Karon walked down the stairs while fastening the buttons on his cuffs. He then quietly took his place beside Eunice’s two brothers, Chad and Arle, who stood nearby.

The best way to describe their appearances was as the sort who did not appear to be especially bright at first glance.

Moreover, their names were not listed among the eighteen Tier-1 members of the family’s faith system. When combined with the fact that their father, Bede, had also failed to awaken a connection to their ancestor’s bloodline, Karon could not help but wonder if Master Anderson might have been cuckolded at some point.

It was hard to find another explanation for how Rudd, Mike, and even Master Anderson himself were all Tier-3, while the family of his youngest child had produced nothing at all.

Well, there was still one exception. Eunice had never even undergone an awakening test.

Chad and Arle respectfully stepped aside. Karon raised a finger to his lips, signaling to his two soon to be brothers-in-law to keep quiet.

At this moment, Master Anderson was seated nearby, and Bede was speaking with the queen’s envoy. Since no one had formally introduced Karon, yet he had still been asked to come down, it was clear that they intended for him to observe in silence.

“The queen’s wishes are as follows: tomorrow’s outing location will not be far from the Allen Manor. Her Majesty has heard that Ms. Jenny and Miss Eunice have returned from visiting relatives. She missed them greatly and hopes to see them.”

The envoy paused, then added, “In addition, Prince Henry has also expressed that he has missed Miss Eunice.”

Hearing this, Karon frowned.

“Unfortunately, Miss Eunice has caught a chill upon returning home and has not yet recovered. She will not be able to attend Her Majesty’s reception tomorrow. However, Ms. Jenny and Ms. Lisa will personally go in her place to attend to Her Majesty.”

The envoy looked surprised, but still said, “But Her Majesty has prepared a gift especially for Miss Eunice.”

“Then Ms. Jenny will accept it on her daughter’s behalf and convey Her Majesty’s generosity.”

“Is it truly impossible? I mean, if Miss Eunice’s illness is not too severe...”

“It is severe. She truly cannot go out, nor be exposed to wind. Miss Eunice’s illness itself is a minor matter, but in this season, if it were to spread to Her Majesty, that would be an unforgivable offense on the part of the Allen family.” Master Anderson’s tone was calm and firm. “Please convey to Her Majesty that once Miss Eunice has recovered, I will have her personally request an audience at the palace to thank Her Majesty for her concern.”

“Then... very well. However, regarding tomorrow’s outing procession...”

“The Allen family will take full responsibility for all of Her Majesty’s needs. Everything will be arranged in advance before Her Majesty arrives.”

“Understood.” The envoy stood and took his leave.

Everyone in the reception room was fully aware that Eunice went horse riding with Young Master Karon almost every night, but no one would be foolish enough to reveal such a thing in front of the envoy.

Master Anderson immediately moved over, leaning on his cane, to stand at Karon’s side. Bede moved to Karon’s other side.

“Truthfully, Miss Eunice has no relationship with Prince Henry,” Master Anderson explained. “Nor have we made any promises to the royal family. There has been no engagement between them.”

“Yes,” Bede added. “When Eunice accompanied her mother to Swillen, she was not under any engagement or obligation.”

“You also know that we would never dare deceive your grandfather. If there truly had been any entanglement, we would have disclosed it the moment we learned of the purple bookmark.”

“Yes. We have been honest, and we hope you will also trust in Eunice’s honesty toward you.”

Karon smiled gently. “I trust Eunice.”

Master Anderson and Bede both let out a long breath at almost the same time. For a brief moment, they looked very much like father and son again.

“So the Veyn royal family holds a rather elevated position?” Karon asked.

“In secular terms, not as much as before. The royal authority is now somewhat constrained,” Bede replied. “But on the religious level, all sides have tacitly agreed to allow Gloria the Third family to continue holding the throne, serving as the nominal sovereign of the Veyn Empire and its affiliated states and colonies.”

“I see,” Karon said, nodding.

“Please rest assured. This matter will not trouble you,” Master Anderson solemnly vowed.

“I trust you, Master Anderson.” With nothing further to say, Karon turned and returned to the third floor, but instead of returning to his study, he went straight to his bedroom.

Inside, he found the golden retriever lay sprawled on a sofa. Pu’er sat on the windowsill, dipping her paw into ink to sketch something.

“What are you drawing?” Karon asked as he approached.

“An approach to handling Mike’s physical condition,” Pu’er replied without looking up. “You wouldn’t understand it yet. After your purification ritual, you will.”

