The study was extra lavish as expected. From the dark wooden floor to the gold-framed photos of Dave handshaking many presidents and dignitaries sprinkled all over the room. As if to show the world how important Dave was.
Victor didn’t care about that, he was interested in a black slab of granite being used as a base for a golden-rimmed vase displayed in one corner.
INHERITANCE STONE SS REQUIRES: AWAKENED BUTTERFLY BLOODLINE. |
This must have belonged to Monica’s mother… NO. To her family. Monica probably belonged to an ancient family that lost its power. It was similar to the one Windy got. Declining ancient families tended to store their secrets in those stones in case the family could revive one day.
Victor realized that as he sat down on a leather sofa, letting Margret sit beside him, and began to act like a slut as Clint sat on the opposing side with Dave who was wondering whose side he should pick. He was right when he didn’t dispose of Monica as a baby, he expected her to be a beauty like her mother, a beauty that can be sold for a lot of benefits.
“Let’s make this clear. I have this letter here. It was written by Lady Kate twenty years ago to my late mother who was her best friend, promising that if their first born babies were of the same gender they would be siblings, and if they were of opposite genders they would be a husband and wife.”
“Can I see the letter?” Victor asked after hitting Margret’s hand away. She began to act naughty.
Clint gave the letter to him with a confident smile and watched as Victor read it while nodding repeatedly. It was very convincing.
“I don’t care.” He said after finishing, shredding the fake letter in a blink of an eye.
“You… What are you doing!” Clint angrily yelled. He intended to stand up and make trouble. but was caught by Dave who gestured to him to calm down. The letter was not important. He had the final say in this matter, not his dead wife.
“What is the meaning of this young master Victor?” Dave asked.
“Just making my point. Monica is mine. My friends are already envious of jealousy. What would they say if I lost her to a shrimp that climbed out of his grandfather’s hole?” Victor said, making Clint angrier. But Dave’s confident hand catching him, made him keep his cool.
“Master Victor… Do you have something to ‘Prove’ Your love for her?” Dave asked, making Clint quickly pull his hand that Dave was still holding. He was getting really pissed.
“You bastard, I already gave you one of the army's new weapon development deals!” Clint barked at Dave who just glared at Victor as if asking “Can you beat that?”
Victor had other thoughts… He was wondering would this bastard consider Monica this important, he was now sure that something was fishy. The letter was a very good imitation, but it could never escape his eyes. It was recently made, he could easily see that.
“Oh… Let’s see… I have a new construction project in New waterfall city… A huge resort with toilets overlooking the city… How about I give it to Mr. Dave?” Victor asked, making Dave look at him for a few seconds… Toilets? Nevermind.
“Oh… I am not that into construction, young master Victor… Your offer is not that interesting to me.” Dave said wanting something better,
Clint looked smug at Victor… He was also challenging him. He was sure that he can easily outbid this Victor with the help of his master.
Before Victor could say anymore, the door knocked and Monica shyly walked in with a bottle of vintage wine with a few glasses on a gilded tray, giving Victor a good idea.
“Let’s drink something and cool our heads,” Dave said, watching that Victor was hesitating.
“This is a 1754 Wiren Wine. It was produced in the last years of the principality. A truly great drink that can only be drunk over great deals!” Dave said proudly.
“What kind of garbage is that?” Victor scolded “Keep this sh*t water to yourself, Margret, get me the bottle I wanted to give Master Dave… Let him taste the true taste of aristocracy.” Victor said, making Margret who also felt the weirdness of the situation blink. She quickly put her hand in her bag and used it as a cover to pull a Soul Wine bottle from her ring.
“This is?” Dave asked with narrowed eyes as he looked at the strange bottle. He could have sworn that the wine shined for a moment there. He slowly licked his lips, He had only two hobbies, Wine and women… Due to overtaxing himself in his youth he could no longer do women, so only wine was left for him. And he had never seen a wine like this, which made him very curious.
“This is one of the most amazing wines that ever existed… Monica, prepare the glasses!” Victor ordered as he looked at Clint.
“How about this, let’s drink and cool our heads, then see what you can give me…”
“Give you?” Clint asked.
“Yeah, for a certain price. I might be tempted to reluctantly allow Monica to escape with you.” He said, making both Clint and Dave realize that this one was a snake more venomous than both of them, he also wants benefits.
