Confession

*Crack!* The club swung, sending the golf ball soaring. Ahead on the green, a youth holding a flag was marking where it landed. Alfred bent down, teed up another ball for Karen, checked the angle, and made a few token minor adjustments. Rolling his neck slightly, Karen asked, "Purr said that Tier Three in the Allen family faith system is roughly on par with you?" "Yes, Young Master." *Crack!* Karen sent the ball flying again. As soon as it struck the ground, the boy dashed over to mark the spot. "And your strength rivals an ordinary Inquisitor of the Church of Order?" "If you mean an Inquisitor unlike Lord Diss—then yes, Young Master." "So even excluding the crippled Mr. Mike, does the Allen family still enjoy the protection of two Inquisitor-level figures?" "Young Master, it is actually difficult to make a direct comparison," Alfred replied. "Oh?" Karen lowered his club and waved toward the youth below, signaling that he was finished. Stepping down from the teeing platform, Karen went into the washroom to wash his hands, then stepped back out and gestured for Alfred to sit. "Elaborate." "Yes, Young Master. Has Purr ever explained to you the distinction between different family faith systems?" "It did. The strength of each family's Founder differs, so their benchmark systems are completely incomparable." "It is the same with Inquisitors. An Inquisitor's personal strength accounts for fifty percent, but the Church of Order preceding their title accounts for the other fifty percent." "Oh?" "Certain spells used by Inquisitors receive blessings directly from the Church of Order, or even the rules of Order itself. They never fight in isolation. And that is without even considering an Inquisitor's background; in the simplest terms, they can summon allies with a single official letter." "But doesn't a family faith system also summon the Founder?" Karen asked. "That is true, but their Founder resides within their own bloodline. The reason the Church is the most colossal entity is that they draw upon the power of God and the power of universal rules—and those reside above their heads. "It is like a water fight where everyone holds a bowl to splash one another. The bowls might be the same size—in fact, the bowl of a family faith system might even be slightly larger—but the Church member is standing right next to a reservoir with their bowl. "Once your purification is complete, Young Master, you should experience that feeling for yourself." "I understand." "Furthermore, Young Master, when Purr said I am equivalent to Tier Three in the Allen family faith system, that was a conclusion drawn from its understanding of its own family's system." "Is there a difference?" "There is. What it was referring to is likely the application of power. For example, our gear might be identical—Mr. Wood and I might wear the same armor and wield the same blades. That is what Purr meant when it said we are the same." "So the actual combat performance and who is stronger would depend on an actual clash." "Yes, Young Master. One thing I am certain of is that Mr. Wood on Corona Island is definitely no match for me. In a fight to the death, it would certainly be I who survived and he who fell. "Unless an opponent can crush me with absolute, overwhelming power, I am unequivocally the last adversary anyone at the same tier would ever want to face." Karen chuckled. "Now that puts my mind at ease." "Heh." Alfred offered a reserved smile. He primarily did not want Karen to misunderstand his strength and let the Allen family steal the march on him. In fact, Alfred even had reason to suspect that Purr's answer to the young master—"equivalent to a radio spirit"—was deliberately playing dumb to maintain a balance of influence. After all, it naturally placed more weight on the Allen family's standing in the young master's heart. This was workplace politics. No— The struggle for a place on the mural would be a hundred times more cutthroat than any office politics. "So essentially, systems are systems, faith is faith, and the outcome of a real fight comes down to how things play out in the moment, right?" "Yes, Young Master. Just like Mr. Hoffen. He had no fighting ability whatsoever, but his abilities utterly shook me." "Mm, I see." "Young Master, I've brought the balls back." A youth appeared at the bedroom doorway. "Leave them there." "Yes, Young Master." The youth neatly placed the wiped-clean balls back into the basket at the corner of the platform, carefully set the clubs in order, and finally picked up a rag nearby to wipe down the platform. Alfred watched the boy thoughtfully. "A prodigy of the Allen family named Boge," Karen said. "Tier One in the family faith system, the youngest among the eighteen." "Is he an unpolished gem you discovered, Young Master?" Alfred asked. "No, the Allen family deliberately shoved him onto