The Throne of the Country of Disorder

Christine looked at the Dark Potion and gave one final reminder. "You still have one last chance to change your mind. Drink it, and you'll become a Beyonder, leaving the life of an ordinary person behind for good."

Hobart picked up the beaker. "Before I lose the courage to press forward."

He downed the Potion in one gulp. The moment the Dark Potion entered his stomach, Hobart began trembling uncontrollably. For an instant, the world before his eyes seemed to distort.

At the same time, fragmented whispers sounded in Hobart's ears. They were extremely vague; he could not even make out what they were saying.

Soon, he came to an understanding. In the previous epoch, only Solomon had successfully advanced to the Black Emperor, but he had fallen in the War of the Four Emperors. Later, Rosell became the new Black Emperor, completely depriving Solomon of any chance of resurrection.

Therefore, Solomon had almost no influence left over low-sequence Beyonders of the same pathway. Rosell's current state was also very poor, though Hobart could not recall exactly how. It seemed that knowing the Emperor's condition would lead to contamination. In any case, the Emperor was likewise unable to influence low-sequence Beyonders of the same pathway at present.

Since the Lawyer Pathway had no existing True God or High Sequence Beyonder, Beyonders of this pathway would not hear distinct whispers when advancing.

Then Hobart noticed two tiny cracks in one of the boards on the bookshelf and a small dent on the cover of a book.

Based on what he saw, Hobart concluded that the bookshelf would begin deteriorating from that board, while the book would begin deteriorating from that small dent.

These were... these were the flaws in the bookshelf and the book!

But immediately afterward, that strange vision vanished, along with the involuntary trembling.

Seeing that Hobart had stabilized, Christine poured each of them a glass of the White Wine they had used earlier. "Although mastering a Sequence 9 Potion isn't difficult, congratulations are still in order."

"Thank you." Hobart accepted the glass and clinked it against Christine's. They each drained their drinks in one swallow.

Christine put away the Potion Recipe, and the two returned to their seats beside the desk.

Christine began explaining the main abilities of a lawyer. "I heard your father mention that lawyers can use the information they see and hear to find the weaknesses of things or opponents before them.

"But you must be more cautious in battle. Enemies generally know their own weaknesses as well, so they will likely have ways to protect them.

"Also, your eloquence will improve greatly, and you can distort some of other people's simple thoughts. Still, it is best used when your opponent is unguarded."

He spread his hands. "That is all I know. You will need to explore the rest of the abilities and Precautions yourself."

Next, Christine taught Hobart how to activate and deactivate Spirit Vision. However, a lawyer's Spirit Vision could not see a person's Aetheric Body or Spiritual Body. It could only perceive obvious flaws in the scenery or people before them.

Yet when Hobart used Spirit Vision to examine Christine, he could not find a single weakness on him.

Christine smiled. "Remember this well: when you cannot see any flaws in someone, it often means that person is currently beyond your ability to defeat."

Hobart froze. What a fresh and refined way to brag about himself.

Then he realized that Christine was very likely a Middle Sequence powerhouse.

Christine also explained some Beyonder knowledge, such as the Acting Method. Finally, he said, "I'll arrange for you to work as a lawyer assistant at a Law Firm the day after tomorrow or on Thursday. I hope you can find the essential qualities of a lawyer there."

Only at the end of their conversation did Hobart have the chance to ask, "Who cursed my family? Or rather, the Heller Family?"

Hobart's Biological Father was named Rex Heller. After Christine adopted Hobart, Hobart took his adoptive father's surname.

Christine seemed to recall some old memories. More than half a minute passed before he said, "I promised Rex that I would tell you the whole truth only after you had fully mastered the Sequence 8 Potion. Oh, the whole truth as I know it.

"At that time, you will face another choice. Before then, the less you know, the better."

Hobart nodded. "All right."

Since Christine would not tell him, Hobart planned to investigate using information about his Biological Father once he had become familiar with a lawyer's abilities.

Their conversation ended there. As Hobart closed the Study door, he saw Christine sitting behind the desk in a daze, as though he had fallen into Memories.

After leaving the Study, Hobart considered a question. How had Christine known that he showed signs of losing control? He had been away on a Business Trip for over half a month. Before he left, the madness Hobart felt had not been so intense, and no one had noticed anything unusual.

Someone must have discovered Hobart's abnormality after Christine left on his Business Trip and informed him of it.

Hobart quickly thought of two possibilities: his adoptive mother, Monlisa, and the Butler, Valk.

But that was as far as Hobart's speculation went. There was no point in continuing to guess, nor any need to verify it. It was enough for him to know.

At dinner, Christine returned to his usual self, chatting and laughing with the family and occasionally bickering with his daughter.

The atmosphere in this family was quite pleasant. Only Hobart felt somewhat estranged and rarely spoke at the Dining Table.

After dinner, Hobart read for a while before he quickly became too sleepy to keep his eyes open.

He had not slept well yesterday, and today's Tarot Club gathering and Potion consumption had left him utterly exhausted in body and mind.

Before he knew it, Hobart entered the Country of Disorder again in his dreams.

The difference was that he had always previously appeared beside the ancient village at the Foot of the mountain in the Country of Disorder, but now he appeared at the Mountain Peak.

There was a chair that seemed to be made of both stone and jade. It stood amid the grass, covered in patches of moss, as if it were part of the mountain itself.

Before the chair was an enormous pool. Its water was pitch-black, yet strangely, he could see the rocks at the Lake Bottom.

Countless white lights, like stars, flickered within the black water. They drifted slowly like jellyfish, as though they were alive.

Deep in thought, Hobart sat on the Stone Chair. At that instant, he felt that he had established some sort of special connection with the Country of Disorder.

Then he saw the blurry figure that had previously chased after him while shrieking float toward him. The figure seemed somewhat clearer now, and he could tell that it was male.

Hobart waved toward the black pool, and the blurry figure was shoved into it.

The figure struggled in the pool, but no matter what it did, it could not get out.

Hobart immediately understood. Now that he had become a Beyonder, he had gained a certain degree of control over the Country of Disorder.