The next day.
Having studied the game panel all night, Kael was almost sealed into his bed until noon.
Luckily, the game panel from "The Gates of the Underworld" was still there! And according to the messages from the system, the arrival of those foolish players was imminent.
It was uncertain whether the player-specific method of strength enhancement had changed.
However, the evaluation on the game panel had many loopholes.
Simply put, the original owner's death could be boiled down to...
not wanting to share pleasures with others, deciding to indulge alone, and then losing control and dying from pleasure!
No wonder he felt so weak now; during the rapid development phase of bloodline awakening, what an Incubus needs most is a large amount of high-quality Essence to fill the needs of bloodline promotion.
The original body had refused to absorb the Essence from others and instead suffered from the drawbacks of bloodline advancement, enduring massive damage and repercussions—it would be a miracle not to feel weak!
By the time he went downstairs, Old White had already arranged for lunch to be prepared in the kitchen.
Just as Kael was leisurely enjoying the decadence of the noble lifestyle, he suddenly heard a somewhat familiar roaring sound outside.
"It's a Griffin." Old White looked at Kael and said, "Young master, I will go check it out. Please stay in the living room and do not wander."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Kael's expression was subtle, feeling like he had somehow been taken advantage of.
In less than two minutes, Old White came back in, whispered, "Lord Fox of the Bronze Cross has come with a matter to discuss, young master. Please change your clothes in the inner room."
Hearing this, Kael was also surprised, considering that aside from temple Sundays and harvest festivals, he hardly ever saw anyone from the Lionheart Knights.
The Lion Heart Battle Group is divided by function: the Bronze Cross defends the city-states, the Iron Cross campaigns against external enemies, and the Golden Cross protects the Lords.
The most elite and loyal members among them will be promoted to the Royal Capital, becoming the core force of the Lion Heart Battle Group—the Glory Knights.
Lord Fox, from the Bronze Cross, and his father from the Iron Cross didn't communicate much. When in the Royal Capital, Lord Fox had never visited his home before.
If not for the original body's memory, which had once heard his father mention this man, it would be hard even to recall the name.
His sudden visit today must mean something serious had happened.
With this thought, Kael swiftly rose to change in the inner room.
…
In the inner room, in front of the floor mirror.
He changed into a clean set of Mage robes and hung an old leather-covered book at his side.
The mirror reflected a somewhat haggard beauty; those bright eyes occasionally flashed with contemplation.
He instinctively touched his own cheek.
The slightly blurred beauty in the mirror gently supported his face, his expression even seemed puzzled.
He really looked good, true to his grand self!
During the time he was changing, he recalled information about the Lion Heart Battle Group, his brow slightly furrowed.
As the violent arm of the Duchy and the largest ordered force within this federation, these Griffin-riding Lionheart Knights have always been unfriendly toward the Evil God and the races often associated with it.
If he, a Mixed Blood Incubus, were caught and fell into their hands, being directly executed was a very real possibility.
It's not that he was paranoid; in a past life in the game, where he had chosen to become a member of the Demon race, Kael had even clashed with them a few times.
It couldn't possibly be here to deal with him, could it?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Kael unhesitatingly dismissed that option.
He still had no idea how his father, who was expected to adhere to the "Lionheart Knights' Code," managed to associate with an Incubus.
Nor did he know how the Yngvarns Duchy's Public Trial Committee, which always opposed Abyss Creatures, allowed a Mixed Blood Incubus to blend into the Royal Capital.
Even more, I didn't know how the Royal Capital Mage Academy dared to accept a politically unqualified Abyss Child into their institution aimed at cultivating Federation Mage elites.
But overall, they are our own people, so rest assured…
Bullshit!
Isn't this just a matter of a Federation Army big shot caught in a sex-for-power scandal, forced to violate the administrative department's rules, and sneak his problematic son into a prestigious school through under-the-table dealings as an employee?
If this is discovered, wouldn't he be executed a hundred times?
No, he might not even survive long enough to be executed!
After all, his current body is truly a prime target, the main course on the dinner table. If he went to prison and those inmates set their eyes on him, what would he do if something happened?
He wouldn't risk his safety to test the self-control of those lawless thugs in prison.
Thinking this, his gaze grew darker as he moved toward the living room.
Should he try to counterattack?
But… with the Lion Heart Battle Group imposing a level suppression of LV12, wanting to counterattack? Difficult! Difficult! Difficult!
Wouldn't he die before achieving success?
No, he needed to find a way to bluff his way through with this person!
He recalled the memories of the original Kael, and unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, in the memories of the original Kael, he hadn't preyed on any humans, except for himself.
At least behaviorally, between him and the Duchy's regulations, he was spotless.
Really, using the Incubus Heart's tiny tail to bite himself, drawing his own energy in an attempt to suppress the native impulse to advance his bloodline…
A nice thought, maybe next time!
This left him with a terrible body, with no capital to resist the Lionheart Knight.
Instead of thinking about counterattacking, it was better to see how to gain favor from this group of rigid knights and escape a potentially non-existent prison disaster.
With such unsettled emotions, Kael emerged from the inner room.
At the door, Old White was waiting patiently, apparently worried as Kael had been silent for a while, he softly asked, "Young master, are you alright?"
Kael shook his head and said, "Grandpa White, I'm fine. Please go and prepare tea for the guests. Even though father has been away from the family for many years, he should not forget the proper etiquette of nobility."
Old White nodded with a smile and said, "Young Master Kael, the tea is ready; it's in the tea room. The old servant will bring it shortly."
Kael nodded.
…
Meanwhile, downstairs in another meeting hall.
Lord Fox had an austere demeanor. As a first-class Glory Knight of the Lion Heart Battle Group, he was pondering what tone he should use to inform a child of his father's death.
He sighed softly, straightened his chest upon hearing the slow steps coming down the hallway.
As Lord Fox lifted his head, he saw a young man dressed in a simple mage outfit walking towards him and stopping in front of him to perform a Mage's greeting:
"Is it Uncle Fox from the Fourth Bronze Cross? Sorry for the sudden visit; we didn't prepare much, only some tea and snacks. Apologies if it's insufficient."
Alongside, Old White brought over the tea, placing it near Lord Fox and Kael before pouring it.
Lord Fox's calm and deep gaze fixed on the youth, silently impressed, thinking inwardly: truly worthy of being a Mixed Blood Incubus, strikingly handsome indeed which considerably lightens one's mood.
Even merely dressed in a mage's simple outfit, his demeanor was naturally polite and he recognized my name at first sight.
Just from this first impression, even with Lord Fox's resolute nature, his prejudice against Incubi was significantly mitigated.
This made what he had to say next even harder, adding to his guilt.
He sighed and said, "Your father, Anthony D. Charles, led troops to exterminate the Evil God yesterday and was killed in the wilderness.
Today, I've come to report this matter and to deliver the Holy Sanctuary Core of Anthony."