Chapter 1552: Retaliation

Zhao Li Xin and Lory arrived at the villa in quiet succession, the world beyond its walls falling away the moment the gates closed behind them. The calm embraced them immediately.

Without wasting more time, she immediately heated the leftover food. After barely touching food at the Worthington housewarming party, she indulged in a hefty meal, savoring the luxury of eating without interruption. After she was done, she disappeared into the bathroom and surrendered herself to a long, relaxed bath, she soak in the tub, letting the heat loosen the tension coiled beneath her skin.

On the other hand, Zhao Li Xin spends his time in a much simpler way. He took a short shower, changed his clothes, and then retreated into silence. Hours passed as he meditated, unmoving, his presence steady and contained.

Both of them had their own way to recollect themselves.

Once fully relaxed, Lory dried off and slipped into the battle suit Hadius had given her. The material flowed over her body like a second skin, seamlessly mimicking her natural tone. She concealed it beneath a loose T-shirt and comfortable pants—casual on the surface, lethal beneath.

Zhao Li Xin donned a long black robe he had worn in the past. Thankfully, the Mystique Realm still kept several of his old garments, woven from materials capable of resisting his immortal flame, something Lory had yet to find in her own world.

With a glass of water in hand, Lory stepped onto the porch. The pond beneath lay perfectly still, the fountain whispering softly as bamboo leaves swayed in the night breeze. Zhao Li Xin sat on the arhat chair, deep in meditation.

The moment Lory leaned against the wooden railing, sipping her drink with practiced ease, Zhao Li Xin’s eyes opened slowly.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his gaze settling on her.

A relaxed smile spread across Lory’s face.

"Of course..." She set the glass down on the table, then stepped behind Zhao Li Xin, her movements unhurried.

Carefully, she gathered his hair and worked it into a loose braid, secure enough to keep it from tangling or being ruined when the fighting began.

Zhao Li Xin let Lory play with his hair. After she finished, he held her shoulders, gently turned her around, and said, "Now turn around, let me do your hair."

Lory chuckled and let Zhao Li Xin style her hair however he liked. After all, his skill was far better than hers.

"I must admit," Zhao Li Xin suddenly said, "the killers disguised in this world are much better than the ones in my world."

"That’s because the laws in this world are more impartial—especially in Harland," she explained. "Even noble families can’t escape them, so everyone keeps a low profile to avoid the authorities’ attention. After all, no one wants to cross the king’s men, or worse—the Archknight."

"Speaking of noble families," Zhao Li Xin said thoughtfully, "you’ve never really talked about them in your kingdom."

He is quite curious about it. In his own world, noble houses lived extravagantly, wielding immense influence, power, and wealth, which make common people have no choice but to respect and fear them. Yet only now did he realize how rarely Lory mentioned noble families in Harland at all.

"Oh, that’s because there aren’t many of them," Lory said lightly, her tone almost casual, "and they don’t hold more authority than any other rich family."

"In Harland, noble status is granted in a few ways," Lory explained. "Some families gain it by marrying into the royal family or marrying one of the Archknights. Another way is to earn it through merit. But unlike most kingdoms, the title is not automatically inherited."

Lory explained it further, "Titles are only passed down to descendants who prove they deserve them. If someone is lazy and only waits to inherit privileges without contributing to the country, they lose the right to the title. It can be given to a brother or sister instead, anyone except a useless heir who does nothing." Lory chuckles as if she remembered something.

"...However, it’s worse for families involved in serious scandals, things that damage their reputation, like cheating, keeping mistresses, or other misconduct. Actions like that can cause the entire family to lose their title."

"And for crimes even more serious—corruption, money laundering, or betraying the country and the king—the punishment is far harsher. They don’t just lose their title; they are exiled. In some cases, the exile lasts for three generations or more, depending on the crime, before they are ever allowed to return to Harland." Lory explained in an easy, casual tone that she takes this as a normal thing for a kingdom.

As a result," Lory concluded, "there simply aren’t many noble families in Harland. Most of them can’t keep up with the responsibility and the temptations that come with the status."

After that, she sighed softly. "I don’t understand what makes it so difficult, though..."

Zhao Li Xin’s smile deepened. For Lory and Lucas, caring for others was not merely a principle drilled into them from childhood—it was an instinct, woven into their very blood. They understood that privilege came hand in hand with responsibility. And so they worked tirelessly, not out of desire for praise, but because it was a duty they accepted willingly—the burden they chose to carry in exchange for their luxurious lives and exalted status.

