Chapter 36: I Shall Bestow My Benevolence Upon the Commoners!

As Jenny walked away, she left Lak staring blankly in her wake.

"Darkness," the presence within his heart, scoffed with incredulous sarcasm, "Is this what you called a black lotus in the mud, a bloodthirsty rose? She’s practically overflowing with righteousness!"

Lak took a deep breath, his face twisting into an expression of profound agony. "It’s all that scoundrel Mino’s fault! What a perfect, wicked seed she was, only to be ruined by Mino! He has stifled a young girl’s thirst for blood! He has destroyed a rising star of the dark arts! Mino is entirely to blame!"

After his chest heaved for a moment to calm his nerves, Elvin approached slowly. "Chief Lak, how is the girl, Jenny?"

He walked closer, only to be startled by the expression on Lak’s face, which looked more like a grimace than a smile.

"She’s fine. She couldn't be better..."

"Is that so?" Elvin sighed with relief. "Jenny is just too introverted; she doesn't like to open up to anyone. I was truly worried she might accidentally walk down an extreme path, but since you say so... then everything must be fine. She is one of the troubled children in the training camp I worry about the most," Elvin remarked casually.

Lak’s ears perked up instantly. "There are others?" He lifted his head, spirits revived. "Are there... er, I mean, other peculiar children? Could you take me to see them?" Lak cleared his throat and asked Elvin.

"Of course." Elvin thought for a moment, then reached out and pointed. "Besides Shana and Jenny, whom we just met, there is that one over there—Tank, the second son of Duke Moss."

Following the direction of Elvin’s finger, Lak saw a youth whose attire was noticeably more refined than the others, his face bearing the look of prosperity and a familiarity that struck a chord. Through his magical monocle, Lak could see that Tank was shrouded in the golden aura of wealth; his life had been smooth sailing, devoid of any setbacks.

"He’s the one!" Lak nodded, as if seeing a piece of raw, exquisite jade.

"That duke’s son? What could possibly lead him to fall into darkness?" Darkness asked, confused.

"You don't understand, you just don't understand," Lak pointed at Tank in the distance with a satisfied look. "That is a textbook example of a villain in the making!"

"Huh?"

"Indeed, a duke's second son born with a silver spoon in his mouth, lacking neither wealth nor power, standing at the pinnacle of life—everything going his way. But it is precisely such people who are most easily spoiled. Just imagine: a person eating high-end food and wearing expensive clothes—will he ever treat the lowly, humble commoners as his equals?"

"This..."

Lak’s eyes shimmered with satisfaction. "Long-term status and prestige are enough to make a person self-centered. In his eyes, there is no concept of good or evil; the lives of useless commoners are worth nothing. His moral bottom line is far lower than that of an ordinary person! And don't forget the most important point: his upbringing! He is the second son of Duke Moss, for heaven's sake! That Duke Moss, the man with the worst reputation in the capital—lazy, incompetent, obsessed with women, and utterly foolish!"

"Achoo—!!!!"

In the Duke’s mansion, Moss let out a massive sneeze and grumbled, "That’s the 38th time today. Which bastard is cursing me again? If I find out who it is, I’ll kick his backside with my boot!"

"Fine..." In the training camp, Darkness was finally convinced by Lak and nodded, albeit still half-doubting.

Just then, they saw Tank stop his sword practice and walk toward them. "You must be Chief Lak. I’ve seen you before," Tank greeted him. He didn't have the timid demeanor of a commoner. He turned his head and nodded at Elvin, "Elvin, you’re here too."

*Arrogant! Looking down on everyone! This is how it should be!* Lak clenched his fist in secret, growing increasingly satisfied.

Elvin bowed and then tactfully left; although he was the instructor at the camp, it was clear this was a moment for the Duke’s son to converse with a mage from the Round Tower.

"Tank, you are truly impressive," Lak began. "I have never seen someone with as much potential as you. Even I feel a tremor when I sense what lies hidden within you." He decided to butter him up first, lowering Tank's psychological defenses to ensure his magic would take effect.

Tank’s body jolted suddenly. He lowered his head, his eyebrows twitching slightly. "I don't understand what you mean, Chief Lak?"

"Don't be afraid. I am on your side," Lak said, gently patting Tank on the shoulder, guiding him along. "Born into a ducal family, your thoughts, concepts, and even your outlook on life must differ from ordinary people. You are likely misunderstood, seen as a cold, heartless... monster. Others might scold you, insult you, or hate you. But I won't." Lak wore the expression of someone who had been there before. "I understand you."

Tank’s surprise could no longer be masked. He looked up, his lips trembling. "You... no, could it be that you... share the same philosophy as I do?" He looked at him in disbelief; after all, this was a Great Mage of the Round Tower, one of the most respected figures in the capital!

"Of course I know. After all, your father is that very Duke Moss..."

Tank’s expression shifted. Upon hearing his father's name, he understood that Chief Lak truly understood him!

Lak smiled. He could feel that in this instant, his magic had successfully settled upon Tank, causing him to drop his defenses completely. Regarding this "Dark Hero" he had identified in his heart, Lak nodded with an open expression, attempting to become the boy's spiritual mentor.

"There is no one else here. Sometimes, you can pour it all out—those unconventional, hidden thoughts deep within your heart."

Tank’s breathing grew heavy. He seemed to be thinking of something, his eyes filled with hatred, disgust, and a deep, burning desire for destruction!

*That’s the look! That’s the look!!* Lak was so excited he nearly started clapping on the spot. This gaze, which seemed to hate something to the absolute limit... it reflected just how deep Tank’s obsession ran. He was destined to be a man who would overturn the world!

"Deep in your heart, what is your greatest wish?"

"I... I..." Fire seemed to dance in Tank’s eyes, and the corners of his mouth began to curl, revealing an boundless desire. "I want money... lots and lots of money...!"

*Money? A bit vulgar, but acceptable.* Lak nodded with satisfaction and pressed further: "And then? How will you treat those things you despise, those things you feel shouldn't exist?" In Lak’s eyes, what stood in opposition to the noble Tank were naturally the lowly commoners.

Veins pulsed on Tank’s forehead. His tone grew harsher, and he roared, "I want to build countless schools to ensure all those commoners who can't afford an education get one! I want to establish the largest foundation so that all disabled soldiers and sick patients can receive basic subsidies! I want to purchase vast amounts of grain from the fertile fields and send them, without end, to the borders!"

"Well said! That’s exactly how one exerts influence across the entire continent!"

Lak clapped in approval, looking up at the blue sky with excitement... After a long while, he realized something and lowered his head, feeling as if he were suffering from auditory hallucinations: "Huh?"

Tank continued, his tone passionate and filled with grand ambition.

"—I want to break free from the influence of my original family and become the kingdom’s greatest philanthropist!!!"

*What the hell do you mean, "break free from your original family"?!!!!!!*