Chapter 587: My Lord, Do You Want to Raise a Dragon?

Chapter 587: My Lord, Would You Like to Raise a Dragon?

Karlen raised the glass with his right hand and took a sip of ice water, using his left hand to pick up the bracelet and idly toy with it. It was full of internal inclusions, lacking any sort of luster.

This meant the craftsman who forged it cared only about embedding the formation array, completely neglecting its aesthetics—or perhaps, their level of skill was simply inadequate.

The object held real value, for it was not a single-use item; it could be sustained and repaired for repeated cycles of use. It would fetch a high price, yet to Karlen, it was of little practical use.

Firstly, his own reserves were deep enough that he didn't care about the minor consumption required to set up a simple barrier; secondly, though his own formation proficiency had not yet reached mastery, with the aid of Mr. Hoffen's formation notes and the blessing of the Rubik's Cube Key, he could at least be considered excellent.

Still, this was a gift from Neo. Returning it would be a direct slight to Neo's pride, and Neo would undoubtedly be furious.

Thus, Karlen placed the bracelet into his desk drawer, intending to give it away to someone else when an appropriate opportunity arose.

Across the desk, Neo held a lit cigarette between his fingers, exhaling waves of desolation.

He had maintained this exact demeanor ever since dinner.

"Tell me, how long has it really been? It was right here, wasn't it, that we met for the very first time? Back then, I disguised myself as a clerk just to sneak a glance at the aftermath of the Qihe'an affair, and then I brought you into my squad. At the very beginning, you were nothing more than an off-budget member.

And look at you now, standing on equal footing with me."

Karlen corrected him: "I am the Director of the First Office, and you are the Director of the Second Office. In a strict sense, I am half a step ahead of you."

Neo: "..."

Karlen picked up the remnant scroll. Instead of rushing to project his consciousness inside, he observed the details of its construction. Its damage was not external but internal, a type of ruin that was virtually irreparable because the difficulty of fixing it was an entire level higher than creating it in the first place.

However...

Karlen suddenly recalled the reforging of his own wings. It seemed he actually possessed the right conditions here to attempt a repair—after all, he had a genius cat and an evil-god dog at home.

"Forget it, I accept my fate. Who told you to be so young and have such a handsome face?"

"What does this have to do with whether a face looks good or not?" Karlen smiled. "Besides, you don't even have a face."

"Oh, so having a grand family background is that amazing?"

"A grand family background is precisely that amazing. It was something I had no choice in. Before I even opened my eyes, the evil god had already adjusted my body, and the moment I opened my eyes, I saw Diss. For a period of time right after opening my eyes, I wasn't quite used to my own appearance, but now I find it entirely ordinary."

Karlen stretched. He thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of mocking his friend whenever the man encountered "misfortune." Back on Dark Moon Island, Neo had relentlessly ridiculed him over the matter with Ophelia.

The joy of it was truly identical.

Neo picked up his own glass of ice water, making a motion as if to splash it at Karlen.

Karlen smiled.

Neo withdrew his hand, took a massive gulp, and let out a sharp crunching sound as he chewed the ice cubes in his mouth.

"In truth, nothing is really different. You are still my superior; we can keep everything exactly the same. I can't be bothered to change either."

These were Karlen's genuine thoughts, not mere platitudes.

He had learned a great deal from Neo, and if one ignored Neo's deliberate antics to amuse himself, the man's strategic layout and ability to seize opportunities were truly beyond reproach.

In reality, he had simply happened to step right into one of Neo's rhythms. Neo had been lost for ten years, wasting away his past in Samp City. Just when Neo was ready and transferred to York City, Karlen had managed to board the train.

Because of Karlen, Neo's promotions had come much faster, but even without him, Neo's development wouldn't have been poor, for he carried the blessing of two people's wisdom.

"During that last inspection tour incident, Bernie pulled the strings, I was responsible for recruiting people, and you brought your squad along with me to embark on a political gamble. We stood on the right side and came back alive.

From Bernie to me, then to you, and including your squad, everyone relied on that single successful speculation to move upward. It could be considered a collective promotion.

This time, it is your promotion alone... According to what you described about your experience in the temple, it must have been a success. It definitely took a hint from the true upper echelon for you to receive this kind of advancement.

Generally speaking, the higher up you go, the more it becomes a case of one jar holding one flavor of sauce.

Judging by Bernie's previous reaction, he was somewhat embarrassed because, from his perspective, your forced promotion does not align with the procedural habits of himself, the district head, or even those several levels higher.

It could only be someone occupying a truly supreme position—someone who doesn't care about such tacit understandings and procedures, nor about what other mid-level officials might think—who would make such an arrangement."

Karlen asked curiously: "So, what is the use of analyzing all this now?"

"Of course it's useful!" Neo crossed his legs, ash falling from his cigarette onto the carpet. "This means you have truly entered the vision of the upper echelon. It's just like entering a company—though separated by many tiers, you have already been placed in the chairman's heart."

"Mm."

Neo continued: "So next, you only need to ensure that your name keeps appearing before the chairman, and your channel for advancement will become incredibly smooth.

