Heracles Blood

With a crisp metallic clang, Lily casually tossed aside the handleless, bloodstained blade.

Bound to the gray spider web, Minister Griffiths hung his head, completely unconscious.

"You really enjoy causing trouble for others..."

Lily said in a low voice, her voice filled with disgust.

Under Lily's interrogation, he was left a bloody mess.

Lily also received very detailed information.

Minister Griffiths also possesses Third Level power on the Path of Authority. Before becoming a minister, he was Law Mage who graduated from the Royal Law University. Reaching the Third Level before the age of thirty is already a remarkable talent.

At the same time, Lily could also sense that he possessed the First Level of adaptability to the Path of Love.

But that's about the level of intensity.

Having become accustomed to playing high-level games, Lily eliminated a true Third Level superhuman through a sneak attack, leaving him no chance to retaliate.

Throughout the entire process, Shadow Fiend didn't even have a chance to make a move. Lily alone defeated Griffiths.

Through a web of lies and the control of the "Apothecary in the Shadow," Griffiths was completely under Lily's control before he could mount an effective counterattack.

Afterwards Lily alternated between using the Eagle Feather Dagger for violent interrogation and the "Love Spirit Medicine" attached to the [Apothecary in the Shadow] for control, quickly extracting information about Minister Griffiths.

Part of the reason is that Griffiths has been complacent for too long; another reason is that Lily's equipment is simply too good.

But the most crucial reason is actually his own laziness.

He spent a full ten years on Xingti, yet his Path of Authority remained stagnant at the level it had been a decade earlier. Although he had gained the adaptability of the Path of Love, its level was simply too low. It failed to provide any synergy between the two paths; instead, his excessive "desire" actually hindered the progress of his main path.

Lily, as a "witch" of a higher level in the same cultivation path, used the "Love Spirit Medicine," a powerful potion from the Bone Carver relics that could influence the Third Level of energy, as a means of control, which was just right to control Griffiths. The witch's potion had an extremely strong suppressive effect on Griffiths, who was of a lower level in the same cultivation path, making it almost impossible for him to escape.

When paths diverge, there might be an opportunity to exploit weaknesses; but suppression from superiors on the same path is almost impossible to overcome.

Like that Giant King in Noble Red —his curse of the "Three Great Sins" is an unbreakable suppression of lower-ranking Demon Scholar on the same path. Iver was able to escape entirely due to intelligence suppression.

Lily went to such lengths because she knew Iver well enough.

Her master, Iver, is extremely protective of his own. To some extent, he could even be described as someone who sides with his own family regardless of right or wrong. And in Iver's current "closeness ranking," Miss Yulia, who grew up with Iver and depended on him for survival, is undoubtedly number one.

—Iver didn't even dare let her know what he usually did.

When he did something bad or dangerous, he would tell Lily many times not to tell Yulia about it.

When Miss Yulia first aspired to become a superhuman, she possessed the talents for the four paths of balance, wisdom, dedication, and transcendence.

However, among the options, Iver immediately ruled out the latter two—he hoped Yulia could become an alchemist or a mage, because these were the two safest professions. They wouldn't need to go out, interact with others, or face danger directly; the threat of supernatural knowledge wouldn't be too great; once formed, they would have a certain degree of self-protection; and they wouldn't be too powerless during the Promotion Ritual.

Although Iver did not force Yulia to choose either of these professions, Yulia was so clever that she easily sensed Iver's expectations of her and became an alchemist.

... Of course, in Lily's opinion, Yulia was by no means the kind of girl who was "too weak" or "needed protection".

A girl who has been suffering from a high fever for several years, yet can still endure the pain and remain calm, rational, and focused on reading and studying without losing her temper or crying out, possesses a mental fortitude that is unimaginable to ordinary people.

Although she always seemed quite delicate to Iver ... in reality, when Iver was away, Yulia was three years younger than Iver, was the one in charge of the household. All the servants respected her, including Lily.

Moreover, Yulia possesses a bizarre and completely inexplicable strength. Although her body is weak and lacks stamina, she can occasionally muster her spirits and unleash strength greater than that of an adult man.

This was a secret known only to the servants. The old master, James, knew it, but Edward and Iver were unaware.

Although she rarely shows off in front of others, especially in front of Iver, she never deliberately exerts herself... but on the night Iver encountered the Shadow Fiend and fell into a coma, Yulia simply picked him up.

Iver assumed that Lily had helped him bathe and Oswald had carried him—but that was only half true. Because after Iver entered the house, Yulia carried him away. Lily did help with the washing, but afterward, it was Yulia who carried Iver away.

She was incredibly agile and looked exceptionally healthy at that time... but after that, it was as if she was "bittered back," and the Phantom Demon Egg within her relapsed.

Now, Lily finally knows why all of this happened.

"... Heracles".

Lily murmured softly.

According to crucial intelligence provided by Minister Griffiths, Yulia has Heracles blood.

—That was the royal family during the reign of the Herasul Empire.

White hair, red eyes, and immense strength—these are the characteristics of the Heracles family.

But that's unlikely...

This family line had already died out before the Land Partition War.

If there hadn't been an extinction of the royal line, the trigger for the Land Partition War wouldn't exist at all—because the reason the Herasul Empire split into the four nations of Star Antimony, Iris, Narcissus, and Black Hawk was the complete extermination of the royal family, leaving each nation without a legitimate heir. Therefore, each nation claimed to be the true successor to the old empire, while the other three were traitors.

Even if one Heracles had been alive at that time, the Land Partition War should not have happened.

unless...

"... Swamp People?"

Lily murmured, vaguely realizing something.

She followed Iver throughout the entire Eagle Cape Village.

Although she usually doesn't say a word, it doesn't mean she's deaf or doesn't hear anything.

