Asher did not show any reaction at the mention of the new nickname.

Lucian smiled and said, "I did not expect this reaction, I thought you hated the nickname."

Asher just shrugged and said, "Well, it is not entirely wrong. I am insanely strong and also an idiot. As for my reaction to the nickname, why would I care about some nobody calling me by it? It does not matter to me what they say about me."

Aron became tense but did not say anything and just stood silent.

Adam had a horrified expression because Asher had basically said that the Crown Prince was nobody to him. He did not say it outright, but anyone with a brain could see the hidden meaning.

Aria just stood with her usual indifferent expression.

For a moment, the entire room became silent.

Noah slowly moved a few steps away from Asher as if trying to distance himself from the incoming disaster.

Adam also silently followed him.

Lucian, however, just kept smiling.

Instead of getting angry, he looked at Asher with interest and said, "You really don’t fear anything, do you?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Asher looked confused and said, "Why would I feel fear right now?"

Lucian smiled and said, "You directly called me a nobody to my face."

Asher corrected him without hesitation, "No, I said I do not care about the opinions of nobodies. You interpreted it yourself."

Lucian then said with a smile still on his face, "I see, it seems it was my fault for misunderstanding, but you did not need to be that harsh on my little sister in the test."

Asher just said, "It was her fault for going against me even though I said I do not have any intention to fight. I just taught her a lesson, nothing more. If she keeps acting like that, she would probably die young."

Silence.

. . .

Adam thought, ’Disrespect and now a threat too. I am not staying with this idiot any longer.’

Lucian showed no change in his emotions and just kept a smile on his face, then said, "I see, it seems you are right. She does need to understand not to provoke enemies she can’t handle."

Asher calmly replied, "Yeah, a person should think about the consequences of his or her actions and only act when he or she can handle them. If they can’t, then they are just foolish."

Both were calm, but the tension in the room kept rising with no sign of ending.

Lucian then asked, "So are you foolish or not?"

Asher replied without hesitation, "I am an idiot, not foolish."

Lucian let out a small laugh and then said, "I see, but I must say your Spatial mastery is really high." Then he continued, "You may reach Master even before me. You have a talent that makes even your mother’s talent seem pale in comparison to yours."

Asher did not say anything and just stood calmly.

Seeing no reaction from Asher, Lucian continued, "I really respect your mother. She was so righteous and kind to people, and her healing magic, which was in a rank of its own, she got the nickname Goddess of Life." He continued in a sad voice, "But sadly, she sacrificed herself to kill four enemy Immortal ranks while protecting millions of civilians and her best friend. And only if reinforcements could have reached in time, she would probably still be alive right now. It was a truly tragic end."

Asher showed no change in his expression and said calmly, "I see."

The smile vanished from Lucian’s face, and a calm expression took its place. Then he said, "By the way, I really want to hear what you think about your mother’s choices and actions."

Asher calmly replied without a change in expression, "It was my mother’s life, her choices, and her actions. Who am I to judge another person’s actions and choices?"

Lucian had a slightly surprised expression after hearing Asher’s words and said, "I see, well said. I must say, you don’t think like someone of your age."

Then Lucian did not say anything else.

Asher then started heading out of the council room but stopped at the door. Then he looked back and said, "Also, if you meant what I would have done if I were in my mother’s place, then my answer is..."

Asher continued with a dangerous smile on his face, "I would not even bat an eye at abandoning those millions of civilians to survive, and if some of them even came in my way, I would have killed them without mercy."

Silence filled the entire council room after Asher’s words.

Lucian’s expression remained calm, but the atmosphere around him became noticeably heavier. His eyes stayed fixed on Asher for a few seconds before he finally spoke.

"You truly are different from your mother," Lucian said in a calm voice.

Asher showed no reaction and simply replied, "I never tried to become like her."

Lucian narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Even if millions died because of your choice?"

Asher calmly replied, "Their lives are not my responsibility."

The pressure in the room increased instantly after those words. Even the air itself felt heavy.

Lucian then said in a cold voice, "Your mother sacrificed everything to protect people she did not even know, yet you speak as if human lives hold no value."

Asher looked directly into Lucian’s eyes and replied calmly, "You are misunderstanding something. I never said human lives hold no value."

Lucian remained silent.

Asher continued, "I simply value my own life far more."

Lucian’s gaze sharpened after hearing that answer.

Asher then added calmly, "My mother chose to die for others because that was the type of person she was. I would choose to survive because that is the type of person I am. Neither of us is wrong. Our priorities are simply different."

Lucian stayed silent for a long time after hearing those words.

Finally, he let out a small sigh and said, "You truly don’t fear being judged by others, do you?"

Asher replied instantly, "Why should I?"

After saying those words, Asher turned around once again and walked out of the council room without waiting for a response.