True grand figures have far too many matters to attend to every day. How many small fry can they actually remember? Sometimes, when making personnel arrangements, they really just choose the small fry they have an impression of in their minds, pretending they are deeply familiar with the situation below."

Karlen responded: "Yes, as a piece of small fry, I feel deeply honored."

"You kid, you already thought of this layer in your heart long ago, didn't you? Otherwise, why would you have your grandfather pretend to be Rasma and step on that fellow when the temple people examined your consciousness space?"

Karlen shook his head, answering honestly: "I didn't think that much at the time; it was mainly Rasma who reminded me."

"A person will choose the most optimal path out of sheer instinct." Neo shrugged, his expression turning solemn as his knuckles rapped against the desk. "Therefore, in this upcoming great purge operation, you must act high-profile, high-profile, and high-profile again!"

Neo stood up, leaning his hands on the desk to look at Karlen: "The springboard has already been placed beneath your feet. The harder you stomp down on it, the higher

"You can too," Karen said. "There are quite a few Regional Director positions. I saw them at the last meeting; they could easily surround a round table."

Neo deliberately sighed with emotion. "But Bernie only left behind a single urn. What do we do?"

Karen replied, "Didn't that director from last time join forces with the Neton family? The seats of the others can't possibly be entirely clean. We might as well bring one down along the way to vacate a spot.

This has always been the rule, hasn't it? We can't very well sweep away a whole batch of people from the Regional Management Office and leave our own entirely untouched. We always have to move one or two just for show."

Neo smiled. "In the past, these sorts of things were usually said by me."

"I was afraid you would feel wronged," Karen said with a faint smile.

"Alright, I've received your kind thoughts, my Director of the First Office."

"You are too polite, my Director of the Second Office."

"Haha. Right, now that your position has been raised, your subordinates' positions can be elevated too. What are your thoughts on your original Captain position, as well as the Deputy Director position?"

"The Captain position, I intend to give to Muri. The Deputy Director position, to Alfred."

"Vick and Leon—you're not giving either of them anything?"

"Vick's situation is a bit special. He actually misunderstands his own plight. I suspect that even if he does absolutely nothing, once the High Priest stabilizes the situation in a few years, he will still be promoted. He is the one truly remembered by the heavyweights.

As for Leon, I don't want to give him the impression of a transaction. He is under a lot of pressure right now. I think he would prefer to remain an ordinary squad member.

Regardless, the faction is right here. Shifts in official titles are not that important."

"There are two vacant secretary positions in the office. I intend to transfer Paige and Fanny over to my side."

"You mean to have them act as my secretaries?"

"Yes."

"A good proposal. I will arrange it that way."

"Well then, I'll take my leave first. I imagine that since those three have already met during the day, things must be about to begin. Believe it or not, by the time I get back, new and extremely detailed whistleblowing materials will likely have already been placed on my desk."

Karen reminded him, "It is my desk."

"Damn it!"

...

After Neo left, Karen walked into the bedroom. Not seeing Purr on the bed, he went to the partitioned kennel, where he found Purr sleeping on the cushion inside the kennel, while Kevin slept outside, guarding her.

When he and Lady Ogi returned home, Kevin had not hesitated to speak aloud;

Moreover, from Purr's account, Karen learned that Kevin had originally intended to be captured by the assassin in Purr's stead.

After the events of that night, the affection between Purr and Kevin had deepened further, and Purr, in her manner as the young mistress, was using this method to express her feelings.

Karen's arrival woke Kevin. He first looked at Karen, and then turned his gaze toward Purr, who had monopolized his "bed," his eyes filled with a brotherly indulgence toward a younger sister.

Karen placed the fragmented scroll before Kevin and whispered, "Take a look at this and see if you can help me restore it."

Kevin extended a canine paw, raked it over to himself, and offered Karen a smile, then pointed at Purr to indicate that she could also assist with this matter.

"Do it as you see fit. It doesn't matter if you can't manage it."

Just then, the desk bell rang from the study.

Karen walked back to the study, and Alfred opened the door. "Young Master, that fellow from the Crypt Cult is back again."

"Let him in."

"Yes, Young Master."

Gus had obediently departed earlier in the day after Worfullen and the others sat down, yet here he was again, late into the night.

Before long, Gus entered, appearing even more humble than during their first meeting.

This was likely because he had witnessed firsthand the attitude of the two bishops toward Karen, so Karen's status in his mind had been elevated significantly. He did not even call him Captain, addressing him directly:

"Good evening, Lord Karen."

"Sit down."

"Alright, thank you."

"Is there something else?" Karen asked directly.

"It's about the matter I mentioned to you during the day." Gus extended his hand. His palm, which originally looked like that of an ordinary person, instantly turned into bare bone. A flash of blue light flared, and the skeletal hand gripped a black dagger, its sharp aura spilling out all at once.

However, Gus pointed the dagger toward himself.

"My strength is actually quite decent. If you are willing to form a partnership within the Cult with me, I certainly won't disappoint you."

