Elder Norton sat in the chief seat, his gaze overlooking the several people below. His gaze carried an immense pressure, and all who met it respectfully lowered their heads.
"You are all orphans I have taken in over the years, having lost your parents either to war or to the calamity of a beast tide."
"Now that all of you have grown up, you have, at the very least, initiated your 1st Soul Pact. You have stepped into the ranks of official Beastmasters, truly entering the extraordinary class."
"This is all thanks to the Elder and the family's nurturing!"
"Even if we achieve something in the future, we will certainly serve the family with all our hearts and souls."
Once Elder Norton had spoken, his words immediately elicited a chorus of assent—or, one might say, flattery.
This was only natural; they were all alone in the Brunestadt family, and Elder Norton, who had taken them in, was their greatest support.
"Is that so—"
Elder Norton wasn't moved by these affirmations. His speech paused slightly. "So, let me ask you—"
"If one day, I were to stand in opposition to the Brunestadt family, which side would you choose to help?"
A deathly silence prevailed; no one dared to answer.
The orphans Elder Norton had selected and taken in all possessed excellent beast taming talent, or rather, soul quality. Moreover, having lived unsupported in a grand ducal family for over a decade, they had developed a basic political sensitivity.
Elder Norton's question was akin to the dilemma: "If we both fell into the water, would you save me first or your mother?" It was plainly a life-or-death question.
If one answered that they would help Elder Norton, he might very well retort that he was merely testing their loyalty to the family. What then, if they were deemed disloyal?
And if one answered they would help the family, that would mean directly opposing the Elder. Who knew when he might set a subtle trap for them?
As time elapsed in this silent standoff, a flicker of displeasure finally shimmered in Norton's eyes. It was at this moment that the oppressive silence was abruptly shattered.
"Elder, I have only one answer."
"And that is: my loyalty is to you!"
Everyone turned in astonishment, only to see Shiayar standing up, his eyes reddened.
"Shiayar, you..." Leonard was shocked and tried to stop Shiayar but was brushed off.
"I lost my parents when I was young, and my homeland was swallowed by a beast tide... If the Elder hadn't taken me in, I might have long since perished on the refugee trails, devoured by fiendish beasts."
"The family has indeed been kind to me, but if it's for the Elder's sake, I would not hesitate to become an enemy of the family!"
Shiayar recalled the miserable emotional history of his past life. His eyes red, his performance was genuinely heartfelt.
Unlike the others with their eyes metaphorically shut, I, as a player cognizant of the Azure Garden Dukedom's future demise, have already marked this Elder Norton as a ravenous wolf. Corrupted by the Twilight Evil God, a thorough lackey. Maybe he's even the head of a heretical cult. The downfall of the Azure Garden Dukedom is indisputably connected to him.
This was precisely why Shiayar knew that Norton, at this moment, wasn't conducting any loyalty test for the family. He was choosing his confidants—the unswervingly loyal ones.
Orphans taken in from a young age, without any support within the family... Is there any more reliable source of private soldiers, or deathsworn, with higher loyalty?
And for that reason, to interfere more in the Brunestadt family's affairs and to better complete the system's tasks—Shiayar had to bite the hook now. And he had to bite hard, act his heart out, to gain Norton's trust.
What transpired subsequently was indeed as Shiayar had anticipated.
"Absurd!" Elder Norton looked at Shiayar and slammed his fist on the table. "The head of the Brunestadt family is my brother! It is not subject to my dictation alone!"
"Such thinking is utterly wrong!"
Despite the reprimanding tone, Shiayar could detect that Norton's voice lacked real anger.
He addressed the others, who dared not speak out, "You must all remember, the glory of the Brunestadt family supersedes everything!"
"In the face of the family's greater cause, even I can be sacrificed."
"You are all adults now and eligible to leave the Royal Capital to take up positions in the dukedom's other territories, to share some of the family's responsibilities."
"Pack your things these next few days. You will leave after the coming-of-age ceremony."
"Yes, Elder!"
The crowd murmured their acquiescence, all the while casting sympathetic glances at Shiayar. Luckily, they had chosen stability and not hastily pledged allegiance like Shiayar, thus evading a close call. As for Shiayar, who had made the wrong choice and was now being used as a cautionary tale, he was, in their eyes, undoubtedly going to face severe punishment from the family.
Only Leonard gave Shiayar a hesitant glance. After being completely ignored by him, Leonard had to leave reluctantly.
