I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 761 Upon hearing this, Bilodis was shocked. (Please subscribe and vote!)
Seratis knew perfectly well that if her mother could truly gain the favor of that ancient powerful being, even if it was just a brief, fleeting affair, their status within the family would undergo a qualitative leap!

As for his dying words? They are all "understandable"!

After all, she was doing this to give her mother a better life, wasn't she?
Faced with absolute interests and power, some vows seem so pale.

Afterwards, Li Chen learned from Ferrado that there was such a "little strategist" behind the scenes who was devising plans.

He not only didn't dislike it, but found it quite amusing.

He didn't dislike this kind of behavior that was purposeful yet cleverly ingratiating.

So he summoned Seratis.

Seratis arrived at the temple and knelt respectfully before Li Chen, her posture humble, yet her eyes clear and sincere.

She did not conceal her intentions, but directly expressed her awe and worship for Li Chen, and solemnly swore: "Seratis is willing to serve Your Majesty with her mother, even unto death! She will obey Your Majesty's commands without any disloyalty! She only asks to follow in Your Majesty's footsteps and witness supreme glory!"

Li Chen looked down at the clever and astute dark elf girl below and nodded in satisfaction.

Such a "smart person" might be easier to use than her mother.

As expected, in the following days, Seratis, with her "cleverness" and initiative to surrender, received some extra guidance from Li Chen and even received many rewards that made others envious.

This immediately made Sylph, who had always considered herself Li Chen's "only confidante," feel a strong sense of crisis.

She returned to her residence dejectedly and told her mother, Bilodis, about her worries.

Upon hearing this, Bilodis exclaimed, "This is outrageous!"

In order to solidify her daughter's position and for their future wealth and prosperity, she immediately showed an even more daring spirit than Ferrado.

If Ferrado was merely trying to play the role of a dutiful maid, then Bilodis was practically treating herself as a slave girl with no dignity and at everyone's beck and call.

Her clothing became increasingly daring and revealing, and her posture while serving was extremely humble, all she wanted was to firmly grasp Li Chen's favor.

The two mothers began a silent, in-depth competition for their respective daughters, while Li Chen, naturally, reaped the benefits.

After all, Li Chen had nothing to do these past few days, so he spent all his time in intense, deep conversations with the two of them, pushing them to their limits.

Meanwhile, a quiet competition also began between Sylph and Seratis, the two "professional disciples".

They all knew that Li Chen didn't keep useless people under his command; whoever demonstrated greater value would receive more guidance and resources.

Sylph knew Li Chen's "hobbies" well, and she remembered that there was another beautiful mature woman in the family, Undine.

This Lady Undine was once one of the most beautiful women in Silvershine City, and the years have only added to her charm.

She possesses stunningly white skin, so delicate it resembles the finest mutton fat jade, making one want to gently take a bite.

As a descendant of the Light Elves, she possessed a holy aura, yet her figure was perfectly voluptuous, with high breasts and a slender waist, creating a breathtakingly beautiful silhouette.

However, in stark contrast to her almost alluring appearance was her unwavering and resolute character.

She and her husband Salorin were a famously loving couple, a model family example. They had never had any scandals during their many years of marriage, and she was devoted to her husband alone. They also had a lovely daughter. While she appeared gentle and charming on the outside, she was, at heart, an unyielding woman who valued chastity above all else.

To expect her to willingly serve Li Chen is nothing short of a pipe dream; she would absolutely prove her innocence with her death.

Sylph observed secretly for a few days and found that Undine's husband, Salorin, was also an honest and upright man, with no bad habits or extramarital affairs, and the couple had a very deep affection for each other.

This put her in a very difficult position; the direct bribery methods she used to persuade Aunt Ferrado simply wouldn't work on Undine.

Just as Sylph was racking her brains for a solution at home, her mother, Bilodis, returned after serving Li Chen and sighed unintentionally, "Alas, in this world, the more you cherish something, the more you fear losing it. Sometimes people are willing to do anything to protect what they value."

These words were like a flash of lightning in the darkness, instantly waking Sylph!

Yes! Undine wouldn't offer herself willingly, but we can force her to come!

Her weakness is her loving husband and perfect family.

A plan quickly took shape in Sylph's mind.

She began to try to get close to Undine's husband, Salorin, a kind, honest, and loyal middle-aged half-elf.

Salomon was very respectful to Sylph, the newly promoted "favorite of His Majesty." In one conversation, he sincerely said, "Miss Sylph, is there any task I can do for His Majesty? Even the most arduous work is acceptable!"

Sylph was secretly delighted; her chance had come!

She remained outwardly calm, but the next day she "recommended" Salorin to Li Chen, saying that he was reliable and dependable.

After learning about Sylph's plan, Li Chen naturally cooperated and casually assigned her a task that seemed simple but actually required careful verification.

Go to the family storehouse and the medicinal fields outside the city to inventory and collect several specific, not-too-rare medicinal herbs.

The task itself wasn't difficult; the key lay in Sylph's covert manipulation.

She knew that Salorin had a habit that wasn't exactly a bad thing: he occasionally liked to have a few drinks, but he had a very low alcohol tolerance.

She bribed a low-ranking deacon in charge of handing over the medicinal herbs to Salorin, so that he would take Salorin out for drinks that night under the pretext of "celebrating the successful completion of the mission," when Salorin, who was relieved of a great weight on his heart, felt a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Sure enough, the honest and simple Salorin couldn't refuse, and after a few drinks, he was quite tipsy.

Just as he was getting tipsy and preparing to hand over the prepared medicinal herbs the next morning, the bribed deacon took the opportunity to switch several key herbs in his medicine box with inferior substitutes that looked similar but had completely different medicinal properties and were even slightly toxic.

The next day, when Salorin arrived at the temple with a mix of trepidation and anticipation, carrying his medicine chest, and presented the herbs to Li Chen after being informed by Sylph, Li Chen only glanced at them casually before his expression darkened.

He picked up a switched "Moonlight Grass," which was actually a "Phantom Mushroom" with a paralyzing effect.

Li Chen's voice was icy: "What I want is Moonlight Grass that calms the mind and soothes the spirit. How dare you use such filthy stuff to fill the gap? Do you think I'm easy to fool?"

Salorin was instantly terrified, his drunkenness completely vanished, and he fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly and incoherently explaining that he absolutely dared not, and that something must have gone wrong.

(End of this chapter)