In the elegant dining hall, sunlight poured through the tall stained glass windows, casting a soft glow across the room.
A grand chandelier hung overhead, its crystals shimmering in the light. Five people had just finished their breakfast, the remnants of their meal and the echoes of their conversation lingering in the air.
"You seem confused... It's not that I didn't warn you. But I can't fault you or seize the opportunity to take your position for two reasons," Nuu paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face.
Oga's expression showed disbelief. Had Nuu truly matured?
"You could have hidden this truth, yet you didn't. For that, I respect you. Moreover, the fact that you revealed it tells me you already have a plan to deal with the greedy hag.
The second reason is that I have no desire to be the patriarch. I'm content being the sword of our household. You don't need to tell me how you plan to handle Argina; I'll wait for the surprise," Nuu said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Even Berta was surprised. She knew Nuu's personality well, but he had changed since they announced their pregnancy, and it was unsettling.
"....."
"If that's all, then Priscilla needs to head out and take care of Lord's husband's request," Priscilla said.
Nuu turned to her, and she gave him a departing kiss.
Priscilla has truly transformed. She had become bolder and more expressive, a stark contrast to the shy, silver-haired woman Oga had met that night.
'Nasha, the mother of the three kidnap children?' Oga's divine transmission came through.
'Priscilla seems confident that she can convince her to partake in our experimentation, along with a few others!' Nuu replied.
'Good, good! When her aunt Dahlia returns in a few months, I will deal with her wrath!' Oga was more than pleased. The prospect of creating an undying bloodline seemed to be heading in the right direction.
'Do you plan to have her as your consort?' Nuu inquired.
'Concubine is more appropriate; she doesn't have the status unless she hides her strength that will be her fate!' Oga responded.
'Well, I must share some bad news from what Priscilla has told me. Her aunt desires to be your consort, and what you're offering, she wouldn't take it lying down." Nuu said.
'Do I look like a pushover?' Oga said
Nuu said nothing in response
'Priscilla has done extremely well, don't forget to reward her,' Oga said as their transmission ended.
"I too shall take my leave; it seems you three have important matters to discuss," Berta said, rising from her seat.
Berta was no fool. She understood that there were matters above her rank that she wasn't privy to, despite being Nuu's wife.
Staying would put him in an awkward position, and she didn't want to disrespect him by lingering. Reading the room, she gracefully exited.
"Wait up, Priscilla... Let's go together!" Berta called out as she followed Priscilla out of the hall.
"Your madame and consort are quite sensible," Zamira observed.
"Don't give me that crap. You two are just too strict with your rules and traditions! Don't forget you owe me one, Oga. And you, Zamira, when are you going to show me the autograph of Alle Yun?" Nuu retorted with a playful grin.
"Ha, so it was just a show for your women?" Oga chuckled, shaking his head.
"Think whatever you like! She's already a Knight, yet you don't allow her to join in the discussions!" Nuu said, his tone a mix of frustration and amusement.
"It's not like that, Nuu. Even if she did sit here with us, it would be awkward. She wouldn't have much to contribute unless she had insight into Soul Research or Rare Humans," Zamira interjected.
"Like husband, like wife; you two are truly a match made in heaven," Nuu sighed, rolling his eyes at the shameless couple.
"Thanks!" Oga cheekily replied.
"....."
"Oga, that's enough jesting. As for your request, Nuu, I'll give you one of the two signed poems by Yun that I collected during my adventures," Zamira said.
With those words, Nuu's mood shifted, as if a child had entered a candy store.
"Alright, let's talk. Yimir has accelerated the construction project by replicating Phi and Tessa, so the Magus Tower should be completed within a few weeks," Oga said.
Despite Tessa's previous situation, her ability to terraform the earth was invaluable. She had no reason to refuse the offer; not only was she being paid double, but her cultivation had been unsealed, giving her a chance to do something more meaningful than having her back blown out.
"Tessa is a good fit," Zamira observed. "I see why you chose her."
"Though her aptitude is average, her offspring could possess greater potential and might become Magi," Oga replied thoughtfully.
"You've considered this deeply," Zamira remarked, her tone contemplative. "May I suggest that once these breeders' children reach the age of seven, they should be separated from their mothers and enrolled in our Magus Tower?
Their sole purpose would be to serve the main household, a duty that must be ingrained in them from a young age."
"We had a similar plan in mind, but I like your suggestion," Oga responded, his mind turning over the possibilities. 'This could also simplify things for Yanis. It seems I'll need to recruit a few more people.'
"Let's designate the top floors for academy studies and reserve the lower levels for research."
"There's no better place to build the tower than the mines," Zamira added with a knowing smile. "My wife truly is the best!" Oga exclaimed, taking her hands in his and praising her warmly.
