Torn Between Two Choices

Bill was also quite helpless. A long time ago, Colin had asked him to find a job to earn money and help support the household.

But Colin was only twelve and had no special talents. What job could possibly suit him?

Fortunately, Bill truly had many connections. Once he confirmed that Colin's Bloodline Enhancement had failed and that the Transcendent Path was likely closed off to him, he immediately pointed Colin toward another path: becoming a prominent figure in the mundane world.

To make something of oneself in the transcendent world required exceptional talent, formidable strength, and the right connections.

But to make something of oneself in the mundane world, one only needed social finesse and extensive connections.

Bill knew the Russell family's situation. They were a thoroughly fallen noble family. Linda was a House Tutor, Smith was a young Financial Officer who was even at risk of being laid off. Their home was shabby, they had no servants or butler, and aside from their surname and bloodline, the Russell family was more like ordinary commoners.

But that did not mean Colin lacked advantages. In Bill's eyes, Colin was fairly handsome, with a valiant and upright appearance, an especially strong physique, and would surely be favored by noblewomen.

Moreover, strange and novel things often popped out of Colin's mouth, such as Journey to the West. And there was one more point: Colin was only twelve.

Many flirtatious noblewomen had such peculiar tastes. If Colin learned how to please women, he would become the darling of those noblewomen. With that as his foundation, Colin could rise rapidly in the mundane world.

All in all, although Bill was only twelve, he saw noble society very clearly and had truly gone to great lengths for Colin's sake.

But all of this was based on Bill's belief that it would be difficult for Colin to embark upon the Transcendent Path.

Not only had Bill made it clear, Colin understood it as well. Though he inwardly cursed Bill as a bad friend, he was still grateful to him.

If he did not have the system in hand, then as an impoverished fallen noble, becoming a kept man and slowly rising into a prominent figure in the mundane world through a woman's influence would absolutely have been a good choice. Even if the Countess had many lovers.

And this "job" truly was easy, comfortable, and richly rewarding.

According to what Bill had said earlier, Colin might very well be able to climb into the Countess's bed tonight without much effort.

But didn't he have a system now? Although things were difficult at the moment and he lacked the money to buy potions and a full set of containers for brewing them, he still felt unwilling to accept it.

But then again, this truly was an opportunity. If he made the Countess happy and got some Gold Coins as starting capital, every problem would be solved at once.

On one side was money. On the other was self-respect.

Colin fell into a fierce inner struggle, his face turning pale and then green. After a long while, he inexplicably asked Bill, "How old is this Countess? Is she pretty?"

"Just over thirty. Fair-skinned, beautiful, and voluptuous." Bill glanced at the grand villa ahead, then stood on tiptoe and leaned close to Colin's ear. In a low voice, he said, "I heard she's also skilled in bedroom arts. A real treasure in bed."

He was shorter than Colin and had no choice but to move like that.

For a moment, Colin's heart itched with desire. What a wonderful rich woman. It did not matter that she was flirtatious and had multiple lovers, as long as she had money.

The battle in his heart intensified, and one side nearly overwhelmed the other. But Colin ultimately took a deep breath, then turned to Bill and asked, "Bill, have you mentioned me to this Countess before?"

"How could you bring up something like that first? I'll take you in to meet the Countess. You two can talk first, discuss art, life, jewelry, and so on. Then you can bring out your Journey to the West and make her happy. After that, everything will fall into place naturally." Bill gave Colin a very feminine eye roll.

"That's good." Colin took a deep breath and undid the top gold button of his shirt. Just as Bill thought Colin was about to march in without hesitation, Colin fled onto the carriage under Bill's astonished gaze and turned back to say, "Pretend I was never here."

"Damn it. It was still my self-respect getting in the way. I, Colin Russell, really don't want to take this path." Colin leaned against the carriage, his emotions incomparably complicated.

"Suit yourself." Bill was a little angry too. What a wonderful opportunity. He could not help stamping his foot in a very feminine manner before getting into the carriage as well and telling the driver, "Go back."

Thus, under the driver's control, the carriage slowly left the grand villa. The two guards at the entrance found it utterly strange and baffling. "Those two parked their carriage here, whispered to each other for ages, and then left."

After the carriage had traveled for a while, Bill was still angry, but Colin was one of his few friends after all, and he could not help worrying about Colin's future.

"Colin, I'm not trying to put you down. But given your family's circumstances, becoming the lover of a flirtatious noblewoman first and then using that to rise is a shortcut. If you follow your brother, Mr. Smith, into the city hall and work as a Financial Officer or peace officer, you'll only be able to make ends meet. Let's turn the carriage around and go back." Bill earnestly tried to persuade him.

"No. I will walk the Transcendent Path." Colin was grateful that Bill was thinking of him, but he would not reveal the system even if beaten to death. He merely replied with absolute certainty.

Bill froze for a moment, then frowned. "But Colin, your Bloodline Potion enhancement failed. After the first failure, you develop resistance. The odds for a second chance are much lower. And if the second attempt fails too..." At the end, Bill said as tactfully as he could, "Really, Colin, your chances of walking the Transcendent Path are not great anymore."

"Don't worry, Bill. Like the protagonists in so many knight novels, I'll go through countless hardships, but I'll eventually become an important figure in the transcendent world. In the end, I'll slay an evil dragon and marry a princess." Colin looked utterly confident as he swore it.

I'd sooner believe in ghosts. Bill rolled his eyes at Colin again, but kept those words to himself.

"What about you, Bill? What are your ambitions?" After a fairly long silence, Colin raised his head and asked Bill.

"Me? Graduate smoothly, earn the title of Lifetime Knight, then go see the Imperial Capital. The Imperial Capital is the forefront of fashion in the Empire. Clothes, cosmetics, perfume—I want to work in those fields." Bill's face filled with longing as he spoke animatedly.

Colin was not surprised. He simply said sincerely, "I hope all your wishes come true, Bill."

"You too, Colin." Bill sounded somewhat perfunctory. Perhaps Colin truly could persevere through every setback and embark on the Transcendent Path, but slaying an evil dragon and marrying a princess was another matter. Only heroes in knight novels could accomplish such things.

The carriage slowly traveled along the broad, straight road, heading back toward Will City through the stifling warm breeze.