I transmigrated and got a husband and a son!-Chapter 1161: Why would I want to be number 2, when I should be number 1?

[REAPER’s BASE]

"So, that’s how it is, huh?" Ram rocked his head solemnly, snapping his eyes at Hera. The latter was reclining on the couch with her head on the backrest, shaking her feet that were resting on the coffee table, her eyes shut.

It was hard to know if she was truly listening or thinking of something else. After all, she didn’t raise any questions to Ulysses or even react to anything he said.

"Leave us," Ram ordered to the other members of the Reapers guarding the lobby. "Tiger and Moose will be here any moment. Although Tiger already has an idea of what’s going on, Moose and Primo might get the wrong idea. Joker said he couldn’t contact the two, after all." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

The members of the Reapers simply agreed and followed Ram’s instructions. But before they left, they picked up the weapons carried by Ulysses’s bodyguards. They even searched the bodyguards quickly to make sure they had no weapons anymore. Once they were done, they left as quietly and as quickly as possible.

Now, all that was left in the lobby were Wolf by the stairs, Ram across Ulysses, Ulysses’s bodyguards, and Hera.

"You’re saying the rightful owner of the Oxley is Hera?" Ram repeated and Ulysses nodded. "And that she should return and reclaim what’s hers?"

"Yes."

"And why would she do that when she already has a lot of plate being the head of the Reapers?"

Ulysses sighed. "Hera’s biggest problem right now is Florence Oxley, her own aunt. I already mentioned this, but among the five families, the Oxley Family is the second in rank in terms of power, influence, and money. Your Reapers might hold up for some time, but there’s no way you would be able to take down the Oxley."

"You’re sure of this because...?"

"Because once that happens, the four families will have no choice but to watch Florence officialize her position." Ulysses’ expression turned solemn. "It’s complicated, but the Five Families are tied together one way or another. If Hera refuses to accept our help to claim the Oxley Family, then we only have one option and that is to stand by the sidelines."

"But if she chose to take down the entire Oxley Family, then there’ll be another problem," he continued. "Once things reached that point, the four families had no other option but to side with Florence."

"Can’t you just gather the four families and start a coup?" Wolf chimed in, finding this a lot more complicated than he thought it was. "From what you said so far, it seemed the Four Families are against Florence taking charge of the Oxley Family. If you’re so against it, just gather and fight her."

Ulysses sighed heavily as he cast Wolf a look and then at Ram. He couldn’t blame them for throwing him question after question to smoothen all the creases in their minds. Casting Hera a look, he sighed once more as he wasn’t sure if she was actually listening. She stopped shaking her foot, after all.

"It’s not that easy and I know it sounds ridiculous for you, but the Five Families aren’t just families. We are a part of a secret society for hundreds of years," Ulysses explained. "Once the four families gather to take down one, then the trust among us will fall apart without a chance of repair."

"To summarize, the Five Secret Families controls different areas of the secret society. Each of the families had wealth, influence, and power that one wouldn’t expect. If one family fought with another, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’ll be just as terrible as wars that are happening outside the secret society," Ulysses practiced patience to give such details that were supposed to be for Hera’s ears only. Although he was glad that Ram sent the other people away.

"If the four families gathered to fight the Oxley, then it wouldn’t be a surprise if, after months or a few years, it’ll be three families against one. And then, two against one until there’s only one last standing," he added in one breath, making Ram and Wolf almost forget the person talking was more than half their age. "That is why the Five Families barely meddle with each other’s businesses and upheld the practice our founding fathers created and our ancestors followed strictly."

Ulysses took a deep breath and huffed it out. "But more than that, these things could affect everything outside the secret society. After all, the Five Secret Families keep countries under their wings. Imagine if the Ebonhart is funding and supporting a small country to prosperity, but suddenly, the other four families will gang up on us. Then, that small prospering country will also be done for."

"This is why we have strict rules to follow because holding great power also means many lives at stake. If the Oxley wanted to change the universal currency, they could do so. It won’t change anything for us, but it will affect many countries." He studied Ram and Wolf’s expressions, a little relieved that they were getting a grasp of the complicated details.

"You said the five families barely meddle with each other’s business," Ram dawdled after a minute of full silence. "What changed? Why you, a young man from the Ebonhart is here? I don’t believe it is only because of a mere piece of paper."

"That mere piece of paper means a lot to all of us," Ulysses argued sternly. "But you are correct."

The young man paused for a moment as he breathed out. "The reason we are forced to meddle is because we suspect Florence of killing her own father."

"Huh?" Ram and Wolf furrowed their brows.

"That piece of paper called last will of testament granted us an excuse to meddle with this problem," Ulysses shifted his eyes to Hera, hoping she was still listening. "All we have to do is make Hera agree to take her spot and we’ll help her claim what’s hers."

Ram sighed while Wolf shook his head before they intuitively gazed in Hera’s direction. Although they hadn’t heard any word from her, they already guessed what she thought about everything Ulysses asked.

Hera slowly opened her eyes, gazing at the ceiling. "I stopped listening after I heard the Oxley are number 2. Why would I want to be number 2, when I should be number 1?"