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Before Hobert left, he intentionally said those words for Upton to hear.
It was to intimidate Upton, as well as to deter any future members of the Tamara family who might kill Upton and attempt mediumship.
Of course, it was also a way to convey a message to Upton: "You guessed it right, I do have an organization backing me, one that can solve your problems."
Hobert met up with Xio and Fors, who had been waiting outside, and the three of them returned to the fields. Once they confirmed no one was following them, Xio whispered excitedly, "Fors, we actually found a clue to the 'Trickmaster' potion formula!"
They found a hidden place to rest, and Xio recounted their recent encounter.
In the darkness, Fors glanced at Hobert. He was more powerful, mysterious, and strange than she had imagined. "Could this be the turning point of fate you mentioned?"
Hobert smiled helplessly, "Maybe!"
Miss, this is a clue that wasn't in the original story; even I don't know what will happen next.
He paused for a few seconds and then said to Xio, "After all, this means going against a Beyonder family, and I can't make that decision alone. But if we decide to help Upton, I'll let you know."
Xio nodded. "I understand."
After resting for a few more minutes, they walked several kilometers and finally found a rental carriage.
As they entered the southern district of Backlund, the area became brightly lit once again, reflecting the vibrant nightlife of this metropolis.
When they were about a kilometer away from their rental home, Xio and Fors got off the carriage. Hobert returned home by carriage, arriving past 10 p.m.
He had left a note in the morning, saying he might return late, so only the butler was waiting for him. Everyone else had gone to bed.
Hobert drank three glasses of water before heading to his room.
He first removed his "Spirit Necklace" and "Combat Ring." Carrying both magical items had drained a lot of his spirituality.
Lying on his bed, Hobert didn't fall asleep immediately. Instead, he began reflecting on the day's events.
It was only when he saw the entrance to the spirit world and that "long-armed spirit" that Hobert realized his actions had been somewhat reckless.
The main reason was that he had underestimated his opponent. When he learned Upton was alone on the farm, he assumed he was dealing with a wild Beyonder who had stumbled upon a stroke of luck.
If Upton had been a member of a Beyonder family, it would've been highly risky for him to live alone in such a place. Typically, if only one family member remained, they would likely seek refuge with relatives or have relatives come live with them.
This not only helps prevent losing control but also protects against threats from hostile families or enemies.
Although no one could have anticipated Upton's unique situation, Hobert still felt that his actions were rash. In the future, he vowed to gather more information before acting in similar situations.
He then thought of the Henry family they had met through the door yesterday. They likely had close ties to the Lawyer Pathway.
This was inevitable due to the "Law of Beyonder Characteristics Convergence." People or objects aligned with the Lawyer Pathway would naturally gravitate toward Hobert, who held the Nation of Disorder.
Fortunately, Hobert was still only Sequence 9, and the power that the Nation of Disorder could project through him was extremely limited. Most of the entities gravitating toward him were of low Sequence.
Of course, there was also the chance of encountering mid or high Sequence Beyonders or Sealed Artifacts. These powerful entities generally wouldn't pay much attention to a Sequence 9.
After all, Hobert did have "backing," and being the "eldest son of the commander" provided him with a lot of protection.
Moreover, up until now, the powerful individuals couldn't sense the Sefirah-level aura of the Nation of Disorder from Hobert.
At this point, Hobert realized that constantly viewing the Law of Convergence in a negative light wasn't productive. This law had brought him many benefits.
For example, Fors had been searching for the "Trickmaster" potion formula for years, but Hobert had stumbled upon a clue to the "Briber" potion formula while working on his third case.
This made the test set by his biological father much less difficult.
Of course, this was contingent on Christian's willingness to help, which would make things significantly easier.
In this light, the Law of Convergence was a positive force, providing Hobert with more opportunities to obtain potion formulas and corresponding Beyonder characteristics.
Although this did imply some level of danger, as long as he acted cautiously, most risks could be mitigated. The Beyonder world was inherently dangerous, and some threats were unavoidable, no matter how much one tried to avoid them.
With the "Combat Ring" and "Spirit Necklace," Hobert believed he had the ability to contend with some Sequence 8 Beyonders and escape from Sequence 7 enemies.
As for facing higher Sequence Beyonders, there was no shame in admitting defeat or relying on his background when necessary.
Finally, Hobert concluded in his mind: Don't let laws and rules become a burden, but actively use them to your advantage.
Suddenly, that familiar, exhilarating feeling surged through him again. Hobert realized that he had somehow digested almost a third of his potion!
So, this is what it means to be a Lawyer?
To work with the rules, and to know how to actively exploit them!
This must be a core part of the "acting method." Hobert recalled how, during his previous digestion, it had been a clash of contracts between spirits. Adhering to the spirit of contracts was only the most basic requirement for a Lawyer.
The essence of a Lawyer lies in manipulating the law—in other words, the rules.
The rapid digestion of his potion excited Hobert so much that he couldn't sleep for half the night. Only in the early hours did he finally calm his emotions and drift off to sleep.
...
In a small town on the Southern Continent.
The town boasted a scenic little hill, where the Balk family's council hall and the patriarch's residence were situated halfway up.
As the first rays of sunlight hit the hill, eight elders of the family gathered in the council hall.
Today, they were set to discuss a crucial issue regarding the Balk family's future direction. As the local power in General Anthony's territory, they had already learned about the Feysac Empire Beyonders being ambushed by a group of mercenaries.
This had created a power vacuum within General Anthony's territory. If the Balk family wished to continue supporting the Feysac Empire's rule here, they had the opportunity to fill part of that vacuum.
The eight elders took their seats amid polite small talk, though there were actually nine chairs in the hall. The patriarch's seat had been empty for the past year.
This wasn't because the Balk family lacked a patriarch; rather, the patriarch's condition had worsened. He was constantly battling madness and a curse, leaving most of the day-to-day affairs to the eight elders.