"Brother…" Shana didn't want her brother, who had returned after many years, to have a conflict with the person that she loved.
As someone who always chose Zion's side, Rianna was also frowning. As much as she loved her brother, she owed Zion her life during her First Wandering.
She would not allow anyone to disrespect or look down on him, even if they were her family.
The once lively atmosphere immediately cooled down due to Aiden's statement.
But before anyone could say anything, Thirteen coughed lightly, catching everyone's attention.
"So, you're saying you don't want to obey my orders because I am weaker than you?" Thirteen asked.
"Yes," Aiden replied. "Also, when it comes to seniority in the Military, I am older than you. We may have the same rank as Commanders of our respective battalions, but that ends there.
"I don't care about what orders you give your own battalion, but I don't want others telling me what to do."
Tristan sighed internally, well aware of how arrogant his son had always been.
He was like the scions of the Monarch Clans who looked down on the other families since his Grandfather was also a Monarch.
Not to mention, his Grandfather was the one who single-handedly made the other Five Monarchs fall in line and adhere to the agreement between them and the Central Government.
Thirteen redirected his gaze to his Superior Officer, who was also looking back at him with an apologetic expression on his face.
"Sir, it's been a while since I sparred with someone," Thirteen said. "If it's possible, I would like to learn pointers from your son."
"Are you sure, Zion?" Tristan asked. "My son is a Grandmaster."
"That's fine," Thirteen replied. "It's been a while since I last sparred with a Grandmaster."
Cynthia frowned because the current situation was something that she didn't expect to happen.
"How many times do I have to tell all of you that once you're here at home, no one talks about the military?" Cynthia said. "Aiden, apologize to our guest. Have you forgotten your manners after spending many years in Solterra?"
"I'm sorry, Mother," Aiden replied. "The environment where I escaped from was harsh and unforgiving. You were also a Wanderer once, so you understand the horrors we face in that world can change people.
"I have crawled my way out of hell, yet the first thing I hear when I return here in Pangea is that I should follow the orders of someone weaker than me," Aiden stated. "I'm sorry, but I cannot accept it. I would rather return to Solterra and face monsters than obey someone I don't recognize."
Aiden faced his mother's gaze fearlessly, which made Cynthia feel heartbroken.
Shana noticed that her mother was on the verge of crying, so she glared at her brother, but the latter was still unfazed.
Suddenly, everyone heard a clapping sound, prompting them to turn and look at the newcomer who had just entered the Dining Room.
It was none other than the Grand Marshall of the Central Government, Lawrence, who had canceled his appointments for the day to spend time with his family after hearing about Shana's return.
"Good. Good. Good!" Lawrence said while smiling, and yet, his eyes weren't smiling at all.
Aiden immediately felt his grandfather's anger, which made his defiant attitude crack a bit.
"Zion, as you can see, my grandson refuses to obey the orders of someone weaker than him," Lawrence stated. "Do you think you can make him obey you?"
"Sir, Yes, Sir!" Thirteen stood up and gave the Monarch, who ruled the Central Government, a salute.
"Good." Lawrence nodded. "Let's go to the training area. Aiden, you will be fighting Zion. If you lose, I don't want to hear any excuse about refusing his orders, okay?"
"I will obey his orders if he wins," Aiden, who understood that he had already made his family angry at him, decided to throw caution to the wind. "But what will happen if I win? Will he obey my orders?"
"I will," Thirteen replied without batting an eye. "If you win, of course."
Aiden sneered. "It's a deal then."
Earlier, when he had shaken hands with Zion, Aiden had planted a curse on the teenage boy's body, which would activate with a thought from him.
He had already planned to challenge Zion's authority from the start and let his family know that he wasn't anything special.
That way, he would be able to bring down the teenage boy a peg and step all over him while the latter was in the military.
'Supreme Commander? As if.' Aiden laughed internally. 'You just got lucky in the Rigel Continent. When I'm done with you, everyone will realize they have simply overestimated your abilities.
'I'll make sure that you understand your place as a Rookie, who would have no choice but to obey those who are stronger than you!'
Tiona, who now possessed mind-reading abilities, looked at the arrogant young man in disdain.
She didn't even bother to tell her Master what the stuck-up prick was thinking because nothing would change even if she did.
The curse Aiden had cast on Zion was instantly nullified by the Skill Ban the moment it entered the latter's body.
Curses didn't really work against Zion because they were treated as skills by the Skill Ban, which also served as a second layer of protection against such abilities.
It was not only Tiona who was looking at Aiden in disdain.
Erica and Sherry also held the young man in contempt.
Both of them wished to tell Zion that he shouldn't show any mercy to Aiden, whose arrogance even made Clark, the former scion of the Ashford Clan, look cute in comparison.
Thirteen, on the other hand, simply smiled faintly.
Truth be told, he was holding a lot of frustrations as of late, especially since his lovers had milked him dry almost every night, making him unable to walk the next day.
His hips ached so much that he almost thought that they were broken.
Fortunately, Shana finally relented and healed him several hours ago.
While Aiden considered what he would order Zion to do after he won their duel, the teenage boy thought about how many times he would ask Giga and Stacy to use their spray against the young man, who would soon understand the fate of those who annoyed him.