Chapter 4: Vornix History
Before we learn why Ryan Vornnix is someone whom even my steadfast aunt cringes at the name of, one has to understand his background.
The Vornix family is not a noble family but they are not far from becoming one either. The Vornix family name was established in the year that Zlatan Kingdom declared war against the Madaraka Kingdom, in 1570 on the imperial calendar.
Moris Vornix was the founder of this clan as he provided something crucial to the war effort against the Madarakans. He was a 9th tier Alchemist. Someone who could make one of the highest tier magic pills at the time.
His magic pills allowed many of the generals at the time to make milestone breakthroughs in their core levels. Most of them went straight from peak 8th tier to early 9th tier warriors.
Moris Vornix allowed for the creation of 4 new 9th tier warriors on top of the 3 that kingdom already had. It was what allowed Zlatan to annex Madaraka as a vassal and establish itself as the current Zlatan Empire.
"If that brat is coming back, we might be able to give our competitors a serious blow. They should all soon learn of our plantation's loss so they will move with haste." It doesn't take my aunt long to adjust her expression as she does her analysis.
"Do you think he will keep his promise?" my mother asked me.
"Yes. He never goes back on a promise that he's given me. You should remember the Altera incident right?" I remind them of an event that happened 5 years ago, 2 years before Ryan left to study and when he was merely 14.
"Hmm." My mother and aunt both hum in acknowledgment as the event was something they remembered very well. Honestly, most of this nation's nobility remember it well.
"Has Earl Vandin recovered yet?" I asked.
"No. His doctor is someone I know well but even he seems hopeless about his situation."
Aunt Jenny shakes her head at my question as even she had gone to check up on the earl soon after it had happened. Even she could not think of a cure back then or now.
"It's only fair. He tried to get me engaged with his brainless son so that was bound to happen. Hmph!" I still despise the earl for not doing thorough research before proposing a marriage.
"He got what he deserved. I wish Ryan had done something to his son as well. The coward hid as soon as his father was poisoned." Mother sighed when she heard the disgust I had towards the earl's family.
"It would have been fine if Ryan only did something to the earl's son but he did it to the earl himself. You know how sensitive the noble circles get when such blatant harm happens to own of their own. You know the consequences, Elina."
Aunt Jenny really should have headed this family as my dad doesn't understand the consequences. But she is right.
Most of the lower nobility have been breaking their ties with the Vornix family and their allies slowly. They have been doing so far the last 5 years. They would have done it faster if they could but they can't.
Sofenia is known as the City of Alchemy for a reason. Not only is the best family of alchemists the Vornix's but also where the third largest herb supply is also grown.
That would be us, the Zocraten family with the nobility rank of Earl. Well actually, I guess we aren't the 3rd largest supplier now that it is all been burnt down.
That's fine though as my hus...uh... soon-to-be husband would take care of it.
My face starts to blush as I remember what the first thing Ryan would do when he came to our manor after his return. I would have turned into a tomato on the spot if it wasn't for my mana keeping me cool.
"Well, at least he did it in a way that left no evidence. The investigators sent by the imperial family found nothing even after searching for it. He did keep his promise to you then." I could see a small smile of satisfaction on Auntie's face before it disappeared.
I knew that she was quite proud of the family's future son-in-law as he is quite cunning. That is one of her favorite traits. Something that I sorely lack.
Even if everyone knows that it was the Vornix's that poisoned the pill, the emperor cannot punish them without a single ounce of proof.
"The Earl shouldn't have sent his son to flirt with me if he didn't want to get his core crippled. Forget marrying him, I would never even associate with a brainless noble kid like him."
No one knows how they poisoned a magic pill that was brought in an auction, on a whim by the Earl Vandin. The alchemist who sold the magic pill was someone who was raised by the imperial family.
He only sells pills when he needs extra funding for his formula research. This caused people to wonder if the pill was switched out later but that was also speculation.
The emperor didn't want anyone pointing figures at his people so he quickly wrapped up the case and said that the Vornix family wasn't guilty.
He even sent a warning to the Earl to not point fingers at others and to clean his manor first. He was saying that the Earl had a traitor in his midst and shifted away all the blame.
Poor guy, right?
"Did Ryan ever tell you how he did it?" My aunt was curious about how he pulled such a thing off but I had no idea myself.
"He said 'It's a trade secret.' when I asked him. Then he just smiled and looked away."
"That does sound like something he would say." My aunt agreed that he was someone who talked very little about how his family worked.
"Well then, I'll go and fetch your father. That boy better come to us before nightfall tomorrow." She declared before floating in the air.
"You know he will." I smiled and then she took off in a flash of green light. She knew I was right.
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That day, an invisible shockwave spread across the vast lands of Zlatan Empire. Many noble families had been informed of an attack on the Zocraten plantation.
There had been a massive, fire element mana bomb set off in the middle of their fields.
It roasted all the herbs and most of the land in the area to a crisp within minutes. Even the family's numerous water mages could not stop it in time.
Fortunately, no one had died as the fields are usually watered and examined during the middle of the day.
Many noble families that had a sour relationship with the Zocratens moved with haste. They contacted whatever herb farms they knew and were preparing to eat the slice of pie that was left unattended.
The merchants that dabbled in this field were also reaching out to the noble families themselves. A market gap of millions was not something that most could swallow without some help.
On the other hand, the allies of the Zocraten family were panicking as they were the first to receive the news. With the use of mages, information did not take long to flow.
The allies received the news directly from the Zocratens.
Along with it, they got a personal message written directly by the head of the clan, Alwin Zocraten.
it contained 3 simple words :
"Do not move."
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Noble Rankings From Highest to Lowest:
Emperor/Empress
Crown Prince/Princess
Grand Duke/Duchess
Prince/Princess
Duke/Duchess
Marquee/Marchioness
Earl/Earless
Count/Countess
Viscount/Viscountess
Baron/Baroness
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Ri_Yen
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