Chapter 650 - 59: Heartless and Faithless

Chapter 650: Chapter 59: Heartless and Faithless

He shook his head as he spoke, as if he’d seen this kind of attitude a million times. "The Lady is good to him—taking him as a student, giving him food and drink, letting him live in the President’s room. But will he be grateful? Will he worry about her? Dream on. Otherworld creatures are Otherworld creatures. Deep down, they’re all the same."

Murphy said nothing more, simply standing there and watching the scene unfold with a calm gaze.

Leonardo raised a hand to stop Leonard from continuing. "Leonard, you shouldn’t put it like that. Otherworld creatures are here to help build the Empire, too. Why must you be so harsh?"

He paused, then let out a soft laugh. "You see, they work in the Empire, pay taxes, and even buy houses here. Isn’t that a good thing?"

Leonard’s eyes shifted. He recalled Leonardo’s previous attitude toward Otherworld creatures and instantly understood what he was getting at.

He grinned, a caustic edge to his smile. "Buy houses? Young Master, you’re quite the advocate for them. With their pitiful income, what kind of house could they possibly afford in the Empire? They’re just a pack of refugees. They’re lucky if they can find a shack to live in, and you’re talking about buying houses?"

"Look at them, trying to survive on those pathetic wages. All this talk about building the Empire... they’re just here to scrounge for a living."

Leonardo listened, and then he laughed. "Refugees? Now that’s an interesting term."

He leaned against the window, his fingers tapping lightly on the sill. "But at least they work and pay their taxes. You could say they’ve done their part for the Empire and gained some legal status. So, their children... they should be considered Imperial People, shouldn’t they?"

The moment he said that, Leonard shot back, "Impossible! Young Master, that’s absolutely impossible. Otherworld creatures are Otherworld creatures. Their children will still have the blood of the Otherworld flowing in their veins. So what if they’re born in the Empire, raised in the Empire, and learn Imperial knowledge? If the root is crooked, the seedling can’t grow straight."

He paused.

"Think about it, Young Master. Why did these people come to the Empire? Isn’t it because they couldn’t survive back in their own worlds? What good can come from people from places like that? They’re fated to be laborers, servants, and inferiors to Imperial People. If they were really allowed to become Imperial citizens, it would be chaos! Wouldn’t the very order of the Empire be overturned?"

Spittle flew as Leonard spoke, growing more agitated with every word, as if he were gravely concerned for the Empire’s future.

He stole a glance at Leonardo. Seeing the faint smile still playing on the Young Master’s lips and no sign that he would be stopped, Leonard grew even bolder.

"Young Master, am I not right? Our ancestors, the Imperial People, toiled on this land for generations to build the nation we have today. These Otherworld creatures have sacrificed nothing. What right do they have to show up and demand a piece of the pie? If they want to become Imperial citizens, they have to prove they’re worthy first. Work for twenty years? Thirty? Even getting a permanent residency permit is letting them off too easy."

As he spoke, his gaze landed on Murphy, a contemptuous smirk twisting his lips. "An Otherworld creature like this... worthy of living in the President’s room? Worthy of consuming the Empire’s Dimensional Energy?"

Leonardo chuckled. "Leonard, your words are... a bit too blunt."

He shook his head, though his tone held no reproach. "But you’re not wrong. The laws of the Empire were established by our ancestors; they can’t be changed on a whim. If an Otherworld creature wants to become Cheris’s student, he should indeed be thoroughly vetted."

He looked at Murphy, a knowing smile in his emerald eyes. "You see? Even a subordinate of mine understands this so clearly. What about you? What are your thoughts on the matter, as an Otherworld creature?"

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.

Leonard stared at Murphy like a viper, a triumphant smirk plastered on his face.

Sebastian remained by the door, his eyes downcast, as if turning a deaf ear to the entire exchange.

Leonardo leaned against the window, his slender fingers tapping lightly on the sill, waiting for his answer.

Murphy said, "I have no opinion."

The contempt on Leonard’s lips deepened. Just as he was about to speak, Murphy continued, "It was Lady Douglas’s decision to take me as her student. If she were against it, I naturally would not be her student. But as she has not voiced any opposition, I am." ℯℯ𝑙.

His voice was calm as his gaze swept past Leonard’s face to rest on Leonardo. "Lady Douglas’s decisions are not for us to interfere with."

Leonardo’s tapping fingers stilled.

Leonard’s face changed. He took a step forward, his voice suddenly sharp. "What’s that supposed to mean? Are you implying we’re questioning the Lady’s decision? You, an Otherworld creature, dare to sow discord here—"

"Leonard."

Leonardo’s voice was soft, but it cut Leonard off instantly.

He looked at Murphy.

"Are you done?"

Murphy didn’t say anything.

Leonardo chuckled again. "I understand your meaning. You’re Cheris’s student. It was her decision, and it’s not our place to say otherwise."

"A very sound argument. Airtight, in fact. No wonder Cheris took you as her student."

Murphy did not reply.

Leonardo looked at Leonard, his tone tinged with something like resignation. "Did you hear that, Leonard? He’s right. Who Cheris accepts as a student is her decision. I, as her clan brother, really shouldn’t say much more on the matter."

Leonard froze for a second before quickly forcing a smile. "You’re right, Young Master. You’re absolutely right. I wasn’t thinking things through. The Lady’s decision is, of course, her own..."

"However—"

Leonardo’s tone suddenly shifted. "Cheris is Cheris, but the Society of Truth is the Society of Truth. Her taking you as a student is her own affair. But for you to be here, in the Society of Truth’s headquarters, consuming the Society’s Dimensional Energy... that is no longer her affair alone."

His voice was quiet. "Nine days. Consuming energy at ten times the normal rate. I have to ask, was that Cheris’s instruction, or your own initiative?"

The air in the room seemed to drop another few degrees.

Leonard’s eyes were glued to Murphy, the triumphant smirk on his face nearly impossible to contain.

Sebastian finally lifted his head. He looked at Murphy, his lips parting slightly, but he said nothing.

Murphy stood in the center of the room, his gaze calm as he looked at Leonardo.

Leonardo said coolly, "What’s wrong? Is the question that difficult to answer?"

Murphy simply said, "Before the President left, she told me one thing."

Leonardo raised an eyebrow. "And what was that?"

Murphy replied, "’Help yourself to the Dimensional Energy here at home. Don’t hold back.’"

Leonard immediately jumped in, sneering, "’Help yourself?’ That’s just a pleasantry, don’t you understand? The President tells you not to hold back, so you really don’t hold back? You Otherworld creatures are all the same, you don’t even understand basic social graces—"

"Leonard," Leonardo’s voice cut in again.

This time, however, Leonard didn’t shut his mouth. He pointed at Murphy, his voice laced with urgency. "Young Master, did you hear that? What kind of answer is that? The President tells him not to hold back, so he actually goes and consumes it at ten times the normal rate? He’s clearly just playing dumb—"

"He is Cheris’s student, after all," Leonardo said, his tone as light as if he were discussing some trivial matter.

Leonard said, his voice firm, "Young Master, he is still an Otherworld creature."

Leonardo looked at him, nodded, and murmured thoughtfully, "I see..."

His gaze shifted from Leonard to Murphy, then to the sofa in the center of the room, and finally rested on the window Murphy had pushed open.

Outside, the lights and shadows of Zlesko City stretched out under the morning sun. Buildings of all sizes stood in silence, like an audience watching a play.

"Oh, that’s right."

His voice was unhurried as he turned to look at Murphy.

"It seems Cheris really didn’t leave any protective measures in this room after all."

He paused, then said as if it were the most natural thing in the world:

"So, kneel."