Chapter 585 - 370: Traitor (Part 2)

"Yet your subordinates can only use this energy for the most primitive form of external attack, and that is a blatant waste! Cultivating a Blood Qi Secret Manual will not only give them more Blood Qi to control, it will also teach them to better wield this power."

Since his advancement to the Legendary Realm, his entire being had been elevated. Levi now saw the world with unparalleled clarity, as if everything was within his grasp. He could even perceive the general thoughts and feelings of an ordinary person.

Igo Saint had explained that this was because his soul and body had merged, allowing him to achieve a state similar to that of Mages who could project their Spiritual Power. He no longer observed the world with just his eyes, but with his spirit, granting him immense clarity of his surroundings.

It was now child’s play to sense unseen killing intent or stares.

The Lord knew perfectly well what Kemish was thinking but feigned ignorance. Yet he waited and waited, and still, the man showed no sign of defiance.

"My family is entrenched in the Western Province, and the Anger Vein Blood Qi Secret Manual we have inherited ranks among the top three in the entire Persian Gulf Empire. So, my Lord, you need not worry that this manual I know is some piece of trash that would instead hinder your subordinates’ strength."

Having said his piece, Kemish fell silent, quietly awaiting his sentence.

"That’s not enough!"

Just as Kemish’s mouth had gone dry from waiting, a voice once again broke the silence of the hall.

Levi’s gaze was calm as his fingers slowly tapped the armrest of his chair, producing a series of crisp sounds.

’The man’s offer has indeed tempted me.’

Every time the Barbarians leveled up, both their Power and their Martial Arts improved dramatically. Logically, after leveling up to Berserkers, they should have been able to perfectly wield their Blood Qi. But the reality was, it was as if the system had simply unlocked their ability to go Berserk and given them all that Blood Qi without providing any experience on how to use it.

This left the big oafs to figure things out by trial and error, and to this day, they only knew a few clumsy applications.

If this Blood Qi Secret Manual was truly useful for the Barbarians, its value would be no less than that of the Holy Word Treasure Manual to him.

The reason he had been so dismissive earlier was that he had already tried to have the Barbarians cultivate Combat Qi and the Holy Word Treasure Manual. But those attempts had all ended in failure, as they were completely unable to learn. The reason why was as much a mystery as what the offspring of a Goblin and a Harpy would be.

Therefore, he had subconsciously assumed that a cultivation method like the Blood Qi Secret Manual, developed by humans, was probably inherently unsuitable for Half-Beastmen.

But since Kemish was so certain it would work, he didn’t mind giving it a try.

Kemish’s brow furrowed. ’This is already the most precious thing I currently possess!’

As for his wealth and serfs far away in the Persian Gulf Empire, he was sure the Lord wouldn’t fall for the trick of getting something for nothing.

"Mr. Kemish," the Lord said with a smile, not waiting for a reply. "You certainly can’t go back to the Persian Gulf Empire. After all, you’re the pretext for this war. If you were to show up alive and well in front of your dear relatives, I’m afraid they would want you dead even more than I do."

Kemish’s eyes dimmed. For a man like him, who considered his family his honor and had spent the first half of his life dedicated to its growth, being actively abandoned by them was as suffocating as having his soul ripped out and plunged into icy seawater.

"I can spare you, but on the condition that you’re willing to be High Cliff Castle’s guide. And as for your soldiers, they can be put to good use too," Levi said, rubbing the ring on his thumb, his true intentions now clear.

"You’re asking me to be a traitor!" Kemish suppressed the rage in his heart.

As a true nobleman who had received a good education, he still clung to a last shred of honor, even though he desperately wanted to live.

And leading another nation to attack his own motherland was an act that would undoubtedly be spat upon by the world, his despicable behavior condemned by the pens of scholars for centuries to come.

"A traitor?" The Lord sneered, viciously reopening Kemish’s wounds. "You’re already a dead man. How can a dead man commit treason? To be a traitor, you at least have to be alive!"

"My good Mr. Kemish, face reality. Those pigs you were willing to waste your life protecting are probably at a banquet right now, wildly celebrating. Celebrating that while you were of little use alive, your death at least gave them a pretext to expand their territory and profit from war."

Levi’s words were like a sharp knife, flaying Kemish inside and out, again and again, until he was almost breathless. He collapsed weakly to his knees in agony.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Levi looked up, watching the goose-feather snow fall outside the main gate. It billowed and swirled, blanketing the entire Wilderness in a coat of pure white, creating a scene that was both cold and beautiful.

As evening fell, High Cliff Castle transitioned from bustling activity to tranquility. The subjects who had been building houses and roads put down their tools and returned in twos and threes to their homes, where smoke curled from the chimneys. The Blacksmith’s smokestack no longer belched black smoke, and squads of High Cliff Castle Warriors marched in neat formation back to their barracks.

An air of peaceful tranquility, befitting a nobleman’s domain, rose up. Levi watched for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before looking down at Kemish and issuing his final ultimatum: "Will you join High Cliff Castle and live again?"

"Do I have a choice?" Kemish gave a bitter laugh.

"You don’t. It’s live or die. And it’s not even me who wants to kill you. If you show your face anywhere in the Persian Gulf Empire, they will be the first ones to try and kill you," Levi said, speaking the plain truth.

’Whether Kemish lives or dies is of no consequence to me. If the man weren’t of some use, I’d have sent him to the iron mine to live out his days as a miner long ago. I certainly wouldn’t be here wasting my breath on him.’

"My Lord, I can show you the way to the Persian Gulf Kingdom, even the location of every military garrison, strategic chokepoint, and important city. But I have one humble request that I hope you will grant," Kemish said, his posture extremely deferential.

’At this point, I’ve come to terms with it. Status, honor... it’s all bullshit. The only thing that matters is survival.’

"Speak!"

"I hope that when we reach my domain, you will allow my wife and daughter to be reunited with me," Kemish said with a grave expression, his look conveying that he would end his own life on the spot if the Lord refused.

"I didn’t take you for a good husband and father." Levi gave the man a look of newfound respect and nodded. "That is a trivial matter. I agree."

"Then, my Lord, from this day forward, your will is my will, your path is my path, your enemies are my enemies... until my life fades away!" Kemish said slowly and with extreme solemnity, mimicking the ancient oath-swearing ceremony of Debei.

"Very good. Starting today, you no longer have to do manual labor. First, teach my Warriors the Blood-colored Secret Manual you know." Levi waited until Kemish had finished his oath before snapping his fingers. "As for your future appointment, it will descend in the near future like the dawn’s first light."

"As you wish, my Lord."

Kemish was clearly an intelligent man who knew how to adapt to circumstances, and he adjusted to his new role quickly. To Levi’s surprise, a party-join request from the man actually appeared on his system panel.

This showed that his words were not just empty promises, nor was he simply enduring humiliation while waiting for an opportunity. He genuinely wanted to join High Cliff Castle. It seemed being abandoned by his own country had truly broken the nobleman’s heart.

"My Lord, Kemish Blue Diamond died in that war. I am now..." Kemish chose his words carefully, but before he could finish, the Lord interrupted him.

"No, no, no. Who said you’re dead? Aren’t you alive and well? There’s no need to change your name. I have a great use for it," Levi said with a mysterious smile, waving his hand dismissively. "You are Kemish. No one can change that."

"Fine." After a long silence, Kemish finally nodded.

’My original intention was to change my name so I wouldn’t have to bear the infamy of being a traitor, but now...’