After cursing the current and former heads of the Mercury family, the Sleepless Night Family Head seemed to get into the mood. After only a brief pause, she continued speaking.

"Not only are those two from the Mercury family idiots, the remaining Peerage Nobility are all uninteresting trash these days."

"The fact that the Autumn family could lose to Alt Mercury back then is enough to see that they are also a bunch of useless sacks... Even though the current heir is somewhat interesting, sooner or later he'll be dragged to his death by those foolish, short-sighted, rigid, and inflexible elders in his family—I truly don't understand. Alt Mercury, at the very least, was only soft in his foreign policy and soft-hearted towards Arlan. In reality, he was still internally soft but externally strong..."

"The people of the Autumn family actually believe in outdated things like righteousness and morality, and still rely on family rules to govern their own internal affairs... It's simply laughable!"

"The Sorenson family is also a bunch of fools. These guys know nothing but scheming and intrigue... The Universal General Chamber of Commerce hasn't had a major technological iteration for a full twenty years. I seriously doubt whether the current head of the Sorenson family can still master all of the Sorenson family's Supreme Alchemy. Such a rigid and exclusionary family, no wonder they've become the absolute bottom of the barrel among the five great families in recent years."

"As for the Saint-Lan family... Hah, they aren't much better either. With the heir dispute turning into such a mess, the eldest and third sons haven't even utilized the family's power in the parliament, nor have they done any publicity or supported their own faction's trusted aides to participate in the Speaker election... Not even a single perceptive person has come to pay their respects or send me gifts. They only know how to win over Huo Shu and Huo Le... What a joke. Do Huo Shu and Huo Le's words carry more weight than mine? I at least have the status of an aunt, and no one even thought to make use of that."

After sharply critiquing and criticizing the other four Peerage Nobility families, the Sleepless Night Family Head simply drew a conclusion.

"So, speaking from my heart... of the four Peerage Nobility families... in my opinion, you could actually kill them all. In fact, if you choose the right target, I would very much support you killing them."

"Even some of the fools within my own family, I've been displeased with them for a long time—if not for the preciousness of the Sleepless Night Family's bloodline, sometimes I really feel like carrying out another purge."

Hearing these words from the Sleepless Night Family Head, Lin Yu did not take it as her directly conceding.

A family head of such status, a woman who has stood at the pinnacle of power for who knows how long, even if she looks like a little girl on the outside, is someone who could casually destroy Sleepless Sky Huole and even handle Paris. She's a formidable person.

Therefore, if she retreats one step, it's actually a "strategic retreat to advance" where she's preparing to advance three steps.

Looking at the Sleepless Night Family Head, Lin Yu calmly spoke.

"But... in reality?"

The Sleepless Night Family Head wasn't surprised that Lin Yu saw through her intention.

"But in reality, this occasion of yours... or rather, this commission itself also has some intention of targeting our Sleepless Night clan," the Sleepless Night Family Head said, resting her chin on her hand. "Not only do you want to kill someone I promised to protect, but you also plan to act during Huo Xing's Coming-of-Age Ceremony. I can't help but suspect that the employer behind this commission also has intentions against the Sleepless Night Family."

"So... I definitely won't help you. At most, I'll turn a blind eye and pretend you never mentioned this matter to me."

The Sleepless Night Family Head said in a calm tone, "And, if you actually succeed, I will still mobilize the family's forces to seal off the scene and pursue you with full effort."

Listening to the Sleepless Night Family Head's threatening words, Lin Yu laughed.

"Or... there's a better solution."

"A solution that doesn't damage the Sleepless Night Family's prestige and is even beneficial to you."

Lin Yu gave his answer—this was also the response the Sleepless Night Family Head most wanted to hear.

Ever since she started commenting on the other families earlier, the Sleepless Night Family Head had been anticipating that Lin Yu would give this response.

Sure enough, she looked at Lin Yu and spoke with keen interest.

"Let's hear it."

...

When they left the study and the tower, it was already evening.

Although this city is named "Sleepless City," it still has day and night cycles.

It's just that at night, whether in the inner or Outer City, Sleepless City is brightly lit, as bright as day.

And at the entrance of the tower, Sleepless Sky Huole was actually still there waiting for Lin Yu.

"Why did it take so long today?"

Sleepless Sky Huole looked at Lin Yu and said with surprise.

Lin Yu imitated Fu Luo's manner and responded half-jokingly, "It's been too long since I came back, so I spent more time building rapport with the Family Head. Don't worry, I said a bunch of good things about you."

"Your mother's favorability towards you has greatly increased. Shouldn't you thank me profusely for that?"

Hearing Lin Yu's words, Sleepless Sky Huole breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, I thought something unexpected happened... So it was just because you haven't been back for too long."

"After all, you suddenly want to attend the Coming-of-Age Ceremony as a guest. No matter how you look at it, it's quite presumptuous. I thought Mother was displeased..."

Sleepless Sky Huole said with concern, then waved her hand.

"Anyway, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go."

Lin Yu was somewhat curious. "Where to?"

Sleepless Sky Huole said seriously, "To Wan Jin Tian Zuo. I reserved a table at the garden restaurant there. After eating, we'll go buy some things on the way."

Lin Yu was very surprised. "You're really thanking me? Is it necessary to be so formal?"

Sleepless Sky Huole pouted. "Don't be so full of yourself... Furbollo, didn't Mother just ask you if you prepared an expensive gift?"

"I bet you actually haven't prepared a gift for Huo Xing at all... Or you plan to casually give something very perfunctory, right?"

Lin Yu immediately protested. "No, I was planning to go to President Paris and hint at extorting a..."

"Don't go trouble Paris. Although he has considerable assets, between greasing the wheels for his own connections and helping me win over the company's upper management, his salary and the embezzlement he manages through his position are already stretched thin. He doesn't have any family backing him either," Sleepless Sky Huole said, shaking her head. "Besides, Paris's taste can only be described as utterly hopeless."

"You really care about your subordinates, Miss Huole. But you're right. I'm afraid if I go ask for a gift, that guy might pull out a crystal orange ornament..."

As Lin Yu spoke, he essentially acquiesced to Sleepless Sky Huole's plan.

"Then let's go—we'll leave after I change clothes."

Then, Lin Yu spoke up.

"Wait, there's one more thing."

"What is it?"

Sleepless Sky Huole looked at Lin Yu and asked, puzzled.

"Help me prepare a formal dress too," Lin Yu said, then pointed at his casual clothes. "Since we're attending formally, not only does the gift need to be good... the attire should also be decent."

"Preferably get a styling done too."

Sleepless Sky Huole thought for a moment and said, "Then after we go to Wan Jin Tian Zuo, I'll use my allowance to get you an outfit."