Chapter 415: Afraid That You Will Lose Miserably
Unlike the ranking of the Thirty-Six Noble Families, the Seven Great Families aren't ranked in order. They're only divided into the Upper Three Houses and the Lower Four Houses. Each family controls different domains and practices distinctive martial arts techniques.
Among the Upper Three Houses, the Powell family is considered the leader by default because no one has ever tried to challenge the Powell family's position. It's been this way for thousands of years.
The division between the Upper Three Houses and Lower Four Houses was established over a hundred years ago. Back then, the Fife family, the Thornton family, the Bautista family, and the Guest family were indeed weaker than the Upper Three Houses - whether in terms of the family heads' strength or the elders' abilities, they fell short of the Upper Three Houses. So naturally, they became the Lower Four Houses.
Since this division was made, no one has proposed a redistribution for hundreds of years, and things have just stayed the same.
Rocco has been unhappy about this for a long time!
Ever since he became the head of the Fife family, he's been extremely dissatisfied. Why should he, with his incredible abilities and strength that already surpass the Jordan family and the Banks family, still have to settle for a position among the Lower Four Houses?
Rocco is ambitious and has always wanted to challenge Gwyneth.
Everyone says Gwyneth is the strongest, which is why all the families are wary and don't even dare to propose re-competing for the Upper Three Houses positions. That's exactly why he wants to defeat Gwyneth. If he beats her and shows everyone that his strength is above hers, he can unite the other families and demand a re-competition for the Upper Three Houses!
"Gwyneth, if you haven't had time recently, I'll bring this up again later. I don't believe you'll be busy forever with no time to spar with me!" Rocco said confidently.
Gwyneth let out a cold laugh. "Why are you so obsessed with competing against me?"
"Naturally, to humbly seek guidance," Rocco said.
Gwyneth's dark eyes stared at him. After a moment, she spoke: "Fine, if you insist on competing, it's not impossible."
Rocco's eyes immediately lit up. "What do you mean?"
"The ancient martial arts tournament is coming up. Since it's the younger generation's stage, we shouldn't get involved. If your Fife family's team can beat my Powell family's team at the ancient martial arts tournament, I'll agree to compete with you. But if the Fife family's team loses, then there's nothing for you and me to compete about. The younger generation's strength is the best proof of a family's strength."
Hearing this, Rocco immediately laughed, his gaze carrying a hint of arrogance: "Need you even ask? The Fife family is full of talented people, all geniuses. How could we possibly lose?"
Rocco looked deeply at Gwyneth. "Gwyneth, you'd better prepare yourself for our match."
When the time comes, he'll make sure everyone sees that the so-called Powell family is nothing more than his to manipulate! The so-called Gwyneth is nothing more than his defeated opponent.
Isabella looked at Rocco's arrogant manner and frowned. "Don't get too cocky. Be careful you don't lose badly."
Hearing Isabella's voice, Rocco finally noticed her.
His disdainful gaze swept over Isabella, and he let out a cold laugh. "Ms. Powell, speaking of which, my daughter is the same age as you."
He pointed to the girl beside him and said to Isabella, "I forgot to introduce you. This is my daughter, Rocco."
"If nothing unexpected happens, you'll meet on the competition field."
Rocco's gaze fell on Isabella, and she pulled her lips into a proud arc. "Ms. Isabella Powell, I'm afraid the one who'll lose badly is you."
Rocco was being too overbearing, and the other family heads couldn't stand it anymore.
Manuel spoke up: "That's enough, Rocco. The purpose of holding this ancient martial arts tournament isn't to fight over who's stronger or weaker. Why be so confrontational?"
Manuel has always been gentle and avoids conflict.
But Rocco hates this type of person the most. In his view, Manuel just lacks real strength.
He dismissively glanced at Manuel and said with a hint of aggression and ambition: "As one of the Upper Three Houses, naturally, you don't think there's anything to fight for. But for us Lower Four Houses, what needs to be fought for must be fought for!"
The resources and benefits controlled by the Upper Three Houses are significantly more.
He not only wants to fight for it, but also wants to become Novaria's number one family, so that the pattern on Novaria's currency will no longer be the Powell family's totem, but the Fife family's totem.
Rocco snorted coldly, looked at Gwyneth, and said in a deep voice: "We'll meet again at the ancient martial arts tournament!"
With that, he led the Fife family members away.
Gwyneth watched the Fife family's departing figures and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Ms. Powell, please don't hold it against Rocco. He's just a bit too direct with his words," said Elisha Thornton, the head of the Thornton family.
Although that's what he said, Elisha was actually secretly pleased.
Because Rocco belongs to the Lower Four Houses, and if Rocco is willing to fight, it will only bring benefits to the Lower Four Houses. If they could really push out the Upper Three Houses and take their place, why not?
If the Fife family beats the Powell family and takes first place in the upcoming ancient martial arts tournament, it will cause a huge uproar! At that point, how could the Powell family still have the face to call themselves the number one family? The Powell family would likely lose their status not only in the royal family's eyes, but also among the nobles and common people!
Elisha was very much looking forward to this happening!
"Naturally, I won't hold it against Rocco." After all these years, how could Gwyneth not know what the Lower Four Houses are thinking behind the scenes?
What's coming will come eventually, because human ambition is limitless. The Thirty-Six Noble Families can fight to the death over rankings, and the Seven Great Families are always competing openly and secretly over their upper and lower positions.
She doesn't want the Powell family to be destroyed in her hands either.
It seems the upcoming ancient martial arts tournament is truly critical.
After the banquet ended, the nobles dispersed one after another.
Manuel seemed to sense Gwyneth's worry and asked with concern: "Is Ms. Powell afraid of losing to the Fife family at the ancient martial arts tournament?"
"If it were four years ago, the Powell family might not have lost, but now... It's hard to say."
Gwyneth knows the internal situation of the Powell family best, and it's indeed not optimistic.
After Rocco's display just now, Manuel felt some regret and sighed softly. "Maybe I was wrong to agree to hold this ancient martial arts tournament in the first place."
Clearly, the Lower Four Houses are ambitious, especially Rocco, whose ambition is written all over his face.
"If nothing unexpected happens, he'll use any means necessary to make the Upper Three Houses lose badly on the field, and then propose re-competing for the Upper Three Houses positions. At that point, things will really become hard to control."
"Manuel, this isn't about the ancient martial arts tournament. Even without this tournament, the Lower Four Houses' hostility and ambition would have erupted sooner or later," Gwyneth said.
For now, she can only do her best to prepare for the upcoming ancient martial arts tournament.