《Stop Hypnotizing Me, Antagonist Princess!》


 Chapter 1 Ive Long Since Wanted to Die!

    "Hey, beautiful, want a drink?"


    Carol felt a tap on her shoulder.


    She frowned and turned around.


    Illuminated by the dim light of the tavern, Carol saw a scruffy middle-aged mercenary leering at her.


    She sighed, then flipped him off without turning her head, "Go home and drink with your mother... and for the record, I''m not here to sell myself."


    Amidst theughter of the onlookers, the middle-aged mercenary left with a face as blue as steel.


    Having dealt with the annoyance, Carol''s gaze returned to the distance.


    She wasn''t averse to men hitting on her, it all depended on who was doing the hitting.


    For instance, the young man sitting at the bar at the moment.


    He was called a young man because judging by his somewhat slender figure and the asional profile nce this way, he wasn''t very old, perhaps still a fledgling.


    There were several empty bottles on the table beside the young man, and though he was evidently drunk, he kept drinking non-stop.


    As if burdened by memories he couldn''t forget.


    Of course, the point was that the young man had beautiful jet-ck hair.


    Even though it was a bit messy and slightly curly, it symbolized the noble lineage of the Saint Laurent Empire.


    Though she didn''t know which family the kid belonged to, his intricately made deerskin boots suggested he came from a very well-off family.


    He was an excellent candidate to be "prey."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In fact, this was already the young man''s third day in this tavern.


    Based on her observations over the past few days, Carol had roughly surmised the truth of the situation.


    The young man probably had a falling out with his family, so he ran away in a huff, only to realize how harsh the outside world was, yet he didn''t want to give in, thus he was stuck in a dilemma, drowning his sorrows in alcohol.


    To her, these inexperienced noble sons were simply tender, juicy sheep.


    With that thought, Carol could no longer contain the excitement in her heart.


    She downed her ss of wine in one gulp, then stood up and gracefully made her way to the bar.


    "Aren''t you going to buy me a drink?"


    She sat down confidently next to the youth with ck hair.


    The ck-haired youth didn''t seem too surprised, and snapped his fingers at the bartender, "Bring thisdy an amber."


    Amber was the most expensive drink in the ce, costing ten silver coins a ss, only a fool would order it.


    Seeing this, Carol''s face lit up with a sly smile, radiant and charming, "My name''s Carol, and you are?"


    "Is that important?"


    He was not standoffish but didn''t bite as easily as she''d expected... Was it because of noble pride?


    Taking the ss pushed over by the bartender, Carol took a small sip, then lightly licked her lips, brushing her knees ever so slightly against the young man''s thigh.


    In these inebriated moments, it was easiest to get swept away by emotions.


    Just as Carol was about to say something, the young man spoke first.


    "Since you''ve had this drink, I have some questions I''d like to ask you," he put down his ss, "Lady, this is your third day hiding in the corner and secretly watching me."


    "If possible, please give me a reasonable exnation."


    Was she found out?


    Carol, who was a bit carried away before, now sounded the rm bell in her heart.


    But at this point, she couldn''t possibly give herself away because of a simple inquiry.


    So, Carol tilted her head, letting her chestnut hair cascade down, half-joking and half-serious, "Because... you''re good-looking?"


    This was the truth.


    Frankly, the young man in front of her was the kind of person who made a good impression at first nce.


    Handsome, with dignified mannerisms, bright blue eyes, with one tear-shaped mole at the corner of his eye that only added to his delicately effeminate charm, rather than ruining his face''s beauty.


    The only w was the dark circles under his eyes, he probably spent too much time with women and was physically weak.


    But that just yed into her hands.


    After hearing Carol''s exnation, the young man gave a "Hah, women" look and averted his gaze.


    Brat... Carol twitched the corner of her mouth as she understood his look.


    However, she immediately put on a pitiful look, "You don''t think I''m out here selling myself, do you?"


    That I-see-pity look was enough to soften even the most stoic man.


    But the young man before her... was clearly not just anybody.


    "Is that not the case?"


    Hearing this, Carol looked a bit upset.


    In truth, only she knew that after so many years of struggling in the slums of this frontier city, not a single man had had the privilege of climbing into her bed.


    But before she could say anything, the young man spoke again.


    "In fact, we''re all out here to sell something," he said nonchntly, "it''s just that everyone is selling something different."


    This extinguished the anger that had just red up in Carol''s heart.


    Moreover, after thinking about it carefully, she even found it to be quite philosophical.


    This guy...


    Feeling as though she had been teased by him, Carol felt a bit embarrassed, so she straightened her skirt, her cheeks flushing, and she lowered her voice, "Since it''se to this, don''t you want to take me home?"


    The ck-haired young man eyed her warily, "Human trafficking is illegal."


    Carol''s insides churned with frustration.


    Was this kid ying dumb or really dumb?


    Considering her ns for the evening, she gritted her silver teeth and stopped beating around the bush, "I mean, buy me, I''m yours for the night."


    To her surprise, he instinctively covered his pocket, "I have no money."


    "It won''t be very expensive."


    "Lady, I''m not the kind of scum who takes someone home after just meeting them. Please do not insult my character," he responded.


    "Free..."


    "But then again..."


    ...


    Indeed, all men are the same.


    After entering the guest room on the second floor of the tavern, Carol superficially surveyed the room''s simple furnishings andyout, while in her heart, she definitively concluded.


    Every time she thought of the other party''s pathetically ridiculous excuse, her heart filled with contempt.


    So Carol said with a forced smile, "Wasn''t I supposed to see a cat do a backflip?"


    She had expected him to smile awkwardly before revealing his lewd and ugly face.


    Yet, to her surprise, the dark-haired young man pointed towards a ck lump lying on the bedhead, "There it is."


    Following the direction of his finger, Carol was taken aback.


    She saw a small ck cat yawning as it got up from the bedhead, elegantly stretching itself, and then looked over with emerald eyes.


    The young man snapped his fingers, "Little ck, show this ''auntie'' a trick."


    Auntie... Carol''s face darkened, just as she was about to say something, but the ck cat seemed to respond by meowing.


    Then, before her eyes, she watched the little cat perform a backflip in a manner that defied logic.


    Carol was stunned.


    No way, you can actually do it???


    She had thought that the "my cat can do a backflip" line was just ame excuse lecherous men used to deceive women into spending the night at their ce.


    She never imagined it would actually happen before her eyes.


    Has the world gone mad?


    Carol''s temples throbbed as she felt that everything happening tonight was utterly unpredictable.


    No, this won''t do.


    She couldn''t keep arguing with this kid, or she feared her blood pressure would go through the roof.


    So, without further hesitation, Carol seized the opportunity while the young man was distracted and stepped forward to push him over.


    Watching the dark-haired young man lying on the bed, Carol saw a look of shock on his face for the first time tonight.


    The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, very satisfied with his reaction.


    Then, as if she had lost her footing, Carol "Ouch" and fell into the young man''s arms.


    The situation took a dramatic turn.


    Little fellow, you''re not getting away from me that easy.


    Carol was quite confident in her own attractiveness.


    She looked down, and at that moment, the two were so close they could feel each other''s breath.


    Looking into his eyes, as blue and deep as the sea, Carol, who intended to tease him, found herself at a loss for words.


    Not only that, her heartbeat slightly quickened.


    Up close, he looked even more handsome... No, that''s not the point!


    Finally snapping back to reality, she heard the young man speak in a somewhat troubled tone, "This, this isn''t very appropriate, is it?"


    "What''s not appropriate?"


    "I haven''t taken a bath."


    "That''s okay, I don''t mind you."


    The young man shook his head, "I meant you haven''t taken a bath."


    Carol: "..."


    She clenched her silver teeth and took a deep breath to ease the throbbing in her temples.


    Don''t take him seriously.


    If you take him seriously, you lose.


    So the next second, Carol executed a perfect zero-dy start, letting out a theatrically high-pitched scream.


    "Ah!!!"


    "Bang¡ª"


    Almost simultaneously, the wooden door to the room was burst open.


    A burly man charged in, clutching a revolver in his hand.


    He first helped the "quaking" Carol to one side, then turned his gaze to the dark-haired young man on the bed.


    Yet, his look clearly harbored a tinge of guilt.


    Obviously, this must be his first time pulling such a stunt.


    But the burly man still tried his best to look fierce as he pressed onto the youth on the bed, pointing the gun at him.


    "Don''t move!"


    Seeing this, Carol wiped away fake tears, "I''m, I''m sorry, I didn''t expect things to turn out like this..."


    Most people in these situations first react with panic, and then, they try to calm things down.


    Especially the high-status nobility, who value their reputations greatly.


    Who knew that the young man showed not a hint of panic, only looking the burly man up and down, "Are you her husband?"


    "Of course!" the burly man feigned calmness, "You slept with my... my wife, give me one reason not to shoot you dead!"


    Hearing this, not only did the young man not argue back, but he also sighed with a pained expression.


    "I can''t think of one."


    The burly man was taken aback, "What?"


    "I can''t think of any reason for you not to shoot," he said earnestly, "If you really are her husband, then honestly, I think you should shoot me dead."


    This response struck the burly man speechless.


    He turned his head doubtfully toward Carol, looking for help.


    Idiot... Carol cursed inwardly, still maintaining a pitiful demeanor, she continued sobbing intermittently, "This, this is my husband Andre, he''s killed people before... You must not defy him, he will shoot."


    "Yes, I will shoot!"


    The burly man came to his senses, clutched the revolver tighter, and swallowed hard.


    "Then you''ve really done me a huge favor." With that, the young man seemed overjoyed, "Come on, I''ve been longing for death!"


    The next second, the young man reached out, took hold of the gun barrel, and pressed the muzzle against his forehead.

 Chapter 2 S-Class Story Characters

    Lynn had long since lost his will to live!


    Feeling the cold barrel of the gun pressed against his forehead, his heart was very calm, he even felt an urge to howl.


    Transmigration should have been a wonderful thing, and system binding was like an icing on the cake.


    But when these two things happened to Lynn at the same time, what should have been a beautiful journey turned into a "beautiful departure" through and through.


    Half a month had passed since he transmigrated to this world.


    He now had reason to suspect that this damned system had been out to "get him killed" from the very start.


    [Character Name: Carol Boyle]


    [Plot Level: C]


    [Plot Deviation: 0.00%]


    Looking at Carol who was fake crying beside him with several lines of text above her head, Lynn felt somewhat helpless.


    Indeed, she didn''t meet the criteria either.


    As he thought this, he was about to shut down the system.


    But just at that moment, a window suddenly popped up in front of him.


    [The system has not yet been activated. Pleaseplete the preliminary task as soon as possible to unlock all sections.]


    [Detecting host''s current status...]


    [Detection reveals the host is still engaging in "negative behavior"... Warning!!! Warning!!!]


    Here it came again, the annoying nuisance.


    Watching the countless pop-up windows fluttering in front of him like snowkes and the sharp buzzing echoing deep in his mind, Lynn felt numb.


    "Just shoot."


    He spoke to the burly man with the gun in front of him once again.


    It wasn''t that he truly wanted to die.


    Butpared to being subjected to this kind of mental pollution every day, he would rather restart sooner.


    It was bizarre.


    This system was not like the ones he had read about in web novels from his previous life, which frequently coerced the host toplete tasks with various punishments.


    It didn''t use punishments, just warnings.


    But these warning pop-ups were imprinted on his retina. He could see them even with his eyes closed, a horrifying red that unsettled him.


    Not to mention the sharp buzzing, which directly affected his consciousness; covering his ears was useless.


    As long as the system detected that he hadn''tpleted the preliminary task, it would judge his behavior as "negative," and then harass him non-stop for twenty-four hours.


    Lynn hadn''t slept well in half a month.


    Now he only felt a splitting headache.


    Every time his head touched the pillow, it was as if he hadmitted some great sin, with pop-ups and buzzing bombing him incessantly, leaving him no moment of peace.


    Only drowning his worries in alcohol brought any slight relief.


    Up to now, Lynn felt that the system''s emotional value outweighed its utility.


    If you asked what emotional value, aside from disgust, there really was none.


    But it indeed outweighed its utility.


    All right, since it harassed him to this extent, why not justplete the preliminary task?


    That''s what Lynn had thought at first.


    But after learning the content, he wentpletely insane.


    The preliminary task was just a short sentence, seemingly simple.


    [Please make contact with any S-level plot character and increase their plot deviation by 0.01%.]


    Leaving aside what plot deviation meant for now.


    Based on a literal understanding, such S-level plot characters should be intimately linked to the original story''s main plot, even capable of affecting the future and everyone''s endings.


    Even without the system reminding him, he knew these characters must be extremely rare.


    Perhaps throughout the whole world, there might be only a handful of them.


    The good news was, this world was from a Western fantasy novel he had read in his previous life, and he roughly remembered the plot.


    The bad news was, he was currently in a remote city called Werner, light-years away from the Imperial Capital of the Saint Laurent Empire.


    With a bit of thought, one would realize that these exceedingly rare S-level plot characters would most likely appear on grand stages like the Imperial Capital that attracted worldwide attention, since most plots unfolded there.


    Even if not, they definitely wouldn''t appear in a ce like Werner, not even mentioned in the original story.


    So the only way out at the moment was to head for the Imperial Capital.


    And the trip to the Imperial Capital required a considerable sum of money, which, in his current befuddled state, he found it difficult to earn quickly.


    The vicious cycle continued.


    While enduring the system''s mental contamination, Lynn let his thoughts run wild.


    On the other hand, the burly man pointing the gun actually felt scared.


    He had seen plenty pleading for mercy, but this was the first time someone begged to be shot.


    "Am I, am I really going to shoot?"


    "Come on!"


    "Don''t push me!!!"


    "I''m begging you, just f*cking shoot!!!"


    "You!!!"


    Watching the ck-haired boy clutching his forehead and the ferocious, almost eager glint in his eyes, the burly man swallowed hard.


    But no matter what, he couldn''t pull the trigger of the revolver in his hand.


    Despite his intimidating appearance, he had never actually been in a fight.


    It was like everything was reversed.


    At this moment, the one being threatened with a gun was madly begging to be shot, while the one holding the gun had no courage to actually do it.


    The atmosphere grew strangely stale.


    "Enough, Werner," Carol finally couldn''t stand it anymore and let out a helpless sigh, "put the gun down."


    "Okay, Sister."


    The burly man even changed the way he addressed her, obediently putting the revolver back into his pocket and breathing a sigh of relief.


    At the same time, he subconsciously took a half step back, wanting to distance himself from this guy.


    "You seem to have realized my purpose early on? When did you find out?"


    Carol crossed her arms and gazed emotionlessly at Lynn.


    Today, to catch this big fish, she even sold some of her charm, but in the end, her efforts were all for naught.


    This man seemed convinced Werner wouldn''t shoot, so he was fearless.


    Since that was the case, the leverage she had for ckmail and extortion was gone.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    After all, she couldn''t really let her brother live with the guilt of taking a life.


    "From the start."


    The warning from the system gradually quietened, which eased Lynn''s irritation quite a bit, his furrowed brows slowly rxed.


    Hearing this, Carol raised an eyebrow: "I don''t believe you."


    "Really." Lynn pinched the bridge of his nose, "To me, a beautiful woman is like a rose with thorns, the closer you get, the more vignt you must be about being pricked."


    "You sure have a way with words." Carol wanted to scoff hearing Lynn calling her a beautiful woman, but couldn''t resist a slight smile, "But I didn''t feel that caution from you."


    "I must have been mistaken today, so I''ll let you off the hook for now."


    After dropping that line, Carol left without a second nce, heading straight toward the door.


    Halfway there, she suddenly stopped.


    "By the way, what''s your name?"


    "Lynn."


    "Lynn, I hope the next time we meet... actually, let''s hope we never meet again!"


    The thought of the previous events made Carol''s anger surge once again.


    This kid was sly, clearly knowing everything yet putting on an innocent face and speaking those disgusting words.


    No, you''ll be eager to see me again soon.


    Watching the siblings walk away, Lynn curled his lips into a smirk.


    Then with a flip of his right hand, two items appeared in his palm.


    They were a gun and a woman''s wallet.


    The gun, of course, belonged to Werner, and the wallet hade from Carol when she pushed him over.


    From the beginning, Lynn knew someone who looked as aristocratic as him would be her target.


    Too bad for the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.


    And wasn''t she just another sheep in Lynn''s eyes?


    After all, for him in the present, making money was an urgent matter.


    He needed to interact with strangers, hoping to hit it big andplete missions, while also trying to save up for a ticket to the Imperial Capital.


    In such conditions, the source of the money became insignificant.

 Chapter 3 Facing the Transcendent

    "I never thought I, the second son of the esteemed Bartleion family, would ever stoop to bing a pickpocket," Lynnmented while weighing the wallet in his hand.


    In fact, Carol had not misjudged the situation.


    Lynn, or rather the original owner of this body, was indeed a nobleman, and not just any nobleman at that.


    Unfortunately, for some reason, this title not only brought him no benefits, but had repeatedly attracted attempts on his life, forcing him to live a life of shame and submission.


    Just how wretched had his situation be?


    The former noble hadmitted a grave mistake over a certain matter and was branded the "disgrace of the nobility," and following the incident, he was scorned by the entire Imperial Capital.


    To quell the public''s fury, he was exiled to the bordends as a criminal by his family.


    That in itself was bearable.


    After all, the Bartleion family possessed countless assets within the Saint Laurent Empire, and Orn City also had its fair share.


    Even if he spent his entire life here, he would have enough to live without worry.


    But since Orn City was so far from the Imperial Capital, with inconvenient traffic andmunication, as well as its backward living standards and being constantly affected by wars, the pampered family members were simply unwilling to suffer here.


    Thus, many of the local estates were left to the stewards and servants stationed here to manage.


    Over time, problems arose.


    Since this ce had been out of the family''s control for so long, the stewart and servants had developed a habit of arrogantly abusing their power over the years.


    Furthermore, many of the household staff, unting the Bartleion name, seized properties and oppressed themoners.


    The worst of it was that these damned individuals, whether following someone''s orders or simply growing too arrogant from their standing in Orn City, had forgotten their ce.


    They even dared tomit acts of servants deceiving their master!


    Since his predecessor had been sent here, the steward, servants, and even the lowest of the footmen looked down on him disdainfully.


    Outwardly they called him "young master," but behind his back, they looked down on him with superior attitudes and secretly opposed him.


    For example, the monthly allowance the family sent to maintain his dignity was intercepted by them, and they pocketed everyst penny.


    Or they confined him under various pretenses, forbidding him to go out.


    The most outrageous instance was when someone gave him a servant''s clothes to wear, shamelessly iming the estate had run out of money and needed him to earn some.


    They were overtly and covertly hinting that he should just get lost and fend for himself.


    When the steward found out, he merely deducted a day''s pay from the offender, treating the whole matter lightly.


    It was an open insult.


    What''s more, his predecessor had even suffered several assassination attempts!


    He had reason to suspect that these reckless servants were conspiring with external forces.


    It was then, at that critical time, that Lynn had crossed over to this world, taking over this dying body, and found an opportunity to escape.


    Moreover, ording to his memories, the scandal that had caused an uproar in the Imperial Capital was from the beginning to end a conspiracy against him.


    Regrettably, given Lynn''s current circumstances, he was temporarily unable to consider seeking revenge.


    With this in mind, he sighed.


    The ck cat beside him seemed to sense his gloomy mood and gave a "meow."


    He had picked up the ck cat from the roadside.


    When they had first encountered each other half a month ago, it was all alone, seemingly hungry, so it meowed at him.


    Perhaps it was because he saw something intelligent in the cat''s eyes, or maybe out of a sense of shared misery, he took it in on a whim.


    Lynn reached out to scratch its chin.


    "Don''t worry, Little ck, maybe it won''t be long before we brothers can venture back to the Imperial Capital," he said, as if talking to the cat, yet also as if talking to himself.


    This might also help shake off those mysterious forces pursuing him.


    After all, who would imagine that the "disgrace of the nobility," chased out of the Imperial Capital like a stray dog, would dare to return there?


    Lynn thought silently.


    The next second, however, a jarringly abrupt voice suddenly rang out, causing his spine to tingle without warning.


    "No, you aren''t going anywhere."


    The voice belonged to a man, spoken in a casual, dismissive tone.


    Yet to Lynn, it was as though thunder had exploded in his ears.


    Having encountered nothing unusual for the past week and feeling groggy, he had let his guard down and had no warning.


    How could someone appear in the room without a sound? Could it be that same force that had been secretly after his predecessor?


    These thoughts shed through his mind in an instant.


    Lynn''s body tensed as he gripped the revolver in his pocket.


    And yet, even so, he did not feel much reassurance.


    After all, he, who had read the novel, knew very clearly that this was an era where steam machinery and Transcendents coexisted, even the gods left traces to be found.


    In front of such power, a left revolver seemedughably weak.


    To prevent a sneak attack, Lynn pressed his back against the wall, his gaze vigntly sweeping the surroundings.


    He noticed, the room had begun to grow darker without him realizing it, even the light from the gasmps had dimmed.


    Shadows spread like ink diffusing in water, and even the air started to ripple strand by strand.


    Under Lynn''s watchful eye, a human shape wrapped in shadow slowly emerged from the pool of darkness on the ground, without making a sound.


    Indeed... this was the power of a Transcendent.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Lynn drew his left revolver the instant the shadowy figure appeared and fired three shots in rapid session.


    The bullets were aimed at the head, the heart, and the groin.


    "What a vicious little devil!"


    The shadow seemed somewhat surprised by Lynn''s ruthless action.


    But it was just that, surprise.


    The moment the bullets struck the figure, not a single drop of blood sttered; they hit what seemed like air before burying into the wall.


    No physical form?


    As this thought rose, a sense of rm surged in Lynn''s heart.


    The next second, the inky darkness around the shadowy figure suddenly began to boil.


    Following this, countless writhing tentacles shot out from the shadows like a tidal wave, firing towards Lynn!


    Although he sensed the iing attack, the ordinary human body he currently possessed could not support high-frequency evasion.


    Moreover, half a month of sleeplessness had weakened him to the extreme.


    Thus, it only took a few seconds for Lynn to feel his limbs and neck entangled by the shadowy tentacles carrying a powerful force.


    The tentacles lifted his body slowly until he was suspended in mid-air.


    At that moment, the human form shrouded in shadow slowly approached.


    Its face, also covered in shadow, was indistinct.


    "Don''t resist; it will be less painful that way," the shadow''s voice sounded quite young, "We can''t let you get hurt before you meet thatdy."


    It seemed he wasn''t about to give Lynn any chance to resist, as the shadowy tentacles around his limbs and neck started to tighten.


    The air grew thinner, making it harder for Lynn to breathe.


    Yet, his mind was still racing.


    Based on the touch, the enemy was not without a physical form; their body had just merged with the darkness, making physical attacks ineffective.


    That is to say, the power of the opponent derived from darkness.


    If that was the case... then use light to disperse the darkness.


    A sudden inspiration birthed a crazy idea in him.


    "Let''s... negotiate, shall we?" Lynn said in gasps, "No matter, who you work for, let me go... just this once... and I''ll surely repay..."


    "Mypanions and I have been tailing you for nearly half a month, and to stop now would be a waste," the shadowy man sighed, "And in my view, your repayment isn''t worth much."


    "Besides, thatdy specifically asked to see you; as an ordinary person, do you think you can defy her will?"


    Defy her will?


    This phrase implied a great deal, causing Lynn''s breath to catch.


    While this confirmed the shadowy man wasn''t here to kill him, it was more troubling than that.


    But he had no time to consider the underlying meaning now.


    "Alright, take a nap first, and you''ll be there when you wake up."


    With that, the shadowy man once again manipted his power, causing viscous shadows to surge over Lynn''s body.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "I... refuse."


    Lynn did not want to entrust his fate to someone else and, using thest of his strength, tightly gripped the left revolver in his hand.


    What needed to be done was actually quite simple.


    "Bang!"


    With the trigger pulled, a small hole was punctured in the gas pipe''s metal sheet in the corner of the room.


    "Hissss¡ª Hissss¡ª"


    The sound of leaking gas and an odd scent rushed in, soon spreading throughout the cramped room.


    The shadowy man''s expression froze.


    Disbelief flickered in his eyes as he subconsciously stepped back.


    "What are you trying to do¡ª"


    Before he finished speaking, the trigger was pulled once more.


    "Boom!!!"

 Chapter 4 You Crazy Person!!!

    The mainponent of natural gas is methane, and when its concentration reaches a certain level, it explodes violently upon contact with open mes.


    So the moment the second bullet pierced the gas pipe, a fireball erupted with a loud bang!


    "Boom¡ª¡ª!!!"


    The violent reaction that urred in an instant thoroughly illuminated the entire room.


    The scorching st swept through, shattering distant cabs and windows alike.


    Not only that, but the raging mes unleashed in the air ignited the bedsheets and curtains, the orange tongues of me swiftly caught, spreading along the mmable fabric to all the wooden structures in the room.


    It was at this time that the anomaly urred.


    In front of the intense firelight and explosion, the spreading shadows seemed to meet their natural enemy and receded like the tide!


    "Madman! You madman!!!"


    The man of shadows protected his body with the Shadow Power, shielding himself from the injury of the firelight and explosion, as he yelled furiously.


    He had not anticipated that the target would pull such a move just before the mission ended.


    Being responsible for intelligence and assassinations next to His Highness, the man of shadows rarely showed his face in public.


    Most who had seen his face were dead.


    Due to the limitations of his Extraordinary Ability, he never undertook missions during daylight.


    Yet, as a Third Rank Transcendent, the man of shadows was certainly no ordinary man''s match.


    But tonight, in this very room.


    Whether it was due to underestimating the enemy or holding back, he panicked for a moment.


    The man of shadows never expected this youngster to make such a crazy move.


    Did he not fear dying in this explosion himself?!


    At this moment, under the glow of the zing fire, the man of shadows squinted, his expression dark.


    The pitch-ck shadows that once protected him like armor were driven away by the mes, receding slowly like ink, revealing his frail body and pale face.


    Just as the gas exploded, his power was greatly reduced by the ze, as shadows fear light most of all.


    However, in order to follow themand of His Highness, he still marshaled his power in the final moments to protect Lynn.


    It was rather his own defenses that werepromised, his body exposed in the air, fortunately uninjured.


    Without any hesitation, he once again manipted the drifting shadows around him, attempting to escape into the darkness.


    But before he could act, he heard a calm voice.


    "Don''t move."


    Upon hearing this, the man of shadows looked up.


    Lynn, who had been under shadow''s control, had somehow freed himself and was now gasping for air on one knee on the ground, even with mes still burning on his clothing, his revolver steadily aimed at the opponent.


    His face was dirty, but he smiled with unusual excitement. "Guess which is faster, your control of power, or a bullet traveling at four hundred meters per second entering your heart from less than five meters away?"


    At this moment, unable to summon the Shadow Power to protect his body, he waspletely vulnerable, all vital spots exposed under Lynn''s gaze.


    And there was one bullet left in the chamber.


    For a Third Rank Transcendent, their bodies weren''t bulletproof.


    "..."


    The man of shadows stared intently at Lynn.


    The surveince over the past month and a half had been to confirm the intelligence, eliminating the possibility that Lynn harbored powerful Extraordinary Items.


    After all, he came from the Bartleion family, and his father was the renowned Iron-blooded Marquis with substantial family heritage.


    And this extended period of peace had not only caused Lynn to lose his vignce but also led the man of shadows, preliminary in his judgment, to believe that the young man before him, since that incident, had truly be a helpless ordinary person, barely surviving by petty thievery.


    Therefore, he felt utterly confident before tonight.


    He hadn''t anticipated that until thest moment, this kid would not give up the belief in turning defeat into victory.


    It made him very unwilling to ept.


    Normally, if he had used his full power, he could easily kill thousands of Lynns.


    But today he had received His Highness''s orders, forcing him to ensure his safety.


    "If it wasn''t..."


    The man of shadows clenched his teeth, his voice deep.


    "What are you trying to say?" Lynn suddenly frowned, growing impatient. "Do you mean to say, if not for underestimating me, if not for protecting me, if you could have deployed all means, this brat wouldn''t even have a chance to fight back?"


    "..."


    The man of shadows didn''t respond.


    But clearly, that''s what he thought.


    "Idiot!" Lynn scoffed coldly, "After being a Transcendent for so long, don''t you understand?"


    "It''s not that the strongest always win, but that the one who wins is definitely stronger!"


    This stern rebuke made the man of shadows flinch, his pupils shrinking.


    The words Lynn had just said echoed in his mind, filling him with a surge of emotions.


    After a moment, he closed his eyes and slowly bowed his head.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Lesson learned."


    Seeing this, Lynn let out a slight sigh of relief.


    It seemed hisst desperate bluffs had truly caught him off guard.


    Lynn was indeed certain that the other would protect him at the moment of the explosion, which was why he dared to act in such a way.


    After all, judging from their tone, they had great respect for thedy, so they would definitely follow her orders and ensure his safety.


    Thus, Lynn, who wanted to escape, no longer had this concern.


    Rather, it was simply the most foolish act for a human to hold back when facing a Transcendent.


    After all, outmatched as he was, all he could do was risk his life.


    At that moment, Lynn really wanted to kill him, but somehow, he couldn''t bring himself to pull the trigger.


    This guy wasn''t here to kill him after all, just to bring him to meet someone.


    Wouldn''t it be pointless to offend another power by killing him?


    Lynn, already desperate, couldn''t afford such consequences.


    Besides, this guy had just mentioned he might havepanions nearby.


    "There''s a sheriff''s office three hundred meters away from this tavern. I just fired five shots, plus the gas explosion. It must have rmed the people around here; the sheriff''s squad will arrive soon."


    Lynn took a deep breath and made his final decision.


    He was warning the other to leave quickly to avoid getting the officials involved.


    "You''re right."


    The man of shadows murmured lowly.


    Upon hearing this, Lynn felt a wave of relief wash over him, thinking his risky bet had paid off.


    Calcting carefully, including the money stolen from Carol, it should be enough to barely buy him a train ticket.


    Lynn decided to flee as soon as this guy left, grabbing his belongings and running into the night.


    However, contrary to his expectations, the man of shadows didn''t hurry to leave. Instead, after a few seconds of silence, he opened his eyes again.


    This time, his gaze turned elsewhere, his tone showing resignation, "Stop spectating. Do you think you haven''t embarrassed yourself enough tonight?"


    Damn!


    Lynn cursed silently in his mind.


    He really did havepanions nearby!


    Just as Lynn was on high alert, trying to locate the other enemy, a melodious girl''s voice suddenly rang out.


    "Stop looking; I''m right here, meow."


    Lynn''s body stiffened, his pupils dted.


    How... possible?


    Under his shocked gaze, the ck cat that had been protected in his arms stretched out in a peculiar way.


    It grewrger, gradually taking on a human form.


    Momentster, a petite figure d in a tight leather suit and barefooted, appeared seated on top of Lynn, so light that her weight was imperceptible.


    The girl had porcin-white skin, shoulder-length hair, and her sharp cat ears twitched amongst the strands.


    She looked Lynn up and down with her green vertical pupils, her eyes gleaming as if she wanted to take a bite out of him.


    "To think that as an ordinary person, you coulde this far. Impressive!"


    "Xiao Hei? You¡­"


    Lynn felt utterly devastated at that moment.


    He finally understood that from the beginning, he had been like a toy in their hands.


    Probably, his resistance seemed to them merely child''s y.


    From the start, there was never any chance of winning.


    "So, I''m a girl, stop calling me Xiao Hei," the girl in the leather suit seemed slightly upset, lightly hopping off, "Let me introduce myself, my name is Aphia, I follow ''Abundance,'' and I''m a Third Rank Transcendent."


    "And that one over there, he''s Morris, following¡­"


    "Enough talk, just take him and go, I''ll deal with the aftermath!"


    Seeing that this bbermouth was almost about to spill all his secrets, Morris red at Aphia,manding.


    However, Lynn couldn''t care less to remember all this.


    He said bitterly, "Xiao Hei, I thought we were friends!"


    "I never starved you, I even groomed you every day, scratched under your chin, let you sleep in my arms, I¡­"


    Lynn recounted the warm moments they had shared together.


    On reflection, when she was with him, it indeed was veryfortable, without a worry or care in the world.


    It was as though he was the master.


    Aphia''s fuzzy ears twitched, seemingly a bit softened.


    "... evenst time when you were in heat, it was me who used my hand¡ª"


    "Pervert!!!"


    It was toote when she realized what he was saying.


    Feeling Morris''s shocked gaze, Aphia, embarrassed and angry, interrupted Lynn, and with a "whoosh," her long tail whipped across his face.


    The heavy blow and the dull pain caused Lynn''s vision to darken, his consciousness gradually fading.


    If he were to be captured, the worst oue would be death, better to drag someone down with him.


    Who says social death isn''t a death?


    In thest second before he passed out, Lynn sinisterly thought.

 Chapter 5 The Fool Who Thinks Hes Clever

    When Lynn regained consciousness, he found himself engulfed in darkness.


    The rough texture against his skin indicated that his head was probably covered with a bup sack to block his vision.


    At the moment, Lynn felt he was lying on his back on a tform, asionally sensing the jolting of a carriage beneath him.


    His hands were handcuffed behind his back, rendering him immobile.


    Despite this, Lynn managed to lightly rest his right index finger on his left wrist by using his body as cover.


    Simultaneously, distant bell sounds faintly emerged from the streets nearby, gradually left behind by the speeding carriage.


    The bell tolled a total of ten times.


    In contrast, the inside of the carriage was very quiet, as if he were the only one there.


    But he was well aware that someone named Morris, who had the ability to manipte shadows, was likely lurking in a corner watching him.


    As for Aphia... oh no, Aphia, whereabouts were unknown.


    Of course, Lynn was rather pleased with this.


    It gave him a chance to think through his next moves on the way.


    However, there was something he found particrly strange.


    Ever since his encounter with Morris and the others, the system had disappeared, failing to emit any more notification sounds or warnings.


    Though he did not know the reason, Lynn was somewhat relieved.


    Finally, there would be some peace.


    With this in mind, Lynn recalled his conversation with Morris.


    "Who exactly is ''thatdy'' referring to?"


    What did they want with him?


    He had no answers to the first question at the moment.


    But for the second question, Lynn had some ideas.


    It was most likely due to the Bartleion surname.


    But now, having been banished to Orn City as a criminal of his family, stripped of his past privileges, he was almost reduced to nothingness.


    Even in Lynn''s memories, his former self had contemted suicide several times.


    He genuinely did not know what use he could still serve now.


    Thus, amid continuous thought, this unknown journey quickly reached its conclusion.


    The speed of the carriage gradually decreased.


    A slight inertia brought the somewhat absent-minded Lynn back to reality.


    Before long, apanied by the sound of the door opening, chilly air flooded into the carriage.


    At the same time, a hoarse, elderly woman''s voice rang out not far away, "Mr. Lynn, it''s time to get off."


    While speaking, someone approached and helped him up from his seat.


    Lynn did not intend to resist because even if he could unlock the handcuffs, he couldn''t overpower thatdy''s subordinates.


    Moreover, having a vague idea of the other party''s intentions, he felt somewhat resigned.


    ¡ªUntil he met the man who imed to be an interrogator, that was his thought.


    ...


    Is this... underground?


    Although his eyes were covered, relying on his sense of direction, Lynn realized he was being taken into some underground facility.


    This underground facility was deep, and it took about five to six minutes walking down the stairs continuously and winding along a circuitous path before Lynn felt he was pushed onto a chair.


    Subsequently, the headcover was roughly pulled off.


    However, the handcuffs remained, locking his hands tightly behind him.


    The moment his vision was restored, the intense light caused him to squint, and he then realized he was now in a rtively tidy room.


    Only a bare cement surface and a desk in front surrounded the area.


    A momentter, the prison door was pushed open.


    A blond man with an indifferent expression walked in, pulled out the chair opposite the desk, and sat down in front of Lynn.


    He ced a stack of papers and a pen on the desk.


    Without any preamble or small talk, the blond man straightforwardly asked, "Are you Lynn Bartleion?"


    Lynn gave him a once-over.


    The man in front of him appeared to be in his twenties or thirties, tall and handsome with blond hair that shone dazzlingly under the light.


    One could tell at first nce that this fellow was extremely proud.


    Dealing with such people was actually very simple.


    Consequently, Lynn responded with a cold smirk, "Indeed, I am."


    Then he deliberately acted arrogantly and propped his legs on top of the desk with the soles of his boots facing the other man.


    "Since you''ve captured me, you should be aware of my background."


    "Perhaps in your view, the Bartleion family is miles away from here, and Orn City is beyond their reach... If you think so, then you are gravely mistaken."


    "Baron Augusta was a close friend of my father. If you don''t want to face repercussionster, you''d better release me now."


    The Augusta Family was quite renowned in Orn City, their influence intricate and deep-rooted, making them akin to a local powerhouse.


    Hearing this, the blond man finally spoke up, "You im your father and Baron Augusta were close?"


    "Of course."


    "But I wasn''t aware of this rtionship," the blond man stated expressionlessly, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rhein Augusta, and I am the eldest son of the family."


    "..."


    Lynn hastily took his legs off the table, revealing a shocked expression.


    He hadn''t expected that the one who had kidnapped him belonged to the Augusta Family.


    Seeing his reaction, Rhein, the man called by that name, felt even more disdain, "To be honest, having toe here for an interrogation in the middle of the night is truly bothersome. It would be much better if we could show some understanding toward each other."


    "But you seem to not understand the situation you''re in."


    "From what you said earlier, you must think you''re quite clever."


    "Unfortunately," Rhein suddenly stood up and walked towards the door, "the thing I hate the most in my life are those fools who only know half truths yet consider themselves clever."


    A momentter, two men resembling guards walked in, clenching their fists and smiling sinisterly.


    ...


    "Rhein, Princess did not request that you torture him harshly, you are overstepping your authority!"


    Outside the prison, Morris''s figure suddenly emerged from the shadows on the wall, looking sternly at the blond man.


    Rhein nced at him, "The Princess just finished dealing with a rebellion by the Creationist School and is currently resting at the estate, she wille hereter."


    "As her clerk, in her absence, I have the authority to handle this."


    Hearing this, Morris shook his head, "Well then, I won''t say much, but you should be aware of something."


    "The guy in the cell is very smart, and he hides within him a craziness to the extreme, you must be cautious."


    "He''s nothing but a brainless fool." Rhein scoffed disdainfully, "If he were truly clever, how would he have been branded a ''disgrace to the nobility'' and banished to this frontier city?"


    "It''s you and Aphia who are truly foolish, even failing at such a task. When the Princess arrives, apologize to her yourself."


    "Enough."


    Morris snorted coldly, then disappeared into the shadows.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Watching his vanishing figure, Rhein''s eyes openly disyed a trace of contempt.


    He and his Augusta Family had sworn loyalty to the Princess after she arrived in Orn City.


    While Morris and Aphia had been following her for much longer.


    For those lowly characters, as dirty as mud, Rhein had advised the Princess more than once to eliminate such waste from the group; the Augusta Family''s support alone would suffice.


    Unfortunately, it seemed the Princess was one to honor old loyalties and had not taken his advice.

 Chapter 6 Lynns Past

    Lynn''s body curled up like a shrimp, lying on the cold ground.


    Just now, those two guards seemed to have received Rhein''s orders, one holding his body while the other continuously punched him in the abdomen.


    After ten heavy punches, he no longer had the strength to stand, his stomach churning violently.


    Yet a cold smile emerged at the corner of his mouth.


    Actually, that posture of his was nothing more than a performance for the other side.


    Lynn had no intention of leaving his fate in someone else''s hands.


    And just as Lynn had thought a few minutes earlier, dealing with someone like Rhein was actually quite simple.


    All one needed to do was make him feel he had control over everything.


    After that, one''s own arrogance would gradually devour them until ws were exposed.


    What Lynn needed to do was seize that w and deliver a fatal strike.


    So far, everything was proceeding ording to his n.


    But... it really did hurt.


    Lynn thought silently.


    After the punishment, the two guards helped him back into his seat and left without looking back.


    It wasn''t long before Rhein returned to the prison.


    Looking at Lynn, who sat motionless in the chair, he looked down from on high and said, "To tell you the truth, I''m in a very bad mood right now."


    "Morris and the others failed their mission today, and perhaps even I will be punished because of it."


    "You must understand that, in the end, it''s all because of you," his eyes filled with scorn, "If it weren''t for your foolish resistance, none of this would''ve happened."


    This point of view was quite novel, as if the victim was to be med.


    But Lynn didn''t argue, and although appearing weak, he nodded in agreement, "If it weren''t for that night with your mother, you wouldn''t be sitting here so pretentiously."


    He was trying to provoke the other side, to make him lose his calm judgment.


    Hearing this, Rhein indeed took a deep breath, "It seems, then, the lesson just now was not profound enough."


    He turned and left again.


    Momentster, Lynn was greeted with another beating.


    ...


    Why can''t people ever learn their lesson?


    Outside the prison, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, Rhein rested, listening to the sounds of punches and muffled groansing from the cell.


    Just then, he suddenly heard the sound of noisy footsteps from afar.


    Rhein immediately opened his eyes and looked toward the distant staircase.


    A group of people hade to the Underground Prison of Augusta Manor.


    Leading them was a long-haired woman dressed in a military uniform, draped in an army coat, exuding an atmosphere of iron-blooded solemnity.


    She was tall and stately, with amanding presence, her long, slender legs encased in knee-high boots.


    She was like an Empress whomanded the heavens, making everyone else dare not look directly at her.


    It was just a pity that her face was covered with a ck patterned mask, obscuring her features.


    "Your Highness..."


    Even Rhein, as proud as he was, couldn''t help but kneel on one knee and pay his respects when he saw her.


    "Rise," she said.


    The woman known as "Your Highness" stepped over Rhein in her long boots and came to the prison entrance.


    Upon hearing the noiseing from inside, she couldn''t help but frown deeply.


    "I remember having said that before I meet with him, he is not to be harmed in the slightest."


    Her voice involuntarily took on an icy tone.


    "My apologies, Your Esteemed Highness," Rhein bowed deeply. "But you have also granted me the authority to make decisions on my own under certain circumstances."


    "ording to my judgment, if he were to meet with you directly, unpleasant incidents are likely to ensue; thus, I took the liberty of disciplining this somewhat clever individual."


    In Rhein''s view, violence and fear were best for teaching submission.


    Lynn was no exception.


    "Somewhat clever? Is that your assessment of him?"


    Upon hearing her subordinate''s exnation, her icy voice softened slightly.


    "Yes, his abilities are quite decentpared to ordinary people and should be able to provide some assistance for Your Highness''s cause," Rhein nodded. "However, that''s all they are¡ªdecent."


    Upon hearing this, she fell silent for a moment, then spoke, "Open the door. I wish to meet him in person."


    ...


    After the second beating, Lynn no longer had the strength even to sit up in the chair.


    At this moment, his hands remained cuffed under the table, his head resting weakly on the edge of the table, he was utterly drained.


    It wasn''t long before the door was pushed open again.


    He thought he would hear Ryan''s disdain-filled words again.


    Unexpectedly, what he first discerned was the scent of roses and the crisp sound of a woman''s boots touching the ground.


    It was just a pity hecked the strength to lift his head.


    Shortly after, an icy yet pleasant voice suddenly rang out.


    "Lynn Bartleion, 17 years old, formerly a student at Saint Laurent Royal Transcendent Academy."


    "During your time at the academy, you excelled academically, boasted a remarkable talent, and were promoted to a Fourth Rank Transcendent after merely two years of enrollment."


    "Not only that, but you also requested realbat experience multiple times. After passing the assessments, you were granted permission to lead a group of fourth-period students to the frontlines of the Demon n''s battlefield, where you repeatedly earned distinctions and were awarded the Captain Rank at a young age."


    "You were supposed to be the youngest staff officer in the history of the Empire and, with the backing of Marquis Bartleion, ascend even further."


    "You had a beautiful fianc¨¦e, a teacher who cared for you, and ssmates who respected you. Your future was supposed to be bright."


    "But ever since that incident, everything came crashing down."


    "..."


    Lynn remained silent.


    Seeing this, the woman with the lovely voice didn''t seem angry. "Since you''re not talking, I will continue."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "One and a half years ago, during the Holy Sword Army''s thirteenth annihtion campaign against the Demon n, you received orders to coborate with the Commander and your elite squad on an extremely dangerous decapitation mission."


    "After the mission ended, believing you had spotted an opportunity, you failed toply with military orders to return to camp and instead rashly ventured deeper into the battlefield, seeking glory."


    "During that time, your squad members repeatedly urged you to turn back, but you turned a deaf ear, risking the lives of the entire squad for your own military honors."


    "ording to reports, you wereter ambushed by the Demon n, suffered heavy casualties, and ultimately managed to escape back to camp alone, paying the price with the lives of all your squad members."


    "Afterward, you were brought before a military tribunal and, through your father''s intervention, you managed to survive, but in doing so, you incited the wrath of the entire Imperial Capital."


    "Even your faith abandoned you: the Archbishop of the Heavenly Principle Church personally stripped you of the Divine-given factor within you, rendering you an ordinary person who could never again pursue the path of the Transcendent."


    "Your family also condemned you as a criminal, exiling you from the Imperial Capital to this distant frontier."


    "Am I not correct... Mr. ''Disgrace of Nobility''?"

 Chapter 7 Put It to My Use

    Hearing the woman''s narration, Lynn, who had been deeply bowing his head, revealed a cold sneer.


    His predecessor was truly aplete wretch.


    ording to his memory, the actual events of the war were vastly different from the report''s description.


    He who should have been honored as a war hero ended up being ndered as a coward who abandoned his teammates, even erasing all his contributions.


    So, Lynn straightened up forcefully, allowing himself to lean back on the seat in a less painful posture.


    He was very clear about the theory of Theseus'' Ship.


    In one''s life, all the cells in the body are renewed countless times through metabolism.


    Thus, strictly speaking, the person you are from birth to death are twopletely different individuals.


    So, what exactly defines the essence of a person?


    In Lynn''s view, it was memory.


    Memory determines a person''s character and quality, and also determines the choices he makes when faced with countless crossroads in life.


    So, why should there be such a clear distinction between his predecessor and Lynn from Blue Star?


    At this moment, having inherited his predecessor''s memory, he was the youngest son of the Bartleion family.


    Therefore, he did not acknowledge the report in the other party''s hands.


    Thinking this, Lynn looked up.


    With the help of the light, he saw Rhein, standing aside with her eyes downcast, and the woman sitting in the chair.


    Judging from her figure and temperament, the woman before him must be beyond ordinary beauty but also fearsomely extraordinary.


    Like a rose with thorns.


    Strangely, she seemed unwilling to reveal her true face, wearing a dark mask with a bizarre floral pattern that hid her fair features.


    Apart from a pair of cold and clear beautiful eyes, nothing else could be seen.


    A dangerous individual.


    Seeing her for the first time, he silently made a judgment in his heart.


    It seemed, she was the "Lady" Morris mentioned.


    Lynn made his judgment, then smiled helplessly and lifted his tightly shackled wrists, "By the way, these handcuffs are very tight, could you unlock them for me?"


    Heined to Rhein.


    "Joking can wait until you''re dead," Rhein said expressionlessly.


    Upon hearing this, Lynn sighed, "It seems we really don''t get along... In that case, I have another request."


    The cold woman with the mask raised her hand to stop the bursting Rhein and said, "Speak."


    "Let him leave," Lynn nodded towards Rhein, "You probably want to ask me some things, right? With him here, I''m too scared to remember anything."


    "Okay."


    The masked woman nodded slightly, agreeing to Lynn''s proposal.


    "But¡­"


    Rhein hesitated.


    At that moment, Lynn suddenly coughed violently, bowing his head deeply.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With the help of the light, Rhein saw him cough up a pool of blood.


    It appeared he had suffered internal injuries from the guard''s personal punishment earlier.


    If that''s the case, this guy should pose no threat now.


    Especially since, after being deprived of the Divine-given factor, Lynn Bartleion had long be an ordinary person. Even if he were a bit clever, in the heavily guarded "dungeon," how could he possibly turn the tables?


    Rhein''sst bit of doubt dissipated.


    However, before leaving, he still decided to issue a warning.


    So, after nodding in understanding to the Princess, he walked around the table to Lynn, grabbed his hair, and whispered into his ear, "Behave."


    ```


    "..."


    Lynn parted his lips and shed a brilliant smile at him.


    "Hmph."


    Seeing this, Rhein released his hair and then turned away.


    For a moment, the cramped cell was left with only Lynn and the masked woman.


    "I have met your request. Now, it''s time for you to answer my question."


    "Do you have anything you wish to say about the details in this report?"


    The masked woman''s voice was clear and cold, yet eerily melodious.


    "Have anything to say..." Lynn seemed to be conversing with her but also seemed to be talking to himself, "Madam, being able to ess this dossier indicates that you upy a high position within the Empire''s administrative system."


    "In that case, you should also know to what extent those deadbeat idiots would go to cover up the truth for petty gains."


    "The incident back then was a setup orchestrated by that woman; it was a thorough defamation."


    "So, I do not acknowledge a single word of it."


    The atmosphere instantly grew tense.


    Behind the mask, the woman''s gaze seemed to pierce through Lynn, sizing him uppletely.


    After a moment, she flipped to the next page of the dossier: "The ''woman'' you mentioned, is she your former fianc¨¦e, Miss Irina Mos from the Snow Eagle family?"


    Lynn nced at her.


    "In your testimony at that time, you mentioned that she provided you and your squad with false military orders and intelligence, using you as bait and leading you into a trap that ultimately resulted in the death of all 132 members of your squad."


    "And yet, she climbed over the corpses of yourrades to rise in rank, wiping out tens of thousands from the Demon n in the Battle of Soron Mountain Range and bing the youngest ''Valkyrie'' in the history of the Empire."


    "You even used her of colluding with the Demon n,mitting treason."


    "Unfortunately, the Empire eventually denied these baseless usations."


    Upon hearing this, Lynn took a deep breath: "You didn''t bring me to this ce just to rip open my wounds then?"


    The masked woman nodded: "Then, let us discuss some information you are unaware of."


    She pulled another stack of papers from the dossier.


    With Lynn''s gaze fixed on her, that cold voice once again rang in his ears.


    "In the year and a half since you were exiled to Orn City, some major events have also urred in the Imperial Capital."


    "The first incident is, after leaving the battlefield, your former fianc¨¦e Irina participated in an experiment at the Saint Laurent Research Institute."


    "With the help of the researchers, she sessfully transnted the Divine-given factor stripped from you and ascended to the Fifth Rank, bing the only Transcendent among her peers to reach the ''Legendary'' Rank."


    "This further legitimized the title of ''Empire''s Valkyrie.''"


    "Subsequently, led by Irina and the Snow Eagle family, a group of nobles began oppress the Bartleion family."


    "The first to be directly affected was your father, Marquis Bartleion."


    "Due to the mistakes you made, he, as the Military Affairs Minister, was forced to resign and fell severely ill upon returning home, remainingatose to this day."


    "Your brother also died in a military operation. After investigation, the Military Department ruled it as an ident."


    "As for you, after being exiled to Orn City, you must have felt it, right?" At this point, the masked woman suddenly raised her head, looking at Lynn, "Those servants who lord over their master, and... the forces secretly trying to assassinate you."


    Lynn remained silent.


    Unexpectedly, after leaving the Imperial Capital, such earth-shattering changes had urred there.


    The current Bartleion family can only be said to bepletely ruined.


    However, having said this, Lynn was now somewhat curious about the masked woman in front of him.


    "Lady, what exactly is your purpose in seeking me?"


    Upon hearing this, the masked woman nodded: "Moving forward, I will speak inly."


    "After experiencing so much injustice, I believe you must be sufficiently enraged by now." The masked woman leaned forward, her palms intersected, "As such, I hope you can turn that rage into strength."


    "Lynn Bartleion, I hope you can serve me."


    "As for those who ndered you, I will silence them; those who sit high and mighty, I will cast them into the abyss; those who have wronged you... I will ensure they are beyond redemption."


    ```

 Chapter 8 Hypnosis Experiment

    Hearing the other party''s words, Lynn fell silent.


    After a moment, he lowered his head and said, "That sounds... not bad? So, what do you need me to do?"


    The masked woman appeared to have thought it through already and did not hesitate, "I need you to return to the Imperial Capital, inherit your father''s title, and then have the entire family swear allegiance to me."


    "The Bartleion family is considered an old honorable family, unlike those new powers without any foundation, and your influence in the Military Department is significant."


    "Although it''s somewhat declining now, it still represents a force that cannot be ignored."


    "What''s more," the masked woman paused and looked at Lynn with an inexplicable gaze, "your family seems very wealthy."


    "I need your family to provide me with a continuous flow of financial support."


    "Currently, your father is critically ill, on the brink of death, and your brother died on the battlefield. Apart from your sister, you are the only one left in the Bartleion family... of course, excluding the child in your sister-inw''s womb."


    "So, for you to inherit the title would be the natural course of things."


    Lynn shook his head, "Madam, you should know, in the Imperial Capital, I am a target for everyone; they won''t let me inherit the title easily."


    "That is for me to worry about; you just need to answer me, agree or disagree."


    At this, Lynn shrugged, "It seems I have no reason to refuse?"


    If this was indeed the reason they had captured him, then Lynn might ept the proposal.


    Even if he had to feign agreement on the surface and secretly look for an opportunity to escape, it wouldn''t be impossible.


    After all, the other party really had made a huge demand, nearly wanting to devour the entire Bartleion family.


    Perhaps it wasn''t just her, but also those nobles in the Imperial Capital who were eager to get a share.


    And all of this could be attributed to his fianc¨¦e.


    Lynn sneered internally.


    It seemed that the other party had seen through his thoughts and continued, "Wait a moment, I haven''t finished stating my conditions yet."


    "This deal between us doesn''t have any guarantee, as you should be well aware," the masked woman said, resting her chin in her hand and revealing a patch of her snowy wrist, which added a few charming qualities to her usually cold demeanor, "so before this, you will need to cooperate with us in an experiment."


    "What experiment?"


    Lynn furrowed his brows slightly.


    The other party clearly wasn''t foolish and couldn''t possibly base such significant cooperation merely on verbal agreements.


    "An experiment rted to mind control," the masked woman pointed to her forehead, "in other words, a hypnosis experiment."


    She said bluntly.


    "You want to make me your puppet?" Lynn scoffed, "Without spending a penny, you could devour the century-long umtion of the Bartleion family. That indeed is a lucrative deal."


    "So, what is your answer?"


    "I refuse."


    Of course, Lynn could not agree.


    If he really underwent that experiment, he would bepletely handing over the power over life and death to the other party.


    Once he became an utter ve, he would no longer be able to resist.


    "Can you tell me the reason?" The masked woman seemed unsurprised, "Apart from this path, it seems the Bartleion family doesn''t have any other chance for a turnaround."


    Lynn smiled, "I don''t want to be a prisoner without any autonomy. I''d rather die than that."


    "What if I assure you that I won''t manipte your will through hypnosis unless you betray me first?"


    "That''s still not possible."


    Now, the masked woman was genuinely curious.


    From her point of view, the conditions she was able to offer should be irresistible to a fallen noble seeking revenge.


    She had seen people driven by vengeance.


    To achieve their goals, they wouldn''t hesitate to plunge into hell.


    But the young man before her seemed to have no such thoughts.


    "Why?" She asked sinctly, then seemed to suddenly realize something, "Perhaps you don''t know who I am, then I..."


    "It has nothing to do with that." Lynn cut her off, "For instance, Madam, would you board a ship that is destined to sink?"


    "What does that mean?"


    The masked woman slightly furrowed her brows.


    "It means... no matter who you are or what you want to do, with only this ragtag bunch at your disposal, you won''t be able to aplish anything."


    Lynn leaned back in his seat and said calmly.


    It seemed that her disdain had registered, and the masked woman''s voice grew colder, "Do you have some sort of misunderstanding about me, thinking I''m easy to talk to?"


    "Lynn Bartleion, you have only two choices before you."


    "The first is to ept my proposal and be my subordinate after the experiment ispleted."


    "The second, after extracting your memories, I''ll have someone transform into you and take over as the new head of the Bartleion family."


    The oue of the second choice went without saying.


    She was not running a charity.


    Once he had outlived his usefulness, his only fate would be death.


    "Or perhaps... there is a third option."


    Lynn suddenly stretched outzily.


    Following that, he leisurely ced a revolver, loaded with bullets, on the table.


    "I could take you hostage and escape from here."


    A sudden change urred.


    The masked woman''s gaze intensified.


    Right now, the shackles had not been opened, yet Lynn''s right hand had somehow freed itself.


    Upon closer inspection, the base of his thumb was distinctly swollen.


    This thumb dislocation technique, which Lynn had learned from a book in his previous life, had worked the first time he tried it.


    He looked at the silent masked woman and smiled cheerfully, "See, wasn''t I right?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "These men under you are nothing but a disorganized mob."


    While fiddling with the revolver, Lynn continued to speak.


    The gun that had originally belonged to Werner had been confiscated.


    The gun in Lynn''s hand now had been smoothly pilfered from Rhein while they had whispered to each other earlier.


    It only required a bit of sleight of hand to effortlessly achieve this.


    He had already said it.


    Dealing with people like Rhein only required making them feel everything was under control; their own arrogance would devour them until they showed a w.


    And Lynn, had seized that w.


    Thus, at this moment, the situation hadpletely reversed.


    "From the beginning, you intentionally pretended to bepliant, just to make Rhein let his guard down and create a situation where we were alone?"


    The masked woman examined Lynn up and down, as if seeing him anew.


    "Exactly." While speaking, Lynn pried open his mouth, revealing the bite marks inside, "He probably thought I was too weak to resist after seeing me spit blood, which was incredibly stupid."


    "Lady, once this is over, you should consider getting more reliable subordinates."


    "Do you think you can escape this dungeon?" The masked woman remained calm throughout, "Even if you managed to get to the surface, this area is still our territory..."


    "Save your bluster," Lynn interrupted her again, "Lady, you can''t fool me with that."


    "Oh?"


    The masked woman looked at him with interest.


    "You think that because you blindfolded me and tied my hands during transport, I was utterly helpless?" Lynn stood up and walked towards her, "When I was captured, it was about 9:40 PM, and when I woke up, the clock tower in the center of Orn City had just struck ten."


    "The sound of the bells didn''t give me enough time to leave the city but allowed me to deduce our rtive position."


    "As for the rest of the way, I judged it by the time I felt moving and the general direction... Plus, a person''s pulse, breathing, even heartbeat, can serve as tools to measure time."


    "With all these factorsbined, and my memory of an aerial map of Orn City, it''s easy to figure out where we are now."


    "108 King''s Avenue underground, am I right?"

 Chapter 9 Put Down the Gun, Lets Talk Nicely!

    As he spoke, Lynn walked up to the masked woman.


    He had no intention of treating her gently and tantly pressed the gun muzzle against her forehead.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As heid out his deductions, the previously interested masked woman was nowpletely silent.


    She seemed unafraid of the dark muzzle of the gun, pondering Lynn''s astonishing statement instead.


    After a long while, she suddenly raised her hands and gently started pping.


    "You''re right, that fool Rhein almost overlooked someone as talented as you... Just a bit clever? Ridiculous."


    "Lynn Bartleion, I am bing more and more interested in you," her clear, cold beautiful eyes now revealed a hint of excited hunter''s thrill, "The more you act this way, the more I can''t bear to let you go."


    "Don''t praise me like that, ma''am. I might fall in love with you."


    Lynn seemed to be flirting with her.


    Though his words were soft, the gun in his hand didn''t deviate at all.


    After all, the woman in front of him could make Rhein and the Augusta Family bow their heads in submission; even if her strength was unknown, she couldn''t be underestimated.


    Even if she was just an ordinary person, she definitely had one or two powerful Extraordinary Items to protect her life.


    Moreover, her calm demeanor throughout made Lynn feel somewhat uneasy.


    But no matter what, in order to escape this ce, he no longer had a way back.


    "In love with me?"


    Hearing this, the masked woman chuckled, and remained silent.


    Ignorant fool.


    Would you still say such a thing if you saw what''s beneath the mask?


    She thought silently.


    However, Lynn did not know what she was thinking and did not bother to guess.


    He gently tapped the masked woman''s forehead with the revolver. "Ma''am, let Rheine in."


    "No hurry, I still have some questions to ask you," the masked woman ignored his threat. "There is something I am very curious about."


    "From your previous words, I can tell you must hate the nobles of the Imperial Capital extremely, and I don''t have much affection for them either."


    "Ultimately, our goals are aligned."


    "Is it more important to indulge in momentary satisfaction, or to unite and focus our strengths outward¡ªisn''t it clear which matters more?"


    "As for the im that your men are a ragtag bunch, I won''t deny that, but that''s definitely not the real reason you refused."


    Through the mask, Lynn''s eyes met with those crimson ones.


    "Digging too deep isn''t something ady should do."


    Lynn tried to change the subject.


    "Pointing a gun at ady isn''t gentlemanly either," the masked woman said with a lightugh.


    Hearing this, Lynn sighed, "Alright, alright, since you really want to know the reason, I''ll tell you."


    "It''s the eyes."


    "The eyes?"


    The masked woman frowned slightly, not quite understanding.


    "To me, your gaze is no different from those nobles of the Imperial Capital," Lynn said with a smile, "Even though you are talking to me, your gaze never truly rested on me."


    "Whether it''s Morris, Rhein, or you."


    "So, you and those nobles you despise are essentially the same."


    "..."


    The masked woman instinctively wanted to retort.


    But when she tried to speak, she found herself speechless.


    "Alright, it''s about time."


    Seeing her lost in thought, Lynn, not wanting to waste more time on this trivial matter, indicated again.


    Hearing his words, the masked woman fell silent for a moment and then raised her voice, "Rhein,e in."


    "Yes."


    A responding voice faintly came from outside.


    Then, a blond man entered the room.


    He had thought that the Princess had finished negotiating with the other party and needed him to handle the subsequent matters.


    He jerked his head up in that moment, but was suddenly stunned.


    At this time, the Princess sat in her chair with her arms crossed, and the prisoner at her feet had somehow slipped out of the handcuffs and was now pointing a gun at her.


    Seeing this scene, Rhein felt as if his brain would explode.


    His eyes turned extremely dangerous, and he instinctively reached for his gun.


    But after feeling the empty space at his waist, he was stunned anew.


    "When did you..."


    "Shush, don''t make a sound," Lynn ced her right index finger on her lips. "If I catch any movement from you trying to send signals, I won''t hesitate to fire six shots right here."


    "Afterwards, well, I''m surely going to die, but to make you die with me for your negligence would be worth it."


    Hearing this, Rhein''s forehead broke out in cold sweat.


    His eyes widened with fury, as if he wanted to kill him on the spot.


    But the Princess was currently being held hostage in his hands.


    Although he was well aware that with the Princess''s capabilities, she would not suffer any harm,


    just the mere fact of a thug pointing a gun at her, after this incident, he as a clerk would rather die ten thousand times to be rid of the me!


    "Put down the gun, let''s talk."


    Even the extremely arrogant Rhein had to face reality at that moment and spoke softly.


    Looking at Lynn''s calm gaze, Rhein just wished he could go back in time and smack himself several times.


    Morris was right.


    Such a dangerous person who could turn the tables with just a sliver of an opportunity¡ªa madman¡ªhow could he possibly be evaluated with just "a bit clever"?


    Seeing his eyes red with anger, a trace of mockery appeared in Lynn''s eyes: "Are you finally willing to look at me properly?"


    "As long as you don''t do anything rash, I''ll agree to any condition."


    Rhein managed to hold back his anger as he spoke.


    "Agree to any condition?"


    A sinister smile spread across Lynn''s face.


    Rhein had an ominous premonition but still grimly said. "Of course, I swear on the honor of the Augusta Family."


    "Fine, now take off all your clothes, then walk out naked, and shout ''I am gay'' to everyone you see."


    Hearing this condition, Rhein''s expression twisted grotesquely.


    Could he not hear that Lynn was deliberately humiliating him, revenge for the beating he had ordered earlier?


    This guy...


    Seeing his hesitant appearance, Lynn sarcastically said, "It seems thedy''s safety and the honor of the Augusta Family mean little in your sight?"


    "Do you know who she really is..."


    Rhein intended to tell Lynn the truth, to let him know the noble existence he had offended.


    But before he could speak, he was stopped by a cold nce from the Princess.


    As if to say: shut up, do as he says.


    Now Rhein waspletely dumbfounded.


    He didn''t understand why the Princess tolerated this kid''s holding her hostage, why she didn''t kill him on the spot, but instead, yed along with his kidnapper game.


    Yet as a subordinate, even if he did not understand, he had no choice but to follow the orders of his superiors.


    In the end, Rhein, like a man whose spine had been severed, despairingly bowed his head.


    ...


    "You really have a twisted sense of humor."


    When she opened her eyes again, the masked woman saw only a pile of clothes scattered on the floor; Rhein had disappeared from the room.


    She certainly had no fetish for appreciating subordinates'' nudity.


    Momentster, cries and screams emanated from outside the jail.


    Chaos ensued.


    "Alright, beautifuldy, please close your eyes for a bit longer."


    Lynn pointed the gun at her while he began to strip off his clothes, swapping them for Rhein''s uniform.


    At this moment, he looked just like her personal bodyguard.


    After making all the preparations, Lynn tucked his gun-wielding hand into his pocket but continued to maintain his aim.


    Then he gestured for the masked woman to stand up.


    "Let''s go."

 Chapter 10 How Beautiful

    Perhaps it was because Rhein''s actions had caught everyone by surprise.


    So when Lynn followed the masked woman out, all those present somehow failed to notice him.


    Because it was simply too crazy.


    The majority of the guards watching the Underground Prison were from the Augusta Family.


    They were well aware that the expressionless eldest young master, who was actually proud at heart, always looked at everyone with disdain.


    Such a person despised acts that would tarnish a noble''s dignity through pandering to the masses.


    Yet now, the haughty eldest young master was running aroundpletely naked, shouting, "I''m gay," which was absolutely mind-boggling.


    Could it be that he had been repressed for too long and finally revealed his true nature?


    Quite a few of the armored guards shivered subconsciously.


    Feeling the various gazes from around him, Rhein felt extremely indignant at this moment.


    I am not gay!


    He wanted to shout it out, but he had to obey the Princess''s orders.


    Even after the incident was over, even if he cleared up the misunderstanding and even forbade people from mentioning it within his estate, it would all be in vain.


    For those high-society nobles, gossiping was an endlessly delightful affair.


    He had no doubt that after tonight, rumors of his homosexuality would spread quickly throughout the upper echelons of Orn City.


    For someone as proud as him, this was worse than death itself.


    With this thought, Rhein tried to signal one of his guards with his eyes, reminding him to hurry up and dismiss the surrounding people.


    However, after making eye contact, the guard seemed evasive.


    Even stepping back unconsciously.


    Seeing this, Rhein''sst bit of hope died.


    At that moment, he felt a surge of despondency, vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, then cked out and copsed to the ground.


    ...


    The escape route from the Underground Prison was infuriatingly smooth.