Monica was surprised… So he didn’t care for her after all… Would that Tom do the same? She hid her sadness and stood to the side, waiting for their decision.
“I heard that the Von Geldstadt family would host an auction in a few days. “ Victor said as he sipped some wine from his glass. Margret did the same tune her eyes became dreamy for a second.
“Yes… Would young master Victor need some treasure from it? Master Clint might be able to help you” Dave said as he tasted the wine… Wow, This thing was amazing.
Clint was annoyed by what Dave said, he was expelled from his family and couldn't even get a cockroach from the auction toilets, let alone a treasure, But Seeing the look on Dave's face as he drank the wine he tasted it too… Not bad. But… Not amazing either, for a semi-player from an aristocratic family that specializes in trading this was pretty normal. Unique, but normal.
Could that strange taste be poison? He didn’t care as he didn’t fear any poison as he had three S-grade pills in his ring. They were given to him by his master just in case.
Clint slowly sipped on his drink and began to feel a little drunk… His head was a little heavy. He also began to feel a little foggy, so he stealthy took an antidote pill that didn’t work at all.
“Oh… Then how about you two answer some of my questions.” Victor asked suddenly.
“Please go ahead, young master,” Dave said as his head also began to feel a little foggy.
“Master Clint, Why do you want to marry Monica?” Victor asked Clint as Margret slowly stood up and blocked the door to keep away from interfering with the target's interrogation, and so that no one could enter the room in case of any incident.
“My master told me to do so...” Clint said proudly as he relaxed in his seat.
“So you don’t like her?” Victor asked while gesturing to the frowning Monica to sit by his side.
“She is pretty sure but too short for me. I like tall girls. I am short too, you see, I usually wear those elevated shoes to appear taller.” Clint confessed pointing to his shoes,
“I don’t like short girls either.” Dave suddenly interjected. “If it were not for Kate’s money I wouldn’t have even looked at her in the street. Let alone fake a kidnapping operation then rescue her to get her heart.” He confessed as Monica put her hands on her mouth and gasped in shock… What the F*ck was going on in here?
“You didn’t have to suffer a lot staying with her though…” Victor asked with concern.
“No… I used the opportunity of her being weak after birth and strangled her… That bitch deserved this being all bossy.” He said, making Monica gasp looking at Dave who was patting his belly with a greedy smile… She looked at Victor after that. What was going on here?
Victor pointed to the wine, making her realize something… There is something in the wine… A truth serum?
“After that, you married your current wife?” Victor asked.
“Nah. We were already married, the whole operation with Kate was her idea. A very smart woman.” He said as he began to do dirty things while thinking about his wife.
Victor ignored him. Now he had a good idea of how the soul wine worked. It simply numbed the soul, making people stop thinking about the consequences… Though it might not work if someone questioned others directly, so he should ask in a roundabout way. Like Margret manipulated the poor Villagers to sell the mountain.
It works to limit the drinker's sense of danger and loosen all the limiters on their tongues.
Victor didn’t know its side effects and didn’t care… No one would leave this mansion alive beside him and his girls today.
“But why are you so harsh on Monica, I heard you prefer your other son, despite his incompetence,” Victor said.
“Incompetent he might be, but he is my son. Monica was never my daughter, That b*tch Kate was pregnant when she married me. She used me as a shield." He yelled angrily. "She thought I didn’t know, but I was the one tricking her… Now I will sell her daughter to the highest bidder.” Dave chuckled coldly as if Monica was not sitting in shock opposing him.
“Would you do the same to Monica?” Victor asked Clint.
“Probably… But I might not even get to touch her. My master wants her to breed a few warriors out of her. But he promised to allow me to have her once… Not that I am into that. But I would love to see her squeal under me… He he he..” Clint laughed as Monica's eyes turned red, only to feel Victor’s arm hug her waist tightly.
“Your master sounds amazing… “ Victor paused, allowing Clint to continue on his own.
“Yeah… Master Swartwood is one of the five elders of the Dark Chamber. My granduncle Kolmir introduced me to him about a year ago after that accident. He said they might help me get a better position in the family. Comparable to that of Charlotte and that bastard Alfred. My master also promised that once we get the Von Blue lost bloodline He will make me a full player!” he said, nearly causing Victor to yell in surprise. Dark chamber? He didn’t expect that the Von Geldstadt family would be infiltrated like his own.