me." Karen did not lower his voice as he spoke, so the youth busy on the platform could clearly hear him. After wiping the platform clean, Boge stepped up to Karen of his own accord. "Young Master, Mr. Alfred, whenever you have any instructions, please let me know. During the day, I will wait outside the young master's study, and at night, I will sleep outside the bedroom." In truth, there was a servant's cot inside the master bedroom, but it was generally meant for a maid. Bed-warming maids in prominent households were not exclusive to any single civilization; what aristocrat didn't know how to indulge in luxury? But Boge was a boy, after all, and ill-suited to sleep in a maid's cot. Moreover, given the relationship between Karen and Eunice, it was inappropriate for the Allen family to assign a personal maid to Karen unless he specifically requested one. Wien practiced monogamy, which appeared equitable on the surface, but if true equality existed, tales of bastards wouldn't be dime a dozen. "A very talented young lad," Alfred smiled at him. "Thank you for the compliment, sir." Boge bowed to Alfred. Karen picked up his glass, took a sip of iced water, and said, "I've seen his file. He comes from a branch of a branch." "Oh?" Alfred looked slightly puzzled. "It's like this," Boge took the initiative to explain. "My father's surname was Allen, but my mother was a prostitute. My father was already very marginalized within the Allen family. According to my mother, he was originally a head of security for an apartment building, but later ran up massive gambling debts. Driven to jump into a river to flee his creditors, he ended up drowning. "My mother wasn't on good terms with him at the time; he was merely one of her clients. She just happened to become pregnant around then, and back then she didn't even know whose child it was. "She originally intended to abort me, but because she had already had several abortions before, the clinic doctor told her that if she terminated another pregnancy, she would never be able to conceive again. "Only then did she choose to give birth to me. Before the age of ten, I grew up in a brothel. The brothel owner said I was good-looking, and that once I was a little older, I could start taking clients. "Fortunately, my luck was good. When I was young, my mother used to scold me, calling me an Allen family bastard, and I remembered those words. "Two years ago, a patron at the brothel mentioned that the Allen family was holding their once-a-decade aptitude test for young members of the clan. "So I stole a client's wallet, bought a train ticket, and traveled to York City on my own to take the test. In the end, I was chosen. Thank the Founder for his blessing, and thank the great Allen family." From the standpoint of secular wealth alone, the Allen family had thrived for hundreds of years, so their lineage was naturally flourishing; by comparison, the Inmerlais family had always had sparse numbers. Yet the Allens could never possess the warm, close-knit family atmosphere of the Inmerlaises. Although many shared the surname Allen, they were practically strangers. Most people named Allen could rely on the family's immense secular fortune to secure at least an ordinary job; beyond that, they could never expect much care from the main branch. For instance, Boge's gambling father could never have received financial backing from the main Allen house. When he fell into debt, he was hunted down just the same and ultimately drowned, and the main branch never bothered to lift a finger. Yet this youth had seized his opportunity. The main branch's testing was essentially a periodic screening of youth bearing the name Allen, primarily inspecting the concentration of bloodline within them. Given how diluted the bloodline had become even in the main branch, for an ancestral reversion to occur in a branch of a branch was exceptionally rare. However, the Allen family had been forced into a corner by the Raphael family, and the visible decline in their combat strength had brought about a true existential crisis, compelling them to cast their net wide. Thus, to the outside world, this once-a-decade test looked like people named Allen from all across Wien returning to the ancestral estate to pay homage to their ancestors. Newspapers even helped promote it as a demonstration of the Allen family's cohesion and cultural heritage. This reminded Karen of the ancestral veneration events from his past life, where people bearing the same surname gathered from all corners of the country. "And where is your mother now?" Alfred asked. "Mother received an allowance from the family. She now owns an apartment and receives a monthly family stipend. I get to live in Allen Manor and receive key training from the family. "And now, I even have the opportunity to be assigned to serve the young master." As he said all