"Ugh, is three days and night not enough?" Nuu jested, causing both of them to blush with embarrassment.
"While you were enjoying yourself, I gave Zmos permission to clear out the mines," Nuu said, his tone steady. "With Tessa and Yimir's help, they were able to clear it out in a day, yet there was an unexpected boon."
"Hmm?" Oga and Zamira exchanged puzzled glances.
"There was subspace beneath the mine, teeming with thriving plants and animals!" Nuu announced, his voice brimming with urgency.
"No, that can't be!" Oga exclaimed, standing up in shock. 'Did Father anticipate this and create a backup plan?'
"Don't get too excited," Nuu cautioned. "It's not like our inheritance. There are a few rare herbs here and there, but that's about it."
Oga began to calm down, though the discovery was truly a blessing. With this newfound space, they could research to their heart's content. Zamira seemed to grasp his thoughts immediately.
"You can go see it for yourself later. The foundation is solid, so there's no risk of collapse. However, only those with the rank of Grand Knight can survive in that space.
Luckily, I was there, or else Zmos and Tessa would have been reduced to meat paste," Nuu explained.
"Is it really that dangerous?" Zamira asked, concern lining her voice.
"It's what you'd expect from a man like our father," Oga responded, a hint of admiration in his tone.
Nuu interrupted, "By the way, Zmos left a message for you."
"What does that talkative old man want now? Haven't I given him everything?" Oga asked, irritation creeping into his voice.
"That's between you two," Nuu replied. "But he wants to know how long you plan to keep the Orcs in the basement Their numbers have grown to fifty, and they're showing signs of increased aggression. If they remain confined much longer, a bloodbath could be inevitable."
Nuu handed Oga the message, detailing the Orcs' growth rate and habits.
"It's a shame we can't release them into the subspace," Oga mused.
Zamira then suggested, "Why not release them in the backyard with trackers?"
Oga considered the idea thoughtfully. Their backyard, with its lush, jungle-like ecosystem, was teeming with vibrant life.
"Not a bad idea," Oga agreed.
"Besides, my three musketeers could retrieve them if necessary, as part of their training," Nuu added
"Let's do that!" Oga replied. "Once the tower is complete, we can harvest them in bulk."
"I might need a few Orcs for my soul research," Zamira added. "That may require persuading some of the women from the House of Breeders to carry their seed.
So before you release all of them, I'd prefer if you kept three of the strongest males for that purpose. And if you still have any wyvern meat left, I would like to have it!"
"I do, but Zmos has the bulk. Will that be sufficient for your research? And why do you desire Orc and humans to interbreed? You never answered my question from last night," Oga inquired.
"You didn't give me a chance," Zamira shot back, her irritation palpable. This insistent man couldn't even allow her a moment's peace.
Oga felt Nuu's gaze burning into the back of his head as he scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Do tell, sister-in-law," Nuu urged.
"Keep dreaming; you're no better yourself," Zamira retorted with a laugh.
"As for the reason," Zamira continued, "Orc procreation often results in offspring with reduced intelligence. However, if they interbreed with superior life forms, a Half-Orc variant might emerge. These variants can serve as excellent test subjects and death knights"
"Didn't they outlaw such practices in the Year of the Unyielding Beast? Those caught in forbidden research lose their heads," Nuu injected.
"I didn't know you were part rat," Zamira retorted.
"You and Oga love to talk about tradition and laws, yet when it comes to your interests, you pretend they don't apply. Hypocrite!" Nuu shrugged.
"..."
"Alright, let's relax. A lot of our research is forbidden. Even Zmos, whom we're currently harboring, is wanted by the Council of Elders, along with your consorts and her people. So let's not go there, Nuu," Oga said.
"To carry out this research, we need Yanis, right? When will he be back?" Zamira inquired.
"We do, but I plan to have Yvette handle the stability and restriction runes, as well as the energy particle pool," Oga added. "I'd like to hear your thoughts."
"While she's a good choice, we must be cautious," Nuu replied, "The Seven Vows ensure she can't harm us or anyone within our domain. However, there's nothing in the vow that prevents her from tampering with our materials."
"That may be true, Nuu, but even if she wanted to, she simply couldn't. I will oversee her work, and Yanis will ensure its final safety. If she dares to deceive us, I'll have her mating with Orcs!" Zamira declared.
"That would be a waste, though it might be amusing to watch!" Nuu replied, handing Zamira a memory crystal.
"You…" Zamira was rendered speechless.
"There's a much better way, so leave that to me. We of House Thornbrick do not force women; that's beneath us, and it's not true submission. Before this month ends, I'll have Yvette's on a leash" Oga assured, handing over another memory crystal, just as Nuu had done.
"You are too much!" Zamira exclaimed, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
A few minutes later, Oga brought up their Rare Human project.