    So smooth that even Lynn found it hard to imagine.


    He had expected to be discovered and would have to take the masked woman hostage and dy for a while, but nothing happened.


    As he stepped over thest step leading to the outside world, a breeze brushed his face.


    Lynn let out a sigh of relief.


    Next, he just had to find a carriage, take her to the train station, and then board the earliest train to the Imperial Capital tomorrow.


    "Lady, order a carriage," Lynn said softly. "Don''t worry, you''ll return after this is over."


    The masked woman nced at him and, without a word, walked straight ahead.


    Soon, an elderly female housekeeper came up to meet them.


    "Do you need a carriage?"


    Her aged voice sounded very familiar to Lynn, seemingly the one who helped him off the carriage earlier.


    Knowing that she had seen his face, Lynn was about to bow his head, but suddenly noticed that the elderly housekeeper didn''t even nce at him.


    "Hmm."


    "It''s ready and parked up ahead," the housekeeper bowed and said.


    Upon hearing this, the masked woman no longer spoke and slowly walked ahead.


    Lynn tensed up, not wanting to be discovered by her at thest moment.


    But oddly enough, the old woman did not cast a single nce at him from beginning to end, as if she didn''t care at all.


    With a hint of confusion, Lynn followed the woman to the carriage.


    The carriage was luxurious, with intricate thorn patterns carved on it.


    The woman, stepping in her elegant boots, was the first to sit inside the carriage and then rested her chin on her hand, silently looking out of the window.


    Just as Lynn was about to follow her into the carriage, the voice of the elderly housekeeper came from behind him.


    "Your Highness, the kitchen has prepared red velvet cake for dessert and freshly brewed hot red tea. You can enjoy it upon your return."


    She bowed meticulously and then turned to leave.


    But upon hearing these words, Lynn''s step, hanging in midair, suddenly froze.


    Your Highness?!


    The title struck him like lightning, leaving him stunned.


    "You..."


    He looked up like a puppet, his expression rigid as he turned to the elegant woman sitting by the window.


    He had mentally prepared himself thoroughly,


    Yet, in the end, he still underestimated her.


    Who would have thought that the mastermind behind his abduction, the shadowy figure wanting to use him as a puppet, would be one of those few with the highest status and purest blood in the Empire!


    Why would he encounter such a prominent figure in a remote city like Orn City?!


    Lynn''s back was soaked with cold sweat, his heart pounding.


    At this moment, he felt the gun in his hand burning hot.


    Although he didn''t know which Imperial Princess the masked woman was, the early phases of the original story revolved around the King''s election ceremony, mainly depicting the overt conflicts and secret struggles between the Princes and Princesses.


    It''s no exaggeration to say that any one of them could be considered a ruthless person among the ruthless.


    Later on, one of the Princesses even turned to the dark side, bing the ultimate viin, the strongest in the entire novel!


    A force capable of tearing apart gods, almost destroying the world!


    Faced with such a person, where was his chance of survival?


    At this moment, all Lynn could do was pray internally, hoping his luck wasn''t that terrible.


    It had been half a month since he had transmigrated into this world.


    To this day, he had never encountered a character from the original story.


    And yet, today, he managed to meet one.


    With a nervous heart, he opened the system.


    Since it was quite a useless thing and had let him down badly, even Lynn himself hadn''t formed the habit of checking it all the time.


    Moreover, all his energy had just been spent in a battle of wits with them,pletely forgetting about it.


    Now, he was finally tasting the bitter fruit.


    Meanwhile, the masked woman beside him witnessed his change of expression from beginning to end, a light smile curling on her lips.


    "So, you can show such an expression too, quite cute."


    "Let me introduce myself," she said with crossed legs and straight back, her figure''s curves fully revealed, and the dignity unique to someone with high status also made itself apparent. "My name is Ivyst Laurent Alexini, the Third Imperial Princess of the Saint Laurent Empire."


    "Lynn, oh Lynn, should I say you''re bold as brass, or should I say you''re ignorant?"


    [Character Name: Ivyst Laurent Alexini]


    [Plot Level: S]


    [Plot Deviation: 0.00%]


    Lynn''s suspended heartpletely died.


    The system had stopped issuing warnings about "negative behavior," not because it was kind-hearted.


    But simply because Lynn was on the right path.


    It turned out that the way toplete the preliminary mission was so simple, just by doing nothing at all.


    He had oveplicated everything.


    But why did it have to be this woman?


    Why did it have to be that antagonist princess who ended up torn limb from limb at the conclusion?


    Because shemitted heinous crimes that nearly destroyed the entire world, in the end, everyone associated with her was settled by the protagonist group, no matter if they fled to the ends of the earth.


    Lynn clenched his teeth and cursed the system''sck of ethics in his heart.


    And when he came back to his senses, he found himself bound by blood-red thorns.


    The thorns, like pervasive poisonous snakes, used their blood-rimmed vines and sharp spikes to fix his legs and hands in ce at an extremely precise angle.


    Just a slight movement would bring numbness and stinging pain.


    "Alright, the kidnapper game ends now," the woman named Ivyst restored her usual cold demeanor, "Have a good sleep."


    "When you wake up, everything will be back on the right track."


    Under the influence of the thorn''s poison, Lynn began to feel drowsy.


    Looking at her nonchnt appearance, an indescribable emotion surfaced in his heart.


    Just like when Morris had captured him before, even though he had fought back with all his might, staking his courage and wisdom.


    In the end, it was still all in vain.


    He felt like a chess piece on a board, each move ultimately cornered, forced to ept the scrutinizing gaze of the chess yer, never able to escape.


    Lynn fell into deep despair.


    Not only because he had to undergo a hypnosis experiment but also because he was on a doomed ship, seeing no glimmer of hope ahead.


    He desperately wanted to resist.


    But as the antagonist princess from the original story, she was definitely not someone he could contend with at the moment.


    Even at this point in time, if the power she possessed were to fully erupt, it would be enough to easily destroy a city.


    Killing him would be no different than crushing an ant.


    But the more this was the case, the less willing Lynn was to resign himself to fate.


    He gritted his teeth, fighting against the overwhelming dizziness.


    Looking at the short distance between them and her cold, bright eyes, a sudden impulse surged in Lynn''s heart.


    At least... he had toplete the system''s preliminary mission.


    He didn''t know what exactly to do to increase the plot deviation value.


    So, he chose to follow the thoughts deep inside his heart at that moment.


    The next second, Lynn lifted his hand.


    He opened his fingers and, with lightning speed, pressed them onto her face.


    Then, under her stunned gaze, he tore off the ck mask!


    Even Ivyst hadn''t expected him to dare to do something so audacious.


    "You... are courting death!!!"


    The Princess''s voice was cold and merciless, as if filled with endless resentment.


    In an instant, an overwhelming murderous intent swept over him, as if it would tear him to pieces!


    Lynn wanted to retort defiantly.


    But as the mask came off, his heart skipped a beat involuntarily, and the insincere words he was about to utter could no longer be spoken.


    At that moment, a face of extreme coldness yet striking beauty came into Lynn''s view.


    This was probably the most beautiful face he had seen in both his lives.


    It''s a pity that a weird dark mark, about the size of a palm, broke the overall perfection, growing like a Curse Mark on her wless fair cheek.


    To the people of this world, such a Curse Mark is a sin, a bad omen, a symbol of detestation by the gods.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But to Lynn, the Curse Mark didn''t detract from her allure; on the contrary, it added an eerily enchanting charm that made his heart race.


    "She''s so beautiful..."


    In thest moments before his consciousness faded, Lynn murmured.


    For some reason, the blood-red thorns that were supposed to shred him to pieces suddenly stopped.


    ...


    [The plot deviation of the S-level character "Ivyst Laurent Alexini" has risen to 0.01%.]


    [Preliminary missionpleted, system unlocked.]

 Chapter 11 The Existence Despised by All Life in the World

    Ivyst had never encountered anything beautiful in her life.


    This seemed foreshadowed from the day she was born.


    Her mother had died in that agonizing childbirth, with her eyes still open to thest moment.


    Not only that, all the other newborns born on the same day in the Imperial Capital silently perished that night.


    And the moment people saw her in her swaddle, they exhibited looks of terror.


    Infants are supposed to symbolize purity and cleanliness.


    Yet, they distinctly saw dark, evil patterns etched on her face.


    Those patterns, like a Curse Mark, were deeply engraved into her skin.


    Anyone who witnessed that Curse Mark would feel a terror and revulsion stemming from deep within their soul.


    Even some of those of weaker wills would faint from merely getting close to her.


    People from the Heavenly Principle Church hade to see her.


    Following that, they prophesied before Saint Laurent VI.


    From the day of her birth, this Third Imperial Princess was doomed to be despised by the gods, her very existence was the root of evil and fear, and she was bound to bring catastrophic disasters to everyone.


    That Curse Mark was named "Evil Seed," a curse amalgamating all the evil and filth in the world.


    Any being born into this world would instinctively feel disgust and repulsion at their first sight of her.


    ording to tradition, Ivyst, still in swaddling clothes, should have been sent to the Heresy Court for execution.


    Yet, Saint Laurent VI still spared her life.


    But since she had caused the death of his beloved wife, even as a father, he never showed Ivyst any kindness.


    In her memory, Saint Laurent VI''s attitude toward her had always been different from his attitude toward his other sons and daughters, filled with scolding and beatings.


    She felt as though she had never been loved by anyone.


    Ivyst knew this from a very young age.


    The servants around her always wore fearful smiles in her presence, and behind her back, they invariably called her a "monster," their words thick with undisguised disgust.


    Anypanions she had neversted long, either they died or went mad.


    Over time, she gradually understood that her mere existence was a mistake.


    Due to the Curse Mark, all life from this world could never love her.


    At best, they could only fear her because of her destructive power.


    But since this life was given by her mother, Ivyst was not willing to give it up so easily.


    After much deliberation, on the day of hering-of-age ceremony, she dered something in front of arge audience.


    She would participate in the King''s election,peting for the throne against the other eight princes and princesses.


    Ivyst had a faint premonition, or rather, a hope.


    She felt that perhaps, once she became the next Saint Laurent Emperor and made the world less ugly, where everyone lived in beauty and hope, perhaps people''s perceptions of her might improve.


    Naturally, everyone took this thought as a joke.


    How could a woman seen as a bane and demon boldly take that position?


    However, Ivyst didn''t care about their opinions.


    Furthermore, from that day on, she wore a mask, permanently sealing away her face.


    Ironically, her mother had once been the most beautiful woman in the Imperial Capital.


    Yet in the end, she became someone who dared not show her true face.


    The "Evil Seed" Curse Mark on her face and the extraordinary power she was born with seemed to her not a glory but a shame and a scar.


    Her noble status, after masking her face, lessened her impact on the people around her.


    Gradually, people began to pledge allegiance to her.


    But no one dared to ever bring up terms like "appearance" or "looks" in her presence.


    They clearly understood that the Curse Mark on her face had always been a sore point for the Princess.


    Who would dare expose her scars?


    Doing so would undoubtedly be tantamount to seeking death.


    So when Lynn unwittingly removed Ivyst''s mask, a repressed sense of shame and rage, along with a deep-seated resentment that nearly materialized, surged through her heart.


    "You... are courting death!!!"


    She actually had some admiration for this destituted from the Bartleion family.


    Just as he had said, the caliber of her subordinates was indeed average, nowhere near the other princes.


    Over the years, she increasingly yearned for talented individuals to aid her.


    Many things can''t simply be done with strength alone.


    So after meeting Lynn, she strangely felt an emotion called "cherishment".


    But whoever it is, once they cross her bottom line, there''s only one oue.


    Death.


    As power surged, countless blood-red thorns seemed to respond to her inner anger. They opened up the earth like waves and surged toward the figure before her.


    Human life is indeed too fragile.


    For an ordinary person like him, a gentle application of force could utterly shatter him.


    Just as Ivyst was about to cleanse the shame deep in her heart with his life, a weak voice suddenly reached her ears.


    "How beautiful..."


    The surge of thorns stopped at thest moment right on Lynn''s body.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Ivyst''s movements involuntarily halted.


    "You... What did you say?"


    Upon hearing those unfamiliar words, Ivyst''s thoughts froze.


    Beautiful?


    What''s beautiful?


    The carriage? The thorns? The night?


    Or is he speaking about... me?


    Feeling Lynn''s gaze staying on her face, the answer was self-evident.


    Ivyst took a deep breath.


    She looked into Lynn''s clear blue eyes, trying to find fear and disgust in his gaze.


    Even the slightest bit of hesitation would cause her to instantly grind him into blood mud.


    However, perhaps she stared too intently, or maybe it was due to the toxin on the blood-red thorns acting up, leading to his distracted mind.


    In any case, she failed to notice any of the negative emotions she had be ustomed to since childhood.


    Not only that, but she even sensed a hint of... obsession from his eyes?


    What the hell.


    Surely... Surely all lives born into this world should be filled with disgust at the sight of her face.


    What''s going on now?


    For a moment, Ivyst felt a confusion like never before.


    The anger and shame that had filled her heart just moments ago had vanished without trace.


    Instead, they were reced by a bewildering emotion.


    "Hey, make yourself clear!"


    She grabbed Lynn''s cor and slightly raised her voice.


    But he had somehow fallen into a deep sleep, with slight snores sounding out.


    Dammit, you aren''t allowed to sleep! The Princess still hasn''t cleared up the questions she wanted to ask!


    Ivyst regretted her impulsive action just now, and her heart grew even more irritated.


    After a long while, Ivyst waved her hand lightly.


    The chaotic thorns that had overturned the manor''swn suddenly shattered into specks of extraordinary power and drifted away with the wind.


    Then, the elderly housekeeper who had left earlier returned.


    Her indifferent demeanor remained, without giving Lynn a single nce from start to end.


    "Your Highness, should we dispose of him?"


    The housekeeper bent down.


    "..."


    Ivyst didn''t speak, and handed the person she was holding over to her.


    The housekeeper nodded and prepared to leave, to let this little thief who had infuriated the Princess disappear from the worldpletely.


    But the next second, she suddenly heard a somewhat hesitant voice from behind her.


    "Send him to theb. Let Mni handle it... Forget it, try to keep him alive."


    "Yes, Your Highness."


    The elderly housekeeper, with her back to her, showed a touch of surprise in her eyes for the first time upon hearing this order and gave an unprecedented nce at Lynn.


    Following that, she dragged him once more toward the Underground Prison.

 Chapter 12 Defying System

    "Wake up! Wake up!"


    Half-awake and half-asleep, Lynn felt someone pping his face a few times.


    He slowly opened his bleary eyes.


    After clearly seeing the scene before him, Lynn was instantly dumbfounded.


    Who am I?


    Where am I?


    And... why am Ipletely naked?!


    When Lynn realized he was stark naked and tied up in a chair, he fell silent.


    He was currently in another underground facility.


    Around him were many ancient instruments, colorful gemstones, and several Magic Matrices drawn on parchment,plex and obscure.


    Moreover, on a stone tform not far away, there was an open Magic Book.


    One of the pages featured an eye-like pattern that appeared vivid and bone-chilling.


    It seemed as if it could prate his soul, imposing some kind of suggestion on him.


    Lynn vaguely remembered that this symbol seemed to belong to the Soul Sect, active during the Second and Third Epochs.


    Later, for some reason, it had been dered a heretical sect by an empire andpletely eradicated.


    "You''re finally awake, test subject number 126."


    The previous voice came again.


    Lynn looked around, but couldn''t find a single person in sight, the entireboratory was empty.


    Haunted?


    "Hey, I''m over here."


    Finally, Lynn looked down and noticed a small girl standing on the steps below.


    She was about a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl wearing an ill-fitting whiteb coat, with messy brown chin-length hair and some freckles on her nose, staring at him intently.


    "Who are you?"


    Lynn eyed her warily, trying to squeeze his legs together.


    At the same time, he habitually essed the system.


    [Character Name: Mni Valenara]


    [Plot Level: D]


    [Plot Deviation: 0.00%]


    Sure enough, he heard her introduction next.


    "My name is Mni, you can call me Miss Mni." The girl scratched her tufty hair and put her hands in her pockets, "I won''t say more than needed, but you should know why Imperial Princess Ivyst sent you here, right?"


    Hearing this, memories from not long ago flooded into Lynn''s mind.


    He suddenly gasped.


    Had he... done something terrible?


    It seemed that the viinous Imperial Princess was quite furious about him uncovering her mask.


    Recalling the bone-chilling dread he felt then, Lynn couldn''t help but shiver.


    After all, some things are only appreciated after one has experienced them, he understood the beauty of being alive.


    Now, he would rather streak naked down the street yelling "I am gay" than face that furious woman again.


    Still, for some reason, she had spared his life.


    However, it looked like the experiment mentioned earlier in the Underground Prison was unavoidable now.


    "Are you going to perform Mind Control on me?"


    Lynn frowned.


    Hearing this, the girl named Mni shook her head, "It''s not that low-level trick of Mind Control. It''s hypnosis, understand?"


    "Abilities and Magic rted to mental interference are extremely rare, currently only abilities like Charm, Forget, Psychological Suggestion, and others are avable, yet they are rejected by the mainstream churches of the Saint Laurent Empire."


    "And each of these abilities has its own drawbacks."


    "For example, Charm can easily evoke the desires of humans, causing them to lose their sanity; and Psychological Suggestion has mediocre effects and doesn''t work on those with strong will."


    "Therefore, research involving the mind is an interesting topic, one that I have been attempting for a long time."


    "In general, my expected oue of hypnosis is topletely control a person''s body and mind invisibly."


    "Usually, the hypnotized person acts just like anyone else,pletely unaware of their state, but once that switch is flipped, they fall into a subconscious state, bing absolute servants to the hypnotist."


    "Anymand from the hypnotist will turn into mental brands, etched into the psyche of the hypnotized, even capable ofpletely changing their understanding of the world andmon sense."


    "So, test subject number 126, you need to understand that you are participating in a groundbreaking experiment."


    Mni suddenly rose on her tiptoes, looked into Lynn''s eyes, and spoke with a heartfelt tone.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Lynn''s mouth twitched, "Can I refuse?"


    "Of course not." Mni lovingly patted his head, then strapped a rudimentary helmet-like device onto it, "Well, we can talk more about whiningter, but since you''re awake now, the experiment can begin."


    While speaking, Mni walked over to a mud-stained stone b.


    It was finely carved with the Eye of the Soul from the Magic Book, surrounded by various Magic Matrices and several sockets for filling with Magic Stones.


    The stone b connected to several old instruments and finally to the helmet above Lynn''s head.


    "Damn, it feels like sitting in an electric chair," Lynn thought ufortably.


    His fate was in someone else''s hands right now, and he couldn''t resist.


    "May I ask, what eventually happened to the 125 test subjects before me?" Lynn asked with a forced smile.


    Mni turned her head and smiled, "Hehe."


    It all went unsaid.


    Seeing this, Lynnpletely abandoned the idea of talking his way out.


    The person before him looked like a mad scientist, too engrossed in his work to be swayed by a few words from Lynn.


    Besides, it was an order from His Highness.


    No, he had to save himself.


    As he thought this, Lynn looked at his own body.


    His hands and legs were shackled to the armrests, and several straps tied his waist tightly.


    It seemed Ivyst and the others were very cautious of him.


    But currently, as a normal person with no Extraordinary Abilities, he couldn''t possibly break free using strength alone.


    Thinking this, Lynn gave up the effort to escape and turned his gaze to hisst hope.


    "System!"


    The next second, a light screen appeared in front of Lynn.


    However, it was different from the rudimentary interface he remembered.


    This time, the system seemed to havepletely opened up for him.


    [Name: Lynn]


    [Race: Human]


    [Age: 17]


    [Belief: None]


    [Rank: None]


    [Extraordinary Ability: None]


    [Divine-given Factor: 0]


    [Remaining System Points: 1]


    The empty interface made Lynn feel somewhat embarrassed.


    He recalled that his predecessor had once believed in one of the Empire''s three mainstream churches, the Heavenly Principle Church, and had peaked with 136 Divine-given factors, making him outstanding among his peers.


    However, he had no time now to reminisce about the glorious past but instead focused on another item.


    "Why do I have 1 system point?" he silently asked the system.


    [The host has sessfully increased the plot deviation of the S-level plot character "Ivyst Laurent Alexini" to 0.01%, receiving 1 system point as a reward.]


    [Additionally, the host can spend points to draw various Extraordinary Abilities and enhance them, or ignite new Divine-given factors to increase personal power]


    Hearing this, Lynn was stunned.


    Only this much for an S-level plot character''s reward? How pitiful must E and F-levels be then?


    But thinking it over, most people belonged to the E and F categories, and even when piled up, they represented a significant scale.


    Truly contrary to any expectation, this system.


    In every sense.


    And not in vain after being tortured for a whole half month.


    After reflecting for a few seconds, Lynn turned his gaze to the right side of the system interface.


    There hung a disk that resembled a relief, divided into thirty-six sectors, each carved with an ancient and abstract symbol.


    One of them was familiar to him, looking like several twinkling stars connected together.


    It was the exclusive mark of the Heavenly Principle Church.


    Could it be that each mark pointed to a deity?


    It wasn''t mentioned in the original work, could there be so many?


    With a nervous heart, Lynn touched the needle at the center of the relief disk, and then a prompt jumped before his eyes.


    [Would you like to spend 1 system point to draw an ability?]


    "Yes."


    The next second, the relief disk started spinning rapidly as if getting wound up.


    Meanwhile, Mni was embedding various colored Magic Stones into the Eye of the Soul stone b, about to start the final step.


    So, Lynn muttered in his heart,


    Please, System Bro, I''ve never asked you for anything in my life.


    Give me a reliable ability, please!

 Chapter 13 Lie Swallowing and Prisoner of Destiny

    Transcendents, as the name implies, were people who possessed extraordinary abilities.


    Where did their extraordinary abilitiese from?


    The answer was simple.


    In this world mixed with steam machinery, swords, and magic settings, they were naturally bestowed by deities.


    Therefore, Transcendents could also be known as Divine Givers.


    Generally speaking, to be a Transcendent, one first needed to choose a faith and join the corresponding deity''s church, then one could go to the cathedral for a qualification test.


    This test differentiated ordinary people from those with extraordinary talents, and those who passed the test would be promoted to candidates.


    Once the opportunity arose, the church would gather the candidates and systematically arrange the Divine Giver Ritual.


    At the ritual, those with sufficient devotion had a much higher chance of passing.


    And when you passed the Divine Giver Ritual, you would receive a trial from the deity¡ªgenerally, the difficulty of the trial was rted to the rank.


    The lower the rank, the simpler the trial required.


    For example, to be a First Rank Transcendent, one often received simple trials like pleasing the deity, requiring only the sacrifice of some treasures.


    As the rank increased, the difficulty of the trials would exponentially increase.


    Take, for instance, the Empire''s renowned strongman, Beo from the Holy Dragon Family, known as the Dragon yer, whose trial to ascend to Fifth Rank Legend was to y a living giant dragon!


    Once youpleted all the trials, you could activelymunicate with the deity and pray for an upgrade to the next rank.


    Upgrading brought tremendous benefits.


    Not only could you gain new extraordinary abilities, but you could also ignite more Divine-given factors, enabling your abilities to have stronger effects.


    However, generally speaking, the types of abilities awakened by Transcendents were often tied to the authority of the deity.


    Take for example a previous follower of the Heavenly Principle Church.


    The deity worshiped by this church was the Lord of Billion Stars, so the abilities awakened by Transcendents were mostly rted to airflow, gravity, weather, or even maic fields.


    After choosing a faith, it was no longer possible to involve another.


    Thus, the abilities of Transcendents in this world often had limitations or were rtively singr.


    Very few people could master several types of faith-based extraordinary abilities.


    Or rather, there had never been such a precedent.


    From now on, Lynn would be such a precedent.


    Though his Divine-given factors had been stripped and his faith had dissipated, with the system''s existence, everything was readily resolved.


    He simply needed to increase the deviation of the original character''s storyline to continuously gain system points, which he could use to draw or strengthen extraordinary abilities.


    ording to the system, he could even ignite the Divine-given factors by his own power!


    The effect was nothing short of astonishing.


    But then again.


    Improving someone else''s storyline deviation seemed not to be an easy task.


    For that 0.01% change, he had almost been killed by the antagonist, Imperial Princess!


    So at this moment, watching the rapidly spinning bas-relief disc in front of him, Lynn was unusually anxious.


    What would the first ability from the system be?


    For him, this was a matter of life and death, directly determining whether he could survive this experiment.


    Under Lynn''s gaze, the spinning speed of the bas-relief disc finally slowed down, and then gradually stopped in front of him.


    The pointer stopped at a strange symbol.


    The symbol was very abstract andplex, resembling a crying clown or a puppet controlled by silk threads.


    [Congrattions on drawing a First Rank ability¡ªLie Swallowing.]


    Lie Swallowing?


    Lynn gasped in shock.


    Very well, as expected of you, crafty system.


    He had thought there might be a chance to draw a physical strengthening ability, or an effect like Morris''s ability to merge into shadows.


    In any case, as long as he could escape from here, anything would do.


    Yet, the system had bestowed him with something resembling a conceptual type of thing.


    Lynn rigidly clicked to open the skill introduction and started browsing.


    [Name: Lie Swallowing]


    [Rank: First Rank]


    [Effect: The lies you tell will be more believable; conversely, you can easily discern lies told by others.]


    [Activation Condition: None]


    [Points Required to Upgrade: 10]


    As expected, it seemed to be a somewhatckluster ability.


    Perhaps it could asionally produce miraculous effects in daily life andbat, but it seemed unlikely to resolve Lynn''s current predicament.


    It seemed that only after upgrading would the effects gradually strengthen.


    Right now, it was merely amon ability corresponding to a First Rank Transcendent.


    Moreover, it was unclear which faith it belonged to.


    Feeling helpless, Lynn attempted to activate the ability.


    The next second, his vision was abruptly filled withyers of ripples, and suddenly, the undergroundboratory scene disappeared before his eyes.


    In its ce was an entirely different scene.


    Where was this?!


    Lynn suddenly felt as if he could move freely and stood up dazedly.


    However, his gaze remained fixed on the bizarre sight before him.


    Before him was a boundless void, yet it was more than just a boundless void.


    Aside from emptiness and destion, threads as if breaking through the confines of time and space, traversed from the void.


    They moved like slender worms, dancing in bizarre postures.


    These threads seemed to have life and intelligence, and they had a very unified goal, continuously surging toward that destination.


    Countless threads gathered into a vast ocean, eventually converging toward a point high above.


    Lynn looked up.


    He saw a withered humanoid figure enshrouded and pulled by those threads, the whole person twisted into a crucifix shape, suspended high above.


    Especially many threads gathered on Its arms, Its expression was of pain, eyes tightly shut.


    Even so, those threads still rushed over like rivers and seas, torturing It over and over again, seemingly taking pleasure in it.


    "Prisoner... of... Destiny¡­"


    For some reason, Lynn slowly spoke out the name.


    The next second,yers of ripples attacked once again, a strong sense of falsehood instantly snapping him back to reality.


    "What are you spacing out for?"


    Mni waved her hands forcefully in front of him.


    "Oh, nothing."


    Lynn replied as if unconcerned.


    Nothing, my foot!


    In reality, his heart had already been thrown into turmoil, and it took a long time to calm.


    What did that scene really mean?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Lynn''s mind felt empty, only a severe dryness in his mouth.


    "If there''s nothing, the experiment is about to start."


    Mni blinked.


    Not good.


    He had almost forgotten the most important thing at the moment.


    The will to survive made Lynn temporarily suppress the shock and confusion in his heart, focusing his attention on the young girl before him.


    He took a deep breath.


    Then, under the effect of Lie Swallowing, he slowly said, "Ms. Mni, there is something I need to tell you."

 Chapter 14 I Lie to Myself!

    "Ms. Mni, I have something to tell you."


    "A will?"


    Mni made a joke that wasn''t exactly humorous.


    As she spoke, she fitted thest Magic Stone into the groove on the stone b.


    With a violent tremble, the carved Magic Matrix on the stone b slowly lit up, and all nodes were connected in an instant.


    The Eye of the Soul, carved right in the center of the Magic Matrix, started to appear even more lifelike and terrifying.


    It was as if some powerful and bizarre being was peering through the stone b into his mind.


    Seeing this, Lynn switched to an anxious tone and immediately said, "Oxygen is poisonous. If we don''t leave here soon, we''ll die!"


    "Let''s save the jokes forter."


    Mni chuckled, seemingly amused.


    As expected, it didn''t work.


    Lynn realized this inside.


    Oxygen couldn''t possibly be poisonous.


    On the contrary, without oxygen, people would definitely die.


    For humans, this was an iron-dmon sense andw, impossible to change easily.


    Currently, the Lie Swallowing was only at First Rank, not powerful enough to twistmon sense.


    So the lie was instantly seen through as soon as it was spoken.


    But Lynn wasn''t discouraged. After a moment of thought, he continued, "It''s too hot in this room."


    In reality, since this was an underground chamber of the manor, it was damp and without sunlight year-round.


    Even if not cold, it certainly wouldn''t be too hot.


    Thus, this was a lie.


    Hearing Lynn''s words, Mni stopped what she was doing, seemingly deep in thought.


    Momentster, she hesitantly nodded, tugging at the cor of herb coat to let in some air, "It does seem a bit... no, actually, it''s not too hot. Besides, you''re not wearing a single piece of clothing, so stop making excuses."


    The lie had been uncovered again.


    But unlike thest time.


    Lynn clearly noticed that this lie had briefly gained Mni''s trust.


    Because the sensation of heat is different from iron-dmon sense andw; it is a highly subjective notion that can change at any moment.


    Some people might feel cold to the touch even on the hottest days of summer, while others could romp around in a T-shirt in the depths of winter.


    After this attempt, Lynn had a vague sense that he was starting to understand how to use the Lie Swallowing.


    Simultaneously, a spark of inspiration flickered in his mind.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He decided to retract his previous assessment of this ability.


    On the contrary, if used properly, it could definitely allow him to safely escape this experiment.


    However, another attempt was needed.


    "This experiment is bound to fail."


    "Don''t speak such demoralizing words; it will certainly be sessful."


    "Ms. Mni, you''ve fallen in love with me."


    "I deeply love every test subject ¡ª provided they survive."


    "Ms. Mni, I''m actually very ugly."


    "Hmm."


    "Hey, hey, don''t believe that one!"


    ...


    Several minutester, Mni finished all the preparations before the experiment.


    "You seemed to talk a lot just now," she said thoughtfully, ncing at Lynn, "Are you trying something?"


    "However, it''s a pity, this ce is a ''cer'' a hundred meters underground, with over tenyers above, even if you find a chance to escape from here, you''d still be caught by the patrolling guards."


    "It might be better to give up these unnecessary thoughts... Although, having a resistant mentality in a test subject could affect the results."


    Mni sighed, "I''ll tell you the truth, Princess Ivyst''smand is to experiment without harming your life, and even if it fails in the end, you won''t die."


    Lynn''s eyes brightened, "Oh?"


    "At most, you''ll fall into a vegetative state and never wake up again."


    Mni said calmly.


    It''s even more terrifying now, hey!


    Lynn thought to himself bitterly.


    However, he did not show this on the surface; instead, he put on a resigned expression.


    "Since you''vee to that conclusion, I guess I have no choice but to cooperate... But speaking of which, before the experiment begins, could you agree to myst request?"


    "In principle, that''s not allowed." Mni scratched her messy short hair. "The Princess said that once you woke up, it would be best to not exchange even a single word with you."


    "But you were quite eager just now, weren''t you?"


    "After all, I''m not someone with many principles."


    Hearing this, Mni shrugged her shoulders.


    But because the clothing was too big, it caused the fabric on her shoulder to slip down a bit, revealing a snowy white patch of skin.


    As if she didn''t see it, she casually pulled her clothes back up, and then asked, "So, what''s yourst condition?"


    "Please give me a mirror."


    Mni pondered for a moment, turned, and sifted through the pile of misceneous items on the table, eventually procuring a palm-sized vanity mirror and presenting it before Lynn.


    "Here you go," Mni remembered his earlier words and couldn''t help but touch her forehead, "You really are narcissistic."


    "Can''t help it, it''s the ancestors'' blessing."


    Lynn said offhandedly.


    Then he lifted his head and looked at the mirror Mni was holding in front of him.


    The boy in the mirror was handsome and noble, with bright blue eyes that were vivid and spirited.


    However, Lynn didn''t ask for the mirror just to appreciate his own stunning good looks onest time before the experiment.


    His purpose was actually very simple.


    Staring at the other self in the mirror, Lynn took a deep breath and activated the Lie Swallowing ability again.


    At the same time, he murmured to himself.


    I want... to lie to myself!


    ...


    Mni was already prepared to sound the rm.


    Because in this situation, his behavior of calmly requesting a mirror from her was simply too bizarre.


    Taking into ount his earlier strange questions, Mni could not help but suspect something.


    Although the other party was only amoner, he was still someone the Princess had specifically cautioned against.


    But out of professional curiosity, she wanted to see just what Lynn intended to do.


    In the end, all he did was nce briefly at the mirror as if reminiscing about his appearance, and then with a sigh of resignation, he said, "Please begin."


    Upon hearing this, Mni, though confused, still nodded.


    Never mind, the experiment is more important.


    Thinking that, she, as a mad scientist, quickly pushed her doubts to the back of her mind.


    Mni walked to the side of the stone b and did a final check on the integrity of the Magic Matrix and the connected helmet.


    Then she met Lynn''s gaze, took a handful of silver-white powder from a jar beside her, and with a light flick, scattered it over the Magic Matrix and the carving of the Eye of the Soul in the center.


    "Boom¡ª"


    Apanied by a sh of silver mes, a light far more dazzling than before, like a miniature sun, filled the entire undergroundboratory!


    Mni squinted her eyes and shielded her face with her palm, intently staring at the figure in the center of the light.


    Powerful energy physically poured into the helmet, turning into murmurs and suggestions, continuously reverberating in the ears.


    This force, like a baptism upon the soul, through repeated tidal-like washes, was enough to imprint the hypnosis switch into the depths of his personality!


    After a very long time, the light on the b gradually dimmed.


    Mni''s heartbeat slightly quickened.


    Every time the results of an experiment were unveiled, she felt this kind of heart-pounding sensation.


    When the Magic Matrix on the b finally settled down and all the instruments ceased their humming, she quickly approached the boy on the chair.


    "How do you feel?"


    "I feel terrible."


    The other''s somewhat dyed speech came.


    Mni lifted his head to look.


    She saw that the boy''s previously bright blue eyes had be dull and lifeless, filled with a vacant stare.


    It was as if he had be a robot that only knew how to follow orders.


    Could it be... the experiment was a sess?!

 Chapter 15 Hypnosis? Im Faking It!

    "Could it be...the experiment seeded?!"


    Seeing Lynn''s foolish expression, Mni''s heartbeat quickened slightly.


    But she did not show it on her face.


    Because among the past 125 test subjects, there were nock of clever clogs who thought they could deceive her with their acting skills, only to meet with a very grim end.


    However, if it really was an act, then this fellow''s acting was quite convincing.


    Remembering the odd impression Lynn had given her before, Mni increasingly felt that he might be acting.


    This daredevil, who even dared to hold the Princess hostage, what wouldn''t he dare to do?


    And in fact, Mni''s guess was not wrong.


    At this moment, feeling the doubtful gaze of the other party, Lynn remained silent.


    His eyes were unfocused, his limbs weak, and his whole being was immersed in a muddled and unclear state of mind.


    But this was only a physical manifestation.


    In reality, Lynn''s thoughts still operated at high speed.


    His consciousness and soul seemed to have left his body, observing Mni''s every move as a bystander, and like controlling a puppet, he manipted his body to react.


    It all came down to Mni having agreed to hisst request.


    A few minutes before, looking at himself in the mirror, Lynn activated the Lie Swallowing.


    The effect of Lie Swallowing was to make the lies he told with his own mouth believable, and its scope of effect included everyone.


    Naturally, this also included Lynn himself.


    So he lied to himself.


    Of course, just one lie was not enough.


    In order to escape from this undergroundboratory with his self intact, Lynn told a total of two lies.


    Having remembered a great deal of the original plot, he was very clear about the Soul Sect.


    This religious organization, active during the Second Era in the southern part of an ancient Empire, worshipped an intangible and insubstantial god of the soul and believed that humans should abandon their physical bodies to embrace the ocean of consciousness.


    Later, for some reason, the Soul Sect waspletely eradicated by Transcendents dispatched by the upper echelons of the ancient Empire.


    Only some fragmented texts were left, which spread through various secretive channels.


    Where exactly Mni''s Magic Book came from, and whether the research content in it was truly effective,


    These, Lynn did not know.


    But he did not need to know.


    After all, being transported into the world of a novel was already quite magical, so even if more magical things happened, it wouldn''t really matter.


    Therefore, Lynn only needed to make himself disbelieve that the Magic Book was of any use.


    The first lie he told himself was that after the Soul Sect was wiped out, all the key documents were destroyed; therefore, this experiment was a hoax, bound to fail and incapable of affecting his mind or consciousness in the slightest.


    For Lynn, this lie was possible.


    Otherwise, all 125 previous test subjects would not have all failed.


    So when the experiment began, the mental energy contained within the Magic Stones and the Magic Matrix had a hard time influencing his personality.


    Because this was apetition between external forces and his own willpower.


    As long as he believed that the experiment was a joke, the brainwashing and hypnotic effects of the Eye of the Soul could not take hold.


    After all, this was different from the extraordinary powers of the reality system.


    Reality needed to follow the physical Laws of this world; for instance, being burned by fire would definitely cause burns, being cut by a knife would certainly result in bleeding.


    But the Mind system tended more towards idealism, a field seldom touched by many.


    So looking at the oue, Lynn''s first lie was a resounding sess.


    He maintained his self-awareness and survived the experiment unscathed.


    Next came the second test.


    Lynn, still maintaining the sensation of his soul being out of body, did not rx in the slightest.


    The girl in front of him had, at some unknown point, taken out a small gasmp and ced it in front of his eyes, observing him at close range with great scrutiny.


    A momentter, she pulled out a notebook from her pocket and began writing something down with a steel pen.


    "Breathing rate and heartbeat... slightly below that of a normal person," Mni muttered to herself softly.


    Suddenly, without any warning, she lifted the hand that was holding the steel pen and stabbed towards Lynn''s eyeball with the speed of lightning.


    Just as the distance between the pen tip and the eyeball was only a few millimeters, she stopped.


    After observing for a while, Mni lowered her head again and continued to jot down: "Pupils are normal, no significant response to external stimuli."


    It seemed that she was measuring various data to confirm whether the subject was truly hypnotized or faking it.


    Perhaps a good half of the first 125 subjects had failed at this point.


    After all, it is very difficult to ovee the innate responses of the human body.


    Of course, he was an exception.


    Lynn told himself a second lie, that Lynn from Blue Star and Lynn Bartleion were two different people, the former having taken over thetter''s body but, due to some idents, had not been able to take full control of this body, resulting in dyed reactions as a side effect.


    Compared to the previous lie, this one was moreplex and harder to believe.


    Therefore, he took advantage of the power of that mirror, using it as an amplifier to enhance the effect of the Lie Swallowing.


    Looking at the reflection in the mirror that was utterly different from his past life, the point that "Lynn from Blue Star and Lynn Bartleion are two different people" was corroborated.


    Thus, his subconscious chose to believe it.


    However, once the ability of the Lie Swallowing was lifted, he would recall everything and regain control over his body.


    Mni, however, knew nothing of this.


    After passing several basic assessments, Mni fell silent, furrowing her brow while sizing up Lynn from head to toe.


    Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she murmured, "You''re getting off easy," then tugged down her whiteb coat, revealing a patch of pristine skin.


    At the same time, she struck a seductive pose, her pink tongue lightly licking her lips.


    During this process, her gaze was firmly fixed on Lynn''s lower half.


    Several minutester, Mni returned to normal, calmly straightening herb coat and continuing to write in her notebook: "Subject No. 126 exhibited no noticeable physiological response to the impromptu addition to the exam, passing it perfectly."


    No, if it were any normal person here, they probably wouldn''t have any reaction either.


    Of course, animals would be the exception.


    Staring at the copper mine in front of him, Lynn found it hard to keep hisposure, internally critiquing.


    "Hmm, all the basic assessments have been perfectly passed," Mni expressed a trace of surprise in her eyes, "It seems that we can have the Princesse over for the final inspection."


    "The handcuffs must be quite tight, I''ll undo them for you now so you can rx a bit."


    Saying this, Mni pressed a button on the instrument.


    As the iron hoops on his hands and feet slowly fell off, Lynn''s heart also eased.


    It looked as if the test was over.


    Had he just narrowly escaped disaster?


    However, he was also aware that he might soon face Ivyst''s examination.


    It really hadn''t been easy.


    Yet just as this thought emerged, he heard the sound of gears turning from below.


    A sudden sensation of weightlessness enveloped him tightly.


    Lynn felt as if a void had opened up below him, and along with the chair, he fell from theb''s level.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yikes! Oh no, I pressed the wrong button!"


    In a daze, he faintly heard Mni''s cry of rm from above.

 Chapter 16 The Belated Ivyst

    Pressed the wrong button?!


    Lynn felt terrible as the seat plummeted.


    Fortunately, the height here didn''t seem as tall as he had imagined, only about the equivalent of three to four floors, and there was a seat underneath to cushion his fall.


    Moreover, after falling to the bottom, he discovered ayer of umtion water.


    In any case, his life wasn''t in danger.


    He let out a slight sigh of relief.


    At the same time, he repeated the second lie in his mind, reinforcing the psychological suggestion using the power of the Lie Swallowing.


    The sensation of falling almost made him break out of this state.


    Once he finally reverted to his original dazed condition, Lynn shifted his attention back to what was in front of him.


    Unlike the brightly-litboratory from before,


    the scene in front of him was pitch dark, with only two dazzling goldennterns hanging high above.


    Yet, for some reason, although thenterns seemed bright, they did not illuminate the surrounding environment.


    Thankfully, some faint lighting from above prevented Lynn from being left inplete darkness.


    This was utterly an undeserved disaster.


    He had already passed the assessment, yet he identally fell into such a ce.


    Indeed, Ivyst''s subordinates were a group of people who were unreliable and prone to failure.


    They had countless opportunities to kill all the main characters from the original story in the early and middle phases but ended up letting them escape due to various situations.


    In the end, when the grand finale arrived, and the main characters nearly all became gods, those fools finally panicked, realizing catastrophe was upon them, and faced a dire reckoning.


    Lynn grumbled internally and quietly waited for them to find someone to rescue him.


    But after waiting several minutes, nothing happened.


    Not only that, Lynn faintly sensed a fishy smell and a barely perceptible hot wind.


    Maintaining a sluggish state, he shifted his eyeballs and nced upward.


    Those two goldennterns flickered on and off.


    They lit up at times and went out at others.


    Moreover, they seemed to be moving uncertainly towards him, gradually getting closer.


    ...Wait, wait a second!


    It was as if Lynn finally realized something.


    At this very moment, gazing up at those two enormous nterns," Lynn broke into a cold sweat, nearly breaking free from the false hypnosis state created by the Lie Swallowing.


    Those weren''t any damnnterns at all but the pupils of some giant creature!


    From the moment he had fallen, it had been sizing him up!


    Suddenly, there was movement in front of Lynn by the giant creature.


    Apanied by a deep roar reminiscent of thunder, the giant creature slowly lowered its head, drawing close to Lynn''s face.


    With the help of the light from the opening above, Lynn finally saw the true form of the giant creature.


    A neck like that of a massive serpent, a mouth bristling with sharp fangs, colossal wings that obscured the sky, a slender tail dragging chains, and...thick scale armor covering its entire body.


    This was unmistakably a juvenile ck Dragon towering over ten meters tall!!!


    ...


    "Your Highness, you''ve arrived?"


    As the statuesque figure appeared in theboratory, Mni approached with a narrowed-eye smile.


    Ivyst, who had been wearing a smart military uniform moments ago, now wore a flowing ck fringed gown, and her long, dark hair, which had been cascading down her back, was now tied up into a neat and efficient ponytail that hung at her waist.


    She looked like an aloof goddess ready to grace a banquet, untouchable in her elegance.


    "How is he doing?"


    When facing Mni, Ivyst seemed to rx a great deal.


    She trusted this subordinate who had followed her for seven or eight years implicitly, treating her like a sister in their day-to-day interactions.


    But although Mni appeared quite young, she had already reached adulthood.


    It was just that due to certain reasons, her body had never been able to grow normally.


    Ivyst ran her hand over the girl''s head, smoothing out her messy brown hair.


    Without resisting, Mni ced an apparatus carved from a Magic Stone in front of Ivyst and infused it with a little Extraordinary Ability.


    Momentster, a projection appeared before them.


    The image within the projection was Lynn, trapped in the space below, sitting absurdly still on a chair, motionless.


    "This is thest assessment. Of the 125 specimens before this, most died at this stage."


    "If he truly passes this test, then he will be utterly under Your Highness''s control. He''ll be unaware on ordinary days, but as soon as he sees the Curse Mark of the Eye of the Soul, he''ll immediately switch to a hypnotic state."


    Mni''s eyes were calm and cold now, nothing like her previously yful demeanor with Lynn.


    Ivyst nodded.


    If Lynn was actually pretending to be hypnotized, she would still intervene to save him.


    But she would be somewhat disappointed.


    ...


    At this very moment, the ck Dragon''s eyes, asrge as wheels and golden in color, drew close to his face, exhaling hot, stinking breath from its nostrils, seemingly assessing its meal for the day.


    Feeling the breath rush towards him, Lynn''s heart felt like it was about to leap out of his throat.


    The physiological reaction was unavoidable because he was facing a dragon.


    Being a dragon, possessing mighty and ancient noble blood, naturally came with an extremely powerful dragon''s presence.


    Even though this ck Dragon was just a juvenile, it was still beyond a Fourth Rank human.


    Under the effect of the dragon''s presence, any pretense would easily shatter.


    Feeling the precarious state of the Lie Swallowing, Lynn sensed he might lose hisposure in the next second, gasping for air loudly and desperate to flee.


    After all, he was just an ordinary person without the Divine-given factor, and the distance between him and the dragon was less than one meter.


    The sharp teeth in the ck Dragon''s mouth shimmered with a cold light, and there were even remnants of blood on them.


    It seemed to be extremely hungry.


    Lynn wanted to take a deep breath to calm himself down.


    But logically, one shouldn''t have such abnormalities when under hypnosis.


    Damn Mni, how could she not have found someone toe over yet?


    Didn''t she know how terrifying the creature below was?


    Wrong!


    Thinking this, Lynn seemed to suddenly realize something.


    Did she really press the wrong button by ident?


    Or was this whole thing another assessment from the beginning?


    Looking at the giant dragon in front of him gradually opening its mouth, and the saliva dripping from its lips, he fell silent.


    Lynn only had two paths before him.


    The first path was to break the state and call for help loudly.


    Someone mighte to save him by doing so, but the chances were slim.


    After all, calling for help, apart from exposing his disguised behavior, wouldn''t put a speed buff on Mni and those guards.


    The second path was to maintain his current state and fight to the death.


    There was no benefit, just gambling that this was another test.


    The bet was his own life.


    Both paths were fraught with peril, and the probability of death was high either way.


    But for Lynn, the choice never seemed to need hesitation.


    If he chose the first path, besides showing the ugly side of the struggle to survive, he would probably still die.


    Therefore, he chose the second.


    The reason was simple.


    At such a critical and tense moment, Lynn remembered what Mni had said before.


    Ivyst had said she would spare his life.


    Although he didn''t know what kind of mental journey she had been through, she had said it herself, she wouldn''t let him die.


    No matter the purpose, Lynn chose to trust her.


    He trusted she could fulfill her promise.


    So at this moment, Lynn exerted all his strength to activate the Lie Swallowing ability and lied to himself, maintaining the foolish and dull hypnotized state.


    Even so, under the pressure of the dragon''s might, his mental will was faltering.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Seemingly sensing that this time''s food wascking in spirit, a flicker of dissatisfaction shed in the ck Dragon''s eyes, followed by a roar as it raised its head.


    Feeling the trembling from his soul, and the dizziness gradually approaching, Lynn really wanted to make a snide remark.


    In just one night, he was about to faint three times over.


    Looking at the gaping maw drawing closer, Lynn''s heart was almost in his throat.


    The foul stench from the dragon''s mouth nearly made him pass out.


    Bush, Gomen!


    At the critical moment, apanied by the sound of cutting wind, a blindingly bright red light suddenly shed!


    "Bang!!!"


    With the shockwave spreading in all directions, the ck Dragon let out a pained howl, its massive body falling backward with powerful inertia!


    The next second, the familiar scent of roses once again enveloped Lynn''s nose.


    A familiar and stunning figure hovered in the air, her pitch-ck dress fluttering gently like a g.


    I knew it!


    Seeing that figure, Lynn''s body nearly copsed, and he let out a sigh of relief.


    The woman who had almost taken his life just moments ago now looked surprisingly pleasing to the eye.


    At the same time, he was extremely grateful that he hadn''t chosen the first path.


    In his discreet gaze, Ivyst raised her right hand with her fingers spread, as if issuing amand to the ck Dragon in front of her.


    "Retreat!"


    Her voice, apanied by invisible ripples, spread out, traveling along the ck Dragon''s thick scale armor into its mind.


    The once haughty ck Dragon now appeared docile, a flicker of fear crossing its golden pupils.


    Then, just as she said, it really did crawl back into the darkness.


    Even a giant dragon had to humble itself in the presence of the viinous Imperial Princess.


    Just like an obedient little dog.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Having done this, Ivyst gently lowered her hand and turned to look at Lynn in the seat.


    A flicker ofplex emotions passed through her eyes.


    "Find him a room in the manor, let him have a good sleep; after he wakes up, bring him to me."


    After leaving these words, Ivyst''s figure disappeared abruptly.


    A dozen secondster, the guards arrived btedly.


    At the sight, Lynnpletely rxed his consciousness.


    He knew he had temporarily survived this close brush with death and could finally get some rest.


    With this thought, a wave of intense sleepiness surged over him like a tide.


    He hadn''t had a proper sleep in half a month, and after so much upheaval that night, he couldn''t hold on any longer.


    Of course, in thest second before he fell into a deep sleep, another image surfaced in his mind.


    When Ivyst arrived, due to the angle, he seemed to see something he shouldn''t have.


    Purple, huh?


    That really is... tsk tsk.


    With these thoughts, Lynn drifted off into a deep sleep.

 Chapter 17 Keyboard Warriors and Dump Trucks

    "What kind of brain-dead novel is this, to have followed it so painstakingly for over half a year only for it to end like this?"


    At the street corner, the youth held a fried dough stick in one hand and swiped his smartphone with the other, ranting as he did so.


    Right now, the red light prohibited crossing, a perfect time to check the novel he had been followingtely.


    He had a psychology final exam to attend in a bit, and with excellent results, he could intern at a rted institution with his tutor''s rmendation.


    But the ending of that novel really didn''t suit his taste, so his current mood waspletely focused on taking it online.


    With the fried dough stick clenched in his teeth, the youth held his phone with both hands, and his thumbs danced across the keyboard like shadows.


    A stream of eloquent text rapidly took form, posted in thement section.


    "Bush Gormon, I spend as much on your novels as I do on a pack of cigarettes each month, and after following it for so long, you end it so disgustingly?"


    "Thetter half of the book is just pure filler, and if it weren''t for wanting to see how my favorite character''s story ends, I would never have wasted my money."


    "Let''s not even start on the filler, but do you know what the biggest problem with your book is in thetter parts? Character copse!"


    "That pathetic protagonist you wrote, I can''t even be bothered to critique, so noble and righteous in the beginning and out of nowhere turns into a human pile driver, anyone would think you had a split personality!"


    "As for the women in the protagonist''s group, ha, they have no character at all, mere intable ditches."


    "Apart from throwing themselves at him, that''s all they do, over and over with ''blushing cheeks'' and ''hearts fluttering'', isn''t that annoying? Why don''t I switch to the Japanese and Korean sections?"


    "Out of the whole book, the only character that left a strong impression on me turned out to be that antagonist, the Imperial Princess."


    "Though ugly in appearance, at least her character is interesting, with a clear goal, persisting in her beliefs from beginning to end."


    "Her eventual fate wasn''t bad either, dying tragically alone instead of being white-washed and pulled into the protagonist''s harem, which is also the onlymendable highlight."


    "The above is a perspective from a ten-year bookworm like me, those who disagree, feel free to argue."


    After such a satisfying outpour of words, the youth happily posted it.


    Sure enough, it didn''t take more than a dozen seconds for thatment to be cursed out in a dozenyers.


    "Like the antagonist? What kind of values do you have?"


    "If you like it, watch it; if not, get lost!"


    "You think you can do better?"


    Seeing these people''s frantic appearances, the youthughed with great pleasure.


    As he countered thements above, he crossed the crosswalk.


    Just then, a new notification popped up.


    The youth clicked it open and saw that a fellow reader had sent him a private message.


    He anticipated another round of swearing.


    Unexpectedly, the content of the private message was just a short sentence.


    "If you had a chance to change all this, would you steer the story toward the ending you desire?"


    "Of course."


    The youth replied without a second thought.


    After all, the emotional impact the first half of the book had on him was not fake.


    If he didn''t truly like it, why would he seek such scolding?


    The next second, the ssic and cliched scene happened alongside the sudden screeching of a dump truck''s brakes.


    ...


    Slowly opening his eyes on the soft bed, Lynn woke up.


    He seemed to have had a blurry dream and remembered some things from before.


    While sitting up from the bed, Lynn looked around at his surroundings in a daze.


    Unlike the dank and gloomy underground prison he remembered fromst night, he was now in a spacious room.


    The decorations around were extremely luxurious,plete with a dressing table, wardrobe, washroom, and the like; it almostpared to his private residence back in the Imperial Capital.


    After spending over half a month in the slums, feeling the softness of the double bed beneath him felt like another world to Lynn.


    Presently, he was in high spirits, free from the prior difort, fully recovered.


    This must be Augusta Manor.


    Lynn thought to himself.


    Although he didn''t know how long he had slept, it seemed that, on that night at the undergroundboratory, he had passed Ivyst and the others'' test.


    She must truly believe that the hypnosis experiment had an effect.


    With this in mind, Lynn quietly got out of bed, put on the clothes prepared by the bedside, freshened up in the washroom for a while, and then rang the bedside bell.


    Secondster, a young girl dressed as a maid came in, smiling as she said, "Sir, you''re awa..."


    She paused when she saw that Lynn was neatly dressed.


    "Actually, you could have just rung the bell for anything," the young maid said somewhat nervously, bowing, "For things like washing and dressing, you can leave it to us."


    "No problem, lead the way."


    Lynn shook his head to indicate it didn''t matter.


    Upon hearing this, the young maid was once again stunned. "What?"


    Lynn exined patiently, "Take me to see Her Highness."


    "Oh, oh, okay, okay!"


    The maid moved aside in a fluster, smiling tteringly as she led him out of the room.


    Obviously, she had not expected this odd guest to have anticipated everything, causing her to lose the initiative.


    Lynn followed behind her, winding through the long, ancient corridors, where lifelike statues and murals on either side showcased the Augusta Family''s understated luxury and nobility.


    As he pondered what to say upon meeting Ivyst, two other maids suddenly approached from up ahead.


    Compared to the one in front of Lynn, they appeared indifferent.


    On further thought, this innate arrogance was exactly like that of the homosexual young master of the Augusta Manor.


    Like master, like servant.


    Fortunately, the two maidsing towards him seemed to know their ce and didn''t do anything as stupid as forcing him to assert himself; rather, they bowed quite earnestly.


    "The Imperial Princess is enjoying afternoon tea on thewn in the side courtyard."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I see."


    Lynn nodded and continued forward.


    However, he had only taken a few steps when he heard a suppressed scolding from behind.


    "Did you finish the cleaning you were supposed to do? Did you mop the floor? Always trying to skive off, you really are base at heart¡ªthose from the slums reallyck upbringing."


    "I''m, I''m sorry, I''ll go do it now!"


    "I''ve said it before, don''t try to fool us with that kind of smile; it''s infuriating!"


    "I heard your sister is very sick and you must be in need of moneytely. But with your housework done like this, you can forget about this month''s pay."


    "But, but my sry fromst month was also taken by you..."


    "p!"


    A crisp p noise suddenly came from behind.


    Hearing this, Lynn stopped, turned off the system, and sighed faintly.


    [Character Name: Nina Bemy]


    [Plot Level: E]


    [Plot Deviation: 0.00%]


    "Sorry, I don''t know the way forward, could the youngdy who was here just now please lead the way for me?"


    He turned around and said helplessly.


    Why not do something when it''s convenient?


    "Ah, terribly sorry, guest!"


    Realizing that Lynn hadn''t gone far, the two haughty maids were suddenly flustered.


    However, seeing that Lynn seemed to have no intention of getting involved in their dispute, they breathed a sigh of relief.


    After the two maids left, Nina, the young maid named earlier, seemed hesitant.


    She turned her head, attempting to hold back her tears.


    But she identally blinked, and the glistening teardrops began to stream down.


    Seeing this, Nina hurriedly wiped her eyes, and then with reddened eyes and pursed lips, she managed a servile smile towards Lynn.


    "Guest, I shall guide you."


    Honestly, it''s rare to see a servile smile on the face of a young girl.


    Only those too ustomed to pandering to others and weak-willed be adept at such expressions as their protective coloration.


    The drawback, however, is that to those with malicious hearts, this smile only spurs them to bully her more.


    Lynn considered himself a kind-hearted person, so he pretended not to see the tears in her eyes.


    Suddenly, the atmosphere turned a bit oppressive.


    Augusta Manor was vast, and after walking for a good ten minutes through the winding estate, he finally reached a side door on the first floor.


    At that moment, the sunlight outside was bright and beautiful.


    "Guest, just ahead is where Her Highness is having afternoon tea. It''s not appropriate for me to go further; please continue on your own."


    Nina spoke softly.


    Lynn nodded and prepared to push the door open and leave.


    But just as he took hold of the brass handle, he seemed to remember something and suddenly said, "There''s a saying from my hometown, ''you are what you eat.'' While I don''t fully agree with it, I''ll leave you with this thought."


    "Eating bitterness and enduring hardships won''t make you stand out but will bring endless suffering."


    "If you aspire to be above the rest, don''t learn to eat bitterness, learn to eat the rich."

 Chapter 18 Your Highness, your loyal subordinate Lynn reporting for duty!

    ```


    [Plot level character "Nina Bemy" has deviated by 20.00%.]


    After leaving the mansion through a side door and walking on the grass, Lynn suddenly heard the system prompt.


    He froze.


    Those words he had just casually spoken, he hadn''t expected them to cause a change in the plot deviation.


    Moreover, the increase seemed a bit toorge.


    Lynn opened his system and checked his personal panel, only to find that his system points had not increased.


    Upon reflection, it made sense.


    If grades from F to S indicated the importance of the plot level, then naturally, the difficulty to raise the plot deviation would differ greatly.


    Maid Nina''s plot level was E, essentially the lowest, so changes could ur so easily.


    In contrast, the other night, he had pulled out all the stops in front of Ivyst, and had even staged a grandiose death¡ªit had only increased the plot deviation by 0.01%.


    With this in mind, if he could raise Ivyst''s plot deviation to 100.00%, he would earn 10,000 system points.


    By the decreasing rtionship, raising a plot deviation of an E-level character to 100.00% would give... 0.1 system points?


    One point could only be gained by maxing out the plot deviation of ten E-level characters.


    No wonder there was no reward for this increase.


    Afterward, Lynn tried clicking on the roulette next to his personal attributes for a draw.


    [Would you like to spend 10 system points to draw for an ability?]


    As expected.


    The first draw only needed 1 point, and the next one went up tenfold.


    By that logic, the third time would require 100 points, wouldn''t it?


    Lynn took a sharp breath.


    While he was exploring and summarizing the system''s rules, he suddenly caught sight of an umbre in the distance.


    Lynn immediately lost interest, his expression solemn as he closed the system and walked in that direction.


    Under the umbre, a woman d in a ck frilled long dress leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, gently sipping from a cup of hot tea.


    Unexpectedly, today, the Princess had removed her mask, revealing her stunningly beautiful face.


    Beside her stood the elderly housekeeper, silent as a statue.


    Of course, if one were to only see such a scene, it would undoubtedly be tranquil and beautiful.


    But, a few meters away from the umbre, there was a ring pool of fresh blood on the grass.


    Two prisoners were seenpletely pierced by numerous thorns, standing amidst the blood, resembling torture victims, their deaths exceedingly gruesome.


    Seemingly nourished by the blood, a crimson rose was budding at the tip of the thorns.


    Next to the two corpses, six more living prisoners were present.


    From the strange tattoos on their necks, one could deduce that these were likely members of some cult, captured for reasons unknown.


    At that moment, they were shivering, curled up on the ground.


    Whether it was the negative effects of the Curse Mark on Ivyst''s face, the sight of their deadpanions, or both, it was hard to say.


    Despite his trepidation, Lynn nheless approached as if nothing was amiss.


    Facing Ivyst''s calm and indifferent gaze, he was silent for a moment, with certain images unconsciously shing through his mind.


    Recalling the unjust treatment he had suffered at Augusta Manor and the humiliation of his fate being trifled with, Lynn bit down hard on his teeth.


    He was a man, and he had to fight, to vent the bitterness and anger in his heart!


    Thinking this way, Lynn took a deep breath.


    Then with a thud, he kneeled on one knee and loudly said, "Respected and great Princess, future Saint Laurent VII, your loyal subordinate and inseparable family ally, Lynn Bartleion, reporting for duty!"


    ...


    Ivyst, however, had not expected Lynn to find her during her interrogation of remnants from the Creationist School.


    Seeing his readiness to face death, she thought he was going to make a fuss about leaving the manor, wanting his freedom.


    Unexpectedly, the moment they met, he actually knelt down with a thud!


    "Respected and great Princess, future Saint Laurent VII, your loyal subordinate and inseparable family ally, Lynn Bartleion, reporting for duty!"


    His gaze was so sincere it almost sparkled with devotion, akin to a faithful believer beholding their deity, which was quite unnerving.


    The elderly housekeeper next to her seemed to have never seen such a scene before. Although she maintained herposure, the corner of her eye twitched subtly.


    Even Ivyst herself couldn''t keep it together, and was momentarily choked by the warm tea.


    ```


    "Cough, cough..."


    She coughed lightly, then set down the bone china teacup.


    For some reason, she felt a subtle, inexplicable pleasure in her heart.


    The future Saint Laurent VII, this title deeply pleased her.


    Typically surrounded by clumsily spoken subordinates who, despite their loyalty, inevitably made things dull with prolonged association, she had never met someone who could... speak like this.


    It was as if a scheming, wily minister had suddenly mixed into a group of loyal retainers.


    With this thought, she looked at Lynn yfully, "What, had a sudden change of heart?"


    Lynn shook his head repeatedly, "I''ve suddenly reflected on my previous narrow-mindedness and stupidity and decided to stay by Your Highness''s side, to listen to your teachings."


    As he spoke, he stealthily surveyed Ivyst, then bowed his head again.


    Seeing this small action, Ivyst couldn''t help but frown deeply, her previously good mood instantly vanishing.


    She hated being looked at like this the most.


    Did he think that just because she spared his life, he could be so brazen?


    The atmosphere abruptly grew colder.


    But who would have known, Lynn spoke again in the next moment.


    "Today, you are as beautiful as ever," he said eloquently and cheerfully, "I hope that every day in the future, I will have the opportunity to admire Your Highness''s beauty as I do today."


    Hiss.


    Although she perceived them as likely ttery, Ivyst felt extremelyfortable at that moment.


    The tenseness at the corners of her eyes rxed a bit, transforming her usually grim expression into something much more radiant.


    "Cough, cough..."


    This time, it was the female housekeeper beside her who coughed.


    Seemingly unable to tolerate the young man''s sycophantic words any longer, she opened her eyes and looked towards Ivyst: "Princess, the interrogation has not yet concluded."


    Upon hearing this, Ivyst nodded, then shifted her gaze, deciding not to focus her attention on him any longer.


    Lynn could only maintain a kneeling position on the ground.


    Meanwhile, he nced from the corner of his eye at the cult members who were terrified to death in front of him.


    What was going on here?


    He was somewhat puzzled.


    Soon, Ivyst reverted to her usual cold and formidable demeanor, her eyes seemingly devoid of any emotion, "Next one, heads or tails?"


    Heeding these words, the prisoner on the far left trembled violently, wanting to lift his head to look at Ivyst, but the fear made him shiver uncontrobly.


    Seeing his reaction, Ivyst''s frown was imperceptible.


    Indeed, any normal person who saw her would show the same expression.


    Apparently, only that man was different from others.


    The prisoner called upon, after seeing the miserable state of the twopanions before him, couldn''t help but swallow his saliva.


    The previous two had both chosen tails; by probability, heads this time should have a greater chance, right?


    This thought made him incredibly anxious.


    "I¡ªI choose heads."


    Seeing this, Lynn suddenly understood.


    It was a coin guessing game.


    Ivyst did not pay attention to the prisoner; instead, she picked up her teacup and took another sip.


    On the other hand, the elderly female housekeeper stepped forward, her expression cid, lifted her left hand with the back facing up, and flicked an ancient coin into the air with her right thumb, letting it spin upwards.


    As the coin descended toward her hand, the housekeeper gently covered it with her hand.


    Then, under everyone''s watchful eyes, she slowly revealed the oue.


    "Princess, it''s tails."


    "Pfft¡ª!!!"


    Before the prisoner, pale as a ghost, could react, countless thorns surged forward like a tide.


    In an instant, they pierced countless bloody holes through his body!


    And like the previous two prisoners, he was propped up by the thorns, standing erect while convulsing on the ground, his eyes filled with despair and unwillingness.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Simultaneously, a blood rose formed in the center of the thorns, bloomed a bit more.

 Chapter 19 Coin Guessing Game

    Blood trickled down the executed prisoner''s body, gradually staining the grass.


    Crimson and verdant hues, now starkly contrasted.


    Ivyst couldn''t help but recall the night she arrived at Blin Vige in the northern part of Orn City, where the entire vige had been sacrificed by the Creationist School.


    Religion was the greatest scam in this world.


    Watching the despair of those prisoners, her mood became even more ted.


    Every time she saw such evil scum disying helplessness and panic in the face of a stronger and more malevolent force, she felt a sense of profound relief.


    Ivyst didn''t know whether this was a sign of her own psychological aberration or something else.


    It was probably a rather niche hobby.


    Her life experiences had taught her not to need others'' understanding of her peculiar tastes, nor to care about their stares.


    As the remaining five cult members watched another of their brethren die a pathetic death, they shook like chaff in the wind.


    But at this point, aside from following themands of that female Demon and ying her despair-filled coin guessing game to the end, there was no other choice.


    To guess wrongly meant bing nourishment for the thorny rose.


    All the prisoners present hung their heads and feigned being quail, none willing to break the terrifying silence.


    Just then, a sudden burst of urgent and intense pping startled the prisoners.


    "p, p, p, p, p..."