“Now really… Was your master the one who gave you that ring?” Victor asked,
“Yeah… It’s a storage ring… Amazing hah… “ He said proudly.
“Wow… Can I see it… Such a treasure…” Victor asked with an amazed expression.
“No… My master told me not to let anyone near it.” Clint said stubbornly.
"Where did you meet your master then?" Victor asked.
"I can't tell you that," Clint Exclaimed... Failure again.
“I see… How is your position in the Von Geldstadt family?” Victor asked to change the subject after seeing the frown on Clint’s face. He shouldn’t corner him as the wine was not very effective on players. And the deep secrets should be made to float on their own.
“Those bastards wanted me to be a normal clerk after my ceremony… Damn them. But I had revenge… I stole the family’s heirloom secretly when they punished me for cleaning the ancestral hall after throwing up there during the ceremony… HE he he… ” He said, making Victor gasp for a second time.
“What heirloom? Did you show it to your master?” Victor asked with a whisper as he bowed closer to Clint as if he would keep his secret forever.
“He he he.” Clint chuckled as he looked at both his sides, making sure no one was listening… Dave was listening though, but he didn’t care.
“No…” He smiled sneakily. “Not even the family knows about this, but while I was cleaning I knocked over a very ancient vase, making it shatter on the floor… The elder scolded me and went to call the cleaning crew… At that time I noticed a jewel that was flung to the side. It was hidden in the vase and only appeared when it shattered… So I quickly stuck it in my pants before I was thrown out of the hall… Damn him… For just a damn Vase, I was kicked out of the family… Luckily my Granduncle covered for me and gave me some money then introduced me to the dark chamber… When I return to the family I will get my revenge… Then marry my pretty cousin Charlotte and do her 10 times every day… He he he..” Clint slowly drowned in his filthy desires
Victor didn’t care about that, he was checking the Jewel in Clint's hand which he had unconsciously taken out of his ring.
Amber of Verme X Controls the Weather.
|
Sh*t this was an X-ranked artifact! Victor had never heard of it, Maybe not even Von Geldstadt knew of its existence… NO… He read once that Tom met a goddess and “convinced her” to control the weather to save a village from drought. He read that in his published autobiography book 4. It was not a goddess, after all, just an X-ranked artifact.
Tom would use this power multiple times later, each time he would call loudly for the goddess's favor reminding her of their time in bed together. He must realize how precious this thing is and make that trick to hide it and increase his reputation at the same time.
“You bastard… You didn’t tell me that you were kicked out of your family.” Dave, who heard the last sentence, got angry suddenly and pointed at Clint with the awl in his filthy hand.
“Why should I tell a greedy man like you… You only want to sell your little b*tch!... And I only want to scam you! Wait, why am I telling you this?” Clint replied, He was getting angry, but his mind was clearing out.
“I bet he wants to get all your money and then kill you.” Victor quickly told Dave in a scared tone. “Be careful, he has a knife.” Victor suddenly warned and pushed the confused Clint on Dave.
Victor was never in the position they perceived him to be in, he had already circled the room twice as he questioned the two fools while using his disguise to make them think he was sitting and drinking. Even Monica never realized that he was never at her side.
Dave was startled seeing Clint jumping on him like this. Fearing the supposed knife, he could only use the awl in his hand to stab Clint, who turned into a green goo a moment later under Monica’s surprised eyes. She didn’t see the goo, she just saw Clint attack Dave and Dave taking out an awl and stabbing Clint in his heart.
Monica gasped as she saw her father commit murder, but that only lasted for a second as Victor silently knocked her out. Then laid her slowly on the couch before looking at the confused Dave.
“That awl is really pointy. You should check it for damage.” Victor told Dave, who looked at the weapon in his hand in shock… When did he get this? Pointy... He touched the tip with his finger and turned into a green goo too.
“Wouldn’t killing them get us in trouble?” Margret, who was watching the show from the side, asked Victor.
“I was planning to let someone else do it. But I really needed this thing. And I am not afraid of trouble.” He said as he slowly took the ring and the jewel from Clint's severed hand. He cut it at the moment he threw him at Dave. After quickly inspecting the ring, Victor stored it in his ring with the jewel after placing a talisman on it.
After that he carefully stored the awl in his ring, he was the one who placed it secretly in the drunk Dave’s hand a moment earlier.
