Grand Return System-Chapter 79: The Smile Above the Storm

The Smile Above the Storm

"Father, what should we do now?"

The air felt thick enough to choke on. Broken stone and splintered beams littered the long street of Ashford City. Dust drifted like pale fog through the fading sunlight.

Vita Zain stepped closer to Clint Zain, lowering his voice despite the chaos around them. The confidence he once wore so arrogantly was gone. What remained was unease.

"Father..." Vita swallowed, glancing around at the shattered storefronts and the frightened onlookers gathering at a distance. His voice dropped even further. "This... this got out of hand. What should we do now?"

Clint’s jaw twitched.

"Hmph, you unfilial son. How dare you ask?" Clint’s voice came low and sharp, each word biting like steel. His eyes turned on Vita with cold fury. "I told you before to restrain yourself. Not only did you not listen, you even became worse. Now, you’ve provoked a colossus like Celestis Academy."

Vita flinched slightly, though he tried to hide it.

Clint took a step closer, his shadow falling across his son.

"Now, you are asking me what I should do?" Clint continued, his tone dripping with restrained anger. "Fortunately, their teacher isn’t here. Otherwise, even Sky Breaker Acedmy might not have been able to protect you."

The name alone made Vita’s throat tighten.

Leon.

The name echoed in his mind like a distant thunderclap. Even thinking it made his spine stiffen.

Even Clint Zain had heard enough.

Clint had expected arrogance from his son. Some reckless behavior, perhaps a small incident he could smooth over with influence and money. That much was manageable.

But this?

This was not a small mistake.

This was a disaster.

And not just any disaster—it was the kind that attracted attention from people far beyond the Zain family’s reach.

His face drained of color as the weight of it sank in.

But he was the head of the Zain household.

Fear could not show.

Not here.

Not in front of outsiders.

Not in front of his own son.

Clint slowly drew in a breath. His fingers tightened behind his back for a brief moment before relaxing again.

His expression shifted.

The anger dissolved.

The tension in his face softened as if it had never been there.

Then, like a mask sliding perfectly into place, a smile—oily and controlled—spread across his features.

He turned toward the students standing nearby, his posture suddenly polite and composed.

"So it turns out to be Celestis Academy’s outstanding students!" he said warmly, even clasping his hands in a mock salute. "This is just friendly fire. A family doesn’t recognize a family."

His tone was almost jovial.

"I share a deep friendship with Shera of Celestis Academy. If you had mentioned earlier that you were from Celestis Academy, we wouldn’t have created such a huge misunderstanding. It’s my fault for my poor eyesight. I almost caused a huge disaster..."

He even sighed, as though burdened by guilt.

From the side, Harrier Taylor stared at him in disbelief.

Shameless.

Truly shameless.

Even he had to admit—Clint’s ability to change faces mid-battle was almost admirable.

Selena said nothing.

Her fingers remained wrapped around the hilt of the Amethyst Mist Sword. The blade gleamed faintly in the settling dust. She understood what this meant. Escalating now would bring no benefit. Teacher Leon had not returned yet.

Rias stood beside her, red silk fluttering gently in the breeze, her crimson eyes steady.

Before anyone could speak—

"Clap. Clap. Clap."

Slow applause echoed from above.

The sound cut through the silence like a blade.

Everyone instinctively looked up.

On the rooftop of a half-damaged building stood three figures.

At the center sat a young man in green and white robes, relaxed as if attending a festival instead of a battlefield. His posture was casual, one leg bent, one dangling over the edge. His black hair stirred lightly in the wind. His eyes—sharp and unreadable—carried an amused glint.

Behind him stood two elderly men, silent as shadows. Their auras were deep and restrained, like coiled dragons sleeping beneath still water.

"Amazing, amazing..." the young man laughed lightly. "How exciting. I never expected to witness such a good show in this tiny Ashford City today."

His gaze swept lazily over the ruined street, over Harrier, over Clint—

Then he gave Clint Zain a mocking thumbs-up.

"Your performance just now? Flawless."

The sarcasm was unmistakable.

And yet—

Clint did not explode.

He did not retaliate.

Instead, a thin layer of fear crept into his expression.

Rias noticed immediately.

"Who is this person?" she asked quietly.

Selena shook her head. She did not recognize him.

But Harry Taylor did.

His pupils contracted.

His hands instinctively tightened.

"Saint of the Supreme Paradise sect... Rex Vine."

The name fell heavy.

Rias blinked. "Saint?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Selena frowned faintly. The term carried weight.

Harry swallowed before continuing, lowering his voice.

"He comes from the ancient Vine household. Born with a sacred physique. The only Saint of the current Supreme Paradise sect."

His eyes remained fixed on the rooftop.

"At such a young age... he has already reached nine stars of the Astral Realm."

A ripple passed through the gathered cultivators.

Nine stars.

Astral Realm.

At his age.

Harry’s voice carried equal parts awe and dread.

"He has extraordinary aptitude and terrifying talent. Many say he has the highest chance of stepping into the Martial Emperor Realm in this generation."

He gestured subtly toward distant rooftops.

"And he isn’t the only one traveling these regions. The Saintess of the Soft Water Divine sect—Fairy Fiona. Yasmin of the Divine Golden sect. All of them are rising like blazing suns..."

Selena and Rias exchanged a look.

Nine stars of the Astral Realm.

Their own Celestis Academy’s chief senior brother, Kevin, was only at five stars of the Astral Realm.

The gap was suffocating.

For the first time—

Selena felt it.

Pressure.

Not from Clint Zain.

Not from Vita.

But from the vastness of the world beyond the Academy Premises.

Above them, Rex Vine leaned forward slightly, chin resting on his palm.

His smile widened.

The storm wasn’t over.

It had only changed shape.