Gilan was troubled, her eyes indifferent.
He followed Lord Ramon to the study on the second floor.
Upon entering, one is greeted by a large wooden desk in the center of the room, upon which rests a dial telephone, a desk lamp, an ashtray, a pen holder, an ink bottle, and stacks of documents.
The cabinets on both sides of the table were filled with all kinds of books.
The study was tidy and gave a sense of order and organization.
On the right wall near the entrance hangs a deer head decoration. To the left of the deer head is an ancient kite-shaped shield, pressing down on a sheathless longsword pointing straight down.
To the right of the deer's head is a sky-blue silk swallowtail coat.
However, there was a long tear on the left shoulder of the tailcoat, surrounded by dried, blackened blood.
"Please sit down."
Ramon pointed to the sofa next to the coffee table by the window.
Gilan remained silent, walked over, and sat down.
Lord took a cigar box from his desk drawer, took out a cigar and handed it to Gilan, who calmly shook his head.
Seeing Ramon, Ramon used a cigar cutter to cut the cigar in his hand, lit it, and sat down opposite Gilan while smoking.
"That dress on the wall is mine."
Lord Ramon noticed Gilan's gaze earlier, exhaled smoke, and explained.
Then, he unbuttoned the two buttons on his chest, pulled open one side of his collar, revealing a long, hideous scar on the left side of his neck.
"I survived an assassination attempt... I kept that garment as a memento, hanging it on the wall to constantly remind myself not to let my guard down."
"Child, don't be fooled by Muse City's status as the empire's most prosperous capital. Its high society is rife with undercurrents, and those who appear glamorous on the surface may be plotting something sinister."
The lord straightened his clothes and shook his head.
"Although the Fahan Family is a noble earldom, none of us, including myself, currently hold high positions in the center of imperial power, merely retaining noble titles. This is not a good sign for the future of the family."
"Your arrival has given me hope."
Ramon took a puff of his cigar and chuckled.
" Gilan, my son, you have surprised me time and time again. I can't help but wonder... I can guess that your current abilities are mostly due to ' True Film Reel,' but I won't question it."
"As long as you're willing to admit that you're a member of my Fahan Family, that's fine."
Gilan took a deep breath.
After a few seconds of silence, he spoke:
"Regarding the warrant for my arrest in Black City... thank you."
"Although my son and I have never met, blood is thicker than water. I will not stand by and watch my son be arrested and taken to the police station again to suffer inhumane torture."
Lord Ramon shook his head.
Gilan was taken aback.
"You know?"
"I only found out later."
Ramon sighed.
"The Empire's ' Purification Department ' is a special department, secretly managed by the Propaganda Department Staven Lotito. The ' Prohibition,' ' Art Decree,' and ' Blasphemy Decree ' all originated from him."
"As for that mysterious ' True Film Reel,' the Purification Department has actually been conducting secret research on it, and I also know a little about the 'death row inmate project.'"
"I just never expected that you would be captured too and thrown into this cruel plan..."
Lord Ramon's expression turned cold.
Fortunately, you survived, and even gained valuable skills as a result.
Gilan exhaled a breath of stale air.
Silently, he turned to look out the window. It was night, and the rain was drizzling.
After a while.
"I can acknowledge my identity... but I will not change my surname, nor will I move into the manor."
He said calmly.
Lord Ramon frowned.
"Aren't you really going to reconsider? Life on the manor is much better than outside; you'll have servants to wait on you, and..."
"No." Gilan shook her head. "I like my mother Iros's surname, and I also prefer the freedom of life outside."
Lord Ramon puffed on his cigar in a somber tone.
The atmosphere was deathly silent for a moment.
"Sigh." He sighed heavily. "Fine, as long as you're willing to admit you're a member of the Fahan Family."
Lord Ramon hesitated for a moment, then looked on with a look of reminiscence and said:
" Gilan, let me be frank with you. I once deeply loved your mother, Amanda, and I know I owe you both a great deal. From now on, I will treat you the same as everyone else, as my most beloved son... Even if you are not the Fahan Family, I will never mistreat you."
"Would you like to attend ' Rudao Court Academy '?"
"Lord asked."
"That's the best aristocratic academy in the North Muse, and even the entire empire. You can receive the best traditional education in the empire and get to know the children of various families."
Gilan shook her head in refusal.
Ramon pondered for a moment, then said:
"Then I'll arrange a job for you, whether it's in a government department or a top company, you can choose... The position won't be low, and it will be very easy."
Gilan shook her head again in refusal.
Lord Ramon, with a cigar between his fingers, rubbed his forehead.
This illegitimate child neither wanted to go to school nor work, which was giving him a headache.
"In that case, why don't you stay in the rented apartment outside for a while, go out with Prince and Nancy and get familiar with the surroundings?"
After much deliberation, Ramon had no choice but to offer a compromise.
"I'll have Charles give you 80 Caesar a month for allowance. If you need anything else, just tell him, and he'll pass it on to me... As long as it's not too unreasonable, I'll grant your request."
Upon hearing this, Gilan turned her gaze from the window to the middle-aged man.
He finally nodded and said succinctly:
"Good."
Seeing this, Lord Ramon finally smiled.
The two chatted for a while longer before "happily" ending their conversation.
Ramon led his son out of the study and downstairs.
The dinner party had long since ended, and Xenia was having tea and chatting with her children in the living room. Miss Sparrow sat alone to one side, her hands clenched, her head bowed, looking as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
When they saw Gilan and Ramon come downstairs, everyone turned to look.
Miss Sparrow breathed a sigh of relief, stood up as if saved, apologized to the others at the table, and quickly walked towards Gilan, lifting her skirt.
"Mr. Gilan," she murmured, her head bowed.
Gilan noticed her discomfort and said softly:
"Let's go."
"Um."
Ramon escorted his son to the villa entrance, then turned and called out to the old butler.
"I'll have Charles drive you back."
As he spoke, he whispered another instruction:
"In a few days, I'll have Prince and the others take you out. The Silver Lizard Club's ' Monthly Salon ' is coming up soon, and there will be a corresponding fighting tournament. Many young people from high society will gather there, so you can take this opportunity to meet more people... and also get closer to your younger siblings."
"Okay, I understand."
Gilan nodded.
Lord Ramon said no more and watched as old Charles led the two away.
A moment later.
A black vintage car drives on the road.
Back seat.
Gilan sighed and said to Miss Sparrow:
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought you along."
Miss Sparrow shook her head.
"No need to apologize, Mr. Gilan... It was my own fault."