[Official Declaration of the Clark Family...]
By the authority of the Clark Family and under my own name, I, Tony Clark, issue this public statement.
Recent events have caused unnecessary misunderstanding and have brought unwanted attention and inconvenience to Young Lady Lily Frost and the esteemed Frost Family. Regardless of the circumstances, my actions have affected their reputation. For this, I offer my sincere apology.
After careful consideration, I have concluded that I am not worthy of standing beside a lady of Young Lady Lily Frost’s character and status. Therefore, I voluntarily withdraw from the marriage agreement between us.
This decision is entirely my own and bears no responsibility upon the Frost Family or Young Lady Lily Frost. I respectfully request the martial world to refrain from further speculation or criticism toward the Frost Family regarding this matter.
I sincerely wish Young Lady Lily Frost a prosperous future and pray that she finds a partner more deserving than myself.
From this day onward, the engagement between Tony Clark of the Clark Family and Lily Frost of the Frost Family shall be considered dissolved.
Issued under my personal name,
Tony Clark
[Young Master of the Clark Family]
***
The official declaration issued by the Clark Family spread across the continent like a violent hurricane.
Every martial network, merchant guild, academy notice board and intelligence organization copied the contents of the letter word for word.
Countless people gathered around communication formations, eagerly discussing the shocking announcement. Nobody had expected the Clark Family to release such a statement before the Frost Family made any public move.
More importantly, nobody had imagined that Tony Clark himself would voluntarily withdraw from the marriage while placing every bit of responsibility upon himself.
The simple apology immediately overturned countless speculations throughout the martial world.
Inside taverns, disciples began arguing loudly over cups of wine.
"See? I told you! Tony Clark realized the Frost Family was about to abandon him, so he withdrew first to save whatever face he had left."
"Exactly. If Lily Frost had publicly cancelled the engagement first, Tony would’ve become the greatest laughingstock of this generation. At least this way, he can claim he was the one who walked away." Another martial artist immediately added.
"That fellow really knows how to retreat before losing."
The discussions quickly became one-sided because nobody knew the truth. Only a handful of influential people who had personally witnessed the Frost Family envoy understood what had actually happened.
***
Meanwhile, inside the Frost Family Manor...
Silence dominated the conference hall.
Lily Frost stood in the center of the room holding the apology letter with both hands. She had already read it more than ten times, yet every sentence still felt unreal.
The hall remained unusually quiet because even the Frost Family elders could not understand how the situation had reached this point.
One elderly woman slowly sighed before breaking the silence. "Patriarch... this was never our intention."
Another elder nodded bitterly. "We only wished to pressure the Clark Family into giving us an explanation. We never expected Tony Clark to reject the marriage entirely."
Even the Frost Family Patriarch wore a complicated expression as he quietly looked toward Lily. "Daughter... what do you think?"
Lily slowly lowered the letter before speaking in an unusually calm voice. "I don’t know." She smiled bitterly. "I prepared countless replies... I imagined him apologizing... arguing... playing tricks... even shamelessly accepting every condition we proposed."
She slowly clenched the letter. "But he simply walked away. That idiot..." she muttered quietly. "Who allowed him to decide everything alone?"
For the first time since receiving the news, even Lily herself could not determine whether she was angry, disappointed, or simply frustrated that Tony had escaped every move she had carefully prepared.
"Father, I’m going to India... I need to see Tony." She declared while tearing the letter into pieces.
***
Night Time...
Clark family Estate...
One by one, the lights throughout the enormous estate went dark. Only the guards continued their routine patrols.
Deep inside his private courtyard, Tony Clark lay comfortably upon his bed, seemingly sleeping soundly.
The room remained quiet. Even the wind outside had become strangely still.
Suddenly, the window opened without making the slightest sound. A graceful figure dressed entirely in black slipped inside like a shadow. Her movements were flawless, her breathing almost nonexistent.
Within a single step she appeared beside the bed. A cold sword slowly emerged beneath the moonlight before its sharp edge gently rested against Tony’s throat.
"Wake up." The icy voice echoed softly inside the room.
Tony slowly opened one eye before lazily glancing toward the visitor. "...Princess Elsa."
He yawned. "I expected you sooner."
Elsa’s beautiful face immediately darkened. "You knew I would come?"
Tony stretched comfortably without caring about the sword touching his neck.
"I embarrassed you before the entire World Tree. I ruined your first trial. I made your tribe lose precious opportunities. I publicly opposed your ancestor." He smiled. "You’d disappoint me if you didn’t come."
Elsa tightened her grip upon the sword. "Enough nonsense... Hand over the World Tree Seeds."
Tony blinked innocently. "What seeds?"
"The World Tree Seeds."
"I don’t have them."
Elsa snorted. "You expect me to believe that?"
Tony shrugged. "You asked... I answered."
Elsa slowly leaned closer. "Tony Clark... This is your final chance. My patience is limited. I know you bargained with the World Tree Spirit. I know you came out together with the inheritor. I know something valuable remains hidden. So..."
She pressed the blade slightly harder against his neck. "...where are the seeds?"
Tony quietly looked at the sword before sighing dramatically. "You know... I thought a princess of the Demonic Sea Tribe would at least offer tea before questioning a guest."
Elsa frowned. "Stop playing tricks. Tony... I’m done listening. Hand them over."
Tony suddenly smiled. "They’re... right behind you."
Elsa rolled her eyes. "Do you seriously think I’ll fall for..."
Before she could finish speaking, the body lying beneath her sword suddenly rippled like disturbed water.
The figure dissolved. Countless blurry afterimages scattered throughout the room. The sword sliced through empty air.
Elsa’s pupils instantly contracted. "What?"
A calm voice sounded behind her. "Looking for me?"
She spun around instinctively. There stood another Tony Clark near the door, smiling leisurely with both hands behind his back.
"Heavenly Mirage Steps... Second Form: Phantom Illusion." Tony smiled.
-
Tq guys for Power-Stones!