Finally, the bar chart changed on the screen.
The votes for Ernest increased to 1305, the same as that for Theodore.
Seeing this result clearly, the whole crowd turned completely silent.
Most people felt unexpected, shocked or disappointed.
None of them could believe that Keenan would vote for Ernest under such great pressure. Didn’t this mean that he stood against the family leader?
How dared he? Did he want to die?
Theodore put on the gloomiest scowl on his face, and hostility was shot from his eyes to every corner of the meeting hall, nearly freezing the whole atmosphere.
Feeling this pressure, everyone became stiff and did not dare to utter a single sound.
Their family leader was indeed angry now.
As the main character who had triggered this storm, Keenan turned pale and even shivered slightly.
He looked at Theodore with tremendous fear in his eyes and nervously defended himself,
“Theodore, I am sorry. You know that I am the peace kind, and I really don’t want a war between the two families. Well, the war would definitely cause a lot of deaths…”
He was interrupted by Theodore’s cold eyes which were about to cut him off.
He was pale, stiff and afraid.
This was an absolute offense to the leader and he knew that his wonderful life would be over.
Finley stood up delightedly and said,
“Good job, Keenan! Once we open our vault and fully leverage our treasures, we could become stronger and top the world in a few years. But if we stir up a war with the Fraser family now, we would only lose countless people and money. This lose-at-both-sides result would even turn our family’s clock back decades. Therefore, it is best not to fight and we could be the strongest family in the world within three years if we make good use of our treasures.”
This statement was very provocative, and it brightened the eyes of the people on the spot and threw them into a promising expectation towards the future.
Although the Turner family was already a major family now and they, as small leaders, could make some commands, they still wanted to obtain higher positions.
So, if the Turner family could be the strongest family in the world, no matter where they would be in the future, they could get higher social status and do whatever they want.
The Third Elder also looked extremely angry. He glared at Finley, wishing to tear his tongue.
There could be no peace!
They had plotted against Stanford Fraser before and he would definitely lead the Fraser family to attack them after he went back. The war was inevitable.
Yet, now this matter could never be told or he himself would be regarded as the one who provoked this fight.
By far, he could neither control the open meeting nor stop the future attack from the Fraser family.
The Third Elder was now at his wit’s end and felt like a helpless lamb on the grill.
He moved close to Theodore and asked in a low voice,
“What should we do now?”
It was a tie. The last ten votes came from Keenan with greater authority, which meant that they had no reason to attack the Fraser family.
Theodore glared coldly at Keenan with a strong intention to kill him.
Well, even he himself didn’t foresee that Keenan would set him up.
This Keenan Turner had been a hermit for so many years, and yet he was not as innocent and indifferent as he was ostensibly.
That Keenan would openly stand against him only for peace would be the last thing that Theodore would believe.
The smile on Finley’s face remained. He was very content. At first, he was quite worried about whether he could choose the right side; now the result showed that he made the right choice. Ernest did have his ways to win even in such an adverse situation.
He said loudly and happily, “My leader, since we now have our result with the last ten votes from Keenan, we can know that it is desirable for all of us not to attack the Fraser family. I believe that it is high time for you to announce the result, so that we can all go back and mind our own business.”
The Third Elder glared at him again. Indeed, he won.
He even dared to shame the family leader.
He had really been a rebel after choosing to stand for Ernest.
All was settled. Everyone turned to look at Theodore, waiting for him to declare the final decision.
Even though this announcement was only a mere formality.
A ghastly expression still hung on Theodore’s face, showing his burning anger and overwhelming hostility.
His gloomy gaze, cold as an ice sword, fell on Ernest, seemingly aiming at cutting him off.
Having been the family leader for so many years, he could control every domestic affair. Yet, his absolute power has been challenged several times since Ernest’s arrival.
It was until this moment that he suddenly realized with great horror that, unconsciously, he could no longer control the whole family on his own.
Half of the people and power of the Turner family now belonged to Ernest.
It had only been a couple of months!
If this trend continued, all of his power would be stolen and he would eventually become totally powerless.
This was what Theodore would rather die than accept.
He tightly clenched his fist, and gnashing a few words out in a low and stern voice,
“Ernest, so this is you plan, right? Win the support and then drive me away?”
Ernest gazed at Theodore coldly, smiling silently.
There was no answer, no nodding nor shaking his head.
The whatever-you-believe attitude hurt Theodore as a poisonous thorn.
At such a high position, he could understand Ernest’s meaning very well.
Ernest’s not denying meant that if they continued to fight against each other, he would finally rob Theodore’s power and then drive him away.
He was the only heir and given time, with his excellent methods, he could make it.
Theodore was devoured by fury and a sense of crisis that he had never felt before.
No, he could never give Ernest a chance!
He sprang to his feet abruptly, and, with an overwhelming air, looked authoritatively at everyone.
He said in a voice as bright and loud as a church bell, “Now that we have a tie here, we cannot say that Ernest won all of you.
“There are half of you against the attack, then do what you want and stay there! But the rest of you, who agree with the attack, come with me to destroy the Fraser family!
“They have bullied us and trod on our necks for hundreds of years. My hatred and our hatred can no longer be endured as long as I am your leader.
“Now, as the leader of the Turner family, I declare that, with all the power I have, I will defeat the Fraser family! And no one will be forced to join me!”
A commotion burst after Theodore’s declaration.
All of the people on the spot thought that this meeting would end with the decision not to attack the Fraser family.
Unexpectedly, Theodore would actually ignore their tradition and resolutely decided to carry out the attack with half of the power of the family.
A weak sound mumbled, “This will break the rule.”
“Yes, indeed. No one had done this ever before.”