    Ivyst''s brows furrowed slightly as she turned to look.


    Lynn, who had been kneeling to one side, suddenly straightened up and solemnly began pping vigorously.


    The pace was so fast that even the palms turned red.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Her voice remained cold, seemingly displeased.


    "Your Highness, you are truly amazing," Lynn stopped pping. Not only did he disy no fear, but his eyes were also filled with admiration, "I must admit, as a noble, I always thought killing was a crude and bloody affair, a disrespect to life."


    "But today, Your Highness, you have shown me that killing and execution can indeed be an art form."


    "The harrowing dance between life and death, the heart-racing intoxication, the pure, bloody primal beauty... My goodness, you are simply the greatest artist in this world!"


    At this moment, Lynn was practically Ivyst''s adoring fanboy, as if he would walk through fire and water for the Imperial Princess in the next second.


    Hearing this barrage of words, Ivyst couldn''t help but hold her forehead and sigh, as if her understanding of this person''s limitless sycophancy had been refreshed yet again.


    After a long while, she slowly turned her head, "Shut up."


    Lynn immediately fell silent.


    However, seeing Ivyst''s gently swaying delicate ankle, he believed that his barrage of ttering nonsense had had a fairly good effect.


    In reality, facing such a bloody scene had made Lynn somewhat queasy.


    After all, he wasn''t any sort of psychological deviant.


    But on the surface, he still pretended to be all knowledgeable.


    This was all just to dispel Ivyst''s wariness toward him, to make her believe he had truly submitted.


    After all, Lynn had undergone hypnosis experiments and deceived everyone.


    In Ivyst''s eyes, she could hypnotize this fallend from the Bartleion family at will, issue anymand, and he would have no chance of escaping her grasp.


    But Lynn''s thoughts had never changed from start to finish.


    He was determined to save himself, to survive.


    To avoid getting tangled with this viinous Imperial Princess, lest he be branded as a viinousckey by the protagonist group and face retributionter, Lynn had made great efforts.


    He had to escape and make it a far distance, never to appear before her again.


    Perhaps only then could he scrape by to the end.


    What?


    You say an S-ss plot character?


    Please, there''s a whole wide world out there, why should one insist on hanging from this one tree if the main characters are all gone?


    And not far away, the coin guessing continued.


    "Next."


    Ivyst''s icy voice was like the reaper''s call.


    "Heads, heads."


    "Pfft¡ª!!"


    "Next."


    "...Tails?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Pfft¡ª!!"


    ...


    It seemed that due to Lynn''s arrival, Ivyst hastened the pace of the executions.


    With the ancient coin flipping in the air, the remaining cult members set foot on the path to death amid their despair.


    Perhaps when they wantonly sacrificed the citizens of the Saint Laurent Empire, they should have anticipated that a scene like this would one day unfold.


    And as more and more thorns gathered together, the blood-red rose in the center bloomed even more vividly, as if dripping with allure.


    Eventually, the eight prisoners on scene all perished in the ocean of thorns.


    They knelt on the ground until thest moment of their lives, as though making a confession to the innocents.


    Having done all this, Ivyst picked up the bone china teacup with an unchanged expression and calmly sipped from it once again.


    "Next."


    "?"


    Lynn looked around, only to realize there were no living prisoners left.


    A bad feeling suddenly welled up within him.


    He nced at the silent maid.


    When he saw her taking out the ancient coin again, his face turned pale.


    No need for nonsense, there were only three people left on site; if not him, then who?


    Damn it, his ttery had been in vain!


    Seeing his expression, Ivyst couldn''t help but let out a lightugh, "As expected, I do love the look of you being frightened. It''s so adorable."


    "..."


    Lynn cursed this vicious woman countless times in his heart.


    This only made his determination to escape even stronger.


    "However, I am still curious," her eyes narrowed slightly, "if you were one of the prisoners and faced the situation just now, what kind of choice would you make?"


    "Um... just choose a side and leave it to fate?"


    Seeing him evasive, Ivyst shook her head, "I actually know that right now you''re still scheming to escape."


    "Your Highness, I..."


    Lynn started to argue but was interrupted by her.


    "After all, I''ve been forcing you from the beginning, never considering your wishes." Ivyst suddenly began to self-reflect, "Thinking about it, that''s actually wrong."


    "How about this? Since you dislike me so much, I''ll give you a chance."


    "If you can win a coin toss against me, I''ll allow you to leave Augusta Manor, and I won''t stop you."


    Lynn looked up instinctively.


    The Lie Swallowing gave him the ability to detect lies.


    So at this moment, he could tell that what Ivyst was saying was true.


    But why would she suddenly be so kind?


    Lynn''s eyes were full of suspicion.


    Seeing this, Ivyst said calmly, "Don''t look at me like that. Even I wouldn''t keep a subordinate with a different heart in the team. It''s like a ticking time bomb, you should understand."


    Hearing this, Lynn gave an awkward smile.


    The next second, he saw Ivyst flip her hand, revealing a delicate ne inscribed with mysterious runes in her palm.


    "Since it''s a game, it''s only interesting if there are rewards and punishments." She showed a meaningful smile, "The reward is for you winning the game, and this ne in my hand is the punishment should you lose."


    "If you don''t guess the coin right within three tries, from today onwards, you will have to wear it."


    As expected!


    That was the true purpose of this twisted woman!


    Lynn''s expression grew serious.


    "What do you say? You in?"


    "I... I''ll take the gamble."

 Chapter 20 The First Hypnosis

    "Very well," said Ivyst, nodding after hearing Lynn''s response. "Let''s begin straightaway."


    The aged female housekeeper quickly stepped forward and handed the antique coin to her.


    Weighing the coin in her hand, a flicker of anticipation crossed Ivyst''s eyes.


    She was eager to see if, after observing the death pattern of the prisoners, this guy could bring her some more surprises.


    Indeed.


    This coin was not an ordinary coin, but an artifact imbued with extraordinary power.


    [Item Name: Deceit Messenger''s Personal Coin]


    [Item Number: 0719]


    [Sequence Rank: 6]


    [Specific Origin: Once just amonce copper coin, after prolonged contact with a High Rank Transcendent adherent of "Deceit," it gradually acquired some traits in line with that belief system, but it does not possess self-awareness.]


    [Effect Introduction: Makes guessing oues impossible.]


    [Containment Rmendation: Just keep it as amon coin in a wallet.]


    Clearly, this was the reason why all those cult members had failed.


    The coin would change its oue based on people''s guesses.


    Although it didn''t have self-awareness, and its sequence rank was only level 6, ssified as harmless, it could still, to a certain extent, understand and read human thoughts.


    For example, those cult members.


    When they chose "heads," the coin would automatically switch to the opposite side.


    And vice versa.


    This was somewhat akin to the Transcendents of the "Deceit" belief, revealing a hint of mockery towards the fates of others through its unpredictability.


    So no matter what, the person guessing the coin was bound to lose the game.


    Unfortunately, Lynn was unaware of this since this thing did not appear in the original story.


    However, after observing for a while from the side, he did have some gains.


    "Actually, most of those prisoners yed the game from a gambler''s perspective," Lynn suddenly spoke. "But if you look at it differently, you will realize that things are not as they thought."


    "ording to a gambler''s mindset, after two consecutive wrong guesses on heads, the third person will surely still bet on heads."


    "''It''s been tails twice already; it must turn up heads this time,'' right? That''s what they think."


    Seeing this, Ivyst pursed her lips slightly. "So, as the ninth guesser, with their precedents in mind, would you choose tails?"


    Lynn shook his head. "No, I would think there''s something wrong with the coin."


    "Just from the perspective of probability, the chance of getting eight consecutive wrong guesses is one in two hundred and fifty-six."


    "On a macro level, this is an extremely low-probability event, almost impossible to happen."


    Ivyst narrowed her slender eyes. "Are you suggesting I''m cheating?"


    "Not at all," Lynn sighed. "As the host, this is a right that you inherently possess."


    "Then stop talking and just guess," she said.


    Ivyst fiddled with the exquisitely crafted cor, seemingly imagining how the piece would look around Lynn''s neck.


    However, Lynn ignored the psychological pressure she was deliberately trying to create.


    At the same time, his brain was working at high speed.


    Despite Ivyst''s somewhat psychopathic tendencies, she wouldn''t have let him y a game he was doomed to lose.


    Carefully reconsidering, all of those deceased prisoners, whether they chose heads or tails, ended up with the same result.


    So, whatmonality did these failing individuals possess?


    A sh of insight suddenly struck Lynn.


    Could it be...


    "Alright, no more stalling," said Ivyst, frowning slightly at his silence. "You have three chances."


    Lynn immediately came back to his senses.


    Seeing Ivyst urging him on, he nodded. "I understand... However, since it''s a game with stakes of winning and losing, I believe Your Highness should also participate."


    Upon hearing this, the aged female housekeeper suddenly opened her eyes wide.


    And Ivyst too, revealed a trace of surprise in her eyes.


    Indeed, he had discovered some patterns.


    But what of it?


    As the Third Imperial Princess of the Saint Laurent Empire, personally invited by a subordinate, she had no reason to refuse.


    "Agreed."


    Hearing this, Lynnpletely rxed.


    Seeing his relief, a mocking smile appeared on Ivyst''s face.


    Lynn slowly raised his head.


    To win this game, he must not repeat the cult members'' mistake.


    What was their reason for failure?


    They took the initiative and "stated" their guesses.


    Lynn had once heard a saying in his previous life: After eliminating all possibilities, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.


    Therefore, Lynn just needed to avoid these two errors.


    The task was simple.


    "Which side do you choose?"


    Ivyst urged again.


    Feeling the gazes from her and the housekeeper, Lynn cleared his mind, trying his best not to think about either "heads" or "tails."


    "I choose... the opposite side of whatever Your Highness chooses."


    ...


    Did I really seed?


    Standing outside Augusta Manor, looking at the bustling streets, Lynn suddenly felt a sensation of surreal disbelief.


    To this moment, he still couldn''t fully believe that after winning the gamble, Ivyst really did let him go.


    Not only that, she had also given him a bag of Gold Coins, as capital for his journey to the Imperial Capital.


    This was really...


    Lynn cautiously looked around, ensuring no one was following him from the shadows, and finally let his guard down with relief.


    He then hailed a carriage and immediately set off for the train station.


    As for whether he would return to the Imperial Capital or venture to another country, none of that mattered.


    After all, he had no desire to stay in this border city any longer.


    Recalling Ivyst''s nonchnt demeanor when she let him leave, Lynn''s mind was still a jumble.


    But since the opportunity had been given, he should seize it even more.


    Last time, in the heavily guarded Underground Prison, I found an opportunity to escape, so the possibilities now were even greater.


    "Your Highness, do you really intend to let him leave?"


    Under the parasol, the aging housekeeper poured Ivyst hot tea as she spoke softly.


    As a maid who had apanied her since childhood, their rtionship was extraordinary, their mutual trust beyond normalprehension.


    "Aunt Kasha, what do you think of him?"


    Instead of answering her question, Ivyst narrowed her eyesfortably and asked.


    "Very smart."


    The housekeeper, named Kasha, said calmly.


    After all, realizing the effect of the Deceit Coin in such a short time and finding a way to counter it was not something ordinary people could do.


    Obviously, by observing those prisoners, Lynn had detected themon point in their failures.


    First, they moved first.


    Second, they all "voiced" their guesses.


    And his solution was also very clever.


    "I choose the side opposite of Your Highness."


    This answer did not voice his own guess, but also cleverly handed the real choice over to Ivyst, ingeniously making her the one who moved first.


    After all, the Deceit Coin was of low level and had no living consciousness.


    It couldn''t understand Lynn''s response, nor could it detect from his empty mind which side he truly wanted to choose.


    So in the end, Ivyst became the one who moved first.


    And once she voiced her choice, the Deceit Coin would flip to the other side under the work of its trait.


    Lynn won.


    It seemed simple, but it was actually extremely difficult.


    At least Kasha herself imed that she couldn''t do what he did.


    "I think, Your Highness should rely on hypnosis to keep him firmly under your control," Kasha, usually reticent, unusually spoke up at this moment. "If he really returns to the Imperial Capital and falls into the hands of the other Princes, it would be very troublesome for Your Highness."


    "No need to hurry, even a pet dog will bark if you tie it too tightly, let alone a person."


    Ivyst spoke calmly.


    Just then, a melodious bell rang from far away.


    Seeing this, Ivyst put down her teacup, stood up like ady, lifting her skirt elegantly, and ced the ck mask back on her face.


    "It''s about time."


    "I''ll be out for a bit; I may return veryte, be sure to prepare a double portion of dessert."


    "Yes, Your Highness."


    Deep into the night, with the carriageing to a slow stop, Lynn, wrapped in a thick scarf, stepped out of the carriage.


    Looking at the unfamiliar town in front of him, the anxiety he had held previously loosened slightly.


    It seemed that Ivyst''s people had kept their promise after all.


    Or perhaps his own misdirection had worked.


    Not long before, Lynn had pretended to go to the train station, bought a ticket in the presence of many witnesses, and deliberately caused a ruckus, arguing with someone to leave asting impression and mislead anyone who mighte to investigateter.


    In reality, he wasn''t headed for the Imperial Capital.


    After all, traveling by train would take about six or seven days¡ªa journey too long and too prone to unexpected changes.


    So afterward, he found a passerby, paid some money for his clothes, and swapped outfits with him in a back alley, transforming himself from head to toe into another person.


    After all this, Lynn hailed a carriage and rushed towards Remy Town, the closest to Orn City, as the sun set.


    This ce was famous for its apples and various fruit wines.


    Of course, beyond that, it was also the nearest checkpoint to leave the Saint Laurent Empire.


    If you''re going to run, do it thoroughly!


    As long as he remained within the territory of the Saint Laurent Empire, who knew when Ivyst''s ws would reach out for him.


    Thinking of that beautiful yet terrifying woman, Lynn couldn''t help but shake his head.


    He arrived at the brightly lit Adventurer''s Tavern by the roadside, booked a room at the front desk, and then headed straight upstairs.


    During this process, he was still contemting the matter with Ivyst.


    On reflection, she hadn''t inflicted any real harm on him.


    She even tacitly allowed him his act of retribution after knowing that Rhein had used extrajudicial punishment on him.


    Honestly, if Ivyst wasn''t the antagonist Imperial Princess from the original story, Lynn might have chosen to stay and try to assist her.


    Despite her intimidating presence, she seemed to treat her subordinates quite well.


    Moreover, back in the undergroundboratory, Ivyst had kept her promise to save him.


    So, at the end of the day, Lynn''s impression of her wasn''t bad.


    In his past life, when he read the novel, he was very impressed by this character.


    "What a woman, both lovable and detestable."


    Lynn opened the door to his room and sighed.


    "Then, do you love her or hate her?"


    The sudden familiar voice petrified Lynn as he stood still on the spot.


    In the room, a woman in a ck fringed long dress wearing a mask sat on the edge of the bed, watching him with narrowed eyes, gently spinning a delicate ne on the tip of her finger.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Damn it... I knew it... Lynn turned and ran.


    While running, he shouted, "Help! A woman is being assaulted!!!"


    Lynn tried to draw the attention of everyone in the tavern.


    But as soon as the words escaped his mouth, he felt a tremendous pull from behind.


    As if gripped by an invisible hand, his body involuntarily flew backwards.


    "Bang!"


    The instant he flew into the room, the door mmed shut.


    Lynn looked up, grimacing, and turned his gaze towards the nonchnt Ivyst.


    "You''re not keeping your word."


    Hearing this, Ivyst spoke indifferently, "I only agreed to let you leave Augusta Manor, I never agreed to let you leave the Saint Laurent Empire."


    Word games, huh?


    Lynn sighed.


    He wanted to say more, but suddenly saw the stunning woman in front raise her hand, pointing her palm towards his forehead.


    A green Eye of the Soul mark slowly appeared on her white, delicate palm.


    She was invoking the effect of hypnosis on Lynn.

 Chapter 21 Tell me, what are you thinking about?

    A glimmer of emerald light shed by.


    With the appearance of a vertical-pupil mark in the palm, an invisible psychic power spread out.


    Ivyst watched Lynn intently.


    Under her gaze, the dark-haired young man before her gradually stopped his futile struggle.


    Momentster, his hands fell weakly to his sides, and his entire body hunched over, as if he had lost all his strength.


    Not only that, but Lynn''s originally spirited blue eyes also lost their luster under the effect of hypnosis.


    Until atst, they dimmedpletely, dull and lifeless.


    In just a few seconds, he had swiftly transformed from a resistor into a servile existence, like a servant.


    Seeing this, Ivyst''s heart finally settled.


    It seemed that Mni''s experiments really had made significant progress this time.


    Ivyst extinguished the Eye of the Soul mark in her hand and then slowly sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at Lynn, who knelt before her.


    For some reason, a faint smile graced her lips.


    Such obedient behavior somewhat caught her off guard.


    However, Ivyst''s mind was already filled with many questions she wanted to ask this fellow.


    While pondering, she casually twirled a strand of hair around her fair fingertips.


    Regrettably, no one was fortunate enough to witness such a scene.


    At this moment, there were only Ivyst and Lynn in the room, making it the perfect time to interrogate.


    ording to Mni, once a person was hypnotized, their subconscious would be revealed.


    When that happened, she would be able to see Lynn''s most candid side.


    Recalling the night he forcefully removed his mask, Ivyst couldn''t help but sneer.


    Whether he had been real or pretending, they would find out soon enough.


    With this thought in mind, she was about to speak, her lips parting lightly.


    But before she could say anything, she suddenly heard a knock on the wooden door not far away.


    Following it was a deep voice.


    "Guest, I am the inn''s waiter. I heard earlier that someone might mean you harm, do you need help?"


    Damn it.


    Hearing the question from the doorway, Ivyst frowned deeply.


    Without a word, she raised her right hand, where a blood-red energy slowly surfaced in her palm, ready to transform into sharp thorns at any moment, capable of shredding the person at the door who dared to disturb her peace.


    But if she really did so, she feared it would cause quite amotion, and afterwards, she would have to leave this ce with him in tow.


    Yet hypnosis appeared to have a time limit.


    Although she didn''t know the principle, it probably had something to do with the mental will of the person being hypnotized.


    If she had to wait until returning to Augusta Manor, she probably wouldn''t be able to use hypnosis to interrogate him again tonight.


    But she didn''t want to wait all night, so she had no choice but topromise.


    With this realization, Ivyst extinguished the extraordinary power in her hand, clearly displeased.


    Noticing the unusual silence inside the room, the waiter outside seemed to sense something.


    His knocking and voice gradually grew louder.


    "Guest? Guest? If you don''t respond, I''m going to have toe in."


    The waiter inquired, quite diligently.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Although this ce was on the border, due to its industrial features, every year many nobles and rich merchants from nearby areas woulde to town to participate in the festival and to taste the newly uncorked fruit wine.


    So at this time, the town''s security management level would always raise another notch.


    And once an aggressive womanmitted such malicious deeds in the tavern he owned, he feared they might have to shut down for restructuring the next day.


    Just as he was about to fetch his keys to unlock the door and check the situation, a cold yet pleasant voice sounded from within the room.


    "What, do you have a problem with that?"


    The waiter''s actions halted.


    A woman''s voice?


    Even without seeing her face, he could sketch out her imposing and unyielding presence in his mind.


    Could it be...


    The waiter suddenly realized and immediately a trace of apology appeared on his face.


    "I''m very sorry to have disturbed the two of you. I''ll leave at once."


    With that, he sighed with pity and quickly left the floor.


    The cry for help he had just heard was unmistakably from a young man, and by the sound of it, someone quite young, but the woman''s voice that emanated from the room sounded more mature.


    It seemed she was the dominant party.


    The waiter couldn''t help but think of certain wealthy noblewomen''s wicked hobbies and immediately felt worried for the boy.


    Little did he know, he was the one who had narrowly escaped from the brink of death.


    Meanwhile, inside the room, Ivyst''s tense eyebrows finally rxed as the irrelevant person left.


    She turned her gaze back to Lynn, who was under hypnosis.


    ...


    Damn it, good thing I reacted quickly.


    Feeling Ivyst''s gaze return to him, Lynn didn''t dare to even breathe deeply.


    Actually, he was hoping that the waiter woulde in to take a look, which might have helped him escape the predicament.


    Unfortunately, Lynn hadn''t expected Ivyst to back off as a strategy, holding back the urge to act and acquiescing to the insinuation of wrongdoing, whichpletely refreshed his understanding.


    The woman probably really thought he was hypnotized, which is why she let down her guard a bit.


    Normally, she might have killed the waiter rather than dealing with him using that exnation.


    Feeling the sluggish response in his body, Lynn couldn''t help but sigh in his mind.


    In fact, the moment he saw the Eye of the Soul, he realized what Ivyst intended to do to him.


    Fortunately, he was quick to use the ability of the Lie Swallowing to shift himself into his current state, so he didn''t give himself away.


    The first time he had needed a mirror to assist him, but this time he managed it quite handily.


    He feared it would only get easier in the future.


    Sensing Ivyst''s dangerous gaze, Lynn helplessly thought.


    I was still somewhat naive.


    ording to the original story, if there was something Augusta couldn''t have, she''d rather destroy it than let it fall into someone else''s hands.


    And having shown such a strong interest in him, how could she possibly let him go so easily?


    However, the only good news for now was that she didn''t know he could stay rational during hypnosis.


    Although it seemed far off to escape from this woman''s clutches, at least there was a glimmer of hope.


    There''s time yet.


    The most important thing right now was to survive the immediate crisis.


    Lynn lowered his head with a dull expression, pretending to be foolish and dazed.


    Seeing him like that, Ivyst, who was sitting on the bed, lifted her delicate white right foot and used the tip of her high heel to tilt Lynn''s chin up towards her.


    Then, she gracefully removed the mask from her face, revealing the half of her cheek covered by the Evil Curse.


    Feeling their gazes meet, Ivyst suppressed the irritation in her heart towards the unknown.


    "Look at my face, and tell me..." her eyes conveyed a hint of danger, "what are you really thinking about right now?"

 Chapter 22 I Want to * You

    "This is a death sentence."


    The reason Ivyst spared Lynn''s life after he offended her was entirely because of his thoughtless words that night.


    Those words had wrapped around her heart like a curse.


    And if Lynn gave an answer that deeply disappointed her, given Ivyst''s temperament, she might do something impulsive.


    Feeling her gaze upon him, Lynn immediately fell into thought.


    Not about how to answer the question.


    But he suddenly thought of Ivyst''s inexplicably increasing plot deviation.


    Recalling the night he first saw Ivyst''s true appearance, Lynn''s initial reaction was an indescribable astonishment.


    After that, he felt deep confusion.


    Having read the original work, Lynn knew that this antagonist princess was born under an ominous sign, with an Evil Curse mark on her face, a pitiful existence abandoned by the gods.


    Any life born into this world would feel an uncontroble terror and revulsion toward her.


    This was the origin of Ivyst''s progressively twisted personality.


    Before transmigrating, Lynn had always regarded this character as an ugly woman.


    Yet, upon seeing Ivyst''s true appearance, he immediately felt a strong contrast and dissonance.


    He didn''t feel any repulsion towards her; in fact, he believed from his heart that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.


    For this question, Lynn believed the only possibility was that his soul did not belong to this world and was therefore not influenced by the Evil Curse.


    Perhaps he was the only being in this world, besides the gods, not affected by her.


    In some sense, for the first S-rank plot character he had met, it did seem somewhat fated.


    At this moment, Lynn was not just thinking about whether he could survive safely from Ivyst''s hands, but about some more profound matters.


    If he could find the key to changing her plot deviation, wouldn''t he easily gain arge number of points?


    For his future escape ns, Lynn felt it was essential to learn how to fleece.


    So the question arose.


    What caused the plot deviation that night?


    He merely removed the mask without making any actions that would change the main plotline, but it caused a change.


    Lynn believed that the change was not external but within Ivyst herself.


    The words he had unconsciously uttered might very well have influenced Ivyst''s future.


    Although it was just a trivial phrase, it could affect her personality, character set-up, and the decisions she would make when faced with choices.


    Like the butterfly effect, a gentle flurry of the wings could change the future.


    However, from a numerical standpoint, this change did not seem to be enough.


    So, for more points, Lynn needed a more potent dose.


    Suddenly, he remembered a plot setup from the original story, and a spark of inspiration shed through his mind.


    Take a gamble!


    Although these thoughts had run through his mind from beginning to end, in reality, only a short instant had passed.


    Ivyst had not noticed his thoughts, her gaze coldly set upon him.


    Seeing this, Lynn fully activated his Lie Swallowing ability, clumsily pretending to be foolish and dazed, saying slowly, "The Great Imperial Princess of the Saint Laurent Empire... Hillena, is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, no one canpare with her..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Before the words had finished, countless blood-red thorns exploded instantly in the room!


    Like a relentless tide, they instantly submerged Lynn''s body.


    In mere moments, they left him covered in blood from head to toe.


    "You... as expected..."


    At the instant she heard that name from Lynn''s mouth, intense anger and humiliationpletely shattered her rationality.


    At this moment, Ivyst''s eyes were frigid as cial ice, and the temperature of the entire town dropped by more than ten degrees in response to her fury.


    Her proud chest heaved violently, and a flush of red appeared on her cheeks due to cerebral congestion.


    While beautiful, it was incredibly deadly.


    Feeling the tearing pain all over his body, Lynn was nearly unable to maintain his Lie Swallowing state.


    But he did not regret his decision; instead, he felt relieved.


    Indeed, the stronger the dose, the better.


    At this moment, the more she disyed extreme emotions, the stronger the rebound would beter.


    Besides, even in herplete loss of rationality, even upon hearing that name she detested immensely, at thest moment, she still had not killed him.


    This was an exceedingly rare urrence.


    After all, Lynn was well aware of what the Great Imperial Princess Hillena truly meant to her.


    She was the first heroine of the original story and the existence indirectly responsible for the death of Ivyst''s mother in childbirth.


    In the novel, she had tried to take revenge countless times, but due to the opponent''s protagonist halo, she ended up humiliating herself every time.


    To Ivyst, Hillena was a mortal nemesis with whom there was absolutely no room for reconciliation.


    This also led her to the point of no return, bing the great antagonist.


    Furthermore, ording to the timeline of the story, there was a period in the original work when Ivyst left the Imperial Capital.


    The reason was merely that she had an argument with Hillena at a banquet, identally revealing her strength and scaring away all the guests.


    Saint Laurent VI, who had never liked her, was instantly enraged and told her to get as far away as possible.


    Now, it seemed that this was probably why she appeared in Orn City.


    Therefore, Lynn''s words just now were akin to dancing in a minefield.


    Seeing that the atmosphere had frozen, he knew it was time to stop ying. Controlling his body, he slowly continued the sentence: "¡­but now, seeing Your Highness''s countenance, I realize how utterly ridiculous andughable the former me was."


    "Although Princess Hillena is pretty, she isn''t even worthy to carry your shoes in front of you."


    "That is what I''m truly thinking right now."


    He spoke very slowly.


    He didn''t use any fancynguage to describe Ivyst''s appearance.


    If anything,pared to the afternoon, Lynn''s words right now could even be described as crude.


    But the situation waspletely different.


    In the afternoon, no matter how extravagantly he had praised her, the inherently suspicious Ivyst wouldn''t have believed a single word.


    Only now, under hypnosis, did she think that he was revealing his true inner thoughts.


    Therefore, although the words were clumsy, they surpassed the sweetest rain in the world.


    That is the art ofnguage.


    When you go out of your way to praise a woman, she might not care at all, and might even find it annoying.


    But when you say she looks better than her girlfriend, the nature of things changes.


    Moreover, since Hillena and she were sworn enemies, like fire and water, thisment was even more valuable.


    What could bring her more joy than besting that woman?


    For a moment, Ivyst stared at the boy surrounded by crimson thorns, her red lips trembling, unable to speak.


    After a while, the blood-colored thorns shattered with a clear sound.


    Seeing the boy wounded all over because of her anger brought a sense of guilt she had never felt before.


    Ivyst averted her gaze and took out a vial, emitting a faint silver glow, and tossed it into Lynn''s arms.


    Seeing that he stood there dumbly, not knowing what to do, she remembered that he was still under hypnosis.


    "Drink it all, don''t leave a drop," she said, her voice softening slightly as if she felt it was too cold, "This is the Moonlight Original Liquid from the Silent Church, which can perfectly heal all bodily injuries."


    Lynn dully took the potion and gulped it down.


    In an instant, a faint moonlight radiated from his body, all scars healed in a moment, and his skin was as good as new.


    Except for the ripped clothes and asional bloodstains, there were no more signs of injury.


    Seeing this, Lynn''sst bit of dissatisfactionpletely dissipated.


    Because he now heard the system''s notification.


    [The storyline deviation of "S-rank character Ivyst Laurent Alexini" has raised to 0.10%.]


    A full 9 points reward credited!


    He was close to drawing for an Extraordinary Ability again!


    Looking at the system interface, Lynn felt a joy of harvest.


    He could guess the reason for such a major shift in the story.


    Ivyst was, in fact, a tragic and warped being who had never been loved since childhood, and her psyche was extremely twisted.


    And in this moment, Lynn made her feel something she had never experienced before.


    That was the feeling of being admired.


    For a woman of slightly above-average looks, that''s probably a verymon experience.


    But Ivyst had never felt it.


    Lynn looked up and noticed that Ivyst had turned her back to him at some point, standing by the window.


    At the same time, her soft murmur reached him.


    "It''s actually true, but... why?"


    She seemed caught in a deep confusion.


    After a long time, Ivyst turned back around.


    As the pale moonlight poured in through the window, Ivyst, now d in ayer of cool glow, appeared especially graceful and serene.


    Perhaps because Lynn was under hypnosis, her gaze nowcked some of the sharpness and coldness of the past and had gained a bit of softness.


    Regaining herposure, Ivyst spoke softly, "Next question."


    "Do you resent me for what I''ve done to you?"


    "No."


    Lynn said.


    Of course, theck of resentment was a lie.


    He wished he could run away right now, the farther the better.


    But Lynn wasn''t truly hypnotized, so he had control over what he said.


    He wanted to take the opportunity to farm some more system points.


    However, Ivyst was quite surprised by his answer.


    She had been prepared for him to hate her enough to want to kill her, yet there was none.


    Could there have been a problem with the hypnosis?


    Ivyst looked at him intently, "What are you thinking about every time?"


    "I''m thinking about what to name our children in the future."


    His answer left Ivyst baffled, prompting her to ask, "What do you mean? Whose children?"


    "Yours and mine."


    Ivyst frowned slightly, "Speak like a human."


    "I want to fuck you."


    [The storyline deviation of "S-rank character Ivyst Laurent Alexini" has raised to 0.13%.]

 Chapter 23 Good Dog

    In Lynn''s eyes, women like Ivyst were akin to terminally ill patients gued with diseases.


    A cure was unlikely, but there were ways to at least alleviate her symptoms.


    So in the end, it all came down to the same conclusion.


    A strong medicine was needed, one with a very high dosage.


    Only by exposing her to things she had never seen before could change in the storyline''s deviation be triggered.


    Had anyone ever dared to tell her "I want *you" to her face?


    It was impossible.


    Everyone who met her saw her as a demon and a harbinger of disaster, even her father and siblings were extremely cold toward her.


    Besides, Ivyst was only surrounded by subordinates who revered her greatly.


    These people would never even think of uttering a single sphemous word toward her.


    Thus, the events of tonight could create a shockwave unlike any before,pletely shattering Ivyst''s original gloomy outlook on life.


    She would realize that there was someone in the world who found her attractive.


    Even... harboring sexual fantasies about her.


    Moreover, Lynn was supposedly in a state of hypnosis.


    In that state, the dark thoughts suppressed deep within one''s heart could be greatly magnified.


    Regarding this, Ivyst should have been prepared long ago.


    From her perspective, whatever happened here, only she would know.


    So in the end, what Lynn said was just consistent with his condition.


    Even under such dangerous circumstances earlier, she didn''t kill him, and she was even less likely to do so now.


    From the result, he had just gained 12 system points for free, a total win.


    Lynn thought silently.


    On the other hand, after hearing that audacious statement from Lynn, Ivyst fell silent once again.


    But surprisingly, this time she did not show any intent to kill nor any sign of anger.


    Perhaps there was a twinge of guilt from having hurt Lynn, or maybe it was for some other reason.


    In any case, her thoughts were very delicate at the moment.


    "You are the first person who has dared to speak to me like this." After a moment, she looked at Lynn with a cold smile, "Should I say you are audacious, or should I say you are courting death?"


    Lynn did not answer her.


    After a pause, Ivyst turned her head away.


    By the moonlight, she saw a graceful figure reflected in the window.


    "But... it''s not entirely displeasing, strangely enough."


    Ivyst murmured to herself.


    Looking at herself in the mirror, at the face that brought her shame and hatred day and night, Ivyst felt an impulsive urge at that moment.


    She suddenly wanted to smile at her reflection in the mirror.


    Not a cold smirk, not mockery.


    Just a peaceful smile like one would share with a friend.


    But no sooner had this thought formed than the corners of her mouth that had begun to rise fell again.


    Ivyst suddenly remembered her nominal older sister, Hillena, the first Imperial Princess of the Saint Laurent Empire.


    Her face always held a merciful expression as if the Holy Mother herself, showing a patient smile towards everyone and everything.


    She really hated such pretentious behavior.


    "I really am confused," she shook her head, "to be tangled for so long over this guy''s nonsense, it''s absurd."


    Saying this, Ivyst raised her hand, lightly sweeping it across the window.


    "Crack!"


    Apanied by a crisp sound, dense cracks immediately spread across the entire window.


    The figure that had been reflected in the ss disappeared.


    Afterwards, Ivyst''s expression returned to its usual indifference.


    The energy of the Eye of the Soul''s Curse Mark in her hand was about to dissipate, signaling the end of today''s hypnosis session.


    To use it again, it would need to recharge automatically.


    The cooldown time was roughly a day.


    Meaning, Ivyst could only hypnotize Lynn once a day.


    But regardless, Lynn could now be consideredpletely under her control.


    No matter how reluctant, as long as the issue with hypnosis wasn''t resolved, he would continually serve her.


    Of course, as someone in a superior position, Ivyst understood the tactic of ''carrot and stick''.


    She wouldn''t just send Lynn on errands relentlessly.


    For, setting aside his intelligence, he was also quite an interesting fellow, making her daily life less dull.


    Although there were many other questions she wanted to ask, considering the cooldown, Ivyst had to hold back her inquisitiveness.


    She raised her hand, showing the Eye of the Soul''s Curse Mark to Lynn again.


    "After the hypnosis ends, you will forget everything that just happened."


    No, he couldn''t actually forget at all.


    In every sense of the word.


    Lynn silentlyined in his heart.


    At the same time, he deactivated Lie Swallowing''s ability.


    The next second, his eyes cleared, and he stood still on the ground.


    "What, what did you do to me?!"


    Lynn burst into acting, looking at his ragged clothes with a shocked expression.


    But, unknown to him, Ivyst had returned to her initial aloof demeanor as if everything that had just happened never urred.


    Women are truly born actresses.


    Lynn mocked internally.


    Unfortunately for her, the roles had now reversed, and he was the one in control.


    Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard Ivyst speak.


    "It''s nothing, just hypnotized you for a bit, thanks to you, I saw something quite interesting."


    "What... did you see?"


    Lynn struggled to look deeply serious.


    Ivyst raised an eyebrow. "Don''t remember? That''s really too bad."


    "Earlier, I''m not sure who it was, suddenly acting like a dog in heat, ripping their clothes while kneeling and begging, saying something like ''Princess, I really like you.'' Truly shameless."


    "But I must admit, it''s the first time I''ve learned that you like me this much, hehe."


    Ivyst lightly covered her mouth, a mocking smile appearing at her lips.


    Lynn broke out in a cold sweat.


    Wait, was this woman adding her own dramatic ir?


    It was clearly her who lost herposure because of Hillena at first, ruining his clothes, and now she dares to turn it around on him?


    The worst part is, he merelyplimented her looks, and she twisted his words, making it sound like he was groveling!


    Lynn felt he was almost at his breaking point.


    This was the first time he realized that the Princess had such an unknown side to her.


    So full of herself.


    But the more she was like this, the more he had to avoid showing any w.


    If she discovered that he wasn''t actually hypnotized, he didn''t even want to think about the consequences.


    Watching Lynn lower his head in a daze, Ivyst thought he was trying to recall what happened while he was hypnotized, feeling a rush of triumph.


    "Next time something simr happens, I''ll cut off your ''thing.''"


    "¡­Yes, Princess."


    When under someone''s roof, one has to bow their head.


    However, Lynn silently swore that someday he would turn the very words she just spoke against her.


    He clenched his fists.


    But in that moment of distraction, Lynn suddenly felt something cold around his neck.


    It turned out Ivyst had once again taken out that cor, hovering it near his neck.


    Lynn instinctively wanted to resist, but Ivyst leaned in quickly.


    The serene scent of roses overwhelmed him, making his head spin.


    At this moment, the distance between them was quite close. Ivyst''s gaze remained cold and calm, fixed on the unbuckled cor.


    Her cold, delicate fingers unintentionally slid across his neck, causing goosebumps.


    "Don''t move."


    Just a single sentence halted Lynn''s attempt to resist.


    It wasn''t fear.


    It was simply because it''s improper for men and women to touch, and they weren''t even superiors or subordinates. How could he just shove her away?


    "You... don''t do this. Isn''t it enough that I agreed to join your ranks and pledge my loyalty to you?"


    Lynn said with a distressed expression.


    At this point, he could onlypromise temporarily.


    However, Ivyst didn''t respond to his words.


    "Click!"


    After securing the cor, she showed a satisfied expression.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lynn felt like he was being strangled, wanting to tear off the cor.


    But before he could move, he saw the cor on his neck suddenly turn into a red light, which shot into his skin andpletely vanished.


    Apanied by a mild burning sensation, Lynn suddenly discovered a thorn-shaped blood-red mark on his chest.


    This was not just any ordinary cor, but an Extraordinary Item.


    Though normally invisible, in critical moments, it allowed Ivyst to track his exact location to prevent him from escaping!


    Lynn cursed inwardly.


    "This is the second cor I''ve fastened personally," looking at the mark on his chest, Ivyst''s eyes revealed a hint of reminiscence, "It''s been exactly sixteen years since thest one."


    Lynn, spurred by hispetitive male ego, couldn''t help but look up. "Who was the first one?"


    "It was a puppy I had when I was six."


    "And... what happened to it?"


    Lynn suddenly had a bad feeling.


    Sure enough, a moving smile appeared on Ivyst''s face. "On my eighth birthday, it bit me, so I strangled it."


    "For those disobedient dogs, a punishment is absolutely necessary."


    The atmosphere instantly cooled down.


    Lynn quickly knelt on one knee, performed an obsequious gesture towards Ivyst, his expression as firm as if taking an oath, "I pledge my life in service to you, Princess!"


    Seeing this, Ivyst stroked his head.


    "Good dog."

 Chapter 24 Mess

    The next morning, Lynn stared nkly at the ornate relief on the ceiling with lifeless eyes.


    Why had things turned out this way?


    With a sense of desperation, Lynn yawned, sat up, dressed, and prepared to wash up.


    By now, he was truly in too deep, trapped from all directions, all retreats cut off.


    As long as the positioning cor Ivyst had put on him was not removed, he could never escape her grasp.


    Thinking about the inevitable future confrontation with the protagonist group, Lynn felt despair.


    Although he didn''t know if this world had something like a "world will" setting, since the system mentioned a plot deviation degree, it meant they were strictly following the preset path of the original story.


    That path ends at a sheer cliff,pletely devoid of any rationale for survival.


    But, at this point, there was no other choice.


    He could only act as a double-crosser, blend into Ivyst''s team, and always look for a chance to escape.


    To rid himself of that woman, he might even need to cozy up to some original characters.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Of course, there was another way.


    By changing the plot deviation of Ivyst and those around her to earn a huge amount of system points and upgrading like mad until he became stronger than her, he could liberate himself.


    But undoubtedly, this path was even more difficult.


    He had managed to increase Ivyst''s plot deviation degree only slightly after several dangerous days.


    It was indeed a long and arduous journey.


    Lynn sighed and spat out the toothpaste in his mouth.


    After finishing his morning wash, he rang a small bell.


    A few secondster, the maid Nina came in.


    "Master Lynn, Her Highness mentioned that after you wake up, she wants you to meet the others at the dining hall."


    Clearly, she still hadn''t adjusted her view of Lynn from a guest to something else, as she asionally stole nces at him.


    Unfortunately, Lynn was not in the mood to chat; he nodded gravely, "I see, lead the way."


    ...


    Augusta Manor was vast.


    It took about ten minutes, guided by Nina, for Lynn to reach the so-called dining area.


    Though it was called a dining room, the opulence of the scene could be felt deeply.


    Upon entering the main hall, long banquet tables made from expensive beech wood were neatly arranged, with silver candlesticks and exquisite utensils pressing down on the tablecloths.


    At this moment, some people were already seated at the tables, quietly chatting and eating.


    Looking around, Lynn realized that aside from Rhein and the housekeeper named Kasha, he didn''t recognize anyone else present.


    Oh, there was also a ck cat squatting in a corner, licking minced meat from a te.


    The atmosphere seemed quite lively.


    Even Princess Ivyst was sitting at the head of the table at the far end, currently wearing a half-face mask, revealing her tender white chin.


    Her fork and knife gestures were elegant, rhythmically slicing the food and gently chewing it, sending the pieces into her red lips.


    During meals, she really resembled a well-mannered noblewoman.


    Lynn curled his lips.


    It seemed that this woman was quite approachable, dining together with her subordinates.


    Apparently sensing Lynn''s critical gaze, Ivyst suddenly opened her eyes and locked her gaze precisely on him.


    Lynn immediately adopted a solemn expression.


    "Add another breakfast."


    Ignoring him, she whispered to the housekeeper Kasha beside her.


    Soon, a new te was brought over, containing steaming sausages andmb chops.


    Lynn nced at the filled beechwood long table and chose the most corner seat to sit down.


    Then, he faintly felt several covert gazesing from a distance.


    It seemed that seeing a stranger arrive here, and given that Her Highness had allowed him to sit, the people began observing this tall and handsome young man with different looks.


    Lynn ignored these people and picked up his knife and fork to start eating.


    Hungry after a whole night, he ate voraciously.


    Seeing his manner, many expressed a slight disdain.


    Most of the people present were nobility, and though some followers of Her Highness from early on had no titles, they were at least titled knights.


    Who was this neer that appeared from nowhere to dine with them?


    This thought arose in their minds.


    Situated closest to the main seat, Rhein watched Lynn''s eating, his face showing contempt.


    At the same time, he couldn''t help but recall that night a few days ago, his anger ring instantaneously.


    One day, he wouldpletely reim this scene.


    The proud Rhein almost snapped his fork in hand.


    Sadly, the Princess was present here, so he dared not and could not cause any trouble.


    "I''ll let you off this time."


    Rhein sneered inwardly.


    But what he did not expect was that though he avoided trouble, trouble found him first.


    "Homosexual, help me grab the pepper from over there, thank you!"


    Lynn suddenly called out loudly in a voice everyone could hear.


    So shameless!


    At that moment, this thought arose in everyone''s mind.


    The events of that night were clearly unwilling to escape through the gossiping mouths of the residents.


    At least, most of the people present already had some knowledge of it.


    Although heter rified ambiguously, not many believed him.


    Sure enough, Rhein exploded instantly.


    "You!!!"


    He intended to m the table and stand up, but looking over at the Princess, who was dining with her head down, he felt extremely stifled and withdrew his hand.


    Right, with Her Highness present, how could he show himself in such an unrefined light?


    His temples bulged with a raging vein, but he ultimately restrained himself.


    "Alright, stop arguing," Ivyst suddenly spoke up. "Let me introduce the neer; this fellow here is Lynn, and he will be yourpanion from now on."


    "Later, remember to go to the ''cer'' to collect some Extraordinary Equipment. You are too weak now,pletelycking the ability to defend yourself... Rhein, show him around."


    She instructed both of them simultaneously.


    Rhein paused for a few seconds, then a look of uncontroble joy spread across his face, "Yes, Your Highness."


    If he could take him down to the cer, then things would be easier.


    Although he did not know why Her Highness had brought him here, it was definitely a good thing.


    Thinking so, Rhein sneered coldly as he looked his way.


    Feeling his hateful gaze, Lynn seemed oblivious as he shed a brilliant smile.


    This incident was merely a slight interlude.


    Soon, the crowd would put it out of their minds.


    "Your Highness, Duke Tierus has once again declined your invitation. What should we do..."


    In the crowd, someone started discussing official matters with Ivyst.


    Seeing this, Ivyst couldn''t help but frown deeply.


    This stubborn old man.


    Suddenly, she lost her appetite.


    Bai Leier Tierus, one of the Seven Imperial Electors of the Saint Laurent Empire, possessed the supreme power to elect the Emperor and was the ultimate target for Ivyst''s trip to Orn City.


    After all, unlike the other princes and princesses, she was naturally disliked by Saint Laurent VI and many of the ministers.


    Not only that, but she also did not have a powerful maternal family like they did.


    Therefore, Ivyst needed even more the support from outside forces.


    Thus, her sole purpose ining to Orn City was to win over Duke Tierus, who was in his prime.


    This would strengthen her position in the uing King''s election.


    Unfortunately, that old man was very stubborn and, like most others, held a poor impression of her.


    "Let''s discuss this mattertter; are there other urgent issues that need addressing?"


    Ivyst, unable toe up with a solution, decided to temporarily put aside the matter.


    "Of course, there is," the man speaking nodded solemnly. "Your Highness, you recently eradicated the Creationist School, which was a significant achievement for Orn City. However, the three hundred innocent civilians saved from the school have be a troubling issue."


    "These people seem brainwashed, steadfastly believing in the dogmas of the Creationist School, even to the point of endangering city safety."


    "Therefore, the City Council and the Security Bureau refuse to deal with this mess and do not allow those three hundred civilians to enter the city."


    "What do you think should be done about this situation?"


    Another headache-inducing matter for Ivyst cropped up.


    She has always been rtively inept at dealing with cases involving ordinary people.


    After all, these were over three hundred lives that couldn''t be abandoned and left to survive for long outside, possibly even triggering a series of problems.


    Yet they couldn''t simply be killed.


    What should be done?


    Ivyst''s brow furrowed slightly.


    After much thought, she decided to delegate this troublesome matter to her subordinates.


    So, Ivyst raised her head, her gaze sweeping across both sides of the long table.


    Soon, the lucky person was chosen.


    Looking at Lynn, who was currently hunched over in the corner concentrating on his meal, Ivyst''s lips curled into a subtle smile.

 Chapter 25 The Seven Imperial Electors

    Feeling Rhein''s resentful gaze, Lynn smiled at him.


    Seeing that everyone treated the incident as a minor squabble, he bowed his head and continued his battle with the roasted sausages on his te.


    A momentter, someone started discussing official matters with Ivyst.


    "Your Highness, Duke Tierus has once again refused your invitation. What do you think..."


    Duke Tierus?


    Lynn felt that this name seemed somewhat familiar.


    After reflecting for a while, he remembered that this person seemed to be a Duke in the Saint Laurent Empire from the original story, also serving as the Governor of the Southern Province.


    Besides this, he was also a venerable elector.


    Although the elector system gradually weakened in the recent times of strong imperial power,


    the influence over the King''s election ceremony was still not to be underestimated.


    All in all, there were a total of seven electors.


    Apart from the four secr electors, there were also three lesiastical electors, each served by an Archbishop from one of the three major churches of the Saint Laurent Empire.


    Therefore, before the start of each King''s election, princes aspiring to ascend the throne would try to get on good terms with these old fellows.


    Once a Prince garnered the support of more than four electors, it was almost equivalent to securing the throne.


    It seemed that Ivyst, who was currently weak and alone, was a bit anxious, not willing to fall too far behind others.


    Reflecting on the original story''s plot about the King''s election, Lynn shook his head.


    Saint Laurent VI had a total of nine children, most of whom were not benevolent.


    To win the King''s election, they calcted against each other from start to finish until, in the end, it was the Great Imperial Princess Hillena who, with the help of the male lead, had thestugh.


    Generally speaking, after winning the King''s election, the victor would temporarily serve as the Regent King, managing the Empire''s affairs, waiting for the formal coronation.


    As for Ivyst... Lynn could only wish her good luck.


    She had neither Hillena''s protagonist''s halo nor the support of a powerful family.


    Not only was she seen by others as an evil force, she couldn''t even obtain the favor of others.


    That was akin to being handed a death sentence.


    After all, public opinion is a very important loop in bing an Emperor.


    Of course, this public opinion refers not to themoners, but to the nobles like worms clinging to the roots of the Empire, sucking its lifeblood.


    Lynn shook his head.


    Since he wasn''t interested in politics and such, he refocused his attention back on his te.


    The sausage was delicious.


    The starving Lynn ate ravenously, with grease smearing all over his mouth.


    Just then, a voice filled with admiration and curiosity suddenly came from beside him, "I can''t believe you managed to humble that arrogant guy like that, it''s really impressive."


    Upon hearing this, Lynn looked up and saw a blond young man sitting beside him.


    The young man looked a lot like Rhein, but he didn''t have Rhein''s arrogance; instead, he seemed somewhat dazed.


    "Who are you?"


    Lynn wiped the oil from his mouth.


    "My name is ya Augusta; I''m sorry my brother has troubled you."


    The young man named ya scratched his head.


    Lynn nodded, then pointed to the food on his te and said, "Do you eat sausage?"


    "I don''t eat, thank..."


    ya felt a warmth in his heart, just about to refuse his kindness.


    But before he could finish speaking, he watched, wide-eyed, as the guy gleefully stabbed the untouched roasted sausage from his te.


    Damn it.


    ya finally felt what his brother had felt just a moment ago.


    What a cheeky person!


    He felt somewhat aggrieved in his heart.


    He himself was quite fond of sausages, too.


    So ya thought for a second and decided to repay Lynn in his own coin.


    He pointed to his te and said, "Then do you eatmb chops?"


    ya had nned to mimic Lynn''s earlier action when he refused, thinking it would even things out.


    Unexpectedly, Lynn again gleefully stabbed the remainingmb chop from his te.


    "Eat!" he mumbled indistinctly, "You''re such a nice person."


    ya''s eyes widened, seemingly not expecting this kind of maneuver.


    Staring at his empty te, he felt an urge to m the table in frustration.


    But before ya could act, he suddenly noticed that the surroundings had be quiet.


    He instinctively raised his head and discovered that the esteemed Highness sitting in the main seat had, at some point, looked over with a calm and indifferent gaze.


    ya nearly wet himself with fright at that moment.


    Lynn set me up!


    He drooped like a frightened quail and spoke with a wilting tone, "Y-Your Highness?"


    "You seem to have something to say,"


    Ivyst said indifferently.


    "No, nothing, Your Highness."


    ya was close to crying.


    "No, you do." Ivyst''s domineering presence resurfaced, "Since you have something to say, that means you have your unique perspective on how to handle these three hundred plus civilians."


    "In that case, I''ll leave this task to you. Within three days, I want to see the results."


    Ivyst''s words drifted lightly down.


    But theynded heavily on ya''s heart, as if they weighed a thousand pounds!


    He waspletely dumbfounded.


    Though he was the second son of Baron Augusta and a semi-master in the manor, with Rhein firmly above him in both strength and aura, ya never had a chance to inherit the barcy in his lifetime.


    His greatest hope in life was to build a ntation in the South and then marry a nobledy as his wife, to live a stable life.


    Although his father and elder brother had sworn allegiance to that Highness, it didn''t really have much to do with ya.


    He just hung around the manor and Orn City every day, idling away his time.


    After all, no one really expected anything from him.


    But at this very moment, that Highness had suddenly tossed such a heavy responsibility onto his head.


    ya was stunned.


    What? Me?


    Just as he was feeling lost and helpless, he suddenly heard some noise beside him.


    ya nced sideways from the corner of his eye.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Sure enough, there was Lynn, head lowered, his whole body trembling as he tried to hold backughter.


    "Right, you can bring Lynn with you as your assistant. If you mess this up, you should both be aware of the consequences."


    Ivyst''s voice came again.


    Upon hearing this, the smile on Lynn''s face instantly froze.


    He lifted his head with a grim expression.


    Now it was ya''s turn to stifle augh.


    It seemed that a smile doesn''t vanish, it just transfers from one person''s face to another''s.


    ...


    "Let''s go."


    After breakfast, Rhein came straight to Lynn.


    He pointed at the door with a cold expression, signaling Lynn to follow him.


    In fact, he was already imagining in his heart just how he was going to thoroughly discipline this infuriating person.


    The "cer" was not simply a storage ce for odds and ends as it was suggested on the surface; it was situated even deeper than the Underground Prison.


    Rhein had been there a few times and was deeply shocked by it.


    Simply put, it was a storage room used by Ivyst to collect various Extraordinary Items and Ancient Curses, filled with all sorts of rare and strange objects.


    There were even many highly ranked dangerous items.


    It was said that if they were released, they could easily be a natural disaster sweeping through the city.


    Fortunately, most things there were perfectly contained, thanks to the efforts of that Highness.


    Her power was terrifying, and she was capable of suppressing even the most fearsome Ancient Curses.


    Upon entering the cer shortly, Rhein nned to use the characteristics of a certain Ancient Curse to teach thed a lesson, letting him know who was the real boss of the manor.


    With this thought, Rhein revealed a cold sneer.


    Seeing this, ya looked at Lynn with some sympathy: "Let''s talk about the task assigned by His Highness after you get out, and also... good luck."


    There weren''t many of his peers in the manor, and even fewer he could actually talk to.


    He still hoped Lynn could stay on here without harm.


    After all, he seemed like an interesting fellow.


    Watching the two figures depart, ya thought silently.

 Chapter 26 The Show Begins

    "Your Highness, you should know that Lynn and that egomaniac have a very tense rtionship," how could you still arrange for the two of them to be together?"


    Inside the study, Aphia, transformed into a ck cat,y in front of Ivyst''s desk, curiously asking.


    In fact, during the meal just now, she felt several times that Lynn wanted to greet her.


    But remembering the unpleasantness between them before, Aphia was very angry, so she ignored him.


    However, after breakfast, she ran to Ivyst and voiced the doubts in her heart.


    While reviewing documents, Ivyst casually asked, "Do you think I am favoring Rhein?"


    "Isn''t that so?"


    Aphia was somewhat doubtful, sticking out her tongue to lick her smooth fur.


    "You''re overthinking," Ivyst shook her head. "What you should be worried about is not his safety, but how badly Rhein is going to be sorted outter."


    She had made these arrangements from the beginning, not for Rhein.


    It was merely to let Lynn properly vent.


    After all, he had been beaten badly by Rhein that night, andbined with his demeanor at the dinner table, he was likely still upset.


    Therefore, Ivyst gave this chance to vent to Lynn as a bit ofpensation.


    As for the task she had just assigned to ya, it was another diversion.


    She merely wanted to see how Lynn would solve the resettlement issue of these over three hundred civilians.


    But in order not to let her many subordinates notice how much she valued him, she indirectly handed the matter to ya.


    Thinking this, Ivyst reached out and gently scratched Aphia''s chin.


    The little ck cat couldn''t help but squint and purr happily.


    ...


    After leaving the dining hall, guided by Rhein, Lynn entered the underground passage again.


    Compared to the entire underground facility, the prison area was just a small part.


    Walking through the interconnected underground passageways, the view soon opened up.


    Since it was daytime, there weren''t many people stationed in the underground facility.


    Even so, he and Rhein were still thoroughly checked, searched from head to toe.


    They even used antern that could nullify transformation effects in case someone was impersonating them.


    Lynn looked up and saw before him a deep corridor that seemed to lead nowhere.


    The corridor was quite narrow and noises came from it intermittently.


    These sounds were very strange.


    Sometimes it was like someone scraping a door with fingernails, other times it sounded like the "gurgle gurgle" of slimes, and asionally even the deep growls of non-human creatures were heard.


    Plus, with theck of bright light sources, the atmosphere around was particrly eerie.


    Just staying here was enough to drastically reduce one''s sanity.


    Therefore, the guards stationed here were rotated regrly and required daily mental health assessments.


    This was to ensure that they were not contaminated by those weird curse powers.


    In the past, the entire manor, even the whole of Orn City, was helpless against these terribly extreme things.


    Fortunately, with the power of the Princess, they gradually figured out how to contain these things.


    Simply put, items that could bepletely used by humans and that were harmless or only minimally harmful were usually called Extraordinary Items.


    As for those extremely dangerous items that could cause casualties or even disasters if not handled carefully, they were known as Ancient Curses.


    Most Extraordinary Items were made by humans.


    From small items like the Frozen Bullet and Magic Stone torge ones like the steam train and the irond warship, all were included.


    The origins of the Ancient Curses were mysterious, with some even possessing their own consciousness.


    However, as long as one grasped the pattern and paid a certain price within expectations, Ancient Curses often provided unimaginable assistance to the user.


    Feeling the gloomy and dark environment around him, Lynn remained silent.


    Clearly, he was of the tougher sort internally.


    Despite being a man who had managed to survive the mental pollution before the system for a whole half month without copsing, his willpower was evident.


    Although the two of them had been silent along the way, Rhein finally spoke up when they arrived.


    "Go straight, turn left; the armory is in the room at the end of the road. You can pick something for self-defense. If it''s a firearm, you can also take some Extraordinary Bullets for backup."


    Seeing his benevolent demeanor, Lynn showed a grateful expression.


    "Thank you, gay master," he said, emotionally. "I didn''t expect you to be so warm-hearted. How about this, from now on, I won''t call you gay in front of others, unless you want me to call you gay, I''d still call you that, but personally, I hope..."


    "Shut up!"


    As soon as he mentioned that word, Rhein looked as if he had swallowed a dead fly, extremely diforted.


    He gave Lynn a cold sidelong nce and then left without turning back.


    Watching his frustrated departure, Lynn thought deeply.


    Lynn could guess why Ivyst had this guy bring him to the cer, so he did not refuse.


    For someone like Rhein, if one didn''tpletely break his spine, he would onlye to bother Lynn more often.


    Moreover, in his view, the other party was just a jumping jack.


    So even though Lynn knew this guy had ill intentions, he still followed.


    Because he didn''t take it to heart.


    There''s no one in this world who can make me, Lynn, lose face!


    Except for that smelly woman, of course.


    Lynn thought to himself.


    The next second, following Rhein''s instructions, he proceeded deeper into the corridor.


    ...


    Sure enough, this guy was too conceited.


    Watching Lynn''s forward steps and the fearless curiosity on his face, Rhein smirked.


    At this moment, he was staying in a small resting room, with an antique mirror ced on the table in front of him.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    But this was no ordinary mirror.


    Right in the middle, particles like smoke were gathering, disying the specific situation in the cer on the mirror surface.


    Seeing Lynn enter the room without any suspicion, Rhein''s tensionpletely rxed.


    Clearly, he had followed his instructions to that room.


    "You have a really disgustingugh."


    Suddenly, a scoff echoed in the room.


    Rhein instinctively looked up and saw a petite figure appearing across the table at some point.


    She was wearing a somewhat loose white coat, her signature brown hair messy.


    "Mni? Why are you here?"


    Rhein frowned, slightly annoyed.


    "I just ran into Miss Mni on the way here, so I invited her to join us,"


    From the darkness, the shadowy figure of Morris slowly emerged from the wall.


    Beside him, Mni yawned casually, "This kid is my precious experiment; don''t you break him."


    Rhein snorted, "Are you here to hinder me?"


    "No, I''m here to spectate," Morris nced at him, "I just feel like something fun is going to happen, so I came."


    Mni was nomittal, "I''m here to confirm whether this child has the ability to stay by Her Highness and assist her."


    "Humph, then get out of the way and don''t disturb me!"


    Rhein waved his hand impatiently.


    Then, he turned his attention back to the mirror.


    Watching Lynn standing in the room, looking clueless, he couldn''t help but smile with satisfaction.


    The show was about to begin!

 Chapter 27 Roulette

    Lynn, following Rhein''s instructions, arrived at the door of the containment room at the end of the corridor.


    It seemed no one had visited this ce in a long while, as the doorknob was coated in a thickyer of dust.


    One could guess why with just a thought.


    If it weren''t for the intense danger and uncontrobility, there was absolutely no need to hide it in such a secluded corner.


    Lynn didn''t hesitate and pushed the door open directly.


    The next second, the situation inside the containment room was immediately visible.


    Lynn couldn''t help but pause.


    Perhaps due to the contained item itself not beingrge, the entire room was only about ten square meters or so, appearing quite cramped.


    Even so, a table still upied the already small room.


    A rustic wooden box the size of a palmy quietly on the table, its rough surface engraved with strange patterns and even some mottled bloodstains.


    Of course, these weren''t the focal point.


    What truly made Lynn pause was the thing sitting opposite the table.


    Yes, he had no choice but to describe it as a "thing."


    Although it had a human form, from any perspective, the object before him could only be considered a doll.


    Or rather, a doll that was half flesh and half puppet.


    It undoubtedly still possessed certain human characteristics.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    For example, breathing.


    But apart from that, all its joints had clearly turned puppet-like, as if assembled from parts, giving off a bizarre vor.


    Looking at the creepy puppet sitting quietly on the high stool, Lynn felt a bit like making a sarcastic remark.


    Are you going to y a game with me too?


    While scoffing internally, Lynn casually closed the door behind him.


    "Bang!"


    The entire containment room vibrated.


    It seemed that the sound had awakened the puppet before him, and momentster, Lynn heard a "click-ck" sound from the high stool.


    Under his gaze, the somewhat dusty puppet seemed to be pulled by some invisible thread.


    Then it slowly rose from the chair.


    The puppet opened its eyes and looked towards Lynn, its wooden jaw slowly moving.


    "Oh, it''s been a long time since someone came here," it said in a somewhat sinister voice, "Who would have thought that at this point, fools would stille knocking."


    "Do I sense the scent of ''Prisoner of Destiny'' on you... are you a Transcendent of the ''Deceit'' faith?"


    Deceit?


    Lynn recalled the Lie Swallowing ability he had extracted that night in the undergroundb.


    The symbol of this ability appeared to be a clown pattern that was half crying and halfughing.


    Was that the emblem of the "Deceit" faith?


    Lynn pondered.


    However, outwardly he feigned ignorance, "No, you might have the wrong person."


    After all, from the creature''s tone, it seemed it didn''t favor the Transcendents of that faith.


    "Not being one is for the best... Have a seat."


    The puppet pointed stiffly at the chair opposite the table, gesturing.


    Lynn walked forward, pulled out the chair, and sat down.


    Instantly, an invisible force pressed down from above onto his shoulders.


    It wasn''t heavy, but it suddenly made Lynn lose the ability to leave the chair.


    He tried to struggle a couple of times but finding it useless, resignedly reclined in the chair.


    At the same time, he tried to activate the Lie Swallowing in secret.


    As expected, it was also restrained by an invisible force.


    "From the moment you entered the door, the gambit had already begun. Until it ends, there''s no way to escape."


    The puppet twisted its stiff neck joints.


    Upon hearing this, Lynn asked in confusion, "What gambit?"


    "Ignorance is bliss." Despite being a puppet, its face revealed a human-like sneer, "Didn''t they tell you the information about the ''Deadly Demon Doll'' before you came in?"


    Having said that, the puppet pulled out a revolver from behind.


    Under Lynn''s gaze, it opened the cylinder, and dumped out six yellowish bullets, which ttered onto the tabletop.


    The puppet looked at him with eyes full of malice.


    Seeing this, Lynn seemed to guess something, and his eyebrows furrowed tightly. "Are you going to y Russian roulette with me?"


    This was a favorite attraction in some underground gambling dens.


    Extremely bloody, extremely thrilling.


    It took just a few minutes to experience the descent from heaven to hell, causing one''s adrenaline to surge.


    Typically, in Russian roulette, only one bullet was used.


    Before each shot, gamblers could choose to shoot directly at the temple or spin the chamber again before firing.


    As for a higher number of bullets, that was a more advanced game.


    After all, this wasn''t purely a game of luck; it involved the matter of probability.


    If handled correctly, one could increase their chances of survival.


    Seeing Lynn''s look of imminent doom, the puppet seemed to derive a lot of pleasure from it and cackled.


    "You a shot, I a shot, apart from one of us being shot in the head, there are no means to end this gambit." The puppet''s fingertips flicked the bullets on the table, looking at him ominously, "So how many will you choose?"


    Lynn''s expression was a bit solemn. "Before that, may I ask who will shoot first?"


    The puppet sinisterly responded, "As the host of the game, naturally, I take the first shot."


    Hearing this, Lynn seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "You should have said that earlier... then I choose six."


    "Alright... hm?"


    The confused puppet had just reached for the bullets, but suddenly realized something.


    It red at Lynn malevolently. "Kid, that''s not funny!"


    "If you can''t afford to lose, don''t y."


    Lynn spread his hands.


    Seeing this, the puppet grew even angrier. "Now I''m somewhat certain, you must be garbage from the ''Deceit'' faith, even your way of disgusting people is exactly like theirs!"


    Thus, it stopped asking Lynn''s choice and grabbed two bullets, loading them into the cylinder.


    "Click!"


    With a swivel, the puppet forcefully closed the cylinder.


    Under Lynn''s watch, it picked up the gun, slowly pressing it against its own temple.


    "Click!"


    With the hammer pulled, a crisp sound echoed in the cramped containment room.


    The puppet survived unscathed.


    "Looks like my luck isn''t too bad... your turn!"


    It ced the revolver on the table and slowly pushed it towards the opposite side.


    As Lynn looked at the firearm on the table, he fell into a rare silence.


    Seeing this, the puppet venomously said, "Even if you want to buy time, it doesn''t matter. I don''t need to eat, even ten thousand years, I can wait, but you can''t."


    "It seems youck the courage to pull the trigger?"


    "That does align with what I know of the ''Deceit'' faith, a bunch of cowardly wretches, like sewer rats, only able to spend their lives in darkness and distortion."


    "Ha ha ha ha!"

 Chapter 28 Give Me a Drop of Blood, Ill Give You a Gold Coin

    "..."


    Lynn slowly picked up the revolver, imitating the puppet''s posture, and pressed it against his own temple.


    The puppetughed full of mockery, "I didn''t expect that the cunning and intelligence of ''Deceit'' would not be reflected in you at all. What a waste."


    Lynn frowned involuntarily and nced at the puppet.


    Seeing this, the puppetughed even more wildly, "I have loaded two bullets, so there are two possible arrangements: consecutive or separate."


    "If they are ced consecutively, and with the shot I just fired, by using enumeration, the probability of your death is one in four."


    "And if they are ced separately, by the same reasoning, the probability of your death is two in four."


    "But if you choose to spin the cylinder before firing, then the probability of your death would drop to two in six... Haha, to think that, as a believer in ''Deceit,'' a Transcendent, you can''t even calcte such a simple math problem?"


    The puppet made a mocking face.


    Lynn ignored its provocation and suddenly asked, "I have another question... If you are shot, will you die just like a human?"


