Leonor was fast asleep on Edmund’s large bed. Still wearing his sleepwear, Edmund called Sebastian over.

Sebastian was utterly shocked when he saw Leonor, the girl rescued from Tuca Village, sleeping on Edmund’s bed.

Suspicion immediately appeared on his face, and Edmund quickly denied anything strange before explaining what had happened earlier that morning.

However, Sebastian was a smart man. He could easily tell that Edmund was lying and hiding something.

Edmund thought he could keep everything hidden from Sebastian. Yet the very thing he feared ended up happening.

While letting Leonor continue sleeping, Edmund explained everything from the beginning, especially the serial murder tragedy that had taken place.

Sebastian listened with a half-disbelieving expression.

Edmund explained everything in detail, from the events themselves to the causes and consequences behind them.

"I honestly don’t know what else to say," Sebastian said.

"Leonor is important to me. I can’t let her be executed," Edmund replied while leaning back in his seat, crossing his legs, and sipping wine.

"But she’s half demon, our enemy."

Sebastian clearly did not understand how dirty politics in the Capital truly worked.

"Let’s say she really is half demon. Then why would the Kingdom of Mughort send monster troops just to kidnap her?"

"About that..."

While slowly swirling the wine in his glass, Edmund kept staring at the liquid.

"I suspect there’s a great power inside Leonor that they’re trying to control," Edmund answered.

"So the reason you saved her is because Leonor benefits the kingdom?"

Edmund let out a faint chuckle. What he was doing was not entirely for the kingdom.

He had never planned on saving Leonor, the Villainess, for the sake of protecting a kingdom filled with corrupt nobles.

His goal was simply to keep the Aschwin Family safe.

With Leonor’s power, combined with the possibility of preventing the family’s destruction, the Aschwin Family could survive when the great war between humans and demons eventually began.

"I’m doing this... for Archester City and the Aschwin Family," Edmund answered briefly.

"I still don’t understand."

Edmund placed his wine glass back on the table and told Sebastian not to think too deeply about it.

The reason he had called Sebastian over was not to discuss Leonor’s future, but to ask him to do something.

"I’ll handle Leonor’s matters. I called you here because I want you to do something for me."

"What is it, Lord Edmund?" Sebastian asked curiously.

"Leonor will turn seventeen next month on the 19th."

"Livden Academy will open registration soon. I want you to go to Nisya and ask her to prepare documents for Leonor," Edmund replied.

Sebastian glanced to the side, looking at the still sleeping Leonor. Edmund’s order was clear and easy for Sebastian to understand.

Forging birth records and similar documents was a simple task for him.

"She’ll become my adopted younger sister. Her name is Leonor Aschwin."

"I understand, Lord Edmund."

"Second, go to the Adventurer Guild Office and buy a high-grade monster core there," Edmund continued.

"A high-grade monster core? Is it for Leonor?"

Edmund explained the agreement between himself and Leonor.

He told Sebastian to prepare a high-grade monster core because he wanted to give it to Leonor as a birthday present.

"A birthday present?"

"She asked for it," Edmund answered.

Sebastian sighed and slowly nodded, explaining that he would do his best to obtain it before the 19th of next month.

He also talked about Leonor’s need for demonic energy intake.

She would no longer consume human souls, but would instead accept medium-grade monster cores as an alternative.

"I’ll look for those as well," Sebastian explained.

"And lastly, Sebastian."

"Yes, Lord Edmund?" Sebastian responded.

Before speaking further, Edmund poured more wine from the bottle into his glass.

The sound of the wine pouring echoed clearly between them, creating tension for Sebastian.

Ever since Edmund woke from his coma, his attitude had completely changed. Now he was calculating, strategic, and intelligent.

"About the murder case... deal with it quickly," Edmund ordered.

"How?" Sebastian asked.

Edmund picked up his glass and took a slow sip before looking back at Sebastian.

"Go to the most remote village, find an old man or old woman, and dress them up like a dark witch."

"You want me to find innocent people to die?" Sebastian asked in shock.

"Do you think maintaining power is always based on wisdom and kindness?" Edmund asked while staring sharply at Sebastian.

"Sometimes, we need to do cruel things to calm public fear," Edmund said.

Sebastian was left speechless. Never had he imagined that Edmund, the respected and admired Viscount Aschwin throughout all of Archie territory, would suggest such a plan.

Sebastian clenched his fists tightly and closed his eyes, trying to process the order Edmund had just given him.

The education Sebastian had received since childhood had taught him how to handle complicated situations like this.

Slowly, his thoughts began to open up, and he lifted his gaze forward once more.

"To prevent chaos caused by public fear... I’ll do it," Sebastian answered.

Edmund smiled faintly and gestured for a toast. Sebastian raised his glass, clinked it with Edmund’s, and quickly drank it down.

"Relax, Sebastian."

"I’ll show you the world from a smaller perspective, the kind most people never pay attention to."

"Truth and evil stand on a very thin line. Sometimes truth itself is evil, and evil becomes the truth."

"I understand, Lord Edmund."

Edmund finished his drink and placed the glass back onto the glass table.

"You can begin carrying out the third plan. We need to calm public fear as quickly as possible."

Sebastian stood when he saw Edmund rise as well.

"I won’t disappoint you, Lord Edmund."

He said his farewell and left Edmund’s room. Edmund remained there, but his steps suddenly stopped when he was about to look outside the balcony.

A system panel appeared before Edmund’s face, displaying information about the third mission.

────[Third Mission]────

[Objective: Handle Leonor Reimard’s Night Personality Condition]

[Reward: +10 Conviction Stats || +10 All Stat Points || Unlock Stealth Steps]

[Status: Complete!]

[Bond: Conviction || Energy: 20/100] [+10]

The third mission had succeeded. The personality changes caused by the fusion of the two personalities had completed the mission.

Leonor gained an additional +10 Conviction Energy, along with +10 to All Stat Points.

Edmund realized that if he had chosen the dual personality option, completing the third mission would probably have been much harder.

[DING! Congratulations, Host has obtained Stealth Steps]

Stealth? A basic ability that should normally belong only to assassins, like Sebastian.

[DING! Congratulations, Host has received additional stat points]

[Basic Attributes:]

[STR: 190 || AGI: 120 || INT: 80 || DEX: 110 || CONS: 90]

Another panel appeared, displaying the basic attributes that had each increased by +10.

It was good, but Edmund believed he would receive even greater rewards if he continued completing Bond Missions.

────[Fourth Mission]────

[Objective: Teach Leonor Aschwin basic life skills]

[Reward: +10 Conviction Stats || +10 STR || +10 AGI || +10 CONS || Unlock Vision Status]

[Status: Ongoing!]

The fourth mission appeared, informing Edmund that he now had to teach Leonor Aschwin the fundamentals of life.

He turned around and saw the girl still sleeping soundly.

"This... is going to feel like a slow death for me!"