Soft starlight streamed evenly into the room through the translucent glass dome. As Lancelot, lying on the hospital bed, opened his eyes, all eyes and attention were focused on him.
"Quickly, go and call Aquire back!" Medusa Caroline hurriedly turned to look at the maid beside her.
The maid knew her master was anxious, so she quickly bowed and rushed out of the room. At the same time, a clear shout echoed outside.
"Mother, I'm fine, don't worry," Lancelot said weakly.
When he uttered these words, the already quiet room became even more silent; you could hear a pin drop.
Medusa and her husband's eyes widened simultaneously, and in the next moment, extreme excitement surged into their pupils.
Father Aide Medici tried to come closer, but Medusa pushed him away. Her hand trembled as she stroked Lancelot's cheek, her voice filled with disbelief, "Child, what did you call me?"
So Lancelot could only repeat the word "mother," and he wasn't surprised by Medusa Caroline's reaction.
The reason is simple: the original owner was born mentally challenged and had an intelligence level of only that of an infant. He couldn't even speak, walked with a stumbling gait, and his physical development was severely delayed. Although he was already an adult, he still looked like a teenager.
Logically speaking, in a world with Transcendent beings, these illnesses that would be considered intractable diseases in the mortal world are not problems at all.
Not to mention, the Medici Family is a great noble family, and most of the Light Arrow Star is their fiefdom. They not only have extensive connections in the Dynasty of Stars, but also have ties with various Fate Master Sect and have a good relationship with the Star God. They can be described as having connections everywhere, so curing their precious son should not be difficult for them.
Strangely enough, no matter how famous Fate Master the Medici Family sought out, they were unable to cure Luoni Medici's mental illness; it had no effect whatsoever.
Ultimately, those Fate Master could only attribute it to natural wonders, classifying it as a kind of incomprehensible knowledge.
Medusa Caroline, as the mother, absolutely disagreed with this answer and was even quite angry. However, her father, Aide Medici, gradually resigned himself to his fate and even secretly fathered an illegitimate child with a woman from a minor noble family.
Due to an accident, Medusa lost her fertility after giving birth to Luoni. So, although she knew her husband was having an affair, she pretended not to know and did not expose him.
Arranged marriages between nobles rarely involve deep affection; if they can make do, what else can they do but divorce?
That said, the reason Luoni Medici almost died was largely due to the fact that his illegitimate son Saerfu secretly switched the "awakening aid" that Luoni Medici grace and became a Fate Master, which led to the tragedy.
"Luckily, that idiot didn't replace the awakening aid with poison, otherwise even if my consciousness descended, there would be no way to help me," Lancelot thought to himself.
His power was completely sealed, and apart from retaining a passive characteristic, his mind and will were unable to interfere with reality. In short, Lancelot was now a completely weak and powerless boy. Let alone poison, even a maid could kill him.
A series of hurried footsteps approached, and Aquire, who had just left, rushed into the room.
When the middle-aged Fate Master saw Lancelot talking to Medusa, a deep sense of doubt appeared in his eyes.
"When did my healing magic become so effective? An ailment that Truth Fate Master couldn't cure, I just healed it like that? No, that's not right, perhaps it's Lady Medusa's method that worked..."
Thinking of this, Aquire quickly went to the bedside, reached out and placed his hand on Lancelot's forehead, as if sensing something.
Upon seeing this iconic and familiar gesture, the expressions of everyone in the room changed repeatedly, and they all stared intently at Lancelot.
Aquire, the Fate Master, sensed for a full ten seconds before withdrawing his hand, a thoughtful and relieved look on his face. He murmured, "So it really works..."
"Stop beating around the bush, just tell me Luoni's current situation." Medusa glared at her, still quite beautiful even in anger, befitting her status as a great beauty.
"Madam, don't worry, Young Master Luoni is alright. He has successfully received divine grace and the favor of the heavens, officially becoming a first-level, Mortal Transcendence Stage Fate Master. And judging from your conversation, his mental illness should have been cured as well."
Aquire's words fell like starlight, yet with astonishing weight, creating a tremendous upheaval.
Medusa, the mother, wept with joy, hugging Lancelot tightly in her arms as if he had grasped at a lifeline.
Although Father Aide's expression was calm, there was still joy deep in his eyes, as if a heavy burden had been lifted and the gloom that had lingered in his heart for a long time had been dispelled.
The guards and maids were also overjoyed. Compared to the other nobles, Luoni may not be very intelligent, but he would not bully people or treat human life as worthless. In addition, Medusa was extremely skilled at managing people, so their behavior was genuine.
