Mysterious, but Naruto

Louis felt that he had figured out the Fool's hidden identity and part of the plan, but this gave rise to a different idea.

Louis glanced at Audrey in front of him again and thought that he might be able to learn from her.

Thinking of this, Louis began to recall, and surprisingly, he came up with a useful technique—the Illusionary Body Technique.

After using this technique, one can release chakra and convert it into "thought waves" to create a special illusion.

The illusion's body movements are completely synchronized with the real body, and real-time voice communication is possible.

The specific propagation distance of this "thought wave" is affected by the chakra invested by the user; the more chakra invested, the farther it can travel.

There is a solution to this problem: a "signal amplifier" can be created to amplify the propagation distance of the "thought wave".

In addition, a "signal receiver" can be made to receive these "waves of thought" in a directional manner, gathering these illusions in one place.

With that in mind, Louis thought he could give it a try.

"You did well. How's your chakra extraction practice going?"

When it came to chakra, Audrey's eyes lit up. Since she started refining it, she had felt that this power was mysterious and powerful.

Chakra is clearly a combination of physical and mental energy, but when it's inside the body, it can actually slowly improve one's physical attributes.

This is a mutually reinforcing process: refining chakra—strengthening physical attributes—can refine even more chakra—strengthening even more physical attributes...

Even though the amount of chakra that could be refined was too small, resulting in very little improvement in her physical attributes, Audrey still felt that even without using miraculous ninjutsu, she would become terrifyingly strong in the future.

"I'm sorry, although I've been training very hard, I can still only refine chakra in a static environment, and I can't use it while refining chakra."

I also told my father to find me a swordsmanship instructor, and I will have rapier and short sword training twice a week.

Louis nodded. He wasn't surprised, considering that Audrey had only been refining chakra for a week.

Given the short time allotted and the fact that they were encountering a completely new system, Louis did not believe that the other party could learn it so quickly.

"There's nothing to apologize for, I just wanted to check on your progress."

Now that you can reliably extract chakra, I'm ready to begin my next move.

What I'm about to say could affect your entire life, so I'm not asking for an immediate answer. You can reply after you've thought it through.

Audrey also put away her bright smile and thanked Louis seriously: "Thank you, Mr. Rokudo. I will think it over carefully."

Louis nodded: "I am prepared to build my own power in this world."

This force needs to serve me, to collect wealth and resources, and to carry out various tasks, whether simple or difficult.

In return, I will provide protection for the entire force until... I fall into slumber once more.

I can tell you definitively that my slumber is inevitable, and that time will be at least three hundred years from now, and at most a thousand years from now.

Once I fall into slumber, this force will almost cease to exist, and may even face disaster.

In other words, it is almost impossible for me to develop my family into a super family that has lasted for thousands of years by relying on my calligraphy.

Now, I am ready to recruit you as a member of this force, or even as one of its founding members. Are you willing to join?

If you choose to join, you will receive my guidance. I will teach you basic ninjutsu, which you can even pass on to your family.

Furthermore, everyone who joins the faction can exchange their contributions for corresponding ninjutsu, knowledge, or even bloodline limits from me.

Oh right, you still don't know what a bloodline limit is, do you? Look into my eyes.

This is called the White Eye, which initially grants a 360° field of vision, allowing you to see everything within a 1-kilometer radius—the sky, the ground, the water, and even inside a room.

That's right, it can even see through things like trees, buildings, human bodies, and skeletons. As long as you want, you can see through them by adjusting your viewing distance.

Furthermore, through forging and other means, its original attributes can be further enhanced, and new abilities can be gained.

As for bloodline limits, there are Byakugan, Sharingan, Red Eyes, Blood Dragon Eyes, Twin Demon Attacks, Corpse Bone Pulse, Five Senses Control, Petrification Hand, Dragon Life Reincarnation, Scorching Release, Swift Release, Lava Release, and so on.

I will list them all out then, and as long as your contribution and level are sufficient, you can redeem them.

However, they will be very, very expensive, far more expensive than you can imagine. Do you know why?

Audrey couldn't help but clench her fists, feeling like she might have guessed something: "Why is that?"

"The reason lies in their names; they all possess bloodline limits, which can be inherited through bloodlines."

While it's not 100% hereditary, anyone of the exchanger's bloodline has the potential to inherit this bloodline limit.

Audrey's breathing became more rapid than before, but Louis's words did not stop there.

"What I mentioned above are the benefits of joining a faction. If you don't want to join, don't worry."

I will still teach you the most basic ninjutsu, but afterwards I will erase all your memories of me.

After all, it's not so safe for me to build up my power base.

This could lead to conflicts with the righteous gods, and your family might even be completely rejected by the Kingdom of Rune, losing all your current status and benefits, and becoming a target for various forces.

Audrey felt her heart almost stop; she had been so excited by Louis's narration, imagining herself as a character in the story.

But Louis's next words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, instantly waking her from her fantasy.

It even reminded her of what the Hanged Man had said at the Fools' Meeting.

"I know, it sank near Sonia Island... I sank it myself."

Now Louis is once again using this blunt approach to expose this bloody reality to her.

But having experienced a shock at the Fool's place before, and being the daughter of a powerful noble family, Audrey wasn't entirely unaware of this.

After mentally preparing herself for the question multiple times, Audrey still asked the question that had been buried deep in her heart.

"Mr. Rokudo, please forgive my disrespect, but I really want to know, are you a god?"

But haven't the gods been unable to walk on the earth since the Fifth Age?