    "Or perhaps, have you used some method to ensure that you are always invincible?"


    "I''m not a follower of ''Deceit,'' I don''t do things like that," the puppet seemed quite dismissive. "Although this body is no longer human, if a vital part is hit, I can still be killed."


    "But... I will resurrect after ten minutes, haha¡ª"


    The puppet''s tone changed and it was about to let out a derisiveugh, but its expression suddenly froze.


    It looked at Lynn incredulously.


    And it found that Lynn was looking back at it with equal disbelief.


    "Isn''t it... So you can die?" His eyes were full of shock, "Then why do you dare talk to me like this? Didn''t you know I have martial arts skills?"


    At that moment, the ck muzzle was pointed at the puppet''s head, freezing it in ce.


    The puppet hadn''t expected this one to suddenly make such a move.


    It tried to look calm while watching Lynn, "You, you''d better think about whether this would vite..."


    Before it could finish speaking, Lynn suddenly squeezed the trigger, firing five shots!


    "Bang! Bang!"


    With two shes of gunfire, the puppet''s body was knocked backward by the powerful recoil.


    ...


    "Can it... Can it really be done this way?"


    Staring at the image in the mirror, Morris''s forehead was lined with cold sweat, not knowing when it had appeared.


    As the mirror couldn''t reproduce the original conversation, it only presented a silent film-like effect.


    Even so, he had witnessed Lynn''s every move.


    Morris actually had some understanding of this Sealed Object.


    But he always thought survival could only depend on strong luck.


    Hearing this, Mni looked at him silently.


    The guy was indeed loyal to the Princess, but it seemed his brain was not quite up to par.


    "However, if it''s just that, that wouldn''t be much difficulty for that guy, right?"


    Morris said, eyeing Rhein with a weird look.


    He had thought Rhein had brought him here to get rid of Lynn, but it turned out to be much ado about nothing.


    Rhein, who had witnessed the entire incident from beginning to end, was not furious.


    Furthermore, a strange smile surfaced on his face.


    "Just a month ago, the Princess brought back something from an ancient, lost site. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the surface of that object was tainted with the blood of an ancient demon."


    "It might have been corrupted by the power of the demon and undergone an evil transformation over the eons."


    "Evil enough that... even the Princess found it troublesome, so she had to resort to some containment method, temporarily sealing it away."


    "Let me ask you, do you still remember the details of the ''Deadly Demon Doll'' project?"


    Upon hearing this, a page of text shed through Morris''s mind.


    >


    >


    >


    >


    >


    >


    A series rank of 6 meant that this thing was as dangerous as the Deceit Coin.


    Since Princess often brought back various strange curses and Morris wasn''t particrly interested in containment, he had little understanding of them.


    But recalling the information rted to the "Deadly Demon Doll," he finally realized something.


    He thought of thest sentence in the containment rmendation.


    "You mean the ''Deadly Demon Doll'' is just a front, and in fact, it''s being used to seal something even more dangerous because of its ability to forbid extraordinary powers?"


    "I''d prefer to describe that thing with the word dangerous rather than powerful."


    "Its name is... the Greed Magic Box."


    Rhein''s eyes flickered with a dangerous light.


    Mni didn''t speak but her expression seemed nonmittal.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ...


    Staring at the puppet thaty motionless on the ground, Lynn shook his head.


    He felt the guy was just there to be a joke.


    But could Rhein really be stupid to such an extent?


    Did he think that with such aughable trinket alone, he could be frightened into firing a gun at himself?


    Holding that thought, Lynn rose from his chair.


    The invisible force that had restrained him had nowpletely dissipated.


    The extraordinary abilities that he had been unable to use before were once again avable to him.


    This was undoubtedly proof of the doll''s death.


    Considering it would revive after ten minutes, Lynn decided to wait for it a little while.


    Not for any particr reason, but because from its words, it seemed the doll had a deep understanding of "Deceit."


    So Lynn wanted to inquire about it.


    Especially since that day when he first used the Lie Swallowing ability, a strange image had suddenly appeared in front of him¡ªthe huge figure wrapped and tortured by countless threads.


    Moreover, he seemed to have inadvertently mentioned the term "Prisoner of Destiny."


    Lynn knew very little about this belief, after all, it hadn''t even appeared in the original story.


    But he had some guesses.


    Just as the "Lord of Billion Stars" symbolized the god of "natural order," perhaps the "Prisoner of Destiny" was the god symbolizing "Deceit."


    As Lynn was filled with various spections, he suddenly heard a "ck" from somewhere.


    He looked up instinctively and then suddenly remembered there seemed to be an old wooden box stained with blood on the table.


    At first, he thought it was a prop of the doll, but it hadn''t been used even after the doll was killed.


    Looking at the wooden box that had suddenly sprung open, Lynn''s eyes were filled with confusion.


    But he still bent down to nce inside.


    Inside the empty box, a slightly yellowed piece of papery quietly.


    It seemed as though the paper sensed Lynn''s gaze, and blood-red letters gradually appeared on it.


    "Give me a drop of blood, give you a Gold Coin."

 Chapter 29 Reporting to the organization, I seem to have discovered a perpetual motion machine!

    "Give me a drop of blood, and I''ll give you a Gold Coin."


    Lynn raised an eyebrow as he watched the blood-red letters slowly emerge on the paper.


    Curiously, he took the note from the box and examined it closely.


    After a moment, he tried to tear it apart or crumple it into a ball.


    But no matter how he tried to destroy it, it seemed impossible to inflict any damage.


    It appeared that this Ancient Curse object had a very high hierarchy.


    Because ording to the original setting, those indestructible Ancient Curse objects often possess terrifying and dangerous characteristics.


    However,pared to the world-destroying Ancient Curse objects Lynn recalled, this one seemed to be within the safe range.


    From the message on the note, it was possible to infer that, like the puppet encountered earlier, it operated on an inherent logic and set of rules.


    As long as you didn''t break the rules, there probably wouldn''t be any danger.


    With that thought, Lynn turned his gaze to the puppet lying on the ground.


    Having been shot in the head at close range twice, the puppet nowy on the floor like a corpse.


    But because it possessed some human physiological traits, thin streams of blood were oozing out from the bullet holes in its head.


    Lynn''s eyes lit up.


    After all, no one specified whose blood it had to be.


    Thinking this, he ced the note back into the wooden box and then grabbed the puppet''s wooden leg and lifted it upside down.


    Momentster, a drop of blood fell into the wooden box.


    After doing all this, Lynn watched intently for any movement from the quaint wooden box.


    "nk!"


    Apanied by the sh of a shiny golden shadow, the drop of blood in the box disappeared.


    In its ce was a brand-new Empire Gold Coin, stamped with the valiant image of Saint Laurent VI.


    Fuck?


    Lynn was so surprised that he couldn''t close his mouth.


    He pocketed the Gold Coin with lightning speed.


    At the same time, the look in his eyes towards the box became profoundly meaningful.


    As expected, this was far from over.


    As the "transaction" ended, the blood letters on the note inside the box gradually vanished.


    Immediately following, a new line of blood-red letters emerged.


    "Give me two drops of blood, and I''ll give you a Gold Coin."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    What a swindler.


    Lynn muttered to himself as he shook the puppet''s body vigorously, dropping two drops of blood into the box.


    The puppet''s body, not truly human and feeling light in his hands, made Lynn figure that it wouldn''t take many uses before the blood ran out.


    So, before that happened, he intended to make a good profit.


    "nk!"


    A fresh Gold Coin quickly popped out of the box.


    Lynn pocketed it again.


    "Give me three drops of blood, and I''ll give you a Gold Coin."


    "nk!"


    Ten minutester.


    Looking at the pocket full of Gold Coins, Lynn couldn''t help but smile from ear to ear.


    Striking it rich!


    But on the other hand, the note''s requirements had be incrementally more terrifying as time went on.


    "Give me a thousand drops of blood, and I''ll give you a Gold Coin."


    At first, the demand grew arithmetically, but after a few transactions, the box''s need for blood began to increase exponentially.


    Clearly, the puppet''s small frame was insufficient.


    Looking at the still-motionless puppet, Lynn suddenly got an itch to use it like a yo-yo to perform an around-the-world trick, using centrifugal force to squeeze out all its value.


    However, after a moment''s thought, he held back.


    From the box''s mode of operation, it was apparent that this trade probably had no end.


    And after all, human capacity is finite, and there surely wasn''t anyone in the world capable of killing all life to satisfy the box''s demands.


    Lynn wanted to know what would happen if the conditions set by the box exceeded one''s capacity to fulfill them.


    After all, it was only the puppet''s blood he used, and the transaction was merely concerning that thing; it had nothing to do with him.


    So he ced the puppet to the side and quietly waited for the oue.


    Time ticked by, second by second.


    Just as Lynn''s perceived minute was about to be up, a sudden change urred!


    "Pop¡ª!!!"


    Apanied by a muted explosion, while Lynn watched, the already withered puppet suddenly deted like a punctured ball, copsing rapidly until it could no longer deform, and then silently shattered.


    Seeing the parts of the puppet scattered all over the floor, Lynn gave a silent second of mourning in his mind.


    Then, he turned his attention back to the paper.


    Slowly, a new line of blood-red letters appeared.


    "Give me a drop of blood, and I''ll give you a Gold Coin."


    Indeed, his guess was correct.


    In the end, it was still that same old set of rules from the Debt Collector.


    Having read plenty of web novels in his past life, he knew too many simr setups.


    If he didn''tplete the transaction as the note directed, the Magic Box would forcibly take its repayment.


    Once the threshold of endurance was exceeded, the debt would be cleared with death, and a new cycle would begin.


    Just like a puppet unable to provide a thousand drops of blood, it would then be forcibly drained by the Magic Box, ultimately meeting a shattered fate.


    If it was just that, it would seem rather dull.


    Lynn stroked his chin, sinking into deep thought.


    As he was silently contemting, the scattered puppet parts on the ground suddenly made a noise, drawing his attention.


    Under the influence of an invisible force, the broken body of the puppet was pieced back together bit by bit.


    Not only that, even the damaged parts seemed to undergo a reversal of time, healing sopletely that not even a crack remained.


    Under Lynn''s gaze, the puppet gradually became whole, its body restored to fullness.


    Lynn suddenly remembered this thing had said before that even if it died, it would resurrect after ten minutes.


    He gasped, and his eyes shone brightly looking at the puppet.


    I take back what I thought before.


    How could this possibly be uninteresting?


    Watching the puppet slowly regain its ability to move, Lynn really wanted to send a message to his past life in Blue Star.


    Report to the organization, I seem to have found a perpetual motion machine!


    Feeling someone''s greedy eyes, the recently resurrected puppet, still unclear about its situation, couldn''t help but shiver.


    "You, you filth of ''Deceit'' faith, what do you think you are doing---"


    Before it could finish its sentence, even before its ability to ban supernatural phenomena could activate, Lynn preemptively grabbed its head, lifting it up once again.


    Then, he mmed it heavily against the wall.


    ...


    "Ah, this..."


    Inside the observation room, watching Lynn''s demonic actions, Morris gasped.


    Considering this stance, did this guy actually go easy on him that night?


    Thinking of the incident that had urred andbining it with the blood smeared on Lynn''s face and his glittering innocent eyes, he felt his legs go weak.


    Did I just bring a potential psychopathic killer back to the manor?


    And from the side, Mni wasughing non-stop, hand covering her t stomach.


    "...I knew it, this kid is definitely a talent! Hahaha!!!"


    It seemed that Lynn''s behavior had amused her, as she wiped her tears andughed.


    No one had thought of this before.


    After all, for them, the Deadly Demon Doll seemed more like a measure of sealing.


    Sensing the different emotions of the people beside him, Rhein''s face turned iron blue.


    Originally, Rhein only thought to have this guy bleed a little.


    But now, it seemed that not only did it not trouble Lynn, it had also inadvertently gained him dozens of Gold Coins.


    "Don''t celebrate too early," Rhein said darkly. "This is far from over."


    "You should know that this box has its own consciousness."


    ...


    "Don''t, don''t kill me! I give in, does that not suffice?!"


    After the fifth resurrection, the puppet seemed to finally break down, crouching with hands over its head, letting out an unprecedented wail.


    At this moment, Lynn''s desk was already piled with Gold Coins.


    "Don''t be like this, how can it end just like this?" Lynn revealed a devilish smile. "You''re a tough one, let''s surpass the limits here!"


    Saying that, he lifted the puppet once again.


    "I, I know secret information about the ''Prisoner of Destiny''!!!"


    The seemingly pain-fearing puppet, with closed eyes, shouted loudly.


    Lynn paused in his action.


    It was at this moment that the rule of the puppet''s game finally descended, an invisible forcepletely banning all the supernatural phenomena around.


    Seeing this, Lynn threw it into a corner of the room.


    He wasn''t truly bewitched by money, so he decided to let this thing go.


    After all, information about a suspected divine presence was not something that could be measured by money.


    As the puppet was thrown into the corner, Lynn and the ancient wooden box also broke free from the rules.


    After all, its effective range was only within five meters.


    "You just squat there and don''t move."


    Lynnmanded.


    Hearing this, the thing actually did as told, huddling up against the wall and closing in on itself.


    Meanwhile, it muttered nkly to itself, "I''m so stupid, knowing that all ''Deceit'' believers are perverts, but still..."


    Seeing this, Lynn curled his lips, then shifted his gaze back to the wooden box.


    A line of blood writing emerged anew on the note.


    But unlike before, this time the blood writing had a new change.


    "Give me one drop of Lynn Bartleion''s blood, give you one Gold Coin."


    Looking at this line of blood, Lynn smiled.


    That''s more like it, interesting.

 Chapter 30 Lynn Kills the Competition

    "Has the blood writing on the note changed?"


    Morris eximed as he watched the scene emerging in the mirror.


    Seeing this, the darkness that had clouded Rhein''s face vanished.


    It was reced by a barely concealed smirk.


    Indeed, the autonomous consciousness of the greed magic box was not something those clownish Deadly Demon Dolls couldpare to.


    Lynn, oh Lynn, it was your arrogance that doomed you.


    Once the trade was deemed sessful by the greed magic box, its priority surpassed the rules of the Deadly Demon Dolls and was no longer affected by the prohibition of supernatural phenomena.


    At this moment, Lynn faced a dead end.


    Either release enough fresh blood to satisfy the box or beg the Princess for help.


    If he chose the former, then I am sorry.


    "The greed magic box" was named so because its greed knew no bounds.


    Only by squeezing out everyst drop of his bones and blood could the ordeal end.


    As for thetter, that was the scenario Rhein preferred to see.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The Princess seemed to value this clever fellow greatly, though he didn''t know what had transpired between the two, but it surely was a bad signal for the Augusta Family.


    Thus, once Lynn chose thetter, it would greatly diminish the trust the Princess had in him, possibly even abandoning himpletely.


    This time, I have won.


    Rhein finally found his footing against Lynn, seeming to regain his usual haughtiness.


    "Morris, you are the fastest. Prepare to notify the Princess and let her clean up the mess," hemanded indifferently.


    While watching the dramatically changed demeanor of Rhein within a few seconds, Mni pursed her lips.


    This guy seemed to have developed some sort of delusion that he was capable again?


    "Wait a minute, what... what has he done?!"


    At that moment, Morris, who had been staring at the mirror, eximed in a somewhat exaggerated tone.


    ...


    Interesting.


    Staring at the fresh blood writing on the note, Lynn rubbed his chin while pondering.


    ording to the patterns summarized before, a trade with this thing must bepleted within a minute.


    Otherwise, it would forcibly take payment without giving anything in return.


    Moreover, the magic box would raise its demands with each transaction, yet the Gold Coin remained singr throughout.


    Thinking about it, the initial trade of a drop of blood for a Gold Coin was undoubtedly a lure, making one feel like they had struck a great bargain.


    But little did they know, they had fallen into a trap.


    Pondering this, Lynn pulled a thin wire from the seam of his sleeve cuff.


    Having learned his lesson from being handcuffed previously, Lynn had since made it a habit to always carry a wire in his sleeve for emergencies.


    Staring at the sharp wire, Lynn didn''t use it to pierce his forefinger.


    After all, he had never been one to y by the rules or listen to some decrepit box.


    Feeling time ticking away, Lynn hesitated no longer.


    He held the wire like a pen between his fingers, dipped in the fresh blood the doll had recently shed, and began to write on the note.


    "Give me two Gold Coins, and I will give you a drop of Lynn Bartleion''s fresh blood."


    Lynn wrote so.


    After doing all this, he put the note back in the box, as only then would it be considered aplete process.


    Then Lynn squinted, silently watching the box.


    After all, the cost this time was just a drop of blood, even if the magic box tried to forcefully take it, it wouldn''t cause any loss.


    Then why not try?


    Momentster, under Lynn''s watchful eye, indeed, something changed.


    With the disappearance of two lines of blood writing, a new line emerged.


    "Give me three drops of Lynn Bartleion''s fresh blood, I will give you two Gold Coins."


    Sess.


    Looking at the blood writing on the note, Lynn revealed a profound smile.


    This thing indeed possessed immense intelligence, not inferior to humans.


    And since this was a bargain, it was naturally possible to negotiate.


    Thus, the box''s offer impressively changed from one Gold Coin to two.


    However, at the same time, its demand for blood also increased.


    All in all, it''s a creature unwilling to face loss.


    Such a greedy fellow.


    Lynn calcted the time.


    At this point, the initial minute deadline was long past, yet the magic box hadn''t tried to take any blood from him.


    Could it be that negotiations like bargaining didn''t count towards the time limit?


    Lynn pondered.


    So he continued to write on the note, "Give me four Gold Coins, I will give you three drops of Lynn Bartleion''s fresh blood."


    Soon, the blood writing reappeared.


    "Give me five drops of Lynn Bartleion''s fresh blood, I will give you four Gold Coins."


    Lynn didn''t give in.


    "Give me six Gold Coins, I will give you five drops of Lynn Bartleion''s fresh blood."


    Thus, the pair seemed to have fallen into some strange and wonderful bnce.


    With one line of blood writing after another being written on the note, the stakes between them grew everrger.


    It seemed as though he could write infinitely without paying any cost, potentially in an eternal loop with the magic box.


    Of course, there woulde a day when this would backfire.


    After all, Lynn was not a machine, and he could not keep on writing forever.


    Once he stopped, the wooden box would default to a sessful transaction and forcibly collect.


    By then, the price might have already umted to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of drops of blood, which was far more than Lynn could afford.


    Upon this realization, another spection formed in Lynn''s mind.


    Why was this box continuously demanding blood?


    Could it be that the consciousness residing inside needed blood to restore its power and break free?


    Lynn felt this spection was very usible.


    On the other hand, thepensation provided by the wooden box was exactly in Gold Coins of the Saint Laurent Empire, which he also found too coincidental.


    If someone from a neighboring country found this box, would it still dispense Saint Laurent Gold Coins?


    Or perhaps... thepensation from the box was not limited to Gold Coins?


    Thinking this, Lynn suddenly wrote on the paper: "Give me a steam car, and you get eighteen drops of Lynn Bartleion''s blood."


    This was a significantly uneven trade.


    Eighteen drops of Lynn Bartleion''s blood were notparable to the value of a steam car.


    He just wanted to see what reaction the wooden box would have.


    As expected, this time, his handwriting did not disappear immediately.


    It lingered on the slip of paper for a moment, seemingly pondering before it slowly faded away.


    "Give me a drop of Lynn Bartleion''s blood, and I give you a Gold Coin."


    The blood characters emerged once again.


    And this time, everything seemed to revert to the beginning.


    Was it because the wooden box determined that the transaction could not bepleted, so it reset?


    After all, based on the size of the box, it was impossible to fit a steam car inside.


    Lynn seemed to have a guess.


    Then he continued to write: "Give me a smartphone, and give you a drop of Lynn Bartleion''s blood."


    His blood was also not worth a smartphone.


    But unlike thest attempt,


    a smartphone could be fitted inside the box.


    However, the development of events did not surprise Lynn.


    As the blood characters emerged, the transaction was reset once again.


    Indeed, things that did not exist in this world could not be materialized.


    Lynn silently thought.


    Thus, time quickly passed in one attempt after another.


    After a long while, he suddenly stretched, straightening his body.


    "Pretty much figured it out," Lynn sighed, "it ultimately isn''t much fun, making me waste so much time."


    "This boring game should end now."


    Muttering to himself, Lynn cracked a sinister smile towards the empty room.


    There must be someone watching now, right?


    If so...


    The next second, Lynn pinched the slip of paper he had yet not ced into the wooden box and then showed it in a certain direction.


    On it was a new line he had just written,


    "Give me a Gold Coin, and I promise you: Rhein Augusta will set you free."


    Once put into the wooden box, ording to the rules, it would forciblyplete the transaction.


    Next, it was time to torment Mr. Rhein.


    ...


    "..."


    Morris was sweating profusely, nearly running out of words.


    That was too cunning.


    Watching Lynn y back and forth with the cycle and the greed magic box, Morris was unusually apprehensive.


    Being able toe up with such twisted ideas meant he could y him to death with the same dirty tricks.


    Who knows how vindictive this guy is, and whether he would settle scores after autumn.


    Meanwhile, Rhein watched the scenario in the mirror silently, seemingly struggling to ept it.


    "If I were you, I would go and apologize to him right now," Mni said, curling her lip as she looked at Rhein''s pale face.


    The two were on entirely different levels; in Lynn''s eyes, Rhein was probably just a clown.


    Damn it!


    Damn it!!!


    At this moment, Rhein was filled with rage.


    He thought he could have his revenge, but in the end, it turned into a solo performance by that guy.


    Rhein could not ept this oue!


    With his arrogant nature, how could he possibly go and apologize to Lynn willingly?


    With that thought, a stone-faced Rhein prepared to leave first.


    But just then, Lynn in the mirror suddenly revealed a somewhat eerie smile toward their direction.


    That smile infuriated Rhein.


    What are you so smug about?!


    Just as he was about to burst out, he suddenly saw that Lynn was holding a slip of paper.


    For some reason, a bad premonition shed through Rhein''s mind.


    Under everyone''s gaze, Lynn slowly disyed the slip of paper.


    Seeing the content on the paper, Mni''s expression instantly changed.


    "Quick, go call the Princess! If he really puts that slip of paper into the wooden box, it would be terrible!"


    "He''s trying to release something from the box!!!"

 Chapter 31 The True Vulnerability of the Greed Magic Box

    "Princess, this is bad!!!" Morris shouted in a panic.


    He materialized slowly in Ivyst''s room, transitioning from shadow to substance.


    Seeing her subordinate burst into the study without knocking annoyed Ivyst, yet she didn''t set down her teacup, "What happened?"


    "Lynn... Lynn is now in the cer, and he''s about to release that thing!"


    "What thing?" Ivyst frowned.


    At the same time, Aphia, who had been napping on the desk, also opened her sleepy eyes.


    "It''s the greed magic box." Morris swallowed nervously, "Lynn has discovered some patterns of the box, and it seems like he''s about to do something."


    In truth, he didn''t fully grasp the real meaning of that statement.


    But seeing how even the intelligent Lady Mni showed a profoundly concerned expression made him somewhat anxious.


    Upon hearing this, Ivyst involuntarily put down her teacup, standing up with a chilly demeanor, a formless authority enveloping the entire study, "Who allowed you to bring him there? Is he alright?!"


    Lynn was the only sessful subject of hypnosis experiments, her most valued subordinate at the moment, and perhaps even the next head of the Bartleion family.


    From any perspective, he couldn''t die over such a trivial matter.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ivyst could have never imagined that Rhein would be daring enough to take him to the greed magic box.


    After all, the mansion had lost over a hundred prisoners just testing the properties of such an item!


    A slight misstep could lead to the box ceaselessly demanding payment until nothing but bones remained!


    Seeing this, Morris''s face turned white, and he forced a smile, "He''s fine."


    Rather, that guy seemed to thrive in the cer, which made people genuinely believe this kid was gifted.


    Instead of worrying about Lynn, it might be more prudent to worry about Rhein.


    Although Morris thought Rhein had brought it upon himself.


    "Princess, I''m afraid you''ll need to handle this."


    Morris suggested, though it was tough to do so.


    Upon hearing this, Ivyst closed her eyes, seemingly pondering something.


    Momentster, her displeasure suddenly vanished, and she appeared as if nothing had happened, seating herself back in the chair.


    "You don''t need to bother with this matter, let that fellow do what he wants."


    "However..." she added, "remind him that if I''m indulging him this time, he should seed in that task all the more, as a way to repay this Imperial Princess."


    "Yes!"


    Morris epted the order.


    He felt a twinge of anxiety for Rhein.


    Could her words mean that even if Lynn were to kill the heir of the Augusta family in the cer, the Princess would still forgive him this once?


    Good heavens, that''s definitely...


    For a moment, Morris was filled with astonishment.


    After Morris left, Ivyst let out a soft sigh.


    She massaged her temples, trying to alleviate the boredom and annoyance that came with reviewing documents, murmuring to herself, "Such a worrisome fellow."


    "Princess, aren''t you afraid that he might actually do something irreversible?"


    Aphia blinked curiously, having been awoken by themotion.


    Hearing this, Ivyst''s face remained calm, "Don''t worry, he''s smart and won''t choose to cause trouble at such a time."


    It was precisely because she knew this that she had said she would indulge him.


    To Ivyst, it was an unspoken tacit agreement, trusting that Lynn could differentiate importance.


    Regaining herposure and seeing Aphia''s eyes darting around excitedly, Ivyst understood what she was thinking.


    Hakimis were inherently restless and curious about everything.


    Simply put, Aphia wanted to join themotion.


    Ivyst picked up her pen again to continue her previous work, casually instructing, "Go then, keep an eye on him for me."


    Hearing this, Aphia nodded repeatedly, then scampered away.


    ...


    "You''re here?"


    In the holding cell, Lynn, who sat leisurely with his legs crossed on the chair, greeted the breathless, blond-haired man at the door with a slight smile.


    At this moment, he was enjoying a puppet''s leg massage while crumpling the note in his hand and tossing it back and forth.


    From time to time, he even made a three-point shot gesture, as if ready to throw the crumpled paper into a wooden box at any time.


    Watching the boy in the containment room, Rhein was seething with anger.


    "You... what do you want?"


    He looked at Lynn warily.


    The reason for his battle-ready stance was entirely because of the words written on that piece of paper.


    "Give me a gold coin, and you''ll get a promise: Rhein Augusta will set you free."


    The sentence was easy to understand.


    Once the deal was concluded, Rhein Augusta would be obligated to follow the note''s content and release the being sealed by the box.


    If he vited the trade rules, he would face the punishment of death.


    But if he released the unknown and terrible being from inside the box, not only the Princess but also his father would never forgive him.


    Therefore, at this moment, Rhein faced a checkmate situation.


    Of course, all this was predicated on the assumption that Lynn would throw the note into the wooden box andplete the transaction.


    Upon hearing this, Lynn smiled and said, "That''s not quite right, is it? How could you say it''s what I want?"


    "You brought me here, you were the one who looked on indifferently at the prospect of my death, and even now, I can feel the hidden anger in your heart."


    "So, it''s not about what I want, but what you want."


    Watching the unperturbed Lynn, Rhein clenched his teeth and suppressed his irritation, "You seem pretty confident in your power over me?"


    "Don''t think you can figure out all the rules of the greed magic box within just tens of minutes. To my knowledge, the trade written on the note must bepleted by myself in person."


    "If you really want to throw the note in there, the greed magic box will recognize only you as the party to the promise."


    "And in the end, you will be the only one who pays the price."


    Despite his words, Rhein still dared not gamble.


    After all, one''s life can only be lived once.


    Moreover, regarding the mysterious and unpredictable greed magic box, he admitted to not fully understanding all of its rules.


    What if it really came true?


    He looked at Lynn, hoping his words would be heeded.


    But to his surprise, a hint of scorn shed across Lynn''s eyes, "You keep denying you''re an idiot."


    "Do you really think I''d openly present this note without being absolutely certain I could kill you?"


    Rhein was stunned, "What are you saying...?"


    "It''s true that the trade has to be made by the person themselves, and that part is correct," Lynn said with a sneer, "So why not let ''the person'' do it?"


    "The details, I can''t be bothered to exin, and you are not worthy of hearing them."


    Suddenly, Lynn frowned and nced at the doll beside him.


    Seeing this, it put on a fawning smile, massaging harder, only praying this disaster would not turn its attention towards itself.


    The logic was actually quite simple.


    In a previous attempt, Lynn had written, "Give me a gold coin, I will give you a drop of my blood."


    Unlike the previous phrase, he changed "Lynn Bartleion''s blood" to "my blood."


    At the same time, Lynn activated his Lie Swallowing ability and told himself a lie.


    The lie was: I am Rhein Augusta, the eldest son of Baron Augusta, the future heir to the manor.


    And then, something interesting happened.


    The content on the note hesitated for a long while, and then it reset.


    Lynn surmised that it was probably because the subject of the trade had changed, causing the greed magic box to crash.


    After all, it desired Lynn''s blood, but suddenly the one writing became another person, necessitating a reboot of the cycle.


    This showed that, although the magic box could know the identity of the trader, it was only through reading their consciousness.


    As long as Lynn "believed" he was someone else, that would allow him toplete the trade in ce of another person.


    And this was the biggest loophole Lynn found about the greed magic box.


    And as far as he could tell, he seemed to be the only one able to exploit this loophole.


    Sensing Lynn''s aura, Rhein was already sweating profusely.


    Although he did not know where Lynn''s confidence came from, it was likely not unfounded.


    Seeing his condition, Lynn couldn''t help butugh, "Don''t be so nervous, after all, considering our colleagueship and for the sake of Her Highness, I really can''t kill you."


    "But while the death penalty may be pardoned, punishment cannot be escaped."


    "Rhein, oh Rhein, you came to me on your own initiative, so how should I punish you?"

 Chapter 32 You Must Repay This Imperial Princess Well

    Feeling Lynn''s gaze, Rhein''s heart turned to ash at that moment.


    He had no options left.


    He couldn''t kill him, and his own life was still in his hands, so what could he do?


    Thinking this way, Rhein, who had always harbored intense hatred for Lynn, suddenly became somewhat dazed.


    Then, an overwhelming fear and regret surged up within him.


    If that night, he hadn''t provoked this guy, if he had just obediently taken him to choose an Extraordinary Weapon when he first came to the cer, if...


    But in this world, where do so many ifs exist?


    Rhein''s face turned deathly pale, and he gritted his teeth, "...go ahead then!"


    Seeing this, Lynn''s face darkened, "Go ahead with what? I''m not gay."


    I''m not either, dammit!


    Rhein''s frame shook, and he was on the verge of fainting.


    He had actually guessed what that guy was going to do to him.


    Lynn looked him up and down, "Here''s the deal. Although we both wish we could kill each other, out of respect for her Highness the Princess, I''ll still give you a chance."


    "Leave the cer immediately, go back to the manor, and then say to everyone you meet: I''m not gay, it was Lynn who forced me..."


    Hearing this, Rhein shivered and then incredulously lifted his head.


    Could it be that he truly wanted to make amends?


    Just as this thought arose, Rhein saw Lynn suddenly sh an evil smile.


    In the next second, he continued what he hadn''t finished saying, "...actually, I''m into bestiality."


    "That''s right, same as usual, remember, fully nude."


    Rhein''s heart finally sank like a stone.


    ...


    "Regarding that matter, I''ll ask you properly when Ie next time."


    After leaving this remark to the fawning puppet, Lynn left the containment room.


    He hadn''t gone far when he encountered Madam Mni in the corridor.


    Seeing her leaning provocatively against the wall, Lynn couldn''t help but whistle, "Good morning, beautifuldy."


    Hearing this, Mni shook her head, "You really do have a distasteful sense of humor."


    Thinking back to Rhein''s zombie-like appearance just now, she felt somewhat helpless.


    This guy didn''t seem to be the cruel and cold-hearted type, just that his taste was really questionable.


    Thinking this, Mni casually mentioned, "I have an experimentter, so I can''t stay long, but you''d bettere to my ce in a while to check if there are any aftereffects from thest experiment."


    "Of course."


    Lynn nodded his head.


    While being inwardly critical.


    He would avoid it if he could, afraid that either Mni or Ivyst would find out that he was faking it¡ªwhy would he rush to his demise?


    With that thought, Lynn left the cer.


    Not far away, he saw a seething Hakimi.


    ...


    After leaving the Princess''s study, Aphia stealthily made her way to the entrance of the cer.


    Hakimi''s nature made her want to join in on the excitement.


    Although Lynn had made her angry for several days, Aphia still wanted to see how the guy would resolve this problem.


    Thinking this, Aphia tiptoed down the steps.


    Before her feet had even settled, she saw a fully nude blonde man walking towards her.


    Who?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Aphia tensed her body, getting into her sword-backed dragon form.


    In the dim light, Aphia recognized the man in front of her.


    It was the soulless Rhein.


    She had never liked this guy, but restrained herself because of the rtionship between the Princess and the Augusta Family.


    And after finding out he was a gay nudist, she felt even more disdainful.


    As a Transcendent of "Fertility," she worships gods who hold the right to procreation, believing there are only two genders in this world, male and female, and advocating for absolute heterosexuality.


    In the Fertility Church, homosexuality is strictly taboo, and vitors could even face execution.


    But as for Rhein''s personal preferences, Ivyst also had no interest in passing judgment.


    After all, it was just a matter of homosexuality, as long as they didn''t bother her, there would be no issues.


    Thinking this, Aphia prepared to slip away in a sh.


    Just being in the same room with this pervert made her feel mentally unwell.


    Who knew that just as she lifted her front paw, she heard Rhein speak in a hoarse voice like a walking corpse, "I''m not homosexual, it was Lynn who forced me before..."


    Hmm?


    Aphia''s expression instantly became alert.


    What''s he nning to say by mentioning this?


    Just as this thought arose, she heard Rhein continue, "Actually, I have a thing for beastiality."


    "!!!"


    He''sing at me?!


    Aphia immediately got her hackles up, swung her tiny paws, and pped him flying out of the cer.


    ...


    "Yo, isn''t this little ck? Haven''t seen you for a few days, why are you so... Ow¡ªOuch!!!"


    As soon as Lynn saw the little ck cat squatting on the side of the road, he couldn''t help wanting to tease her.


    But before he could finish speaking, he saw Aphia leap up with a mournful look, grabbed the back of Lynn''s head with all four paws, and bit down!


    This bad guy!


    Last time in the tavern room too, and now this!


    Always bullying me!!!


    Clearly, Aphia attributed Rhein''s behavior just now to Lynn.


    And indeed, she was right.


    At this moment, the small-bodied ck cat clung like glue to the back of Lynn''s head.


    He tried to pull her off several times, but it felt like his scalp was going to be torn off, so he could only give up helplessly, exiting the cer with an ornament attached to his head.


    Looking at the bright sunlight in the manor, Lynn squinted his eyes.


    "What''s this all about?"


    ya''s voice came from nearby.


    Seeing Aphia biting the top of Lynn''s head, his expression grew somber.


    Lynn shook his head, causing the little ck cat''s tail to also swing, looking like a braid, "Let''s walk and talk."


    "Walk and talk?" ya seemed shocked by something, "Do you not realize my brother just went crazy a moment ago? Not wearing clothes and running at me saying he had a thing for beastiality, urgh... The very thought is terrifying."


    Hearing "beastiality," Aphia on the back of his head bit down even harder.


    "Pretty wild, huh? I did it."


    Lynn revealed a smug expression.


    "You, you did it?" ya was stunned, subconsciously raising his thumb, "Lynn, brother... no, elder brother, from today on, you''re my real elder brother!"


    "Teach me!"


    "Sure thing, sure thing."


    As the two were chatting away, a familiar silhouette slowly emerged from the shadows beneath the distant wall.


    Because the surrounding area was full of sunlight, Morris''s power was greatly weakened.


    "Why are you standing so far away?"


    Looking at Morris''s wary demeanor, Lynn was quite puzzled.


    "Uh, no, nothing." Morris now sweated a bit whenever he saw this guy, "Princess has told me to ry that she''ll let you off for today''s incident, but in return, you have to properlyplete the task she''s assigned you."


    "That''s it? Alright, I got it."


    Lynn nodded his head.


    He was about to ask something else, but before he could speak, he saw Morris zip away from the spot, as if avoiding some gue.


    "This guy..."


    Lynn shook his head.


    But after Morris''s reminder, he recalled that the woman indeed had set a task for him.


    Looking at ya beside him, Lynn spoke, "Tell me about it."


    "Tell me about the Creationist School, and the situation with those three hundred plus lost sheep."

 Chapter 33 Second Rank Ability - Thorny Crown

    "Do you want to spend 10 system points for ability extraction?"


    Looking at the lottery disk embedded with more than thirty fan-shaped bas-reliefs in front of him, Lynn swallowed.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He felt the vibration from the carriage beneath him, stirring a sense of tension in his heart.


    At this moment, ya was grumbling incessantly by his side, but he had no intention to listen.


    Lynn decided to extract another ability.


    The First Rank ability, Lie Swallowing, that he had previously drawn seemed useless at first, but actually turned out to be quite beneficial.


    During the past few days filled with dangers, Lie Swallowing had proved extremely valuable.


    Therefore, Lynn hade to view it as an incredibly effective ability.


    However, even so, what hecked most were straightforward offensive methods.


    Apart from using a gun, there was no other way.


    Recalling the night at the tavern room when he had to risk his life, along with Morris having no intent to kill him, he had barely managed an upper hand.


    But risking his life felt terrible.


    Just like how he now found himself unwillingly working for Ivyst, obliged to attend to her duties.


    Thus, at the end of the day, bing stronger was the fundamental solution.


    Recently, by some minor maniptions, Lynn had managed to increase Ivyst''s plot deviation to 0.13%, gaining an additional 12 system points.


    Therefore, he decided not to use these points to upgrade the Lie Swallowing ability yet.


    The current Lie Swallowing was sufficient, but system points were scarce.


    Rather than wondering if an advanced version of Lie Swallowing would evolve into an ability with offensive power, he preferred to take a risk for potentially greater gains.


    With this thought, Lynn nervously pressed the confirmation button.


    As the needle twitched, his heart leaped into his throat.


    The needle finally stopped on a very strange icon.


    It was a mark glowing faintly with a blood-like light, vaguely showing a distorted human faceprised of countless mournful souls.


    Well, that was another setting not mentioned in the original story.


    Lynn sighed.


    Meanwhile, a system notification rang in his ear.


    "Congrattions! You have drawn a Second Rank ability¡ªThorny Crown!"


    Oh?


    The name sounds pretty cool?


    Lynn''s eyes slightly brightened, and he then opened the ability introduction.


    "Name: Thorny Crown"


    "Rank: Second Rank"


    "Effect: Under the effect of this ability, the pain you feel will be doubled. However, you can umte this pain and release it all in one go."


    "Activation Condition: Possess at least 3 Divine-given factors"


    "Points needed for Upgrade: 50"


    "..."


    Lynn couldn''t help but want to wail.


    From the effect alone, this stackable type of active skill was undoubtedly an incredible existence.


    The problem was that in order to make the enemy feel the pain, he would have to bear it first.


    It''s like killing the enemy at a great cost to oneself.


    Lynn was not a masochist and did not have any inclinations towards self-torment.


    He was quite pain-averse, though he had put up with it in the Underground Prison to avoid showing weakness.


    But that didn''t mean he could ignore the pain.


    Moreover, ording to the ability description, once activated, the pain he felt would double.


    Lynn just wanted a straightforward offensive ability, even something like the Fireball Technique or Water Ball Technique would do.


    But the system refused toply with his wishes.


    Lynn sighed inwardly and turned off the system.


    At the same time, ya''s voice,ced with doubt, reached his ears: "Are you listening to me?"


    "Of course."


    Lynn answered nonchntly.


    Seeing his manner, ya''s already anxious heart sank further.


    Truly, it was a mistake for the Princess to entrust such a challenging task to them.


    But even so, staking the honor of the Augusta Family, he couldn''t shrink back now.


    With that thought, ya took a deep breath: "I''ll repeat onest time, when we get to the slum areater, try not to be too conspicuous so as not to incite public anger."


    "What we need to do is to have each of the 312 civilians who cannot enter the city sign this contract." ya handed half a thick stack of papers to Lynn, "These contracts have a certain supernatural effect, capable of constraining their behavior to prevent the spread of the Creationist School''s beliefs in the city."


    "It is also the minimum requirement from both the City Council and the Security Bureau that each person must sign one before we let them pass."


    Lynn took the contracts from ya and briefly nced over them.


    They were written in the ancient Saint Laurentnguage.


    The gist was that the signatories wouldmit not to promote the ideals of the Creationist School in Orn City.


    If vited, they would suffer dire consequences.


    "I understand," Lynn shook his head, "but ironically, these civilians are not even under Her Highness'' jurisdiction. Technically, this should fall on the City Council, but nobody wants to take responsibility, and now it has fallen onto our heads."


    ya sighed helplessly.


    Those nobles simply thought less of Ivyst because she was out of favor, sent to the bordends due to Saint Laurent VI''s disapproval.


    Thus, they treated them with negligent disregard.


    Of course, there was also the possibility that some Prince was pulling strings behind the scenes.


    After all, this was a necessary struggle for the King''s election; no one would treat it as a joke.


    "By the way, how long do you n to stay on my head?"


    Lynn suddenly said to Aphia, who was biting his nape.


    On hearing this, the little ck cat then released her bite and lightlynded inside the carriage.


    "You deserve it!"


    Aphia huffed and then turned her head away.


    Just then, with a slight forward inertia, the carriage slowly stopped by the roadside.


    "We''re here."


    ya and Lynn exchanged nces.


    Then, the two of them pushed open the door and stepped down from the carriage.


    Aphia hesitated for a moment.


    But remembering the Princess''s instruction to her, she couldn''t help but jog to catch up with the two.


    Apanied by the intense midday sun, Lynn squinted his eyes as he observed the scene in front of him.


    At a nce, he saw arge area of run-down shacks outside the city, some even topped with straw, the simplicity was extreme.


    In front of these shacks, a dense crowd of people stood.


    Most of them were in ragged clothing, their eyes filled with numbness and despair.


    Many were kneeling on the ground, in a devout posture, praying to the Creation Goddess they believed in.


    It seemed they sensed someone''s presence, as many eyes suddenly turned towards Lynn and ya.


    Seeing the twovishly dressed youths, their eyes showed a hint of wariness.


    Momentster, two men in sheriff''s uniforms, touching their holsters, ran over.


    It looked like these two were assigned to keep watch over the civilians.


    "Master ya? I didn''t expect someone from the manor to be you?"


    One of the sheriffs said with a grin.


    Obviously, as the local influential Augusta Family, their power was formidable.


    However, inside the tangled power webs of Orn City, there were still families stronger than them.


    And now, this incident involving the Creationist School was like a brief skirmish behind the great families, involving a wide aspect.


    Ivyst was in the firing line, unavoidably entering the fray.


    So, in a sense, many eyes were fixed on the shantytown area at this moment, waiting for the final handling of this matter.


    ya could be said to be in an Alexander-like position.


    If he couldn''t handle it, it was the Princess''s face that would ultimately be lost.


    Even if he managed to deal with it eventually, if the means were not decisive enough, it would still elicit criticism.


    So, he frowned and asked the sheriff in front of him, "What''s the situation now?"


    On hearing this, the sheriff bowed his head and replied, "They were causing a ruckus about entering the city again just now; it took injuring two of them to calm them down."


    "Rest assured, the chief has already told us beforehand that you''re fully in charge of this matter and whatever you say goes, we will not interfere at all."


    Saying this, a sly look flickered in his eyes.


    In just a couple of sentences, he had managed to distance the Security Bureau from the incident and shifted the responsibility entirely onto Ivyst.


    Clearly, they were also reluctant to deal with this mess.


    And upon seeing that the Augusta Manor had sent only two youngds, they nearly burst with joy.


    These types were the easiest to hoodwink.


    For a moment, ya felt somewhat between a rock and a hard ce.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned somewhat silent.


    But just as the two sheriffs prepared to say something, a voice suddenly came from beside them, "Really? Whatever we say goes?"


    On hearing this, one of the sheriffs hesitated.


    Upon seeing that the speaker was a handsome young man with a distinguished demeanor, although he couldn''t discern his identity, he still said with a grin, "Of course, young master, we keep our word."


    Lynn nodded, "Then go and kill all thesemoners."


    "Hey, hey!"


    ya was immediately stunned, a shiver running down his spine.


    The Princess had only asked you to resolve the issue, not to get rid of those who caused it!


    The lives ofmoners might not count for much, but truly killing them would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar across the Empire.


    Countless people would use this as leverage to put Ivyst on the gallows!


    Seeing this, the two sheriffs were also somewhat embarrassed, "You...You''re joking...You are joking, right?"


    Lynn chuckled and remained nomittal.


    Then, he suddenly turned his head and asked Aphia, who was squatting nearby and enthusiastically eating melon, "By the way, what''s on the menu at the manor tonight?"


    "Stewed vegetables and beef stew... Wait, why are you asking this?"


    Aphia looked at him warily.


    "Getting a bit hungry again." Lynn touched his stomach, "It''s probably around one or two in the afternoon now, so timing it right, we should be back in time for dinner."


    "You''ve been talking in riddles from the start, what are you actually trying to do?"


    ya finally couldn''t help but ask.


    In his view, Lynn hadn''t proposed any helpful solutions to the issue and even seemed somewhat negligent.


    However, Lynn didn''t answer his question.


    Under the watchful eyes of all present, he quickly walked towards the crowd gathered in the distance.


    While walking, he spread his arms and activated the ability of Lie Swallowing.


    For such a small matter, Lynn decided to bring it to a swift conclusion.


    "Everyone, eyes on me!"

 Chapter 34 Scandal Involving Ivyst

    "If these guys decide to get violentter, let''s all push back together. We outnumber them, and in the end, they''ll be the ones to lose," whispered a bald man at the front of the crowd.


    The people around him immediately looked his way with nods of agreement.


    Seeing this, the bald man''s expression remained stern, but a coldugh began to echo in his heart.


    These fools really were easy to manipte.


    With just a little brainwashing, they had be the most fervent disciples of the Creation Goddess, easy tomand like dogs.


    He felt not a shred of pity for these stupid people.


    Although most of them had been abducted by the Creationist School, besides being social outcasts, there was no other value to them.


    The man was named Mark, considered the ringleader among this group.


    Of course, he had another identity, that of a former member of the Creationist School, now hidden among the crowd.


    After the organization had been destroyed, as thest surviving member, there wasn''t much Mark could do.


    But if he could use these foolish people as pawns, causing trouble for that demon-like woman, then it was all worthwhile.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Remembering the instructions given to him that night by the masked person iming to be from the high ranks of the Saint Laurent Empire, Mark''s face twisted with malice.


    The other party had ordered him to ignite this ticking time bomb at the right time and sling the mud at Ivyst.


    In simple terms, these three hundred plus people were destined to be sacrificialmbs.


    Their only value was to bring an unprecedented scandal to the Third Imperial Princess of the Empire.


    Mark was very well aware that not everyone among these three hundred was brainwashed.


    In fact, a great portion of these fools thought they were being clever, believing that the nobles wouldn''t dare dispose of over three hundred lives at will, so with greedy thoughts, they prepared to hold out for the best offer.


    Thinking like that was a sure path to death.


    Mark thought to himself.


    Just then, he suddenly saw a handsome young man with ck hair and blue eyes walking quickly towards him.


    As he walked, he also called out, "Everyone, focus your attention on me!"


    His voice was loud, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present, who looked at him with wary expressions.


    But the young man didn''t stop; he even quickened his pace.


    For some reason, Mark detected a glint of fervor and devotion in the young man''s eyes, simr to that of the numb masses around.


    The next second, he heard the young man speak again, "I was once like you all! Feeling life in this world to be agonizing, havingpletely lost faith and hope."


    "I was listless and wanted to die. Waking up every day to nothing but numbness and despair, all that was left was an overwhelming void."


    "Even the people around me looked down on me in contempt, calling me a disgrace, wishing I would just disappear from the world."


    "And that''s probably what should have happened to me."


    "Yet perhaps by fate, in the endless darkness, a light illuminated the way before me."


    "I want to say... I was once like you all, and now we are no different."


    "As disciples of the Creationist School, let us praise the Goddess!"


    ...


    Praise the freaking Goddess!


    Watching Lynn''s maneuvers, ya was dumbstruck.


    He gazed at the devout Lynn, and for a moment, part of him actually wanted to believe.


    But knowing the guy, it was probably the prelude to some underhanded scheme.


    He turned his head and saw that those two Sheriffs had, at some point, ced their hands on their gun holsters.


    Seriously, you believe that?


    ya felt a bit exasperated.


    But at that moment, amotion suddenly arose from the distant crowd.


    "Praise the Goddess!"


    Among the crowd, many voices echoed back excitedly.


    So you believed it too?


    ya''s mouth twitched.


    Meanwhile, Lynn maximized his Lie Swallowing ability as he faced the densely packed crowd before him.


    While it was somewhat challenging to influence so many people at once with his current power, it was not impossible.


    Clearly, Lynn had used his ability to lie, convincing these three hundred and twelve civilians to believe in his faith.


    The reason Lynn did this wasn''t primarily toplete Ivyst''s task.


    Right after he had stepped off the carriage, he casually opened his system to take a look.


    Unexpectedly, he found an unanticipated gain.


    To put it simply, all of the over three hundred people before him were E-ranked characters in the story, among which there was even a hidden C-ranked one.


    The sudden surprise made Lynn''s eyes light up.


    If he could bring everyone''s deviation level to the max here, it would be over thirty system pointsing his way.


    What could be more profitable than this?


    Feeling hundreds of gazes staring straight at him, Lynn did not show any signs of fear.


    Even in his eyes, these people had be delectablembs ripe for the picking.


    So, Lynn returned to the carriage and brought out a chair.


    After that, he sat down with royal ease right in front of the three hundred people.


    "As you can see, I am a respectable person of status," he said withposure, "This time, Ie with the great expectations of Her Highness Ivyst herself, to resolve your troubles."


    "If any of you have difficulties, you can eithere to me one by one, or appoint a representative to speak."


    "No matter what, I will ensure you a satisfactory oue."


    Under the influence of the Lie Swallowing ability, every word of Lynn''s was refreshing and easily garnered the favor of most people present.


    Suddenly someone in the crowd spoke up, "What about those nobles and officials forcing us to change our faith? How do you exin that?"


    "My friend, I myself am a follower of the Creationist School," Lynn shook his head, "In fact, you should be aware that Orn City advocates religious freedom, otherwise, there wouldn''t be other faiths besides the three major churches. So this matter is sheer nonsense, I can assure you."


    Seeing this, people first looked at one another, then burst into cheers.


    Watching these ignorant and naive lower-ss citizens, Lynn remained expressionless.


    Should he say they are pitiable?


    But in this dog-eat-dog world,passion and sympathy are the most useless emotions.


    Once the people had finally calmed down, Lynn spoke again, "Of course, my promise abovees with a major premise."


    "That is, your faith must be truly devout."


    "Our faith is certainly devout!"


    A strong man with a big beard, standing at the forefront of the crowd, suddenly spoke up boldly.


    "Oh?" Lynn suddenly became interested, "Come here, I have some questions for you."


    Feeling the urging nces from around, the big-bearded man swallowed hard but still walked up.


    "Sir, ask away."


    He seemed somewhat nervous.


    "Rx, I''m not going to eat you," Lynn smiled at him, "I ask you, why do you believe in the Creation Goddess?"


    Big Beard was stunned for a few seconds, then stammered, "At first... I was kidnapped, butter,ter I gradually realized the benevolence of my lord, so I bathed in Her glorious light."


    "And before you were kidnapped, was your life going smoothly?"


    This question seemed to touch a sore spot for Big Beard.


    A struggle shed in his eyes, and after much internal conflict, he finally shook his head, "My wife was unfaithful to me, and even the child she was carrying... wasn''t mine... I wanted her to get rid of it, but she threatened me with suicide."


    "During that time, I drank every day; my life was a mess. If not for the goddess directing me, I probably wouldn''t have survived."


    Big Beard, or perhaps more urately, the cuckolded brother, shared his tragic past in front of others for the first time.


    He had thought this might win Lynn''s sympathy, thereby granting him entry into the city.


    Unexpectedly, he heard a snicker from the youth sitting on the chair.


    "You''re not qualified!"

 Chapter 35 Faith is not absolute, is to absolutely have no faith

    "You''re not qualified!"


    With Lynn''s sneer, Big Beard stood stunned.


    After a short while, he cautiously began, "Wh, why?"


    Lynn sized him up, "I ask you, what is the core doctrine stated in Chapter One, Section Six of the Creation Scripture?"


    Although unsure of the relevance of the question, Big Beard pondered for a moment.


    Then, earnestly, he replied, "To love all creatures in the world as thou lovest me."


    Clearly, this guy''s faith seemed to be of the more devout kind.


    After all, he was someone who had suffered real-life trauma, easily taking up a cult as a spiritual crutch.


    Meanwhile, ya, who overheard their conversation from a distance, was shocked.


    He looked down and exchanged nces with Aphia, feeling a storm rising in his heart.


    ya was well aware that, given Lynn''s character, everything said just now was probably a lie.


    How could someone who hailed from the Imperial Capital and was a bona fide noble possibly believe in the twisted teachings of the Creationist School?


    Yet the way he spoke so fluently, even quoting content from the scripture, didn''t seem feigned at all.


    The only possibility was a moment ago.


    While in the carriage, ya had given Lynn a copy of the Creation Scripture.


    As the saying goes, know your enemy and know yourself¡ªit would be useful to understand a bit about the sect for targeted measures.


    At the time, Lynn appeared uninterested, flipping briefly through the book before tossing it aside.


    ya felt a bit helpless about Lynn''sziness then.


    But now it didn''t seem to be the case.


    Could it be that by just flipping through it briefly, he remembered most of the key information?


    Such memory was unheard of to ya.


    Suppressing the shock in his heart, he continued to watch.


    After hearing Big Beard''s words, Lynn repeated thoughtfully, "To love all creatures in the world as thou lovest me... It seems you remember it very clearly."


    "Of course, my devotion to the Goddess is absolutely sincere," Big Beard said confidently.


    "Bullshit!" Lynn suddenly cursed, "You''re still lying!"


    A noble''s exclusive aura of authority erupted, causing Big Beard''s face to turn pale.


    "I, I''m not!"


    He took a half step back, seemingly frightened, and retorted a bit indignantly.


    Lynn eyed him scornfully, "If that''s the case, then let me ask you, do you resent your wife?"


    "Of course, I wish I could kill that bitch right now!"


    Thinking of his tragic past, Big Beard''s head heated up and he blurted out without thinking.


    After speaking, he felt somewhat relieved, as if he''d released the resentment in his heart.


    But secondster, he began to regret it.


    With so many people here, including two Sheriffs armed with explosive bullets on the scene, was it appropriate to say such things?


    For a moment, Big Beard felt very pessimistic, losing hope of being able to enter the city and return home.


    Little did he know that Lynn didn''t care about his desire to kill, instead asking indifferently, "Why do you want to kill her?"


    "I told you already, because she''s carrying the bastard of someone unknown."


    Big Beard said sorrowfully.


    "That''s exactly the problem," Lynn nced at him, "Even if that child isn''t yours, it is still an innocent life. If you can''t even love the child in her womb, how could you possibly achieve what the scripture says, to cherish all people?"


    "You have vited the teachings of the school, and this is a desecration of the faith in the Goddess."


    He spoke indifferently.


    Upon hearing this, Big Beard''s body staggered slightly, as if pondering Lynn''s words.


    After a moment, he asked with an ashen face, "I, I can do as the Creation Scripture says, except... except for the child in her belly and her herself."


    Lynn merely shook his head, "Faith that is not absolute, is absolutely not faith."


    "ya, bring the contract here."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lynn waved his hand.


    Hearing this, ya, who had been observing Lynn''s magnificent maniption, finally came back to her senses, realizing that there might be a glimmer of a turnaround in the situation.


    She hurriedly pulled a sheet from the stack of Extraordinary Contracts and, scurrying over with a steel pen, approached him.


    Lynn took the paper.


    After ncing at the use that read "Promise not to propagate the ideals of the Creationist School to others," he sneered disdainfully.


    "Change this use for me," Lynn pointed at the text, "change it to from now on, no longer believing in the Goddess."


    ya appeared somewhat puzzled.


    She whispered in Lynn''s ear, "Isn''t this pressing them too hard?"


    After all, the first draft of the contract did not stop them from believing in the Goddess; it only prohibited the propagation of beliefs.


    However, the second draft that Lynn requested directly kicked him out of the ranks of the faithful.


    "Just change it as I said."


    Lynn offered no exnation.


    Soon, the new draft of the contract was revised.


    Lynn nodded in satisfaction and then handed it to Big Beard beside him, "Sign it."


    Big Beard looked at the use and became furiously angry, "You, you previously said you wouldn''t force us to change our beliefs, didn''t you?!"


    "But I also said, there was a prerequisite," Lynn nced at him indifferently, "Only those who, like me, show absolute devotion to the Goddess can retain their faith; for the others who want to muddy the waters, I will single each one out."


    "I won''t sign!" Big Beard waved his hands in agitation, "I really am a follower of the Goddess, believe me!"


    "In that case, are you willing to treat that child as your own after you return home, to care for him as your biological child, ensuring he eats well and stays warm, living a life of luxury even if it means you eat less?" Lynn stared at him, asking.


    Big Beard''s expression became extremely rigid.


    "I... I..."


    Clearly, he was caught in a struggle of agony.


    It was time for the final blow.


    Lynn thought silently.


    "If you can do as I say, then I might agree to let you keep your faith," Lynn watched him coldly, "Of course, don''t think I am easily deceived. Once you return, I will send someone to check on you every day."


    "If I detect even the slightest mistreatment of your wife and child, I will let you taste the punishment that a heretic deserves."


    As he spoke, he took out a revolver from his pocket and weighed it in his hand.


    This was a gun he had casually picked up when he left the cer, loaded with special explosive bullets, with an extremely impressive killing power.


    After all, Lynn was no longer a Transcendent now and wasn''t qualified to use things like Ancient Curses.


    However, for dealing with ordinary people, it was more than enough.


    Looking at Big Beard, who was sweating from his forehead, Lynn said nothing, continuing to apply pressure.


    Under the influence of the Lie Swallowing, his threats became absolutely true words in the ears of Big Beard.


    After what seemed like an eternity, his already somewhat hunched back bent overpletely.


    "I''ll sign."


    Big Beard answered weakly.


    Clearly,pared to the ordeal of raising some unknown man''s child, in the end, Big Beard chose to give up his faith.

 Chapter 36 This Guy Is Pretty Handsome

    Amazing!


    Gazing at the sessfully signed first Extraordinary Contract, ya cheered inwardly.


    He looked at Lynn with admiring eyes, feeling that this guy was simply a genius.


    Since the Extraordinary Contract had to be signed willingly, he couldn''t conveniently use his family''s power to coerce them.


    And after signing his own name, invisible constraints were thus born.


    Looking at Big Beard who walked to the side dejectedly, Lynn had an expressionless face, but in reality, he was overjoyed.


    [E-level character "Zade Remiro" plot deviation has been raised to 100.00%.]


    A system notification sounded in his ear.


    The people in the distance, upon seeing Big Beard signing the contract, suddenly became chaotic.


    There were those who cursed him for betraying his faith, and others whose eyes were rolling incessantly, as if contemting some vile deed.


    "Bang!"


    Lynn fired a shot into the sky.


    "Be quiet, next."


    He spoke in an unquestionable tone.


    However, with the example of Big Beard before them, everyone hesitated for a moment, not daring toe forward.


    As they stood frozen in ce, someone in the crowd suddenly copsed.


    People scattered to the sides, leaving a part of the open ground in the center.


    Seeing this, Lynn rose from his chair, parted the crowd, and quickly walked towards the circle.


    The one lying on the ground was an olddy with white hair and ragged clothes, her breath faint, appearing in very bad shape.


    Is this a scam?


    Lynnined inwardly but outwardly showed a concerned expression, "What''s wrong with you?"


    "Young man, I''m sick, very severely sick," the olddy murmured in a barely audible voice, "I need treatment, please... let me into the city."


    "Of course, it is my undeniable duty," Lynn responded gravely with a nod, "but before that, I would like to ask you a question."


    "Do you believe in the Goddess?"


    "Of... of course... When I was homeless, several elders of the Creationist School took me in, gave me food, and let me listen openly to the Gospel of the Goddess."


    The old woman replied softly.


    She was quite a devout believer.


    ya thought to himself silently, suddenly feeling a headache.


    If this person died here, and it got exaggerated by some schemers and spread outside, it would ultimately ruin the Princess''s reputation.


    They would say that it was Ivyst who forced these people to change their faith, thus leading to her death.


    They wouldn''t care how the Creationist School was actually an abominable cult.


    After all, most people in the Saint Laurent Empire had never heard of this faith and their heinous deeds of using living people for sacrificial rituals.


    ya momentarily didn''t know what to do.


    Yet Lynn''s expression remained unchanged: "Really? That''s wonderful!"


    "Since you are a devout believer of the Goddess, you must remember what is written in the third chapter, eighteenth verse of the doctrine, right?"


    He spoke gently.


    The old woman was silent for a moment, then shook her head, "I... I feel very confused and sick, I can''t remember anything right now..."


    "It''s okay, let me repeat it for you." Lynn didn''t mind, "The third line of that verse says: All things have their patterns of living, and since there is birth, there will be facing death, do not be afraid of this, for I am with you."


    "Yes, yes, that''s it, exactly that."


    The old woman nodded weakly.


    Lynn looked at her, "Do you agree with this sentence?"


    "Of... of course."


    Lynn''s expression suddenly became serious, "Since so, you must also agree with the following statement."


    "Some are strong in body, some are gued with illness, do not fear this, for it is penance and redemption, until the soul is pure, and after death, you will return to my Divine Kingdom."


    Lynn repeated each word slowly, trying to make her hear clearly.


    The old man lying on the ground was stunned.


    "Young man, are you saying..."


    "Yes, the illness you''re suffering from now is actually a test bestowed upon you by the goddess. Only by persevering to the end, cleansing the sins of your life, can you enter the Divine Kingdom after death."


    Hearing this, the old man became anxious immediately, "But I really can''t hold on anymore. If only I could take some medicine to ease the pain a bit..."


    "No!" Lynn suddenly became stern, "I''ve already told you, this is the penance you must endure. At this very moment, the goddess might be witnessing your perseverance."


    "If you use drugs to treat this, wouldn''t that be evading the trial?"


    "Old man, you wouldn''t want to provoke the wrath of the goddess, would you?"


    Lynn said seriously.


    His words left the old manpletely speechless.


    She suddenly became panic-stricken and fell into a lengthy silence.


    Seeing this, Lynn sighed, "I don''t mean to make things difficult for you, but there are only two paths before you now."


    "The first, to adhere to the teachings of the Creationist School, to endure this trial, until you cleanse your sinspletely."


    "The second, like the one before, if you want to enter the city to receive treatment, then sign this."


    "I personally suggest you choose the first one."


    Saying so, Lynn looked at the old man with an indifferent expression.


    Time passed, second by second.


    Under everyone''s gaze, the old man lying on the ground closed his eyes, seemingly feeling utterly disgraced.


    "I... I''ll sign."


    [E-level plot character "Rona Muir''s" plot deviation has increased to 100.00%.]


    Silence fell once again.


    After the old man signed the Extraordinary Contract with ya, he was sent into the city by the apanying coachman to receive treatment.


    Watching those varied expressions around him, Lynn smiled softly.


    Then, he casually pointed at someone.


    "You,e here, let me test how devout your faith really is."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ...


    [E-level plot character "Danell Kessler''s" plot deviation has increased to 100.00%.]


    [E-level plot character "Walter Sloan''s" plot deviation has increased to 100.00%.]


    [E-level plot character "Victor Crouch''s" plot deviation has increased to 100.00%.]


    ...


    [E-level plot character "Arlen Colbert''s" plot deviation has increased to 100.00%.]


    ...


    As one contract after another was sessfully signed, ya''s smile became uncontroble.


    Meanwhile, the two Sheriffs, who were supposed to maintain order, were taken aback by their counterparts'' amazing maneuver, and exchanged looks.


    They would definitely need to report today''s events to their superiors after returning.


    It was clear they weren''tpletely unaware of the conflict happening within Orn City.


    Even at that moment, they were executing orders issued by some presence.


    Everyone was initially just bystanders, wanting to see the Imperial Princess embarrass herself in this incident.


    Little did they expect that a young man, whom they had never met before, would step forward andpletely turn things around.


    And Aphia, crouching by the carriage, was also dumbstruck.


    She had witnessed all of Lynn''s actions from start to finish.


    Watching his actions, smooth as flowing water, and hismanding presence, for some reason, a strange feeling suddenly arose within her.


    Though not strong in terms of martial prowess, a clever man seriously engaged in his work also possessed an indescribable charm.


    It must be said, this guy really did seem quite handsome.


    Aphia thought to herself, while absentmindedly grooming the fur on her paws.

 Chapter 37 Racking Up Points

    Another ability of the Lie Swallowing was that he could discern the lies of others.


    With the help of this effect, Lynn easily picked out the most devout believers and conducted the first wave of talk therapy.


    The main reason these three hundred and twelve people had gathered here wasrgely to do with those devout believers causing trouble.


    As the saying goes, strike the snake at its seven inches.


    It was simply a matter of dissolving this rebellious force one by one, after which those with impure faith or ulterior motives would be much easier to deal with.


    They were but a rabble of shrimp soldiers and crab generals.


    Lynn thought to himself.


    Time flew by swiftly.


    Before long, the evening sun draped over thend, casting everything in a magnificent red hue.


    Unwittingly, Lynn had already spent an afternoon outside the city walls.


    Several hours had been spent interacting with the believers.


    Finally, apanied by the system''s two hundred and thirty-second notification sound, Lynn had bamboozled most of the devout believers present into signing an Extraordinary Contract.


    Meanwhile, he pocketed 23 system points.


    An afternoon''s bustling had left Lynn feeling somewhat tired.


    Unfortunately, there were neither afternoon tea nor sweets to replenish his sugar levels.


    He was about to lift his sleeve to wipe off his sweat when he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder.


    ncing over, it turned out Aphia had hopped onto his shoulder.


    "Here you go."


    In her mouth was a handkerchief, faintly exuding a young girl''s distinct sweet fragrance.


    "Oh, thank you."


    Lynn took the handkerchief and after wiping twice, he realized something was amiss.


    Wasn''t she huffy just a while ago? How had she be so docile after not seeing her for just a few hours?


    Noticing Lynn''s gaze, Aphia seemed somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.


    She turned her head away and said huffily, "It was the Imperial Princess who asked me to keep an eye on you, and you were doing this for her, after all. I couldn''t just watch you exhaust yourself to death here."


    "Oh... where did you get this handkerchief?"


    "A girl''s secret!"


    After ying around with Aphia for a while, she leaped off Lynn''s shoulder in her cat form and scampered back to the carriage.


    Watching her diminutive figure, Lynn couldn''t help but show a hint of a smile.