this, Boge's face beamed with a bright, sunny smile. Karen smiled as well and reached out his hand. Boge stepped forward willingly, allowing Karen's hand to rest on his shoulder and pat him gently. "Alfred, a youth like this, once grown, will either become a prized steed of the house or a treacherous wolf that turns to devour the clan." Even upon hearing those words, Boge continued to smile, without the slightest unnatural shift in his expression. Karen rested for a while longer. Boge reminded him, "Young Master, you are scheduled to go horseback riding with Miss Eunice this afternoon." "Oh, right. I almost forgot." "I'll fetch your riding attire," Boge offered. "No need. I'll just go like this. We aren't going for serious equestrian training, just a leisurely stroll." Karen descended to the ground floor. Two horses—one white and one bay—were already being held ready by a pair of grooms. Just as Karen stepped outside, the sound of boots clicked behind him. Eunice emerged, wearing riding attire that accentuated her figure to perfection. "I apologize for keeping you waiting," Eunice said. Karen knew she had likely been ready for a long time, waiting in an adjacent room. "Not at all, I just came down myself," Karen replied with a smile. "Come, mount up." Karen extended a hand to assist her. Eunice took his hand and swung herself upward, but the horse shifted slightly. Losing her balance, she fell, pulling Karen down with her as he caught her in his arms, and both tumbled to the ground. The two grooms rushed forward to help them up, but Alfred raised a hand to stop them. Boge watched Alfred's action, gave a quiet nod, and committed it to memory. "I'm sorry, it's my fault," Karen said. In truth, Eunice could have mounted the horse smoothly on her own. His gesture had been entirely unnecessary, and Eunice, accommodating him, had let him assist her, which ultimately led to the fall. Lying across Karen's chest with her long chestnut hair tumbling loose, Eunice looked as if she wanted to say "It wasn't your fault," but in the end, she couldn't help smiling as she lightly punched his chest. "Yes, it's entirely your fault." Eventually, both rose to their feet. Eunice mounted the bay horse with a deft leap, while Karen climbed onto the white horse in a rather clumsy, unpolished posture. The gentle afternoon sunlight spilled over Karen. In that moment, the white horse and the young man formed an exceptionally soft, exquisite tableau. Eunice watched him intently, a faint smile gracing her lips. What young maiden had never harbored dreams of a prince on a white horse? Setting off, Eunice rode slightly ahead to lead the way, while Karen followed just behind her on the white horse. Further back, also on horseback, Alfred and Boge trailed at a distance. "The young master is truly handsome," Boge murmured in genuine admiration. Alfred remarked, "You said the brothel owner originally intended to groom you to take clients?" "Yes, Mr. Alfred." "I am merely reminding you: I know you grew up in a brothel and have witnessed people with all sorts of peculiar tastes, but before the young master, you had best keep yourself entirely clean and proper. "Other aristocrats and wealthy youths might fancy those sorts of games, but the young master is not like them." "Thank you for the reminder, sir. I understand." Boge straightened his back slightly, adopting a sharper, more spirited posture. "In truth, you feel no real affection for the Allen family," Alfred said. "Regardless of how lavishly you praise them or how proud you claim to be of the name Allen." "Yes, sir." "Then try to treat the young master with genuine sincerity. In reality, he is like you—he is not particularly familiar with this family either." "I understand. I am truly grateful to you, Mr. Alfred. You are truly a kind person." "I am merely different from that cat." That cat still treated itself like a pampered noble lady—a two-hundred-year-old lady, at that. ... "To be honest, I imagined many scenarios for how things would go after returning home," Eunice said. "Yet I never expected it to be like this. Even Mother didn't foresee it." "Neither did I." "On our journey back, Mother reminded me time and again that regardless of how the family treated you, I had to be mindful of my own attitude toward you." Eunice looked at Karen. "And now, I truly need to be careful with my attitude toward you." "There's no need to make things so complicated." Karen glanced back at the grand estate behind them. "Honestly, compared to riding horses through a manor, I'd rather take you out for a drive." "Are you tired of staying here already?" Eunice asked. "I'm just not accustomed to this way of living. If you strip away unnecessary desires, life could be much simpler." "I preferred my life in Rojia City as well. Facing those lovely students in class, strolling down the street alone, buying