Sudden Incident!

Recent events have left the shrewd and calculating Lloyd feeling deeply exhausted.

He realized that his energy was not what it used to be.

If it were his younger self, dealing with such trivial matters would never have been tiring. But even with the Imperium's most advanced life-extending technology, Lloyd felt that his time seemed to be running out.

Just then, Lillian returned, forcing Lloyd to pull himself together.

Looking at Lillian as she returned, her arms, neck, and face showed signs of being beaten in multiple places.

Lloyd frowned slightly, asking without any emotion, "He hit you?"

"Yes, Grandpa."

Lillian lowered her head, biting her lip lightly. "He... is furious that you dared to threaten him."

Lillian knew she had to be extremely vigilant in the presence of this shrewd and cunning ruler who held power in the Fernando Family!

Even the slightest flaw can lead to total defeat!

This is also why she deliberately exposed these scars. In order not to arouse the suspicion of the cunning Lloyd, Lillian could create some scars when leaving the manor to cover up her secret conspiracy with Alvin.

Otherwise, Lloyd would surely become suspicious; how could the lustful Charles let go of a woman who offered herself up?

And this reason is clearly valid...:::. Even Lloyd couldn't find fault with it.

Because she had just been threatened by the Fernando Family a few days ago, they used her as a tool to vent their anger, and the scars on her body are the best proof of that!

Sure enough, after seeing the numerous bruises and welts on her body, Lloyd did not suspect anything.

He then inquired about another matter, "How's the thing I asked you to do coming along?"

Lillian replied truthfully, "No, he's always been very cautious and unwilling to reveal even a hint of how to control the 'Destroyer'."

"Oh?" Lloyd's eyes narrowed slightly, as if a cold light shone from them.

For several days in a row, he sent Lillian to spy on and seduce Charles, trying to use the gentlest possible methods.

They tried to extract from the other party how to control and awaken the "Destroyer" armor, but to no avail.

This was somewhat unexpected for Lloyd, who had assumed that a timid nobleman like Charles could be easily intimidated.

Surprisingly, this guy actually managed to hold his tongue and refused to say anything no matter what.

Meanwhile, the Grand Sage Burn Cock's research on the armor had also stalled. The mysterious inscriptions carved inside the armor were completely different from the Eldar, offering almost no reference value.

Not to mention any further analysis.

In other words, to awaken this armor, they must obtain a method to control it from "Charles"!

"Ha, as expected of a descendant of the 'Acquis' family..."

Although Lloyd seemed to express some admiration, the cold glint in his eyes sent chills down one's spine.

He hesitated for a moment, then turned his gaze to Lillian: "So, what do you think we should do next?"

"Since a soft approach isn't working, I think we can put some pressure on him," Lillian said expressionlessly. "Charles still clings to hope for his noble status, so we might as well shatter his illusions and make him understand that he has no other choice but to cooperate with us."

"Explain in more detail."

A glint of shrewdness, and a hint of admiration, flashed in Lloyd's eyes.

"Throw Charles into the family prison."

Lillian met his gaze directly, without flinching. "Let him suffer a bit, and he'll naturally behave."

This plan perfectly suited Lloyd's mind, and he couldn't help but beam with joy. "Excellent, excellent, truly worthy of my Fernando bloodline! Since you've put it that way, then this matter is entrusted to you!"

"Yes, Grandpa."

Lillian lowered her head and said calmly and coldly, "I won't let you down."

Looking at the still somewhat immature girl in front of him, Lloyd suddenly saw a bit of his own younger self in her.

Equally ruthless and cold-blooded, treating everyone as a tool of power, and filled with inner ambition!

"I'm sorry you had to go through all this, child." Lloyd's tone rarely showed any tenderness as he stroked Lillian's hair and sighed softly, "Everything I've done is for the continuation of the Fernando Family. You should understand your grandfather's good intentions."

"I understand, Grandpa," Lillian said softly, her head bowed.

"I know you must hate your father very much," Lloyd said, stroking her hair as if he were a kind elder, as he assured her, "I'll make you suffer a little more, but if you can help me with this, I can put in charge for your mother and make you a direct descendant of the Fernando Family!"

He believed that no member of the collateral branch could resist such a temptation!

Becoming a direct descendant means having the right to inherit the family business and thus escaping the word "lowly".

For someone from a collateral branch like "Lillian," the allure of this phrase is undoubtedly immense!

"Thank you, Grandpa!" Lillian kept her head down, but her voice was clearly filled with more emotion. "I will definitely help you get the way to control the 'armor' from Charles!"

"Very good, that's my good granddaughter!"

Lloyd couldn't help but burst into laughter, very pleased with his "granddaughter's" performance.

For the sake of the family, he didn't mind using this little trick to win over a capable collateral relative!

However, Lloyd, who was immersed in his own world, overlooked Lillian, who was looking down. Her clenched fists, white knuckles, and bulging veins undoubtedly proved that her thoughts were not as calm as they appeared.

"Grandpa, you're wrong..." Lillian looked up, a chilling glint in her eyes.

She hid her emotions very well, and for more than twenty years, even the cunning Lloyd never discovered her true thoughts.

"What I want isn't to become a direct descendant," she said softly to herself. "What I want is... to destroy this filthy, ugly family you built, Grandpa!"

However, a panicked cry from outside the door shattered this "warmth."

"No, it's terrible, Father!" A pale-faced, panting, and clearly weak middle-aged man stumbled in, shouting in terror, "Someone... someone has broken into the temple of the 'Eternal Forge'!"

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, Lloyd, who had been feigning kindness and playing the role of a benevolent elder, immediately revealed his true feelings. "Who is it?!"

"Yes... yes..." the middle-aged man stammered, his voice trembling with fear. "It was that escaped Inquisitor! He secretly infiltrated the temple of the Eternal Forge, severed the Warp Astropathic Message jammer, and sent out an Astropathic Message!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt!

Even the composed Lloyd couldn't help but show a look of fear and panic!