Chapter 174: Mr. President [II]

Luke was curious. What changed the president’s opinion of him?

Who would allow someone with the most arbitrary Summoning Theory to marry their destined, powerful daughter?

What made Luke betray the president?

Was it the power of his beast armor? Was it the challenge he had inflicted on Brienne? Or the mythic beasts he resurrects?

The last one was the most likely, suggesting that the president only met with him because of the power he possessed, essentially making him no different from his power-hungry sister.

But Luke might forgive him because their desires for power were different.

One wanted to use him for her own personal needs, the other needed him to strengthen the nation.

"I’m sorry I put you in a predicament," Mr. Trump said. "You see, I have two choices. Either Scarlett and you ascend to the presidency, or... my sister becomes the next president. I believe you’ll be in big trouble if my sister ascends."

"Uh??" Luke spat out the drink he was about to take.

Why was it one of the options? Why let someone like that rule?

Mr. Trump replied that it was because she was Scarlett’s successor—"next in line."

"If Scarlett doesn’t inherit my seat, she will. I cannot deny Brienne that right. If she does inherit the throne, I will have no choice but to release her from her captivity. So you must accept, or prepare yourself for what she will do to you after she ascends the throne."

Luke asked, "So which one do you think the country would prefer? Someone like Brienne, with true blood, an Ancient-grade summoner, and a platinum hunter identity, and extremely rich experience? Or two teenagers, one of whom is me? An exile?"

Mr. Trump understood the meaning behind Luke’s point of view and responded as, "That’s why it’s important to get married early. And after tonight, you can stop calling yourself an exile."

Luke raised an eyebrow and asked: "You mean you can make me legal again?"

"Not as a son of the Kingsley family, but to restore your noble status to prevent any discrimination and privileges you might encounter," the President answered.

THWAP!

He placed a document on the table, looking much younger with a cool smile on his face as he said, "We only need to sign a document with the approval of the Senate, mandating that anyone with a title of lord or higher may marry into the presidency, and also get the signature of the National Chancellor. But I’ve already imprisoned the National Chancellor, so... it’s all settled. It’s finalized. So, how would you define yourself?"

The president’s tone and implications made Luke’s heart start to race.

When Mr. Trump said he was "defining himself," he meant how Luke would refer to himself: what his last name would be, like it used to be when he was Kingsley.

That’s a good question because it shows Luke is breaking free from the family that disowned him and taking his own path.

However...

"No. My name is Luke Kingsley," he said. "I’ll use Kingsley as my last name."

The President was surprised, and he asked, "Are you sure? Because I thought you wouldn’t want anything to do with your family name anymore, given how badly you were treated before."

"Mr. President, your assumption is correct, but I was born Kingsley, their blood flows in my veins, so I won’t deny it. I won’t run away from them, so I’ll keep the Kingsley name and strive to make my Kingsley family the most illustrious Kingsleys. After all, I was the heir to the original Kingsley family," Luke replied as he took a sip of his wine.

The President listened to him and thought he was rational, but most importantly, he was audacious.

So, this young man wanted to control the Kingsley name by making his own Kingsley the pillar of the family over the next decade.

But how would he do it? It would require considerable influence and power.

Mr. Trump said, "You’re right. It’s settled then. You are Luke Kingsley. I will recognize you as Lord Kingsley, and your children will also be named Kingsley. However, my daughter will retain her surname, and your heirs will also retain the Trump name, to maintain the Golden Order’s presidency."

Luke didn’t care too much about it, because as long as he and Scarlett can have children, that is a reward.

The children would be so powerful in the future that the difference in surnames would be irrelevant.

********

The next day, Luke overslept and woke up late in the morning.

Sunlight streamed onto the white walls of his new apartment, its glare harsh, and it was this glare that had awakened him.

Luke thought the events of the previous night were just a dream, but they weren’t.

The clothes he bought were in the living room, unopened.

The smell of wine is on his breath, and his aunt’s cold scratches remain on his wrists.

Luke got out of bed, summoned all his beasts, and asked them to help hang the clothes on the hangers.

He went into the bathroom, brushed his teeth and washed his face, then came out and ordered some breakfast.

Seeing how well his beasts arranged the clothes, Luke thanked them.

As a reward, Luke shared some rations with them, although he had to admit that even with two portions from Ryan Razael his rations were almost gone.

After all, with a mythic beast like the Dark Dragon Lord, this wasn’t unexpected.

Speaking of the Dark Dragon Lord, the Primordial Twin Forms are gradually leaving behind their "Youngling" stage, showing signs of fully transforming into orthodox dragonkins: their tails are as thick as sewer pipes, and their wings must be folded, otherwise they will destroy all buildings.

Luke also felt that Bo and Lan’s hair was too long, so he decided to help them trim it.

Bo wouldn’t let Luke bring the clippers near him, but Lan asked Luke to plait her light blue hair.

Luke grew up with his sisters and an aunt who knew how to plait hair, so he can plait Lan’s hair while she sat happily and quietly.