Chapter 272: Following the Will of the Lord of Pleasure
Stretch had been indulging in the Succubus’s charms, neglecting his wives and concubines.
There was no helping it. Succubi were simply too skilled in the arts of pleasure. Her skin was so soft, her body so alluring, her technique so…thorough… that Stretch felt drained.
A Succubus’s touch was truly intoxicating.
Stretch was a Marquis of the Empire, a position of power. Although he wasn’t in charge of military command, he controlled the distribution of supplies for a portion of the army. This was an important position, and if it were known that he was keeping a Succubus, it would be used against him.
That was why he had been so careful, even eliminating the mercenaries he had hired to capture her. He had thought his secret was safe. How did the Hero know?
A wave of panic washed over him.
Qin Chu just smiled and patted him on the shoulder, the unspoken threat clear: You wouldn’t want this information to get out, would you, Your Grace?
In the first playthrough, Qin Chu had spent his initial years focused on cultivation, only occasionally reading newspapers to keep up with current events.
And the newspapers of the Heavenly Continent were mostly filled with gossip and scandals, which he had dismissed as meaningless entertainment. Who would have thought it would be so useful now?
This Marquis would be exposed for keeping a Succubus in two months, losing his lucrative position.
Stretch’s lips paled, and he stammered, then, abruptly changing his tune, he said, “Although they are Demon Beasts, I believe that under the Hero’s noble guidance, they will surely walk the righteous path. So I think it’s acceptable to… welcome them.”
“Besides, this Snow Woman and Blood Elf helped the Hero kill Eldritch, the Second Demon Beast Prince. They have broken ties with the Demon Beasts. As humans, we should show… tolerance.”
What the…?!
The sudden shift in his stance stunned the other nobles.
Had Stretch lost his mind?
He had been the most adamant about removing those Demon Beasts from the Hero’s side.
No one present was stupid.
They all understood that Stretch had been…compromised… by the Hero.
Silence filled the room, the nobles wondering if they, too, had any secrets the Hero could use against them.
After a long moment, a middle-aged man coughed slightly, about to speak, when Qin Chu smiled at him.
The man’s heart sank. Before he could speak, Qin Chu walked over to him. “You’re Count Brule, right?”
He hadn’t intended to use this tactic again, but the words slipped out…
“Count Brule, you wouldn’t want your wife to know about your… affair… with that nun from the Holy See, would you?”
He whispered, using his Mana to ensure that only Brule could hear him.
Brule’s face paled instantly.
He looked at Qin Chu as if he were a demon.
Brule’s situation was… delicate. He was a minor baron, his wife the only daughter of a count. He had married into her family, and after her father’s death, he had inherited the title, but the true inheritance still belonged to his wife.
So, while it was normal for a count to have several mistresses, Brule couldn’t. If his wife found out, he would be kicked out, his title stripped away.
He had been so careful with his affair with the nun, always afraid of being discovered. How did Qin Chu know?
How could he know that in six months, his name would be splashed across the tabloids: Count Brule’s Affair with a Nun Exposed, Wife Demands Divorce…
After a brief silence, Brule forced a smile. “Everyone,” he said, “I agree with Marquis Stretch. The Hero’s character is noble and pure, like the bright moon in the sky. I believe that even Demon Beasts can be purified by his light.”
Hiss…
His sudden change of heart shocked the other nobles.
If it were just one case, it could be a coincidence, but now, with Brule also changing his stance, they all realized that the Hero must have something on them.
And these secrets were very important.
Silence fell over the room, no one daring to speak, afraid of becoming the Hero’s next target. After all, they all had their secrets, things that could ruin them if exposed.
Even Wadsworth, Saint Monique, and Augustus remained silent.
Since you won’t speak, then I will!
Qin Chu smiled, his gaze sweeping over them. “Everyone,” he said, “if you have any objections, please speak freely. Aren’t we here for a friendly discussion? I’m sure we can find a solution regarding Heloise and Iyeta.”
“Why is everyone so quiet? Duke Burrell, you seemed to have something to say just now.”
Duke Burrell’s face stiffened slightly. Although he didn’t think Qin Chu had anything on him, seeing what had happened to Stretch and Brule, he didn’t dare to be careless. He quickly said, “Well, I think Marquis Stretch and Count Brule are right.”
“Mr. Qin is the Hero we summoned. We should trust him completely.”
“With his noble character, he would never betray humanity for a few Demon Beast women. I have absolute faith in him.”
“Thank you for your kind words,” Qin Chu smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to another noble, “Marquis Rommel…”
“I also think it’s fine. The Hero’s charm is boundless. Conquering two Demon Beast women should be easy for him. There’s no need to worry,” Marquis Rommel replied without hesitation.
