The Absolute: Humanity's Second Chance

"My lady, the representative of the new city lord is here for a visit." A rather handsome middle-aged man bowed respectfully as he spoke.

He wore a neat black butler fit, with his platinum blonde hair neatly combed back, and his similar colored mustache brushed carefully. His blue eyes stoic and emotionless.

"Is that so..." A beautiful woman responded to him. She wore a purple dress, that tightly held onto her figure, illustrating her charm.

Her long slick caramel brown hair being a sign of her lineage. While her dark purple eyes staring above, reflected no emotions within as she continued her words, "The rumors were true, it seems... the new city lord really is going about unrestrained."

Her eyes moved from staring at the ceiling, as they maneuvered towards the middle-aged man standing at the door, "Tell me Frank. What do you think? What is the young city lord up too?"

She inquired, her voice intoxicating. Her eyes were naturally alluring, as if they attracted the desire to conquer from men and women alike. But her voice? It was extraordinary charming.

"..."

The middle-aged man did not say anything in response. But the lady did not seem bothered by that. Not one bit, as she responded to her own questions.

"Is he perhaps using threats? Or attracting aid? Creating factions? Or perhaps, trying to get to know his people? I wonder..." She spoke to herself, her body still rooted onto her couch.

She did not seem to have the intention to go out and meet the city lord's representative. Nor did any of her siblings feel the need to do the same.

Their elders were mostly not within the territory at this time. And even if they were, this was not their responsibility.

It was hers. And she planned on not standing up to her position. "Since their visit is sudden, why don't you let them know that I am busy? From rumors, they won't spend more than two hours per visit."

"A sign they are rushed. They probably want to cover all households within the shortest time period... So Frank, let her know I'll be a bit late." She concluded.

"...Yes, my lady." The middle-aged man, who knew his name to be Owen, nodded at her words, unbothered to correct her. He was not called Frank. He doesn't know such a person.

"If I stall for two hours, they'll probably leave." She added, watching Owen leave her personal study with a stoic expression.

Once he was gone, she sighed, set her gaze back onto the ceiling.

Silence then descended within the room, and only her faint breathing could be heard. Her dark purple gaze so deep, she seemed to be able to see through the ceiling.

Meanwhile, back to Ninth, the mature lady that guided her towards this lounge, returned about ten minutes later, as she respectfully bowed in apology. "Our apologies, miss representative. The young miss of the household was unaware of the visit."

"Thus due to our lack of information gathering, we apologize, as we will have to untimely waste a bit more of your time. The young miss is currently preparing herself, and will be in your care soon enough. We beg for your understanding." She swiftly said.

Her head still lowered as she spoke, with Ninth nodding her word with a curt, "Mhm." As a response from her side.

"Thank you for your grace." The headmaid stood back up, and nodded at the other servants within the room. They quickly began preparing to serve Ninth something in the meantime.

Tea and biscuits would be ideal.

The servants quickly went to it, as she respectfully nodded once more at Ninth, before taking her leave.

"..."

All the while, Ninth did not have a change of expression. Her gaze was poker, and her expression null.

Five minutes later, she was served with a tray full of snacks. Snacks of all kinds, those sweet, those a bit bitter, those sweet and bitter.

And alongside that was a cup of tea.

And further away, more water was being boiled in case she wanted more.

Ninth silently appraised everyone's actions, and quickly came to the conclusion that they were planning on stalling for time. And not just for a couple of minutes too.

'If they had the intentions of meeting me, one cup is more than enough.' She thought to herself, as normally, ten minutes were more than enough to finish up a cup of tea.

Yet they were boiling more?

She let out a light sigh, as she dined on her food. As for poisoning? She did not believe they dared. Plus, her trained intuition hasn't blared any alarms of sort to her.

So she dug in.

And seven minutes later, she finished up her tea, and most of the snacks prepared for her.

And seeing this, one of the maid servants came forward and curtly bowed her head, "Miss representative, would you like a refill?" She softly inquired.

"Yes, please." Ninth responded, and the maid servant quickly did so. She fetched a small tray carrying a white pot. She then held the pot and poured tea into her cup.

"Here you are, miss." The maid servant retreated with yet another bow, and Ninth, "Thank you." Thanked her for the service.

Her manners rivaling those of noble ladies. After all, the Gray House took serious its status. All members had expert experience to serving others, and being served.

It was required for their proffession.

And Ninth, truly liked such stuff. Damien and Sixth went through a lot to get her proper teachers. She could perfectly play the role of a princess, let alone a noble lady.

Five more minutes flashed by as she was submerged within her thoughts. Her snacks were finished by now, and she had refused more.

She was not one to waste food. Especially when she remembered what she and Sixth went through before their adoption. The value of food was engraved within her being.

Thus she chose not to bother them.

"..."

She apathetically stared into her cup that was almost empty. Only a third of its contents were left, 'Three more minutes, and I'll make my move. That should be enough to finish this up... thank you for the meal.'

Her thoughts continued, as she continued to sip into her tea. And as she did so, a suppressed presence of desolation subtly sipped out of her small being.

Every sip she took from her cup, the world around her took a sip out of her being, as a wild sense of oppression spread to everyone within the room.

Unaware, the maid servants first felt uncomfortable, then groggy, their thoughts were everywhere. Then, a moment later, their world became dark.

"..."

And they collapsed.

Each and every one of them collapsed down, not knowing what happened to them. In just a couple of seconds, they were promptly put down.

And the ever silent Ninth, continued drinking her tea. And as she did, her presence spread out to cover more of the noble household she visited. The presence of a Grandmaster.

No. Not just a Grandmaster, but someone close to shedding through that realm.

In just a minute or two, her presence covered the whole of the mansion. And everyone, be it those in the First League or Second League, felt a sudden wave of pressure assault them.

Let alone those below that, who immediately fainted. Those in the First League felt it difficult to breathe, move or even think, depending on how low their realm was.

While those in the Second League, Masters felt as if they were submerged within quicksand. Moving was possible, yet difficult.

Great Masters felt a bit lightheaded, but overally alright. Meanwhile, the only two Grandmasters available...

"Hmm... It seems we have angered our little representative." The noble lady wearing a dark purple dress commented to herself, as if the matter was unrelated to her.

"..."

Meanwhile, Owen, sighed to himself.

He was unaffected by the aura of yet another Grand Master bearing down on him. But just this little experience, told him of their chances of winning if they fought.

Less than 30%.

And that was when both of them, himself and the lady before him, attacked at the same time. Otherwise, one on one...

"..."

He did not say anything, and just waited for his madam to make a decision. What will she do, now that she's already poked the hornet's nest.

"...Oh well, might as well meet them." She thought, already uplifting herself from her couch. "And if I'm going to entertain the city lord, might as well benefit more from it."

She added, taking her leave.

"..."

Owen sighed to himself, as he chose to follow after her. Being special born children must be nice. They were at the same realm, yet he still felt at a disadvantage against this lass.

If Damien had limitless potential, and inhuman strength as a special born child, while Loptr was a living vault of misfortune... then what of her?

She was known as Cecilia Windsor, the wisdom personified, and one of the many underworld "deities". Powerful beings who had the underworld stressing about their existence.

Though not one of the important influential underworld figures, but if you included her two brothers born with her too?

All three were quite a terrific force.