Louis was curious about what Audrey, who had always been so cautious and meticulous in front of him and always adhered to aristocratic etiquette, was going to say.

Hearing that the other party was asking about this matter, he immediately sat up straight, straightening his back which had been slightly hunched, and his whole demeanor became solemn and dignified.

"You're not wrong, I am not a god."

"Yes, when walking on the earth, one is not a god."

Upon hearing the first sentence, Audrey felt slightly relieved, but at the same time, she also felt a deep sense of regret.

But Louis's second sentence reignited the excitement in her heart.

The intense emotional turmoil made her cheeks flush red, and she couldn't utter a word.

"I, I, I..."

Louis waved his hand, gesturing for Audrey, who had suddenly stood up from her chair, to sit down.

"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. Now it's up to you to think about it."

As for the time, let's set it for before 3 PM next Monday.

"Then I'll be going now."

As Louis nodded to her, Audrey suddenly spoke up to stop him.

"Please wait, I, I mean, Mr. Rokudo, I have made up my mind."

Audrey bowed to Louis again, this time bowing even lower.

"I am willing to join your ranks and build the force you desire."

This is a decision I made after careful consideration.

Louis looked at the girl in front of him with some surprise. He had originally thought that she would struggle with herself for several days.

"Are you really sure about this decision, even if it might ultimately implicate your family?"

Audrey took a deep breath, but answered firmly.

"...Yes, if you wish, I will do my best to mobilize the family's resources to contribute to the building and development of our power."

"Okay, get up. I accept your membership."

"Yes, may I ask how I should address you from now on?"

"Just call me Liudao."

Oh, by the way, I now live in the West End and my name is Louis Helmet. Don't get me wrong if you see me outside.

It's almost afternoon tea time. I'll come find you after it's over.

The next moment, Louis returned to his study.

Louis glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost 4 o'clock.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Sir, it's afternoon tea time. Would you like to enjoy it in the study?"

The visitor was his chief male servant.

"Yes, Reed, let it in."

"Yes, sir."

About half a minute later, the study door was pushed open, and Reed himself was seen pushing the dining cart in.

Normally, the chief male servant wouldn't be responsible for pushing the food cart, but because it was for a private area like the study, he personally pushed it in.

The dining car features a three-tiered tea rack and a set of silver tea utensils.

On the top shelf of the tea stand was a sandwich, on the middle shelf was a quarter of a pie, and on the bottom shelf was a small cake decorated with fruit in the center.

The head servant placed the food cart beside Louis, in a position where he could easily reach the food without accidentally bumping into it, and then explained the arrangement to Louis.

"For afternoon tea today, Ms. Yates made beef sandwiches, apple syrup tarts, and fruitcake."

You mentioned you don't usually drink alcohol, so I've prepared black tea as your beverage.

"Okay, you should go and rest too."

"Yes."

Reed's gaze never once swept over the desk; it was either on the dining cart or on Louis. Now, without pausing, he closed the door and left.

Louis looked at the tea rack on the dining cart and reached out to pick up the sandwich on the top shelf.

"Yes, this is much better than the sandwiches I used to buy at the supermarket. The vegetables and meat inside are what you see and what you get, so you don't have to fight with the vendors."

After taking a big bite and finding the taste quite good, Louis suddenly remembered something: he hadn't washed his hands yet when he got back.

Looking at his hand holding the sandwich, Louis finally closed his eyes and finished it in a few bites.

After doing all this, he opened his eyes and casually summoned a small ball of water, then dipped the three fingers that had been holding the sandwich into it to wash them.

Once he felt he was clean, he flicked his fingers in the air.

Louis had said he would go see Audrey after afternoon tea because he had already noticed someone approaching in the hallway outside her room.

Afternoon tea is actually more than just eating something.

It is essentially a small gathering with a lower barrier to entry, higher frequency, and easier organization.

The men often gathered by the window to discuss politics and horse racing, while the women chatted about family and fashion around the tea table.

Because of Audrey's family's status, quite a few people came to visit them to make friends and discuss matters.

For example, during afternoon tea time, unless they were invited to other noble homes, the home would often host more than twenty people, and sometimes as many as forty or fifty.

With so many people, it's impossible for them all to chat idly in one hall; that would be chaotic and undignified.

Therefore, multiple rooms are open at the same time, with tea tables set up in the hall, and servants going around to serve tea.

Although afternoon tea is open to both men and women, unlike dinner parties where a table is divided into left and right sides with only men on one side and only women on the other.

During afternoon tea, men and women can sit together.

At this time, however, the man usually stays for a very short time, only appearing as a courtesy to accompany them, and then he will use "an appointment" as an excuse to go to those gentlemen's clubs.

For someone like Louis, simply eating something in his study was the easiest option.

In other words, he has just moved in and hasn't even gathered all the servants yet; otherwise, he would be seen as aloof and unsociable.

Louis leaned back in his chair, picked up the half-read newspaper from the table with his left hand, and took a sip of tea with his right.

Louis only stretched and sat up again after he had finished all the tea and snacks and drunk the whole pot of tea.

I glanced at the clock; it was already 4:45.

Louis shook his head, knowing that Audrey wouldn't be finished with afternoon tea anytime soon, and immediately flashed into his divine tree space.

A typical afternoon tea for a group usually lasts one to one and a half hours, but a large afternoon tea for more than twenty people can take until around 6 p.m.

After all, the banquet would start at 8 p.m., and the other party needed time to go home and change.