    After that, he turned his gaze back to thest group of people in the distance.


    The remaining eighty or so were mostly there to fish in troubled waters.


    They neither believed in the Creation Goddess nor did they wish to simply enter the city.


    Their speech implied only one thing.


    Settlement fee.


    To keep them from making trouble, they had to be given a sum of money satisfying enough for them; otherwise, they were resolved not to leave.


    Of course, this excluded a certain bald man hidden among the crowd.


    He appeared very ordinary, so much so that one might barely notice his presence.


    However, in the system interface, he stood out starkly from the rest.


    Because among all the believers present, he was the only one with a plot level of C.


    [Character Name: Mark nchard]


    [Plot Level: C]


    [Plot Deviation: 0.00%]


    If Lynn could maximize his plot deviation, that would be a whopping 10 system points as a reward.


    How could he let such a plump and juicymb escape?


    Concerning this fellow''s identity, Lynn had some spections.


    Clearly, amongst this group of chaotic Creation Goddess believers, there had to be an organizer.


    Perhaps other people were innocent, but the one who had orchestrated this chaos certainly deserved punishment.


    It might even be possible that he had acted on someone else''s orders.


    With these thoughts, Lynn hesitated no more.


    "You,e here."


    He addressed the bald man.


    Mark was clearly stunned for a few seconds, seemingly unaware of why this young man was calling him.


    Had his identity been exposed?


    A trace of unease crossed his mind.


    "Sir, is there something you need from me?"


    He spoke in a humble tone.


    Lynn observed him for a while and suddenly asked, "Are you an ordinary believer of the Creationist School?"


    "Of course, I can recite every doctrine from the holy texts by heart."


    Mark imed confidently.


    This was a lie.


    Lynn immediately discerned his lie.


    Exactly where was he lying?


    In fact, he couldn''t recite every doctrine from the scriptures by heart?


    There was no need to lie about that, as it would be too easily exposed.


    So, the lies must be earlier.


    In fact, Mark was not just amon believer of the Creationist School; he also held another identity.


    Combining his ability to recite each doctrine and his plot level, which was as high as C-grade, Lynn was certain that he was the organizer behind this chaos.


    He was also a remnant member of the Creationist School, far from a mere believer.


    So, he suddenly leaned close to Mark and whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Mark, it must have been tough to reach this stage, but rest assured, the School will remember your contribution."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Seeing him casually reveal his real name, a flicker of panic and suspicion shed through Mark''s eyes.


    How did this guy know his real name?


    He had always used a pseudonym when being introduced.


    Could it be...


    He began to suspect something, his emotions stirring with excitement.


    At this moment, he wholeheartedly believed that Lynn was a devout follower of the Creation Goddess.


    With this belief, there was really only one possibility for Lynn to say such things to him.


    The School hadn''t been annihtedpletely!


    There were still remnants, ready to rise from the ashes at any moment!


    With this thought, Mark was as excited as if he had found his organization.


    But a lingering doubt prompted him to y it safe, "What are you talking about? I don''t understand."


    Seeing his reaction, Lynn patted his shoulder in a friendly manner, "You''re very cautious, and that''s good. But it seems that the order you and I received from that ''Higher-Up'' differs somewhat?"


    "My task is to minimize the impact of this incident; it seems to conflict somewhat with your mission. What''s the situation?"


    Lynn looked at him inquiringly.


    Hearing this, Mark finally let down his guard.


    He sighed in relief, nced around warily, and then lowered his voice, "The ''Higher-Up'' you mentioned, is that the one from the Imperial Capital?"


    Imperial Capital?


    Just as I thought.


    Lynn spected within his heart, but outwardly he nodded in agreement, "That''s right."


    Recognizing his reaction, a hint of surprise crossed Mark''s eyes, "But the order I received from that ''Higher-Up'' was to find an opportunity to poison the food and drink of these people, killing them all and framing it on that Demon who destroyed the School, namely, the Third Imperial Princess."


    He''s targeting Ivyst?


    Lynn couldn''t help but inhale sharply.


    Such a n was extremely malicious; once implemented, even if Ivyst had evidence to prove her innocence, no one would believe her.


    By then, she would have no chance at the King''s election.


    She might even be disowned in the public eye, under the wrath of Saint Laurent VI.


    Perhaps in the original story, this was how she gradually got pushed onto the path of bing a viin.


    And was my intervention indirectly changing her destiny?


    After this event, Ivyst''s deviation from the plot would likely increase once more.


    With this thought, Lynn no longer hesitated and shed Mark a small smile, "By the way, about that ''Higher-Up'', it seems he had another order for me. Would you like to hear it?"


    "What order?" Mark was curious.


    "He told me to send you on your way."


    As he spoke, Lynn smoothly drew out a gun and pulled the trigger without hesitation.


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!!"


    With a muffled sound, Mark fell backward, his eyes wide with uprehending surprise.


    [C-grade plot character "Mark nchard''s" plot deviation has increased to 100.00%.]


    10 system points have been credited.


    Indeed, this is the most effortless way.


    Lynn thought to himself.


    Watching him murder Mark, the people gathered in the distance panicked.


    Lynn raised his sleeve to wipe the fresh blood from his face, revealing a kindly smile as he tried not to appear too cold and ruthless.


    "A hundred copper coins each, take the money and sign the contract immediately, then get lost."


    "A hundred... That''s too little..."


    "Bang¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Lynn fired another shot into the sky and then said with a smile, "Now it''s fifty."


    With that, the remaining seventy-nine opportunists could no longer sit still and rushed towards ya''s location.


    Even a mosquito''s worth of blood is still flesh, right?


    If they continued to be stubborn, they might miss out even on those fifty copper coins.


    Besides, this guy was truly willing tomit murder!


    There was a palpable fear among the people.


    Watching the obedient queue forming in the distance, Lynn whistled to himself.


    It was just that simple.


    43 system points were in the bank at the end of the afternoon, adding to the previous 2 points¡ªthe total was now 43 points.


    Time to report back to that woman.

 Chapter 38 A Surprise for His Highness

    "How did you kill him?"


    After the signing waspleted by everyone, ya finally came to Lynn''s side.


    Looking at Mark lying on the ground, he asked with some regret,


    "If we had captured him and interrogated him properly, perhaps we could have uncovered the mastermind behind the scenes he mentioned."


    "Sorry," Lynn said with a helpless expression, "When I heard him say that he wanted to pin the deaths of these three hundred people on Princess Ivyst, I was too angry and acted impulsively."


    "Uh, I understand, don''t be too hard on yourself."


    Seeing his loyally concerned expression, ya suddenly found himself at a loss for words and quickly offered constion.


    After all, everything that had happened today was thanks to Lynn.


    Otherwise, he would still be scrambling around, trying to figure out how to extricate himself from this mess.


    Fortunately, it was all resolved.


    Watching the refugees enter Orn City one by one after receiving permission, ya''s heartpletely settled.


    "Leave the rest to me. I''ll temporarily house these refugees in the properties of the Augusta Family."


    "After you return to the manor, you''re to report back to your duties; it will also be a surprise for the princess."


    ya winked at him and threw the stack ofpleted Extraordinary Contracts to Lynn.


    Then, he briskly walked away with the two Sheriffs, whose thoughts were all over the ce.


    As they left, one of the Sheriffs gave him an inexplicable look up and down, leaving Lynn wondering what was on his mind.


    Watching their retreating figures, Lynn smirked.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The words he had just spoken were all nonsense.


    He would have run away if he could; how could he possibly have felt angry for that woman Ivyst?


    In truth, he had never encountered anything in either of his two lifetimes that could anger him so much that he lost his reason¡ªeven if he suffered a temporary setback, he would eventually find a way to take revenge.


    The reason Lynn had killed that man without hesitation was to avoid getting too entangled with the King''s election.


    There weren''t many who would reach for Orn City at such a time.


    Having read the original story, it was easy for him to guess that the suspect was likely one of the Princes.


    If he followed the clues and dragged him into the light, wouldn''t he beplete enemies with that Prince?


    This was Lynn''s initial concern.


    Since he was currently working under Ivyst, it was inevitable that he would be seen as her ally by others.


    A small matter like today''s incident was still manageable, but if he helped Ivyst to severely dent the pride of a Prince, it would mean that he was irrevocably on her side and could never wash himself clean of the association.


    After all, he knew that one day he would have to flee.


    It was better to have one less enemy than one more.


    With this in mind, Lynn sighed and walked towards the carriage ya had left behind.


    At that moment, Aphia was lying on top of the carriage, squinting her eyes to enjoy the afterglow of the sunset, purring continuously.


    Seeing Lynn approaching, Aphiazily flipped over, stretched, and unconsciously exposed her belly.


    "Are we done here, meow?"


    Aphia saidnguorously.


    Her voice, for some reason, had taken on a gentle tone that made Lynn quite ufortable.


    "Are you sick?" he looked at Aphia with a puzzled expression, "Suddenly acting like such ady, it''s a bit too much for me to handle."


    "I''ve figured it out," Aphia huffed, "Being angry with someone like you is endless, so from now on, whatever you say, I''ll just pretend I didn''t hear it."


    Oh?


    Quite a prideful Hakiemis.


    Looking at her smug expression, Lynn felt an inexplicable urge to tease her.


    So he looked at Aphia and said, "By the way, there''s a question I''ve been wanting to ask you... How was my technique when you were in heat at the inn?"


    The atmosphere suddenly turned silent.


    For the next dozen seconds or so, Aphia vividly demonstrated what it meant to be mortified to death.


    She first looked at Lynn with some confusion, as if trying to grasp the deeper meaning of his words, then slowly tensed up, baring her small white fangs as if to enter a fluffed state.


    "I, I''m going to fight you!!!"


    With a sorrowful expression, Aphia pounced forward, clinging to Lynn''s face like a burrowing bug, biting fiercely onto his forehead.


    "Ouch¡ªIt hurts, it hurts!!!"


    Lynn''s voice was muffled as his face was buried into Aphia''s belly.


    ...


    ```


    "Guest, wee to... hey, hey? Guest, your face..."


    "Oh, I''m fine."


    Lynn felt Aphia on his face and nonchntly waved his hand.


    At this moment, he was in amercial district of Orn City, stepping into a luxurious-looking women''s clothing and hat shop by the roadside.


    Perhaps because the sight of a customer with a cat on their face was too peculiar, all the shop assistants had stopped what they were doing.


    Hearing Lynn''s response, the shop assistant managed a forced smile, "Then, what do you need?"


    "Do you sell women''s shoes here? Bring out the most expensive pairs for me to see."


    Upon hearing this, Aphia, who was clinging tightly to Lynn''s head, twitched her ears for some reason.


    Soon, the most expensive shoes in the store were brought out.


    Because of the creature on his face, Lynn had to assume a ratherical posture, using his peripheral vision to examine the styles of the shoes.


    In the end, he pointed to a pair of cute-style ck princess shoes, "I''ll take this pair."


    "That will be three Gold Coins."


    The shop assistant replied very politely.


    That''s expensive... Though Lynn felt some pain in his wallet, he still took out the Gold Coins he had earned from the greed magic box earlier in the day.


    After paying, Lynn went to the changing room within the shop and patted Aphia hanging on his face.


    "Youe down first and try on these shoes to see if they fit."


    "?"


    Aphia seemed a bit confused.


    She loosened her teeth andnded on the ground with great nimbleness, looked at the pair of exquisitely made cute princess shoes and frowned, "What are you doing?"


    Hearing this, Lynn shrugged his shoulders, "I saw you take human form without wearing shoesst time, so I''m giving you a pair as an apology gift."


    Upon hearing this, Aphia''s expression turned extremelyplex.


    She didn''t expect him to be so thoughtful.


    She was conflicted for a moment, then said softly, "You... you''re the second person who''s given me shoes."


    Now Lynn was a bit miffed.


    Last time, in front of Ivyst, he had been the second one to get a cor.


    Although that wasn''t something to boast about, at this very moment, hispetitive male spirit surged again.


    He asked seriously, "Who was the first?"


    "It was His Highness."


    "Oh, that... that''s good."


    Lynn averted his gaze.


    The atmosphere turned silent all of a sudden.


    After a brief silence, Aphia was the first to break it.


    "You''re a good person, but I''m sorry!"


    For some reason, after a moment of indecision, Aphia suddenly said this with a tense expression.


    Then she picked up the shoes and ran off in a sh.


    What''s going on?


    By the time he left the changing room, Lynn was still befuddled.


    Seeing him like this, the shop assistant who saw him out couldn''t help but show an auntie smile, "Doesn''t the guest know?"


    "What?"


    "For females of the Beast n, they do not wear shoes in their lifetime, with one exception."


    "That is during marriage when the husband-to-be will give them a pair of shoes as a marriage proposal gift."


    "?"


    Lynn felt dumbfounded.


    No wonder she had said that.


    Had he been forcibly handed a good guy card?


    In a moment, an overwhelming sense of embarrassment rushed over him.


    Not only that, but he had also lost a pair of shoes worth three Gold Coins for nothing.


    So, epting a gift ¡Ù I agree?!


    Looking at the evening streets, Lynn stepped onto the carriage parked by the roadside feeling extremely displeased.


    "Back to the manor!"


    ```

 Chapter 39 A Visitor from the Heavenly Principle Church

    When Lynn returned to the manor, it was already evening.


    At this time, the moon hung high in the sky, with thest trace of the sunset barely visible.


    However, the estate was brightly lit.


    To be honest, being able to build such a residence in the most prosperous part of Orn City showed that the Augusta Family still had considerable power locally.


    After returning to the manor, Lynn intended to find a maid to take him inside but unexpectedly encountered Morris.


    "You''re back?"


    For some reason, he still seemed a bit reserved.


    Lynn nodded, "I need to see the Princess. Can you show me the way?"


    Upon hearing this, Morris hesitated for a moment.


    But then, considering the level of importance this guy held in the Princess''s heart, he immediately agreed.


    As he led the way, Morris kindly said, "The Princess just had a meeting; her mood didn''t seem too great. If there isn''t an absolutely urgent report, I would advise you not to rub her the wrong way."


    "Who was she meeting?"


    Lynn was somewhat curious.


    Morris nced around and then lowered his voice, "It seemed to be someone from the Heavenly Principle Church."


    The Heavenly Principle Church?


    That was the church his former self had once believed in until the Archbishop ultimately stripped him of the Divine-given factor within his body, reducing him to an ordinary person.


    As one of the three major churches of the Empire, the Heavenly Principle Church, along with the Silent Church and Fertility Church, had countless followers.


    Even in a border capital like Orn City, they had a presence.


    Lynn''s eyes narrowed slightly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    However, outwardly he pretended as if nothing was amiss, "I was nning to report on my duties; there shouldn''t be a problem."


    "Report?" Morris nced at the contract in his hand and showed a trace of sympathy, "It must have been a busy day. Is it that the three-day deadline was too short, and you want to ask the Princess for a few more days'' grace?"


    "If you could put in a few good words then, given the Princess''s kindness toward you... cough, given her mercy, it''s highly likely she''ll allow it."


    "In my opinion, this matter is indeed troublesome. Right now, during this critical period, who knows how many pairs of eyes are watching. One misstep could likely get you roasted on the fire."


    Morris prattled on.


    Upon hearing this, Lynn shook his head, "You misunderstand, I''vepletely settled the matter and am now preparing to bring my report to the Princess."


    Morris came to an abrupt stop, "You''ve... resolved it?"


    Lynn didn''t speak, merely flicked the stack of contracts in his hand and handed them over.


    In the light, Morris quickly skimmed through the Extraordinary Contract in his hands, his mouth gradually falling open.


    ...


    "The Princess is currently with a visitor. Mr. Lynn, please wait in the next room."


    Unsurprisingly, Lynn saw Kasha''s figure at the study door.


    The elderly housekeeper curtseyed slightly, speaking with a calm demeanor.


    Lynn nodded and sat down on the sofa in the adjacent lounge.


    After the housekeeper served him a cup of hot tea, she left him alone in the room.


    Seeing no one around, Lynn opened the system to examine the new ability he had just drawn today.


    Stay updated with empire


    Thorny Crown.


    Although the effect of this ability seemed to hurt the user almost as much as the enemy, the skill description didn''t mention a limit to the amount of pain it could store.


    And as everyone knows, abilities without limits are often very buggy.


    So after careful consideration, Lynn decided to give it a try.


    To activate Thorny Crown, one must possess at least three Divine-given factors, which wasn''t a problem for the former Lynn at all.


    Sadly, he nowcked such prerequisites, being merely an ordinary person.


    ording to the setting in novels, Divine-given factors were rpenses granted to believers by gods after theypleted divine Ascension Trials, which could greatly enhance one''s strength.


    To put it simply, they were akin to stamina bars and ability buffs.


    The quantity and quality of Divine-given factors determined the number of times one could use abilities and the effects produced.


    The original host, being a Fourth Rank Transcendent, possessed 136 Divine-given factors, making him exceedingly powerful.


    Not only that, but he also had a rather rare Extraordinary Ability¡ªthe Gravity Hammer.


    This was an immensely destructive power on the battlefield.


    The original host quickly umted a massive amount of military achievements with this ability, rising to be the youngest Captain in the Empire.


    Regrettably, his current situation was a bit skewed.


    "Not only did Ick any powerful attack skills, but the only two abilities I had were also somewhat off-kilter, either befitting a scam artist or a masochist.


    I always felt my way of fighting was gradually bing more sneaky and twisted.


    Lynn sighed.


    He opened the Divine-given factor tab in the system interface.


    After all, the system had said before that he could spend points to ignite Divine-given factors.


    To Lynn, who had been deprived of faith, this was undoubtedly the best news.


    You see, the biggest factor limiting a Transcendent''s growth in strength is the number and quality of Divine-given factors.


    A Divine-given factor from a Fourth Rank Transcendent of the Heavenly Principle Church was undoubtedly extremely rare and powerful.


    That''s why his fianc¨¦e Irina had transnted his Divine-given factor into herself, eventually ascending to be a Legendary warrior.


    [Would you like to spend 10 system points to ignite a Divine-given factor?]


    "Yes."


    Lynn confirmed without hesitation.


    I earned so many points this afternoon just for this moment.


    My escape n could finally begin to take shape.


    While everyone believed I had be an ordinary person, I was actually umting strength in secret, which felt utterly exhrating.


    But it really is expensive, 10 points for a single Divine-given factor.


    Lynn thought silently.


    Unexpectedly, the next second, he received a prompt from the system.


    [Ignition failed, please activate faith first.]


    It actually failed?


    Lynn stared at the message somewhat nkly.


    Then he remembered something.


    [Name: Lynn]


    [Race: Human]


    [Age: 17]


    [Faith: None]


    [Rank: None]


    [Extraordinary Abilities: Lie Swallowing¡¤First Rank/Thorny Crown¡¤Second Rank]


    [Divine-given factors: 0]


    [Remaining system points: 43]


    Since my former self was kicked out of the Heavenly Principle Church, the faith column now showed none.


    And Divine-given factors are dependent on the birth of gods; the system couldn''t possibly create a source of power out of nothing, so it was impossible for Lynn to sessfully ignite a Divine-given factor.


    It looks like I''ll have to choose a new faith.


    But herees the problem.


    After losing his faith, the former self was branded as God Forsaken by the Heavenly Principle Church, and records were made with the major churches as well.


    Under such circumstances, no one would ept his conversion.


    Unless it was some heretical belief or some small, obscure churches.


    But those beliefs are too weak, some aren''t even regarded as gods, just slightly stronger Transcendents stealing the Power of Faith.


    As mentioned before, the Divine-given factors bestowed by different deities vary in attributes and strength.


    For example, Transcendents of the three mainstream churches, with an equal number of Divine-given factors, are definitely much stronger than those of other faiths.


    This is mainly reflected in aspects such as attack power andbat endurance, having a profound impact on the future.


    Although Lynn had a system that allowed him to draw abilities at will, he didn''t want to be weaker in terms of Divine-given factors.


    For him, it was either go big or go home.


    For a moment, Lynn fell into deep thought.


    He began to recall the original story plot, to see if he could find any clues.


    Thinking carefully, who exactly was the strongest faith and deity in the original story?


    As soon as this thought emerged, the image of an aloof female figure suddenly appeared in Lynn''s mind.


    It seemed to be that woman.


    Damn it, now I''m caught in a vicious cycle."

 Chapter 40 Praying to Ivyst Ten Thousand Years Later?

    Among the many gods in the original work, aside from the main character in the climax, there seemed to be only one who was the strongest.


    Ivyst.


    She was indeed the ultimate antagonist, bringing infinite despair to the protagonist''s group.


    How powerful was she towards the end?


    Take her revered title for example: Shadow of Despair lingering at the end of the River of Death, the Supreme Being who hunted the gods, the Doomsday Witch who brought destruction and fragmentation to the world.


    Absolutely incredible.


    And her war record truly lived up to such a revered title.


    As the Doomsday Witch, she was the terrible existence that ignited Ragnarok.


    In theter stages, with her power spiraling out of control, countless gods were hunted and killed by her hands, absorbing Divinity as nourishment.


    Because of her unparalleled Divine Power, even though the protagonist defeated her in the end, he couldn''t truly kill her for a time.


    Ultimately, they could only unite the gods to seal her within the Pantheon.


    Later, it took tens of thousands of years to refine arge into a Magic Weapon, which turned into Dharma''s Sword falling from the sky, finally annihting her in the explosion of the stars.


    Ivyst''s disy of power was the one point that the original book''s fans never debated.


    Even some readers, with a kind of self-mocking spirit, often spected whether she wouldter be redeemed and added to the male protagonist''s harem.


    After all, once she became a wife, it would turn into a power for the protagonist, and no matter how strong, she would be utterly devoted to him; then it wouldn''t matter.


    Thank goodness the author didn''t go down that trashy route.


    With this thought, Lynn heaved a sigh.


    Honestly, if possible, embracing the faith of "Annihtion" would indeed be the best choice.


    This faith granted Transcendents the Divine-given factor, arguably the strongest in the entire work, to a point of being infuriating¡ªthough Ivyst had hardly any followers from start to finish, and both her Power of Faith and Divinity were stolen.


    Lynn couldn''t remember all the specifics now.


    But from what he could recall, it could enhance a Transcendent''s Extraordinary Ability by three to ten times, and also had Annihtion properties.


    Outrageous.


    Thinking this, Lynn felt somewhat tempted.


    But the problem was, at this point in time, the faith of "Annihtion" did not exist.


    It was something that would happen about ten thousand yearster, with the entire world''s style turning into dark wastnd due to themencement of Ragnarok.


    Lynn couldn''t just travel to the future and pray to her, could he?


    He sighed internally. Explore more adventures at empire


    But the next second, a sh of insight streaked through Lynn''s mind.


    Wait!


    He vaguely remembered a plot that the original male protagonist had experienced.


    In a dire situation, the male protagonist had taken out a Holy Relic, calling upon an ancient god who existed only in the remote past to descend, and somewhat by fluke, it actually worked, allowing him to survive the ordeal.


    Even though there might have been the factor of the protagonist''s halo at y, since it appeared in the original story, that meant it was feasible.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Praying across the river of time was possible, so it stood to reason that reaching the future should not be impossible either.


    Moreover, because the scene was described very meticulously at the time, Lynn still remembered the general process of that ceremony.


    It wasn''tplex.


    The key to sess was that the protagonist possessed a Holy Relic corresponding to that god.


    With this thought, Lynn''s heartbeat quickened slightly.


    His partiality towards the faith of "Annihtion" wasn''t merely due to its strength as a belief.


    But because it was his best choice at the moment.


    Once Lynn seeded in activating this faith, it meant he would be its only follower.


    No one would be able to grasp his secrets; they would be deceived by the various Extraordinary Abilities granted by his faith.


    He wouldn''t need to worry about this action binding him too closely to that woman, making it impossible to escapeter.


    Because at the moment, Ivyst hadn''t achieved Divinity, so the faith of "Annihtion" didn''t exist in the world.


    Not even a trace of it.


    Moreover, as a God Forsaken, he had already been rejected by most faiths within the Saint Laurent Empire.


    "If I truly wish to be a Transcendent once more and possess powerful strength, perhaps there is only one path."


    "Betray the human faction and worship those ancient demons."


    "That is simply a path to death."


    "So, right now, the only option Lynn considers while bncing strength, secrecy, and legitimacy is the ''Doomsday'' faith."


    "As for the current Ivyst, she is unaware of what will happen in the future."


    "And the future Ivyst cannot forcibly change the past."


    "Lynn can take advantage of this information gap to extract enough benefits."


    "If anything does happenter, it''s not a big deal to just cut ties."


    "After all, not only can gods abandon their believers, but believers themselves can also choose to change faiths."


    "Quite a few High Rank Transcendents have embarked on a different path this way to gain stronger abilities."


    "With a motive in ce, it''s time to consider the method."


    "Obviously, to do the same thing as the original male protagonist, he must possess his prerequisites."


    "Holy Relics..." Lynn picked up his teacup and sipped it, sinking into thought once more."


    "This term had also appeared in Christianity in his previous life."


    "Like the shroud of a saint."


    "What exactly makes this piece of cloth a Holy Relic?"


    "Is it because it hase into close contact with Him, imbued with Divine Power and the breath of life?"


    "At the end of the day, Holy Relics are defined by the believers."


    "Originally, it might have been just an object left behind before He became divine, but over time, it has evolved into a legend and thus, cloaked in a shroud of mystery."


    "Some Holy Relics may still possess extraordinary abilities while some are just extremely ordinary objects."


    "Even if there are real relics left behind, theirmemorative significance is far greater than their real value."


    "Lynn slowly came to a realization."


    "If that''s the case, could objects infused with Ivyst''s extraordinary power and life essence also be Holy Relics tomunicate with the future Doomsday Witch?"


    "It''s worth a try."


    "Lynn thought to himself."


    "Creak¡ª"


    "Just then, the door to the lounge was pushed open."


    "Lynn quickly returned to his senses and looked up."


    "His Highness has finished receiving guests and would now like to see you."


    "The housekeeper Kasha said emotionlessly."


    "Therefore, Lynn temporarily set aside the series of thoughts he had earlier and nodded, picking up the stack of Extraordinary Contracts from the table."


    "Kasha''s gaze lingered on the stack of contracts for a few seconds, her eyes revealing a hint of surprise."


    "Under her lead, Lynn quickly arrived at the study room door."


    "It was at this time that the door was pushed open."


    "The middle-aged man in clerical attire held the doorknob while saying gloomily, ''I implore Your Highness to consider our church''s proposal carefully.''"


    "Scram."


    "A cold voiceden with murderous intent emanated from the study."


    "To daremand priests of the three major churches so brazenly, she truly has that woman''s style."


    "Lynn even doubted, if someday in the future Saint Laurent VI angered her, whether she would show the same attitude towards her own father."


    "After the clergymen from the Heavenly Principle Church hadpletely disappeared down the corridor, Lynn then slowly entered the study at Kasha''s gesture."


    "Gazing at Ivyst''s fiercely beautiful face, Lynn bowed."


    "He didn''t know what the Heavenly Principle Church had demanded to infuriate her like this."


    "Lucky for him, he was here to bring good news; otherwise, he might unavoidably have been caught in the crossfire."


    "He thought silently."


    "Meanwhile, as Ivyst saw who hade in, the coldness on her face eased slightly."


    "What is it?"

 Chapter 41 Unfailingly Completed the Task!

    Ivyst was fuming with anger.


    As the Third Imperial Princess of the Saint Laurent Empire, she hadn''t felt threatened by anyone in a long time.


    Although she was the least favored one, her innate powerful strength meant she seldom encountered such situations.


    What she encountered most was fear.


    But today, some blind worm had the audacity toe before her and try to threaten her.


    And that worm was from the Heavenly Principle Church no less.


    As one of the three major churches in the Saint Laurent Empire, the Heavenly Principle Church had be increasingly autocratic over the years.


    It even showed signs of surpassing the Silent Church and the Fertility Church.


    In terms of the number of Transcendents and their power, the Star Knight Order they had established inside was almost catching up to the Royal Guard.


    Even the top Transcendents were not far behind.


    Just Fifth Rank Legends alone, if you included the newly promoted daughter of the Snow Eagle family, there were no fewer than six.


    As for the even more powerful Sixth Rank Demigods, there were rumors that a former Archbishop of the Heavenly Principle Church had been lying in a coffin, sustaining life through various means, waiting to appear only when the church faced cataclysmic danger.


    When it came to Sealed Objects, the Heavenly Principle Church was terrifyingly formidable.


    There were as many as four zero-tier Sealed Objects officially registered, not to mention those hidden assets that should not see the light of day.


    And setting aside Transcendents and Sealed Objects,


    The Heavenly Principle Church was rightly the number one church in the Saint Laurent Empire in terms of the number of followers alone.


    Take Orn City, for example.


    As the capital of the border, it had a poption of eight hundred thousand, of which about a quarter were followers of the Heavenly Principle Church.


    It''s no wonder they were no longer as modest as before.


    But the problem is, Ivyst is royalty, and now they even dare to disrespect the Royal Family.


    She scoffed when she recalled the conditions demanded by that clergyman.


    Speaking of which, that man hade to see her today regarding a matter also rting to Duke Tierus.


    As the Governor of the Southern Province, he had be increasingly dissatisfied with these churches in recent years.


    Due to the Empire''s somewhat weak control over the south, coupled with the border''s proximity to the Demon n''s battlefields, there had been frequent wars in recent years, many citiescked governance and deterrence, showing a trend towards bingwless areas.


    The more this was the case, the harder the ordinary civilians lived.


    And, the harder life was, the more they needed some spiritual sustenance.


    Hence, the beliefs of variousrge churches began to grow wildly on this fertile ground.


    The Heavenly Principle Church was one of them.


    As this force had be so vast, even official bodies like city councils and Security Bureaus in ces like Orn City dared not make rash moves.


    Or perhaps, they themselves, due to tangled rtionships and the lure of interests, had chosen to stand with the church.


    Here''s something quite ridiculous.


    The Royal Family hadn''t received the poption tax from these border cities for several years now, which added up to a very substantial amount.


    These churches often banded together, using tax reduction policies to fool people.


    But the civilians didn''t live any better for having paid fewer taxes.


    In fact, for the sake of loyalty to their faith, they donated money to the churches, which was five or six times the original amount.


    As the Governor of the Southern Province, Duke Tierus''s visit to Orn City this time was to deal with these musty old affairs.


    Tax collection!


    Tax collection!


    Still bloody tax collection!


    This was also one of the reasons Duke Tierus didn''t want to see Ivyst.


    He was simply too busy.


    This wasn''t a battlefield; he couldn''t just send the troops to roll over those parishes for not paying taxes.


    If he did that, he''d be removed from his post as Governor tomorrow.


    And perhaps sensing something in the wind, once they learned that Duke Tierus himself wasing to Orn City, those churches began to grow restless as well.


    So the Heavenly Principle Church sent someone to have an audience with Ivyst.


    In the end, they parted on bad terms.


    It wasughable, really.


    Those fools had actually hoped that Ivyst, a royal princess, would fight on behalf of the church against Duke Tierus in their disputes.


    Or worse, create some chaos in Orn City to muddy the waters, which would dy the tax investigation, allowing them time to move their assets.


    In return, they would "generously" offer her fifty thousand Gold Coins as campaign funding for the King''s election.


    Was the Imperial Princess only worth a measly fifty thousand Gold Coins?


    Ivyst felt insulted in her intelligence.


    Besides, everyone knew that her visit to Orn City was to foster good rtions with Duke Tierus.


    Such a proposal only proved that those behind it were either foolish or malicious.


    Ivyst was already quite displeased, but then that fellow dared to threaten her.


    "Your Highness, if you need assistance with those three hundred innocents outside the city, the church will definitely offer its strong support. But I hope you will consider this carefully, as if too much time passes, I''m afraid something unforeseen may happen."


    On the surface, his words seemed earnest, but thest sentence betrayed the intention.


    No matter their thoughts, Ivyst took this as a threat.


    In her heart, she already sentenced that guy and those fools to death.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her instinct was to kill him right then and there, which would have been in line with her personality.


    But then she pondered, were the people from the Heavenly Principle Church really that stupid?


    They knew such a proposal would anger her and sent such a fool to see her?


    Could it be that they were hoping she would make a move and kill someone here, to blow things up and y the victim to obfuscate the situation?


    With that thought, Ivyst managed to suppress her murderous intent for the time being.


    Nheless, the over three hundred civilians stranded outside the city were indeed a huge problem.


    Ultimately, this might just be the trap set by the Heavenly Principle Church and the city council for her.


    Yet she had no choice but to walk into it.


    Thinking about it, she felt an even greater headacheing on.


    She wasn''t sure if that fellow had any countermeasures. It was a bit like grasping at straws.


    After all, this was a serious matter that implicated the well-being of the people, which couldn''t be settled simply with quick thinking or schemes.


    But for now, it seemed she only had the option to trust.


    Trust that this fellow would create another surprise.


    Three days were indeed too short a time; even processing fifty people a day would take about a week.


    So Ivyst had already mentally prepared for their temporary failure.


    If Lynn came to beg for a few more days, Ivyst wouldn''t refuse.


    But she would take the opportunity to give him a good talking-to and thoroughly suppress his arrogance.


    Ivyst coldly picked up her teacup and sipped from it.


    Then she caught sight of Lynn sneaking in through the door, looking rather guilty.


    Seeing him actually lightened her mood somewhat.


    She couldn''t fathom why.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Appearing to have guessed his purpose for visiting, Ivyst asked with an authoritative tone.


    The next second, Lynn knelt on one knee, presenting a stack of papers in his hands.


    "Your Highness, these are the Extraordinary Contracts signed by the refugees stranded outside the city," Lynn said solemnly. "A total of 312 people, with 311 actual signatures."


    "Except for one criminal who resisted stubbornly and whom I killed on the spot, all are ounted for, mission aplished!"


    His voice was loud, as if wanting the entire estate to hear.


    Even the maids passing by outside stopped in their tracks, thinking there was some joyous asion.


    Ivyst looked at him, somewhat taken aback.


    "You... what did you say?"

 Chapter 42 Lynn, the Imperial Princess Wants to Reward You

    "What...What did you say?!"


    Ivyst''s voice, full of surprise, came through.


    Upon hearing this, Lynn repeated his previous statement calmly.


    At the same time, a familiar system notification sounded in his ears.


    [Ivyst Laurent Alexini, an S-ss plot character,	has an increased deviation of 0.53%.]


    What?


    40 system points were credited?


    Lynn was stunned.


    He hadn''t expected that a bit of wool sheared from Ivyst could match a whole afternoon of hardbor.


    At the same time, Lynn''s umted points had reached a total of 83.


    For him at the moment, this was undoubtedly a windfall.


    He could even upgrade the Lie Swallowing and the Thorny Crown again, though, upon further reflection, it seemed rather pointless.


    His guess had been correct, however.


    His action had indeed altered Ivyst''s future destiny to a certain extent.


    While Lynn''s thoughts were flowing, he suddenly felt a refreshing rose fragrance wafting toward him.


    Then, something lightened in his hand.


    Lynn looked up and saw that Ivyst had approached him at some point.


    At that moment, she took over the stack of Extraordinary Contracts, quickly flipped through them with a serious expression, and read the articles carefully.


    Different names were signed at each section, and fingerprints pressed down.


    Seeing this, Lynn scrutinized Ivyst with a muted gaze.


    The Princess''s style of dress seemed to have changed again.


    Today, her ck hair was pinned up behind her head, adorned with extremely luxurious jewels of various colors, giving her a bright and grand appearance.


    Furthermore, she was wearing a bohemian-style wavy long dress akin to those from a previous era, predominantly crimson with scattered flowers and diamonds adorning the hem.


    The dress fell just below the knees, revealing slender calves enveloped in ck stockings, with dainty high-heeled boots on her feet.


    Compared to her previous demeanor in a ck dress, which was stern andmanding, Ivyst now seemed somewhat softer and much more mature.


    Though still very young, she possessed an elegance reminiscent of a noblewoman.


    To use a phrase from his previous life, she had an exceedingly "perfect wife" appeal.


    Regrettably, such beauty could only be appreciated by Lynn.


    Others would feel disgust and fear at the sight of her, even unable to meet her gaze.


    Time ticked away by the second.


    As Ivyst continued to flip through the contracts, the shock on her face became increasingly uncontroble.


    She was acutely aware of the faint power contained within the Extraordinary Contracts.


    This made it even clearer that these items were not forged.


    After all, verifying this matter was simple, requiring only sending someone outside the city.


    If the situation hadn''t been handled wlessly, those nobles and officials would definitely not permit the refugees into the city so easily.


    Rather, in collusion with the Heavenly Principle Church, they would rather see her troubled by this matter.


    But no one had expected that such an unknown youth could so effortlessly resolve such danger and crisis.


    Ivyst''s breathing started to quicken.


    She had thought finding Lynn, this talented individual, was a fortunate surprise.


    But up until now, the capabilities and wisdom he had shown time and again had stunned her.


    The perfect resolution of this matter had undoubtedly solved her pressing emergency.


    Not only did it severely undermine the arrogance of those scoundrels, but it also subtly enhanced her reputation.


    And, with the safety of the refugees no longer a threat, at this moment, Ivyst felt a heavy stone falling from her heart.


    She rarely took a deep breath of relief.


    Then, somewhat confused, she wondered,


    How long had it been since she''d felt such unprecedented relief?


    It was... incredibly satisfying.


    All she needed to do was sit in her chair and give orders, and soon someone woulde with good news to please her.


    Could this be how her siblings felt with their top-level think tanks at their disposal?


    Ivyst''s heartbeat began to quicken.


    She suddenly appreciated the elegance of handling matters without relying on violence.


    Unfortunately, before this, none of Ivyst''s subordinates couldpare to Lynn.


    Not even close.


    This made her realize more than ever that no one but herself should possess this treasure.


    With this thought, a flicker of excitement appeared in Ivyst''s eyes as she looked at Lynn, "Tell me, how did you manage to aplish this in just one afternoon?"


    Lynn was energized upon this topic.


    He rolled up his sleeves and said, "Your Highness, I must say I''ve been quite aggrieved. You must stand up for me¡ªthose Security Bureau goons are really unbearable, not only acting all weird around us but repeatedly obstructing our work. And those refugees aren''t any better. The moment I arrived, they surrounded me, threatening to kill me with a single hammer strike. But who am I? I am your subordinate, representing you and the Empire. Naturally, I couldn''t just submit because of threats to my life. So I stood up right there and told them..."


    While Lynn rambled on, a flicker of red light passed over the ring on Ivyst''s fingertip.


    She looked down and frowned slightly.


    The ring was an ancient curse, capable of discerning the truth or falsity of someone''s words in a short time.


    She had worn it during her meeting with the clergy from the Heavenly Principle Church but had forgotten to take it off.


    Now, to her surprise, she found Lynn was lying.


    Ivyst was suddenly a bit taken aback.


    Had she been too kind just now, letting this guy take advantage and overstep?


    The atmosphere suddenly became a bit colder.


    Seeing this, Lynn gave an awkward smile and stopped beating around the bush.


    He scratched his head, "Actually, it was just the same old tactics¡ªdividing a group, allying with another, using threats or inducements, and then killing the leader of those causing the trouble. The rest of the disorganized group would copse at the slightest touch."


    But as simple as it sounds, it was extremely difficult in practice.


    People have their own thoughts, and each person''s situation and perspective on issues are entirely different; they can''t be expected to change their beliefs because of a few words.


    Lynn''s ability to handle those guys owed a lot to the Lie Swallowing.


    Ivyst looked at the young man with ck hair and blue eyes before her, and for a moment, she was silent.


    He was only 17 years old.


    If he grew up for a few more years, what would he be?


    Perhaps, the foolish nobles of the Imperial Capital should regret having provoked someone so formidable.


    Ivyst even vaguely felt that even without her help, Lynn might one day seed in his revenge.


    Fortunately, the current rtionship based on hypnosis connected the two, preventing him from running away.


    However, she didn''t quite like the methods of coercion and intimidation.


    Ivyst hoped that one day, he would choose to stay by her side of his own ord.


    Explore more stories with empire


    Thinking this way, she uncharacteristically showed a slight smile.


    "You''ve done very well with this," Ivyst ced the contract on the desk, leaning against the windowsill, "So, I want to reward you."


    "Lynn, if you have any wishes you want fulfilled, you can tell me now. I will satisfy whatever it is."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With her arms crossed and bathed in moonlight, she looked unspeakably pure and beautiful.


    (ps: Check out my friend''s new book "Empress, Are You Also Snatching Grooms?" Link below.)

 Chapter 43 Hypnosis Again

    Feeling Ivyst''s gaze, Lynn lowered his head.


    The passive effect of the Lie Swallowing told him that what this woman was saying now was the truth.


    Yet a cold sneer kept echoing in his heart.


    Fulfill any wish?


    If he were to say he wanted to touch her cast die, would she really agree?


    Even if she agreed on the surface, it was likely to be just ying word games likest time.


    A woman''s words could be heard, but at most, only half could be believed.


    Lynn guessed that Ivyst''s question was merely to test his sincerity at this moment, to see if he still had thoughts of running away.


    Unfortunately, he saw through it at a nce.


    Thinking so, Lynn kept shaking his head, "Having the honor to listen to Your Highness''s teachings is already incredibly fulfilling for me. I have no other desire but to stay by your side just as I am now."


    Unfortunately, he had overlooked one thing.


    This was not a simple fantasy novel but a real world.


    Many things had never urred in the original work and would not develop step by step as expected.


    Like, for example, the ring that Ivyst wore on her hand.


    He couldn''t have anticipated that this woman would pull such a stunt.


    After hearing Lynn''s ttery, Ivyst should have been quite pleased, as she had been before.


    But ncing at the flickering red light on the ring at her fingertip, she narrowed her eyes.


    This guy was lying again.


    However, Ivyst did not fly into a rage but indifferently said, "You better think it through carefully. I rarely make such promises to anyone."


    It was also a stereotype held by Lynn.


    Ivyst offered him this sweet jujube because she wanted to win him over.


    So at this moment, her offer to fulfill one of Lynn''s wishes was not false.


    Of course, in a certain sense, there were still conditions.


    This wish could be for money, a Sealed Object, power and status, or even someone''s life.


    In short, it had to be in line with Ivyst''s preferences.


    If he truly voiced a wish to grab a bucket and run away or to find a beautiful girl to attend to him, he would inevitably face a beating.


    Unfortunately, Lynn had not grasped thisyer of implication.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "I have no wish... or rather, your wish is my wish."


    He would not be fooled again.


    Lynn thought to himself in silence.


    His expression was so resolute it was as if he had once lost something.


    Feeling the searing heat from the ring, Ivyst had to suppress augh out of anger.


    Strangely, when this guy always wanted to run away before, she used various methods to stop him, to keep him by her side.


    For that, she had used quite a few tricks and told quite a few lies.


    But this time when Ivyst genuinely wanted to fulfill a wish for him, he instead began to y coy.


    Why couldn''t he make things easy?


    Why couldn''t he just make a wish obediently, as she desired?


    At this very moment, a streak of rebellious mood was stirred within Ivyst.


    The more Lynn seemed to want her promise, the more she wanted to see the despair on his face when his hope shattered.


    But when Lynn declined her kindness with lies, Ivyst instead wanted to force him to submit.


    At the end of the day, she was such a nasty woman.


    Sensing Ivyst''s silence, Lynn seemed to realize something.


    He had just raised his head when he saw Ivyst''s expression had be cold.


    "Lying doggies aren''t nice," her voice was chillingly cold, "And naughty doggies need to be punished."


    Damn!


    Lynn almost instinctively used the Lie Swallowing, conditioned by reflex.


    And sure enough.


    The next second, without any warning, Ivyst swiftly raised her hand, showing Lynn the shining Eye of the Soul imprint in her palm.


    For a moment, his consciousness seemed to detach from his body, and he became sluggish and dazed.


    Aren''t you going for a pre-swing before attacking?


    Fortunately, my buddy was well prepared.


    Seeing that his true self had entered a false state of hypnosis in time, Lynn let out a sigh of relief.


    On the other hand, watching Lynn suddenly be vacant-eyed and dispirited, Ivyst held no suspicion.


    She stepped forward and leaned her voluptuous posterior against the edge of the desk, pressing out an enticing curve.


    Then Ivyst, with a light movement, lifted her right leg encased in ck stockings and gently rubbed Lynn''s chin with the tip of her boot, as if teasing her own pet dog.


    She did not immediately ask Lynn about his true desires.


    At that moment, while the effect of the ring was still present, Ivyst pursed her glossy red lips.


    "Who is more beautiful, Hillena or I?"


    Experience tales at empire


    "Of course, it''s you."


    The ring showed no reaction, and Ivyst''s lips slightly curled up.


    "If Hillena and I fell into the water at the same time, whom would you save?"


    "I would save you and by the way, throw a stone at her head."


    "Who is the most beautiful woman in the world?"


    "Ivyst Laurent Alexini."


    "Tell me what you think of my outfit today."


    "I don''t like it."


    "Hmm?"


    "This dress perfectly entuates your beauty, Your Highness. However, it is precisely because of this that I do not wish for others, aside from myself, to behold your beauty."


    Hearing this, Ivyst could no longer restrain a smile on her lips, her expression bing radiant.


    This guy is not only smart and capable, but also has a way with words.


    Most importantly, all these words are true; the ring showed no reaction.


    The slight dissatisfaction Ivyst had felt a moment ago dissipated like smoke.


    When someone is under hypnosis, they speak what''s in their heart¡ªwhat was she suspecting?


    She silently thought to herself.


    However, on the other side, Lynn was already sweating profusely.


    At this instant, he finally realized something was off with Ivyst.


    This woman seemed to be able to discern his lies!


    Recalling how she had nced repeatedly at her ring earlier, Lynn didn''t need to guess what had happened.


    Fortunately, the previous questions had not strayed from the realm of truth.


    After all, Lynn had never seen Hillena and only knew her from novels, aware only that she was described as the Empire''s most beautiful woman in the original work.


    Nor could he recall Hillena''s appearance from his predecessor''s memory.


    And indeed, Ivyst was the most beautiful woman he had encountered so far; thus his answer was not a lie.


    As for his opinion on her attire, it was genuine as well.


    Even though Lynn had always wanted to keep his distance from Ivyst, it was natural for a man to desire possessiveness over a beautiful woman.


    And being in the prime of youth, this body was no exception.


    But these weren''t the things that truly made Lynn nervous.


    The crux of the problem was, he didn''t know if the Lie Swallowing could negate the truth-revealing effect of the ring.


    Even if it could, Lynn dared not bet on it.


    That meant he was, at this moment, in the awkward position of being able only to tell the truth.


    This was worse than being hypnotized!


    Lynn roared internally.


    If at this moment Ivyst whimsically asked if he was truly under hypnosis, then it would be all over.


    Calm down, calm down.


    Lynn tried to soothe himself and think of a strategy.


    After all, after so many tests, Ivyst should have been utterly convinced that he was under hypnosis.


    So then, why would she suddenly ask a question that expressed doubt about him?


    Rather, this seemed like an opportunity.


    Remembering the previous concept, Lynn''s heart rate quickened slightly.


    It was right then that Ivyst asked her next question.


    "Tell me, what is the real desire you want to conceal?" She gazed at Lynn''s sluggish expression, "excluding the desire to escape from my side."

 Chapter 44 I Want Your Highnesss Holy Relic

    Here ites!


    Upon hearing Ivyst''s question, a tightness gripped Lynn''s chest, though he was not too surprised.


    For him, this was a test, but it was also an opportunity.


    The task at hand was actually quite simple.


    Given that Ivyst was wearing the Lie Detector Ring, his maneuvering space was inherently limited.


    So, he simply shouldn''t think about anything else.


    He just needed to reveal his most genuine thoughts to her at this moment.


    Although this made Lynn feel like he waspromising with her, there was no other choice at this stage.


    "I want... Your Highness''s Holy Relic."


    Lynn answered in a dazed control of his body.


    Holy Relic?


    Ivyst furrowed her brows.


    The term was quitemon in numerous religious texts.


    It was even applied to some high-ranking Sealed Objects.


    Generally, only the Extraordinary Items left by gods received such a title.


    And those items were often incredibly precious.


    Although Ivyst possessed quite a luxurious containment facility, she had never dealt with Holy Relics.


    Moreover, what concerned her wasn''t the Holy Relic itself, but Lynn''s strange statement.


    Her Holy Relic?


    Ivyst found it somewhat absurd.


    Although she was powerful, she currently did not possess strengthparable to the archgods of the major churches.


    So what beside her could be called a Holy Relic?


    Full of doubts, Ivyst looked at the ring on her finger.


    No reaction.


    Sure enough, this guy was telling the truth.


    He truly desired that Holy Relic.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ivyst remained silent for a moment before asking, "What exactly is the Holy Relic you are talking about?"


    He ponders, yet Ivyst could not figure out what beside her could be worthy of being called a Holy Relic.


    But she did not believe that Lynn was spouting nonsense.


    With his intelligence, he wouldn''t ask for something trivial.


    Perhaps this object was something he had coveted for a long time, something that could help him escape his current predicament, or perhaps enable him to exact revenge in the future.


    Perhaps, to Lynn, this object was very important.


    Important enough that even when put under hypnosis, he would subconsciously ask for it.


    Ivyst thought silently.


    Under her gaze, Lynn spoke very slowly, "The Holy Relic I am talking about refers to items imbued with your extraordinary power and essence of life."


    Ivyst frowned deeply, "I don''t understand, speak inly."


    "It''s those... the underwear you''ve worn, or perhaps your stockings and high-heeled shoes."


    Lynn said with a nk expression.


    In fact, he was somewhat numb at this point.


    Even he, after making such lewd remarks in front of the person concerned, wished he could just find a crack to crawl into.


    Fortunately, the effects of Lie Swallowing were robust and did not dissipate because of this.


    After he said these words, the entire study suddenly fell into a kind of indescribable silence, as if the fall of a needle could be heard.


    The atmosphere was downright eerie.


    At this very moment, Ivyst''s face was filled with shock.


    Clearly, this turn was too abrupt; even she had not fully adjusted to it.


    She had thought this young man was secretly nning something terrible.


    Unexpectedly, he only wanted those... those items?!


    Ivyst nced instinctively at the ring on her fingertip, only to find it still unresponsive.


    Indeed, this statement was also the truth.


    """


    He really wanted the stockings and lingerie she had worn.


    Was such a thing considered a Holy Relic to this guy?


    Ivyst found it utterly absurd.


    "What do you want with the clothes I''ve worn?"


    "¡­Use."


    This answer was highly cunning.


    It could only be said that thenguage of Saint Laurent was profound and nuanced.


    Hearing this, Ivyst seemed to understand something, and the confusion and bewilderment on her face gradually transformed into another emotion.


    She looked at Lynn with a scornful gaze, as if looking at some filthy scum.


    "I don''t recall raising a dog that harbors such filthy thoughts toward its master."


    Ivyst stepped on Lynn''s shoulder, her boot tip gently grinding.


    It wasn''t very painful, yet it was extremely humiliating.


    Feeling the movement of her foot, Lynn frowned inwardly.


    Was his favorability not enough yet, and was it still too early to bring these things up?


    Lynn stared at Ivyst with a dazed look, secretly taking in her current state.


    Though her gaze was filled with indifference and scorn, aided by the light in the study, Lynn still noticed a hint.


    It felt... like this woman''s face was a bit red?


    Was it because of shyness?


    No, impossible.


    Lynn instinctively dismissed the thought.


    This was something that would never happen to Ivyst; of that, he was quite certain.


    Thus, there was only one other possibility left.


    Lynn vaguely remembered from a past life reading in a book that whenever people felt stimted or excited, it reflexively triggered the sympathetic nervous system, causing an increase in heartbeat and dtion of capiries, which led to blushing.


    Damn it.


    Could it be that this woman was feeling excited because of the fantasies her subordinates were having?


    Lynn thought with a tingling sensation on his scalp.


    But if that really was the case, it meant... that there was still a glimmer of hope!


    Sure enough.


    The next second, things changed.


    "However...since I''ve already promised to fulfill one of your wishes, as a master, the Imperial Princess will not go back on her word."


    She suddenly changed her tone, saying so.


    Listening closely, one might even notice her slightly hurried breathing.


    Ivyst herself didn''t understand what was happening to her.


    For the first time in her life, she was experiencing a sensation that was thrilling, mixed with a hint of shame and excitement.


    It was bizarre, yet it didn''t make her ufortable.


    It really shouldn''t be like this.


    But thinking about it, there was only Lynn in the study, and he was under the spell of hypnosis and wouldn''t retain any memories afterward.


    So, no one would know what I did, right?


    Ivyst thought silently to herself.


    The next second, she took a deep breath, slipped off the high-heeled boots, and then lifted her long skirt up a bit, revealing her slender and beautifully encased legs in ck stockings.


    Facing Lynn''s dazed gaze, Ivyst slightly bent over, slipping her hands under the hem of her dress.


    Throughout the process, there was a continuous rustling sound, the noise of fabric rubbing against the skin.


    Momentster, a pair of pale, delicate feet gently stepped onto the soft carpet.


    At a nce, the toes appeared delicate and small, arranged closely like pearls in a shell, the red nail polish strikingly enchanting.


    Unfortunately, the ck stockings originally enveloping them had vanished into thin air.


    Just as this thought arose, a sheer, ck gossamer-like object slowly fell into Lynn''s palm.


    It still retained the fresh warmth of her body and even emitted a familiar rose fragrance.


    To be honest.


    At this moment, Lynn''s heart uncontrobly skipped a beat.


    """

 Chapter 45 The Tail Wags the Dog

    In this world, there is no one whose exterior matches their interior perfectly.


    No matter how honest one''s heart, a mask is always worn upon one''s face.


    The only difference is in the thickness of these masks¡ªsome are thin, while others are prohibitively thick.


    Thick to the point that the behavior they exhibit to the outside world is starkly different from the true shape hidden beneath the mask.


    Yet, even so, when the night deepens and solitude ensues, they choose to briefly remove their masks, rxing their weary souls in unseen corners.


    For Ivyst, it was the same.


    But unlike ordinary people, she had two masks.


    One was worn on her face, concealing the Curse Mark that repelled and disgusted all life.


    The other was worn on her heart.


    Due to the strange looks she had encountered since childhood, Ivyst started long ago to present herself to others not as she truly was, but with a different appearance and personality.


    To win the King''s election, she donned the mask known as "Third Imperial Princess."


    To maintain this persona, she twisted her own soul, forcing herself to be ruthless and unyielding.


    She disyed the most cruel and bloodthirsty side to her enemies and her most majestic and stern side to her subordinates, utterly extinguishing her weakest aspects.


    In time, even Ivyst herself grew ustomed to this persona.


    Or rather, she ultimately became the very image she aspired to be.


    But what Ivyst truly thought in her heart, whether she ever felt tired, was unknown to everyone.


    Except for Lynn.


    It was only when faced with a hypnotized Lynn that Ivyst wouldpletely let down her guard, treating him as a robot that simply answered her questions, rather than a thinking human being.


    That''s why she had just taken such an outrageous action.


    Of course, part of her truly wanted to fulfill Lynn''s wishes.


    After all, she had said so herself.


    Following through was a quality of an excellent leader.


    Without all these conditions in ce, Ivyst would never have revealed a vulnerability like the one she had just shown.


    At that moment, herplexion was flushed, as if she had drunk a ss of strong liquor, a bit tipsy.


    Shecked some of her usual sharpness and indifference, with added allure befitting a mature woman.


    Seeing Lynn''s dumbfounded face as he held her freshly removed stockings, Ivyst let out a light chuckle.


    "Like an idiot."


    She put on her boots barefoot and then leaned back against the edge of the desk.


    Sensing his gaze, Lynn felt a strange emotion flicker in his heart.


    Thanks to this woman, he had indeed seen some wonderful things and learned that Princess seemed to have an affinity for purple, even obtaining a Holy Relic Underwear.


    These were unexpected delights.


    Lynn sighed, feeling the warmth in his palm, Lynn sighed.


    Somewhat embarrassingly, he felt almost as if he was touching her thigh.


    It was inconceivable.


    Thankfully, he wasn''t some fetishist.


    Even a slightly deranged one could probably sustain on that for three years.


    Seeing his silence, Ivyst casually asked, "Well, do you like it?"


    At her words, Lynn''s consciousness jolted.


    It was a casual question, but to him, it was a deadly one.


    Like it?


    Having already dered himself free from fetishistic perversions, how could he possibly take pride in this situation?


    So he couldn''t say he liked it.


    Because she was now wearing a ring that could detect lies, capable of discerning if he lied.


    But to answer that he didn''t like it would also risk exposure.


    If not, then why had he previously requested the Holy Relic Underwear from her?


    Was Lynn to tell her that it was to obtain the Holy Relic to connect with the future Doomsday Witch Ivyst?


    It was indefensible.


    For a moment, Lynn felt a cold sweat break out on his back.


    But he couldn''t continue to be silent, as that too would raise her suspicions.


    Out of options, Lynn once again relied on the power of the Lie Swallowing, hoping the great Prisoner of Destiny would help him one more time.


    "Like... it."


    As he watched the unflustered response of the ring, Ivyst humphed softly, "You really are a little pervert."


    Did it work?


    That must have been the efficacious Lie Swallowing at y, not a true confession.


    It had to be.


    Just as he had said earlier, he had no such fetish.


    Lynn thought, feigning calmposure.


    Just then, the Eye of the Soul on Ivyst''s palm flickered a few times.


    Clearly, the hypnosis session was swiftlying to an end.


    Seeing this, Ivyst let out a small sigh.


    She pinched the bridge of her nose, recollecting the muscles in her rxed face as she gradually returned to her usual cool and haughty demeanor.


    As if she had once again donned the mask of the "Third Imperial Princess."


    Ivyst disyed the mark on the palm of her hand in front of Lynn.


    As usual, it was now time to begin the aftermath work, "After the hypnosis is lifted, you will forget everything that just happened..."


    But she stopped mid-sentence as Ivyst suddenly froze.


    There was something she nearly forgot.


    Once the hypnosis was lifted, what would this guy think when he found the stockings in his hand?


    Although he wouldn''t remember what had just urred, surely one could figure it out with just a little imagination, right?


    So Ivyst decided to take a different approach.


    After all, he was currently under hypnosis, which meant any psychological suggestion could be imnted.


    As for how his logic would reconcile the situation, that was not her concern, was it?


    Fortunately, this loophole didn''t stump her.


    Ivyst quickly came up with a countermeasure.


    "After you leave this room, you will forget everything that just happened," her face suddenly twisted into a mischievous smile, "You will only remember that you are a perverted thief who secretly coveted the Princess, took the opportunity to steal her stockings, and nned to satisfy your unsightly desires in the dead of night."


    Heh heh.


    As long as you''re happy.


    Lynn was too exhausted to retort.


    Who knew this woman would not be satisfied with just letting him off the hook?


    "Repeat what I just said."


    Ivyst crossed her arms, entuating the full outline of her bosom.


    Hearing her bizarre request, Lynn felt like cursing.


    "I..."


    Just as he started to speak, he was interrupted by a gesture from Ivyst.


    She waved her left hand lightly, and from nowhere, produced an Imaging Magic Stone and started to take pictures of Lynn.


    "Go on."


    She said with interest, apparently wanting to capture the moment.


    Hey hey, you''re going too far, bad woman!


    Lynn''s lip twitched.


    But s, under another''s roof, one must bow one''s head.


    He had no choice but toply for the moment.


    "I am actually a perverted thief who secretly coveted the Princess, took the opportunity to steal her stockings, and nned to satisfy my own unsightly desires in the dead of night..."


    "Very good."


    Joy filled Ivyst''s voice.


    ...


    Even as he left the study, Lynn clenched the item in his pocket tightly¡ªthe ck stockings.


    The warmth that Ivyst''s body had left on them had already dissipated.


    Yet still, there lingered an odd sensation in Lynn''s heart.


    Indescribable and elusive.


    His mind subconsciously recalled the sight of Ivyst removing her stockings earlier in front of him.


    Her movements gentle and seductive, every gesture imbued with feminine allure.


    Damn woman, if one were to ignore her horrid temperament and sharp tongue, she would be... wait, why ignore those traits?


    She was definitely the worst kind of person.


    Lynn silently thought to himself.


    "What are you smiling about?"


    Around the corner of the hallway, ya unexpectedly appeared, looking at Lynn with curiosity.


    He had finished dealing with the aftermath of the Creationist School''s followers and could finally rest.


    Lynn startled, "Ah?"


    "I said, what are you smiling about? You look quite radiant."


    ya looked at him intrigued, sensing something off about the guy.


    At his words, Lynn was incredulous, "You say I''m smiling?"


    "Yes."


    "Smiling radiantly?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Indeed."


    Hearing his response, Lynn fell silent.


    He had once heard a saying in his past life.


    If you can''t control your desire, it controls you.


    The old Lynn had disdained such ideas, thinking women were just so-so.


    Those controlled by their desires were either weaklings or cowards.


    Yet here he was, almost turning into the very type of person he used to despise after just one body-swap.


    Bing someone controlled by their lesser head.


    I should truly be damned.


    He gave himself a p¡ªLynn initially wanted to reprimand his lesser head with a p, but ultimately didn''t have the heart to, so he turned the p to his own face instead.


    "p!"


    "Hey, hey, Teacher Lynn, don''t be like that, it''s not necessary, not necessary at all..."

 Chapter 46 Doomsday Witch

    The next morning.


    After waking up from sleep, Lynn was led by the maid Nina to the library of Augusta Manor.


    Having received the Holy Relic from Ivyst the night before, Lynn had been fiddling with the prayer ritual described in the original book in his room, hoping to attract the attention of the Doomsday Witch from ten thousand years in the future.


    But it wasn''t untilte into the night that he sadly came to terms with reality.


    Many of the settings in the original work were irrational and glossed over.


    With limited understanding of the mysticism of this world, it was difficult for Lynn to replicate the protagonist''s operations.


    There were many missing details, magic matrices, and even materials.


    Fortunately, Lynn still remembered the key parts, and the prayers were imprinted in his mind.


    He probably just needed to acquire relevant ritual knowledge and fill in the missing parts.


    ording to the original text, those processes were tedious andplicated, but there was nothing too far beyond reach.


    As long as one understood the principles and possessed the key items, even someone else had a chance of seeding.


    It was just that the protagonist had a halo, so he seeded on the first try in the original story.


    And in order to figure out the principles andposition of the ritual, Lynn had no choice but to head to the library and look up some relevant information.


    On the way there, he saw many of the figures he had encountered at breakfast the day before.


    Many people consciously made way and nodded in greeting when they saw him.


    Lynn wondered if it was because he had perfectly resolved the issue with the followers of the Creationist School.


    But Lynn didn''t bother with them and went straight to the library.


    Augusta Manor wasrge, and even the library was built like a small library, with rows of neatly arranged books on the antique wooden shelves.


    Each book was orderly cataloged and well-preserved.


    With the help of the index, Lynn quickly found a row of bookshelves and a staple book.


    "An Elementary Analysis and Wondrous Uses of Ritual Magic."


    This book was even mentioned casually in the original work; its author was a schr renowned across the continent¡ªof course, the reason the original work mentioned this schr was solely that she was a woman and a very beautiful one at that.


    So those who knew, knew.


    Mevis Gnster.


    Looking at the signature on the book, Lynn shook his head.


    He wondered when he would get the chance to meet these women, who appeared frequently in the original work.


    Their plot levels were mostly not low; they were Lynn''s potential veins of wealth.


    With that thought, Lynn prepared to take the book to a nearby rest area for a bit of reading.


    However, upon seeing the person sitting in the distance, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Aphia, for some reason, had taken on a human appearance today and was currently sitting at a wooden table, frowning sorrowfully at several books.


    Perhaps because she had no missions today, she had exchanged her ck leather jacket seen the other night for an exquisite princess dress.


    The whole persona appeared even more delicate and adorable.


    Lynn cleared his throat softly and prepared to go over and greet her.


    "Good morning, beautiful miss."


    Lynn whistled as he walked toward her.


    Upon clearly seeing who was approaching, Aphia''s eyes showed a sh of joy.


    But then, as if suddenly thinking of something, she became rather nervous.


    Her slender, delicate legs, which were originally under the table, shrank back.


    Lynn looked down and saw that the princess shoes he had given her the other day were now enveloping her slender, delicate white-stockinged feet.


    He immediately had an epiphany and looked at Aphia with a meaningful gaze.


    Seeing this, her cute little face instantly flushed red, and she stammered, "I, I just put on the wrong shoes this morning, meow, I''ll change them when I go back..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, Lynn suddenly felt someone tap his shoulder.


    "Yo, what brings you here?"


    Turning his head, he found Morris standing beside him with several books in his arms.


    "Just bored, thought I''d borrow a book to read."


    Lynn replied.


    Morris nodded his head and then turned to look at Aphia, who was slumped over the table.


    Seeing her despondent appearance, he couldn''t help but tease, "Howe you''re not showing off those shoes today? Really now, you even came over specially yesterday to boast about them to us and made a point of showing the prince. It''s the first time I''ve seen you so fond of something; I wonder who gave them to you."


    Hiss.


    Lynn inhaled sharply.


    Actually, he hadn''t nned to say much, ready to smooth things over and let the incident pass.


    But Morris suddenly approached, ripped off thest veil of the young girl''s face, and stepped on it a few times on the ground.


    Was this forcing her to flee the overnight?


    Sure enough.


    The next second, Aphia''s eyes welled with tears, as if she was about to cry.


    You guys chat, I''m going to drop dead.


    That''s what her eyes seemed to say.


    Seeing this, Lynn no longer had the heart to tease her and decided to change the subject.


    "Speaking of which, why did you twoe here? Is there something you need to do?"


    He looked at Morris and asked.


    At this, Morris''s face showed a touch of distress, "I guess we have to return to the Imperial Capital before the end of the year. His Highness has issued a final ultimatum, urging us to pass the entrance examination of the Saint Laurent Royal College, so we''ve been cramming the relevant knowledgetely."


    Lynn pondered.


    Before the end of the year, that is, in one more month.


    It looked like he would also be returning to the Imperial Capital with them soon, facing the storm that was supposed to be Ivyst''s burden.


    If he were to run away, perhaps that would be a good time to do so.


    Or should he go back and cling to the powerful legs in the Imperial Capital, to have them rescue him from dire straits?


    For a moment, Lynn was lost in thought.


    "Right, what do you know about the Four Epochs?" Morris spread a book open on the table, pointing to theplicated ancient Saint Laurentnguage, "All this stuff crammed together is giving me a headache."


    Ancient history of the continent is a mandatory subject in the Royal College, and most people could score more than 90 points.


    In order not to fall behind, Morris and Aphia had been toiling hard as well.


    The Four Epochs?


    Lynn nced at the knowledge recorded in the book and immediately felt his head swell.


    Limited by the constraints of the era, the content was needlesslyplex,ced with plenty of ineffective or even incorrect information.


    Seeing this, Lynn pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Aphia.


    "The Four Epochs, as the name suggests,prise four epochs."


    "The first epoch is the Chaotic Epoch, which, having urred tens of thousands of years ago, is hard to verify."


    "The second epoch is the Era of the Gods."