Elder Norton stood silently at the head of the room. Shiayar also stood beside him, head bowed silently, watching as everyone bid their goodbyes and dispersed.
He naturally understood the implications of Norton's words. Throughout history, when had any second-in-command dared to openly reveal their rebellious intentions? Regardless of one's true thoughts, public statements had to maintain a facade of unity. Putting on a show of high principles was hardly original. I, who should cooperate with your act, turn a blind eye~
As for Leonard and the others—although they were now Norton's discarded pawns, exiled from the Royal Capital and thus losing their greatest backer, given their strength, escaping this chaotic quagmire might not be entirely bad. At least they might survive the future calamity of the dukedom's fall.
Only after everyone had left did Norton turn his gaze back to the silent Shiayar. "Do you now recognize your mistake?"
"If this is what the Elder wishes me to believe, then I am willing to accept the family's punishment," Shiayar said with unwavering conviction.
Since he had decided to play the double agent, he might as well go all out.
"However, my previous conviction remains unchanged."
"You are my benefactor, a greater benefactor than the family itself."
"Even now, if you asked me to die for you, I would not hesitate."
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Norton's eyes, though he did not let it show.
"Die for me, huh?"
"You speak of it so lightly."
"This is a potion from Alchemy City, designed to accelerate Soul cultivation," he said, taking out a small vial of cloudy potion and placing it before Shiayar. "You're not far from becoming a High-Order Beastmaster. So, drink it."
Damn, this old crone is quite cautious, Shiayar cursed inwardly. Who would believe this is some kind of potion to enhance the Soul? It might indeed have that effect, but the old crone's purpose in giving it to me is undoubtedly to ensure absolute control over his confidants. It's like those miraculous pills and hidden energy sources I'd seen in various shows and movies in my past life. Once ingested, my life would no longer be my own.
Although his thoughts were racing, Shiayar's actions showed not the slightest hesitation. He stepped forward without pause and took the potion.
Undercover work was inherently risky. Throughout history, agents faced discovery by their targets and feared betrayal by their own organizations. Moreover, Shiayar had not yet earned the trust of any "organization" to back him.
"Your Grace, your brother intends to rebel!" "Hmm, evidence?" "No evidence? Heh." Even if I actually reported to the Grand Duke garrisoned at the border, he would probably dismiss me as a spy trying to sow discord within the family.
However, Shiayar dared to act this way because he sensed Shiny's prompt through the Soul Pact. When necessary, Shiny could forcibly remove him from the Echo of History. But such a forced departure would greatly increase the Space-time Law's rejection of him. Afterward, re-entering the Echo of History would become substantially more difficult, meaning Shiayar's years of preparation would be for naught. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Shiayar would not consider this option.
Shiayar unsealed the potion bottle and let the murky liquid gush down his throat. With a 4th Order Master Rank Beastmaster watching, the mere tricks of pretending to drink that Shiayar knew from social gatherings in his past life wouldn't deceive anyone.
However, Elder Norton would never have guessed that an orphan, who had lost his parents at a young age and been raised by the family, would possess a second Pet Beast with a spatial attribute.
The moment the liquid entered Shiayar's throat, Shiny, who was inside the Soul Pact Space, used Spatial Pocket to transport it into a Sub-dimension. Shiayar and Shiny's movements were so precise and subtle that even Norton, watching closely, didn't notice a thing.
"Very good."
Watching Shiayar drink the potion without the slightest hesitation, an ugly smile finally touched Elder Norton's deeply lined old face.
He waved his hand, and the Attendants by his side withdrew, leaving only Shiayar and Norton together.
After all this, he summoned a majestic-looking, lizard-like Pet Beast, which added a soundproof barrier to the surrounding space.
Then, Norton spoke to Shiayar again. "Since you have such resolve," he said, "then I indeed have some matters for you to attend to."
"The Family Head's only daughter, Silvia Brunestadt. You've heard of her, haven't you?"
Shiayar's heart stirred, and he nodded.
This is exactly what I was hoping for. Norton, this chief lackey, is predictable; it seems I can work with this. My whole act for him wasn't a waste after all.
"Very good."
Elder Norton's ugly smile deepened a bit more.
He clasped his hands behind his back, paced two steps, his old face showing a triumphant expression. "Silvia, she's a key."
"A key to liberate the Master's other half, allowing the Master to reclaim freedom and once again reign supreme over the world."
"And what I need you to do—"
"Is to hold that key firmly in our hands."