But for others...how many could still remember that duty when surrounded by glittering wealth and blinding glamour?

"So...no one protested?" Zhao Li Xin continues. The laws were unusual—but at the same time, she couldn’t deny their brilliance. It was a clean way to prevent noble families from growing too powerful.

Lory tilted her head, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. "Not really," she said. "Uncle Stevie once argued that if the royal family is bound by the same rules and expected to uphold the same standards, then it’s only natural for the citizens—especially the noble families—to follow suit."

Zhao Li Xin fell silent as memories of how Lory and Lucas had lived surfaced in her mind. It was no wonder so few wealthy or noble families could follow their example.

They excelled in their studies and never attended social parties. On the rare occasions they did appear in public, an Archknight always accompanied them, ensuring their safety.

Lory had once mentioned that neither she nor Lucas had any interest in socializing with people their age, whether rich, noble, or common. She never felt fit in among them.

She also disliked alcohol, hating its bitter taste, while Lucas shared the same distaste for his own reasons. Beyond that, Lory and Lucas were never close to anyone beyond mere acquaintances—let alone involved in dating. Thankfully, neither of them had any interest in such things. To them, hunting dangerous beasts was far more enjoyable and exhilarating.

King Marcus was no different. After Queen Lorenna passed away, he never dated or remarried. His personal life remained impeccably clean, so restrained it was almost sad.

All in all, the entire Lucient family lived almost like monks.

With such standards set at the very top, the noble families beneath them had no choice but to uphold the same ideals. Many failed. And that was why Harland possessed far fewer noble houses than other kingdoms.

Zhao Li Xin found herself quietly admiring the rule, not as an outsider passing judgment, but as someone who understood power too well.

In Harland, status was never allowed to grow roots. It hovered, fragile and conditional, never letting those who held it forget how easily it could be taken away. Nobles learned early that arrogance was a luxury they could not afford, that a single misstep could strip them of everything they believed was theirs by right.

The wisdom of it lay in its restraint. By denying permanence, the king denied decay. Influence could not swell unchecked, and lineage alone offered no shelter. Those born into privilege were forced to stand on their own strength, knowing that blood and titles were poor crutches when the ground could vanish beneath them at any time.

At the top stood the Lucient family, living proof of the law they imposed. They bore their authority not as ornament, but as burden—quiet, disciplined, almost austere. Their lives were narrow, their sacrifices many, and their example left no room for excuses.

Thus, Harland remained as it was: a land with few nobles, fewer tyrants, and leaders shaped by endurance rather than indulgence. It was not a gentle system. It demanded discipline, restraint, and control.

This rule is wise, effective, and cold, especially to the people who uphold it, like the Lucient family.

"Is it done?" Lory asked.

"Done." Zhao Li Xin finished styling her hair into a tight bun, secure enough that it wouldn’t come loose no matter how much she moved.

Lory shook her head once, then twice. As expected, not a single strand shifted. She had no idea how he managed it, but she liked the result nonetheless.

"Thank you, hun." She leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

"You think they’ll come?" Zhao Li Xin asked casually.

"They had failed..." Lory replied, her tone calm, almost relaxed. "And for people like them, failure stains their reputation. In their line of work, reputation can be worth more than skill. So—they will come."

Zhao Li Xin nodded in agreement, yet a flicker of caution crossed his mind. His gaze sharpened slightly as he spoke, voice calm but measured.

"However, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to face us head-on, right?"

Lory turned to him, a knowing smile curving her lips—soft, almost playful, yet edged with quiet confidence.

"No," she said lightly. "They wouldn’t."

Night settled over the villa with deceptive gentleness.

The sky darkened inch by inch, swallowing the last traces of twilight until the bamboo grove stood as tall, black silhouettes against the stars.

A slow wind passed through the garden, stirring the slender stalks into a low, whispering chorus. Beneath the porch, the pond caught the moonlight in broken reflections, the fountain’s murmur no longer soothing but measured, almost deliberate.

Shadows gathered along the veranda, stretching where the lantern light could not reach. The air thickened with anticipation, heavy and watchful, as if the night itself were waiting for something to disturb its stillness.

Regardless, Lory and Zhao Li Xin remained calm. Lory leaned against the wooden railing, posture loose, a faint smile playing on her lips as she fed the carp fish in the pond.

Meanwhile, Zhao Li Xin sat on the couch nearby, drinking wine with ease; his movement was elegant and composed, his presence steady as stone. The darkness pressed in, the silence sharpened, but neither of them was bothered by it.

They knew whatever the night intended to bring, it would have to come to them, better fast than slow.