She continued in a calm tone, “Mike’s talent is still acceptable, even without his legs. In fact, the Allen family’s faith system has little to do with whether one’s limbs are intact. It isn’t like those lineages that require petrification or beast transformation. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have enjoyed turning into a cat and running around back then.”

“I haven’t yet seen your family’s abilities,” Karon commented.

“Then summon Anderson and have him perform for you,” Pu’er replied lazily.

“The queen’s envoy came just now,” Karon said.

“Oh.” Pu’er did not care at all.

“There is some Prince Henry who seems to be quite interested in Eunice.”

“Oh my, such a melodramatic plot,” Pu’er drawled. “But unless Anderson ate an entire truckload of fermented herring last night, I trust he can handle this.”

“That is what he said.”

“Then it is fine. You can also relax. Back then, I looked down on the Veyn royal family. While the Allen family has declined since then, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to fully rely on the crown.”

“Why not?” Karon asked.

“Because Gloria the Third’s family, the Veyn royals, are the greediest and most patchwork of all faith-system families in Veyn. There’s even a famous painting titled Royal Decadence. Have you heard of it?”

“I have seen it in an album,” Karon replied, recalling the memory.

“To ordinary people, that painting depicts royal extravagance and chaotic incestuous relationships. After all, a father-in-law and daughter-in-law is considered tame by royal standards, since they share no blood. However, the truth is that the painting mocks how the Veyn royals obsessively expand and cultivate their faith system. They marry outward to absorb other systems, while also experimenting internally in combining compatible lineages.

“They care only about whether the systems match, what stage they are at, and whether the man can still sow seed and the woman still conceive. Ethics mean nothing to them.

“So the difference between submitting to the Veyn royals and being devoured by the Raphael family is simply whether the Allen family lives in a pigsty made of gold or one surrounded by mud walls.”

“I understand,” Karon said.

“So, my dear Young Master Karon, we must hurry. We need to clear the foundational stages as quickly as possible and push you to the Inquisitor rank.”

“Is the Church of Order really so easy to deceive?” Karon asked. “I mean, forging a false identity.”

“You think all Inquisitors are as conscientious as Tiz?” Pu’er scoffed. “You think everyone in the Church of Order is upright? Those who govern Order are the first to corrupt. Relax. It won’t be as difficult as you imagine.

“Most importantly, Tiz must have issued warnings before falling into slumber. I believe the Church of Order in Swillen doesn’t dare to even keep an eye on 13 Mink Street. At most, they’ll pass by once a month and glance at the door.

“As for tracking every member of your family, you overestimate them. You also underestimate the deterrence Tiz gave them by detonating a godhead fragment inside the Order Temple, and the pressure they suffer from his current slumber. They don’t dare approach your family, or investigate you. Anything related to Tiz is now a high-level secret within the Church of Order. It won’t spread to Veyn. You are free here, and with a proper identity, you can openly walk the Order path.

“And even in the worst case, once you truly grow strong enough, exposure won’t endanger you. It would merely go against Tiz’s original intent.

“The sole bloodline descendant of Tiz, who condensed three godhead fragments, would be cherished by the Order Temple far more than a genius like Rasma ever was.”

Karon nodded. “I see.”

“We must seize time,” Pu’er said seriously. “I do this for my weakened family. You do this for Tiz. No, for the three of us. Our goals are perfectly aligned.”

“Yes,” Karon agreed with a smile. “I am going riding.”

“Go on. Come on, stupid dog. Let us inspect whether that renovated performance hall meets standards.”

The golden retriever leapt down from the sofa, and the cat jumped onto its back. She wiped her ink-stained paws on the dog’s fur. “Move out, stupid dog.”

Woof.

Karon went downstairs, where Alfred and Borg were already waiting with the horses.

It was two hours earlier than his usual riding time with Eunice.

“Young Master, perhaps we could go at night?” Alfred suggested.

“What difference is there between day and night?” Karon said as he mounted his white horse.

“That is... also true,” Alfred admitted, recalling that they needed to avoid the black cat, who slept by Young Master’s feet at night.

Borg remained on the ground.

“Come along,” Karon said, glancing back.

“Yes, Young Master,” Borg replied with a smile as he mounted.

Since arriving at the Allen family, there were few people Karon truly trusted. This was not because the family was untrustworthy, but because, like Pu’er, they placed the family above all else. Their interests only aligned with his own because his growth matched the family’s interests.

Borg was different. He always smiled brightly, yet he held no affection for the Allen family at all. As he grew, his resentment toward them would only deepen.

The three rode to the graveyard and dismounted.

“Young Master, which shall we use for the experiment?” Alfred asked.

“I do not know yet,” Karon replied.

Borg followed curiously. An experiment? Here?

