"Hahahaha!"
The Hale family disciples laughed even louder.
"Yeah, where does this brat get the face to spout such nonsense?"
"Our Hale family's vault currently has millions of spirit stones. Do you think we lack those two hundred thousand?!"
"What an absolute double-standard dog!"
Knox wanted nothing more than to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.
He had come here today to borrow Daven Hale's prestige, a fox exploiting the tiger's might, intending to throw his weight around.
He never expected that because of this old geezer, he would end up subjected to such humiliation and mockery.
[Ding! The host has successfully interrupted the Chosen One's classic face-slapping scene. The Chosen One's Providence has decreased by 3,000. The host gains 6,000 Providence Points.]
Alex narrowed his eyes. A cold, piercing smile curled on his lips. When he looked at Daven Hale again, his gaze carried an extra trace of icy indifference.
This old geezer hadn't just stolen that two hundred thousand in life-saving funds back then.
Over the years, he had shamelessly demanded who knew how many spirit stones from Alex's own hands. A parasite constantly sucking the blood of the Hale family disciples.
Now, using him to suppress Knox and earn a hefty sum of Providence Points. Wringing the final bit of value out of this old bastard. Making the best use of everything.
"Alex, stealing those spirit stones back then was my fault." Daven narrowed his eyes, grinding his teeth.
"But do not forget, for better or worse, I am still your Third Uncle!"
"Do you plan to have me pay with my life for a mere two hundred thousand spirit stones...?"
Before Daven could finish, Alex flickered forward and pressed the Rakshasa Demon Umbrella firmly against his neck.
"Those were your words, not mine." Alex said indifferently.
"Me taking your life is not to compensate for two hundred thousand spirit stones."
"It is to pay for the lives of the family juniors who died of illness, died of exhaustion, and died in battle because you stole those spirit stones!"
The Hale family disciples wore expressions of absolute shock.
Was the Saint Lord actually going to place righteousness above family loyalty and execute his own kin?
Two or three seconds of shock. Then excitement erupted across their faces. One by one, they raised their arms and shouted.
"The Saint Lord is wise!"
"Kill him! Kill him!"
"Make him pay for the lives of the brothers and sisters he killed back then!"
Seeing the crowd's surging, righteous fury, Selene finally lost her composure. She furrowed her brows and stepped forward.
"Saint Lord Alex, may this Princess say a few words?"
Alex nodded. "If Princess Orchid has something to say, there is no harm in speaking."
"Reasonably speaking, as an outsider, I should not interfere in the internal affairs of your Hale family." Selene's tone turned solemn.
"However, Daven Hale is not merely a member of your Hale family."
"He is simultaneously a Grand Duke of our Heavenly Flame Dynasty."
"This Princess was ordered to accompany him on his visit back to the Hale family."
"If Saint Lord Alex kills him, this Princess will have no way to explain it to Her Majesty upon my return."
"Could I ask Saint Lord Alex to give this Princess some face and spare his life?"
A subtle smile curled at the corners of Alex's mouth.
I was just waiting for you to plead for him.
Whether a piece of trash like Daven lived or died held absolutely no value to him.
Using his miserable life to extort some top-tier treasures was far more cost-effective than simply killing him.
Rejoicing inwardly but feigning a deeply troubled expression, Alex remained silent for a long time. Finally, as if making a massive compromise, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Given Daven's sins, even dying ten thousand times would not be enough to atone for them."
"However, I cannot refuse to give Princess Orchid face."
He glanced down at Daven, trembling on his knees.
"Daven, if you want to keep your life, you must produce something capable of offsetting the crimes you committed back then."
"And I am not talking about two hundred thousand spirit stones."
"I am talking about the lives of the all the disciples who perished because you stole those spirit stones."
Daven's face turned ashen.
Having been a Duke for so many years, he had accumulated quite a bit of wealth.
If it could buy his life, he would pay any amount of spirit stones. But human lives? Did they have a specific price tag?
Alex hadn't set a clear price. He was forcing Daven to weigh it himself. If his offer was too low, he would fail to keep his life and be drowned by the public outrage of the Hale family disciples. But if his offer was too high, could he even afford the price of two thousand human lives?
Cold sweat poured down Daven's forehead. He shivered uncontrollably. He could only cast a pleading, desperate gaze toward Selene.
Selene sighed softly. She knew perfectly well that Alex's words weren't meant for Daven.
They were meant entirely for her.
The Hale family was at the peak of its power. Their financial strength was immense. They didn't lack spirit stones. What Alex wanted wasn't money. He wanted a treasure.
"Saint Lord Alex, speak plainly." Selene said calmly.
"What do you want me to produce to exchange for the Duke of Hale's life?"
"As long as I have it, I absolutely will not refuse."
"Good. Straightforward." Alex smiled faintly.
"I heard that in your early years, Princess Orchid obtained a Supreme-tier spiritual medicine called the Heavenly Heart Unregretful Orchid."
"This Heavenly Heart Unregretful Orchid can deliver the souls of the deceased and revive withered flora."
"If refined into an Unregretful Pill, it can save exactly two thousand human lives."
"Back then, Daven's greed and selfishness cost the lives of two thousand Hale family disciples."
"Using this Heavenly Heart Unregretful Orchid to offset his sins is entirely reasonable and fair."
"What do you think, Princess Orchid?"
Selene smiled helplessly and nodded. Alex's reasoning was airtight. Completely speechless. Unable to refute.
A flash of blue light glowed at her fingertips. From her spatial ring, she summoned an icy-blue orchid.
Just as Selene was about to step forward and hand the flower over to Alex, Knox suddenly used a mental transmission technique, speaking to her with frantic anxiety.
"Princess Orchid, wait!"
"You cannot give this Heavenly Heart Unregretful Orchid to Alex!"