance entirely filled Narda’s face, with only a few short years having passed since she had obtained extraordinary power.

She had not experienced enough of a new life, and now it was time for her to depart!

“I envy you, Madam Irene, you can still… live for several more decades…”

Irene smiled faintly. Although she no longer feared death, Narda’s words still left her feeling wistful and subtly sorrowful.

The side effects of losing taste and smell were all too apparent.

Over the years, she had gradually felt the disadvantages of losing fear, becoming more aggressive in her actions and finding it harder to feel joy and excitement.

“Rest assured, the Lord of the Lost will protect your soul.”

“Really, truly? After death, will I really meet the great Lord of the Lost?”

Narda suddenly stared at the ceiling, asking with an exaggerated tone, her hands trembling continuously.

Clearly, Irene’s response was of great importance.

“Yes, you will.”

In truth, Irene did not know the answer to the question, as the Lord of the Lost had never truly stated whether His followers would see Him after death.

But she had always chosen to believe.

“When you meet Him before I do, please convey my gratitude and reverence to Him.”

Grandma Narda was silent for a long, long time, finally closing her eyes and letting out a breath of relief:

“So I will meet Him, that’s good.”

“…”

Irene sat quietly beside the elderly woman, confirming that she had no signs of life left.

Leaving the room, Narda’s three sons immediately looked over. Irene shook her head and they instantly burst into tears, unable to contain themselves.

Irene spoke indifferently, “Please accept my condolences. Our Lord will protect her soul.”

The eldest son, Moore Shelby, thin and short, bowed deeply with a face full of tears, saying with utmost respect:

“Thank you, Madam Irene. It’s because of your help and support that our Shelby family has been able to keep going.”

Over the years with the support of the Fischer family, Narda’s sons had fully integrated the thieves of East City, and the reputation of the Shelby family had grown greatly.

Narda’s funeral was a grand affair since several members of the Fischer family attended, making the entire town once again aware of the deep ties between the Shelby family and them.

As Narda’s funeral arrangements were being made, Moore sought out Byrne and Irene alone, still choking back sobs, but he pressed on.

“The nearly hundred thieves of East City are now completely under the control of the Shelby family, and we plan to establish a formal gang, just like the Grimm Gang in Fein City.”

The Grimm Gang had emerged in Fein City in recent years. East Coast Province had seen only bands of thieves before, and this was the first time a more tightly organized criminal gang had appeared.

Irene fell into thought, knowing that the existence of thieves in East City District was inevitable.

The poor of East City District had always been in an almost unmanaged state, and if the Shelby family helped control the frequent brawls and murders, the public security situation would be much better than it is now.

She nodded slightly, asking, “What is the name?”

Moore had already thought it over, replying, “Dagger Brotherhood, because the three of us brothers are used to using daggers, and we will also be a dagger for the Fischer family.”

He took a deep breath, assuring Irene with confidence and respect:

“Not just in East City, I promise that there will be no more unresolved murders and assaults in Nasir in the future; we will definitely do better than those useless patrols!”

“As long as you and Mr. Byrne continue to support us.”

Irene nodded again, mentioning something about the Fischer family.

“We also have something to discuss with you; perhaps Nasir Town could expand towards the south because the Fischer family is looking to establish factories.”

“Factories?”

These days, anyone slightly informed knew about factories. It was not that Moore failed to understand, but rather he was somewhat surprised.

He couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What kind of factory does the Fischer family plan to establish?”

Establishing a factory wasn’t a secret, and Irene responded calmly:

“They’ll be processing plants for pharmaceuticals and foods.”

Moore wanted to ask where the money was coming from, but decidedly shut his mouth, not inquiring further.

Nowadays, the Fischer family held Nasir Town in the palm of their hand; it was natural that they wouldn’t be short of money.

Irene continued to explain the reason behind the Fischer family’s factory establishment:

“Byrne spent a year studying at the military academy in Fein City. He observed those factories on the outskirts of the city for a long time and believes that the Fischer family could establish something similar in Nasir.”

Once the factories were successfully established, there was no doubt the Fischer family’s income level would step onto a new stage.

“I see.”

Moore suddenly understood and then pondered how the Shelby family should grasp the subsequent impact of this event.

In recent years, the population of Fein City had gradually increased, seemingly due to the emergence of factories.

Moore’s mind worked quickly. Could it be that the population of Nasir Town would also increase more and more in the future?

The more people there are in a place, the more troubles there are, and the more there is a need for “mediators.” Thinking of this, he revealed a satisfied smile.

At the end of the funeral, Irene fell into contemplation. In Grandma Narda’s final moments, her spirituality showed signs of boiling, brief yet clear.

Very strange.

Irene pondered what could have caused this phenomenon to appear.

On the Path of Divine Sacrifice, the 3rd Rank’s two key words were “proclamation” and “devotion.”

She suddenly had a realization, understanding everything.

“So that’s it. In her last moments, Grandma Narda truly became a person of complete devotion!”

To ascend the 3rd Rank of the Path of Divine Sacrifice, the discovered path was “to create devoted believers through the proclamation of the greatness of the gods.”

Finally finding the path to ascend the next step, Irene was filled with joy deep inside her heart.

While she and Byrne were riding the carriage back home, she shared her newfound knowledge with him.

“So that’s it. By proclaiming the deities, we create enough people of devotion to make spirituality boil over.”

Byrne skillfully took out paper and recorded the extremely crucial information.

The God Pantheon stairway, long and even daunting, was particularly challenging for them as forerunners, but it would be much easier for those who followed!

“Hmm, only I feel that the standards for a person of devotion are very high, not easily met.”

Irene stopped short, feeling deep inside that perhaps in the Fischer family, the only person who could be considered truly devoted was herself.

There was no doubt that ascending the next step would be difficult.

And for her to achieve ascension, the best targets would still be those who already had faith in the Lord of the Lost.

—

Karl’s incorporeal consciousness stared at the huge white vortex in the sky.

The pale blue soul gently floated upwards, gradually to be taken by the white vortex. In this world, aside from the souls of the Fischer family which would return to themselves, the ultimate destination for all others who passed away was it.

What lay behind the white vortex, he was also not yet clear.

The soul ascending belonged to Narda, and Karl suddenly discovered his own mark appearing on the soul, seemingly a proof of a person of devotion.

Strange.

He knew that after the old servant died, there was no such mark.

Karl speculated the appearance of the mark had nothing to do with the blood of the Fischer family, but instead with the level of devotion.

He was unclear whether the soul in this world would eventually be reborn.

But if Narda’s soul were to be reborn, because of the existence of that mark, Karl would naturally sense it.

He looked toward the already bewildered pale blue soul and said calmly:

“Irene did not deceive you, Narda, I truly do watch over the souls of the devoted.”

Just then, Karl’s consciousness suddenly sensed something.

Byrne’s spirituality had completely boiled over!

The first member of the Fischer family to step onto the 3rd Rank of the God Pantheon stairway was about to emerge!