The Soryu Clan, the direct bloodline, has made sure they keyed themselves into everything that was important. Like the wall of the eastern army, the defensive formation of the Capital, and all the special artifacts that were important.
So in the end, a Soryu will always be the Clan leader. The issue of whether they would be a figurehead or not is another matter entirely.
So Svenjar, who was one of the numerous children of the Clan leader of the Akatsuki, was here as an Errant Knight to prove his worth to his Clan by defeating Atrox.
How could that not make him laugh? Svenjar was likely one of those who had already lost favour and hoped that they would ever become the Clan leader of Akatsuki.
But he saw a chance that could change his father's mind. If not as a Clan leader, then to give him a suitable position.
