Chapter 66
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: A Father's Plea
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Duke Huam's level was 8-Star Lower.
Duke Nordian, on the other hand, had reached the peak of 8-Star, the Upper level.
It would likely take three Duke Huams to stand against Nordian.
Though he was on the weaker side for the head of a Demonic House, Duke Huam's name would become known throughout the world.
This was because of what he would do in the future.
“Are you Christian?”
“It is an honor to meet Your Grace, the Duke.”
“Yes, you seem quite capable, just as the rumors say. No, honestly, I’m rather impressed. You’re remarkable now, but I look forward to your future even more.”
Duke Huam seemed to have sized Chris up in a single glance.
“Of course, when I think of the wrong you did to my princess in the past, I still want to tear you limb from limb.”
“…”
Just what in the world had the previous ‘Christian’ done to Marisa?
Fortunately, he didn't sense any particular hostility from Duke Huam.
Duke Huam smiled faintly.
“I will consider the wrong you did to Marisa forgiven with this incident. Thank you. If it weren't for you, my youngest child would have been in terrible trouble. In the worst case, I might have had to do something horrible to that lovely child with my own hands.”
Chris understood his words.
Marisa was the daughter of the house head.
But in his previous life, she was punished by having both hands cut off, and her eyes and tongue gouged out.
It was because she was framed for a major crime, but for the daughter of a house head, the punishment was excessively cruel.
This was because Duke Huam's power was weak.
‘Duke Huam is the head of the house, but he isn't the strongest in the Extreme Poison House.’
The strongest in the Extreme Poison House was someone else.
Duke Huam's brother.
As another figure of real power, he shared control of the Extreme Poison House.
This was the seed of the tragedy that would later befall the family, ‘Jinnok’s Rebellion.’
‘…For now, I'll think about this later.’
Chris shook his head.
Dealing with the Duke before him was the priority.
“Why did you summon me?”
“Curious to see my son-in-law's face?”
“…Our engagement has already been broken.”
Duke Huam simply gave an inscrutable smile.
“Actually, I called you because I have something to ask.”
“Please, speak.”
“What is your relationship with the Divine Doctor Noble Family?”
“!!”
“You said you acquired the medicines at an auction, but that’s not true. Our Extreme Poison House always keeps an eye on the dark auctions. We need to check for any important medicinal ingredients that appear. But recently, no medicine from the Divine Doctor Noble Family has been listed. How did you come to know their secret arts?”
“…”
“Explain yourself.”
A dangerous question.
But he was already prepared for it.
“I have no connection whatsoever with the Divine Doctor Noble Family. I have never even met them.”
“No connection? Even though you created a medicine containing the mysteries of the Divine Doctor Noble Family?”
“That’s just because I’m a genius.”
“…What?”
“I had a few opportunities to see the medicines of the Divine Doctor Noble Family before. So I tried to imitate them. Well, it wasn't particularly difficult.”
Duke Huam looked speechless.
“Is such a thing even possible?”
“It was for me. I could also roughly figure out the mixing ratio of Marisa’s secret poison, the Blue Flower. Shall I tell you? Mix the essence of a Hallu spider with a Canasia flower, and then a bit of powder from a Papin magic stone…”
“…Stop, that’s enough.”
Duke Huam shook his head.
“I can’t believe it.”
“Yes, I also think I am a genius beyond imagination.”
“…”
Chris spoke confidently.
“Is that all you wished to discuss?”
To think he called him just to ask something like this. Chris wore a puzzled expression.
“No, let’s get to the main point.”
Duke Huam looked straight into Chris’s eyes.
“What do you think about coming to the Extreme Poison House?”
“!!”
“With your talent, you could master the poison arts of the Extreme Poison House to their very peak. If you come to our house, I will pass down the family’s true essence to you.”
Chris looked slightly surprised.
The true essence of a family.
It was passed down only to the direct bloodline.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean you should become my son-in-law. Weren't you and Marisa originally engaged anyway?”
Duke Huam didn't seem to be speaking idly.
“…May I ask why you are making me such an offer?”
Duke Huam answered as if it were obvious.
“Because of your talent.”
“…”
“After hearing the story from Marisa, I thought to myself, if it’s true that you created the secret medicine of the Divine Doctor Noble Family, I must have you. Medicine and poison are interconnected disciplines, so your talents would blossom brilliantly in the Extreme Poison House.”
“I am of the Dark Magic House’s bloodline.”
“But a persecuted bloodline.”
“…”
“And now that you've become a Prince, you’ll find yourself in an even more difficult position. Everyone in the Dark Magic House will become your enemy. So, I believe my proposal is not a bad one from your perspective either.”
Chris remained silent.
An unexpected turn of events.
But it wasn't unheard of for someone from a Demonic House to switch their allegiance to another family.
Wasn't the head butler, the vampire Simon, of the highest pure blood from the Blood Sword House? One who was born from the same womb as the Demon King of Bloodletting, no less.
However.
Chris let out a smirk.
“Your joke is a bit much.”
“…”
“You already know I won't follow you, don't you?”
Talent in medicine and poison?
He was exceptional at everything, not just limited to poison.
Moreover, persecution from his family?
“They will all kneel before me anyway.”
Duke Huam was silent.
Chris looked straight at him and spoke.
“Please tell me what Your Grace truly wants from me.”