Qin Chu was satisfied with his answer, his smile widening. “Asking everyone individually seems like a waste of time. Let me rephrase the question.”
He spread his hands. “If anyone has any objections regarding Heloise and Iyeta, please step forward, and we can have a frank discussion.”
His gaze swept over them, and the nobles quickly averted their eyes, no one meeting his gaze, no one daring to step forward.
“Huh? Why isn’t anyone standing up? Stand up!”
“I swear in the name of the Goddess of Holy Light that I won’t hold any grudges.”
“You all know that I’m a magnanimous person, very forgiving.”
Silence. Still no one moved.
Forgiving, my ass, they thought. Who doesn’t know how petty you are, Hero? Karsus, the Grand Prince, and Saint Son O’Niens are all watching you from above.
“So, it seems that everyone is willing to accept Heloise and Iyeta,” Qin Chu said with a smile, “In that case, I’ll thank you all on their behalf.”
Then he continued, “Actually, I think this is a good thing.”
“One day, when we conquer the Demon Beast territory, we will naturally eliminate those ferocious and ugly creatures. But everyone, those are Snow Women, Blood Elves, and Succubi… Once captured…”
He was just baiting them, but the nobles’ eyes lit up.
Snow Women, Blood Elves, Succubi.
Such beauties, they could hardly be considered Demon Beasts. Any one of them would be a rare treasure among humans, and the fact that they were Demon Beasts made them even more… alluring.
If they captured these beautiful Demon Beasts one day, who would they belong to?
They, as high-ranking nobles, would surely have a chance to… enjoy them, right?
After all, they were men.
Having grown tired of human women, they wouldn’t mind a change of pace. To say they weren’t interested in those beautiful Demon Beasts would be a lie.
And even if someone questioned them, they could simply blame it on the Hero. We’re just following the Hero’s example, what’s wrong with that?
With the Hero’s strength and his rapid progress, conquering the Demon Beast territory seemed only a matter of time. This was a very real possibility.
Stretch even smiled. It seemed he could finally release his pet Succubus.
Was this the benefit the Hero had mentioned?
It seemed… promising.
This Hero, he was alright!
Wadsworth, Augustus, and Saint Monique exchanged glances. They knew that it was impossible to make Qin Chu give up those two Demon Beast women.
This Hero’s methods were far more sophisticated than they had imagined.
…
Inside the Imperial Palace, outside the meeting room, Angelica waited patiently.
Although she was just a maid, thanks to Qin Chu, she had been allowed to attend the banquet, but this meeting was beyond her station.
Anastasia had already taken Heloise and Iyeta back to Qin Chu’s residence, familiarizing them with the Imperial City.
Violet and Ekaterina weren’t interested in such tedious affairs.
Only Angelica remained here, waiting for her master so they could return home together. It was a simple pleasure.
But the wait was long, the meeting seemingly endless, and Angelica, feeling bored, stretched and strolled within the permitted area.
The Imperial Palace was impeccably maintained, its gardens, fountains, and landscaping a feast for the eyes, the air fresh and clean. Even the Holy See couldn’t compare to the luxury of the Imperial Palace.
She unknowingly wandered into the garden, the quiet tranquility broken only by the faint sound of two women talking.
“I heard he’s back.”
“This time, we have to kill him. We can’t let him continue to live in this world.”
Angelica, with her enhanced hearing, recognized them as women, their voices low and conspiratorial.
She frowned slightly and sighed.
Even within the Imperial Palace, schemes and plots were everywhere.
In fact, being close to the center of power only intensified these intrigues.
The Emperor’s suspicion of his sons, the princes’ vying for the throne, the consorts’ competing for favor… all for the sake of power.
Power was intoxicating.
For power, they were cautious, their words carefully chosen, their every step calculated. They planted spies around their rivals, while their own surroundings were filled with the eyes of others.
They lived in a gilded cage, their lives a constant struggle, exhausting yet exhilarating.
She had once lived in such an environment, a loser in their games… But now, it had nothing to do with her. She was just a little maid, serving her master.
A sweet smile appeared on Angelica’s face, and she quietly retreated. Whatever those two women hidden in the bushes were plotting, it had nothing to do with her. She wouldn’t get involved.
But then, she stopped.
“Following the will of the Lord of Pleasure, the Heavenly Continent doesn’t need a Hero!”
Angelica’s scalp tingled.
The Lord of Pleasure?
Wasn’t that the Evil God worshipped by the Blissful Witch Society?
Could it be that there were members of the Blissful Witch Society even within the Imperial Palace?
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