Monster Girl Development Master.

Only two people dared to look those eyes directly in the eye.

One is Baro's son with his ex-wife, Gloria Anser, 38 years old, who has awakened the bloodline of the Earth Titan and has already completed three awakenings at the beginning of the year. He is considered to be the unappointed crown prince and the next King of Fallen Star.

One is Baloo's eldest daughter with his current wife, Serafina Anser, 24 years old. She has awakened the red dragon bloodline from her mother and also completed three awakenings at the beginning of the year. She is also considered an excellent crown princess and the next Queen of Fallen Stars.

Naturally, the two did not have a good relationship.

However, they didn't openly display this in front of their father, Baroo. The Titan King wasn't weak enough to tolerate the cubs' provocations. Although he had begun to select and test the two little ones in preparation for his own demise, it didn't mean they could start fighting over them.

Baro blinked, pulling his thoughts back, and said in a low voice, "You all probably know about Cross's situation, so let's hear your thoughts."

The eldest prince, Grean, interrupted Barroo and answered first: "Father, I think we should find out the truth of the matter first. Given Earl Cross's character, it is impossible for him to have his bloodline mutated. And even if he really did have a mutated bloodline, his combat power would be infinitely close to that of a level four bloodline. How could he possibly lose to his son, not to mention that that Johnson Leon has only been awakened for four months."

Baro squeezed out a noncommittal "Hmm?" through his nose.

Grean continued, as was his habit, "I suggest summoning Johnson Leon and other involved parties to the capital so that he can personally explain the facts before deciding on the specific course of action. At the same time, we can send people from the four major churches of War, Revenge, Healing, and Commerce to Leon Territory to conduct an investigation. Only by operating on both fronts can we ensure that no problems arise."

"Finished?" Barroo asked calmly, his gaze shifting to Serafina Anser. "And you, do you agree with Grean's method?"

With fiery red hair and a tall figure, the eldest daughter of the royal family glanced at her elder brother with a cold expression and a stiff tone, offering a completely different suggestion: "I think we should immediately send a letter recognizing Johnson Leon's status as a count and allow him to continue the mission of Count Cross!"

"..." Baro waited for a moment, but still heard nothing more. His thick eyebrows twitched slightly: "That's it?"

Serafina nodded: "That's all."

Baro pressed his temples, looking troubled, then waved his hand and said, "Why don't you all discuss this? Or does anyone else have any other suggestions?"

Thus, the nobles, who were subtly divided behind the two "crown princes," began a fierce debate. Interestingly, "traitors" emerged in both camps. Some of Prince Grean's supporters directly acknowledged Johnson, while others, including Queen Serafina's eldest daughter, supported summoning Johnson to investigate the truth behind Cross's death.

However, a closer look at their words reveals that there are actually two camps, but instead of the eldest prince and the queen, they are the "war faction" and the "peace faction."

Leon Territory is a crucial link in the war against the White City Federation, and also the starting point for the battle between Grean and Serafina. If Zhuang Sen is summoned to the capital for investigation at this juncture, not to mention how long the process would take and whether any unforeseen complications might arise, this act alone would inevitably displease Zhuang Sen Leon. It could very well lead to this madman who murdered his brother and father turning against him. If he were to betray the kingdom at a critical moment, it could very well result in the destruction of the two outstanding crown princes of the Fallen Star Kingdom along with tens of thousands of troops.

Perhaps Zhuang Sen wouldn't actually do that, perhaps he is very patriotic, but the question is, would the people present dare to believe him? Would they believe that a madman who murdered his brother and father was actually a tolerant and kind person who would forgive offenses?

Therefore, if Zhuang Sen is summoned, it will inevitably lead to changes in the original war plan, or even its cancellation. Those who hope to do so are naturally the peace faction.

The other option is obvious: to maintain the original plan and allow Zhuang Sen to continue doing what he was supposed to do in the plan by recognizing his title—which is what the pro-war faction expects.

However, just like in other courts, the pro-war and pro-peace factions argued for a long time, and even a few small-scale brawls broke out. Neither side was convinced. They were just wearing down the patience of the person who could actually make the decision and trying to show their own will.

Baroo slammed his hand on the armrest of the throne: "Quiet!"

The court fell silent. The nobles pulled their hands out of each other's mouths or crotches, picked up their fallen hats, badges, and gloves, and returned to their places with bruised faces. The atmosphere returned to tranquility.

Baro then spoke up, but instead of giving a decision, he raised a new question: "With Cross dead, the position of Minister of Intelligence is now vacant. Do you have any recommendations?"

Everyone looked at each other, somewhat tempted, while Grian and Seraphim remained silent as statues, not uttering a word. This made a red-haired girl standing behind Seraphim extremely anxious, almost jumping up, especially when she saw an old man behind Grian about to speak. She gritted her teeth and jumped out first: "Father! I think we should let Johnson Leon take over! It's tradition!"

The old man, who had been preempted, became anxious and immediately retorted, "Young Princess, are you going to let a patricide madman take over the high position of Minister of Intelligence of the Kingdom? Moreover, he is of holy blood. Can he do a good job?"