Victor didn’t want proof that he was the killer. The Von Geldstadt family might suspect something, but without proof, they can’t do a thing as his family would protect him. And Clint was kicked out, so they had no incentive to make trouble.
As for the dark chamber, they would not be sure he did it too. But Victor just wanted them to make some moves. The scariest enemies were those in the darkness, and he wanted them to show some trail.
Compared to the Von Zwei, Dark Chamber is planning some pretty scary things to topple the world order. They are collecting every bloodline they can get their hands on.
Figured... interesting that he managed to change this guys fate easily... he may have been destined to be Tom's pray but he didn't manage to live long enough for it...
He carefully made sure not to do the deed himself though. Fate backlash presumably avoidable by tricking the dad into being the one who used the awl….
@nickt Not sure if it was fate or just to hide from any kind of magical means of figuring out who the killer but either way it was nicely done...
He's not a scion, though. Fate under S rank has negligible backlash.
“I don’t like short girls either.” Dave suddenly interjected
sh*t take, he deserves to die.
hahahahaa good end for the couplewhy clint have the artefact?
Mc should also get the stone for monica the one with the inheritance
Double chapter! Yay! Thanks for the cookie
This feels like the author level up his profession instead of improving gradually.
Love it. He now has Monica's heart for sure. You're doing really good, and I appreciate that you keep doing good.
Nice ! Don’t forget the tablet heirloom under the vase from Monica’s family
Victor should turn Charlotte into slave and use this knowledge to help her get matriarch position in her family. The same in his family with Rita(or someone else since in von weisse family the head cannot be woman. She can use Alex's ring or her "husband").
@Akaichi I wonder when will you explain how the leveling of skills and classes works. I am rereading right now and realized how messed up it is. Each skill have its grades(F-X), some are divided by for example: minor, weak, mid, high ( mainly technique-like skills like sword arts, brewind etc.) and every skill can level up. When skill levels up and when the grade goes up ? When minor sword asts become mid sword arts ?I have some idea how it may work but still the explanation in the novel would be good.
The same goes for classes. We know Victor has X ranked class but do not know anyone else class rank. We do not know how much levels to upgrade the class. Another question is Which rank will X ranked class upgrade to ?
Another question is how much potencial can skill have. Victor's original 5 skills from the ceremony are becoming more and more op. It would be cool if later contractor of doom (or admin merchant) allowed user to trade everything in the status --> authority, skills, potential, magic attributes, bloodlines and fate( something like in Bank of the universe). The unlimited disguise needs just disguise touch and it will become "real illusion". It will be basically domain where Victor is god.If this is intention then good but else it is better to be careful with skills like this.
@Argon459 In future there will be fight between Charlotte and Oliver, as she scammed him. So it will be bad for Victor if he make her his slave. And I think Oliver will be up against whole Von Geldstadt in future due to some Victor's intervention. As this story is about how Victor lives a full filling life while controlling everything from the shadows.
And Victor had already planned what to do with Rita(as mentioned in Chapter 134). She will stole an Awakening artifact for family. By doing such meritorious deed she will be forgiven for her grandfather's crime. And after she is done with her job she will be back to Victor's side.
@Rajark Well Oliver is now dark scion so it shouldn't matter because they are pawns of fate without benefits. They will be dragged through the mud until they accomplish the mission fate gave them. Dark scions only benefit is survival if i am not wrong. So his hate should not matter that much. As for Rita there was also talk about Elder position for her if she offers the awakening artifact to the family. So it would not be weird if she later got chance for the head position if she do another achivements(founding spies for example). It is not like she would need be always in the family.
Well the only reason I thought of Rita for this position is because she is only pureblood slave of his. Victor wanted to take reins of his family but i can't see reason for him personally be a head. It should be either some servant of his or family member(like Mike).But he can't control his family so it would be better for servant. Then Victor can be some elder of trading hall or whatever. His status will be enough to be arrogant but not main target of the enemies of family.
@Argon459 Well you're truly wrong if you think if Oliver has became a Dark Scion then he ain't a shit. A Dark Scion is still a 'Scion'. Only difference is that Dark Scion lives a very shitty life in order to fulfill his destiny as world made them experience some bad sh*t nonstop so that they can become powerful enough to complete their set destiny. And in my opinion Von Geldstadt is a pretty much good choice to overcome as a very challenging task, while going against Von Geldstadt his life will be miserable (as of any Dark scion should be) and he will get stronger in that process. And Victor can deal with him after Oliver had taken care of Von Geldstadt, so that Oliver's threat to Lily will be eliminated. And he also has some plans for Zoe for which Oliver need to die I think.
