***

The next day.

What happened last night opened Edmund’s eyes about Leonor’s Night Personality. In his previous world, it was commonly called a split personality.

In short, inside Leonor’s body existed two different personalities.

Leonor with her innocent demeanor. Lilith with her killing gaze.

Sebastian came again to Edmund’s study, right when Edmund was receiving a guest from outside the city.

Edmund and the man both reflexively turned their heads.

The man in front of Edmund excused himself since his business was finished, then stepped away and left the place.

The man left, replaced by Sebastian, who came and sat in front of Edmund’s desk. "Do you know something, Lord Edmund?"

"I don’t. What is it?"

"There were no murder victims last night. All the police officials along with the family soldiers have patrolled every corner of the city, but they found nothing," Sebastian answered.

"Isn’t that strange?"

Edmund smiled faintly, pouring wine into his glass and taking a slow sip.

"That’s actually good," Edmund explained. "She’s no longer disturbing the city’s peace."

"But the culprit hasn’t been caught. The townspeople are still worried," Sebastian insisted.

While talking with Sebastian about the culprit and the serial murder incidents, a system panel suddenly appeared in front of Edmund.

The system panel appeared, and only Edmund could see it. Sebastian could not.

It was not a status panel, nor a mission related to Leonor Reimard.

────[First Rule System Mission]────

[Objective: Control public anxiety]

[Public trust level: 65%]

[Reward: Restoration of trust toward the family || +5 AUTH Attribute || +5 CHAR Attribute]

[Note: Failure means loss of trust and compliance!]

Edmund was stunned in shock as he saw the new mission from his rule system.

From the very beginning, there had indeed been two systems working on him.

The bond system that helped and nurtured Leonor, with missions centered around Leonor and her life.

The rule system that helped Edmund govern, control many people, succeed in trade, and win political duels.

Since the beginning, only the bond system has been active and giving me missions. Does the rule system work differently? Does it only activate when there’s a trigger?

"Lord Edmund?" Sebastian asked, confused when he saw Edmund staring off in another direction.

I need to open my attribute status panel and see if there’s any significant change.

Through Edmund’s past memories, he raised his hand and traced the letter ’S’ in front of his face, then pressed the magical engraving.

[Profile Status:]

[Name: Edmund Aschwin || Title: Viscount Aschwin]

[Age: 22]

[Class: Knight || Affinity: Wind]

[Level: 54 || EXP: 45,650/57,500]

[Basic Attributes:]

[STR: 180 || AGI: 110 || INT: 70 || DEX: 100 || CONS: 80]

[Extra Attributes:]

[AUTH: 120 || LUCK: 80 || CHAR: 100]

This was the first time Edmund Aschwin had seen his status panel and attributes.

The novel Sword’s Fate did indeed have attribute elements similar to litrpg novels or games.

However, they did not pay much attention to it. Increases were considered normal.

What they focused on were class abilities or other skills.

Sebastian saw Edmund opening his status panel. "It’s unusual to see you fixated on those attribute numbers."

"What about you, Sebastian?" Edmund asked.

"My level is still below yours. I’m too lazy to go hunt monsters in dungeons. I have more important matters to handle than staining my clothes with disgusting goblin blood," Sebastian replied.

Edmund smiled and poured wine into Sebastian’s empty glass.

"Same here."

He and Sebastian clinked glasses, drinking the wine slowly while savoring it.

Edmund’s attention returned to the First Mission of his rule system.

The man stood up, stepped back, and stopped near the glass wall overlooking the front yard of the Aschwin Family mansion complex.

"Go out and announce a public bounty," Edmund said.

"A bounty?"

"Whoever captures the culprit will receive 500 Gold Coins from the Aschwin Family."

Edmund turned and looked at Sebastian. "We don’t know who the culprit is. So we need public participation."

"The bounty also shows that the Aschwin Family is not ignoring this issue."

