Hate me, Miss Witch!

This was precisely why the silent estate presented a stark contrast to the outside world, where the city lay in ruins, consumed by a vast fire.

Separated by only a river, it seemed as though they were two entirely different worlds.

...

Shiayar's footsteps echoed in the empty and silent Ducal Estate.

Usually, even during the night, this estate was always brightly lit.

The family of a Duke would certainly not lack the small sum needed for the energy crystals used in magictech lamps.

But at this moment, the inside of the Ducal Estate was pitch-black and deathly silent.

It was as if some dark and profound Abyss lurked within.

Shiayar's pace halted before a room in the depths of the estate.

Through the heavy door, Shiayar caught the faint scent of blood.

Shiayar reached out and knocked gently on the heavy iron door three times, paused briefly, then knocked twice more.

"Come in."

Lord Norton's voice came from inside.

Shiayar pushed the door and entered.

Once the metal door was no longer a barrier, the initially faint smell of blood instantly intensified, becoming pungent.

Lord Norton's aged figure appeared in the shadows. He no longer stooped as he typically did before his family members.

Something called ambition was invigorating him. His body, once ravaged by time, straightened, appearing to grow younger bit by bit, reverting to the likeness of his youth.

He toyed with a blood-stained dagger in his hands.

In the shadows behind Norton, a dark, spectral figure gazed at Shiayar, who had just entered, its eyes filled with murderous intent.

Only when Norton waved his hand did those eyes, brimming with murderous intent, vanish. The oppressive aura locked onto Shiayar also dissipated.

This old geezer isn't simple at all! Did he manage to take care of all the family elders who opposed his ambition, along with the Twilight cultists who had infiltrated the Ducal Estate in an attempt to break the seals underground?

Shiayar scoffed inwardly.

A considerable number of the Brunestadt family's elders were Great Beastmasters of the 4-Ring. And the evil followers who could be dispatched to infiltrate the estate must also have been of similar rank. To think they were all wiped out so silently, without making a sound. But it makes sense; if this old crone Norton didn't have such hidden strength to back him, how would he dare to conceive such a grand and audacious ambition?

If Lord Norton's audacious plan to usurp the Authority of the Deities truly succeeded—not only would the human faction of the Order side be unable to tolerate him, but the Lost Kingdom and the Abyss also wouldn't let him off. How could the evil cult, which regards the Evil Gods as supreme, allow a mortal to covet that ultimate Authority and Divine Throne?

Norton glanced at Shiayar, who stood with an expressionless face, completely unscathed.

Then, his gaze fell upon the young girl in Shiayar's arms, who lay in Eternal Slumber, and he nodded in satisfaction.

"You've done even better than I imagined.

"Once I ascend to that highest Divine Throne,

"perhaps you could not only be an emperor of a secular Divine Kingdom but even go a step further—

"becoming the Deputy Lord of the Heavenly Kingdom, the right hand of God."

Nice one—already popping the champagne before the game is even over? But it makes sense. Having eliminated the powerful members of the Brunestadt family and the evil followers, the rest are all Norton's own people. By now, Norton's mentality was probably: "I'm already riding the dragon's face; how could I possibly lose?"

Shiayar once again scoffed inwardly, but his outward appearance revealed no flaws.

His expression flickered at the mention of "Deputy Lord of the Heavenly Kingdom" and "God's right hand." His voice, strained with suppressed longing, trembled as he spoke:

"Lord Norton, I have never dared to dream of so much.

"I would be content just to follow by Lord Norton's side."

"You don't need to be like this in front of me."

Norton's tone softened a bit as he patted Shiayar's shoulder.

"Humans are, after all, beasts driven by desire.

"Ordinarily, due to various external constraints, we bind ourselves with such meaningless conventions as morality, self-interest, and shame.

"Yet, it is the presence of desire and ambition that drives the progress and development of civilization.

"Chasing power, embracing authority, yearning for beautiful women, harboring the ambition to climb higher... there's nothing wrong with that."

Norton gazed with indifferent eyes at the dagger in his hand, soaked with the blood of who knew how many people.

"Among the family elders, there were many who were powerful, with talents and strategies not inferior to my own.

"But now, they are all dead, and I am still alive.

"That is the price those fools paid for trusting in unreliable and intangible human nature."

He looked at Shiayar, his words deliberate.

"Remember, my child.

"Lose humanity, lose much.

"Lose Beast Nature, lose everything!

"To one day become the Lord of the Divine Kingdom, to become my right and left hands, this is a principle you must learn."

So he's Wade now? Does he really think he's some kind of sage? A medieval old crone daring to lecture me on my worldview.

Shiayar's face remained serene as he bowed slightly. "My lord, I have taken your teachings to heart."

"Very good."

Norton nodded in satisfaction.

Having just completed such a world-shaking, unconventional grand plan, he naturally needed someone to extol his triumph and satisfy his desire for self-expression.