[WN] I Became the Genius Bastard of a Noble Dark Clan Chapter 66

 Chapter 66

Duke Huam's realm was that of an 8-star Lower demon. Nordian, on the other hand, had reached the pinnacle of 8-star, an Upper demon. It would take three Duke Huams to contend with Nordian. While he was considered weak for the head of a Demonic Noble Family, Duke Huam's name was still known throughout the world. This was due to the events he would orchestrate in the future.

“Are you Christian?”

“Greetings, Duke.”

“Yes, you look quite decent, just as the rumors claimed. No, honestly, I'm impressed. You're already great, but I anticipate even more from your future.”

Duke Huam seemed to grasp Chris's nature with just a glance.

“Of course, thinking about the wrongs you committed against our young princess before, I'd still like to tear you limb from limb.”

“...”

Just what exactly did the previous 'Christian' do to Marisa?

Fortunately, Chris didn't sense any particular hostility from Duke Huam. Duke Huam smiled faintly.

“I'll consider the wrongs you committed against Marisa erased with this incident. Thank you. If it weren't for you, my youngest child would have faced great difficulty. In the worst case, I might have had to do something terrible to that lovely child with my own hands.”

Chris understood the implication. Marisa was the Duke's daughter. Yet, in his previous life, she had her hands cut off, and her eyes and tongue pulled out as punishment. This was because she had been falsely accused of a grave crime, but the punishment was excessively cruel for a duke's daughter. This was due to Duke Huam's weakened authority.

Though Duke Huam is the head, he isn't the strongest in the Extreme Poison Demon Family.

The strongest in the Extreme Poison Demon Family was someone else: Duke Huam's brother. He was another influential figure, sharing power within the Extreme Poison Demon Family. He was the root cause of the future tragedy that would befall the Extreme Poison Demon Family, the ‘Green Suppression Incident’.

...For now, I'll think about this later.

Chris shook his head. Dealing with Duke Huam right in front of him was the priority.

“Why did you call for me?”

“Curious to see my son-in-law's face?”

“...We're already broken off our engagement.”

Duke Huam simply offered an unfathomable smile.

“Actually, I called you because I have something to ask.”

“Please speak.”

“What is your relationship with the Divine Doctor Family?”

“!!”

“You said you obtained the medicines at an auction, but that's not true. Our Extreme Poison Demon Family always keeps an eye on dark auctions. We need to confirm the appearance of important medicinal ingredients. But recently, no medicine from the Divine Doctor Family has been put up for sale. How did you come to know their secret techniques?”

“...”

“Explain yourself.”

A dangerous question. But he was already prepared.

“I have no relation to the Divine Doctor Family whatsoever. I've never even met them.”

“You haven't? Even though you made medicine containing the Divine Doctor Family's profound secrets?”

“That's simply because I'm a genius.”

“...What?”

“I had a few opportunities to see the Divine Doctor Family's medicine before. So, I just tried to imitate and create something similar. Well, it wasn't very difficult.”

Duke Huam was speechless.

“Is that even possible?”

“It was for me, yes. I even roughly understand the blending ratio of Marisa's secret poison, the Blue Flower. Shall I tell you? Mix the sap of the Halhu spider with the Canasia flower, and then add some powdered Paffin Demonic Crystal...”

“...Stop, that's enough.” Duke Huam shook his head. “I can't believe it.”

“Yes, I also think I'm a genius beyond imagination.”

“...”

Chris spoke confidently. “So, are you done with your business?”

Did he really call me just to ask something like this? Chris looked perplexed.

“No, let me get to the point.” Duke Huam looked directly into Chris's eyes. “What do you say to joining the Extreme Poison Demon Family?”

“!!”

“With your talent, you could master the Extreme Poison Demon Family's poison arts to their peak. If you were to come to the Extreme Poison Demon Family, I would pass on the true essence of our family to you.”

Chris looked slightly surprised. The true essence of the family. Only passed down to direct descendants.

“Are you suggesting?”

“That you become a son-in-law. Weren't you and Marisa originally engaged anyway?”

Duke Huam seemed serious.

“May I ask why you're making me this offer?”

Duke Huam replied as if it were obvious. “Because of your talent.”

“...”

“After hearing Marisa's account, I thought. If it's true that you created the Divine Doctor Family's elixirs, then I must secure you. Medicine and poison are closely related fields of study, so your talent will surely flourish brilliantly in the Extreme Poison Demon Family.”

“I am of the Dark Demon Family bloodline.”

“But a persecuted bloodline.”

“...”

“And now that you're becoming a Young Master, you'll be in an even more difficult position. Everyone in the Dark Demon Family will become your enemy. So, I don't think my proposal will be bad for your situation either.”

Chris remained silent. It was an unexpected proposition. However, it wasn't uncommon for bloodlines of Demonic Noble Families to switch allegiances to other families. Even the head butler, Vampire Simon, was the highest pure-blood of the Blood Sword Demon Family, born of the same lineage as the Blood Demon King himself.

However.

Chris let out a slight laugh. “That's a bit much for a joke.”

“...”

“You know I won't accept, don't you?”

His talent in medicine and poison? He was exceptional at everything, not just limited to poison. And as for persecution from his family?

“They'll all be kneeling before me anyway.”

Duke Huam was silent. Chris looked straight at him and spoke.