"Unlike Nuu and myself, we don't have a quantitative way to measure the changes in Nylah and Sage. What are your thoughts ?" he asked.
"There are significant changes in Nylah and Sage. I would say they have about 60% of their radiation therapy remaining," Zamira observed, noting the noticeable improvements.
"It seems the radiation, along with whatever else you've been doing over the past month, is having a positive effect.
Not only has their physique improved, but some of the women you've been involved with have also undergone subtle changes. Though not as pronounced as those in Nylah and Sage, the differences are quite apparent."
Zamira gave Nuu and Oga a knowing look. Of course, she had noticed the changes in Caterina, Hilda, and others. Both brothers could only feign ignorance.
"Hmph," Zamira continued, "like Micah of the hundred petals, their original chromosomes seem to be mutating to a K-genotype.
Once that process is complete, they will become a rare human. Their abilities will directly correlate with the Thronbrick lineage, as they've been exposed to your radiation.
They might gain an extraordinary ability, like Micah, or something completely useless, making the entire process a waste."
Both brothers listened intently to Zamira's words for the next hour.
"Do you know the original name for Rare Human?" Zamira asked, taking a sip of water.
"Meta-human, right?" Nuu responded.
"Indeed. Now, I'll tell you something even your great-grandfather might not have known, so Oga, put up your Veil," Zamira instructed.
Oga and Nuu leaned in closer. A Black Curtain Veil surrounded the area.
"What do you know about the surname Kingsley?" Zamira asked.
"Kingsley? This is my first time hearing that name. How is it relevant to any of this?" Oga inquired.
Zamira had expected as much; both brothers were in the dark. The descendants of Ancient Households had long forgotten that name.
"The Great Sinner Kingsley ushered in the Era of Enlightenment. Before his time, cultivation was unheard of.
Heaven's Will was still in its infancy, and only Meta Humans ruled the earth. However, Yohan was not content with merely living and dying a mortal death.
He broke the taboo and sparked the flame of immortality. Moreover, from the scattered records, he seems to have absorbed a portion of Heaven's Will, his memories mingled with it, revealing that he was not a native of our world," Zamira continued.
"The arrival of Kingsley marked a turning point in our planet's future. His actions brought forth a new age, one where the pursuit of a higher existence became probable.
Until then, the concept of cultivation had been unknown to our planet, and the idea of transcending one's mortal shackle was a distant fantasy.
The world was dominated by Meta Humans, beings of extraordinary abilities, yet bound to the same cycle of life and death as everyone else. Do not be mistaken Meta Human had a longer lifespan than, those lowly humans without K-genotypes.
Kingsley, however, was different. He sought something beyond living for a few centuries. Driven by an unquenchable thirst for more, he defied the established norms and sought the forbidden fruit.
The pivotal moment came when Kingsley discovered the existence of Heaven's Will and absorbed its fragment. A fragment of Heaven's Will is called the divine spark!"
As Zamira spoke, Oga's heart raised and his eyes widened.
His reaction did not go unnoticed by Nuu.
"What happened to Kingsley?" Nuu asked.
"Some say he perished in a great war; others believe he was banished from our world," Zamira replied.
"What do you think?" Oga inquired.
"At his zenith, Kingsley was powerful enough to devour consciousness itself. He likely became the first god our planet has ever known and ventured into the Astral Plane. However, for his betrayal, a curse was placed upon his descendants, which endures to this day.
You might know the infamous story of the cuckolded Baron from the perspective of the consort, but few realize that the man in that story bore the surname Kingsley and fewer know the truth behind that surname."
As long as they carry his accursed blood, they cannot live beyond the age of thirty. Their lives are marred by a string of misfortunes—this is their punishment.
As a guardian of Heaven's Will, I must eliminate anyone who still carries his blood. You might not find a single person with the surname Kingsley on the Central Continent!"
Oga and Nuu were left speechless. 'She killed them. Could this be why the Five Exalted Physique is so elusive—because they are scattered across different continents?' they wondered, reaching this unsettling conclusion. 'This must be Heaven's Will at work.'
Ignoring the brothers' stunned expressions, Zamira continued. "The defiance of their ancestors gave rise to individuals like myself, born to combat foreign invaders.
Although I am deeply grateful to Kingsley, I cannot defy orders. All his descendants must be eradicated!"
Oga asked, his voice filled with naive curiosity, "Foreign invader?"
Zamira replied, her tone steady, "Those who breach the barrier of our planet and enter illegally, often arriving on the brink of death."
Oga fell silent, absorbed in thought.
Nuu, with a hint of a smirk, questioned, "Is it possible for someone to be born a foreign invader?"
Frustration flared within Oga. He felt an intense urge to silence Nuu, whose cleverness threatened to be his undoing.