Countess

After hearing this secret, Lucius asked curiously, "Then, Your Majesty the King, why did you keep me behind this time?"

George III replied, "I wonder whether your uncle ever told you certain things. For example: why weren't you allowed to frequently attend gatherings among the nobility? Why weren't you allowed to interact with outsiders? And why did you, as a boy, look more like a girl?"

Seeing where the King was going with this, Lucius knew what he meant. He revealed a troubled expression and said:

"Your Majesty, I think I know!"

Hearing Lucius's words and seeing his expression, George III inwardly smiled.

"Since you know, I'll explain directly. I need you to become a Beyonder of the Demoness pathway, not merely an Assassin. Later, I will assign you certain tasks to complete."

"Of course, you are still young, so I can't have you undertake difficult tasks right now. You may have another two years to prepare."

"As long as you agree, I can approve your inheritance of the title right now. I can even add together your family's achievements throughout the generations and make your title that of an Earl. But you should understand the problems you will face later on the Assassin pathway, so your title as Earl will be Countess."

"Of course, once the tasks are completed, I can raise your title further. If you complete them exceptionally and satisfy me, I can even provide you with a way to become a man again."

Hearing such vicious words come from the King's mouth, Lucius felt a storm of emotions. Make me a Countess? Has he already begun deeply cooperating with the Witch Cult?

As for the method of changing back, wasn't it switching to Hunter at Sequence Four? He knew that without being told.

But making such a fuss to turn him into someone on the Assassin pathway was highly problematic.

Shouldn't he first become an Earl, then attend all kinds of banquets, seduce a Demoness, discover that he was "half an Assassin," and then develop himself into a Demoness?

What kind of move was directly making him a Countess? Lucius kept thinking. No, it feels like my brain is about to explode.

He simply stopped thinking and pretended to be foolish as he answered normally. "Your Majesty the King, I have a question that may be simple for you but is difficult for me. The fact that I am male is common knowledge within the Sheffield Family. Although my father protected me over the years, and almost no one outside knows of my existence, there are still a few people who do.

"By my own abilities, it should be impossible to change the common knowledge of so many people. There are even High Sequence individuals among them."

"You can have Leif Strauss handle that for you. He has the ability to accomplish it."

George III's answer left Lucius even more confused, so he could only make another excuse. "According to the relationship between sovereign and subject, I should obey Your Majesty's arrangements. However, I don't recall my family collecting Potion Recipes for the Assassin pathway."

"Furthermore, I am rather slow-witted. I only achieved what I have today because teachers guided me in every area. If I were to become a Countess according to the customs of the current nobility, even if the Sheffield Family sold all its territory, our assets would not be enough. Teachers are a minor issue, but clothes, accessories, entertaining guests..." In short, even if he agreed, he had no money.

Listening to the little brat's words, George III's face turned ashen. "I will arrange your teachers as soon as possible, and I can prepare everything you need!"

Seeing the exasperated George III, Lucius knew he had achieved his purpose. He then put on a troubled expression and said, "May I have a few days to consider? This matter is simply too significant. I need to think it over myself."

George III looked displeased upon hearing Lucius's reply. "But someone will come to find you tonight, and you must make your choice. If you agree, you will become a Countess tomorrow morning. Afterward, someone will teach you how to live as a Countess."

"As for now, you may leave! Remember, tonight at the latest is your final deadline!"

Upon hearing that the conversation was over, Lucius knew he had escaped for the moment. He did not intend to linger and immediately walked out of the Reception Hall.

Seeing his uncle waiting anxiously outside, he immediately went over to reassure him. After a brief exchange, they left the Reception Hall area and returned to the banquet.

What Lucius did not know was that after he left, conversation resumed inside the Reception Hall.

"Do you think he will choose to become a Demoness?"

Another person's voice suddenly echoed through the empty Reception Hall, but it did not make George III wary. He merely replied unhappily, "He will."

"Because it is his only choice. Whether it is choosing a Beyonder pathway or protecting the Sheffield Family, this is the only choice. He can only choose to become a Demoness."

"You people from the Witch Cult truly have a perverse sense of humor. You are willing to surrender such enormous benefits in this cooperation just for one person."

Who would have thought that George III's teasing remark would make the person hidden in the darkness laugh happily?

"He should have returned to the embrace of the Primordial long ago. I merely gave her a push ahead of time. Besides, the Church has already obtained what it wanted."

"As for the benefits surrendered, hasn't he already obtained them from you? I can hardly wait to meet her." Hearing the Demoness's words, George III angrily asked,

"I would really like to know what method you will use to make Leif Strauss agree."

