Chapter Seventy-Fifth: Balzac's Choice

  "Ah, come in." Gaiya responded casually to Marlan. Liu Yu, who was standing beside him, felt a little puzzled in his heart. Why did Marlan ask to see Gaiya at this time? The big battle had already ended, and the 10th Division would soon return to the Blood Refining Camp to continue developing the Desa Mountains. Marlan's direct superior was also Tolomei, he had no reason to find his father.

  A golden-robed Marlan, dressed in the formal attire of the Bimont tribe, had already entered the military tent. Liu Yu was even more surprised when he saw his clothes. The three-color formal dress of the Bimont tribe, except for military officers above the rank of lieutenant and elders, these high-ranking officials of the kingdom would wear them on normal days.

  Like Malan, this kind of junior officer and ordinary soldier usually wears black robes or black armor. Their formal attire is only worn on very solemn occasions, such as the Beast God Festival or family gatherings. Today was just a simple celebration, but he didn't see Bi Meng wearing his formal attire strolling around the camp.

  "There's a problem." Liu Yu stood beside Ge Ya with his hands tied behind his back as soon as he entered the military tent in Malan, muttering to himself.

  "Anything?" Gaia, who was originally half-reclining on the ground mat, immediately straightened up and sat cross-legged. After slightly adjusting her expression, she asked Ma Lan faintly.

  "On behalf of my father and two uncles, I have been entrusted to report a matter to the Grand General." Ma Lan bowed his head with a respectful expression, answering Gaiya's question in an extremely humble tone, completely devoid of the arrogance Liu Yu had seen in the Desa Mountains.

  "Oh, your father and uncle. Those old folks are quite a bit older than me, they had already served in the army when I enlisted, and later we met a few times, what's going on?" Gaiya said casually, clearly he didn't have much impression or relationship with Malan's father and uncle.

  "I, Marlan Peragu, on behalf of the contemporary head of the Peragu clan, offer a gift to you and the Weilin family." After Gaya finished speaking, Marlan suddenly knelt down on one knee, calmly took out from his bosom a delicate red wooden box about ten inches long and four or five inches wide, with intricate gold patterns engraved on its surface, and held it above his head with both hands.

  "Hmm" Marlan's action made Liu Yu and Gaiya both stunned for a moment, but Gaiya was the first to react, using his eyes to signal Liu Yu to take the thing from Marlan's hand. Still in doubt, Liu Yu hastily took the red wooden box that Marlan had been holding over her head.

  Liu Yu bowed his head and opened the wooden box in front of Ge Ya, which was decorated with golden silk. A half-foot-long, inch-thick, three-to-four-inch-wide, glossy black token lay quietly inside the wooden box.

  Liu Yu reached out and took the token from the wooden box, and as soon as he did, he felt a strange chill spreading from the token to his palm, and then rapidly throughout his entire body. Liu Yu was shivering with cold.

  On the obverse of the token are engraved six dignified golden beast tribe characters, "Bimon tribe, Balagru".

  "Family crest." Seeing these few beast tribe characters, Liu Yu's heart was shocked. Before he could say anything, Gaia somehow took the token into his hand.

  Liu Yu quickly recalled the information about the family token, which was a token jointly created by the Council of Elders and various families using a rare underground mineral called "Dark Stone".

  Each family has two such tokens, usually one held by the head of the family and the other by the deputy head who is also the designated future head.

  In every Baimon family, the family crest is a symbol of family inheritance, honor, rights and responsibilities. Such things are generally carefully kept by each family and outsiders can't see it at all.

  "What identity are you, Marlan Balrog?" After glancing at the family emblem in his hand, Gaea stood up after a moment of silence. He held the emblem with his right hand facing Marlan, his eyes staring straight at him with a serious and solemn expression, saying word by word.

  "I, Marlan Peragu, am the only son of Stei Peragu, the current head of the Peragu family and the young master of the Peragu family." Marlan's hands were propped on the ground as he maintained a single-knee kneeling posture, his head held high as he gazed directly at Gaia with a serious expression.