Of course, where there is sincerity, there is also falsehood.
Lancelot scanned the faces of everyone in the room with his clear gaze, memorizing their expressions, and secretly making special marks on several old men.
Although the original owner Luoni, was mentally challenged, everything he had seen and heard had settled deep within his heart. After Lancelot's arrival, he naturally inherited these memories.
Therefore, he knew who these old men were.
"A branch of the Medici Family? Could they be the ones who did it...?"
A glint of light flashed in Lancelot's eyes. He lowered his gaze, yawned, and feigned drowsiness.
Seeing this, Medusa, though reluctant, ordered everyone to leave, including herself, leaving only Aquire in the room to take care of Lancelot in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
"It seems Medusa trusts this person a lot." Lancelot noticed this and a thought struck him.
In Luoni's original memories, this Aquire was not a member of the Medici Family before, at least he had never appeared in front of him, so this person's identity is obvious.
"They're most likely from the Jialuolin Family, or at least have deep ties to the Jialuolin Family... It seems my adoptive mother doesn't trust the Medici Family. Heh, interesting."
Meanwhile, on the other side, Medusa Caroline and Aide Medici left Lancelot's room with a large group of people.
After the couple dismissed everyone else, Aide Medici hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Now that Luoni is alright and has regained his normal intelligence, shouldn't we spare Saerfu's life? After all, he also has Medici Family blood in his veins."
Aide was very polite to his wife Medusa, partly because the Jialuolin Family was more powerful than the Medici Family, and partly because of Medusa's personal abilities. This Lady of the Stars was no mere figurehead; she held the Medici Family's financial power.
This is a master of palace intrigue, and Aide doesn't want to anger his wife unless absolutely necessary. But he has no choice; he only has two sons, and of course, he doesn't want to lose either of them.
"Let him go?"
Medusa sneered at her husband's words, "You're quite magnanimous, remaining unmoved in the face of your son's killer? Such deep fatherly love... No, Saerfu must die, he cannot live."
If Medusa's murderous intent towards her bastard son Saerfu was previously based solely on hatred, now, seeing that her beloved son Luoni has truly regained his intelligence, her murderous intent towards Saerfu is mixed with more self-interest.
No one can compete with their own son for the position of head of the Medici Family!
Hearing the resolute meaning in his wife's words, Aide's expression changed, and he said with a wry smile, "Fine, you can kill Saerfu, but you must wait three years."
Three years later...
Medusa frowned; she was an intelligent woman, and of course she understood her husband Aide's unspoken meaning.
What if Luoni reverts to his mentally impaired state after killing Saerfu? Wouldn't the position of family head have to be given to someone outside the direct line?
Aide readily agreed when faced with Medusa in her rage, but for people like them, words can be eloquent, while actions can be quite different.
Aide originally planned to secretly hide Saerfu after his eldest son Luoni died, or find a substitute to fake his death.
Once Medusa calms down, a new solution can be found.
For example, giving Saerfu to Medusa as an adopted child.
As political figures born into aristocratic families, the couple's values differed significantly from those of ordinary people.
Furthermore, Aide's perspective on issues differs greatly from Medusa's, a difference stemming from their differing stances.
Medusa, who understood her husband's character, knew very well that keeping Saerfu alive for three years was her husband's bottom line.
"I can agree to that," Medusa said after a moment's thought.
However, before Aide could even rejoice, Medusa added, "But I have a condition: someone must pay the price for Saerfu's foolishness!"
What price?
Aide asked in a deep voice.
Medusa's red lips curved slightly, forming a beautiful yet cruel smile. "I want you to personally wipe out that bitch's family and bring me that bitch's head. Do these two things, and Saerfu can live for another three years."
"Okay!" Aide nodded almost without hesitation, as if he were about to execute some emotionless cat or dog.
Medusa was not surprised by this. The Star Lord, Aide, who held power over an entire magical planet, was mostly a cold-blooded creature.
After reaching an agreement, the couple went their separate ways in different directions.
Medusa walked steadily, her slender eyes gleaming with thoughtful brilliance. After a while, she gently raised her hand and beckoned slightly. The head maid, who had been following her like a shadow without saying a word, stepped forward and leaned in to listen.
"Send someone to keep a close eye on that little bastard and see who contacts him."
"What about the head of the family..."
"Ignore him. Aide probably wants to know who's behind that idiot's attack too."
"Yes."
"Wait a minute... Send someone to inform my brother that Luoni has recovered, and he'll know what to do."
"Yes."