"He will certainly tell Leif Strauss about this deal. When that happens, even if you fail, I will not spit out the benefits already in hand."

"Of course I know. When that old fellow first entered, I had already used a Sealed Artifact to influence his thoughts."

"What I did not expect was that he had long wanted to raise Lucius as a girl himself, which gave me an opening."

"Damn it! Since when did Demonesses have such an ability?"

After the banquet ended, Lucius rode in a carriage with Uncle Leif.

Before the carriage had traveled very far, Uncle Leif asked, "Lucius, after I left, what did the King discuss with you?"

Seeing his uncle's anxious concern, Lucius felt warmth in his heart. He directly recounted everything that had happened in the Reception Hall.

"I know about your family's prophecy. Back when the prophecy had just begun, your ancestor even had someone switch pathways. For more than five hundred years, anyone who entered a pathway other than Hunter would gradually die. It was only because there have been so few people in the past century that this was not tested, but there should be no issue with it."

"As for the Assassin pathway, you were originally meant to become one. That is the only option. As for becoming a Demoness and a Countess, don't choose that."

"If you don't become one this time, there will be other opportunities later. At worst, I'll swallow my pride and go beg people one by one. I can still get your title back. Just stay home and wait peacefully."

Seeing Leif Strauss's furious expression, Lucius comforted him. "It's fine, Uncle Leif. Even if I become a Demoness, didn't His Majesty say he would help me change back? Besides, I also want to know what exactly he is planning."

"My father encountered a Demoness and had me. Later, when the matter was exposed and they were preparing to purge us, the Royal Family suddenly issued an order to prohibit all of it. That is far too unnatural. I want to investigate why."

Seeing Lucius's expression, Leif helplessly said, "But..."

For some reason, whether from anger or something else, Uncle Leif's face was now completely red.

Lucius explained, "Besides, Uncle Leif, you know the method of changing back as well. It is the method by which you became a Demigod."

Hearing Lucius's words, Leif could only think, The method by which I became a Demigod? I'm on the Hunter Pathway. Does he mean switching pathways?

"How did you know? This involves knowledge concerning Demigods."

Lucius directly made something up. "A few days ago, I joined a Secret Beyonders Exchange, the kind where people communicate through dreams. There are many important figures there. Some of them are so significant that I cannot even say their names, so I can only borrow 'Their' prestige."

"Dreams, names that cannot be spoken... I roughly know who you mean. Why would they seek you out?" Leif Strauss said as he thought.

"I don't know either," Lucius made up another excuse, thinking that if he truly received an invitation, he really would join. After all, the members were all among the upper echelons of this world. Although his divinity outweighed his humanity, they did not conflict with one another in any way.

Seeing that his junior had already chosen the path ahead, Leif Strauss could only say helplessly, "Since you have already considered it, I will not say more. But you must remember that your own safety comes first in everything. If you encounter something you cannot resolve, send me a telegram or simply come home. I will handle it for you."

Lucius saw Leif Strauss's expression soften and said, "I understand, Uncle Leif. I have always remembered your teaching: only the living can enjoy the fruits of victory."

Hearing that answer, Leif Strauss knew his teachings had not been in vain. "Safety comes first in all things. As for the ritual you need to switch pathways, I will select people for you as soon as possible. You can train them yourself afterward. Do you have any special requirements?"

Seeing such an easy opportunity delivered to him, and adhering to the principle that one should never refuse a free advantage, Lucius immediately stated his requirements. "I need a team of fifty people, preferably drawn from the same unit. Their backgrounds should preferably be clean, and they should be ordinary commoners from the lower class, with no ties to nobles. It would be best if they had different professions, such as Warriors, doctors, logistics personnel, and so on. Their personalities need to be cautious..."

"Of course, it would be even better if any of them had become Beyonders..."

"And most importantly, I have no way to alter the memories of my family's servants."

As Lucius continued speaking, Leif Strauss's already open mouth widened further. Is he treating me like a wishing machine? He directly interrupted, "I will find people who meet your requirements as soon as possible. You should get out now. You cannot return home with me today."

"As for changing their memories, I will go to your house at eleven tonight. Once they are asleep, I will use a Sealed Artifact to influence them."

Watching the carriage depart, Lucius thought, I still have many more requirements I haven't brought up yet!

When Hahn saw the carriage ahead stop and his young master get out, he immediately stepped out as well. Before he had even taken two steps, he noticed that Count Lev Strauss's carriage was leaving so quickly today. Does he have matters related to advancement to deal with?

Seeing his young master return to their carriage, Hahn Clayton could not figure it out. He could only return to the carriage and have the coachman drive away.