From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir (Leander Ashcroft) novel Chapter 395

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All eyes fixed on Leander. Some watched with glee, others with pity, but almost no one believed he stood a chance anymore.

He was only twenty, had dominated a whole province, and had even crushed the Walsh family—the strongest house in Listin. That kind of record had been dazzling.

Still, facing seven generals acting together and a joint petition from three provincial governors was like trying to stop a freight train with his bare hands.

No matter how powerful one person was, how could he withstand the weight of the nation? Logan and his allies had effectively called in the nation's authority to sanction Leander.

Not far away, the leaders of the four great families—Gareth, Teion, and the others—shook their heads, a sense of dread settling over them.

They had expected friction between Leander and the Riverstone family and had even planned to take Leander's side at this banquet. Who could have guessed the Riverstones would play such a trump card?

Even the combined strength of the four major elite families couldn't stand against the will of the nation. United or not, in front of a powerful government, they could be crushed in an instant.

"Mr. Gareth!" Dorian said, watching Gareth's distracted gaze. His voice was low and hard. "We all know Jeff is from the Ashcroft family, but he no longer owes you any loyalty. Before you decide to help him, let your family think twice."

He continued without pause. "The Riverstone family's Imperion Group has already coordinated economic pressure with three of Astria's top ten firms. We will impose sanctions on Ashcroft Group.

"If you want to help Jeff, a single word from the Riverstones will be enough to seal Ashcroft Group off completely.

"Keep your family out of this, and after matters settle, we'll lift the blockade," Dorian added.

Gareth's expression tightened; displeasure flickered across his face. He rose to his feet, icy light in his eyes.

"Dorian, are you threatening me?" he demanded. "You think your rank as a major general lets you boss me around? Leander is my son. If you want to attack him, you'll answer to me and the Ashcroft family first."

The rest of the Ashcrofts stood as Gareth had risen to his feet.

"Old Mr. Riverstone," Teion said, rising with righteous anger, "this was your feud with Mr. Ashcroft. We shouldn't have intervened, but Mr. Ashcroft fought at Southern Shore and, alone against eleven, saved every one of the four great families. That debt cannot be forgotten. Whatever else happens today, we stand with the Ashcroft family."

Jack and Wesley rose in agreement the moment Teion did.

In an instant, the four major elite families rallied to Leander's side.

Logan, Malric, and the others' faces shifted—surprise and a touch of alarm. They had not expected the four families, without exception, to support Leander.

Logan straightened, a derisive sound escaping him. "So, the four great families are willing to back Jeff. Do you really think that will matter?

"The government's judgment is already on its way. If you defy the state, go ahead and prop Jeff up—but in front of the nation, don't imagine that even all four great families together couldn't be struck down with a single decree."

Wesley and Teion's faces had gone cold. Anger boiled under their calm, but they couldn't deny that Logan was right.

Even the four great families, powerful as they were, ultimately lived under Astria's shadow. Once the government and military decided to act, they would be nothing more than dust in history.

But even so, Leander had once saved them. Gratitude left them no path of retreat.

The guests around the hall could only shake their heads. To them, the four families were being reckless—throwing away a century of family legacy for a single young man. Foolish, they thought. Absolutely foolish.

And then, the man at the center of it all—Leander—laughed softly.

"So, a joint petition, calling on the government and the military to sanction me? That's the Riverstone family's grand move?"

He shook his head, a mocking smile curling at his lips. "I must've overestimated you."

All that talk about official decrees and deportation orders meant nothing to him.

He had once assumed that a clan like the Riverstones, with two generals in their ranks, would have at least some understanding of the martial world. Now, he saw how wrong he'd been.

The Riverstones were merely another family drifting between politics and the military. Their network might be wide, but they knew nothing of true strength.