Gus was like a salesman; having failed to make his pitch in the afternoon, he returned in the evening, and the product he was selling was himself.

"I am quite curious. What benefit do you gain by forming a partnership with me?"

"Resources.

This is a tradition between the Cult of Order and the Crypt Cult, personally forged by the great Lord Tyranus. Of course, the Cult of Order takes the lead, while the Crypt Cult plays a supporting role.

In truth, compared to the Cult of Order, the gap with the Crypt Cult is truly vast.

If the Cult of Order is likened to a great tree, then the Crypt Cult is merely a flower—or even a blade of grass—clinging to life beneath it."

Karen shifted his posture. He did not mindlessly take these words as mere flattery from an outsider toward the Cult of Order.

Because the tree's roots were broad and deep, they would seize the nearby nutrients. The Crypt Cult... was actually the one being plundered.

The relationship between Ogi and the Whip-wielder did not look like one between equals by any metric, nor even like that of a superior and subordinate. It resembled more of a... master and pet.

"If I achieve a partnership with you, I can obtain corresponding resources from the Cult of Order. The tier of these resources is determined by your position.

And we believers of the Crypt Cult, if we wish to enhance our strength, often require many times more resources than ordinary human believers."

"Then why is it that many people around me in the Whiplash of Order do not have partners from the Crypt Cult?"

"First, because this requires an application, and the Cult of Order is extremely strict regarding these slots; second, those lords of the Whiplash of Order who are qualified to apply often have enough subordinates around them and have no need for such a partner; third, the lords on our side of the Crypt Cult are generally unwilling to forge this kind of partnership either."

Karen understood completely now. Unlike the mutually beneficial, equal relationship between himself and Sinyali from the Cult of Principle, the Crypt Cult's side was essentially that of indentured serfs.

The outstanding individuals from both sides had no need for one another, while those who did need it were often not excellent enough to obtain the slot.

Keeping a demon beast or an aberrant fiend by one's side was not a particularly amusing matter. It was not as simple as gaining face by taking them out for a spin; you also had to bear the risk of them losing themselves and running amok.

For the other party, as long as they could make a decent living on their own, who would be willing to become a servant?

Thus, Ogi must have forged a partnership with Foden at a very early stage, or rather during her infancy. After growing up by relying on the resources bestowed by the Cult of Order, she wanted to slip away once she had her fill.

For such a massive Frost Dragon, just how terrifying were the resources required for its growth? As Purr had said, his own household couldn't even afford its basic daily sustenance.

It seemed Lasma had seen through Ogi's petty thoughts long ago on that night. As the former High Priest, how could he watch the Church's assets drain away before his eyes?

Gus, on the other hand, belonged to the more enterprising type who was currently doing poorly and had specifically come to seek him out as a young stock with high potential.

But...

There were already two pets in his house. Karen had no interest in keeping a skeleton at home; his family ran a funeral parlor, not a zoo.

Furthermore, his squad members possessed talents in all areas, and there was no place where he could make use of him.

And there was one point Gus had certainly omitted on purpose: after the Whiplash of Order side forged a partnership, they would surely have to pay a certain price as well. For his sake, it was not worth it.

"I'm sorry." Karen shook his head, choosing the most straightforward refusal. "I have no such considerations for the time being."

The light in Guss’s eyes instantly went dim; he stood up and bowed deeply to Karen.

“I have imposed upon you.”

“Not at all. Feel free to drop by for tea whenever you have time; we can be friends.”

“Very well, thank you. You are a very… very good man.” Guss was somewhat moved. He had initially assumed that someone as young as Karen who had achieved so much would be proud and arrogant.

People like that were rarely polite, so even though he knew these were merely pleasantries, Guss’s gratitude was genuine.

Ah, but what Guss did not know was that the last man who had been invited for tea, Mr. Dalis, had vanished into thin air the moment he stepped through the door.

“By the way, have you had dinner yet?”

“My Lord, I do not require food. I sustain my life through substances of a dark attribute.”

“But the purpose of fine food isn't just to fill the stomach. You should try some; there ought to be some left in the kitchen.”

“No, thank you, My Lord. Perhaps next time, next time.”

“Very well, then.”

“Goodbye, My Lord.”

“Goodbye.”

Guss walked out of the study and took his leave.

Karen massaged his neck, preparing to take a shower and turn in for the night. It was foreseeable that tomorrow would be an exceptionally busy day—no, it would be the start of a busy era.

Yet just as Karen was about to rise and head toward the bedroom, Alfred opened the door.

“Young Master, he has returned.”

“Oh?”

“After I escorted him out, he said he wanted to see you one more time.”

Karen sighed, hesitated for a brief moment, and finally nodded. “Let him in.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Guss walked back inside, looking as though he had steeled his resolve. He stepped before Karen and asked with utmost seriousness:

“My Lord, do you want it?”

“Want what?”

Guss’s tone grew hurried and urgent: “Do you want it?”

“You should at least tell me what it is before I can answer whether I want it or not.”

Guss’s breathing grew heavy,

and he asked:

“My Lord, do you want to raise a dragon?”