Lawyer Pathway

Lawyer Pathway

Hobart frowned tightly. He had not expected "Klein's" guess to be confirmed so quickly.

"You don't seem very shocked?" Christine asked with a smile.

"That's right." Hobart "confessed," "I've been very interested in Mysticism since middle school.

"About a month ago, I suddenly felt an indescribable sense of madness arise within me, and it kept getting worse. It was very much like the curses depicted in Mysticism."

He paused before adding, "I'm still rather surprised to hear you say that. Does that mean some Mysticism Knowledge isn't just legend or baseless rumor, but actually exists?"

Christine said solemnly, "That's right. Behind the surface of this entire world, there truly is a Beyonder World."

"We need to have a heart-to-heart talk. Where should we begin? Hmm, let's start with your Biological Father.

"I should have told you before that your Biological Father was my best friend. He was an exceptional man who reached heights many could never attain.

"At the same time, he was also the person most likely to end the Curse in your family's bloodline."

Christine said sadly, "Unfortunately, he still failed."

Family?

Hobart caught a crucial piece of information. He had never associated himself with any family before. After all, he had never met any blood relatives. Could he be the only one left in the family?

Besides, he wondered whether his family was a Beyonder Family. Christine continued, "Your father, Rex, and I once fought side by side in West Byerlang. Back then, we could talk about anything. He told me about the Curse in your family's bloodline, and he also told me that he did not intend to continue that cursed bloodline.

"But later, he met your mother. The two of them loved each other deeply. Perhaps because of your mother's insistence, or perhaps because of Fate's arrangement, you were born.

"Normally, the Curse in your family's bloodline would awaken on your twelfth birthday. But your mother sealed it for you and bought you ten years.

"She hoped you would have a carefree Youthful Time, a chance to enjoy the beauty of life, a chance to date and kiss girls your own age, instead of always wearing a stern face like your father.

"So when she left, she made me swear that I would only tell you part of the truth after the Curse awakened."

Hobart felt intense joy and sorrow fill his heart. He knew that was not his mother, and there was not even a trace of his mother in the original owner's memories. Yet he was still deeply moved by that Mother's Love.

"Time passes so quickly," Christine said wistfully. "That was already twenty years ago."

He continued, "When you were born, Rex's condition was already very grim. Even at the final moment of his life, he was still worrying about how you would resist the Curse in your bloodline in the future.

"He hoped to let you choose for yourself. One path was to remain an Ordinary person, though you would stay Half-Mad. However, your Biological Father left you enough wealth. I would send you to an estate in the countryside and help you select loyal servants.

"Before his death, Rex made a deal with the School of Life. After you turned forty-five, you would have enough luck to gradually awaken from your Half-Mad state. You could enjoy the rest of your life as an Ordinary person.

"The other path was to become a Beyonder. Once you became a Sequence 9 Beyonder, your madness would be greatly reduced.

"But Rex made me promise to remind you of two things. First, you can only choose potions from the Lawyer Pathway, because when your family's Curse awakens, it will make you Half Sequence 9 of the Lawyer Pathway. Second, once you become a Beyonder or advance after half a year, the sense of madness will gradually worsen again.

"By then, potions will be like opium to you. Whether or not you have fully Digested your previous potion, you will be unable to wait to advance.

"Or you can choose not to advance and fight against the endless madness. But that will also make your emotions extremely unstable. Most members of your family died from Loss of Control."

Christine said, "You can think it over first. There's no need to give me an answer so quickly.

"Oh, right, I should also remind you that I only have the potion recipes for Sequence 9 and Sequence 8 of the Lawyer Pathway."

Hobart froze. "Didn't my father leave behind potion recipes for higher sequences?"

"No. This is a test Rex left for you," Christine said. "Or perhaps your father would rather you become an Ordinary person."

Hobart twitched his lips. Other people had deadbeat fathers; the original owner's father was a professional at screwing over his son!

Then he remembered that his codename in the Tarot Club was "Emperor," while the True God of the Lawyer Pathway seemed to be the Black Emperor. Was that a coincidence? Heh, this was the Beyonder World. How could there possibly be such a coincidence?

After a brief moment of thought, Hobart said, "There's no need to consider it. I can't possibly waste the best years of my life in a state of madness."

Of course, that was also because dear Mr. Fool would obtain the Black Emperor Card from the Blasphemy Slate in half a year. As long as he traded with Mr. Fool, he could obtain the subsequent potion recipes.

Christine said, "I still advise you to think it over. There are people everywhere in this world who failed to make the most of their best years, yet they still live perfectly well."

Hobart shook his head. "I still prefer to hold my Fate in my own hands rather than entrust it to 'enough luck.' Father, please give me the Sequence 9 potion. I will continue the family's work. When I become strong enough, I'll be able to eliminate the Curse in our bloodline."

Christine burst into laughter. "Rex would be very gratified to see this."

"I respect your choice."

As he spoke, he took a sheet of parchment from the drawer and walked over to a square cabinet beside the bookshelf.

When he opened the cabinet, there was a set of beakers inside, along with many Extraordinary Materials stored in small bottles and jars.

Christine placed the parchment on the cabinet, took out a beaker, and began preparing the potion.

He did not ask Hobart to avoid watching, so Hobart stepped forward and glanced at the parchment. Just as he had guessed, it was the potion recipe for "Lawyer."

Main Ingredient: One eye of a Fear Demon Worm, one fruit of a Flash Pattern Tree.

Auxiliary Materials: One Black Iris, six Monkey Face Orchid leaves, 8 grams of Black Heart Grass juice, 120 grams of White Wine.

After reading the recipe, Hobart froze. He had not expected a potion recipe to require wine.

His thoughts wandered. It looks like people allergic to alcohol can't become Lawyers.

He was excited and nervous at the same time, so he vented through random thoughts.

Christine first added the Auxiliary Materials to the beaker. Then, using tweezers, he placed a Black Eyeball into it—an eyeball that was clearly lifeless, yet still inspired involuntary fear. Finally, he added a fruit shaped like a peeled walnut.

After all the materials were added to the beaker, there was no need to stir. All the Extraordinary Materials instantly dissolved. After the beaker emitted a wisp of black, dreamlike mist, the deep black potion was complete.

Christine pushed it toward Hobart. "This is the Sequence 9 'Lawyer' potion."

Thanks to Yuzhe for the 100-point reward.