    "After the Chaotic Epoch, the gods walked upon the earth, established Divine Kingdoms, demonstrated miracles, and pointed the direction of faith and evolution to the ignorant masses who lived by sh-and-burn."


    "The third epoch is known as the Saints Wars Epoch."


    "Due to certain unknown causes, the gods seem to haveunched an extensive and prolonged holy war; that warsted for days on end and even supposedly resulted in the fall of deities, severing many lines of faith."


    While saying this, Lynn suddenly paused, looking at the bewildered faces of Aphia and Morris.


    "And the fourth epoch is the very one we are currently in, the Epoch of Kings."


    "After the Saints Wars, the gods hid themselves, and humanity entered an unprecedented period of decline. Many powerful demons from ancient times awakened from their slumber, seizing the opportunity to rise up."


    "These beings were as fearsome as the gods themselves, bringing catastrophic disasters upon mankind."


    "At the critical moment, many human champions stood out. With the help of the gods, they formed resistance camps and, over time, gradually evolved into the Five Great Empires."


    "For example, the Saint Laurent Empire we reside in is also known as ''the Holy Tree Country,'' famous worldwide for the great spectacle referred to as the ''World Tree'' at the center of the Imperial Capital."


    "Another example is Tutankhamun, the powerful Northern Continental country neighboring the Saint Laurent Empire; the Sirunstat Republic of the Southern Continent; and others..."


    ...


    When Lynn finished his busy day and returned to his room, it was already evening.


    The twilight had turned thewn of the manor a dark gold, appearing majestic yet deste.


    He had specifically chosen this time to return to his room, with the intention ofpleting the ritual, praying for the Doomsday Witch to cast a fleeting nce into the long river of history.


    Dusk represented her exclusive moment, this time slot being more in line with her preferences and consequently having a higher chance of sess.


    After studying the book about Ritual Magic, Lynn, although not yet a theoretical master, had improved vastly from before.


    At least for this ritual, he had be quite adept.


    As long as he sessfullymunicated with that being andpleted the trials set by her, he would regain his status as a Transcendent,ter able to activate the Divine-given factor on his own using the system¡ªessentially gaining the freedom of the skies.


    Moreover, he would definitely be one of the strongest of his rank.


    With the strongest faith and the system''s enhancement... Damn, what else in the world could stand in his way?!


    For a moment, Lynn''s heart surged with ambitious aspirations.


    Then, the ritual began.

 Chapter 47 Where Did You Come From?

    "So... let''s begin."


    Lynn took a deep breath while looking at arge bag of items on the floor.


    The bag contained various ritual materials he had requested from Lady Mni.


    At the time, she did not ask for his reasons and approved his request directly.


    It was because the entire manor''s food chain hierarchy was showing a bizarre trend.


    At the top naturally was Ivyst, followed by Baron Augusta, who had not yet made an appearance, and the original entourage of the Princess.


    Rhein was also included, but due to recent events, he had fallen to the level of sitting with his brother, ya.


    As for Lynn... ordinarily, he would have been the least experienced.


    But after the end of the Creationist School incident, Ivyst seemed to have issued some order, making his status in the manor extraordinarily revered.


    Anyone who saw him would call him "young master."


    Thus, Lynn had easily gathered a variety of strange materials.


    He was not afraid of being discovered by Ivyst.


    After all, his current persona was that of an ordinary person without extraordinary abilities, which naturally would not be content with mediocrity in the eyes of others.


    The ritual he was about to perform, even if it was leaked, would only be seen as a desperate measure.


    After all, the majority of deities do not respond to a forsaken believer.


    Returning to the matter at hand.


    Lynn opened the bag, took out its contents, and neatly arranged them on the floor.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The originally spacious ground was quickly covered with various items: stacks of draft paper, bottles of liquids, remains of unknown creatures, magic gems glinting with luster...


    After he had taken out all the items, Lynn wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    He looked at himself in the floor mirror by his side.


    The reflection showed a tall, thin young man with a solemn expression, hiding in arge, dark robe¡ªnot for any particr reason but because it seemed more fitting for an aura of mysticism.


    Lynn still respected his own character setting.


    At this moment, it was the time when afternoon meets evening, the twilight hour.


    The dark golden afterglow covered the earth, casting the sunset upon the carpet and filling the room with a dark, eerie atmosphere.


    Being the Doomsday Witch, twilight was the time when her power was at its peak during the day.


    Performing the ritual at this time would greatly increase the chances of sess.


    Of course, regarding the final oue of the ritual, Lynn was skeptical and did not expect sess on his first try.


    With this in mind, he took out a sk filled with gray-white powder, poured it into his hand, as if holding a handful of sand.


    The powder slowly flowed through the gaps between Lynn''s fingers towards the ground.


    Without hesitation, he began to draw the ritual pattern recorded on the blueprint with the gray-white powder.


    It was the bone ash of a Deep Sea Giant Whale, which, among all known extraordinary materials, ranked among the best in magic conductivity and spiritual residue, making it an excellent material for drafting the Magic Matrix.


    Although it was his first attempt, he had a temte to follow.


    After some frantic effort, Lynn roughly managed to recreate the pattern from the paper.


    It was a somewhat messy pattern, as if numerous sharp, bloody thorns had converged into a cluster, wrapping around a vividly lifelike heart.


    Around the array were twelve nk nodes.


    Lynn then proceeded to ce various items from the bottles and jars into a specific order.


    The main materials were rare organs from three different exotic creatures, and the nodes of the ritual array held Moon White Crystal Ore, Blood-red Stone, Dark Night Breath Essence, scales of the Abyssal Snake, bones of a Void Demon, and four other rare extraordinary materials.


    These were all sacrificial items favored by Ivyst in the original text.


    At first nce, it seemed filled with malevolence, making one think he was trying tomunicate with some malevolent deity.


    Of course, the most eye-catching item was probably the pair of ck stockings encased in a crystal box.


    This was a key to the sess of the ritual.


    Lynn was well aware.


    Due to some subtle connection between the Holy Relic and its original owner, it often yed a role simr to a GPS in rituals.


    After all, the river of time was incredibly turbulent, filled with endless variables, and one could easily get lost.


    Even deities needed anchor points for orientation.


    And the Holy Relic was that anchor point.


    For example, the protagonist of the original text had sessfullymunicated with an ancient deity who existed only in a past timeline through such a means.


    Of course, ording to the original description, even if themunication was sessful, the deity''s influence on reality was extremely limited due to rules.


    To a negligible extent.


    Otherwise, the world''s timeline would have long been in chaos.


    This was the reason Lynn dared to perform the ritual.


    Even if something unprecedented urred, he could sever the connection at any moment, stopping the other party''s actions.


    Looking at the preparatory work that had been done, Lynn took out thest item.


    It was a candle, crimson as blood.


    Once lit, the burning part faintly emanated crying and howling sounds, which sounded exceedingly eerie.


    Everything was ready.


    Oh.


    He almost forgot thest step.


    "From this moment, I, am the most faithful follower of the Doomsday Witch Ivyst!"


    Lynn initiated the Lie Swallowing on himself, issuing a psychological suggestion.


    Instantly, his already tense mood became utterly solemn.


    He felt like a pilgrim, his soul quivering slightly.


    The next second, Lynn knelt on the ground, solemnly bowing toward the thorn heart pattern in the center of the ritual array.


    Then holding the candle, he recited the prayer exactly like in the original text.


    "O shadow of despair at the end of the River of Death, supreme entity who hunts gods, Doomsday Witch who brings ruin and fragmentation to the world..."


    "You are the endpoint, and the conclusion, a grand will higher than all else, and the symbol of disaster and chaos..."


    "I pray to you, I pray to you..."


    "Please pour your power into the ritual, please transmit your will into my mind..."


    The next moment, the crystal box holding the Holy Relic suddenly made a noise.


    From this point, the materials used in the ritual began to tremble one after the other.


    "Buzz¡ª¡ª!!!"


    Various magic ores and extraordinary materials emitted beautiful lights, reflecting off each other.


    Suddenly, a strange chilling wind arose in the originally silent room.


    Although Lynn did not detect any changes, subconsciously, he faintly felt a presence watching over this ce.


    His hair stood on end, and his entire being felt as though it was locked in ce, not daring to move.


    However, the prayer did not stop for even a moment.


    The chilling sensationsted a very long time.


    At a certain moment, Lynn suddenly felt an inexplicable force of attraction emanating from the void.


    This force did not act on reality but affected his consciousness, as if it wanted to pull his soul out of his body.


    Not good!


    Although he didn''t know what exactly was happening, there was no such situation in the original text.


    Lynn raised his hand to extinguish the candle in his palm, attempting to interrupt the ritual.


    He thought the circting chill wind in the room would stop as a result.


    But several seconds passed, and the pulling force from the void did not disappear; it even slightly intensified.


    Under the influence of that force, Lynn''s consciousness slowly floated out of his body.


    It was an extremely miraculous sensation, somewhat simr to soul out of body.


    Unfortunately, Lynn had no time to relish it.


    Lie Swallowing, release me!


    He tried to detach himself from his persona as a devout follower, hoping to disrupt the ritual.


    Instantaneously, that strange force paused, as if it had been abruptly interrupted by some invisible rule.


    Lynn was just about to breathe a sigh of relief.


    But the next second, the previously constrained attractive force suddenly expanded by tens of times, engulfing his soul with an overwhelming force!


    This action seemed to mock his overestimation of his own power.


    So domineering, so unreasonable, even ignoring the world''s rules, forcefully capturing his consciousness... who else could do such a thing, if not that woman?


    At this moment, Lynn only felt as if an invisible hand tightly grasped him, like he was rapidly surfacing from the deep sea, a sensation of weightlessness engulfing his entire body.


    Moreover, the surrounding scenes and space-time transformed into streaks of radiant light lines, receding rapidly backwards at a speed beyond what the eye could catch.


    It was as if he was traversing time, shuttling toward an unknown destination.


    He did not know how much time had passed.


    It might have been a year, or it might have been ten years.


    Or perhaps it was just a mere second.


    When Lynn came back to his senses, he found himself in apletely unfamiliar ce.

 Chapter 48 This is... The Grand Finale!

    ording to the description in the original text, afterpleting the ritual, the male protagonist received a response from an ancient deity.


    Although the deity could not use divine power to forcibly extricate him from his predicament, it left behind hidden information enough for him to turn defeat into victory.


    This was the only instance in the entire text where a deity demonstrated the ability to transcend time.


    Unfortunately, it still could not have an effective impact on reality.


    This was barely possible because the deity''s status and power were extremely formidable.


    Had it been a weaker deity, they would have been even more powerless.


    After all, ordinary people, if they prayed, would only pray to a deity of their current time node.


    Thus, in Lynn''s understanding, beings from the past or future were unable to truly intervene in the present.


    Otherwise, the whole world would be thrown into chaos.


    However, he seemed to have underestimated something.


    Unable to intervene in the timeline ¡Ù Unable to intervene in an individual specifically.


    At this moment, having just undergone a journey akin to interster travel, how could Lynn not guess what had happened?


    It wasn''t that a figure from the future influenced the past but rather that a person from the present had reached the future.


    This ce might no longer belong to Augusta Manor.


    Even, it might not even be on the current time node.


    His soul and consciousness had probably, under the guidance of the Doomsday Witch, arrived at another time node.


    Perhaps... this was ten thousand yearster?


    Lynn guessed in his mind.


    Only Ivyst, who had be the Doomsday Witch, could create such a miracle that no deity could achieve.


    She... no, It had brought a soul from the past to such a distant future!


    If that was truly the case, then his purpose might already be half achieved.


    Next, he only needed to meet Ivyst, who was now the Doomsday Witch and be a follower of Hers.


    If his memory served him right, at this time node in the original text, the Doomsday Witch was at the peak of her power,unching a prolonged pursuit against the protagonist''s group.


    The enemy was weak, and he was strong ¨C it was an excellent opportunity to be a follower.


    Looking at the extremely unfamiliar scene before him, Lynn''s heartbeat slightly quickened.


    At this moment, he seemed to be inside a pce.


    On both sides were massive stone pirs carved with reliefs, and the central path extended towards the interior of the pce, the view inside indiscernible.


    Lynn did not hesitate, and he walked briskly inward.


    About five minutester, a new scene gradually came into view.


    This ce was indeed a pce, so even if the scene of rows of heavily armored guards and a high throne appeared before him, it would be perfectly normal.


    However, the scene he saw was not like that.


    First, what caught his eye was a massive statue of a deity, ancient and heavy in design, as if a humanoid silhouette reflecting an endless starry sky was hidden beneath a broad robe, looking mysterious and profound.


    For some reason, Lynn felt as though he was in a sacred domain, withyers of praise and chanting echoing in his ears.


    This was the statue of the Lord of Billion Stars.


    As a former follower of the Heavenly Principle Church, such a thought unconsciously surfaced in his mind.


    Of course, the ptial statue was not the only one.


    Lynn looked up.


    The vast pce was divided into several levels.


    Each level had several simr massive statues of deities, each differing in style and aura.


    There were gentle and inclusive beautiful women, kind and wise old men in white robes, haughty warriors on chariots, and even gruesome demons with green faces and sharp teeth... and even unusual creatures like ancient evil dragons and titanic giants with mysterious vertical pupils.


    They seemed lifelike, as if they all simultaneously cast their gazes.


    An unparalleled sense of oppression came from all directions, making it hard to resist feeling reverence.


    This was a Pantheon!


    Shock filled Lynn''s eyes.


    He silently looked around and then made a new discovery.


    Erected in the Pantheon, about thirty or forty statues of deities each had a crystalline, wless Order Chain extending from the palm of their hand, shimmering with a faint glow, descending from the sky like silk threads.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    They stretched from all directions, yet they converged at a certain spot.


    Following the direction of the chains downward, Lynn suddenly froze.


    To be honest.


    In such a Pantheon, nothing should surprise Lynn.


    But the one thing that shouldn''t be there was a woman.


    A woman... ensnared by countless Order Chains.


    She wore a tattered ck gauze dress, her white hair cascading like a waterfall to her waist, bare, delicate feet pale as snow, her demeanor both aloof and noble.


    Sadly, such a stunning woman was now bound by Order Chains at most of her joints: neck, wrists, ankles, waist...


    Deprived of her freedom, she could only sit at the edge of the steps in the center of the great hall, quietly flipping through the book in her hands.


    Upon seeing her face, Lynn''s breath hitched.


    Although she was not wearing the luxurious dresses he remembered and her originally ck hair had for some reason turned white, the Curse Mark on her face had vanished without trace.


    Yet Lynn recognized her at once; the woman before him was none other than the Saint Laurent Empire''s Third Imperial Princess¡ªIvyst Laurent Alexini.


    Realizing this, he felt deeply puzzled.


    What was the situation here?


    ording to his memory, wasn''t the Doomsday Witch, who should reign supreme over the world in ten thousand years, now trapped here like a prisoner?


    Lynn was utterly baffled.


    More so, he could not see any trace of the Princess in the beautiful white-haired woman before him.


    That unpleasant smile, the gaze that viewed others as scum, an authoritative and arrogant demeanor, and a domineering way of conducting herself¡ªall had now disappeared.


    In their ce was a chilly deathlike silence and indifference, as if from a millennium-old iceberg.


    Lynn instinctively walked towards the woman.


    Hearing the faint footsteps, the stunning woman finally lifted her gaze from the book and slowly looked up.


    Their eyes met in midair.


    Lynn intended to say something, but for some reason, he found himself unable to speak.


    After a moment, the woman spoke first.


    "I felt your call, so I brought you here."


    Ivyst... or rather, the Doomsday Witch, parted her pale lips, speaking in a cold voice.


    Looking at her emotionless beautiful face, Lynn managed a smile, "Your Highness, it has been such a long time... may I ask, where are we?"


    The Doomsday Witch looked at him, then gently closed the book in her hands.


    "As you said in your prayer, this is the end, and it is also the conclusion," she replied softly, "but... it has been a long time since anyone has called me that."


    Thetter part, the Witch murmured to herself in a voice no one could hear.


    At that moment, Lynn could hardly pay attention to that.


    Just hearing the first part of her sentence, he froze for a full ten seconds.


    This is the endpoint, the conclusion.


    Whose endpoint? Whose conclusion?


    Evidently, it belonged to the woman before him.


    Lynn suddenly felt a chill on his scalp.


    He might have beenpletely wrong from the start, outrageously so.


    This was not ten thousand yearster, nor was it the peak period of the Doomsday Witch, but rather a future so distant he could hardly imagine it.


    In that future, Ivyst had reached the end of her life.


    Thus, the answer was clear.


    The current point in time... was exactly ten thousand years after the King''s election had ended, the grand finale of the original novel!


    The cornered Doomsday Witch, Ivyst, was sealed by the gods in the Pantheon, awaiting the arrival of Dharma''s Sword, facing her tragic and sorrowful demise.


    Yet the horrifying revtions for Lynn were not over.


    Seeing him standing motionless, the white-haired Witch asked in a calm voice, "What is your name?"


    Lynn clenched his fists unconsciously, "My name is Lynn... Lynn Bartleion."


    His gaze fixed on her, trying to discern any flicker of recognition in her face.


    But his hope was in vain.


    "Never heard of it."


    The Doomsday Witch said indifferently.


    Lynn''s heart skipped a beat.


    Undeterred, he opened the system to check her information.


    Then, he waspletely stunned.


    From the S-rated level and name, it was clear the woman before him was indeed the Princess he remembered.


    But... why?


    Looking at the number disyed in thest row, Lynn felt it was absurd.


    [Story Deviation Rate: 0.00%]

 Chapter 49 The Theory of Lake Water and the Ripples of Fate

    ```


    [Plot Deviation: 0.00%]


    Lynn''s mind wavered for a moment.


    He looked at the numbers on the system panel in disbelief.


    The incident with the Creationist School had only happened yesterday, the scenes were still vivid in his mind.


    He had certainly changed the fate of those more than three hundred people destined to die, thereby causing a significant shift in Ivyst''s future trajectory.


    Even setting that aside,


    the moment when he first met her, removing her mask, was still fresh in his memory.


    Otherwise, where did the Lie Swallowinge from?


    If it wasn''t for the system points he got from Ivyst, he would never have been able to draw this divine skill, nor would he have survived the hypnosis experiment!


    Cause and effect, there has to be a cause for there to be an effect.


    That''s why Lynn was certain that the number should not be zero.


    Yet, the stark reality before his eyes plunged him into an unprecedented silence.


    After a while, Lynn seemed to think of something.


    Parallel world?


    No, impossible.


    In an instant, Lynn dismissed the possibility in his mind.


    Not only did he scoff at this theory himself, but there''s also another point to consider.


    This is the world of a novel.


    From beginning to end of the original story, there''s just one line, every single detail is already written in text.


    Moreover, Lynn didn''t remember the novel mentioning any simr settings.


    To him, it seemed more like the world line theory.


    The story begins the moment the male protagonist appears, heading towards a predetermined direction, steadily, until it concludes.


    If that''s the case, why bother with the notion of infinite possibilities?


    In Lynn''s view, parallel worlds were just a facy.


    Take, for example, some novels he read in a previous life where the protagonist travels to another world line to save the heroine with a tragic fate, leading to a happy ending.


    It sounds like a happy ending for everyone.


    But once you consider the setting of infinite world lines, there will always be countless world lines where the heroine remains miserable.


    The so-called salvation is merely a self-satisfiedcency that arises after solving the problems of the current world line.


    Therefore, Lynn did not believe in parallel worlds at all.


    But besides that, what else could exin this phenomenon?


    Perhaps, it was the whole predetermined fate, cause turned into effect thing?


    For instance, if someone is destined to die in poverty in the future, then even if hees into a sudden fortune, he will spend it in various ways instead of bing rich again.


    Ivyst would be that person in poverty, and he would be the unexpected fortune.


    Even though he had been there, he ultimately could not resist the will of the world to correct the plot.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    But that didn''t make sense either.


    If it were true, at least that person in poverty would remember the wealth they once had.


    Not like her, who just showed no knowledge whatsoever.


    Feeling the Doomsday Witch''s gaze upon him, Lynn was silent for a moment.


    Then he spoke again, "Your Highness, do you... remember Morris, Aphia, or Mrs. Mni?"


    His gaze remained fixed on her face the entire time.


    And this time, it seemed to be different.


    Upon hearing these names, unlike her previous emotionless state, the Doomsday Witch''s expression stalled for a moment, then reverted to the initial coldness.


    Lynn clearly saw a hint of recollection in her expression.


    However, that expression was not one of pleasant memories.


    "It should be about time now."


    ```


    After a moment, she spoke indifferently.


    Lynn looked at her, "What do you mean?"


    "These people, at this point, should still be alive in the era youe from." The Doomsday Witch replied serenely, "Only, they are about to die."


    Upon hearing this, Lynn took a deep breath.


    Of course, he had no reason to doubt the truth of the Doomsday Witch''s words.


    Because the original work''s descriptions of the viinous Imperial Princess were not extensive, and her subordinates were mentioned even less.


    At the very least, Lynn did not remember any plot involving these few people in the original work.


    There was only one possibility.


    They had died before the plot had even begun to unfold.


    Or perhaps, these people never existed to begin with, onlying into being because after his own arrival, the will of the world sought to satisfy basic logic by supplementing the narrative in the parts not mentioned in the original work.


    Of course, for Lynn as he was now, these were not the main points.


    Hemitted this information to memory and then refocused his attention on the previous questions.


    The Doomsday Witch had forgotten Lynn''s existence, yet she still remembered those subordinates.


    Then, what was the difference between himself and Aphia and the others?


    A flicker of enlightenment arose in Lynn''s heart.


    Perhaps, because he never belonged to this world in the first ce.


    To the natives of this ce, he was an anomaly ipatible with any plotline.


    An... impurity.


    With this thought, Lynn suddenly turned to the Doomsday Witch, "Your Highness, I have another question."


    "During your extensive lifetime, have you ever heard the name ''Lynn Bartleion'' anywhere else?"


    The Doomsday Witch answered indifferently, "No."


    Lynn sighed in relief, "That''s good to know."


    At those words, the Doomsday Witch nced at him and asked softly, "What do you mean?"


    "It means... to you, the era Ie from is history," Lynn said with a determined gaze, "But I alone understand that if I truly existed in the past, it would be impossible for me to remain in obscurity."


    "The name ''Lynn Bartleion'' is destined to resonate across the world."


    The previous theory of being a nobody could be overturned now.


    Perhaps everything in this world is predestined.


    But this is not the case for Lynn.


    From the concept of ''plot deviation,''bined with the memory of death from his previous life, it was very likely that he was sent to this world to change the original plot.


    There was no such thing as parallel worlds or additional timelines here.


    Only a single axis of time.


    Princess Ivyst and the Doomsday Witch before him were one and the same person all along.


    Just that one was in the past and the other, in the future.


    Of course, this might be a bit abstract.


    Lynn suddenly thought of a clearer example.


    It was as if he now stood on the shore of ake, while the Doomsday Witch was on the distant opposite bank, with both unable to directly interfere with each other.


    Only by throwing stones into theke, causing ripples and waves, could one truly affect the far shore.


    The act of throwing stones, in reality, corresponded to actions that changed the storyline.


    And theke between Lynn and the Doomsday Witch was the corrective force of the world''s will, along with a full hundred thousand years of time.


    Although some ripples of fate had been stirred at this moment, they would just get gradually dissipated by the resistance of theke, unable to reach the other side.


    That''s why she had no recollection of Lynn, and the plot deviation had been reset to zero.


    Because to everyone in this world, Lynn did not exist in either the past or the future, but only in the present.


    But this did not mean that his efforts until now were futile.


    After all, he had only thrown a small stone into theke.


    What if one day, he could lift an entire mountain?


    If the ripples he created could turn into a storm, they would inevitably one day traverse those hundred thousand years of time and reach the other shore.

 Chapter 50 I Will Make You Remember Me, Ivyst

    But then again, why should I go to such lengths for this woman?


    As Lynn learned more about the timeline setting, a thought suddenly emerged in his heart.


    Upon reflection, he didn''t even like her, and everything that had happened between them had been quite grievous.


    All of it had been forced upon him by that dreadful antagonist, the Imperial Princess, from the past.


    Although the Doomsday Witch now seemed like a changed person and wasn''t so outrageous anymore, the things she had done couldn''t just vanish.


    Moreover, Lynn couldn''t help but recall the scene just now.


    "My name is Lynn... Lynn Bartleion."


    "I''ve never heard of you."


    Remembering her cold demeanor at that time, a surge of anger welled up within Lynn''s heart.


    He very much wanted to tear open his cor and show her the thorny mark she had left on his chest in the past.


    Although reason told him that the Doomsday Witch now had no memory of those past events,


    emotions couldn''t prevent Lynn from feeling the turmoil inside at this moment.


    Disgusting.


    You were the one who kidnapped me,pletely altering the trajectory of my life, so why can you now act oblivious and sever ties as if nothing happened?


    He really wanted to point at her nose and question her.


    But in the end, he restrained the impulse.


    Stay calm.


    Do not forget the original purpose.


    Ultimately, he hade here to escape from that woman''s clutches and sought to be a follower of the Doomsday Witch, to rekindle the Divine-given factor.


    He mustn''t get things backwards.


    With that in mind, Lynn took a deep breath and looked again at the Doomsday Witch, "Your Highness, in fact I call upon you today because I have a request."


    "What is it."


    The Doomsday Witch idly toyed with the Order Chains wrapped around her slender neck, seeming somewhat indifferent.


    "You should be able to see that I once followed the Lord of Billion Stars, only to be betrayed by Him, which resulted in me bing God Forsaken." Lynn bowed respectfully, "Therefore, I pray that you will embrace me, allowing me to be your follower, to reignite the Divine-given factor."


    It is said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.


    Judging from the statues in the Pantheon, the Lord of Billion Stars was also one of the chief culprits behind the Sealing of the Doomsday Witch.


    She surely would not refuse... right?


    Just as this thought arose, he saw the white-haired woman lightly shake her head, "I refuse."


    Lynn stood frozen, "Why?"


    In response, the Doomsday Witch did not answer but raised her forefinger and gently pointed towards the top of the Pantheon.


    Lynn instinctively looked up.


    Following the undtions, what originally spiraled upwards at the top of the structure receded as swiftly as mirages, reced by a sight that shocked him.


    At a nce, the vast, boundless starry sky unfurled before him like a scroll.


    But this was not the main point.


    Looking up at the object suspended high in the sky, Lynn subconsciously swallowed.


    At this moment, he felt like a frog in a well, realizing just how minuscule he truly was.


    It was a Magic Weapon resembling a fortress, casting a shadow as if to engulf the entire in the dark before destruction.


    Because it was so huge, the shadow seemed to nket the entire in the darkness that precedes annihtion.


    Dharma''s Sword.


    This was the thought that unconsciously filled Lynn''s mind.


    In the original tale, the Doomsday Witch was too powerful to be killed by any gods.


    Hence, the hero sought an alternative path, spending tens of thousands of years topletely refine a supermassive into such an ultimate destructive superweapon.


    The collision ofs was already cataclysmic by itself.


    With the augment of the Magic Matrix, its vast and boundless might was probably going to increase by several magnitudes.


    Ironically, Lynn felt that even if the aftermath of the explosion were to destroy an entire star system, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration.


    Because at this moment, aside from Ivyst who was imprisoned within the Pantheon, there were no living beings left on the entire.


    Everyone had fled to the sanctuaries created by their worshipped deities within the Divine Kingdom, just to avoid the ultimate battle between the protagonist and antagonist factions.


    Fortunately, in the end, justice prevailed.


    And looking at the current situation, this apocalyptic-level Magic Weapon could at any moment bring down divine punishment with the force of thunder.


    When that time arrived, the Doomsday Witch would meet her end inside the Pantheon.


    Once she perishedpletely, her divinity dissipated, and the Divine-given factor within her devotees would extinguish as well.


    Thus, it was an utterly meaningless act.


    Lynn''s heart gradually cooled.


    However, the Doomsday Witch had not yet finished speaking.


    "Moreover..." The white-haired woman, who was usually so aloof, now had a smirk of mockery at the corner of her mouth, "I have already said, I do not know you."


    "You think you are worthy to be my devotee?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Gazing at her indifferent but maliciously smiling face, Lynn almost thought he saw the shadow of that antagonist Imperial Princess.


    Although sensually speaking, the two were worlds apart.


    Lynn fell into silence.


    "Go back."


    The Doomsday Witch seemed unwilling to let him stay any longer, waving her hand lightly.


    The next second, a space rift glowing with ck light quietly appeared behind Lynn.


    Feeling the familiar pull, Lynn knew he was about to return to his original era.


    This departure might be a forever goodbye.


    Without a word, Lynn bowed his head and allowed that force to draw him into the rift.


    Seeing this, the white-haired woman withdrew her gaze.


    At the same time, chains of Order hanging from all directions suddenly began to glow with a scorching golden brilliance!


    Apanied by the attack of the gods'' power, the Doomsday Witch slightly furrowed her brows in intense pain.


    Although she was seriously injured at the moment, she could still, with her current power, block the scrutiny of the gods, allowing this ce to exist independently from the temporal-spatial reality, unaffected by the external world.


    But the Order Chains that sealed her caused her unbearable agony every day.


    It was as if they were methodically breaking down her mental resolve through a form of torture and inquisition.


    The Doomsday Witch closed her eyes, quietly enduring everything.


    "So, you were eager for me to leave because you were afraid of me seeing you in this pathetic state."


    Suddenly, a voice came through, prompting the Doomsday Witch to open her eyes.


    She instinctively looked into the distance.


    Lynn, who should have been sucked into the spatial rift, was now desperately clinging to the edge of the rift, resisting the suction force around him.


    Half of his body was already swallowed by the ck space, but he still refused to disappear.


    The Doomsday Witch''s expression turned ice cold instantly.


    While enduring the pain from the golden light, she waved her hand once more.


    The already powerful force of attraction instantly increased several folds.


    Lynn''s body was as contorted as a curved shrimp, as awkward as can be.


    Yet, he still did not release his hands.


    At this particr moment, the gazes of the two met again in the void.


    "My name is Lynn Bartleion," he said through clenched teeth, ring at her fiercely, "If that is your reason for rejecting me..."


    "I will make you remember me, Ivyst."


    He enunciated every word.


    Before his statement wasplete,


    Lynn could no longer resist the force and disappeared into the space rift.

 Chapter 51 The Death of Lynn (Part 1)

    "Lynn Young Master, Her Highness calls for you."


    The next day at noon, a knock sounded at Lynn''s door.


    His expression was one of impatience as he opened the door with dark circles under his eyes, finding the elderly housekeeper Kasha standing at the entrance.


    She remained expressionless as ever, like a robot carrying out its duties.


    "I understand."


    Yawning, Lynn followed her.


    He hadn''t slept a wink since returning from the Pantheonst night, pondering how to solve the situation he had encountered.


    The crux of the problem was that the Witch didn''t seem to want him to be an End Believer.


    But if that were true, why did she bother to drag his consciousness across a hundred thousand years?


    Simply out of boredom?


    Or could it be that when a woman says no, she means yes?


    Should he have been more assertivest time?


    Amidst the chaotic thoughts, Lynn''s face darkened.


    He was in quite a foul mood.


    It wasn''t solely because he hadn''t seeded in igniting his Divine-given factor; mainly, it was that woman''s tone that was infuriating.


    The most pressing issue at the moment was that he needed to be a Transcendent as soon as possible.


    To be a Transcendent, he had to gain the recognition of the Doomsday Witch¡ªthat is, to make a deep impression on her about "Lynn Bartleion."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    There was only one way to do that.


    To start from the current timeline.


    Based on Lynn''s previous spections, he could only cause a deviation in the storyline at present to have a chain reaction that would affect a hundred thousand yearster.


    Of course, it could not be like the first time he uncovered Ivyst''s mask, altering just 0.01%.


    It had to be a significant deviation this time.


    Only then could the ripples of fate reach a hundred thousand yearster and truly change the Doomsday Witch.


    But what exactly could he do to increase the deviation significantly and make a deep impression on her as "Lynn Bartleion"?


    Perhaps... Carry out execution on the spot and be the first andst man in her life?


    No, forget it.


    The reason he sought help from the Doomsday Witch was to escape Ivyst''s clutches.


    If he really did that, it would be a ssic case of confusing cause and effect.


    And most importantly,


    He couldn''t beat her.


    Lynn thought grimly.


    Just then, the housekeeper Kasha stopped in her tracks and led him to the entrance of Princess Her Highness'' study.


    After knocking on the door and receiving permission, Lynn walked in at a measured pace.


    "Your Highness."


    He bow properly, his face betraying no emotion.


    Hearing this, Ivyst, who was reviewing documents, looked up.


    Initially, she only nced casually, but then she noticed the thick dark circles under his eyes and couldn''t help feeling a bit odd.


    There wasn''t much work in the estate on a daily basis that would require his attention; why did he look so haggard?


    However, remembering the scene from the night beforest, a light of realization dawned in Ivyst''s heart.


    Then a strange look appeared in her eyes.


    Although Ivyst had no interest in managing her subordinates'' private lives, it seemed that this had started because of her.


    It was because she had given him that so-called "Holy Relic" that the fellow had been so unrestrained.


    At least, that''s what Ivyst thought.


    But... was that thing really so attractive to men?


    It was merely a piece of cloth, at best only lightly imbued with her scent; what was good about it?


    Ivyst was quite puzzled.


    Therefore, she coughed softly, her expression cool as she hinted, "You are young, you should take care of your body."


    Hearing this, Lynn, who was about to close the door, stumbled.


    Damn it.


    Why did it always feel like this woman was giving him advice with the tone of a "mother who discovers dried-up tissues on her son''s bedside table that haven''t been thrown away"?


    One day, he vowed, he would shove those tissues into her mouth!


    Lynn made this grand vow.


    "Is there something you need me for, Your Highness?"


    "You seem to have performed some sort of ritual in your room yesterday?" Returning to the matter at hand, Ivyst frowned slightly, "I think I felt a strange spatial fluctuation."


    Hearing this, Lynn, who had already prepared his response, answered, "I was trying various methods ofmunicating with the deities to see if there was a chance to be a Transcendent again."


    This reason waspelling.


    After all, for Lynn, his purpose indeed was just that, and it wasn''t a lie.


    So Ivyst believed this reason and warned lightly, "Don''t do anything so dangerous again, and be careful of connecting with some indescribable beings."


    Do you count as an indescribable being?


    Lynnmented in his mind.


    "As for the matter of bing a Transcendent again... you should go visit Mniter, I''ve had her prepare something for you, and you can also get checked."


    Ivyst made a decision on the matter quickly and in just a few words.


    Lynn had no chance to refuse and could only respond in silence.


    This topic was quickly glossed over.


    "There''s one more thing." Ivyst''s manner of speaking was brisk and decisive, "Duke Tierus seems to have had some free timetely, he''s sent over two invitations to the manor, there will be a charity g tomorrow evening, and you are to apany me."


    "Me?"


    Lynn was somewhat surprised.


    "By the way, the Mos family also seems to have sent someone from the Imperial Capital to Orn City." Ivyst continued without regard for his expression, "Obviously, they are here to help the Second Prince rally Duke Tierus to his side."


    At the mention of that surname, Lynn''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Mos.


    That was a surname he would never forget.


    The bitch Irina, who framed him as the "disgrace of the nobility," is the eldest daughter of the Mos family.


    In the more than a year since he had seen them, this family seemed to have grown rampantly within the Saint Laurent Empire, climbing all the way up by consuming the various resources left by the copse of the Bartleion family.


    Of course, the shadow of that prince could not be separated from this as well.


    It was time to see them.


    Lynn thought silently to himself.


    Seeing him remain silent, Ivyst knew he was digesting the information and so she began to speak of other matters, "The main purposes for my visit to Orn City this time are twofold."


    "One is to deal with matters rted to the Creationist School, this has been mostly settled, except for an Ancient Curse they left behind that has yet to be found."


    "As for the second, it is to establish friendly rtions with the Tierus family."


    "This, you should be aware of."


    "The King''s election ceremony and the elector, I know."


    Ivyst nodded slightly, watching his expression intently, "For the second matter, do you have any clues?"


    "Uh... no."


    Lynn tried to appear deeply contemtive, then answered somewhat dejectedly.


    Hah.


    Ivyst inwardly sneered.


    This guy''s acting was just too fake.


    With this thought, she was ready to use hypnosis to see what kind of tricks he really had.


    Only when hypnotized did this guy be more obedient and honestly reveal his thoughts.


    But then Ivyst reconsidered, it was still daytime, and it might look bad if discovered, so she suppressed the impulse for the moment.


    She pretended to be indifferent and nodded, "In that case, you may go ahead."


    "However, remember toe to my bedroom tonight if you''re free."


    "... Yes."


    After Lynn left, Ivyst''s expression returned to its usual cool detachment.


    She stood up, squinting slightly as she looked out the window.


    She hadn''t lied just now.


    Although the cause of the matter was a dispute between the Great Imperial Princess Hillena and herself that had angered Saint Laurent VI, she had indeede to Orn City on a mission.


    ording to the intelligence, the Creationist School seemed to have in their possession an Ancient Curse of no low order and nned tomit a heinous crime with it.


    And her mission was to retrieve that Ancient Curse.


    But it was not until now that Ivyst discovered, even afterpletely eradicating them, no trace of that object had been found.


    To be honest, Ivyst had been somewhat restless these past few days.


    The biggest issue was not the Tierus family, but the lost Ancient Curse.


    It just felt... like things wouldn''t end so simply.


    Ivyst looked at the bright sunlight outside the window and quietly thought to herself.

 Chapter 52 The Death of Lynn (Part 2)

    "Miss Mni," Lynny on the hospital bed, "you say... how can one make a woman have an unforgettable, deep impression of you?"


    Hearing this, the brown-haired young girl who was conducting a physical examination on him stopped her movements.


    She nced at Lynn and then showed a hint of concern, "I know my body is very attractive to you, but this matter is still a bit too early."


    "No one is aroused by your body."


    Lynn remarked.


    "Impolite little fellow."


    Mni rolled her eyes unhappily, reverting to her usualziness.


    She picked up a certain device from the side and began measuring something on Lynn''s head.


    "It''s strange," she mused as she worked, "after you, I tried with fifteen other test subjects and not a single one was sessfully hypnotized."


    "Could it be that your case is non-replicable?"


    Mni looked puzzled.


    In a sense, she had guessed correctly.


    After all, those convicts didn''t have the Lie Swallowing, a cheat-like godly skill.


    Lynn curled his lip inwardly.


    They continued to chat sporadically like this.


    Lynny still from beginning to end, cooperating with her physical examination.


    "I almost forgot, Princess asked me to give this to you."


    Halfway through the check-up, Mni seemed to suddenly remember something and threw a small bottle to Lynn.


    Lynny on the hospital bed and caught the bottle, noticing a green light spot inside that resembled a firefly.


    He was immediately stunned.


    "This is..."


    "Yes," Mni nodded, "this is thetest research achievement from the No. 8 Research Institute, a Divine-given factor with the original owner''s brand erased."


    "I think you should be quite familiar with it."


    Lynn fell into silence.


    He was indeed very familiar with it.


    After all, the incident where he became a God Forsaken was orchestrated by the Mos family themselves.


    He was even one hundred percent certain that the person who had personally stripped the Divine-given factor from his body, the Archbishop of the Heavenly Principle Church, was also one of the conspirators.


    Actually, in the days after his transmigration, he had been somewhat perplexed.


    What exactly about the Bartleion family was so covet-worthy that they would attack like hungry wolves?


    Perhaps he would only know the truth on the day he sessfully took his revenge.


    "For the sake of getting this thing, Her Highness has expended quite a lot of resources," Mni said with emphasis, "Perhaps in your eyes, her usual way of doing things seems a bit domineering, but in the end, she really values you."


    I''d rather not have this value.


    Lynn scoffed inwardly.


    Seeing that Lynn remained silent, Mni didn''t say much more, only admonishing at the end, "This is a Divine-given factor from the ''Eye of the Soul'' belief, and for now, it''s the best choice you can amodate."


    "Different from the three main churches that are mainstream in the Empire, this belief is popr only in the Southern Continent''s Sirunstat Republic, and its adherents are mostly schrs who love academic pursuits."


    "Though rtively weak inbat, it can provide you with sharp thinking and exceptional memory. If you''re considering technical research, it''s a good direction."


    "By the way, you know how to use it, right?"


    "Of course," Lynn replied casually.


    Actually, what difference does it make if he knew how to use it or not?


    After all, he wasn''t going to use this thing.


    A real man should enjoy fighting!


    Even now, Lynn had no intention of changing his goal.


    He wanted to have the strongest Divine-given factor; then with his own power, flip the whole damn world on its head!


    To achieve this goal, he needed to ensure the future Doomsday Witch would remember him forever, willingly letting him be a follower.


    But it seemed he had to hurry.


    Otherwise, having a Divine-given factor but being unable to be a Transcendent would arouse their suspicions.


    Thinking so, Lynn sighed.


    "By the way, Miss, in your opinion, what is the deepest emotion?" he asked casually, "Anger? Despair?"


    Mni pondered for a moment, then smiled and shook her head, "Neither."


    "Then what is it?"


    Lynn was a bit puzzled.


    "Anger and despair might be intense enough, but they will inevitably fade over time," Mni nced at him, "Only that which remains fresh through the long wash of time can be considered the deepest."


    "For instance, regret."


    That''s so like an adult, always so... wait a minute?


    Lynn suddenly felt a sh of inspiration in his mind.


    He seemed to know how to make the future Doomsday Witch remember him forever.


    "Miss, do you know much about potion study?"


    "Are you underestimating me?"


    ...


    "Knock, knock, knock."


    "Come in."


    Hearing the sound of the door being knocked, Princess Ivyst responded softly.


    At the moment, after ending a day''s work, she appeared exhausted, leaning against the velvet armchair by the window, legs crossed, fingertips twirling a ss of wine.


    Her slender wrist gently swayed, making the crimson liquid in the ss flow in the moonlight.


    Stripped of her indifference in front of others, Princess Ivyst seemed a bit softer.


    She had changed out of her daytime attire, now wrapped in a somewhat thin white ribboned long dress, her ck hair draped over her shoulders, looking both intelligent and elegant.


    However, at the sight of that guy walking in, Ivyst''s lips immediately curled into a familiar smile.


    The intellect and elegance of a moment ago disappeared in an instant.


    In its ce had emerged a malevolence from deep within his bones.


    Seeing Lynne obediently to her bedroom, Ivyst was quite satisfied.


    It seemed this fellow was bing morepliant by the day.


    Obedient dogs are the most adorable.


    Thinking thus, Ivyst activated her extraordinary power and prepared to hypnotize Lynn with the Eye of the Soul mark in her palm as he drew near.


    She wanted to know what he had been hiding that afternoon.


    And how to establish a friendly rtionship with Duke Tierus.


    That was her most pressing concern at the moment.


    The useless drunkards in the manor could not be relied upon, and her only hope turned out to be a seventeen-year-old youngster.


    As Ivyst watched Lynn slowly approach, she readied herself to open her palm.


    But just as she was about to do so,


    the young man suddenly spoke, "Your Highness, I have an impertinent request."


    ...


    "Your Highness, I have an impertinent request."


    Looking at the stunningly beautiful woman in front of him, Lynn suddenly halted.


    Seeing this, the hand that Ivyst had started to raise stopped mid-air.


    Ivyst squinted her slender eyes, "What is it?"


    "I remember you had a ring before that could detect lies," Lynn said, "the one you wore on your hand the day the Heavenly Principle Church visited."


    Was she discovered?


    But that was normal.


    After all, she had never intended to hide it; it wasn''t a secret.


    Yet Ivyst was somewhat curious.


    This fellow''s demeanor tonight seemed somewhat different from usual.


    It was as if... he was tooposed,cking his usual deliberately conveyed groveling.


    Interesting.


    Ivyst sipped her wine and asked indifferently, "There is such a ring, what about it?"


    "I wish for you to wear it," Lynn suddenly bowed, "because I have some things to say, and I need you to personally discern their truth."


    "That''s fine."


    Ivyst, too, was curious about what he was up to, so she didn''t refuse.


    She took out the ring, slid her delicate white ring finger into it, and put on the ring.


    "Then, I shall begin."


    Seeing that she had met his request, Lynn nodded.


    Under Ivyst''s gaze, he took a deep breath, "The first thing I want to say is... if you could have my whole-hearted assistance, there''s at least a seventy percent chance that you could win the King''s election."


    The sudden statement made Ivyst''s hand tremble slightly.


    She suddenly sat up straight, staring in astonishment at the young man before her.


    The ring... showed no reaction.


    That is to say, in his belief, this statement was absolutely true.


    Although she didn''t know how he arrived at the seventy percent chance or whether it was reliable,


    given his previous impressive performance and quick thinking in times of crisis, Ivyst preferred to believe this was his urate assessment of his own situation.


    Even if it wasn''t actually as high as seventy percent, for her¡ªwho originally had almost no chance of winning¡ªit was already an extraordinary surprise.


    But... why was he saying this all of a sudden?


    Ivyst felt excited and yet confused.


    After all, this was the first time Lynn hade clean to her.


    ording to her original n, she hadn''t dreamed that he would go this far.


    However, Lynn didn''t answer her question and continued, "The second thing I want to say is that from the first day I was captured until now, I have been thinking about freedom every moment."


    The ring showed no reaction.


    Ivyst''s good mood immediately plummeted.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    She was bing unhappy.


    "You..."


    Just as she was about to say something, Lynn interrupted her again.


    He suddenly smiled, "I have already said two things, Princess. In exchange, I hope you can say a sentence while wearing that ring."


    "What sentence?"


    Ivyst frowned.


    "In my eyes, Lynn Bartleion is a human being with dignity, an independent individual, not a ve for others'' entertainment."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lynn saw Ivyst''s eyes turn extremely cold in an instant.


    A wave of invisible murderous intent radiated out.


    "Are you threatening me?"


    Ivyst''s voice was ice-cold.


    Lynn didn''t respond to her question, and after seeing her reaction, he just shook his head lightly, "You''re unwilling? In that case, I have a third thing to say."


    "Ivyst, I''ve grown tired of you and your tedious game," Lynn suddenly adopted a nonchnt tone, "so, let''s put an end to all this today."


    With those words, he pulled a test tube from his pocket.


    Under the light, an opaque colorless viscous liquid rippled inside.


    "This is Water Ghost Poison Essence," Lynn exined calmly, "A normal human after taking it, would die of heart paralysis within a minute."


    Seeing the undisturbed ring, and the young man''s very unusual speech, Ivyst suddenly felt a foreboding sense of dread.


    "What are you going to do?"


    At the same time, countless thorns stealthily emerged, instantly rushing towards Lynn, seeking to restrain his movements.


    But, ultimately, it was a step toote.


    Looking at Ivyst, whose eyes now held a hint of bewilderment and tension, Lynn smiled.


    "I want... to do this."


    With that, he downed the liquid from the test tube in one gulp.

 Chapter 53 Exploded!

    "Miss Mni, do you know anything about potionology?"


    "Are you underestimating me?"


    "Then... can you concoct a potion based on my needs?"


    "What needs?"


    "Can you create one that looks, smells, and even tastes like Water Ghost Poison Essence, butcks its inherent toxicity?"


    "Oh, you want to deceive someone?"


    "Sss, a woman''s intuition is really scary... So, can you do it?"


    "I can."


    ...


    A viscous, slightly sweet, cold liquid went down his throat.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    A faint sensation of paralysis followed the path of the liquid and began spreading throughout his body.


    Water Ghost Poison Essence, in Lynn''s memory, was a rtivelymon Extraordinary Potion, generally used in surgical anesthesia.


    An overdose would lead to cardiac paralysis and death.


    Of course, Lynn naturally wouldn''t risk his own life.


    Having barely survived the system''s torment, hypnosis experiments, and Ivyst''s clutches, he did not intend to die just like that.


    Moreover, he did not think the matter was worth such risk.


    Thus, Lynn had asked Miss Mni to help him concoct this potion.


    As for whether Ivyst wouldter discern the truth, that was not a concern for now.


    Currently, the most important thing was to significantly increase her plot deviation, thereby affecting the future Doomsday Witch.


    Of course, to make his acting even more convincing, Lynn activated Lie Swallowing again.


    Perhaps because he had used it too often, he felt that he was bing increasingly adept at it.


    Even suggesting to himself "I''m affected by Water Ghost Poison" could be true.


    Thus, at this moment, Lynn''s face turned pale, and his gaze was vacant as his body started trembling.


    Underplete paralysis, his body instinctively leaned backwards.


    Unexpectedly, in the next second,yers of thorns curled around from all directions, gently supporting his body.


    Facing Ivyst''s wide-open eyes and the disbelief evident therein, Lynn cracked a smile, inscrutable.


    "Do you need me to count down for you?" he leaned on the thorns as if indifferent to life or death, "Sixty, fifty-nine, fifty-eight..."


    Before he finished speaking, a cold sensation enveloped his entire body.


    A faint mist of ice slowly shrouded his body.


    Under the effect of the low temperature, his body''s metabolic rate decreased, his heartbeat slowed significantly, and the blood flow throughout his body also slowed down.


    Lynn gritted his teeth from the cold.


    This woman did have somemon sense.


    But...


    "Do you want to die? Have I allowed it?"


    At that moment, Ivyst''s expression was extremely grim.


    She quickly walked up to Lynn and grabbed his neck.


    Just as she was about to exert force, something seemed to ur to her, and she ended up pulling back nearly all her strength, merely giving a weak squeeze.


    Though anger and confusion overwhelmed her mind at this moment, reason told her that now was not the time to dwell on such matters.


    If they didn''t find an antidote, he wouldn''tst long before dying here.


    Ivyst didn''t want him to die.


    For no other reason.


    Judging by the statement he had made to the Lie Detector Ring, she wouldn''t allow Lynn to give up his life so rashly.


    "A 70% chance of winning the King''s election?"


    Although unsure whether it was true or false, he was the first subordinate to say such a thing to her over the years.


    Regardless, she wanted to win, to earn the approval of Saint Laurent VI, to hear the Great Imperial Princess Hillena beg for mercy, and to be feared by the people and the nobles.


    At any rate, it could not end here.


    If Lynn had indeed died here, she would definitely regret itter.


    Regret for losing such an opportunity to turn the tables.


    She must immediately find Mni!


    The thought shed through Ivyst''s mind.


    She prepared to break through the space and bring Mni over as quickly as possible without even having time to change her dress and cloth slippers.


    But before she could act, a voice came from beside her.


    "Are you looking for this?"


    Lynn slowly raised another tube filled with pale blue potion, saying,


    "Antidote!"


    Drinking this would quickly neutralize the excess Water Ghost Poison, thereby alleviating the paralysis symptoms.


    Seeing this, Ivyst halted and said coldly, "Give it to me."


    "I refuse," Lynn''s smile did not fade, and even carried a hint of mockery, "Is this thing so important to you?"


    "How curious!"


    "A woman as vicious, despicable, and arrogant as you, cares about something?"


    "Oh, I get it, maybe you''re afraid that after I die, you''ll never encounter someone as brilliantly intelligent as me, and you''ll end up losing tragically to your sister Hillena, finding yourself in a miserable plight."


    "Thinking about it, it really is interesting if that''s your fate."


    "Ivyst, you wicked woman, may you live in lonely old age under the curse of my unrestful demise!"


    Lynnughed heartily, his face tinged with a pathological flush.


    It exploded!


    He and Ivyst hadpletely blown up!


    Lynn felt as though his entire body was exhrated, causing his scalp to tingle.


    The frustration umted in his heart over the days and the setbacks he had faced from the Doomsday Witch were now fully released.


    Ivyst, observing his manic state, immediately furrowed her brows, looking enraged.


    "Have you gone mad?"


    "I''m not mad, it''s you," Lynn grinned, "Oh, and stop those little tricks of yours in the background."


    "I know you are an autocratic woman who likes to use violence to forcefully take what you want... Try it if you can, I''ll smash this potion the moment you make a move."


    "And just so you know, this is thest one in stock in the mansion," Lynn said unreservedly.


    The stealthily rising blood-red thorns around them paused.


    "What exactly do you want?" Ivyst''s expression was ice cold as she looked at him, "Let''s hear it, if you have any demands, I will try to meet them."


    Everything that had happened tonight waspletely beyond her expectations.


    At this moment, she had no intention of pondering why Lynn had made such a bold and aggressive move.


    Looking at the potion in his hand, Ivyst felt absurd for the first time.


    This guy... was he threatening her with his own life?


    Could there be such a thing in the world?


    Feeling Ivyst''s gaze, Lynn slowly began, "I want you to apologize for everything you''ve done to me so far."


    "Not just that, but I want you to personally admit that you lost to me."


    "Ivyst, you proud woman, probably have never bowed to any man in your lifetime, right?"


    "I want you to never forget what happened tonight."

 Chapter 54 How about we make a bet?

    Just as Lynn had thought.


    For a woman as powerfully unparalleled as Ivyst, she had never bowed her head to any man in her life.


    Moreover, Lynn right now was still an ordinary person who didn''t even possess any Extraordinary Abilities.


    To speak such words, one must either be out of one''s mind or a pure lunatic.


    Clearly, Lynn at this moment was thetter.


    Therefore, it was impossible for Ivyst to agree to such a request.


    She was so angry sheughed.


    "When did you start deluding yourself into thinking I wouldpromise my dignity for a dog I''ve raised?" Ivyst looked at him with the eyes one would use for an idiot, her tone icy, "If you so wish to die, then suit yourself."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Saying this, she turned around, sat back down on the velvet chair by the window, and picked up her tall goblet again.


    How could a woman like her, with hands stained with countless blood, have any emotional fluctuations over someone else''s death?


    The hesitation before was simply because she did not want to let such a talented person die in vain.


    But now he was clearly seeking death himself, so she couldn''t be med.


    Thinking this, Ivyst took a sip of the wine in her ss.


    Seeing her like this, Lynn shook his head.


    It wasn''t enough.


    Merely this wasn''t sufficient to significantly increase the deviation of the plot, nor could it impact the future Doomsday Witch.


    And if he missed this opportunity, who knows when he''d find another like it.


    Lynn was not willing to wait another day.


    He wanted to be a Transcendent as soon as possible, to possess the power needed to protect himself.


    "How about a wager?"


    Lynn suddenly spoke.


    At that moment, the excessive cold had turned his lips faintly purple, and the cognitive alteration brought by the Lie Swallowing left him numb all over.


    Yet his eyes were remarkably clear.


    Upon hearing this, Ivyst did not respond, but the hand holding her ss paused slightly.


    Clearly, she was not as indifferent as she appeared on the surface.


    If she truly didn''t care, she would probably have already frozen him into an ice sculpture, and then tossed him to God knows where.


    "I bet you won''t really remain indifferent," Lynn looked at her, "When you take the antidote and give it to me to drink, I will have won the bet."


    "Save your daydreams for after you''re dead."


    Ivyst said indifferently.


    Lynn raised his eyebrows: "Are you sure?"


    "Heh."


    A cold smirk formed on Ivyst''s lips.


    As the Third Imperial Princess of the Saint Laurent Empire, she felt her temper was exceptionally good tonight.


    Good enough that she had endured this man''s repeated insolence thrice, and yet had notid a hand on him to end his life.


    If it were Rhein, by now, he''d probably be dismembered into countless pieces.


    However, it was also time for this to end.


    Ivyst thought indifferently.


    It was absolutely impossible for her to take the action Lynn had just mentioned.


    Not even the slightest possibility.


    Thinking this, her peripheral vision suddenly caught a movement from Lynn, not far away.


    Ivyst instinctively looked up.


    She saw that somehow, he had used thest of his strength to raise the antidote high.


    Feeling Ivyst''s gaze, Lynn grinned, showing his white teeth.


    Then, with the swiftness of lightning, he hurled the test tube hard onto the ground!


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    Along with the sound of the air being pierced, the test tube containing the blue liquid suspended dangerously close, but not touching the ground.


    Had it been just a second slower, the antidote would have shattered and trickled away.


    Once it came into contact with oxygen, the antidote would rapidly lose its potency.


    Therefore, in the eyes of others, Lynn''s action was undoubtedly gambling with his own life.


    He gambled on an extremely slim chance.


    However, fortunately, he seeded.


    At this moment, a delicate circle of blood-colored thorns tightly surrounded the test tube, preventing it from being shattered.


    Seeing this, Lynnughed heartily, "I won!"


    "Who would have thought, you really don''t want me to die, huh? Or is it..."


    Just as Lynn was about to utter some mocking words to disgust Ivyst, he suddenly saw a streak of red light sh before his eyes.


    Apanied by a strong impact, he cked out and copsed to the ground.


    Ivyst, standing up from her chair at some distance, had a cold annoyance in her eyes.


    After knocking Lynn unconscious, she then returned her gaze to her own slender, fair hands.


    Just now... she had moved subconsciously.


    She didn''t know why she had saved that vial of medicine.


    She really shouldn''t have gone to such lengths for a subordinate who knew no respect.


    Really...


    Although Ivyst''s heart was filled with chaotic emotions, remembering that he was still in a poisoned state, she reached out and took the antidote.


    She then manipted the thorns to feed him the blue liquid from the test tube.


    After doing all this, Ivyst no longer wished to see his face, which retained a hint of smugness, and carelessly tossed him aside.


    Yet, the question kept echoing in her mind.


    Why did she save him?


    Ivyst couldn''t understand.


    She lifted her hand, looking at the ring on her ring finger, lost in thought for a moment.


    "I have fallen in love with Lynn Bartleion."


    The ring instantly emitted a red light.


    This meant it was a lie.


    Ivyst snorted coldly, not taking it seriously.


    She had never experienced what love felt like to this day.


    Perhaps it was something that didn''t exist at all, so it was just a casual question¡ªafter all, she was alone here.


    Then, Ivyst continued, "I don''t want him to die, merely because I want to use his power to win the King''s election."


    Under Ivyst''s watch, the ring remained unchanged.


    Heh, as expected.


    She silently thought to herself.


    It was just because she valued his abilities that she wanted to take advantage of them.


    It was as simple as that.


    But as this thought surfaced, the ring, as if dyed, suddenly trembled and flickered.


    The expression on Ivyst''s face froze.


    How could that be?


    A trace of confusion appeared in her eyes.


    After a few seconds of thought, Ivyst spoke again: "I don''t want him to die, not just to use his power for the King''s election, but also because he is my ''dog.''"


    The ring trembled and flickered red just as before.


    Now, she fellpletely silent.


    The slight flickering of the red light meant that thest statement was partly true, partly false.


    For a moment, Ivyst was caught in an unprecedented dilemma.


    At times her gaze was clear, at times slightly dazed, at times her expression cold, at times she clenched her teeth with rage.


    After a long while, Ivyst took a deep breath.


    "I don''t want him to die because he is the first person who said I was beautiful, so in my heart, he is more important than anyone else."


    After saying these words, she frowned and looked at the ring.


    This time, the ring seemed to have malfunctioned; it was dull and did not change at all.


    Ivyst''s expression suddenly took on an interesting cast.


    "What a joke?!"


    She ripped the ring off her ring finger and threw it hard into the corner.

 Chapter 55 What a Good Woman, Pity Shes Alive

    She herself would actually want to spare his life for such a superficial reason?


    Just because he was the first one to call her beautiful?


    Ridiculous!


    Looking at the ring tossed into the corner, Ivyst''s expression was ice-cold.


    Useless thing.


    Although it had been thousands of years, the ancient curse proved to be unreliable, prone to all sorts of malfunctions due to its age.


    Her full chest heaved rapidly, as if trying to calm the dissatisfaction and irritation in her heart.


    Turning her head, she nced at the wine cup on the windowsill and, without a second thought, picked it up and drained it in one go.


    Momentster, a faint blush of drunkenness emerged on her pale cheeks, utterly charming.


    However, at this very moment, there was no one to witness it.


    Ivyst stared unblinkingly at Lynn, whom she had knocked out cold on the floor, falling into a long silence.


    It was unknown what was running through her mind.


    After a while, she took a deep breath, calming her emotions.


    "Though I do not know why you suddenly went mad and staged such a drama in front of me..." Ivyst''s face was emotionless, "but there''s one thing, it seems you were right about one thing."


    "I''m afraid I will never forget what happened tonight."


    She muttered to herself.


    While Ivyst did not take Lynn''s gamble seriously, she ultimately did exhibit behaviors she normally would never consider.


    Just that alone was enough to remain etched in her memory.


    Ever since awakening the powerful and mysterious forces within her, Ivyst had only ever been met with others'' respect and fear.


    No one had ever dared to raise their voice at her like Lynn did.


    Even... to threaten her with their own life.


    "If you dare do such a thing to me, don''t even think about running away in the future," Ivyst suddenly revealed a cruel smile, "If you ever have such thoughts again, I will smash your legs."


    "Additionally, I hope you prove to be as impressive as you im in the uing King''s election."


    "Otherwise... hmph."


    ...


    [The story deviation of the S-rank character "Ivyst Laurent Alexini" has risen to 1.53%.]


    ...


    Lynn was awakened by the system notification sound.


    When he hazily opened his eyes, the paralysis that had once afflicted his entire body had disappeared, clearly indicating that the Lie Swallowing state had been lifted.


    Then, he noticed he was lying on the ground in a strange posture.


    As if he was attempting to do a push-up.


    Feeling the carpet so close at hand, Lynn instinctively propped up on his arms, intending to rise from the ground.


    But before he could act, he suddenly felt a force on his back.


    This force wasn''t too light or heavy, yet it pushed his body back down.


    "Stay put."


    Above him came Ivyst''s familiar voice, cold with a hint of an unusual emotion.


    "You..."


    Lynn tried to get up again, but that force kept him pinned down, unable to move.


    He then sobered up, realizing what was happening.


    At this moment, Ivyst sat on the red velvet chair at the edge of the bed, holding a wine cup while gazing at the bright moon from the window, her hair ck as coal, her skin white as snow.


    In the moonlight, she was breathtakingly beautiful, like a goddess.


    However, Lynn had no heart to admire this scene.


    Only because he finally understood why he was lying on the floor in such a strange position.


    That woman had, at some point, taken off her shoes and rested her smooth, long legs and fair bare feet on his back.


    She was treating him like a footrest!


    Lynn was only wearing a single garment, so at this moment, the tender skin and warm sensation of her soles were transmitted through the thin fabric.


    However, he was far from enjoying this pleasant touch.


    A man may be killed, but not insulted!


    His heart was filled with rage, and he instinctively tried to lift his head.


    Due to the angle, Lynn''s gaze inevitably caught a glimpse under Ivyst''s skirt.


    The bedroom was somewhat dark, but the moonlight from the window cast just the right amount of light.


    It was hazy and blurred.


    As if he could see it, yet couldn''t make out the details.


    Oh no.


    It seemed the Imperial Princess not only wentmando in real life but asionally tried it alone.


    Lynn gasped in shock, and just like that, the fury in his heart dissipated like smoke.


    Thank you for the hospitality.


    Hey down again with a solemn expression, maintaining an angle where he could still catch glimpses from the corner of his eye, his posture as firm as a rock.


    At the same time, Ivyst''s disdainful voice came from above, "Without my permission, do you dare to seek death so casually?"


    "Not only that, being a dog I''ve raised, you dare to mock your master in that manner, really ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of earth."


    "What do you think I should do to punish you?"


    "..."


    Lynn remained silent.


    At this moment, he was using the Lie Swallowing to deceive himself, trying to evolve his eyes into high frame rate cameras, to record the good life.


    Seeing Lynn prostrate in silence, Ivyst couldn''t help but frown.


    She thought perhaps the man had be somewhat withdrawn because he hadn''t seeded in killing himself.


    Maybe she had pushed him too hard before?


    After pondering for a moment, Ivyst decided to loosen up a bit and to lighten the punishment.


    So she spoke indifferently, "Well then, stay prostrate there and loudly repeat ''I''m sorry, Your Highness, I was wrong,'' until I am satisfied."


    Damn it.


    This woman is really vain.


    Does she enjoy hearing others hold her in high esteem so much?


    Lynn''s expression darkened.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    In fact, everything he had done tonight was not truly out of impulse.


    The madness and anger he had shown earlier also contained quite a bit of feigned elements.


    If it weren''t for his aim to greatly increase the plot deviation percentage to influence the future Doomsday Witch, Lynn would never have chosen to explode at her at this point in time.


    It was more likely that he would continue to endure.


    Thinking this, Lynn suddenly realized something and hurriedly opened his system.


    At this moment, Ivyst''s plot deviation percentage had already been raised to 1.53%, and another 100 system points had been credited.


    Not only that, but his savings had also reached 183 points.


    He could draw a new ability again.


    Looking at it this way, the risk he took tonight was not in vain, and his goal was perfectly achieved.


    It was just uncertain how much impact it would have on the Doomsday Witch.


    Everything that could be done had been done, and now was the time to leave it to fate.


    With this thought, Lynn suddenlyposed himself and said aloud, "I''m sorry, Your Highness, I was wrong!"


    "I''m sorry, Your Highness, I was wrong!"


    "I''m sorry, Your Highness, I was wrong!"


    A man.


    When it''s time to be tough, be tough, and when it''s time to be soft, be soft.


    For a moment, the atmosphere fell into silence.


    Only Lynn''s repeated words echoed again and again in the room.


    Ivyst stared at the bright moon, her thoughts unknown.


    After a short while, she suddenly spoke out of nowhere, "Don''t casually think of dying; once you''re dead, there''s nothing left."


    Lynn was stunned for a few seconds, then lowered his head, "Yes, Your Highness."


    Just as he finished speaking, he felt her delicate foot press down hard on his back.


    "Did I tell you to stop?"


    "I''m sorry, Your Highness, I was wrong!"


    ...


    He didn''t know how long had passed when Lynn, panting, stopped his repentance, wanting to sneak a few seconds of rest.


    But seeing that Ivyst still hadn''t spoken, he felt a bit puzzled.


    So, Lynn lifted his head and looked at the woman on the seat.


    He saw Ivyst, leaning quietly against the seat, had fallen sound asleep at some unknown time.


    Seemingly always busy dealing with official duties, thus often staying up all night.


    Although her figure was tall and enchanting, her pale face showed a hint of emaciation and a faint trace of exhaustion remained under her eyes.


    Such a fine woman, a pity that she''s alive.


    Lynnmented in his heart.


    He quietly got up from the ground, tenderly lifted her ankles, and ced them on the carpet.


    Then, he found a thin silk quilt from the bed beside him and stealthily draped it over her chest.


    Goodnight, viinous Imperial Princess.


    Next, I will go to keep my appointment with Miss Witch.


    Lynn left Ivyst''s room.


    However, what he didn''t know was that


    Not long after he left, the woman lying on the chair suddenly opened her eyes.


    Looking at the silk nket that had appeared on her, Ivyst gently pinched the fabric with her hand.


    "At least he has some conscience."

 Chapter 56 You, Go Kill the Lord of Billion Stars

    After leaving Ivyst, Lynn went straight back to his room.


    Though it felt like a long time, in reality, he had spent just over half an hour with Ivyst.


    The night was still long, allowing time for other activities.


