Grote fell to his knees upon hearing those words, trembling from head to toe. "This was all Dorrah''s idea, Lord Babbit! I had nothing to do with it! Please spare my life!"


    "Take your men and get lost."


    "Thank you, Lord Babbit!"


    Grote waved a hand and left with the Hilton family cultivators. Mike was red in the face by then, and Babbit leered at him coldly. "Dorrah sure was a lucky man to get his hands on a talisman creator. Your name''s Mike, isn''t it? Well, let me ask you now. Are you willing to pledge your loyalty to me and join the Reyne family as one of my soldiers? Blink twice if it''s a yes."


    Mike scrambled to blink twice quickly. While he was loyal to Dorrah, Dorrah was no longer alive for him to stay loyal to. Mike had no support, and Babbit could kill him at any moment.


    "Very well."


    Babbit loosened his grasp, and Mike fell to the ground as he gasped for air. "I swear to remain loyal to you, Lord Babbit!"


    "That''s good to hear. You''re pretty powerful, Mike. I''m interested in exploring that strength of yours."


    Babbit looked around and announced, "I''ll spare any cultivators from the Chris family who surrender now."


    The dozens of cultivators from the Chris kneeled at once, saying, "We surrender, Lord Babbit!"


    Firton walked over to Babbit. "Lord Babbit, now that Dorrah Chris is dead, these cultivators are leaderless. Perhaps I can go to the Chris family grounds now and prevent a possible rebellion."


    "No."


    Firton frowned. "Why not, Lord Babbit? Is that a bad idea?"


    "No, I do need to send someone over to the Chris family grounds. But you can''t go, Firton. The Reyne family needs you."


    Divan got down on one knee then. "Let me do it, Lord Babbit."


    Babbit nced at Divan before turning to Wilbur and Felix. "Wilbur and Felix''s assistance during the battle just now touched me. They shall head to the Chris family on my behalf and hold the fort there."


    "What?"


    Firton and Divan nced at each other with a look of shock. Wilbur and Felix had only been a part of the Reyne family for a few years, but Babbit was handing the Chris family over to them. That was simply unbelievable!


    Firton said, "I don''t think that''ll work, Lord Babbit. Wilbur and Felix are powerful, but they''ve only been a part of the Reyne family for a few years. The Chris family might not be willing to surrender to them."


    "Oh, is that so?"


    Babbit red at Firton. "Are you saying that my word is not enough to hold the Chris family down, Firton?"