The head maid slowly retreated, her body vaporizing into a wisp of green smoke and disappearing without a trace. She was actually a Fate Master, and judging from her appearance, she was quite skilled.
At the same time, Lancelot, lying in his hospital bed, was reviewing the two tasks he had just received.
The first one, [Karmic Inheritance], is almost identical to Logo received.
The second one is quite interesting. Unlike the [Revenge] quest that Logo received, Lancelot's quest is more of an exploration type.
[Trigger Quest]
[Identity of the mastermind confirmed]
[Reward: 1 Fate Gold Coin]
[Accept/Decide?]
Lancelot naturally chose yes, after all, he already had some clues about the identity of the mastermind behind it all.
Based on the information he currently has, Lancelot has gained a basic understanding of the original owner Luoni's experiences and their causes and consequences.
The original owner Luoni, was mentally challenged, but he was also the only direct descendant of the Medici Family.
According to the Law of Noble Inheritance Law of the Dynasty of Stars, Luoni has an unquestionable right of succession, a right that even his father, the current Grand Duke of the Medici, cannot relinquish unless King Frederick III personally issues an order.
However, fate played a cruel trick on him; Luoni's congenital intellectual disability disqualified him from becoming the head of the Medici Family.
In this situation, other stakeholders will naturally have inappropriate thoughts.
For example, that illegitimate child, Saerfu.
Medusa tried every possible method to treat her mentally challenged son, but none of them worked.
Finally, she had a sudden inspiration: some illnesses only affect ordinary people and have no effect on Fate Master.
If his son Luoni becomes Fate Master, will his mental illness symptoms improve?
It has to be said that this idea is outrageous, but there's no other way; for Medusa, this is her last straw.
As long as there is even the slightest possibility of supporting one's own son to take over, the so-called stepson is not considered at all.
So Medusa did it, and for various reasons, no one stopped her.
Until the day of the awakening ceremony, Luoni drank the "awakening aid potion," bathed in divine grace, and immediately vomited blood and fell into a coma.
Medusa investigated and immediately discovered that the potion had been switched. She quickly traced the clues back to Saerfu.
This led to the opening dialogue between the couple, where Medusa, in a fit of rage, wanted to kill Saerfu to pay for Luoni's death.
That's how it happened.
Lancelot used Luoni's death as a starting point to deduce some clues.
First, who would benefit if Luoni died?
First, without a doubt, as long as Aide is still the head of the family, the bastard Saerfu will never allow an outsider to inherit his position.
As for his wife Medusa, the nobleman was willing to give up anything as long as it satisfied his interests.
Secondly, the death of the sole direct heir to the Medici Family's rival forces will inevitably plunge the family into chaos, providing an opportune moment for external forces to seize power.
Third, for the Medici Family, it was neither legal nor Dao Merging for an illegitimate son to become the head of the family, and he would inevitably have to relinquish power in exchange for support. This allowed the collateral branch to seize a larger share of the family's interests.
Those who seize power improperly will inevitably suffer calamity.
Furthermore, for the collateral branches, it would be even more perfect if Medusa really went mad and killed Saerfu without a second thought.
With all of Aide's heirs dead, the only option is to choose an heir from a collateral branch. This is still a legitimate inheritance, and everyone is happy with the outcome.
Fourth, certain unknown forces that may benefit.
Due to the limited information available to him, Lancelot could not be certain whether other unknown forces had intervened, but he could not ignore the possibility of such variables.
Aside from the points mentioned above, Lancelot ruled out all other possibilities, including his adoptive father.
Yes, Lancelot did suspect that the original owner of Luoni's biological father, Aide, shared memories with Logo, a political strategist. Lancelot was certainly not Xiaobai; he knew very well that self-interest could blind all good qualities.
Can't a father kill his son? How naive!
Of course, after careful consideration, Lancelot ruled out Aide Medici as a suspect.
First and foremost, the biggest reason is insufficient motive. His son is mentally challenged; if he's cured, everyone will be happy; if not, there's always an illegitimate child to take his place. There's no reason to harm the former for the latter. What if it completely enrages his wife Medusa? What's the point?
Is the Tu family (a group of people) chaotic?
Besides these suspected targets, Lancelot also keenly discovered a clue.
That's the person who helped Saerfu switch out the Awakening Boost potion.
To be precise, it was that Fate Master.
"To be able to deceive everyone, secretly switch the drugs, and only be discovered after Luoni took the potion—this is not something a low- to mid-level Fate Master could do; it requires at least Level Six Truth Fate Master..."