  "What is the meaning of you presenting your family crest, Marlan Peragu?" Gaea asked again with an unchanged expression.

  "I have been entrusted by the clan elder to present our family token and propose a 'Mongrua' pact with the Weilin family." When Malan spoke the word "Mongrua", Liu Yu, who had been listening intently, showed a variety of expressions on his face, including surprise, delight, and puzzlement.

  "Mon'ruua" is a word that has been passed down from the time of the Mongol Empire, meaning subordination, mutual assistance, and advancing or retreating together. The Horde has always been a hierarchical society, although they did not explicitly divide all members into different levels, level differences have always existed.

  When a small family at the bottom of the Baiman tribe has the intention to attach itself to a large family, it will offer its own family token to the large family and request to conclude the "Mongrua" agreement.

  Once the "Mongrua" agreement is concluded, the two families are in a legitimate dependent relationship, and the large family in a strong position has an obligation to take care of the interests of the small family. The small family will become a vassal of the large family in the form of a house minister, and must stand on the side of the dependent family in domestic affairs, cheering for this family.

  The conclusion of the "Monruya" pact is a very solemn process. The two families will inevitably have some contact first, and then on the second day of the Beast God Festival, in the Beast God Temple, the Beast God will witness the two families making a pact, and each time the pact is made, it is also unified for fifty years.

  Fifty years later, if a weak family does not intend to continue the contract, they can request the return of the family crest and regain their freedom.

  "Alright, I, Gaia Weylin, as the only son of the current head of the Weylin family and the young master, represent the Weylin family to accept the 'Mongrua' from the Balaguo family. Everything will be decided by the two heads after returning to the Earthfire Fortress." As Marlan said "Mongrua", Gaia took a step forward and knelt on one knee facing Marlan.

  The Bei Mongols still advocated for equality between families, so when accepting the proposal of the Mong Ru Ya, they also had to kneel on one knee to show respect.

  Gaiya and Marlan stood up at the same time, Gaiya handed over the "Family Token" of the Balrog family to Liu Yu with a smile on his face, looking at Marlan with a gentle expression, he was more than ten years older than Marlan and could be considered as half an elder.

  "Give your father my regards, and tell him I'll visit his household after I return to the Fire Fortress." Gaia said warmly to Marlan.

  "I will definitely bring your words to Father." Marlan bowed his head and retreated with a still respectful face. After that, Gaia chatted with Marlan for a few more sentences before Marlan bowed and took his leave.

  "'Montroy's pact', why would the Paragu family choose us at this time." Marlan left the military account, and Gaya's smile on his face disappeared immediately, and he muttered to himself with a puzzled expression.

  "Father, isn't this a good opportunity now! If we wait any longer, it will be too late." Liu Yu behind Gaiya took out the token from the wooden box and looked at the golden emblem of Baimon on the back of the token, saying with a smile.

  "You little scamp has always been very clever, think of something and let's hear it." Gaia sat back down on the ground mat, smiling as she asked Liu Yu.

  "Father, you have just led the kingdom to a great victory over the Farnod Empire, and are hailed as a hero throughout the land. In terms of prestige, who in the kingdom can compare with you? A few years from now, when it's time for you and Kayne to contend for the throne, won't the situation be unfavorable for us?" Liu Yu stroked the cold "Darkstone" material token, feeling a chill run through his heart.

  "Oh, I see." Gaiya looked disappointed upon hearing Liu Yu's words, seemingly unsatisfied with his response.

  "If that's all you can think of, then I'm disappointed in you. This is something even Mondo would know." Gaia said calmly, with a hint of reproach in her words.

  "Heh heh, Father, I didn't say that was the only reason." Liu Yu smiled carelessly after hearing Gaiya's words. He carefully placed the family crest into a wooden box, this precious thing couldn't have any accidents.

  The next update will be a bit later.