Karon had originally intended to try awakening Earl Rekar. The man had simply left too deep of an impression.

This had only grown stronger after the queen’s envoy had arrived and mentioned Prince Henry’s interest in Eunice. Would it not be fitting to awaken a privateer who had once treated the nation’s queen as a summonable lover, as a form of return gift?

“Borg, is the family’s ancestor buried here as well?” Karon asked.

“Yes, Young Master. When Alfred had me investigate the burial details, I familiarized myself with all of the ancestral graves here. The ancestor’s resting place is there.”

Borg pointed to a black stone at the center of the graveyard.

“Here?” Karon crouched before it.

The stone was low, worn smooth by time. In a public park, it might be mistaken for a simple bench. Beside it stood Earl Rekar’s pirate ship tombstone, ostentatious, towering, and completely overshadowing the ancestor’s marker.

Rekar truly had been arrogant and had no regard at all for hierarchy.

Karon glanced at the sky, then at the distant castle. He signaled Alfred.

Alfred’s eyes grew red as he brought out a deck of playing cards and threw them outward.

Hoffen had given Karon many books, including one filled with forbidden Arts and a comprehensive collection of ritual arrays.

Karon had not yet undergone purification, so he could only read, and not practice. Alfred, however, had been studying earnestly while traveling.

Unlike Pu’er, he bore no family burdens. His sole desire was to ascend the mural. His goals were clear, and his initiative strong.

“Abyss—Basic Barrier.” A faint black veil expanded from Alfred, enveloping the graveyard.

Karon continued scanning the tombstones, still unable to choose. Then he smiled faintly. Why think so much? This was only a test. He did not even know if he could awaken a true spiritual existence who had once wielded a faith system.

Karon straightened up, closed his eyes, and spread his hands.

Borg instinctively stepped back, not daring to disturb him.

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

At first, nothing happened. Karon did not rush. He calmed his heart, attempting to harmonize with his surroundings. It was as if he were no longer standing in the graveyard, but lying on his bed at night. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

Borg went bug-eyed when he saw a black chain form at the young master’s feet and slowly circle around.

Alfred noticed as well. He smiled. This was a good sign. He had always believed that Young Master’s mystery surpassed that of a heretical god. Otherwise, why would Young Master have awakened in the body while that thing could only become a dog?

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

The black chain continued to circle beneath Karon’s feet. It had not yet found a target.

Karon slowly opened his eyes and looked down at the shadow beneath him. Perhaps after purification, this ability would manifest more clearly.

He raised his hand and pointed at a nearby, ordinary grave. Neither the ancestor’s nor Rekar’s tomb felt safe to touch first. The black chain extended towards the grave, and then snapped back violently.

“Kgh.” Karon grunted, steadying himself. That would not work.

He did not give up. He pointed to another ordinary grave. The chain extended again, only to be repelled once more.

“Hiss.” This recoil struck his chest hard enough that he reflexively clutched it.

Borg moved to assist, but Alfred stopped him with a look.

Karon took deep breaths. Being denied twice meant that he currently lacked the qualifications to contact spiritual remains.

Still, he could sense that the door itself was not locked. He simply had not found the handle. After purification, he would be able to open it.

So the experiment should end here. The black chain began retracting toward his feet.

Then something changed. An unseen force seized the chain while it was still pulling back, and violently yanked it aside.

The direction was unmistakable: Earl Rekar’s pirate ship tombstone.

Buzz. Karon felt a heavy blow to the back of his head as his consciousness blurred.

After a brief, overwhelming bout of vertigo, he opened his eyes. He heard the roar of waves. Everything around him swayed.

At first he thought that his awareness was unstable, but he quickly realized that he was standing on a massive ship.

Sailors shouted, drank, dueled, gambled. Noise crashed like waves upon waves.

Karon slowly stood. When he fully straightened, the clamor abruptly cut off.

Before him rose a high platform. Upon it stood a massive silver helm wheel. Beneath it sat a chair. A broad, powerfully built middle-aged man in pirate attire, wearing an eyepatch, lounged in that chair. A richly dressed woman with a crown sat on his lap.

His hand roamed beneath her garments, yet she merely nestled against his chest, compliant.

Rekar.

The man spoke, and even the sea seemed to fall silent, “Who are you? Answer honestly. The sea will judge the truth of your words. If you deceive me, your soul will be devoured by the sea, wherever you may flee, cursed by it forever.”

The pressure in his voice was absolute.

Karon pursed his lips tightly.

I am the steward of the Allen family.

I am its savior.

Both answers were immediately discarded. They were too real, but also too dangerous.

At last, he replied, “I am the Allen family’s son-in-law.”