    With this in mind, Lynn lifted the velvet carpet beside his bed, revealing the wooden floor beneath.


    Even though a day had passed, the ritual array drawn the previous night was still faintly visible.


    Not only that, but the leftover extraordinary materials could barely support another prayer ceremony.


    The only problem was that the Holy Relic seemed a bit outdated, its rose fragrance had faded significantly, and he wasn''t sure if it would still work.


    After arranging everything with practiced ease, the same ceremony as yesterday began once more.


    Following the previous procedure, Lynn started to pray.


    This time, he had just finished his prayer when a cold, fierce wind spontaneously materialized in the bedroom.


    The extraordinary power, filled with mixed spirits, and spatial turbulence whipped around, causing Lynn''s clothes to flutter noisily.


    With the Rank of the future Doomsday Witch, even though she was sealed within the Pantheon by the gods, the remnants of her power could still aplish some astonishing feats.


    Moreover, Lynn was probably the only one who had prayed to her across the timeline in thest one hundred thousand years.


    So she paid extra attention.


    Having this thought, a familiar force pulled at him and drew him forward.


    ...


    Upon returning to the Pantheon, Lynn quickly walked towards the ck-gowned witch trapped by Chains of Order descending from above.


    This was unlike yesterday.


    This time, the woman with white hair and red eyes wasn''t reading.


    Instead, she sat with her legs crossed, reclining on the stairs, gazing nkly at the roof of the Pantheon, her long, white hair flowing on the ground like a stream.


    Silently looking at an iplete weapon through the illusory sky screen, it was unclear what she was thinking.


    Hearing Lynn''s approaching footsteps, she blinked and came back to reality.


    Then, with an expressionless face, she sat up and looked at him.


    "You really are tedious,"


    The End Witch stated coldly.


    "Sorry, Miss Witch," Lynn shook his head and changed his address, "To make sure you remember me, I had to resort to this."


    And it clearly worked.


    This time, the name "Lynn Bartleion" was no longer unfamiliar to the End Witch.


    Lynn casually opened the system.


    [Character Name: The End Witch, Ivyst]


    [Plot Level: S]


    [Plot Deviation: 0.10%]


    Indeed.


    Different fromst time.


    This time, her plot deviation rate had genuinely changed!


    Though slight, it was enough for Lynn to affirm that his conjecture wasn''t wrong, and the ripples of fate had indeed reached one hundred thousand yearster!


    But... fewer than expected.


    After all, Ivyst had increased the plot deviation by a whole 1.00%, yet when refracted to one hundred thousand yearster, it shrank tenfold.


    It seemed that the world''s will''s remedial force was stronger than he imagined.


    Not only that, if this ratio was used as a reference, even if he maxed out Ivyst''s plot deviation, he could only enhance the Doomsday Witch by up to 10%.


    Lynn frowned.


    Plot deviation wasn''t a constant value.


    Under the effect of correctional forces, it could diminish at any time.


    Maximizing Ivyst''s plot deviation didn''t mean it would remain constant over the next one hundred thousand years.


    Perhaps, besides changing her own destiny, in such a vast span of time, Lynn would need to change far more.


    He would have to get involved in those major events rted to the gods and reverse everything.


    Perhaps only in this way could the Doomsday Witch reach a perfect conclusion.


    But... what did that have to do with him?


    He was nning to escape soon anyway.


    The current Lynn wasn''t thinking that far ahead.


    The reason he worshiped the Doomsday Witch was merely that she could provide him with initial strength.


    The early stages were rtively easier to advance through, allowing him to genuinelyplete the ascendancy trials she had set.


    Once he reached theter stages, the foundation he had built coulde into y, and by then, changing his allegiance would give him a lot of maneuverability.


    At that moment, Lynn suddenly heard a system notification.


    [The plot deviation of S-level character "The End Witch, Ivyst" has increased to 0.10%.]


    [Due to the special significance of this character at the current time point, reward points will be calcted at 10 times.]


    Hearing this, Lynn gasped.


    A tenfold calction?


    Normally, for each 0.01% increment in plot deviation of an S-level character, he would gain one system point.


    By this calction, hadn''t he just earned a whole 100 points?


    Well, now he had another temporary reason to help her.


    To farm points!


    A massive amount of points!


    With this thought, Lynn wiped the corner of his mouth to suppress his greed.


    "Miss Witch, may I be your follower this time?"


    The End Witch, expressionless, replied, "No."


    "And the reason?"


    Lynn wasn''t surprised.


    "I''m about to die," she looked up at the sky. "What are you expecting from someone who is about to die?"


    After a moment of silence, Lynn slowly spoke, "No... in my view, you''re not about to die, you just don''t wish to live."


    The End Witch coolly answered, "What''s the difference?"


    Lynn shook his head. "Since you remember my name, then you must also remember what you told me yourself that night."


    The End Witch remained silent.


    For Lynn, that was merely an event that had urred a few minutes ago.


    "You personally told me not to think about seeking death so capriciously," Lynn spread his hands, "Once a person dies, there''s nothing left."


    At these words, the woman with white hair and red eyes revealed a cold smile.


    "Don''t you know that you should only believe half of what a woman says?"


    Lynn sighed. "Sorry, I would like to correct you on that saying."


    "Firstly, you are not a woman..."


    The End Witch looked coldly at him.


    "...but a goddess, the most wless goddess in the world." Lynn gasped as he said thetter half, "To be your follower is the honor of my lifetime."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Upon hearing this, she was stunned for a second, then seemed somewhat unable to bear his sparkling eyes and slightly furrowed her brows.


    "Secondly, I think you don''t really want to die."


    Upon hearing his words, the End Witch shook her head, "If you want to quibble, then..."


    She hadn''t finished speaking when Lynn interrupted her.


    "Why then did you respond to my prayers?" he asked seriously, "Was it merely a whim, wanting to find someone to chat with, and that''s why you spared no effort to cross an entire hundred thousand years, bringing me here?"


    "..."


    His words plunged her into silence.


    Seeing this, Lynn raised his voice slightly, "Miss Witch, I knew you a hundred thousand years ago, so for me, this is not a fortuitous meeting but a fated reunion."


    "When I was rejected by the gods and had nowhere else to go, you chose me."


    "Since that is the case, now is the time for me to repay you."


    "The past cannot be reyed, the future can be changed... For the past me, your present is my future."


    "And as it turns out, as long as the inertia is enough, fate is never unchangeable." Lynn looked at her earnestly, "So, I hope you will give me the chance to alter your future."


    "Given that the situation is already this dire... Since that''s the case, why not give it a try?"


    Lynn stared at the white-haired woman chained up.


    She seemed to quiet down too, slightly lowering her head as if thinking about something.


    The Pantheon sank into a prolonged silence.


    Time ticked away by the second.


    When the End Witch finally raised her head again, several minutes had passed.


    Instead of the previous coldness andck of emotion, this time, her eyes held a trace of hard-to-detect emotions.


    She seemed somewhat confused.


    Confused as to why this man was so determined to worship her.


    Even though she was just a failure toyed with by fate, a puppet doomed to a tragic end.


    "Do you really want to be my follower?"


    She asked softly.


    "Of course."


    "Even though, over these hundred thousand years, not a single one of my followers has met a good end?"


    "That''s right."


    His certain words left her somewhat speechless.


    The young man''s persistence seemed far beyond her expectations.


    Lynn was a bit nervous.


    His sess or failure hinged on this moment.


    "Fine." Unexpectedly, this time, the End Witch did not refuse, "I agree with you."


    With that, she lightly lifted her wrist, and a bright red light suddenly appeared on her palm.


    Before he could react, the light darted out like a shooting star, instantly streaking across the sky and hitting his chest.


    Seeing this, Lynn wasn''t surprised, nor did he resist, but instead chose to silently endure.


    Apanied by a strong impact and heat, he closed his eyes.


    At the same time, a crimson glow suddenly bloomed in the originally dark and barren inner world of his!


    The light was so dazzling, like creating heavens and earth, it dispelled the darkness and chaos, guiding his previously obscure soul, and clearing the confusion and uncertainty in his heart.


    Suddenly, Lynn heard a familiar system notification sound next to his ear.


    [Congrattions to the host for sessfully activating the faith¡ªThe End. From now on, you can spend system points to ignite new Divine-given Factors by yourself.]


    Sess!


    Feeling the powerful strength within him, Lynn couldn''t help but shout in his mind.


    At this moment, he had sessfully ascended to be a First Rank Transcendent.


    [Name: Lynn]


    [Race: Human]


    [Age: 17]


    [Faith: The End]


    [Rank: First Rank]


    [Extraordinary Abilities: Lie Swallowing¡ªFirst Rank/Thorny Crown¡ªSecond Rank]


    [Divine-given Factor: 1]


    [Remaining System Points: 283]


    His panel had received a qualitative upgrade.


    Moreover, upon sensing the form of the Divine-given Factor within him, Lynn''s heartbeat sped up slightly.


    If the factor that Mni had passed on to him before was just a speck of dust, then the one before him now could rightly be called a small sun.


    They differed as much in terms of intensity and rank, and the enhancement and sustainability it brought to Lynn were iparable.


    It was even stronger than the Divine-given Factor from the Lord of Billion Stars he remembered from his memory!


    With that, the great stone that had been pressing on his heart slowly fell to the ground.


    From this moment, whether he was considering escaping from under Ivyst''s hands or returning to perform a revenge saga in the Imperial Capital as the son of a Marquis, Lynn now had a very solid foundation.


    Who said he had a system?


    Considering this, the good-tempered Lynn suddenly bowed.


    "Miss Witch, please grant me the Ascension Trial to upgrade to Second Rank."


    Although he had just advanced to a First Rank Transcendent and still had a long way to go, he decided to prepare in advance.


    From his memory, the Second Rank Ascension Trials consisted of fourponents.


    Some were rtively simple, but some were difficult and very draining. At that time, it took him a full six months to sessfully upgrade to the Second Rank.


    That was a rtively fast pace.


    Uponpleting each trial, he would be granted new Divine-given Factors or some Extraordinary Items to enhance his strength.


    The difficulty of the Extrordinary Trials beyond the Second Rank would spiral upward.


    Thus, the highest he could quickly reach for now was just the Second Rank.


    Noting Lynn''s confidence, the End Witch seemed somewhat inconclusive.


    "I need you to help me kill an enemy named Kiaosty."


    Looking at the young man who had just be her follower, she spoke indistinctly.


    Lynn nodded, "Please tell me more detailed information about this person so that it would be convenient for me to investigate when I return."


    For some reason, he vaguely felt that this name seemed familiar.


    "His real name is indeed Kiaosty."


    "However, He also has several other widely known honorifics," the End Witch rested her chin in her hand, her expression calm, "Such as, Sky Dominator, Pale Demon King, the Light at the Dawn of Chaos, and..."


    "...the Lord of Billion Stars."


    "?"

 Chapter 57 Undermining the Faith of the Heavenly Principle Church

    When the Doomsday Witch uttered the first few titles, Lynn hadn''t reacted yet, only feeling that something was amiss.


    But when she spoke thest sentence, the nature of the matterpletely changed.


    What?


    I went and killed the Lord of Billion Stars?


    Lynn was stunned.


    It was like being pulled onto the track on your first day learning athletics, only to have Bolte facing you. To your surprise, he says he''s just the starter and your real opponent is Barry Allen from Central City.


    He wished he could p himself.


    How cheap is that?


    Miss Witch didn''t even mention setting up an Ascension Trial for you, just an extra question.


    Lynn thought with a rigid expression.


    To step back ten thousand steps,


    Even if he now forcibly cheated and possessed the power to instantly kill a deity,


    But a person and a god residing in different dimensions, he might traverse the entire continent and still not find Him, thinking of killing where there''s no ce to kill.


    So, this is nothing but a pipe dream.


    Watching Lynn, now sweating profusely, the previously calm-faced Miss Witch subtly lifted the corners of her mouth into a slight smile.


    "I originally thought you were just a mortal who didn''t know the vastness of heaven and earth," she said, her red lips parting lightly, "but now it seems, you''re notpletely fearless."


    Feeling Miss Witch''s sense of mischief, Lynn took a deep breath.


    He decided to retract his first impression of the Doomsday Witch.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It seemed that even after a hundred thousand years, with such a deep life experience, she still hadn''t managed to change some of her bad characteristics.


    Speaking of which, why the Lord of Billion Stars again?


    This guy seemed to have quite a fate with him.


    After all, his predecessor was previously a follower of His, having belonged to the Heavenly Principle Church.


    However, due to the incident known as the "Nobles'' Shame," his predecessor and the family had fallen from grace and became God Forsaken.


    Although now it appears, all this was schemed by the Mos family and the Heavenly Principle Church as the leading nobles.


    That high and mighty deity might not even be aware of such trivial matters.


    Lynn didn''t know much about family affairs.


    But thinking about it, ording to the original text, the Archbishop of the Heavenly Principle Church was actually a supporter behind the Second Prince, while his predecessor''s father was a staunch royalist, unwilling to intervene in the King''s election.


    Perhaps, the contradiction was triggered from here.


    For a moment, Lynn''s thoughts were all over the ce.


    Looking at his face changing unpredictably, the Doomsday Witch frowned slightly, thinking that this guy was really starting to consider the feasibility of killing a god.


    She didn''t regard Lynn as any normal person.


    What normal person would pray to her stockings, repeatedly professing to be her loyal disciple?


    "Forget the previous request," Miss Witch said lightly, "What''sing next is the trial I truly need you toplete."


    "Do you know where the power of the deities trulyes from?"


    Her voice was cold and pleasing.


    Seemingly feeling a bit ufortable, the Doomsday Witch waved her hand casually.


    In an instant, a velvet chair, somewhat familiar to Lynn, materialized beside her.


    She sat crossed-legged on it, her pale, delicate toes lightly touching the ground.


    Lynn snapped back to reality, responding, "The Power of Faith."


    Hearing this, the Doomsday Witch nodded slightly: "Correct."


    "The so-called Power of Faith," she exined, "is formed by the spiritual will of countless devout believers. It serves both as an anchor and as a source of conversion for Divine Power. That is why the gods select agents in the Human Realm, establish churches, and spread the gospel¡ªto garner belief in them."


    "However, this power does not originate from the gods themselves."


    "Though immensely potent, it is not without drawbacks."


    Upon hearing this, Lynn had a realization and his eyes swiveled, "Do you mean... that if all the followers of the Heavenly Principle Church were eliminated, then the gods would lose their source of power and could fall from grace at any moment?"


    "..."


    The Doomsday Witch seemed to be choked by Lynn''s "brilliant" scheme and couldn''t speak for a long time.


    After a while, she closed her eyes, "In a sense, yes." For instance, during war-torn years, when weaker nations were ravaged by invaders, the tyrants could easilymit acts of mass murder.


    It wasn''t necessarily because they were that brutal, but rather, it involved contests among deities.


    After arge number of believers perish in a short time, the divine power of a god would substantially wane, leaving them vulnerable to enemies.


    But the Heavenly Principle Church was different.


    Apart from the Saint Laurent Empire, the church also had a considerable number of followers in other countries, millions in total¡ªhow could one possibly kill them all?


    It was simply not feasible.


    Seeing the Doomsday Witch suddenly fall silent, Lynn offered an awkward smile, "My apologies, please continue."


    The cold woman with white hair and red pupils nced at him and slowly stated, "There are two things I need you to do."


    "The first thing, I need you to hunt down at least a hundred Transcendents from the Heavenly Principle Church, none below Second Rank."


    Lynn''s face darkened.


    Just the first task was tough enough.


    He was only First Rank at the moment. Even with the Divine-given factor of "Doomsday" faith and system assistance, he could only hope to fight across ranks a little.


    Against a hundred people, just one attacking him directly could be overwhelming.


    And to pick them off one by one, who knows how long it would drag on.


    Moreover, Ivyst would never allow it.


    So the hunting must happen in secrecy.


    This would only slow the progress further.


    Seeing that Lynn remained silent, the Doomsday Witch didn''t mind and continued, "The second thing, I need you to weaken the popce''s belief in the Lord of Billion Stars to some extent."


    "Weaken... belief?"


    The Doomsday Witch nodded lightly, "Weakening their faith is tantamount to weakening the Divine origin power."


    Lynn was confused, "But belief is intangible, how can I weaken it?"


    "That is for you to figure out."


    The Doomsday Witch''s voice grew slightly colder.


    Seeing this, he sighed, "Can you tell me why I need to do these two things?"


    "An experiment."


    "Experiment?"


    Borrowing the words you used before," the Doomsday Witch gently lifted her white wrist, observing her slender fingers, "as long as the inertia from the past is strong enough, fate is not unchangeable."


    "I want you to try weakening His origin power ten thousand years ago to see if it could affect His future."


    "Not much is needed, just a trace."


    Looking at the expression of the Doomsday Witch at that moment, Lynn asked, "Why?"


    She didn''t answer his question.


    Instead, under Lynn''s stunned gaze, she gently rolled up her lotus leaf-edged sleeve, revealing a section of her snowy, slender arm.


    Lynn looked up and saw a scar there.


    A scar... of a very strange appearance.

 Chapter 58 Eternal Chosen

    The witch''s arm was very white and beautiful.


    Despite being such a powerful woman, her wrists were so slender, creating a somewhat heart-stirring contrast.


    It seemed she noticed Lynn''s strange gaze, for the Doomsday Witch''s eyes suddenly turned extremely cold, "What are you thinking?"


    "Cough cough, nothing."


    Lynn averted his gaze, focusing on the scar.


    It was an odd-looking wound, terribly uneven, as if it were a crack produced by the shattering of space.


    The edges of the scar glowed faintly red, revealing the witch''s own efforts to heal herself.


    But each time it healed a little, the scar would fracture again, like a shattered mirror.


    The cycle repeated endlessly, never fully healing.


    Moreover, the interior of the wound wasn''t the bloody mess that Lynn had expected, but was instead a pitch-ck base.


    Amidst the darkness, there were also faint dots of starlight, as if it led to a vast and boundless universe.


    Sensing Lynn''s confusion, the Doomsday Witch said indifferently, "This is called a Dimensional Rift, Kiaosty''s most adept and troublesome technique."


    Had the Lord of Billion Stars be so powerful?


    To leave an incurable wound on the legendary Doomsday Witch?


    Lynn was stunned.


    Seeing his expression, the Doomsday Witch frowned slightly, "At that time, I single-handedly confronted eight deities, including the Fertility Mother Goddess and the Dragon of Tyranny. Had It not attacked from the shadows, I would have been impossible to wound."


    "Moreover, even then, I ripped off one of Its arms as a return gift."


    "If Its power had been just a bit weaker at that moment, this wound would no longer exist."


    Lynn''s silence seemed to kindle the witch''spetitive spirit, prompting her to exin, a rare urrence.


    Alright then.


    By that ount, the witch was still amazing.


    And Lynn also came to understand her reason for setting up these two trials.


    Weakening the Power of Faith goes without saying, as an indirect method, it could reduce the Lord of Billion Stars'' origin power.


    As for hunting down the Heavenly Principle Church''s Transcendents, it also aimed to weaken the Power of Faith.


    However, this was a direct method.


    After all, even the weakest First Rank Transcendent was worth a hundred ordinary people in terms of providing the Power of Faith.


    This was one of the reasons deities continually bestowed the Divine-given factor, to enhance the strength of their own Transcendents.


    The Doomsday Witch''s actions intended to reduce the impact of the Lord of Billion Stars'' stealthy strike by using Lynn''s maneuvers from a hundred thousand years ago, thus changing the oue of her injured arm.


    Not much was needed, just the slightest bit would suffice.


    But to go back a hundred thousand years, for Lynn, might not be a matter of just that little bit.


    After all, the world''s correcting power was terrifying.


    Lynn fell silent and began to ponder deeply about the feasibility of this task.


    Seeing this, the Doomsday Witch sighed lightly, "Come here."


    Snapping out of his thoughts after a few seconds of hesitation, Lynn slowly walked towards her.


    With her sitting in a chair and Lynn not being short, he had to look down at her.


    The Doomsday Witch raised her hand slightly.


    She intended to ce her hand on Lynn''s forehead, but seeing him stand so stiffly, she frowned, "Kneel."


    Lynn obediently did so.


    Feeling the refreshing fragrance close at hand, he inhaled lightly, unfazed.


    Just then, he felt a delicate and cool soft touch.


    Subconsciously looking up, he saw Ivyst''s hand had quietly covered his forehead at some point.


    You''re touching my Ti¨¡np¨²s¨¤?


    In that instant, with no idea what to say, this somehow fitting sarcastic remark popped into Lynn''s mind.


    At the same time, as luck would have it, he suddenly felt a strange power surge into his mind.


    It was a refreshing andfortable feeling.


    [Due to unknown factors, host has mastered a new Extraordinary Ability.]


    The system''s notification sounded.


    "Don''t overthink it, this is just a normal blessing," the Doomsday Witch said lightly, "All who worship me receive it."


    Why does it feel like a case of protesting too much?


    Lynn subconsciously opened the system and indeed discovered a new Ability in the Extraordinary Ability category.


    Name: Eternal Chosen


    Rank: Fifth Rank


    Effect: Passive ability, you will gain the favor of the Doomsday Witch.


    Activation Condition: Faith in "Doomsday"


    Upgrade Requirement: Unable to upgrade


    You call divine favor an ordinary blessing?


    Lynn couldn''t help butugh.


    Generally speaking, the Chosen were titles given to powerful Transcendents most favored by gods in the world, and within the same faith, there could only be one.


    She really said so, and he really listened.


    But unexpectedly, even after a hundred thousand years, this woman''s habit of saying one thing and meaning another still hadn''t changed.


    Blessingse fast and go fast.


    A few secondster, the Doomsday Witch gently withdrew her hand.


    She looked calmly at Lynn, who was kneeling on the ground. "Then, I leave this matter to you."


    "I will do my utmost."


    Lynn sincerely replied.


    However, it seemed she was not quite satisfied. "Not ''do my utmost,'' but ''must achieve it.''


    "If you damage the reputation of the Doomsday Witch, I will kill you."


    "...Yes."


    "Also, take this."


    While speaking, the Doomsday Witch took out an old, yellowed piece of sheepskin and tossed it to Lynn.


    "If it''s nothing particrly important next time, don''t perform the ritual. Just write on this paper."


    ...


    When Lynn woke up again, he found himself lying on the cold floor of his own room.


    The ritual array he had drawn before was now faint and indistinct, havingpletely lost its function.


    Lynn slowly got up and used a carpet to cover the traces.


    Then, he sighed andy on the soft bed.


    It had only been a brief ten minutes or so, yet the changes he underwent were earth-shattering.


    Not only had he been reinstated as a Transcendent, but he had also be a follower of the Doomsday Witch.


    Last of all, he had been saddled with two exceedingly difficult missions.


    Up to this point, Lynn still had no idea what to do.


    Was he supposed to pretend to be a follower of the Heavenly Principle Church and defecate in the street to lower people''s faith in the Church?


    That was far-fetched.


    Lynn shook his head.


    But to be fair, the trial given to him by the Doomsday Witch wasn''t uneptably hard.


    If he wanted revenge, he inevitably had to confront the Archbishop of the Heavenly Principle Church.


    Since it was a confrontation bound to happen sooner orter, he might as well take it as a rehearsal now.


    Lynn thought quietly to himself.


    The night was not yet deep, and asionally, the sound of a maid walking with muted steps could be heard from outside the window.


    It was then that a faint knock sounded at the door.


    "Master Lynn, um, may I disturb you for a moment?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It was the voice of Nina, the maid.


    Lynn got out of bed and opened the door, finding her standing at the doorway with a heap of things in her arms.


    "What''s up?"


    Lynn asked casually.


    Nina handed over the items in her arms: "Master Lynn, Miss Kasha sent me to give this to you, it''s an invitation from the Tierus family, and there are also the garments you need to wear for the banquet tomorrow night."


    "I got it."


    Closing the door and returning to the side of the bed, Lynn casually threw the box with the garments aside and picked up the invitation to look at it more closely.


    Tierus...


    He suddenly fell silent, as if lost in thought about something.

 Chapter 59 I Want to Become a Master of the Indomitable Path

    The afternoon of the next day.


    Upon the suggestion of a maid, Lynn, who had nothing better to do, made his way to the training ground at Augusta Manor.


    He nned to stretch his muscles for the first time in a while and contemte the direction of his future upgrades.


    Though it was called a training ground, it was really just a vast expanse of sandy soil constructed at a corner of the manor''s side.


    The ground was dotted with numerous straw dummies for training purposes, and shelves nearby were filled with various types of wooden weapons.


    There were single-handed swords like the Scottish Broadswords from his past life, sabers used specifically for horseback riding and shing, maces and war hammers with extremely realistic counterweights, and even long-handled axes painted in dark gray.


    At this very moment, a group of brawny men with bare chests were sweating profusely in the training ground, happily frolicking.


    These men were all trusted aides of the Augusta Family, and some were even Transcendents.


    They were training their bodies here because they were not on duty rotation.


    Lynn did not greet them, but instead found a quiet corner to attend to his own matters.


    First, he opened the system.


    At this moment, he had only one Divine-given factor.


    Generally speaking, a regr First Rank Transcendent could amodate up to four Divine-given factors in their body.


    It wasn''t that having too many would be unbearable for the body.


    In fact, almost all Transcendents didn''t feel like they had reached the limit of Divine-given factors they could amodate when advancing to the next Rank.


    It was simply because they were too precious.


    The only way to obtain a Divine-given factor was bypleting a trial from the gods.


    The problem was, even Transcendents of the same faith and same Rank might not receive the same trials each time.


    Some people might have three or four, like Lynn''s predecessor.


    Others might be less fortunate, or perhaps their faith wasn''t pure enough, ending up with only one trial, just igniting one Divine-given factor before having to advance to the next Rank.


    This led to a wide disparity in the levels of Transcendents.


    Within the same Rank, those with a higher number could be more than ten times stronger than those with less.


    Despite this, looking back on the history of the Saint Laurent Empire spanning over a thousand years, even including those rare chosen by the gods forever, there had never been anyone who reached the limit of Divine-given factors at any Rank.


    But today, Lynn might just be such an exception.


    Looking at his impressive 283 system points, Lynn took a deep breath.


    "System... upgrade me!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    [Would you like to spend 80 system points to ignite eight Divine-given factors?]


    "Yes."


    The next second, apanied by eight intense red lights bursting forth like the sun, Lynn''s originally barren and deste inner world was once again enhanced with a dazzling brightness.


    But he was not satisfied yet and furiously clicked on the plus sign.


    [The current Rank''s maximum capacity for Divine-given factors has been reached.]


    Well, okay then.


    Lynn let out a sigh.


    His predecessor had amodated four Divine-given factors when at the First Rank.


    He had spent a whole half a yearpleting trials such as "preaching doctrines to a thousand people," "hunting down twenty cultists," and "collecting ten pieces of rare meteorite fragments" before barely managing to do so.


    But at this moment, Lynn had far outstripped the previous half year''s effort in just three seconds.


    It looked like nine Divine-given factors were the limit that a First Rank Transcendent could withstand.


    Lynn tried to control the immense extraordinary power within his body, focusing it at his fingertips.


    With a faint red glow, he lightly pressed his index finger against one of the nearby training posts.


    Momentster, the rough tree bark surface was clearly imprinted with a deep indentation.


    Just as expected.


    Lynn was delighted.


    This was exactly why he insisted on choosing the faith of the Doomsday Witch.


    Abilities like corrosion and strength could easily cause such an effect as well, but in essence, they were worlds apart.


    Thetter, no matter what, was merely a violent change constrained by thews of physics.


    The former was more like a concept that forcibly "erased" a part of the wooden post.


    The Annihtion attribute, one of Ivyst''s innate powerful talents.


    This attribute, both in terms of destructive power and stamina, was top-notch in the early stages.


    And in the High Rank stages, it was terrifying to the extreme.


    ording to the descriptions in the original text, even some things governed by rules or concepts could be forcibly eradicated.


    Such as, temperature.


    Ivyst had previously demonstrated her ability to lower temperatures many times, which was not any kind of ice-based ability.


    It was merely her erasing the notion of "heat" from her surroundings.


    Although Lynn was currently far from being as skilled as she was, for other First Rank Transcendents, it was still a dimensionally reductional strike.


    If he could also draw upon another strength-based Extraordinary Ability, it would be aplete breakthrough.


    Lynn thought silently.


    But speaking of Extraordinary Abilities, he suddenly remembered something else.


    It seemed those two skills could also be upgraded.


    [Would you like to spend 10 system points to Upgrade Lie Swallowing to Second Rank?]


    "Yes."


    [Upgrade sessful!]


    [Due to unknown factors, your original ability has undergone a new change.]


    Oh?


    Lynn became curious and opened to check.


    [Name: Deception Game]


    [Rank: Second Rank]


    [Effect: While retaining the abilities of Lie Swallowing, each time the host lies, it will be considered the start of a game; if the lie holds, the game is won, and the host has a chance to temporarily Steal an Extraordinary Ability from the other party. Therger the Rank difference, the lower the sess rate and duration of the theft.]


    [Activation Condition: Possess more than eight Divine-given factors.]


    ```


    [Points needed to upgrade: 90]


    This skill... seems kind of awesome?


    Lynn was lost in thought.


    Not only that, he seemed to have retained the original Lie Swallowing''s ability.


    That is to say, the two could be nested.


    By using Lie Swallowing to make his own liese true and then getting a sessful game judgment, that was probably how it worked.


    But upon closer consideration, it wasn''t that outrageous.


    After all, the sess rate of Lie Swallowing decreased as the opponent''s Rank increased.


    Using Lie Swallowing on ordinary people, the sess rate could be said to be one hundred percent, but against a First Rank Transcendent, the probability would drop to below one-third.


    The higher the level, the harder it was for the lies to hold up.


    Moreover, it wasn''t guaranteed to steal the opponent''s Extraordinary Ability even if the lie took hold.


    So in a strict sense, this whole thing still depended on luck.


    Thinking this, Lynn casually upgraded the Thorny Crown as well.


    However, this time the ability did not change, only its effects were somewhat enhanced.


    [Name: Thorny Crown]


    [Rank: Third Rank]


    [Effect: Under this ability, you can umte the pain you feel and release it with double the amplification.]


    [Activation Condition: Possess more than six Divine-given factors]


    [Points needed to upgrade: 150]


    Not only did he get double the amplification, but the previously required double pain had also disappeared.


    Lynn was very satisfied with the current effect.


    He had 143 system points left, enough for one more ability draw, but Lynn decided to save them for now.


    After all, his luck was just too terrible.


    What if he ended up drawing a support or sneaky ability again?


    He decided to wait until the recent events concluded, find an opportunity to obtain an Ancient Curse that could increase his luck, and keep it on him before drawing a new ability.


    In any case, Ivyst didn''t need him to contribute anybat power at the moment; he could just lurk in the shadows and level up.


    After all, he had just dered earlier today that he had sessfully amodated the Divine-given factor of "Holy Insight" faith that the Princess had furnished for him.


    So no one had expectations for hisbat power; they only regarded him as a strategist type of yer.


    Little did they know, this was exactly the effect Lynn wanted.


    He aimed to be a master of holding out!


    After sorting out the system''s business for about ten minutes, Lynn then turned his attention to the training dummy in front of him.


    Thorny Crown, activate!


    He had expected to see a strange scene simr to the Prisoner of Destiny when he first activated Lie Swallowing.


    Unexpectedly, nothing happened at all.


    Although Lynn was somewhat puzzled, he didn''t inquire too deeply.


    "Bang!"


    He punched the straw-wrapped part of the dummy.


    A strong dull pain surged through him.


    Subsequently, Lynn distinctly felt that the pain seemed to transform into a kind of energy that flowed into his body, stored in a peculiar way, ready to be released at any moment.


    For now, the Thorny Crown was the only attack ability he possessed.


    Therefore, under the guise of exercising his body, Lynn began to store some pain energy secretly, just so he''d have some self-defense capability.


    With that in mind, he started punching the dummy forcefully one punch after another.


    The original body''s physical condition wasn''t weak; after all, he had once joined the military, and although his muscles were not explosive, they contained strength beyond that of an ordinary person.


    "Bang!


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    ...


    Time flew by swiftly.


    Unknowingly, the sun on the horizon also began to set, casting a magnificent sunset across the sky.


    And Lynn''s forehead, as well as his body, were drenched in sweat.


    He had been training here all afternoon.


    At this moment, his fists were swollen and bleeding, with the slightest touch bringing a heart-piercing sting.


    However, this was the result he wanted.


    Feeling the increasingly immense pain energy inside his body, Lynn was in a very good mood.


    He took out a bottle of potion he had prepared in advance from his pocket, uncorked it, and gently applied it to the surface of his fists.


    A cool sensation apanied the wounds as they began to heal at a visible speed.


    That would be enough for today.


    He had to attend a banquet with that woman, Ivyst,ter in the evening, hosted by Duke Tierus, so he needed to take a bath and clean up properly.


    If he went looking as disheveled as he was now, she''d probably skin him alive.


    Thinking this, Lynn wiped the sweat from his forehead and prepared to head back to the manor.


    But as he turned around, he found himself surrounded by a group of people.


    The manor''s trusted aides who had been training in the sand just moments ago had somehow gathered behind him.


    At a nce, although most were ordinary people, there were also a few First and Second Rank Transcendents among them.


    "Is there something you need?"


    Lynn nced at them and asked.


    "Are you the outsider who made young master Rhein hit the wall twice?" The bald-headed leader, clenching his fists eagerly, said, "You''ve been practicing all afternoon; do you need us to be your sparring partners?"


    Sensing their ill intentions, Lynn smiled.


    "Sure."


    ```

 Chapter 60 Its like someone brings you a pillow just as youre dozing off!

    "ya, Master ya, something terrible has happened!!!"


    As ya was searching for Lynn within the manor, he suddenly heard the frantic voice of a maiding from behind him.


    Looking at the maid''s rushed appearance, ya felt puzzled.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Upon hearing this, the maid stopped in her tracks, gasping for breath: "Master Lynn and... and over thirty of the practice field''s trusted aides, they... they''ve started fighting!!!"


    "Do the trusted aides have any problems?"


    ya was stunned and subconsciously asked.


    After all, given that guy''s character, he would never make a move unless he was sure he couldpletely outwit them.


    Thus, the first thing he worried about was his own family''s guards.


    The maid shook her head repeatedly.


    Seeing this, ya''s heart sank.


    "Master Lynn, he... he beat up the trusted aides, beat... beat... beat..."


    Beaten to death?


    ya''s scalp tingled.


    Damn it, Lynn, what on earth have you done?!


    Looking at the breathless maid, ya instinctively prepared to rush to the scene of the incident.


    "He... he made them cry!"


    "?"


    ...


    Five minutester.


    "Ow, it hurts, damn it!!!"


    "It really hurts so much; I can''t take it anymore!!!"


    "Help!!! Help!!!"


    Looking at the muscle-bound brutes rolling on the ground in the practice field, wailing and weeping, ya''s expression was rigid.


    What on earth has happened here?


    He turned his gaze to Lynn, who was standing beside them.


    However, Lynn just shrugged: "To be honest, I only punched each of them once; your family''s aides need to be reced."


    I don''t believe you for a second!


    Looking at Lynn''s innocent appearance, ya was filled with exasperation.


    "By the way, I was actually looking for you for a reason," Lynn said, patting his shoulder and signaling not to fuss over such trivial matters, "I''m set to attend a dinner with the Princess soon. Tell me about Bai Leier Tierus."


    Although ya was puzzled, he still put the matter at hand out of mind and rolled his eyes: "That''s actually why I was looking for you."


    "For some unknown reason, my father suddenly sent me to represent the Augusta Family at the dinner, suggesting we go together."


    "As for Duke Tierus... he''s a legend in the military. There are so many things to tell about him that it would take days and nights to finish. What specifically would you like to know?"


    ya rambled on.


    Lynn pondered for a moment: "Do you know what he hase to Orn City for this time?"


    "Of course, it''s for money," ya said, shaking his head, "Recently, the Demon n battlefield has been somewhat unstable, and the south is likely to go to war again."


    "And what is most needed for war is supplies. So right now, Duke Tierus needs to raise arge sum of money to prepare for a winter offensive that mighte in a few months."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Lynn was surprised: "How does he n to raise funds? Just through this charity dinner?"


    Since the original text did not mention this part of the plot, his understanding was still somewhat limited.


    Although the dinner had invited many nobles and celebrities from Orn City and nearby cities, and some had even traveled thousands of miles from the Imperial Capital to get a chance to meet with Duke Tierus.


    But in the end, the amount that could be raised was nothing more than a drop in the bucket.


    ya answered without hesitation: "Of course not."


    "The dinner is just feeling out the stony ground. The real purpose is to get a clear understanding of the attitude of the nobility and the church towards his next move."


    "What move?"


    "Taxation." ya identified the core of the issue, "Since Orn City and the surrounding cities are too far from the Imperial Capital and there are constant wars, the Empire''s control over this area is very low."


    "One can see the signs from one thing, and that is taxes."


    "As far as I know, the Empire hasn''t received full taxes from these cities for several years. Most of it has been embezzled by the local church and officials, and they gloss over it with all sorts of excuses."


    "For example, certainrge churches have tax reduction policies exclusively for themselves. They clearly scrape off themon people''s fat, but they don''t contribute a penny."


    "Yet these powers are entrenched and have deep ties with the Imperial Capital. You can''t just recklessly cut them down."


    Hearing this long piece of dialogue, Lynn considered thoughtfully, "So that''s why Duke Tierus is so troubled and has toe here in person?"


    "Exactly."


    ya nodded.


    The two walked together, falling into brief silence.


    After a moment, Lynn asked out of curiosity, "In your opinion, among the many local churches, which one is the most insatiable?"


    "It''s definitely the Heavenly Principle Church," ya replied without hesitation. "If you ask me, these people preach doctrine all day long, but they don''t do a single good deed. Sixty to seventy percent of the people''s money ends up in their bellies."


    Heavenly Principle Church?


    Isn''t that a coincidence?


    Hearing his answer, Lynn''s eyes lit up slightly.


    He had been worried about not having a breakthrough point for the trial of the Doomsday Witch, and now it suddenly appeared before him.


    It was like someone serving a pillow to a sleepy person!


    Noticing the familiar glint suddenly shing in his eyes, ya shuddered a little.


    Although they hadn''t been acquainted for long, he knew from his understanding of Lynn that the guy was probably scheming against someone again.


    "If... I mean if," Lynn suddenly began after a moment, "if a heavenly handsome guy could help Duke Tierus raise thisrge sum of money and crush the Heavenly Principle Church''s arrogance, what could he get?"


    ya looked at him, "He could gain the friendship of the Tierus family and the favor of the Princess."


    "After all, the Princess has long sought the support of an elector."


    ...


    North Orn City, Bartleion Mansion.


    At this moment, a luxurious ck carriage was parked on the wide road in front of the mansion''s entrance.


    A richly dressed middle-aged man stood in front of the carriage, watching the well-arranged line of servants at the mansion''s entrance.


    "Still no word from that boy?"


    "No, Butler Sherlock," the leading manservant nced at him cautiously, "Lynn... that boy hasn''t been back since he left the manorst time. Even after searching all over Orn City, there''s been no trace of him."


    "Keep looking. They said, ''alive, we want to see the person; dead, we want to see the corpse.''" The man known as Butler Sherlock snorted coldly, "Also, have you forgotten what I said before?"


    "Don''t call me butler. In this city, I am the spokesman of the Bartleion Mansion. Call me master!"


    "Sorry, Master Sherlock!"


    "Let it go, but don''t let it happen again," Sherlock said with an annoyed wave of his hand, "How is that other matter progressing?"


    "Most of the Bartleion family''s assets in Orn City, including real estate, have been mostly ounted for. Over the years, they have also gradually beenundered into your personal assets."


    Sherlock frowned, "Not my personal assets, the Mos family''s private assets... Remember, after tonight this mansion will wee its new master."


    "Understood!"


    The manservant wiped the sweat from his face.


    Seeing that the time was about right, Sherlock spoke up again,


    "Duke Tierus has also sent an invitation to the Bartleion family. I''ll go and see, and by the way, wee that distinguished person from the Mos family. Make sure you look after the house well."


    "Yes, master... What if that boyes back?"


    Upon hearing this, Sherlock said indifferently, "Beat him severely, then lock him up."


    The manservant''s face showed a hint of hesitation, "But after all, he is from the Bartleion family..."


    Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    "The Bartleion family? What Bartleion family is there now?" Sherlock sneered coldly, "An old man in aa, a waste expelled from the Imperial Capital... Oh right, there''s also a minor miss far away in the Imperial Capital, currently missing, dead or alive."


    "Do you really think they can stir up any trouble?"


    Recalling the boy who arrived like a walking dead,pletely broken, he couldn''t help shaking his head.


    The Bartleion family was in decline, without any hope of turning the tables.


    If the boy knew what was good for him, he would be best off dying quietly somewhere out of sight.


    It was just that his own foresight was advanced, having pledged allegiance to the right power early.


    Otherwise, he might also face reckoning.

 Chapter 61 Eh, I Have a Plan

    When Lynn had changed into his formal attire and arrived at the manor entrance with ya, a luxurious and spacious four-wheeled carriage had already been stopped in the middle of the road.


    From the thorny emblem carved on it, one could tell that this cariage must be that woman''s exclusive ride.


    "Two young masters, please get in. Her Highness has been waiting for a long time,"


    the elderly housekeeper Kasha gestured calmly outside the carriage.


    Seeing this, ya suddenly stopped in his tracks, as if struck by a sudden thought, "Hey, I suddenly have a stomach ache. Why don''t you go ahead with Her Highness, and I''ll followter in another carriage?"


    With that, he turned to leave.


    Nonsense, he certainly didn''t wish to share a room with that terrifying princess.


    But how could Lynn let him have his way?


    Having to share a carriage with that woman meant the risk of hypnosis causing who knows what mischief.


    He grabbed ya by the neck in one swift motion, ignoring his struggles, and dragged him into the carriage.


    From the outside, this carriage was already an overly extravagant model.


    Yet, when Lynn stepped inside, he found that the space appeared to be four to five timesrger than it looked from the outside.


    It seems that some kind of space-folding Extraordinary Ability had been used.


    At this moment, a tall woman dressed in a rose-colored fringe long dress was sitting idle beside the window, resting her chin in her hands, boredly watching the street scenes.


    Tonight, she had taken off the ck patterned mask and wore a butterfly-style half-face mask instead, exposing her snow-white chin and crystalline red lips, looking both sexy and enchanting.


    Upon hearing themotion, Princess Ivyst turned her head to look at the two who had entered.


    Her gaze firstnded on Lynn.


    At a nce, one could see the already exceptionally handsome ck-haired youth, now dressed in an opulent and exquisite buttoned-up formal attire with whitece lining, giving him a look of pride and elegance.


    Princess Ivyst was very satisfied with her own taste.


    "Not bad at all, looking quite presentable,"


    shemented indifferently, after her gaze lingered on him for seven or eight seconds.


    After all, the formal wear was personally chosen by her.


    In fact, ording to the original procedure, the tailor should havee to provide sample garments for one to choose the preferred style.


    But Princess Ivyst found it tedious, and coupled with her control desires, she didn''t think to ask for Lynn''s opinion and casually chose something she liked.


    "You look very beautiful tonight as well, Your Highness,"


    Lynn said with a look of admiration as he performed a courtesy, under ya''s horrified gaze.


    Upon hearing this, Princess Ivyst let out a cold smile, "You''re quite bold."


    But in the end, she didn''t issue any substantial punishment.


    Perhaps it was because there was a third wheel nearby.


    After their brief exchange, Princess Ivyst nced subtly at ya, frowned slightly, and then shifted her gaze away again.


    The princess just now found me an eyesore, didn''t she?


    ya''s legs went weak; he found a corner like a quail and bowed his head low.


    Like a schoolboy who had done something wrong, he didn''t even dare to take a deep breath.


    All he hoped was that Her Royal Highness would not focus her attention on him during the journey.


    Of course, as it turned out, he was worried over nothing.


    Lynn chose a seat opposite her and sat down.


    Then the carriage door slowly closed, and the carriage began to move smoothly.


    Princess Ivyst, resting her chin on her hand, turned to Lynn, "What are your thoughts about tonight''s banquet?"


    "If Your Highness wishes to get closer to the Tierus family, simply cater to their desires," Lynn pondered for a moment, "They want money, so giving them money should suffice, right?"


    Princess Ivyst huffed lightly, "If it were that simple, why would I bother asking you?"


    "To satisfy the three major armies under Duke Tierus with money, even my financially potent brother would find it a strain."


    "A rough estimate, just the initial sum would be at least five hundred thousand Gold Coins," Princess Ivyst said ndly, "Moreover, is an alliance formed on purely mary interests truly solid?"


    In other words, there''s ack of funds.


    Lynn criticized internally, but his face remained expressionless.


    After a pause, as if struck by sudden inspiration, Lynn eximed, "Hey, Your Highness, I have an idea!"


    "Let''s hear it."


    Seeing his eager attitude to advise, Princess Ivyst''s expression rxed slightly, and she nodded for him to continue.


    "The blood volume of a healthy adult male is roughly 8% of his body weight, which amounts to about eighty thousand drops," Lynn''s eyes shone brightly, "And ording to my previous tally, there are over five thousand clergy in Orn City from the Heavenly Principle Church alone. If we were to capture all of them and throw them into the greed magic box''s containment chamber, that would probably..."


    "Okay, stop, don''t say any more."


    Princess Ivyst''s eyes shed with a hint of headache as she held her forehead and spoke.


    Like a quail huddled in a corner, ya was sweating bullets.


    This must be the grim reaper incarnate!


    Compared to Lynn, it seemed the dread-inducing Princess had suddenly be the embodiment of kindness andpassion.


    "I''ve also considered this idea before, trading death row inmates for some Gold Coins," contemted Princess Ivyst before shaking her head, "but the greed magic box isn''t as simple as you think."


    "As the amount of blood it absorbs increases, the ancient entity sealed within will gradually awaken... In short, it will be quite troublesome."


    So she had considered this already?!


    ya immediately decided to retract her previous thought.


    Once again, the atmosphere fell into silence.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    And so, they traveled without a word.


    Ten minutester, the carriage slowly pulled up to a spacious street and the carriage door opened.


    At this moment, the night had fallen, and the streetlights just began to illuminate.


    What came into view was a noble mansion that wasn''t overly luxurious.


    It was vast in area, but unlike the nouveau riche in Orn City, it exuded restraint and understated elegance.


    However, at this very moment, the road was blocked with various carriages parked alongside it, making the spacious street impassable.


    One after another,vishly dressed nobles entered Tierus Manor, nked by their servants, shining brightly.


    "Let''s go," stood up Princess Ivyst, "Also, I am attending the banquet in disguise this time, so be mindful of your behavior."


    Dressed in a red gown, she carried herself with regal poise, like a queen attending a grand event.


    Since very few people knew of her presence in Orn City, even with a mask, it was hard for others to associate her with the infamous Third Imperial Princess.


    Lynn nodded.


    Under ya''s gaze, he pulled a beak-nosed crow mask out of his pocket.


    "What''s this for?"


    ya asked in surprise, quietly.


    Hearing her question, Lynn responded seriously and loudly, "If I don''t wear it, wouldn''t Princess be the only one wearing a mask? I think, at the very least, I should help share the burden of those odd stares directed at her."


    "And you too, as a subordinate, youck such awareness!"


    Saying this, he swiftly put on the crow mask.


    ya was stunned, as if sheprehended the perils of the human heart for the first time.


    Holy shit, is this directed at me?


    She looked around but found nothing suitable to cover her face, herplexion darkened, and she resigned herself.


    At the same time, she seethed with resentment.


    Damn it, this guy really knows how to brown-nose.


    No wonder Princess favors him so much.


    Indeed.


    Upon hearing Lynn''s words, Princess Ivyst, who walked ahead, paused momentarily, a fleeting smile crossing her lips.


    ...


    "Bishop, about the banquetter..."


    Somewhere around the corner, a question came from within a discreet carriage.


    "Yes, I know," the middle-aged man known as the bishop responded indifferently, "We, the local forces led by the Heavenly Principle Church, will probably face questioning from Tierus, but this is within our expectations." Stay updated via empire


    "If he knows his ce, he''d better ept our olive branch. Then he might be able to leave with a sum of money. Otherwise, he shouldn''t think of getting even a penny."


    His subordinate seemed puzzled by the response, "But he is a Duke after all, and hemands an army..."


    "Not just him, there are other Dukes in the Saint Laurent Empire with real power," the middle-aged man said with a cold smile, "Moreover, the politics of the border cities are veryplex, and having been appointed as Governor for less than a year, he wouldn''t want to get involved."


    "Otherwise, why do you think he hasn''t used the military to impose taxes by force?"


    "I see... Wait, Bishop, who is that?"


    The subordinate caught a glimpse of someone outside the window.


    Hearing this, the Bishop of Orn City''s church district, Moselle, looked up.


    "That person... is the rumored Third Imperial Princess Ivyst? Is she also attending this banquet?" Moselle frowned, "But I didn''t see her name on the guest list."


    "She must havee in disguise."


    His subordinate guessed.


    Upon hearing this, Moselle appeared contemtive.


    After a long silence, a hint of coldness flickered in his eyes.


    "What do you think, if someone were to identally reveal the identity of that ''Evil Princess'' during the banquet, wouldn''t it make the scene quite interesting?"

 Chapter 62 The Neglected Princess

    "I feel so embarrassed."


    In the resplendent banquet hall, ya lowered her head in shame, feeling the strange staresing frequently from around.


    But the figure beside her, wearing a sharp-beaked crow mask, Lynn, seemed to think otherwise.


    He held a drink in his hand, slipping the straw through the eye portion of the crow mask, sipping it with a slurping noise.


    "Anyway, I''m wearing a mask, so the shame will fall on the Augusta family, not on me."


    He said cheerfully.


    Meanwhile, his gaze swept around subtly.


    The banquet had already begun.


    People moved back and forth inside the hall; at the center stage, musicians yed delightful dance tunes.


    A long dining table beside showcased exquisite floral-patterned tablecloths, expensive silver candbras, and offered steaks, desserts, fruits, and various cold dishes for everyone to pick from.


    The number of guests present, excluding the servants, had probably exceeded two hundred. Read new adventures at empire


    The scene was undeniably grand.


    The entire Tierus Mansion was splendid, with crystal chandeliers on the ceiling casting a bright yellow glow, and the floor''s porcin tiles sparkling with intricate golden patterns.


    Though the time for dancing had not yet arrived, people were scattered in small groups throughout the ground floor hall, holding champagne and conversing.


    As for the Imperial Princess, as soon as she entered, she was greeted by several youngdies and noblewomen of the Tierus family.


    The anticipated scene of her being ostracized did not ur.


    After all, those present were from the Duke''s family, and Ivyst was the Royal Family.


    As long as the masks stayed on, the etiquette was maintained.


    "That''s the bishop responsible for the Heavenly Principle Church in Orn City," said ya quietly at that moment. "His name is Moselle Brandi, a prominent invisible power broker locally, reportedly with deep connections to numerous nobles in the Imperial Capital."


    Lynn looked thoughtfully at the middle-aged man dressed in a Church Robe.


    Just then, the lighting in the mansion dimmed slightly, then focused on the corridor on the third floor.


    Everyone looked up.


    A middle-aged man with a heroic appearance, dressed in military uniform, stood at the edge of the staircase.


    He appeared to be around forty, with slicked back ck hair, a well-built physique, and his military jacket adorned with countless medals of honor.


    Bai Leier Tierus, the organizer of the evening and the head of the Tierus family.


    His gaze swept over the crowd authoritatively.


    Seeing that everyone was silently and nervously watching him, Duke Tierus suddenly smiled.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, wee to this charity fundraising dinner," his voice boomed. "I hope you have fun and enjoy drinks on this long night."


    "And for those gentlemen anddies who are still single, I have only one request."


    "Lose the single!"


    "Enjoy the dinner and the uing dance!"


    With that, he raised his ss and downed it in one go.


    The atmosphere of the banquet instantly warmed up, reaching a climax.


    Immediately after, Duke Tierus descended from the staircase, picked up another ss of wine from a servant''s tray, and slowly mingled among the guests.


    He stopped now and then to exchange pleasantries with ady, whispered with a noble, or shared a mutual smile.


    Though a military man, he was still a noble deeply rooted in the upper reaches of the Empire, naturally familiar with these protocols.


    However, after watching for a while, Lynn sensed something was amiss.


    Logically, even if Ivyst wasn''t the most honored guest tonight, she should at least be among the top few.


    But this old man had already switched several sses of wine, enjoyed lively chats with many nobles from Orn City, and at least greeted those he was unfamiliar with.


    But hepletely missed the Imperial Princess.


    From start to finish, he did not once approach her to speak.


    Lynn couldn''t help but turn towards Ivyst, who was standing by the side of the other women.


    Although she was still asionally engaging in conversation with those around her, Lynn, who knew her well, detected a trace of coldness in her red eyes.


    It was clear that Ivyst also understood the hidden meaning behind Duke Tierus''s actions.


    Sending an invitation and observing all formalities was a mark of nobility and respect towards the Royal Family.


    But as a military man, he did not want to get involved in the King''s election so early, or to make a move that showed where he stood.


    Or perhaps, he simply did not think highly of Ivyst.


    Whichever the reason, it was enough to irritate her.


    "Do you feel like the temperature around us has dropped a bit?"


    ya suddenlymented.


    "Heh."


    ...


    Time flew swiftly.


    Soon, the banquet was halfway through.


    Watching the donation box being pushed to the center of the hall, everyone fell into silence.


    Clearly, the highlight of the evening was about to begin.


    They all understood that the Tierus family was not truly unable toe up with the funds for the disabled soldiers.


    They were using this facade to probe certain matters.


    Or perhaps, to urge some people to take sides.


    Watching the silent crowd, Duke Tierus, as if oblivious, announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, next is the charity donation segment. Thank you for your generous participation tonight. On behalf of over twenty thousand disabled soldiers from the Military Department, I offer you my sincere respects."


    Saying this, he made a slight bow before everyone.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Instantly, the room was engulfed in silence, with everyone ncing around, seemingly to observe the reactions of others.


    Clearly, nobody wanted to be the first to give.


    The powers in Orn City were intricately interlinked; pulling one thread could affect the whole situation. Two families might share deeply intertwined interests.


    How could they not see that Duke Tierus was asking them toy down their cards?


    But once you be the first mover, your happy days in Orn City woulde to an end. After his departure, there would surely be suppression and exclusion by the entire city''s power.


    After all, the taxes that had umted over the years amounted to a terrifying astronomical figure.


    If they were really to make up the entire sum, it would be extremely damaging.


    Rather than being individually hewn and deboned, it was better to form a united front, showing the Duke that the local snakes could be fierce.


    Moreover, it shouldn''t be their turn to be the first mover.


    Observing the scene before him, Duke Tierus slightly narrowed his eyes, seemingly understanding something.


    "p p p!!!"


    Apanying the sudden apuse, everyone''s attention was drawn towards the source of the sound.


    Seeing the middle-aged man in a Church Robe, many breathed a sigh of relief.


    Bishop Moselle made his way through the crowd, pping his hands while exhibiting a respectful demeanor.


    "I''ve long heard that the Duke is sympathetic to the soldiers; seeing it today, I truly find it admirable and well-deserved of his reputation."


    "Although Orn City is located at the frontier and the Heavenly Principle Church has a difficult time moving around here, out of humanitarian concern for our soldiers who protect our homnd, I will donate five thousand Gold Coins to the Military Department on behalf of our Church."


    Saying this, he ced an envelope into the donation box.


    "Thank you for your generosity,"


    Duke Tierus said tly.


    As far as donations were concerned, this was undoubtedly arge amount, but he showed no joy whatsoever.


    Meanwhile, a round of appreciative apuse broke out in the hall.


    Hearing the noise from behind, Moselle gestured for silence and then looked sincerely at Duke Tierus.


    "Additionally, I have another gift I''d like to present to the Duke and all the distinguished guests present here tonight."

 Chapter 63 Dividing the Cake

    Said this, Moselle bishop nced over his shoulder at his subordinates.


    The others immediately withdrew.


    A few momentster, within the crowd present, there was a movement to the sides and expressions of surprise appeared on everyone''s faces.


    Before them, a dessert cart had been pushed to the front from the center of the pathway by a man.


    It was arge food cart with a specially ordered, giant fouryer cake adorned with various colors, which looked quite tempting.


    Considering its size, it could likely be divided among everyone present with plenty to spare.


    Seeing such a spectacle unfurled, a hint of shadow crossed Duke Tierus'' eyes.


    Yet he remained silent and turned to Moselle bishop.


    In response, Moselle bishop bowed again, "I heard that the duke''s birthday ising soon, considering your busy military duties, I did not dare to disturb you rashly, so I thought to take the opportunity of today''s charity dinner to offer you Heavenly Principle Church''s sincere blessings."


    His gaze was earnest, giving Duke Tierus ample respect.


    After all, the other was a figure of high authority.


    Even though there were those stronger than the duke backing him, it was naturally better if he could be won over with benefits.


    Moselle''s actions had dual significance.


    Leading in donations was meant to show that without his endorsement, the nobles would not align with him.


    And the cake was akin to an olive branch thrown to Duke Tierus on behalf of those behind him.


    Either take no money and leave, or join them and share the cake.


    The choice was suddenly in Duke Tierus'' hands.


    Seeing him remain silent, a wave of delight surged in the bishop''s heart, thinking he was considering the implicit offer.


    He promptly added, "This cake was specially made in Orn City''srgest workshop, and it''s quiterge; even if we served every guest here, there would still be more than enough."


    "Since that is the case, I''d take the liberty of distributing this cake on behalf of everyone here, if I may?"


    Saying this, he took a te and a cake knife handed over by a subordinate.


    "Mr. Tierus, you are the most powerful and influential person here," he said with a smile, "Thergest, sweetest piece should naturally go to you."


    Saying this, he prepared to make a cut.


    But just then, the until-now silent Duke Tierus finally spoke.


    At that moment, his face bore none of the smile from the beginning of the dinner; it was calm yet carried an intense majesty, like the forewarning of a storm.


    "You''re distributing the cake?" he coldly said, "Just a regional bishop of the Heavenly Principle Church, who gave you the authority?"


    His words concerning the cake cut deeper than just cake sharing.


    At this point, the topic clearly touched on the true purpose of Tierus'' visit and the fundamental conflict between them.


    Taxes.


    ...


    "What are they actually talking about?"


    ya said nkly, staring at the tense atmosphere of the moment.


    Lynn scratched his crow mask, "In general, it''s likely about a conflict between imperial power and nobility."


    Duke Tierus represented Saint Laurent VI in tax collection.


    Yet such a high-ranking person was facing resistance from the local powers.


    If they didn''t have the support of those long-standing nobles from the Imperial Capital behind them, how could they dare be so bold?


    "Although I don''t quite understand..." ya nced at him, "but it seems that the Princess has always hoped that you could help. Shouldn''t you do somethingter?"


    "Do something? Help the Heavenly Principle Church to disperse their forces?"


    "Don''t be foolish. In this situation, it''s best to wait and see." Lynn chuckled, "Only a fool would volunteer to be a live target."


    ya looked at him again, hesitating to speak.


    ...


    Upon hearing Duke Tierus''s sudden aggression, the actions of Moselle bishop froze.


    He looked up to see the other man''s imposing expression, his tiger-like eyes almost glowing with authority as they bore down on him.


    Fortunately, the Moselle bishop had weathered many storms, so he did not show any fear outwardly.


    "It seems you are displeased, Sir Duke. If that is the case, then you may divide this cake."


    Saying this, he prepared to hand over the dinner knife he held.


    This was actually a significant concession.


    Moselle thought Duke Tierus''s appetite was too great and that he wanted more, so he prepared to temporarily agree to satisfy his greed.


    But unexpectedly, Duke Tierus shook his head again, "I said you don''t have the right to divide the cake, which doesn''t mean I do."


    He once again refused the Moselle bishop''s kindness.


    For a moment, the Moselle bishop stood rooted to the spot, his expression slightly darkening.


    And hearing such unreasonable words, the atmosphere around cooled down.


    Pairs of solemn eyes turned towards Duke Tierus, thinking he was about to cause trouble.


    Just then, someone from the crowd suddenly asked, "Respected Sir Duke, since you put it that way, then may I ask, who does have this right?"


    "Can''t it be decided by an internal election among us?"


    This was a well-meaning joke.


    The speaker apparently held a prominent position in Orn City, so the people around responded with a few low chuckles.


    He seemed to be trying to ease the tense atmosphere in this manner.


    But Duke Tierus did not take it as a joke.


    "Election? That sounds like a not half-bad idea," he said lightly, swirling the red wine in his ss. "But it also brings up two problems."


    "First, it will ignore the wishes of a minority, like guests present here, perhaps not everyone wishes to share this cake with you, but they are forced to pinch their noses and swallow it."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Saying this, Duke Tierus scanned the room.


    Indeed, there were a few guests whose faces showed hesitation.


    "Second, who can guarantee that the person elected will not develop greedier thoughts after tasting the delicious cake, seizing what should belong to others, leading to unfair distribution?"


    Saying this, he nced subtly at Moselle bishop.


    As if hinting at something.


    Moselle bishop''s face turned from pale to red and back.


    Just then, another voice spoke up from the crowd, "What if we appoint a specific person to monitor the one who divides the cake?"


    The speaker was a member of the city council and also local nobility.


    "That idea is even more foolish," Duke Tierus shook his head. "You would certainly collude with each other."


    Hearing this, that person''s face turned deathly pale.


    Clearly, the corruption within the power structures of Orn City was already well-known.

 Chapter 64 Such a trivial matter, why bother my prince?

    Duke Tierus chose to just touch upon that topic.


    He did not linger on the aspect of that member of parliament, but rather surveyed all those present.


    At this moment, the atmosphere seemed to have shifted again,pared to the previously tense ambience.


    After initially being hard-pressed, Duke Tierus had restrained his own authority, wondering what exactly was on his mind.


    The topic of "Who has the right to divide the cake" had evolved into "How to fairly divide the cake."


    The original ountability aimed at Moselle and the others suddenly transformed into a discussion about the Empire''s political system.


    The clever ones among the audience caught the implications and breathed a sigh of relief.


    It looked like the Duke still had some apprehensions about the Heavenly Principle Church and the great nobles of the Imperial Capital.


    At the very least, he wasn''t willing topletely burn bridges.


    Thus, he redirected the topic of conversation.


    With this in mind, some in the crowd boldly suggested, "Perhaps, one could improve the treatment of the person dividing the cake, allowing him to cut arge piece for himself first. Once his greed is satisfied, he will surely be much fairer."


    Duke Tierus shook his head, "Do you think human greed has limits?"


    "Once arge slice is divided, they will inevitably covet the second, and in the end, even if they can''t finish it, they will want to take the cake home. That is human nature."


    The speaker, upon hearing this, hung their head in shame.


    Several guests were discouraged in session, and the people present lost the will to continue the discussion.


    However, on reflection, it seemed that what Duke Tierus had said made some sense.


    At the same time, a question slowly took root in many people''s hearts.


    Exactly how could distribution be carried out most fairly?


    Clearly, no one was naive enough to think that they were merely discussing cake.


    Of course, all those present were influential figures and beneficiaries themselves; the distribution they discussed was limited to their own stratum.


    For a moment, the whole room fell into silence.


    Seeing that no one spoke, Duke Tierus suddenly revealed a meaningful smile, "Regarding the topic I just presented, does anyone have a better answer?"


    "Don''t feel too pressured, think of it as a small digression over tea and dinner."


    "Additionally, if someone''s answer satisfies me, then I will reserve thest half-hour I had nned to spend in my study tonight for him, to hear his ideas and thoughts."


    A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples!


    Realizing the implication of his words, everyone showed a hint of astonishment.


    Clearly, Duke Tierus was extending an olive branch.


    Unlike the cornering he earlier did, he was looking to support promising talents!


    If someone truly caught the Duke''s eye, even if they couldn''t gain a foothold in Orn City, it was akin to securing eligibility to enter the social circles of the Imperial Capital!


    Compared to this remote corner, it was indeed a heavenly leap!


    Immediately, everyone had different thoughts.


    Yet recalling how the few prior responses had not satisfied him, hesitation crept in.


    After all, the problem of distribution had always been a perennial headache for any country; how could it be solved so easily?


    Just as the gathered guests were deep in thought, the Moselle bishop, who had been quiet for a long time, suddenly spoke up.


    "My Lord Duke, if we were to discuss such a matter in public, I believe that there might be an august presence whose opinion we cannot ignore."


    Looking at Duke Tierus, he seemed to have regained hisposure.


    August presence?


    When this statement spread throughout the banquet hall, everyone fell into bewilderment.


    Who could be considered more august than Bai Leier Tierus at the scene?


    Sensing the uncertainty of the crowd, he did not keep them in suspense but raised his head and looked towards a corner that nobody was paying attention to.


    Following his gaze, everyone saw the tall figure standing beside Lady Tierus.


    She was dressed in a red gown, wearing a butterfly mask, and looked incredibly aloof.


    Not only that, at the sight of her, everyone felt a subtle sense of disgust and anxiety.


    Who was she?


    The crowd was utterly perplexed.


    Seeing this, Moselle raised his voice, "Respected Ivyst, might I ask for your esteemed opinion on the Duke''s recent topic?"


    Ivyst?!


    Why was she at this banquet?!


    Could it be that the Royal Family was also getting involved with the border tax issue?!


    Hearing this name, many people present instinctively took a step back.


    Clearly, they were not unfamiliar with the notorious Third Imperial Princess.


    Even if they had not seen the Curse Mark on her face, the mere actions she hadmitted were enough to be etched into their memories.


    In an instant, the scene became somewhat chaotic.


    Their gazes, as if by agreement, converged on the red-gowned woman, eyes filled with fear and rejection.


    At this stage, things had clearly spun out of control.


    Redirect the disaster.


    This was Moselle''s idea upon learning that Ivyst had attended the banquet incognito.


    Shift tonight''s conflict and focus onto the despised Third Imperial Princess.


    Loathsome perhaps, but they couldn''t fault him for it.


    Moselle knew all too well the ruthless character of the "Evil Princess."


    But would she truly dare?


    Would she dare kill a district bishop of the Heavenly Principle Church in public, after angering Saint Laurent VI?


    Just because he exposed her identity before everyone?


    If she really did that, it wouldn''t just be murdering one person; it would also mean dering war against the Heavenly Principle Church and the great nobility.


    At that time, no one could save her.


    Although she possessed terrifying strength, in this world one couldn''t do whatever they wanted merely because of power.


    Even the gods could not achieve this feat.


    ```


    Unfortunately, Bishop Moselle had miscalcted one thing.


    He had grossly underestimated the extent to which this madwoman could be merciless in her extreme emotions.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    And, fundamentally, what kind of terrifying being she truly was.


    Hearing the sudden words from Moselle, Ivyst''s gaze swept over coldly.


    With a surge of overwhelming intent to kill pervading the atmosphere, even as a Fourth Rank Transcendent of the Heavenly Principle Church, he instantly felt as if he had fallen into an ice pit.