Sebastian cleared his throat and agreed, explaining that Edmund’s plan was a good one.

The citizens’ anxiety had grown extremely high.

Many of them were afraid to go about their activities, especially since the curfew had been enforced.

Frightened and anxious citizens would create suspicion, which could lead to uncontrollable chaos.

Now, Edmund began to understand why the rule system had given him a mission.

Besides maintaining balance between the plot and Edmund’s plans, the system was meant to help him in the future.

Sebastian finished his drink and excused himself. Edmund cleared his throat, still wanting to drink to quiet the noise in his head.

He already had an appointment tonight to meet Lilith.

He had promised Lilith that she could devour a human soul tonight.

However, Edmund could not choose randomly.

His actions tonight had to be carried out carefully. Otherwise, the public trust percentage would drop, and the Aschwin Family would struggle to gain influence in the city.

Among many possibilities, Edmund could only think of one thing.

I have to take someone from the city prison.

***

Night fell, and patrols resumed by the police officials and the family soldiers.

Edmund stood in the front yard of the Aschwin Family mansion, then began walking cautiously.

He arrived once again in front of Nisya’s house, stepping down from his horse and tying the reins to the iron fence in front of the home.

There was no sign of Leonor coming out. The atmosphere was incredibly quiet, and Edmund had to be careful. What he was about to do could have fatal consequences if someone found out.

Where is she? Did she decide not to go?

Edmund looked impatient. He opened the iron gate and stepped into the yard.

His footsteps were slow and silent, hoping not to wake Nisya or the neighbors around the house.

Now, he stood directly in front of the door, ready to knock.

However, his hand stopped when he noticed the red mist carrying the scent of roses appearing once again. Edmund now understood the meaning behind that crimson fog.

Not long after, the door slowly opened, and Leonor’s figure appeared before him, wearing the same red dress as yesterday.

That was clearly not Leonor... but Lilith.

"Are you ready to go?" Lilith asked.

Edmund handed her a large coat. "Wear this. They’ll get suspicious if they see your red dress."

Lilith reached out and accepted the coat, putting it neatly on her body.

Once she was fully ready, Edmund led her away.

They stepped forward and saw a horse waiting in front of the house. Lilith looked slightly surprised.

"Where are we going?" Lilith asked, confused.

"There’s someone waiting for us outside the city. We need to visit them," Edmund explained.

"Outside the city?"

Edmund stopped beside his horse, "Yes. Do you need help?"

Lilith nodded. She reached out her hand and let Edmund help her climb onto the horse.

It was not difficult for Edmund to help her. After she got on, Edmund mounted as well and began riding westward out of the city.

Lilith wrapped her arms tightly around Edmund from behind, feeling his abs with her hands.

"You work out a lot, don’t you, Edmund?"

"Do you think I got this physique by being lazy?"

They rode past the western gate of the city, letting the guards open it for Edmund.

However, they had not reached their destination yet. They continued riding until they entered the forest to the west.

Lilith grew confused. "Didn’t you promise to bring me a human yesterday?"

"I did."

Right in the middle of the forest, they saw torchlight and a carriage parked nearby.

Edmund stopped his horse and quickly got down.

They were soldiers of the Aschwin Family, obedient and loyal to Edmund’s orders.

Three men approached in white armor, bringing three male prisoners from the city prison.

However, Edmund had given them instructions.

Once they arrived in the forest and Edmund appeared, they had to cover their eyes with black cloth.

"Viscount Edmund."

"Closed your eyes," Edmund ordered.

"Yes."

They reached into their pockets and took out black cloth, tightly covering their eyes so they could not see anything in front of them.

Edmund turned to Lilith, "Those are the three."

"They are prisoners sentenced to death and life imprisonment."

"No one will object."

Lilith smiled. The three men in front of her were adults, not elderly, and not children.

The woman glanced once more before absorbing the souls of the three men, "Thank you, Edmund."