As for Rita being the family head, it will be impossible as her grandfather was colluding with their enemy. For example if someone betrayed you will your relationship with that person be same if that person helped you in some very sticky situation, I am pretty much sure you will still hold grudge against that person if you don't have any mental problems. And achievements are not easy to get. And Victor is not looking for controlling his family as that will be very challenging, as you have to consider the fact that his family was destroyed after Reckoning by a Scion so it's pretty much clear that even after Von Zwei schemes his family was able to hold that long in his past life, this shows how amazing foundation they have to hold till they were destroyed by the Scion. And he just wants to create his own power. As after the Reckoning thing if you don't have your own foundation it's pretty difficult to have a say in that new World where 'fist is law'.
@Rajark Well dark scions are definition of "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" so it is true that Von Geldstadt will suffer. But for Victor dark scions should be much easier to mess with. That's what i meant. Without Victor dark scions are still protagonists albeit tragic ones.It doesn't really matter if Victor isn't interested in controlling Von Geldstadt. I just thought that since he knows interesting information he should extract some benefits.
While it is true that Rita's grandfather is traitor she can play victim(she is actually when I think about it) or whatever.Victor should have some plan since he wants to send back to family with awakening artifact else she would executed for colluding with her grandfather immediately she gets home. As for achivements I think weeding out the spies in this infested family is most important for them in their situation and would make them much more stable. And since Victor knows a lot of traitors and spies it would be even easier. He would get evidences and She would show it to family. Not only it is big achivement but also she will get prestige. They have big foundation like you said but it was said that they would chance names few years after the scion attack. The foundation is good but half of family is enemy that wants that foundation.
As for Victor not wanting control the family I am pretty sure it was mentioned somewhere in the first 100 chapters several times. Maybe i am wrong dunno but i would not really care if the family got destroyed since it is rotten apple.
Edit: Just checked first few chapters. in chapter 14 victor mentions that he wants the family for himself. So he wants to control the family or have its resources. But he would not bother with spies in family if he just wanted to steal the family foundation.
@Rajark don't forget that Victor is already on Oliver's (s)hit because of Lily helping Oliver awaken his feminine side.
So Charlotte still has a shot to become THE YOUNG MASTER'S personal property and hug pillow, thou she would have to first be taught a lesson in humility.
@Darkness_rave I am just saying that if he take Charlotte under him he will have to deal with Oliver for both Lily and Charlotte which is not something that he want.
While by intensifying the enimity between Oliver and Von Geldstadt and making them both fight each other, he can eliminate both of them at their lowest which is more desirable.
And he already have many girls, we don't need bit*hes in his family only good girls are acceptable otherwise there will be unrest in his harem.
@Rajark In my opinion destroying one of the 5 families will create too much variables for Victor. The balance will be destroyed between families, new powers will rise up and hidden powers will be stirred up. Slowly infesting all families with his "men" and taking control of them is more safe and "The Young Master in the Shadows" like then destroying them without benefits.Morever Oliver looks dumber than Tom so manipulating him is more preferable than just killing him.
As for Charlotte, I actually like her personality . Morever she has experience in business and politics so she would be useful even as nomal subordinate(not harem member). As for her "devious" heart it is obvious someone turns that way when you are in her position. All the stress, pressure and guys she needs guard against must be countered by strong personality not fearing doing dirty stuff. As long as Victor shows sympathy, enough strenght and helps her (he can replace those guys she had the discussion with once) she will become good ally. As for her being harem member i don't mind but i think it would take some time for her to fall in love( same as Alpha).
@Argon459 Well he already planning to destroy Von Zwei so it's will not make any difference if he destroys Von Geldstadt as well as after Reckoning nothing matters as all people on planet will become Players.
As for killing Oliver. Victor had some plans for Zoe for which he need Oliver dead. I think he will make Zoe kill Oliver. As according to him in past Zoe was 'man hater'.
As for Charlotte, there are list of people whom Victor don't like and want them dead and I think Charlotte is one of them. Just like Linda (pu**y).
@Rajark Oh well those are details I forgot . If it is as you say then it is understandable.