    Feeling the emotions hidden within those blood-red eyes brought a wave of fear that was visceral and assaulted Moselle''s heart.


    He stood there stunned, his legs shaking involuntarily.


    No!


    She... she really seems like she would kill someone!


    Moselle thought subconsciously.


    At this critical moment, a voice suddenly broke the silence.


    "Your Highness, I would also like to hear your thoughts."


    To everyone''s surprise, including Moselle who didn''t see iting at all, it was Duke Tierus who spoke.


    He held his wine ss, smiling faintly as he looked toward the silent Ivyst in the distance.


    "Uncle Tierus, you..."


    Staring at Duke Tierus, who for some reason had put her on the spot, Ivyst was puzzled.


    She didn''t understand.


    From being indifferent to her from the beginning to now making her the target of everyone''s scorn.


    Even if he had little faith in her and was unwilling to support her openly, why go this far?


    At this moment, feeling the varying gazes of everyone present, a strong sense of irritation and anger welled up inside her.


    This feeling of being treated as an abnormal entity and gawked at had always been a deep-seated issue for her.


    She had experienced too many simr scenes from childhood to now.


    Each time, just like now, she was isted and unsupported.


    It was as if the entire world had abandoned her.


    Ivyst clenched her fist, her fingernails digging deeply into her palm.


    Damn it.


    She was almost unable to restrain the desire in the depth of her heart to destroy everything.


    "Crack!"


    At this moment, the sudden sound of ss shatteringpletely disrupted the already tense atmosphere.


    Everyone instinctively looked over.


    Among the crowd, a youth wearing a pointed beak crow mask, holding half of a wine bottle in his hand, attracted everyone''s attention.


    Obviously, he had just smashed the bottle against a nearby pir, causing the noise.


    "Sorry, my hand slipped."


    The youth apologized with a smile.


    Are you saying you identally picked up the bottle on the table and at just the right moment identally smashed it against the pir?


    Who would believe that!


    Though no one knew what this guy intended, it was clear that it was a foolish move.


    Unfortunately, the crow-masked youth didn''t know the thoughts running through everyone''s minds at this moment.


    He walked forward slowly, casually picking up a ss of juice that had been on the table and gently swirling it around.


    It was just juice, but this guy stirred it as though it were wine.


    "Duke sir, you seemed to be discussing some interesting topics just now. Would you mind if I, an outsider, joined in and happily discussed it together with you?"


    The youth asked curiously.


    Hearing his words, Duke Tierus raised an eyebrow.


    Surprisingly, he didn''t feel the same sense of guilt and awe from the youth as he did from the others around him.


    It was as if the youth''s status didn''t exist at all.


    Interesting.


    "You may," Duke Tierus nced at the youth, "although right now I am asking Her High...


    "Why bother troubling Her Highness over such a trivial matter?"


    The crow-masked youth interrupted Duke Tierus''s words.


    His statement made his position clear.


    Duke Tierus paused for a second and then narrowed his eyes slightly.


    Following that, he turned and faced the youth of unknown origin.


    "Well then, tell me, in your view, what would be the fairest way to distribute a cake so that everyone gets a piece?"


    Duke Tierus was curious.


    He wondered what kind of answer the guy, who stood up on this asion and drew fire away from the Third Imperial Princess, woulde up with.


    If it was just to seek attention, then he...


    At this moment, all eyes in the room were focused on the youth.


    Yet, this intangible pressure did not seem to affect him at all.


    The crow-masked youth shrugged: "It''s simple, when ites to dividing the cake, anyone can do it."


    "Anyone can do it?"


    Duke Tierus''s voice dropped colder.


    This answer did not satisfy him.


    At that moment, he clearly saw this young man as someone seeking attention.


    A faint anger began to rise in his heart.


    But before he could express his anger, he heard the youth speak again.


    "That''s right, anyone can divide it."


    "Only... let the others pick first, and thest remaining piece should be his."


    ```

 Chapter 65 Anyone Who Dares to Share My Cake is My Enemy

    When Ivyst heard the crisp sound of breaking ss, she didn''t lift her head immediately.


    She waspletely immersed in her own emotions, enveloped by madness and disdain.


    To the extent that, she couldn''t perceive the outside world.


    Just as she had said.


    She had witnessed simr scenes countless times.


    But some things do not be routine with experience.


    The scars of the past gradually umte over time, piling up on one''s heart.


    With just a gentle touch, they would be fresh and bleeding wounds once more.


    When she was a child, before fully awakening to her powers, her siblings did not feel such fear and rejection towards Ivyst.


    Because they found her appearance repulsive, they would tease her in secret, time and again.


    After all, even Saint Laurent VI did not care for Ivyst back then.


    Bullying such a little girl brought no guilt to them.


    Although they were siblings by blood, they never treated her as family from start to finish.


    They would "identally" remove Ivyst''s mask at the public Royal Family banquets, then scatter far and wide,ughing while watching the guests reveal expressions of fear and disgust.


    And she, surrounded by whispers and gossip, could only cover her face and cry.


    In the end, Saint Laurent VI never truly punished those pranksters.


    The only thing deserving rebuke was scaring the guests.


    On reflection, perhaps it was the shadows of the past that made her, even now with her powerful abilities, feel an uncontroble oppression towards such scenes.


    Yet she could never really kill all the nobles present who despised her.


    It didn''t matter anymore.


    Ivyst took a deep breath, attempting to suppress the desire within her to destroy everything.


    After all, it had always been this way.


    Always...


    "Duke, sir, it seemed you were discussing some very interesting topics just now, could I, an outsider, join in and discuss with you all pleasantly?"


    At that moment, a familiar voice reached Ivyst''s ears.


    She instinctively lifted her head and spotted the figure.


    For some reason.


    The moment she saw the crow-masked boy, the heavy stone pressed on Ivyst''s heart suddenly vanished.


    ...


    When the Duke of Tierus heard the crow-masked boy''s reply, he was about to get angry.


    But upon realizing the implication behind those words, he froze.


    Thest pick of the cake?


    At a nce, it seemed quite ordinary, like a response meant to attract attention.


    But upon deeper consideration, one could sense the truth it contained.


    As he had said before, human greed knows no bounds.


    Once the person dividing the cake has the initiative, they will subconsciously seek their own benefit.


    Just like the Heavenly Principle Church, which embezzled arge portion of the city''s taxes.


    But if they were to choosest, then justice would be unprecedented.


    Because if they followed the original thought, therge piece of cake would be taken first, and what''s left for them would just be scraps.


    The idea was interesting.


    But it was merely an idea and could not be applied to reality.


    After all, if it came to that point, it was not just the person cutting the cake who mattered, but also those wanting a piece and their status.


    However, just regarding this small topic of conversation after dinner, the boy''s answer was undoubtedly perfect.


    But he did not reveal his thoughts, looking at the boy indifferently, "Is that your answer? An idealist living in a world of their own?"


    "Of course, although it''s impossible to apply in reality," the boy smiled, "This answer only pertains to splitting the cake, real-life situations are another matter."


    Duke Tierus looked at him: "Then if it were you, facing a simr real-life issue, what would you do?"


    Hearing these words, everyone nced at each other.


    Could they not hear that at this moment, the Duke was testing the boy''s mind?


    Maybe the participant for this evening''s library discussion had already been decided.


    For a moment, all eyes were filled with envy and curiosity.


    Envy because the lucky one seemed about to gain the Duke''s favor.


    Curiosity because they had never heard of such a youth in Orn City.


    At the same time, they were also curious about his uing response.


    Hearing Duke Tierus speak, the boy answered without hesitation, "In reality, I would first distinguish who are enemies and who are friends."


    "Oh?" Duke Tierus seemed interested, "How would you discern?"


    At this, the boy chuckled, "Quite simple... those who want to take a piece of cake from my hand are my enemies; besides that, all are friends."


    "Just as you said earlier, if there''s cake left over, I''ll take it to go. Why leave it for them?"


    The atmosphere suddenly turned somber.


    Even Duke Tierus didn''t expect that he, who had just advocated for equal distribution, would now give such a retort.


    His eyes filled with astonishment as he sized up the other party.


    Then, he couldn''t help but burst into heartyughter.


    "What an interesting little fellow," the duke couldn''t hold back his amusement, "What''s your name?"


    "My name is Lynn, Your Grace."


    The youth raised his ss in a toast.


    "Very good, Lynn. Your reply pleases me. Come to my study after the dinner; we shall have a good chat."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ...


    Feeling the tension that had been mounting just moments agopletely dissipate, Lynn breathed a sigh of relief.


    These people really don''t know what''s good for them.


    If that madwoman was truly provoked, it would be hard for everyone here to hope for a painless end.


    Although it was still just the early stages of the original story, the current Ivyst indeed possessed strengthparable to, or even surpassing that of, the deceased former Archbishop from the Heavenly Principle Church lying in his coffin.


    Later on, she would be increasingly formidable, ying gods in her way; it was a pity she wasn''t as ruthless as the protagonist group and ultimately failed.


    Yet even so, killing these insignificant characters would be a piece of cake for her.


    So, for the sake of his own life, Lynn had to stand up.


    "Weren''t you just saying you refused to be an easy target?"


    ya suddenly spoke up from beside him.


    Upon hearing this, Lynn instinctively retorted, "You know nothing, this is what we call ''demonstrating holiness in front of an audience.'' Didn''t you see that His Grace has already been won over by my personal charm?"


    "Is there not even a little bit of it because you saw Her Highness isted and helpless, and acted on impulse?"


    "You''re overthinking it."


    Lynn rolled his eyes.


    Upon hearing this, ya didn''t argue back, just looked at him with a grin.


    Men tend to say one thing but mean another.


    Unfortunately, Lynn hadn''t realized this and scornfullyughed to himself.


    Pity her? What a joke.


    With one hand, she could wipe out everyone present!


    Looking at the woman in the red dress standing quietly in the distance, Lynn''s gaze met hers midair.


    He had expected to receive a look of approval from her.


    Instead, Ivyst simply stared at him straight on.


    Her gaze was very cold, remaining on him from beginning to end, inscrutable.


    It was only after a long while that she slowly closed her eyes.


    Who knows what she was thinking.


    Lynn felt a bit unnerved by her gaze.


    Could she hold a grudge against him for ruining her chance to wreak havoc?


    But when he thought about it, if something that significant had happened, the original story wouldn''t have omitted to mention it, right?


    Lynn''s thoughts were in turmoil.


    Just then, he suddenly felt his shoulder being patted from behind.


    The pressure was heavy, as if filled with resentment.


    Lynn instinctively turned around and discovered a figure behind him that seemed somewhat familiar.


    He vaguely remembered that this person was supposedly the caretaker arranged by his family in Orn City.


    Sherlock, wasn''t it?


    Lynn furrowed his brow, with unpleasant memories experienced by his predecessor surfacing in his mind.


    Those servants in the residence, they all treated him with disrespect with this guy''s approval.


    He had not had the chance to settle the score, and now the man had taken the initiative to approach him.


    "Why are you here? Come back with me right now!"


    The caretaker Sherlock, oblivious to his displeasure, frowned and looked at him with a cold re, eyes betraying a trace of disgust.


    Hearing this, Lynn''s mind went nk for a few seconds.


    Themanding tone made him momentarily feel insecure, as if he were the servant.


    How had this guy managed to thrive until now?


    Lynn was puzzled.


    But before that, his body instinctively responded, smoothly pulling out a revolver from his pocket.


    Raising the gun, aiming.


    "Bang!"

 Chapter 66 Kill Kill Kill!!!

    The time rewound to ten minutes earlier.


    Staring at the nobles in the banquet hall, each with extraordinary poise and splendid clothing, Sherlock held a champagne flute, a smile on his face.


    From time to time, familiar guests would pass by, greeting him with a smile.


    After all, having spent nearly twenty years in Orn City, everyone hade to regard him as the spokesperson for the Bartleion family.


    Although the family was currently in decline, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse, and they were still much stronger than many of those present.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Moreover, they had heard that this astonishingly capable butler had seemingly established a connection with the Bartleion family''s enemy, the Mos family.


    Although they despised such an act of betrayal, in their hands, Sherlock did control many private assets.


    There were often dealings of mutual benefits.


    As time went on, many had truly forgotten his status as a butler.


    After all, not everyone could be as wealthy as he was.


    Even if that wealth had been siphoned from his own household.


    And feeling the guests'' goodwill, Sherlock felt very appreciated.


    For so many years, he had worked diligently for the Bartleion family, all so that one day he could stand out as he did now.


    While the Marquis was alive, Sherlock had not been able to fully shed his servant''s identity.


    On the contrary, it was now that the other wasatose that Sherlock had truly be a part of the city''s upper ss.


    The feeling of being on equal terms with those nobles was truly exhrating.


    But... it was still not exhrating enough.


    Because he was not a true noble.


    He could only barelypare with them by relying on the Bartleion family''s name.


    The good news was that he now had an opportunity that might allow him to shed his butler''s identity and truly be a lower noble.


    "Master Dalion, rest assured, I will quickly locate that boy''s hiding ce and capture him for you to deal with personally," Sherlock said humbly to the young man beside him.


    His name was Dalion Mos, who hade all the way from the Imperial Capital and was chosen by the Snow Eagle family to attend tonight''s banquet.


    Of course, he also possessed another, more esteemed identity: the Valkyrie Irina Mos''s younger brother.


    Just this connection alone was enough to make most of the nobles attending the banquet tonight look up to him.


    This was why Sherlock was so subservient.


    However, the other party seemed unappreciative.


    The young man named Dalion scoffed, "For something as low as you, being associated with the Mos surname is an honor in your life, do not think that, with the Bartleion family''s paltry offerings, we would hold you in high regard; you have a long way to go."


    Hearing this, Sherlock''s tone became even more subservient, "The young master''s criticism is valid."


    When one is under another''s roof, one must bow.


    Seeing him like this, although Dalion was quite annoyed by that guy''s disappearance, he decided to leave it at that.


    Looking at Duke Tierus starting to fundraise in the distance, a hint of sharpness appeared in Dalion''s eyes.


    A prestigious elector he was!


    The reason that Dalion had been sent by his family to Orn City, and to take over the Bartleion family''s assets, was merely incidental.


    The main purpose was to establish connections with the currently troubled elector Duke Tierus.


    The Mos family had deep ties with the Heavenly Principle Church.


    And these two forces, currently thriving in the Imperial Capital, had unanimously chosen to stand behind the Second Prince, who was gaining great momentum.


    In their eyes, the most likely candidate to win the King''s election was none other than the dazzling prince, who shone like the sun.


    Everyone else, including the Great Imperial Princess Hillena, simply fell short.


    Therefore, the Mos family had decided to pay a great cost to woo Duke Tierus.


    If they were to form a strong alliance, the Second Prince''s path to the future would be clear and unobstructed.


    And as of now, no one seemed capable of preventing them from reaching out to Duke Tierus with an olive branch.


    Although it was unclear why the Third Imperial Princess Ivyst was present here.


    He did not think for a moment that this person, known as "the cmity," had even the slightest chance of gaining Duke Tierus''s support.


    Because the offer from the Mos family was simply toovish.


    Sovish that even an acting Duke would be tempted.


    Thinking this, amotion suddenly arose in the distance.


    Under the gaze of Dalion and Sherlock, the young man with the crow mask stepped forward,ing to the assistance of the Third Imperial Princess.


    Not only that, but he seemed to have also earned the favor of Duke Tierus.


    Who is this person?


    Simultaneously, the question arose in both their minds.


    "My name is Lynn, sir," the other party answered nonchntly.


    The next second, his words echoed in their ears.


    Sherlock felt a chill run through him.


    He had never imagined that Lynn, who had vanished from the manor for over half a month, would brazenly appear at tonight''s banquet!


    Feeling the murderous gaze from Master Dalion beside him, Sherlock broke out in a cold sweat.


    At this moment, all he wanted to do was to rush up and tightly clutch that boy''s neck, demanding to know what exactly he intended to do.


    "Leave it, leave it to me, Master Dalion," Sherlock wiped off the sweat, "I will bring him back to the manor, where you can deal with him as you please."


    "Useless!"


    Dalion snorted coldly.


    After the crowd calmed down a bit, Sherlock hastened his steps towards Lynn''s direction.


    Meanwhile, his heart filled with loathing and anger.


    It was all because of this fellow that he had failed to make a good impression in front of Master Dalion.


    The dream he had long held of being a noble might well be shattered because of this!


    The possibility made Sherlockpletely lose his reason.


    He had never considered that Lynn was actually his master.


    Because the day that kid was banished to Orn City, watching him with the posture of a defeated dog, bereft of any backbone, Sherlock realized then and there that his opportunity had arrived.


    Such a pushover, he thought he could knead him however he wanted.


    Thinking this, Sherlock impatiently patted the young man''s shoulder.


    "Why have you shown up in a ce like this? Come back with me right now!"


    Hemanded domineeringly.


    He had assumed that the other party would, as before, silentlyply with his directive.


    But to his surprise, something unexpected happened.


    Under Sherlock''s gaze, the young man in front of him looked at him, first stunned for a few seconds, his eyes seemingly filled with confusion.


    Then, suddenly the other party smoothly pulled out a revolver.


    Without a word, without a question,


    he simply and casually took aim at his throat.


    With a "bang",


    he fired without hesitation.


    "Huh¡ªhuh¡ª"


    The shock in Sherlock''s eyes couldn''t be hidden; he reflexively covered his throat, stumbled backward a few steps, fell to the ground, and convulsed uncontrobly.


    Blood spread across the marble floor like paint.


    Feeling the life force gradually dissipating from his body, Sherlock couldn''t understand.


    Where had that gloomy young man from his memories, who seemed lost like a homeless dog, gone?


    And, the wealth and honor he had longed for... seemed about to slip away again?


    In thest second before his consciousness faded, Sherlock vaguely saw a hint of careless nonchnce in Lynn''s eyes.


    As if he had just kicked a stray dog lying by the roadside to death.


    So that was it.


    In the eyes of these nobles, I was nothing but a servant from the beginning to the end.


    ...


    "You, you just killed him like that?!"


    At the instant the gunshot rang, ya shuddered, then asked with great agitation.


    After all, in his impression, this kid had always been calm and didn''t seem like someone who would act rashly out of impulse.


    "What, should I have let him swagger in front of me for a bit, wait for my emotions to ferment, then rise against the current at the most depressing moment, deliver a speech pping him in the face, and then kick him to death?"


    Lynn shrugged his shoulders.


    That would be too much trouble.


    Besides, even if he were going to do that, it would depend on who the person was.


    If the fianc¨¦e he was facing right now were standing in front of him, Lynn might indeed pull off such a stunt, shouting "Do not bully the poor just because they''re young" to bolster his momentum, and then cling tightly to Her Highness''s coattails.


    The problem was, this guy was just a butler, an utterly insignificant minion.


    Lynn even felt sorry for having wasted a bullet on him.


    But the people around didn''t seem to think so.


    The instant the gunshot resounded, many present instinctivelyy t on the ground, and quite a fewdies screamed.


    Order was only somewhat restored when the guards arrived at the scene.


    "Duke, are you alright?"


    "I''m fine." Duke Tierus looked at Lynn with a solemn expression, "As for you, you''d better give me an exnation."


    "My lord, I think it would be best if I exin to you."


    Suddenly, a discordant voice rang out.


    A haughty young man emerged from the crowd.


    "First let me introduce myself, my name is Dalion, from the Mos family of the Imperial Capital." While there was arrogance in Dalion''s eyes, he bowed meticulously, "Also, this person in front of us is named Lynn Bartleion."


    "You should have heard of the history between our two families."


    "Whether you call it a misunderstanding or say a traitor got what he deserved, it''s a case that was adjudicated by Judge Nidro."


    "But now he has just shown up at such a solemn and respectable banquet, all the while thinking of venting his personal grudges, even going as far as killing my butler."


    "This is undoubtedly an arrogant provocation to the Duke!"


    "I suggest that this man be immediately arrested for murder and thrown into jail to await judgment."


    Dalion spoke clearly and methodically to everyone present, as well as to Duke Tierus.


    With just a sentence or two, he twisted the other party''s position into a highly unfavorable situation.


    Hearing these words, Duke Tierus immediately furrowed his brow deeply.


    He turned to look at the young man in front of him, who had won his favor just a few minutes before, yet found his expression extremely calm.


    Seeing this, Duke Tierus fell deep into thought.


    While he pondered, Dalion suddenly turned and walked up to Lynn.


    Looking at the ridiculous mask on his face, he couldn''t help but sneer.


    "Long time no see, Lynn."


    "The once celebrated star of the academy, now fallen to such a state, if those of your peers led by Sai Li saw this, they''d probably be too shocked for words, right?"


    "..."


    Hearing the provocative words, Lynn remained silent.


    Seeing this, Dalion''s smirk grew even more mocking: "Also, Sister Irina asked me to send you a message."


    "Your Divine-given factor is very useful."


    "But... if you want to live, nevere back to the Imperial Capital in this lifetime."


    Having said these two sentences, Dalion straightened up, looking scornfully at the young man before him.


    But the next second, his pupils shrank sharply!


    The revolver in Lynn''s hand, somehow, was now aiming at his heart.


    Then,


    "Bang!"


    Twice in quick session.


    (ps: This book is scheduled to officially release on the 24th of this month at 11 pm sharp, which is the day after tomorrow, so after tomorrow''s chapter update there will be aunch speech to post. I hope everyone cane and read it then.)

 Chapter 67 Why Did I Provoke Him?

    For many nobles, including Dalion, they had everything from the day they were born.


    A respectable family, a good education, the power to treatmoners like animals, friends of the same rank...


    It was undoubtedly a wonderful thing.


    So wonderful that even small ws could be reluctantly overlooked.


    Yet even so, even though they were born with things that people yearn for in their dreams, their lives were still not entirely as they wished.


    Because there were rules to follow.


    These rules were not thews of the Saint Laurent Empire, but those intangible, unspoken rules among the nobility.


    For example, always leaving a way out.


    At least on the surface, this had to be done.


    Even the Mos family, after such persecution of the Bartleion family, still chose to spare Lynn''s life by simply banishing him to the frontier.


    As for the subsequent assassination attempts on him, they were actually instigated by a small faction within the family.


    Thus, under the influence of his environment, Dalion had also gradually etched these noble rules deep into his bones.


    He had indeed followed them all along.


    Until... today.


    At the moment the gunshot sounded, Dalion felt as if someone had fiercely punched him in the chest, and he staggered backward several steps.


    Then came an intense, unbearable burning pain,


    He instantly disyed an expression of disbelief.


    He... dared to shoot?


    He dared to shoot?!


    He dared to shoot a Mos family heir in public?!


    Until the moment he copsed to the ground, powerless, Dalion couldn''t distinguish between illusion and reality, thinking he was merely experiencing a nightmare.


    But when he saw Lynn''s calm eyes through the crow mask, he finally realized something.


    I... am going to die.


    As one of the most likely heirs to the Mos family, he hadn''t yet had the chance to fully enjoy life, and now he was going to die at a backwater banquet in such a ridiculous way.


    There was no crowd to apany him, nor were there petals thrown in the air.


    All of this, just because he had provoked that madman a few times.


    Dalion''s consciousness gradually faded.


    At thest moment of his life, the emotion that lingered in his heart was not hatred.


    It was regret.


    Damn it.


    If I had known he was a madman, why would I provoke him?


    Why did I provoke him?


    Dalion''s vision darkened, and his head slumped to the side.


    In hisst moments, what he saw was the still-warm body of Butler Sherlock not far away.


    The very existence he regarded as no better than pigs and dogs.


    It turns out... in the eyes of this madman, we are no different.


    ...


    "Damn it!" the moment the gunshot rang out, Duke Tierus''s roar instantly echoed throughout the entire hall, "What the hell are you trying to do?!"


    With this roar, the space around them seemed to be disturbed and fluctuate.


    Everyone was stunned by the scene that had suddenly unfolded.


    They never imagined that this young man could be so brazen.


    It wasn''t enough to kill a butler, he even dared to shoot a Mos family heir right there!


    Feeling the Duke''s fury, Lynn looked down.


    The revolver he was holding, unknown when, had turned into a heavy iron lump, crashing heavily to the ground.


    This was the ability to control gravity, and the technique was extremely refined, not damaging his palm in the slightest.


    Such a pity.


    Since Lynn had started at frame zero, even Duke Tierus hadn''t reacted.


    After all, he had already killed a butler.


    Who could have expected that this wasn''t enough, and he would publicly shoot a Mos family heir?!


    For a moment, Duke Tierus was overwhelmed with indescribable fury.


    The previous favor and liking he had for Lynn disappearedpletely, reced by an urge to tear him apart entirely.


    It wasn''t that Dalion couldn''t die.


    He could even die bitten by stray dogs in a ditch after leaving here.


    That wouldn''t matter.


    But he absolutely, absolutely could not die at a banquet he was hosting.


    No matter what the stance of Duke Tierus was, the mere urrence of such an event tied him to it.


    It wasn''t that he feared an emerging noble family that had risen in recent years.


    It just made no absolute sense to make an enemy out of nowhere.


    After all, the Mos family and the Heavenly Principle Church had deep ties, and also had an extraordinary rtionship with the Second Prince; this troubled him greatly.


    Furthermore, his visit this time was for the purpose of collecting taxes.


    Yet, he hadn''t had the chance to hear what the Mos family had to offer before allowing their envoy to die so easily.


    Even if Duke Tierus did not wish it, it would still be perceived as a hostile signal by the other party.


    Instantly, extraordinary power surged throughout his body, the ferocious energy causing the surrounding marble floor tiles to crack and break!


    Duke Tierus''s eyes widened with fury, and he lifted his right hand, ready to suppress the assant on the spot.


    At the critical moment, Lynn suddenly eximed, "Duke, I know you are angry... but regardless, the man is already dead!"


    His words seemed to be pointed.


    The words seemed to have some effect as Duke Tierus''s gaze sharpened and his movements paused for a moment.


    But ultimately, anger overpowered reason.


    An invisible gravitational surge descended from the sky, sweeping towards Lynn''s position!


    Ah.


    Why won''t he listen to advice?


    Even in such a dire situation, Lynn showed no fear; he only sighed softly.


    It seemed he was waiting for something.


    The next second, crisp footsteps sounded, and a graceful figure d in a long red dress appeared seemingly out of nowhere, standing in front of him.


    "This is thest time I will call you ''Uncle Tierus,''" Ivyst said, her expression icy cold and her long ck hair fluttering gently as a strong crimson force field enveloped her, "Please think carefully about whether you really want to strike at my subordinate."


    Her voice was utterly emotionless, suggesting not a hint of sentiment.


    Yet, the aura she emitted was overwhelmingly powerful,


    as if stepping any closer to Duke Tierus would result in his immediate decapitation.


    His Highness is formidable!


    Watching the stunning figure standing before him, Lynn mentally gave her a thumbs-up.


    The atmosphere immediately became tense.


    to any observing eye, in the brief collision of extraordinary power, it appeared that Duke Tierus, who seemed strong and dominant, had fallen into a disadvantage, hisplexion pale.


    Yet, the tall and slender woman in the red dress remained unmoved, effortlessly suppressing her opponent.


    "..."


    A look of surprise appeared in Duke Tierus''s eyes as he stared intently at Ivyst in front of him.


    Has she grown so much stronger?


    Feeling the looming threat of death, Duke Tierus snorted coldly.


    "Would you strike at me for a mere subordinate?"


    "You could try," Ivyst responded coolly.


    "I never thought Your Highness would be so protective of your subordinates," said Duke Tierus coldly, a bit breathless, "But I wonder if this protection extends only to..."


    "Shut up."


    Ivyst instinctively cut him off.


    "..."


    Though Ivyst''s words were somewhat offensive, Duke Tierus seemed not to mind that.


    Rather, it was that boy, who had easily broken through all of Duke Tierus''s many years of carefully maintained Qi Cultivation Skills, who truly was a talent.


    Looking towards the young man standing nearby with a raven mask, the anger in Duke Tierus''s heart gradually subsided.


    Not that he had forgiven Lynn, but merely because what he said was true.


    The deed was done, and the man was dead.


    Rather than feeling angry about an irreversible mistake, it was better to think about how topensate for it afterward.


    After a moment of silence, Duke Tierus suddenly raised his hand and dispersed the surrounding extraordinary power.


    Then he looked at the floor, now cracked from their collision of powers, as well as the guests who had retreated far away.


    "I apologize for the unexpected events this evening," Duke Tierus coughed lightly, "The banquet is over, please be careful on your way home."


    Once the host of the banquet allowed it, the nobility present, as if granted a reprieve, thanked him and left the hall.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Clearly, the events of this evening were likely more exciting than anything they had encountered in their lives.


    It wouldn''t be long before news spread throughout Orn City.


    Seeing the guests dispersing, Duke Tierus then gave another order to his subordinates, "You there, take care of his body properly."


    "Yes!"


    The guards carried away Dalion''s body.


    After everything was done, Duke Tierus slowly closed his eyes.


    At the same time, he began to reflect on the night''s events.


    The first half went smoothly, clearly stating his position and setting a strong tone for the local nobles and the church.


    Butter on, due to Moselle''s disastrous maniption, the entire situation took a dramatic turn.


    And the real instigator was this boy who was outwardly insane but more rational than anyone.


    Only now was he beginning to vaguely understand Lynn''s purpose.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, this person was never truly angered by Dalion''s poor tactics.


    It wasn''t a spur of the moment but premeditated.


    "That reckless kid... Oh well,e to the study with me," he chuckled coldly and then looked towards Ivyst nearby, "How about it, Your Highness? Calmed down now? If so, please join me for a chat."

 Chapter 68 The Third Hypnosis (4k Big Chapter)

    After leaving Tierus Mansion, Moselle wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and quickly walked toward the carriage with the help of his subordinates.


    What a bunch of lunatics!


    Even now, he was still immersed in the atmosphere of the earlier encounter, unable to extricate himself for a long time.


    First, he barely escaped death at the hands of that madwoman, then he witnessed members of the Mos family, who had good rtions with the Heavenly Principle Church, being threatened with death and killed on the spot by that lunatic.


    Lastly, it had escted to Duke Tierus personally taking action, yet he couldn''t subdue the opponent at all!


    Was the Third Imperial Princess really that powerful as the rumors suggested?


    Could it be...


    For a moment, Moselle''s face shifted between different expressions.


    After returning to the carriage, he felt slightly relieved.


    Feeling the wheels slowly turning, Moselle was filled with mixed emotions.


    "Bishop, do we need to..."


    "He has already rejected our overture, wanting to take the whole cake for himself, but that''s impossible," Moselle clenched his teeth, "From now on, our only path is conflict, a fight to the death."


    "Damn Tierus!!!"


    Moselle mmed his fist into the carriage.


    Seeing this, his subordinate fell silent, not daring to say a word.


    It was a long time before Moselle''s emotions stabilized somewhat.


    "Tell everyone at the church to be vignt," his gaze firmly fixed on the street lights beginning to illuminate outside, "They will probably be watching us closely, waiting for a chance to bite a chunk out of us."


    "Don''t give them that opportunity."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Yes!"


    ...


    Led by a maid, Lynn walked toward the direction Duke Tierus had left.


    Momentster, with the familiar scent of roses, he sensed another figure by his side.


    "Why were you so impulsive just now?" She didn''t look at Lynn but calmly gazed ahead, "I told you before, I would avenge your grievances."


    Lynn shook his head, "It wasn''t impulsion, on the contrary, I waspletely rational."


    Such an extremely stupid provocation, and you expect me to be hot-headed?


    Impossible.


    Hearing this, Ivyst slightly furrowed her brows, "And the reason?"


    "Of course, it''s for you," Lynn nced at her and noticed she was even taller than him in her high heels, feeling somewhat dejected, "You must understand what it means for the Mos family to send someone over."


    "If he managed to reach Duke Tierus before us, you would stand no chance."


    "After all, you can guess how generous their offer would be to win him over."


    "So, the only way out was to kill Dalion on the spot and then, before the Second Prince could send someone else, win Duke Tierus''s friendship and respect."


    "By then, a strong alliance between the Duke and Your Highness would mean even the Mos family wouldn''t fuss over a mere heir."


    As for Lynn, the killer, he believed Ivyst would not abandon him.


    But under pressure, it was entirely possible to stage a fake death scenario of switching a roon for the crown prince.


    Then, Lynn couldpletely retire behind the scenes.


    This also offered more convenience to his escape n, killing two birds with one stone.


    Unfortunately, Ivyst was unaware of his thoughts at the moment.


    Seeing this, Lynn thought she still had concerns, so heforted her, "Your Highness, don''t worry, I had considered all the consequences before doing this."


    "That''s not what I meant..." Ivyst seemed to have more to say but stopped, her expression hidden by the mask, "...never mind, we''ll talkter."


    Strange woman.


    Although Lynn was puzzled, it was not good to keep asking.


    "The two of you, we''ve arrived."


    After leading them to the door of Duke Tierus''s study, the servant left.


    Ivyst pushed the door and entered.


    At that moment, Duke Tierus, who had been impably dressed earlier, now had his suit jacket off and was puffing on a pipe, enveloped in smoke.


    Seeing the two enter the study, aplex expression flickered in his eyes.


    But he remainedposed on the surface.


    The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.


    After a while, he spoke lightly, "Do you think this tactic will draw me onto your side?"


    "Of course not," Lynn shook his head, "Actually, if the Duke really wants to dissociate from us, it''s quite simple since so many eyes witnessed everything tonight."


    Duke Tierus was puzzled, "Then why take such a risky action?"


    "I wanted to seize an opportunity for Her Highness."


    "An opportunity?" Duke Tierus pondered on the words, then chuckled, "But I feel like Her Highness doesn''t really want this opportunity."


    Looking at the cold gaze from Ivyst, Duke Tierus shook his head.


    "If tonight''s events are considered a test, does your Highness know what score she would get?"


    "Full marks."


    Ivyst responded without hesitation.


    "Zero marks!" Duke Tierus suddenly mmed the table, "I''ve never seen any king candidate act as ridiculously as you!"


    "In my eyes, you don''t really want to be the Emperor, nor do you have the capacity for it!"


    "Did you really want to kill everyone who looked down on you just now, huh?"


    "Let me tell you, if you dare to kill someone at the banquet today, tomorrow you''ll dare to push the Empire''s people into an abyss of irreparable doom!"

 Chapter 69 What Is This Woman Up To?

    Although Ivyst always liked to catch Lynn off guard with unforeseen beginnings, as they spent more time together recently, Lynn had gradually been able to react.


    So, the moment he heard her speak, he was always ready to trigger the Lie Swallowing state.


    The long-missed sensation of awkwardness swept through him, and Lynn re-entered the wondrous state of soul out of body.


    "..."


    Gazing at the bewildered boy behind the crow mask, Ivyst''s eyes flickered withplexity, and she remained silent for a long while.


    After a while, she suddenly stood up, slowly approaching Lynn, bent down, and gently removed the mask from his face.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The handsome countenance of the young man came into view.


    Feeling the extreme closeness of the two, Lynn''s heartbeat skipped.


    What is this woman... going to do?


    At that moment, Ivyst''s sweet breath, like orchids and musk, lightly sprayed on his face, which was somewhat distracting.


    But she herself seemed unaware of it.


    Or perhaps, in her view, since he was currently under hypnosis, she thought he would never notice regardless.


    But for Lynn, it was a severe test.


    Having caught a fleeting glimpse of the smooth ravine beneath Ivyst''s neckline, he nearly failed to maintain the pretense of the Lie Swallowing state.


    Not only that, but Lynn suddenly had an illusion.


    Why did it feel as if her posture... was about to kiss him?


    Lynn thought dumbly.


    But he was very clear that this was impossible.


    And indeed it was.


    Ivyst seemed to just want to take a good look at Lynn''s appearance, her crimson eyes constantly focused on his face.


    Beyond that, there were no further actions.


    It was as though... she was rediscovering Lynn Bartleion.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, she finally ended what felt like an extremely long "interrogation" for Lynn, and sat back down across from him.


    Ivyst let out a soft sigh, casually removed her mask, revealing her beautiful face, and looked out the window.


    What she saw was the still bustling night view of Orn City, but she had no heart to enjoy it.


    "The first question," Ivyst said softly amidst the mild jolting of the carriage, "when you intervened on my behalf just now, what were you thinking?"


    I was thinking about how to stop you from killing everyone present.


    Lynnined inwardly.


    However, the reply obviously could not be that.


    He suddenly realized something.


    The events of the evening had been too fraught withplications, far beyond anyone''s expectations, even Ivyst herself.


    Therefore, his perfect handling of the situation likely left a very profound impression on her.


    This impression was different from before, when he had coerced Ivyst with suicide to face her true feelings.


    It was purely a positive impression.


    For instance, if this were a galgame event and Lynn the yer had chosen all the correct options, then the heroine Ivyst''s favorability might have slightly increased.


    Although he didn''t know by how much, it was undoubtedly an unprecedented improvement.


    This was different from his previous ttery or deceiving her under the guise of hypnosis.


    It was an act of rescue that Lynn had taken, of his own volition.


    Ivyst seemed to have felt his sincerity.


    With that in mind, Lynn had an idea.


    "I was thinking, it would be great if I could kill all those people who were disrespectful to Your Highness," he answered woodenly, "but I can''t do that, and I can''t bear to see Your Highness helpless and alone, so I had to choose to help you in my own way."


    At this very moment, Lynn had utterly forgotten the conversation he had with ya.


    He wanted to seize this rare opportunity to boost favorability, to make her lower her guard in the days toe!


    "Is that all?"


    Ivyst asked again.


    "I... also felt sorry for you at that time."


    Lynn''s response was startling.


    Yet Ivyst merely paused for a fraction, not bursting into fury.


    After a moment of silence, she said indifferently, "You''ve got quite the nerve, but don''t take this as a precedent."


    "Yes."


    For some reason, he now detected a faint sense of world-weariness in Ivyst.


    He had no idea what Duke Tierus might have said to her just now.


    "The second question," Ivyst did not give him time to think, "After you fired the shot, were you scared of the pressure Duke Tierus''s uncle brought upon you?"


    "Very scared."


    "Then why did you dare to fire?"


    "You once said that without your permission, I can''t die. At that time, I was quite certain I had not heard you issue a ''go die''mand... so I understood, no matter what I did, I would not die."


    "Because you did not permit it, so I would never die."


    "Even if Duke Tierus personally took action, it would be the same."


    Though his voice was somewhat monotonous, his words were very sincere.


    So sincere that they gave Ivyst a pause, and she fell into an ineffable silence.


    She had not expected that he would take such an insane action simply because of amand she had given before.


    "...Thest question." After a long silence, she spoke again, "It seems you never care about what others think?"


    "That''s right."


    "How do you manage that?"


    Ivyst asked softly.


    At this moment, she recalled what Duke Tierus had said in his study room.


    Those swayed by emotions can never be qualified leaders.


    Though Ivyst did not believe there was anything she needed to correct, she still kept those words in her heart.


    Thinking about it carefully, this guy in front of her seemed to be living proof.


    All along the way, except for that inexplicable suicide attempt that night, he seemed to have shown a bone-deep calmness from beginning to end.


    No circumstance could provoke severe emotional fluctuations in him, let alone influence his judgment.


    Perhaps that was the reason he had been able to perfectly resolve all matters.


    Therefore, Ivyst was very curious to hear his answer.


    "When a mirror is dirty, we don''t think our face is dirty," Lynn began slowly, "So why should we feel that it''s our problem when facing others'' mockery and malice?"


    To put it simply, if a thousand people doubt me, then those thousand people are all idiots.


    That was Lynn''s philosophy of life.


    A trace of surprise appeared in Ivyst''s eyes.


    After a while, she came back to her senses and a faint smile lifted the corners of her mouth.


    "That''s really in your style."


    After saying that, she turned her head again, looking out the window.


    The shadows of buildings cast through the window and the lights on both sides of the road rapidly shifted back and forth in the carriage as it sped along.


    Everything around was eerily quiet.


    Even with the Lie Swallowing, Lynn felt somewhat restless at this moment.


    You, woman, say something, will you?


    He silently thought.


    And this thought soon turned into reality.


    Gazing at the swiftly passing view outside the window, Ivyst seemed to think of something.


    "Thank you."


    She suddenly said this out of the blue.


    ?


    For an instant, Lynn thought he was hallucinating.


    But then he realized it was neither false nor illusory; it was truly happening before his eyes.


    Looking at her own reflection in the carriage window, Ivyst''s lips parted.


    She seemed to want to say something else.


    But in the end, she couldn''t utter a word.


    Atst, thoseplex and awkward thoughts still condensed into the briefest of phrases.


    "...Anyway, thank you."

 Chapter 70 I Have Special Skills for Robbing Money

    "Thank you."


    This should have been an utterly mundane phrase.


    Yet, from the mouths of those ungrateful, it was a phrase impossible to hear.


    Ivyst was such an example.


    She was nasty and temperamental, always carrying herself with a cold arrogance that made everyone want to stay away.


    In Lynn''s original conception, this phrase was something that could never possiblye from Ivyst.


    Unless her brain had malfunctioned.


    Yet tonight, Lynn seemed to have witnessed this once-in-a-lifetime scene.


    She... actually thanked him?


    This arrogant, haughty, and malicious woman had actually uttered those words to someone?


    Lynn was stupefied.


    Not only that, he was somewhat bbergasted.


    Because it was truly astonishing.


    So astonishing that he couldn''t believe it.


    Under the influence of the Lie Swallowing, he maintained a serious demeanor, unsure of what to say.


    Chaotic, wasn''t it?


    Just as Lynn was lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, he heard Ivyst speak again, "Additionally, there''s something I lied to you about."


    She seemed to be talking to the hypnotized person before her, yet also seemed to be facing herself.


    ?


    Curiosity stirred again in Lynn''s heart.


    "You''re actually the first dog I''ve ever raised." She gently held her chin, gazing out the window, "The one I mentioned before was raised by Hillena."


    "To get back at her, on her birthday, I personally strangled her most beloved puppy."


    Despite describing such a hair-raising deed, Ivyst''s lips curled into a slight smile, as if she was recalling some fond memory.


    Lynn didn''t know that this was the biggest secret she had harbored in her heart before the age of 12.


    Why she chose this moment to reveal it was unbeknownst to him.


    Very peculiar.


    Hearing Ivyst''s words, Lynn''s face darkened.


    Damn it, do you think this kind of talk will make me happy?


    Your first dog and all that... no, that''s not right.


    Reflecting further, he seemed to have taken many firsts from this woman.


    First hypnosis, first time activelying to her rescue, first time giving stockings, first time saying thank you...


    He truly was a man of deep sins.


    And he didn''t know to what extent the storyline would deviate when he eventually made his escape from her side.


    "Forget it, what''s the point of saying this to ''you'' at this moment?" Ivyst shook her head, then raised her hand to release the hypnosis, "Forget everything I just told you."


    The next second, Lynn''s consciousness returned to his body.


    "...How did my mask fall off?"


    Lynn looked nkly at the crow mask lying nearby, his acting suddenly intensifying.


    That was something he had forgotten... Hearing his confusion, Ivyst''s brow furrowed slightly, but she was not rmed.


    "Don''t be afraid." She seemed to revert to her usual demeanor, her lips curling into a nasty smile, "I just hypnotized you for a moment to make you perform a striptease, and you ended up forgetting to put the mask back on afterward."


    "I must say... your dancing wasn''t bad."


    Damn it, this woman was adding her own dramatics again.


    Lynnined inwardly.


    But outwardly, he had to maintain a somberposure and sat back in his seat.


    Seeing this, Ivyst felt somewhat bored and casually shifted the topic back.


    "And the agreement with Uncle Tierus, are you confident?"


    "Of course."


    "Ten days?"


    "Just ten days."


    "Then go ahead and do it, let them see just how excellent my subordinates are," Ivyst Laurent Alexini dered.


    "As youmand."


    ...


    "You actually came back alive?"


    Upon returning to the manor, ya greeted him with a look of shock on his face.


    He had witnessed Lynn''s awe-inspiring actions throughout the evening, one thrilling twist after another, as if riding a roller coaster.


    Unexpectedly, the Iron-blooded Duke, a military man, also spared his life.


    While dodging ya''s physical examination, Lynn shook his head and said, "I merely killed two dogs. What price should be paid?"


    "Those were the heirs of the Mos family!"


    ya corrected him loudly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "There are many heirs in the Mos family, not just him," Lynn shrugged. "Besides, they''re just heirs."


    "As long as that family''s core pir, that damn Valkyrie, is alive, they can regroup at any time."


    Less than a month remained before their return to the Imperial Capital.


    Lynn had already begun nning some matters in advance.


    However, there were more pressing matters that needed his attention now.


    Helping Duke Tierus reim taxes and, to a certain extent, weaken the faith of the Heavenly Principle Church.


    The former wasn''t actually that restrictive.


    He merely needed to retrieve enough money to serve as military funds within ten days.


    Of course, it had to be cake seized from the local church for Duke Tierus to get his revenge and earn money while standing.


    As for thetter, it was even simpler.


    Ultimately, to weaken a church''s faith, one only needed to act in a way that would shake the people''s hearts.


    To put it simply, make them question the faith they had always held.


    How to question?


    Just make these ignorant people feel as if they have been deceived like never before.


    With that thought, Lynn spoke, "Rest well tonight, we are going to be very busy in theing days."


    ya pondered, "You already have a n?"


    "Of course," Lynn nodded, "Collecting taxes is just done in two ways."


    "Which two?"


    "Forceful collection and administrative collection."


    "How about forceful collection?"


    "Just raid their houses directly."


    "Fuck, and administrative?"


    "First find a suitable reason, then raid their houses."


    ya was stunned, "Is it really that violent?"


    "Just a joke," Lynn patted his shoulder. "But that''s more or less the framework."


    "Otherwise, do you really think using just those soft methods would make those greedy parasites spit out everything they''ve swallowed?"


    "Oh right, remember to arrange for more manpower to make these items overnight..."


    Amidst a whispering breeze, ya''s brows furrowed even tighter.


    "Will this really work?"


    He was very puzzled.


    "You''ll find out soon enough."


    ...


    The next morning.


    Apanied by noisy mor, countless citizens and passersby crowded the City Square of Orn City, thergest in the city.


    Located near King''s Avenue, this district was already the busiest and most congested in the city, and today, the flow of people had multiplied several times.


    People whispered among themselves while looking towards the center of the square.


    What were those things for?


    Observing a line of ss cases suddenly appearing on the square, they all had the same question.

 Chapter 71 Endure the Hardship, Teach the Church and Nobility a Lesson, Ill Bear the Scorn

    "So, what exactly are those things you had me prepare for?"


    Gazing at Lynn, who was leaning on the railing at the edge of the high tform, ya asked out of curiosity.


    At this moment, the two of them were standing at the top of an extremely tall building, with arge brass bell, engraved with historical marks and traces of the years, hanging in the center. It was simple and heavy in design.


    It was undoubtedly the highest point of a bell tower.


    This bell tower was known as the Lun''en Bell Tower, one of the most iconic structures in Orn City, built with funds from the city council, towering at one hundred and sixty-nine meters and the tallest building in the city.


    It had a history of over three hundred years.


    Just a street away from Lun''en Bell Towery the South District''s municipal building and the immensely wide City Square in front of it.


    A statue stood at the center of the square,memorating the first Mayor of Orn City.


    However, these weren''t the focal points.


    The key was that from Lynn''s current position, one had an excellent view, with more than half of the neighborhood in sight.


    At this moment, the City Square, which should have been nearly deserted on a rest day, was inexplicably surrounded by crowds of all sorts.


    Even at this distance, the din of noise and chatter could be faintly heard.


    Hearing ya''s question, Lynn didn''t even turn his head, "Those things? Of course, they''re for fundraising."


    Last night, upon his return to the manor, he had ordered ya to have someone make twelve massive ss storage boxes, made of transparent material, so one could clearly see inside from the outside.


    Not only that, but each ss box also had an opening at the top.


    At that time, ya had no idea what they were for.


    Thinking about it now, they were simply donation boxes.


    Just made very big and transparent.


    "Fundraising?" ya was taken aback for a few seconds, then looked at him doubtfully, "Then, what''s the difference between what you''re doing and the charity dinners hosted by the Duke?"


    "The difference is, he''s begging on his knees, and I''m outright robbing."


    Lynn chuckled.


    Upon hearing this, ya became even more bewildered.


    And typically, this guy just enjoyed keeping people in suspense.


    "You mean to say... you want to make money off the poor?"


    "Of course not."


    "Then whose money do you want to make?"


    "Whoever has money, I''ll take theirs," Lynn spoke with a certain inscrutability, "In any case, let the nobility and the Church suffer, I''ll take the infamy upon myself."


    For some reason.


    Looking at Lynn''s back, now exuding a sense of concern for the country and its people, ya suddenly felt an urge to hit him.


    ...


    In the center of City Square, out of nowhere, a row ofrge, transparent ss boxes had appeared.


    Each box was as tall as a person, empty inside, with nothing stored.


    Carefully counting, there were twelve ss boxes in total.


    The size of each box was identical, neatly arranged together.


    What exactly this number represented was anyone''s guess.


    Looking at the originally empty City Square, now with these peculiar items appearing, many people stopped to look.


    Some were just passing by and inadvertently noticed what was in front of them, others had received the news and specifically came to join in the excitement.


    Orn City was neither too small nor too big.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The city''s poption was around eight or nine hundred thousand, but once there was any sudden big news, it would take no more than two days to spread through the mouths of the city''s residents.


    At this moment, looking at those boxes, the people present were unanimously puzzled about their purpose.


    It was also unknown if this was rted to the new taxw the city council was about to enact.


    "What do you think these boxes are for?"


    In the midst of the noisy crowd, people asionally whispered their inquiries.


    "I don''t know, maybe... they''re for collecting public opinion?"


    Another person shrugged their shoulders, making a not-so-funny joke.


    "Wait, look, someone''sing!"


    Just then, at the front of the crowd, a sharp-eyed person seemed to have spotted something.


    Soldiers d in the standard armor of the Augusta Family''s private guard were seen carrying a pile of items towards the twelve ss donation boxes in the center of the square.


    This inevitably attracted the attention of many people once again.


    It seemed that these matters were probably the doing of the Augusta Family.


    Since the family usually had a good reputation and was rather low-key, it did not provoke any bacsh from the people present.


    Under the gaze of countless eyes, the guards began hanging wooden ques, inscribed with writing, in a certain order on the fronts of those twelve ss boxes.


    People instinctively looked toward the ques.


    After seeing the writing clearly, they were unanimously stunned.


    Heavenly Principle Church, Silent Church, Fertility Church, Deste Sect, War God Cathedral, Adur Knowledge Society, the n Sect...


    The writing was neat yet sinct.


    Just as they had seen.


    Each wooden que bore the name of a local church in Orn City.


    Not only that, each que corresponded to an empty ss box.


    At this point, the crowd had an epiphany.


    The reason for the twelve ss boxes was precisely to correspond with the twelve well-known local churches in the area.


    Given Orn City''s location on the border, it had more rxed control over religious beliefs.


    Additionally, being adjacent to surrounding countries, some foreign faiths were able to take root and grow here.


    For instance, the state religion of the Dust Sand Country, Tutankhamun, the War God Cathedral.


    These adherents of strength had not given up on this small piece of the Saint Laurent Empire.


    Moreover, since this area was close to the Demon n battlefield with frequent wars, over time it had actually gathered arge number of devoted followers.


    There were several other simr churches.


    However,pared to the Heavenly Principle, Silent, and Fertility¡ª the three major churches of the Saint Laurent Empire itself, they were still at some disadvantage.


    Add to that the conflicts of doctrines, so the friction between these churches, both openly and in secret, was not insignificant.


    At this moment, the actions of the Augusta Family had everyone baffled.


    What exactly were they up to with this disy?


    Not only the crowd present, but also many nobles and church clerics hidden in carriages or secret spots were experiencing an unprecedented confusion.


    Fortunately, momentster, the confusion was resolved.


    Looking at the ss donation boxes marked with the names of churches, those guards then brought over somedders and climbed up high with several banner signs.


    Then, the first banner was hung.


    It carried a long string of writing, clear enough for everyone to see.


    "Every year, approximately thirty percent of soldiers drafted into war return as permanently disabled veterans. ording to iplete statistics, after leaving the military service, these disabled vets tend to be detached from society and live without any security."


    Looking at the content on the banner, the people''s eyes widened in shock.


    What did this mean?


    Clearly, everyone was unable to grasp the current situation.


    But momentster, another banner was hung below the first one.


    "Another set of data, sixty percent of these disabled veterans develop mental health issues, or even choose suicide, within three years after retiring from service."


    Were those disabled veterans they had never paid attention to really facing such a miserable fate after retiring?


    People exchanged nces, at a loss for words.


    Then, the third and fourth banners were hung.


    "The Governor of the Southern Province, Duke Tierus, hereby initiates a call for charity, hoping that the local churches and nobles of Orn City will be motivated to donate."


    "We cannot let those soldiers who have bled and cried for our homnd, suffer in vain!"


    The square fell into a rare state of collective silence.


    At this moment, rather than the initial confusion over what they were doing, the crowd was now totally captivated by the content recorded on the banners.


    Was this a fundraising initiative?


    Yet, it seemed that the intended recipients of the fundraising were not the average citizens, but the local churches and nobility instead.


    People''s minds began to race.


    Lastly, the fifth banner was hung directly above the twelverge ss boxes.


    Undeniably conspicuous.


    "Let us see, which faith is the kindest and most generous."

 Chapter 72 Lynn! What on earth did you do?!

    Faith in Orn City was incredibly diverse, with the doctrines of many deities being propagated far and wide.


    Even though their teachings would often result in a variety of conflicts, and friction between the churches was incessant,


    there was one point on which they were not all the same.


    No matter which deity it was, whenpiling their scriptures, they would guide their followers to be kind and generous individuals.


    This was a positive direction for human nature.


    Only thus could order continue to function normally, and the Power of Faith they received would be even purer due to this.


    Watching thest banner being hung up by the guards of the Augusta Family, everyone fell silent.


    Although up to now they still hadn''t understood why these people chose to fundraise in such a manner before the public eye, there were many amongst the onlookers who belonged to these churches, and a surge of impulse welled up in their hearts.


    After a long while, a frail old man slowly approached.


    He pulled out a small handful of copper coins from his pocket, attempting to drop this money into the ss box belonging to the Heavenly Principle Church.


    "May the Lord bless you,"


    he prayed shakily, looking up at the banner.


    But just as the old man was about to tiptoe to deposit his savings into the box, a guard approached from the side.


    "Sorry, sir," the guard''s voice was very polite, "we do not ept donations from ordinary believers here."


    The old man was taken aback for a few seconds: "Why, why not?"


    "Because Master Lynn said he does not take poor people''s money,"


    the guard exined briefly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    After escorting the old man away, as if fearing that the onlookers from afar wouldn''t understand, the guard once again exined loudly,


    "If anyone wishes to donate, then they must at least bring a proof of ownership for three properties within Orn City, or financial documentation showing an annual ie exceeding five thousand Gold Coins!"


    This exnation astonished everyone.


    The fundraising events they had previously experienced always sought ways to coax money from their pockets.


    But this situation was reversed.


    Not only did they refuse their donations, but they also required proof of wealth?


    How strange indeed.


    A peculiar sentiment arose unanimously in the hearts of the people.


    However, after looking around at the still-watching crowd, the herd mentality ultimately took over.


    After figuring out what was going on at City Square, they satisfied their curiosity.


    The brief hubbub then ended.


    Although today was a day of rest, for the sake of bread and milk for their wives and children, many still had to bustle about for a living.


    Before long, the crowd that had gathered on City Square had dispersed.


    Only a few remained, loitering about in twos and threes.


    Before long, half a day had swiftly passed by.


    During this process, the devout followers of the churches, upon seeing the banners, would asionallye forward wishing to donate.


    Most of them, though, were poor people from humble backgrounds.


    So they were all turned away at the door.


    Not until evening came did the twelve ss boxes on City Square stand silently in their original ce, utterly empty.


    It was as if they hadn''t caused the slightest ripple in this city.


    But in reality, what happened today spread like a virus.


    Just a single night''s spread was enough to be known by the whole city.


    Almost every citizen was aware that the Augusta Family and Duke Tierus had joined forces, attempting to raise a security fund for disabled soldiers through donations from local nobles and churches.


    ...


    "You''re saying they''ve put on another fundraising event, and in front of arge public audience?"


    Inside the Heavenly Principle Church, Bishop Moselle was stunned upon hearing his subordinate''s report.


    "That''s right, and not only that, they even hung up several banners,"


    the subordinate repeated the contents of the banners.


    Moselle gradually stood up unconsciously, pacing back and forth in the room while pondering.


    After a long time, he suddenly revealed a cold smirk: "To think I was concerned about such a grand show they put on, it turns out I was overthinking it."


    "Heh, Tierus, you and your people wouldn''t naively think that with just this petty trick, you could snatch the money right out of our pockets, right?"


    "Fools!"


    "Inform the surrounding churches that if they still want to share in the money, now is the time to set aside prejudices and conflicts."


    "This is an offensive from Duke Tierus, and only by perfectly repelling it, or even hurting him, can we grasp more benefits in the future."


    "Tell them, this is my request... no, it is a demand."


    "Any church or noble who dares to donate to this damn event from now on is an enemy of our Heavenly Principle Church!"


    ...


    Days passed quickly.


    In the blink of an eye, four days had gone by.


    In these four days, the fundraising event in the City Square hadn''t cooled down as time progressed.


    On the contrary.


    It had even been explosively brought up again and again in the daily conversations of the citizens throughout the city.


    Every day, arge number of people would pass by the City Square, stopping to watch for a long time.


    This was merely to check the situation inside those donation boxes.


    Because... it was just too strange.


    Even after four days, not a single gold coin had entered those ss donation boxes marked with the churches'' names.


    It was as if all the churches had chosen silence by some unspoken agreement.


    For a small part of theypeople without faith, this seemed hardly surprising, even feeling like Duke Tierus was shooting himself in the foot.


    But in the eyes of most believers, this act seemed to imply something else.


    "Let''s see which religion is the kindest and most generous."


    But ironically, the donation boxes below were empty.


    This stark contrast was impressive.


    Every time the believers from the major churches saw the words on the banner, they would fall into an agitated mood.


    Afterward, they''d hurriedly leave the ce as if fleeing.


    And when they went to their respective churches to pray and confess, inadvertently asking about this matter, those clerics would reveal an expression of profound secrecy.


    Unknowingly, an undercurrent had begun to stir in Orn City.


    However, at this moment, the perpetrator of this series of events was leisurely sitting in the garden, enjoying afternoon tea.


    Lynn sipped his hot ck tea whilefortably basking in the sun.


    He had indeed been rxed these past few days,


    thanks to that woman Ivyst.


    She didn''t seem to possess any exceptional leadership qualities, but one thingmendable about her was her willingness to delegate.


    At least, to fulfill her agreement with Duke Tierus, Ivyst had generously opened up all the permissions of the manor to him.


    But she herself had been conspicuously absenttely.


    After that night''ste conversation in Duke Tierus''s study, Ivyst had be busy with some news she had received.


    Not only was she often not seen around the manor, but the few times she returned to rest, she always looked haggard and covered with dust, her face showing exhaustion.


    Even once, Lynn saw fresh blood on her face that she hadn''t wiped off!


    God knows which unfortunate souls had suffered.


    It wasn''t only Aphia and Morris; their faces were frequently missing as well.


    It was only the likes of ya, the scoundrel, who could still hang around him and alleviate his boredom.


    "Next, I''m going to do a magic trick that confuses men."


    "What kind of trick?"


    "A sessful performance."


    Looking at the embittered ya, Lynn burst into heartyughter.


    Just then, the butler Kasha suddenly approached him from behind and whispered, "Master Lynn, Duke Tierus is here for a visit."


    "Tell him I''m not avable right now."


    "Bullshit!"


    Before he could react, the roar of Duke Tierus came from behind him.


    The stocky middle-aged man strode directly towards him, his expression dark, seemingly in a bad mood.


    Oh no.


    The cking off had been discovered.


    Lynn quickly put down the bone china teacup in his hand: "Good afternoon, Your Grace."


    "Good afternoon? Good my ass!" Duke Tierus started cursing right away, "Come on, tell me, what the hell have you been up to these past two days?!"

 Chapter 73 This is My Way to Break the Situation

    Looking at Duke Tierus, who was extremely angry at the moment, Lynn felt very calm inside.


    It was obvious that the events at City Square had already spread throughout the city.


    And he himself could not possibly be unaware.


    Not only that, but Lynn had specifically noted on the banner at that time that this move was an initiative of Duke Tierus.


    This was tantamount to pushing him into a pit of fire and making him a target of public criticism.


    Even the reputation of the Tierus family abroad would be affected.


    Outsiders would only think that the seemingly powerful Duke family was actually just amander without any followers.


    This was undoubtedly a significant blow to Duke Tierus''s prestige.


    So upon learning about Lynn''s actions, Duke Tierus couldn''t sit still any longer and rushed to Augusta Manor.


    He was very angry now and wanted to have a good questioning with Lynn.


    "Take it easy, Your Grace," Lynn sighed, "I know you''re in a hurry, but hold off for now."


    "In my view, the more urgent party right now should actually be the Church."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Upon hearing this, Duke Tierus was stunned for a moment and then scoffed, "Those guys are busy banding together to confront us; what do they have to be anxious about?"


    Lynn shook his head. "If you look at the matter from the perspective of the public and the believers, you will find that the situation ispletely different."


    "What do you mean?"


    Although he hade with anger at first, at this very moment, under Lynn''s persuasive words, Duke Tierus gradually calmed down.


    He conveniently sat in a vacant seat nearby, supporting his knees with both hands, sitting upright.


    Seeing this, Lynn continued, "Let me give you an example."


    "If Your Grace were a devout believer in the Fertility Church and one day you passed by the City Square and saw those donation boxes and the banners above them, wouldn''t you want to contribute to your faith?"


    "I... of course."


    Duke Tierus wanted to retort.


    But after actually putting himself in their shoes, he realized that it was indeed the case.


    Those ss donation boxes were transparent precisely so the passing pedestrians and the surrounding crowd could clearly see the amounts inside them as well as the corresponding churches and faiths.


    This led to a problem.


    The poorer, or rather, those who are more disillusioned with life, are more likely to cling to the elusive religious faith like a drowning person grasping at straws, believing that God will save them.


    And once they have developed a devout faith, these people will disy a maniacal side.


    For example, amon trait among most humans¡ªvanity.


    Not just the wealthy engage inparison.


    To safeguard their faith, sometimes, the poor and ordinary people also be quite frenzied.


    Because... they truly believe that the deity is watching over humanity.


    So after these ss donation boxes were set up in City Square, in order not to lose face for their church, they would vigorously support the fundraising.


    Believers would eagerlypare, seeing which church donated more money.


    After all, this was a tant disy opportunity under everyone''s eyes.


    And between churches and believers that normally have friction and conflict, the atmosphere would be extraordinarily tense.


    No believer would want their church to contribute less money than the others.


    In the end, it would definitely turn into a city-wide pathological frenzy.


    Unfortunately, Lynn had anticipated such a situation.


    Therefore, from the beginning, he had ordered the guards to prevent ordinary believers and people froming to donate.


    Thus, those donation boxes that should have been filled long ago were stillpletely empty.


    "Just think about it, the banner above the donation boxes and the empty situation inside, it''s nothing short of a perfect irony for those believers."


    "Although it''s not fatal, it''s enough to make them have some doubts about their faith during their spare moments amid their busy lives."


    "For instance, why have I donated so much to the church, yet in the end, they are still not contributing anything?"


    Lynn said indifferently.


    "..."


    At that moment, Duke Tierus was deeply engrossed in thought.


    In fact, as soon as Lynn began to speak, he had vaguely guessed the other''s intentions.


    This is really... quite an ingenious approach.


    Thest trace of dissatisfaction in his heart dissolved as well.


    After a moment of silence, Duke Tierus once again voiced his doubts, "But if they choose to start afresh, what will you do?"


    Currently, those people led by the Heavenly Principle Church were banding together in rebellion.


    To resist Duke Tierus and to keep their followers heartened, they might very well hold another donation ceremony.


    In essence, it was merely a case of moving money from one hand to another.


    In the end, it was simply another round of blood-sucking from the popce while the money returned to their own pockets.


    "It''s toote," Lynn said with a smile, "My lord, it''s already the fourth day."


    "If I''m not mistaken, starting tomorrow, this contest between royal power, the church, and the nobility will see a shift in roles."


    For some reason, the young man before him gave off the illusion that he could turn defeat into victory at any moment.


    "So, what are you waiting for now?"


    Duke Tierus looked at Lynn and asked.


    Lynn raised his index finger, "I am waiting for the opportunity to break the deadlock, a... ''scapegoat.''"


    As soon as he finished speaking, the butler Kasha returned and whispered to Lynn, "Young master, the bishop of the n Sect wants to meet with you."


    "Look, here hees."


    ...


    Led by a maid, Bishop Yivo Traore arrived at a garden with a nervous demeanor.


    At this moment, his heart was filled with tension and fear.


    As the bishop of the n Sect in Orn City, he was taking the risk of being antagonized by the Heavenly Principle Church to meet with the mastermind behind the scenes.


    Such was the plight of a small church.


    Speaking of the n Sect, there wasn''t much remarkable about it.


    Bishop Yivo wasn''t a native of Orn City.


    He came from a small country nestled between the Saint Laurent Empire and the Tutenkhamun Empire, where the popce predominantly worshiped the Earth God and were mostly followers of the n Sect.


    This country was rich in Magic Stone mines and could prosper merely from export trade.


    Yet, a man is not guilty of the crime of carrying jade; he is guilty of the crime of wearing it.


    After rapidly amassing wealth, they caught the attention of the Tutenkhamun Empire.


    Since this empire worshiped the War God and glorified strife and violence,


    What followed was a typical war of aggression.


    Yivo fled his country amidst that war and decided to travel far and wide to preach his faith to ensure the survival of the n Sect, eventually arriving in Orn City.


    Fortunately, this ce advocated for religious freedom providing fertile ground for nurturing sects.


    In the years that followed, the sect gradually grew and expanded.


    Although nowhere near the scale of the Heavenly Principle Church, they had gathered nearly ten thousand devout followers within Orn City.


    However, many problems ensued.


    Firstly, the teachings of the Earth God conflicted with those of the native Fertility Church, repeatedly drawing warnings from the City Council and the Security Bureau demanding changes to their doctrines.


    This was absurd.


    He was merely a bishop; what authority did he have to alter the scriptures on behalf of a god?


    Second, a few years ago, the War God Cathedral moved into Orn City and began aggressively acquiring followers.


    This church belonged to the Tutenkhamun Empire, a sworn enemy of Yivo''s native country, so peaceful coexistence was not an option.


    Under the duress of these two powers, the living space of the n Sect was gradually encroached upon.


    By now, it had virtually be the weakest church in the locale, even showing signs of near extinction.


    Thus, to survive, he eventually sought out Augusta Manor.


    Looking at the markedly younger than anticipated youth and the taciturn Duke Tierus beside him, Bishop Yivo felt a vague sense that he hade to the right ce.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!