Chapter 6: A Conversation Between Ruler and Subject

Su Family Estate

Just as Father Su was about to order an immediate evacuation, Ke Lu stepped forward, her voice firm: "Uncle Su, please wait. Before we leave, there's one thing I must accomplish."

Father Su frowned slightly. Time was of the essence, and delays bred complications. Still, he patiently asked, "What is it? Can't it wait?"

"No, it can't." Ke Lu's gaze remained steady. While completing the System mission was crucial, what truly gnawed at her was the thought of letting that so-called "father" off the hook.

For both personal and public reasons, she was determined to complete this task. Leaving without settling the score would be letting them off too easily.

She recounted everything she had witnessed during the Awakening ceremony in the auditorium, emphasizing Ke Zhan's cryptic remark while controlling the Principal: "It seems you've taken care of everything."

Su Rou slapped her forehead. "Right, right, I remember that now!"

Remembering the Ke Family's persecution of him and his sister, anger flared in Ke Yang's eyes. "I agree with my sister. We can't let them escape justice. This might be our only chance to strike back."

Father Su gazed at the three united youths, their faces burning with righteous fury, and sighed helplessly. "It's not that I don't want to, it's that we can't."

"Ke Zhan is cautious. Relying on his masterful hypnosis, he leaves no human witnesses to any of his crimes, big or small."

A City was both the provincial capital and a first-tier city within the Empire.

The Four Great Clans possessed deep-rooted legacies and each guarded their unique, closely guarded secrets.

The Ke Family's cultivation methods specialized in mental attacks. As the Clan Leader, Ke Zhan was naturally highly proficient in these techniques.

Father Su stroked his beard, reminiscing, "Among the other three Great Clans, they all send spies to infiltrate each other, but almost no one would dare to plant a spy within the Ke Family."

"Because you could never be sure if the spy would end up becoming one of them."

Su Rou's brow furrowed into a deep frown, resembling the Chinese character "川." "This is so troublesome! Ke Lu, Ke Yang, do you have any way to counter this?"

Ke Yang shook his head. "Sister Su Rou, my sister and I haven't practiced cultivation at all. How could we possibly know?"

"True enough," Su Rou snapped, frustrated, her hair disheveled from tugging at it. "Knowing they're up to no good and still unable to expose them... This is infuriating!"

Father Su urged them again, "That's why you should leave as soon as possible."

Ke Lu couldn't believe the System would assign an impossible mission.

Just as in managing a company, if she assigned employees tasks they couldn't possibly complete, their motivation would plummet.

Surely the System, such an advanced creation, wouldn't make such a basic error.

"Hypnosis," Ke Lu murmured, repeatedly savoring the word. An idea flashed through her mind:

If I remember correctly, Hysilens also possesses hypnotic abilities.

She recalled the original line from the game:

"From the moment the banquet began, my song lulled all the guests into a trance. They couldn't see the Imperator or the Theoros."

Could Hysilens possibly break this enchantment?

Perhaps inheriting the unspoken understanding between Cerydra and Hysilens, Ke Lu glanced up and met Hysilens's gaze, instantly recognizing they were thinking the same thing.

Just as the trio reached an impasse, Hysilens stepped forward, breaking the silence. "Mr. Su, may I try?"

Father Su was taken aback by Hysilens's volunteering. Though he had considered asking her about her capabilities, he hesitated, unsure of her intentions.

Hysilens had invited Ke Lu to join the Divine Radiance Knight Order, but that didn't necessarily mean she was on their side. In Father Su's view, this was their first meeting, their acquaintance superficial.

Little did he know that Hysilens had been summoned by Ke Lu through the System and was unconditionally loyal to her.

"Since Miss Hysilens has a solution, we would be remiss to refuse."

"To be honest, we currently have several newly captured Ke Family lackeys in my specially designed basement. However, it will take some time to open it. Miss Hysilens, please wait a moment."

With these words, Father Su instructed the butler to prepare.

Seizing the opportunity, Ke Yang whispered to Ke Lu, "Sis, the day your Talent was crippled, the Ke Family sent black-clad assassins to capture me. Fortunately, Uncle Su arrived just in time to rescue me and apprehend those men."

"Thank goodness Uncle Su arrived just in time to rescue me and capture those black-clad assassins."

Ke Lu understood instantly—this might be their breakthrough. The only question was how much information they could extract from these captives.

Realizing the preparations would take a while, Ke Lu felt it necessary to speak with Hysilens privately to coordinate their stories and understand each other better.

She turned to Hysilens. "Miss Hysilens, I'd like to discuss some details about joining the Knight Order with you privately. Would that be convenient?"

"Of course," Hysilens nodded.

Hysilens and Ke Lu retreated to a secluded corner.

Ke Lu mentally commanded, "System, ensure our conversation remains completely confidential."

Ding! Request fulfilled. Host, rest assured.

Hysilens bowed slightly. "Imperator, what are your orders?"

Hearing this title, Ke Lu's gaze sharpened. "Hysilens, I am not the Imperator you remember."

"I have a question: for whom does the blade in your hand serve?"

"For me, for the System, or for the Cerydra of your memories?"

Hysilens had already prepared her answer to this question:

"I too am different from the true Hysilens."

"I was originally a fish swimming in the deep sea, fortunate enough to be chosen and granted supreme power comparable to an god, as well as the memories of two lifetimes."

"In this world, I have my own life, with mentors and companions."

"However, from the moment I formed a contract with you, Your Majesty, my loyalty has belonged solely to you."

Ke Lu weighed the credibility of her words:

"Hysilens, my subordinate, can and can only be answerable to me alone."

"Now, prove your loyalty through your actions. Become the sharpest sword in my hand."

"Yes." Hysilens knelt respectfully on her left knee, a gesture of fealty from a subject to their sovereign.

"Hysilens, you claim to possess power comparable to a god, but why is your cultivation level only at the Master Realm?"

"Imperator, my cultivation level cannot exceed yours by more than three major realms. As your realm improves, my power will gradually unlock in stages."

"So, your cultivation progress will be terrifyingly rapid."

It is common knowledge that the higher one's cultivation level, the greater the difficulty in advancing. Hysilens' cultivation progress depends on Ke Lu's advancement speed.

"Your Majesty, since this world lacks a Divine Realm, I will be stuck just below the True God level, unable to advance any further."

No Divine Realm? Ke Lu's heart jolted, and a vague yet grand notion flashed through her mind. Instinctively, she asked the System:

"System, could it be that I'll ultimately be responsible for establishing a new Divine Realm?"

Ding! Congratulations, Host! Your answer is correct.

This is the compensation our System is claiming for requisitioning this world—the payment demanded by the world's consciousness.

This goal... is rather interesting.