LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 237: Limitation
From the slight pause, it was obvious Bai Shishi was nervous.
Lucian nodded lightly in response.
"You did well."
A bright smile blossomed on Bai Shishi's rugged face, while the other three felt discomfort but did not show it on their faces.
They finally gained an understanding as to why Bai Shishi was so adamant about being the one to capture the Slime by himself.
Lucius slightly shook his head.
'Father is cunning as always.'
On the other hand, Luke cursed his father, 'Bastard.'
But the person who felt the most discomfort was Pei Buhan. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire
'What a shame. I've known Master longer than these three, but I couldn't make a good impression. Yet, in only a few hours, this bandit did what I couldn't.'
Even though they tried to mask their discomfort, it could not escape Lucian's sharp eyes.
Lucian understood the effects of his blood would not be permanent. That was unless he could increase his Mage Rank steadily — or, ideally, exponentially — along with that of his servants.
If one day his servants increased their Mage Rank, and the gap widened between him and them by four Mage Ranks, the effect of his blood would disappear.
For example, Lucian was currently a non-Mage, while his strongest servant — Bai Shishi — was at the Low-Tier Tendon Tempering Realm. If he increased his Mage Rank to the Bone Tempering Realm, Lucian's blood would no longer function.
In other words, that would mean he would no longer be under his absolute control. If that were to happen, his life would end up being far worse than being trapped in a cage.
If that day ever came about when his servants became strong enough to break away from his control, Lucian wanted to have a fail-safe.
Subservience, respect, and admiration could be obtained in many ways, not just through the use of his Primordial Draconic Incubus Bloodline.
So far now, while he held absolute control over their minds and bodies, he wanted to drill actual subservience, respect, and admiration into them. That way, even if he loses control over them, they would remain loyal… even if it was not to the same degree as now.
And to start that procedure, he had to show his gratitude when they accomplished something of worth.
"No." Lucian shook his head. "You all did well."
In an instant, Bai Shishi's radiant smile disappeared.
It was the old carrot and stick approach.
As expected, radiant, smug smiles appeared on Pei Buhan, Lucius, and Luke's faces. Their smiles were even brighter than Bai Shishi's from earlier, almost as if they were trying to gloat.
"This… I -"
"Hmm?" Lucian raised an eyebrow as he turned to Bai Shishi. "Do you have something to say?"
Bai Shishi opened his mouth, but then closed it and shook his head, indicating he had nothing to say.
"It's good that you have nothing to say." Lucian nodded, pleased with Bai Shishi's silence. "Don't think I don't know what you did. Trying to gain my good graces is understandable, but-" Lucian paused, and, all of sudden, his eyes elongated vertically. Simultaneously, his black irises transformed to dark purple, and black tendrils of smoke left his eyes.
A powerful pressure weighed down on Bai Shishi, and before he could register what happened, he found himself kneeling with his forehead touching the ground.
It all happened so fast that Pei Buhan, Lucius, and Luke could not react in time, nor did they know why Bai Shishi was drenched in sweat.
All they could surmise was that it had something to do with their Master's eyes.
"I don't take well to servants trying to one-up each other. Especially, when it concerns my wives!"
Meanwhile, in Bai Shishi's mind, a gigantic pair of Dragon Eyes coldly looked down at him.
'W-wh-what is happening? Why do these eyes look so similar to Master's and why are they in my mind?'
As soon as he had that thought, he found himself back in reality, drenched in cold sweat from head to toe. A disgusting odor wafted into his nose, causing him to gag.
"You reek of moldy socks." Lucian pinched his nose in disgust as he deactivated his Dragon's Gaze. "Go take a shower and make sure you use soap. Don't come back until that odor is gone."
"Y-yes, Master." Bai Shishi unconsciously muttered, but he did not dare take a single glance at his Master. What he had seen was still too fresh in his mind.
After he left, Lucian said, "Lucius, open the cage."
Lucius did not question his Master, rather he moved from his kneeling posture and channeled his Mana into the cage.
With an audible click, the Runic Symbols lost their glow, and the white net entrapping the Ever-Changing Phantom Slime slowly dissipated.
Yet, even with its restraint having vanished, the Slime in question, as if it was still imprisoned, remained within the cage. Its body continued to tremble in fright.
"You three absorb Mana and become stronger." After saying that, Lucian entered his room.
"Only if you're stronger will you be useful to me." Lucian's muffled voice came from behind the closed door.
The three of them glanced at each other. No further words were needed as they spread out, taking their places around the room.
Crossing their legs on the carpeted floor, they closed their eyes, focused their minds, and allowed the Mana from the surrounding air to surge towards them. With each passing second, the Mana continued to enter through their pores before converging into their Mana Veins and increasing their Mana Pool.
Meanwhile, after locking his room's door and closing the blinds, Lucian sat down in a chair. He then widened his legs before placing the cage on his hips.
Reaching into the cage, Lucian grabbed the Slime and slowly pulled it out. After placing the cage to the side, he turned his head in the direction of the Nine-Tailed Fox, who was none other than the System.
[System, start the transfer.]
In response, the System raised its front paw and lightly massaged its forehead.
[You would rather use an Ever-Changing Phantom Slime than a female from a Humanoid Race. You… are truly something else.]