Duke Huam let out a low chuckle.
His expression was still gentle.
But unlike before, there was a heavy weight to it.
“Yes, you’re right. I knew you wouldn’t accept my words. But it wasn’t just an empty offer. I truly do covet you.”
“…”
“I’ll tell you my real reason.”
Duke Huam let out a low sigh and said something unexpected.
“May I ask a favor of you?”
“A favor?”
The great Duke Huam asking for a favor?
“If, by any chance, a misfortune befalls my family, can you take responsibility for my daughter Marisa’s safety?”
“!!”
“I’m not telling you to marry her. It’s enough if you can just ensure that child survives.”
Chris’s expression hardened.
“That is a very sudden request.”
Duke Huam spoke bitterly.
“I understand you’re taken aback. Outsiders may not know, but our family’s situation is not good. It’s unlikely to happen, but this is a precaution, just in case.”
He knew.
He knew what was currently happening within the Extreme Poison House.
And what would happen in the future.
‘This is troublesome.’
Chris furrowed his brow slightly.
As he remained silent, Duke Huam spoke.
“Of course, I’m not asking for this empty-handed. I will give you a reward. Take this.”
It was a crystal orb.
Upon receiving it, Chris looked slightly surprised.
“This is?”
“It’s a crystal orb containing a manuscript of the Divine Doctor Noble Family's exclusive medical arts. It has the first and middle parts.”
“!!”
The secret arts of the Divine Doctor Noble Family were divided into three parts.
The first part, 15 volumes. The middle part, 15 volumes. The final part, 15 volumes.
Of these, Chris had mastered the first 15 volumes.
And now, he had the contents of the middle 15 volumes as well.
“How do you have something like this?”
“Aren’t the Extreme Poison House and the Divine Doctor Noble Family old nemeses? We bribed an insider and smuggled out a copy. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the final part. That is something only the highest direct line of the Divine Doctor Noble Family can learn.”
Still, it was a treasure of immense value.
Especially for Chris.
The middle 15 volumes contained the details of the Divine Doctor Noble Family’s unique healing art, the ‘Divine Doctor Ki Gong.’
It was the power that made the members of the Divine Doctor Noble Family no different from Saints born with holy power.
‘Especially if used with the artifact I just obtained, the Crest of the Constellation, it will create an enormous synergy.’
It would undoubtedly become a weapon that would greatly aid his future plans.
But.
“I’m sorry. I cannot accept.”
“!!”
“The reward is insufficient for the difficulty of the task you've asked.”
He was being sincere.
Chris thought to himself.
Duke Huam probably had no idea.
How difficult the favor he had just asked was.
To save Marisa, he would have to prevent the ‘catastrophe’ that would occur in the Extreme Poison House.
‘But with my abilities, preventing what will happen in the Extreme Poison House is impossible.’
He was a genius, but not omnipotent.
The events that would unfold in the Extreme Poison House were unavoidable.
That was why Chris had originally given up on preventing the catastrophe and planned to focus only on minimizing the damage.
“…Is that so.”
Duke Huam muttered bitterly.
“I apologize for bringing up a pointless matter. Please forget what I just said.”
He was a giant who had reached 8-Star, but for some reason…
His shoulders looked small.
He could feel the sincerity of his thoughts for Marisa.
He must be desperate enough to make such a plea to Chris, who was like a mere insect compared to him.
Was it because of that sincere paternal love?
For a moment, his father’s voice from his past life flashed through his mind.
—Why are you still alive? You’re so tenacious.
Chris’s eyebrow twitched.
Paternal love was his reverse scale.
He gave a rather impulsive answer.
“However, if you agree to my conditions, I will at least try.”
“You will?”
“I can’t make any promises. But I will try. If it seems the situation is hopeless, I will give up.”
Duke Huam nodded his head repeatedly.
“Yes, that is more than enough. What are your conditions?”
“I have three conditions.”
“Name anything.”
“First, in the future, please pass down the secret essence of the Extreme Poison House to me.”
“!!”
Duke Huam’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Are you talking about the true essence passed down to the direct line?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Chris nodded.
‘To become stronger, I need to master other attributes to a high level anyway.’
It was because of the nature of Dark Magi.
Dark Magi reigned over the darkness of all attributes.
Thus, the more varied attributes of power he mastered, the greater the synergy, allowing him to wield even stronger power.
Above all, he needed to learn the highest level of poison arts to have even a ‘slim’ chance of preventing what was to come in the Extreme Poison House.
“…Yes, I understand. However, it will be difficult through official channels. Unless you marry Marisa, that is.”
“Unofficial channels are sufficient.”
Chris answered curtly to Duke Huam’s subtle suggestion.
“Then, what are the other conditions?”
“Second, please keep today’s conversation a secret from Marisa.”
“…I will do so. But is there a reason?”
Chris nodded.
There was.
A reason why it absolutely had to be that way.
“What is the third condition?”
“First, please promise that you will grant it.”
“Alright, I promise. You’re making it sound so serious, I’m curious what it is.”
Chris looked straight at Duke Huam.
“Do not blame me even if I kill people from the Extreme Poison House.”
“…What?”
“Even if they are people precious to Your Grace.”
Duke Huam’s expression hardened.
But Chris did not retract his words.
The future that awaited the Extreme Poison House.
It could not be stopped without spilling a great deal of blood.