It's more accurate to say the opposite.

She was constantly listening to other people's conversations and gathering intelligence.

If Yulia was Swamp People from the Heracles Blood, then that would explain why her biological parents could never be found.

It is said that when the old patriarch James was about to take Yulia away from the Orphanage, she unleashed an extremely powerful force—several adult men were unable to pull her away.

When Lily first heard this story, she thought it was a way of saying that "they were afraid of hurting Yulia, so they didn't dare to use force," to highlight Yulia's determination not to leave.

But looking back now...

That would probably be a realistic, literal interpretation of "cannot be torn away".

Minister Griffiths himself was unaware of his "prospective master's" intentions, but Lily had more information, understood the whole story.

—The Star Antimony side somehow obtained information about Yulia.

They demanded that Minister Griffiths find a way himself, but in any case, he had to get Yulia's blood.

Minister Griffiths's solution was to claim that Yulia was the Phantom Demon Egg and demand verification—they didn't actually know Yulia was the Phantom Demon Egg; it was a complete fabrication. Their goal was simply to obtain Yulia's blood.

Although Yulia was indeed once the Phantom Demon Egg, and harboring Phantom Demon Egg without authorization is a serious crime... Iver possessed a special secret ritual capable of safely removing the Phantom Demon Egg from the body. Now that Yulia no longer had the Phantom Demon Egg inside her, they naturally had no fear of examination.

Thus, Minister Griffiths was able to obtain Yulia's blood.

But when Griffiths proposed this idea, the Beholder made a new demand: he had to attack Iver —or at least clearly show his hostility towards Iver, and not stand with him.

Minister Griffiths didn't know why, and therefore he was very confused.

But Lily knew.

In fact, Griffiths was just bait.

It's used for fishing.

If he is hostile to Iver, and given his expressed hostility towards Yulia... then, given Iver's style, he will most likely send someone to eliminate him directly.

However, the Stibnite Person were unaware of Lily's existence.

In their expectations, the one who would make the move was "Aleister." Therefore, it's highly likely that the Eye Demon immediately jumped away and left after seeing traces of the Shadow Demon's presence through "futuristic vision" or "True Sight."

Because it had already prepared to run away at any time.

If all goes well, then "Miss Aleister" will be able to learn about Yulia's bloodline from Griffiths.

But...

... And then what?

Lily's brows furrowed slightly.

She was ultimately no match for Iver's intelligence. Her analysis could only go so far; her train of thought seemed to have hit an invisible wall.

If it were Iver or Sherlock, they would definitely be able to guess what the Stibnite Person is trying to do.

But there was one thing she was very clear about.

—In that case, we can't let "Miss Aleister" appear here.

Others might not know, but Lily did. There was no such thing as "Aleister Crowley"; that was simply another identity of her young master.

Meanwhile, Iver was having dinner with reporters not far away.

His aim was to put pressure on the knights of the Round Table Hall through this means—meaning, to tell them, "I'm watching you." He also implied that he could use violence outside of meetings to achieve his goals at any time, and that he possessed the power to do so, which they were powerless to resist.

Because, nominally, Iver and Miss Aleister had already fallen out. At this point, even if Aleister had assassinated the minister, it couldn't be said to be Iver ' fault; it could even be said that Aleister deliberately caused trouble for Iver. Therefore, Isabel certainly couldn't "punish Iver for the mistake of being a foreign spy or assassin who wanted to cause trouble for Iver."

However, the situation Tai Yi now.

This matter could potentially implicate Miss Yulia. And there seems to be an even bigger conspiracy behind it all.

Iver had taught Lily some methods to handle the situation beforehand.

Lily didn't understand many things, but she clearly remembered and understood one sentence—

"If you know what your enemy wants you to do... then you'd better not do it. From this perspective, the essence of the game lies in discerning the other party's true intentions amidst layers of concealment and misleading."

Iver said, "You are not my tool. You must have your own thoughts, Lily."

Lily was thinking quickly.

This was the first time she had encountered a situation where "following Iver's plan would lead Iver into a trap." She had to independently devise the best solution within a short period of time.

Shadow Fiend has been very silent lately, not saying a word.

In the past, she could have consulted Shadow Fiend's opinion. But now she had to think for herself.

—Since the Stibnite Person want to catch Aleister, then they cannot let Aleister take the bait.

Fortunately, Lily had a backup plan...

Fortunately, she hasn't used any of the Shadow Fiend's power yet, so she hasn't left any trace of shadow tainted by the aura of the Path of Transcendence. The shadow she uses comes entirely from herself, from the gift of Iver, and is the aura of the Path of Love and the Path of Adaptation.

She pushed up her glasses and gently rotated the glove bracelet on her left wrist by one notch.

The "Love Spirit Medicine" attached to the gloves, used during torture, was replaced with "Moon Mist," which can melt a person's internal organs within seconds.

Then, Lily extended her left hand, which was gloved with black silk, and slowly but firmly grabbed Minister Griffiths's neck.

Pink, tree-like veins spread rapidly downwards from his neck. Black blood slowly oozed from his mouth and nose.

This young talent, who was no more than forty years old, stopped breathing in the blink of an eye.

Miss Chloe, you're going to have to take the blame again...

Lily sighed silently and slowly took off her gloves.

To date, this Miss Chloe has taken the blame for a lot of things.

And this one right now might be the biggest one.

Lily's body gradually mutated, transforming into a gray werewolf standing upright with scarlet eyes.

Without hesitation, she tore Minister Griffiths's body apart, destroying the traces of her interrogation—but in reality, she only destroyed part of it; a thorough investigation would reveal traces of the use of "Eagle Feather" to Lingchi flesh while the victim was still alive.

But that's just right.

Things you find out yourself are more convincing.