“Tell me what you truly want from me, Your Grace.”

Duke Huam let out a low chuckle. His expression remained gentle, but unlike before, a heavy weight was now palpable.

“Yes, you're right. I knew you wouldn't accept my offer. But it wasn't just a casual suggestion. I truly do covet your talent.”

“...”

“Let me tell you my real business.” Duke Huam sighed softly, then said something unexpected. “May I ask you a favor?”

“A favor?”

The great Duke Huam asking for a favor?

“Should something happen to our main household, would you be able to take responsibility for my daughter Marisa's safety?”

“!!”

“I'm not asking you to marry her. Just keeping her alive would be enough.”

Chris’s face hardened. “That’s a very sudden request.”

Duke Huam spoke bitterly. “I understand your surprise. Outsiders may not know, but our family's situation isn't good. There might not be such an event, but this is a precaution just in case.”

He knew. What was currently happening in the Extreme Poison Demon Family. And what was going to happen in the future.

This is troublesome.

Chris frowned slightly. When he didn't answer, Duke Huam spoke.

“Of course, I'm not asking for this empty-handed. I'll give you a reward. Take a look.”

It was a crystal orb. Chris, taking it, looked slightly surprised.

“This is?”

“It's a crystal orb containing a manuscript of the Divine Doctor Family's secret medical techniques. It contains the first and middle parts.”

“!!”

The Divine Doctor Family's secret techniques were divided into three parts in total: 15 volumes for the first part, 15 volumes for the middle part, and 15 volumes for the latter part. Chris had only learned the first 15 volumes. Now, he was being given the content of the middle 15 volumes.

“How do you possess something like this?”

“Aren't the Extreme Poison Demon Family and the Divine Doctor Family old adversaries? We bribed internal personnel and smuggled out the manuscript. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the latter part. That can only be learned by the highest direct descendants of the Divine Doctor Family.”

Even so, it was a treasure of immense value, especially to Chris. The middle 15 volumes contained the Divine Doctor Family's unique healing technique, 'Divine Doctor Qi Art'. It was the power that made the Divine Doctor Family members akin to Saints, born with divine power.

Especially if used with the relic I just obtained, the Constellation Emblem, it will exhibit tremendous synergy.

It would undoubtedly become a weapon that would greatly aid his future plans.

But.

“I'm sorry. I cannot accept.”

“!!”

“The reward is insufficient compared to the difficulty of your request.”

He was being sincere. Chris thought to himself. Duke Huam probably wouldn't know. Just how difficult the favor he had just asked was. To save Marisa, he had to prevent the 'catastrophe' that would occur in the Extreme Poison Demon Family.

But it's impossible for me to stop what's going to happen in the Extreme Poison Demon Family with my current ability.

He was a genius, but not omnipotent. The events that would occur in the Extreme Poison Demon Family were irresistible. So, Chris had originally planned to give up on stopping the catastrophe in the Extreme Poison Demon Family and focus only on minimizing the damage.

“...Is that so.” Duke Huam muttered bitterly. “I apologize for bringing it up unnecessarily. Please forget what I just said.”

He was a giant who had reached 8-stars, but for some reason, his shoulders seemed to slump. Chris could feel his sincerity regarding Marisa. He must have been desperate to ask such a difficult favor of Chris, who was as insignificant as a creature compared to him. Was it because of that sincere fatherly love?

For a moment, the voice of his father from his past life flashed through his mind.

—Why are you still alive? You're so persistent.

Chris's eyebrows twitched. Fatherly love was his sore spot. He gave a rather impulsive answer.

“However, if you meet my conditions, I will try.”

“You will?”

“I can't promise, but I will try. However, if the situation doesn't look promising, I will give up.”

Duke Huam nodded repeatedly. “Yes, that's enough. What are the conditions you desire?”

“I have three conditions that I desire.”

“Name anything.”

“First, in the future, please pass on the secret true essence of the Extreme Poison Demon Family to me.”

“!!”

Duke Huam looked surprised. “Are you talking about the true essence passed down only to direct descendants?”

“Yes, that's right.” Chris nodded.

Anyway, if I want to become stronger, I need to master other elemental powers to a high level.

This was due to the nature of Dark Demonic Qi. Dark Demonic Qi governed the darkness of all elements. Therefore, the more diverse elemental powers he mastered, the more synergistic and powerful he could become. More importantly, mastering top-tier poison arts would give him a 'slim' chance of preventing what was to happen in the Extreme Poison Demon Family.

“...Yes, I understand. However, it will be difficult through official channels. Unless you marry Marisa, of course.”

“An unofficial route is sufficient.” Chris replied decisively to Duke Huam's subtle hint.

“Then what are the remaining conditions?”

“Second, please keep our conversation today a secret from Marisa.”

“...I will do so. But is there a reason?”

Chris nodded. There was. A reason why it absolutely had to be kept secret.

“What is the third condition?”

“First, please promise that you will definitely grant it.”

“Yes, I promise. You're making such a big deal out of it, I'm curious what it is.”

Chris looked directly at Duke Huam.

“Do not blame me if I kill individuals of the Extreme Poison Demon Family.”

“...What?”

“Even if some of them are people you cherish.”

Duke Huam's expression hardened. But Chris did not retract his words. The future approaching the Extreme Poison Demon Family. It could not be stopped without shedding much blood.