From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

The Fischer family had endured the scorn and disdain of everyone, and the reason was actually quite simple.

During the most difficult times of the war, they hid in the rear, massively producing military supplies, continuously expanding production, and ceaselessly profiteering from the war.

While all other East Coast noble families were fighting and dying on the front lines, some families even being annihilated, the Fischers were still eating their fill, to the envy and irritation of many.

In such circumstances, trying to argue that “logistics are also part of the division of labor” would be meaningless.

Besides, the families were not united as one, and the profits the Fischers made did not go into the national treasury but into their own pockets instead.

It wasn’t until the war was nearing its end and victory was on the horizon that they finally went to the front lines.

According to the Eagle clan, the Fischers were just there to reap the fruits of victory, and when it came time to reward military achievements, they would surely snatch many honors from other families.

Now, it wasn’t just the enemy families, but even those that were neutral held the Fischers in contempt, privately considering them to be utterly shameless.

Byrne, after learning the situation from people of the Lion clan, explained it to Irene, shaking his head:

“According to them, our family does seem to have gone too far. Besides nicknames like ‘vampires’, ‘cowardly fishermen’, our family has now gotten a new nickname.”

Irene frowned and immediately asked:

“What nickname?”

Byrne’s expression was strange as he shook his head again and said:

“East Coast Big Squirrel!”

Irene was stunned for a moment before she realized what it meant; a squirrel was better than a rat, after all.

There’s a type of large squirrel very common in the East Coast area; they are adept at stealing fruit from the farmers, skilled thieves. When farmers are busy with the harvest, the big squirrels move in, seizing the opportunity to pick the fruits.

Byrne let out a sigh, saying, “Actually, it’s quite fitting, but let’s not care too much about public opinion. After all, we’ve already made a lot of money. Being scolded is a small price to pay.”

After thinking for a while, Irene suddenly asked, “Why doesn’t the Lion clan help explain for us? Why would they let their ally’s reputation worsen like this? Didn’t you say they value us a lot?”

Byrne fell into thought, and after a long while, said:

“They probably don’t see anything wrong with this situation. The worse our relations with other families, the more we will have to rely on the Lion clan.”

Irene was slightly taken aback but soon understood the rationale.

On this island, many indigenous slaves still existed. Even though the slave system was officially abolished, the Cyart people still considered the White Sea islanders as slaves without any hesitation, and the Priests of the Church raised no objections.

Moreover, there was a particularly cruel “scenery” on the island, where many indigenous bodies were strung along one side of the island with long ropes, their deaths tragic.

They were Sea God followers who were caught, men and women, old and young, most of whom starved to death here.

Byrne felt very uncomfortable after seeing the “scenery”; many children had no choice as they were born into the Sea God Cult.

Irene stood nearby, calmly saying, “Don’t forget about Erik.”

Upon hearing this, Byrne quickly remembered how Erik lost his father to an attack by the Sea God Cult.

The number of people in Nasir Town who initially died from the attacks was in the thousands; he had no right to sympathize with the followers of the Sea God Cult.

Moreover, when the Kesse family was annihilated, though he did not participate directly, he had tacitly allowed the killing of children.

“Yes,” his gaze growing even firmer.

In the military camp’s conference hall on the island, there were officers of the Cyart Royal Army, Priests from the Tempest Church, and key members of the East Coast noble families.

The Cyart Royal Family, emulating the Lorne citizens’ military reforms, had had the private armies of various noble families gradually transition to become part of the Cyart Royal Army, with regular military organization.

However, they were still privately owned by the Extraordinary nobility, not directly controlled by the Royal Family.

Byrne arrived in the conference hall and listened silently to the conversations of the adults.

The Tempest Bishop, reeking of alcohol, was also present, his face cold. He was a central figure in the war, followed by Assistant Priest Zayne, Viscount Bast, and Viscount Zavier.

As for Earl Hovern, the East Coast Governor, he did not come overseas.

Byrne had always found it strange why Earl Hovern from the Hovern family, whose main territories were in other provinces, was appointed by the Royal Family as the East Coast Governor.

“Bad news, Byrne.”

The person who suddenly came to speak to Byrne was Lieutenant Colonel Abel, the younger brother of Viscount Bast.

“It’s said that the Hovern family plans to replace the current town chief of Nasir Town and hand over that land to another viscount from within their family.”

“How the new viscount will treat the Fischer family is uncertain; they might confiscate the factory and then drive you out to Ourde.”

Byrne’s face changed dramatically, and he fell into deep thought.