little trinkets... I used to think that was just a novel experiment and that I would ultimately return to this family lifestyle. "Perhaps it was simply because I had never experienced it before, so I mistakenly assumed in my heart that the first life I saw was the only one that ought to be." "I know you're reflecting on your life, but I still feel like a stray shot just grazed me." Eunice smiled. "I'm sorry." "It's fine." Karen reached out and patted the white horse's mane. "I understand." "I was truly surprised," Eunice said. "I've seen the atmosphere in your home, Karen. It's truly enviable." "I think so too." "I naively assumed that, due to the nature of my family, such pure familial warmth was a luxury out of reach for me. But seeing Grandfather's and Father's attitudes toward you made me realize that the Allen family cannot compare to the Inmerlaises." "That's because my family has a wonderful grandfather." "Karen, there was something I wanted to tell you—I wanted to say it on the road, but I could never bring myself to speak up." "Saying it now is the same." "It's different now. Though, in a way, it could be the same." "Now you've piqued my curiosity." "Originally, what I wanted to tell you was: if you felt uncomfortable staying at Allen Manor and wanted to leave, please take me with you." Karen nodded. "What I want to say now is: if you find yourself unaccustomed to staying at Allen Manor and want to leave, please take me with you as well." "All right." "To be honest, Karen, I don't know what kind of feelings I have for you. I know I love looking at you, and I love being close to you." This time, Karen didn't offer a reflexive "Me too." "Karen, being with you makes me feel so comfortable." Then, Eunice continued: "In truth, I've always known about the family's secrets and supernatural matters, but Grandfather and Father never permitted me to take part or get close. "I used to want to try it out, just like everyone else in the family. I knew what they were working so hard on every day; Second Uncle ended up like that because of it. "I felt that since I was an Allen too, I ought to shoulder my share of the responsibility, but I was never allowed. "Later, Mother told me why. She said that because I was the patriarch's daughter, I couldn't awaken the power of faith in my bloodline prematurely—all so that I could be... married off better." Hearing this, Karen froze for a moment. "Because that way, my future husband's family could have the thrill of opening a mystery box." The atmosphere suddenly turned solemn. This was the sorrow of a great family, its cruelty, and its cold reality. Holding the reins with one hand, Karen leaned over, reached out with his other hand, and gently patted Eunice's boot. "I'm different," he said. "I only care that you look pretty." ... "Oh, good grief." On the balcony of the master bedroom, Purr watched the two mounted figures in the distance and grumbled in dissatisfaction: "Why can't they just skip all this pointless prelude and go straight to having children?" "*Woof!*" The golden retriever nodded in agreement. "How rare, you actually agree with me." "*Woof!*" The retriever grinned and happily began running circles behind Purr. Purr ignored the ecstatic dog and continued dipping its paw in ink to draw across the blueprint before it. "Even though Mike was stupid enough to blow off his own legs, his talent is indeed the highest among the current crop of stunted fools in the main branch. Smoothing out the chaotic fire and water elements in his body, eh? "Hehe, others might be powerless, but I am the true genius in this family's history. "We just need to wait until Karen finishes his purification so he can perceive the movements and transformations of those elements. Then I'll have Karen help Mike resolve his bodily condition, which will win over people's hearts for him. "Yes, absolutely purr-fect, meow." ... Riding beside Eunice as they passed the Allen family cemetery, Karen's gaze swept deliberately over the ancestral gravestones, especially the one shaped like a pirate ship. Count Rekar, commander of the greatest pirate fleet in the history of the Changqin Sea, was arguably the most dazzling figure in the Allen family's history aside from the Founder himself. Even when posing for a portrait, he was a man whose restless fingers brazenly proclaimed his stature and arrogance to the world. After Karen and Eunice rode past, Alfred and Boge approached the cemetery on horseback behind them. Alfred spoke up: "Boge, there is a task I need you to handle." "Please instruct me, sir." "Go inquire among the family elders—branch elders will do, as they will be attending the patriarch's funeral anyway. Ask them about the exact ritual procedures the Allen family follows when burying their ancestors. Focus especially on the details. "For instance..." "The embalming process."