They had finally been noticed by those above.

For years, Nasir Town, under the management of the Fischer family, had been dutifully paying taxes to the mentally deranged Baron Hovern.

And as Baron Hovern’s branch watched the tax revenue, along with the substantial private bribes, continue to increase, they allowed the Fischer family to grow stronger, a state of mutually beneficial relations.

However, even though the relationship at the grassroots level was friendly, it seemed that Earl Hovern, the governor of the East Coast and the head of the Hovern family, had finally started to consider targeting the Fischer family as part of his political calculations.

Since the rapidly developing Fischer family had become loyal supporters of the Lion clan in recent years, Earl Hovern, who supported the Eagle clan, would not want them to have an easy time going forward.

Firstly, they were specifically named to join the battle, and secondly, another family member was sent to manage Nasir Town. What’s more, it was uncertain what else Earl Hovern had planned.

Byrne immediately expressed his gratitude with sincerity, “This is big trouble, thank you for informing me, Mr. Abel.”

Lieutenant Colonel Abel pondered for a while and said,

“Your family’s properties are mostly in Nasir Town, which is indeed troublesome. Perhaps you could move the factories to Ourde Village beforehand, to prevent them from finding an excuse to seize them.”

Moving a factory was not an easy task, and Ourde was not at all suitable for establishing factories.

It was apparent that this officer had no understanding of these matters, making Byrne unsure how to respond.

In the past, the Fischer family was too insignificant for the high and mighty East Coast governor to even remember the existence of Fischer, but in recent years, their family had gradually become famous on the East Coast.

And being famous was not always a good thing, especially for the weak.

During the war, the Fischer family’s wealth rapidly increased each year through military supply orders. Although they were still far from comparing with the viscount families due to their shorter accumulation of wealth, they were already one of the leading baronial families.

There was no doubt that wealth was the root of envy.

Days later, half of the warships set out under the bishop’s orders, heading for an island occupied by followers of the Sea God.

The Fischer family was also in the lineup, cruising on a cruiser as the vanguard.

It was the first time the Fischer family was truly on the battlefield, and everyone was very tense, with serious expressions on their faces.

But things turned out to be much easier than expected. Perhaps because the target was not strong enough, or maybe because the war had entered its final stages, the followers of the Sea God on the island put up almost no resistance and surrendered quickly.

However, several of the surrendered Extraordinary Exponents of the Sea God Cult were taken away and then transformed into stone statues by “Iron Blood” Viscount Oder, an ally of the Lion clan, using powerful transformation magic, and were destroyed and killed.

A brutal massacre began.

The deep-seated animal instincts within blood were provoked, and the Cyart people who landed on the island turned into demons, looting everything visible without hesitation, killing and raping wildly.

The members of the Fischer family were completely shocked; these soldiers who had fought for years on the battlefield were fundamentally different from them!

They could recklessly abandon all morals without hesitation and do everything they were capable of.

Because there were no rules here to punish wicked acts!

Aaron, consumed by greed, couldn’t restrain himself and shouted, “Let’s loot too, or we’ll be too late!”

Knight Verne, Aaron, his deputy, and many family soldiers were all restless.

The core members of the Fischer family all looked toward the family head, Byrne.

Byrne was silent for a moment, then resolutely said,

“Take anything of value, attack immediately anyone armed or Extraordinary among the island natives, but don’t kill those who offer no resistance, and absolutely do not assault women.”

“Such hypocrisy!”

Aaron couldn’t help but sneer, even mumbling to himself, while the other members of the Fischer family had varied thoughts on the matter.

Chris, Irene, and Theo were indifferent, while the two silver descendants and Knight Verne were quite discontented.

Byrne couldn’t help but frown, but he soon saw approving looks from Erik and Archibald as well as the Abbot siblings.

The sister from the Abbot family said cheerfully, “The Lord of Salvation will surely praise your actions.”

Hearing this, Byrne couldn’t help but reflect; the Lord of Salvation would definitely not look kindly upon heretics.

Erik, Archibald, the Abbot siblings… If he had just issued an order for wanton conduct, dissatisfaction might have arisen in their hearts.

And if Vanessa were here, she might not be able to tolerate it and secretly act to prevent other Cyart people’s outrages.

He suddenly had an epiphany.

As a family grew larger, people with a variety of ideas and beliefs inevitably became more numerous, and the family head was like an invisible scale of faith, with the beliefs of each important member adding weight to both sides of the scale, ultimately determining the path the Fischer family would take into the future.