Serafina's younger sister, Celine Anser, suddenly changed her tune, even becoming quite fierce as she glared at Old Deng, who was refuting her: "He was able to kill that old raven Kloss and build a faction right under his nose. Doesn't he have strong intelligence capabilities? Could you do that?"

"I……"

"You son of a bitch!"

Celine launched into a tirade without any restraint, hands on her hips, fearless of anyone. The people of Grean didn't want to offend this little princess, who had actually done things like blocking a minister's door and yelling at him before. She had no princess demeanor or baggage whatsoever. After all, she was just an ordinary person who hadn't awakened her bloodline, so her arrogance wouldn't provoke hostility from her other royal brothers and sisters. They were even happy to see their cute little sister's energy.

However, Grean was not in a good mood today. Seeing his men give up, he had no choice but to take matters into his own hands. But before he could speak, Barroo suddenly said, "Alright, do as you say. Celine, you take the documents to him personally to confer the title."

"Ah I?"

Celine froze, pointing at herself with her mouth slightly agape in surprise.

Baro nodded, then looked at Grean and said impartially, "As for you, Grean, aren't you quite close to the Church of War? Go and purchase some plate armor for the Star Guardians."

Grean shut his mouth and lowered his head: "Yes, Father."

The others were equally silent. Plate armor, this novel item, had already appeared in the capital and quickly become popular, partly because of its excellent performance and partly because it hadn't been monopolized by the Church of War. The nobles who were involved in this courtly debate naturally couldn't miss such important information, so they all knew that the plate armor came from the territory of Leon, from Zhuangsen Leon.

The crowd seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to. For a moment, only the sound of breathing filled the magnificent hall. But soon, as Baroo spoke, the atmosphere changed again: "By the way, everyone, does anyone know what the Bloodline Order is?"

The author says:

Author's Note: Happy Dragon Boat Festival~~ I've started writing Volume 2, and there will be a big surprise in it. I wonder if any of you can guess what it is. Finally, please vote for me! I'm about to be pushed down from tenth place (っ°Д °;)っ

Chapter 126: The Order, the Grand Duke

Black Swamp, the most desolate territory in the Fallen Star Kingdom, is covered by swamps and forests, which make up more than 70% of the land. Crocodiles, venomous snakes and other ferocious reptiles can be seen everywhere, as well as many other species. Apart from the ancient swamp dwellers, the only people living here are exiles, fugitive criminals, and a small number of adventurers and gold prospectors who come for the rare materials in the swamp. In short, it is a place that can be described as lawless.

This piece of land, though not small in size, is almost unusable and should theoretically belong to some poor wretches. However, its lord is actually the only duke of the Falling Star Kingdom—"Mud Feet" Borodi King Starr.

Of course, as a duke, Borodi King Starr would not only have this one territory. The entire Duchy of Starr consists of three territories: in addition to the Black Swamp, there is the Starr family's ancestral home, the [Mountain Territory], and the [Golden Lion Territory], the most prosperous financial base of the entire duchy. The three territories combined not only have an area far exceeding that of an ordinary duchy, but also have a very solid economic and political foundation. Moreover, even a rotten place like the Black Swamp can attract bloodlines that want to become nobles.

It could be said that the Duchy of Star was a state within a state of the Fallen Star Kingdom. Borodi King Star's power and prestige were no less than those of Baro King Anser, and in fact, his prestige even surpassed that of the king in the surrounding territories. And there were, of course, reasons for this.

Before Baroo King Anser became the King of Fallen Stars, the Fallen Star Kingdom was ruled by the Starr Dynasty. However, none of the Starr of Baroo's generation inherited the blood of the Titans, and none even inherited the fifth-level bloodline. Therefore, the royal power fell into the hands of the Anser family.

However, at that time, the Anser family had two Titans. Ultimately, Barroo was able to ascend the throne because of Borodi's full support. As one of the few members of the Starr family with a level four bloodline, Borodi supported Barroo and even married his sister to Barroo, which enabled Barroo to defeat his opponent and become king.

After that, Baroo did not treat his benefactor unfairly. He not only granted Borodi the title of Duke, but also granted him the Golden Lion Territory, where the largest gold mine in the Falling Star Kingdom was located, thus establishing the stable position and prestige of the Duchy of Star.

If things had continued this way, it might have become a beautiful story of harmonious relations between ruler and subject, and brothers working together. Unfortunately, reality doesn't allow for "what ifs."

With the death of Mary of the Starr family, Baroque then made Lena of the Morgan family his queen. A subtle rift emerged between the two brothers who had once worked together, separating the king from the grand duke.

……

Duke Borodi rubbed his eyes, refocusing his thoughts on the letter in front of him. In the prime of his life, he quickly finished reading it, then frowned slightly and looked at the old man sitting opposite him: "Brad, do you believe that little bastard's words?"

The old man named Brad wore a long red robe with intricate patterns that possessed a strange beauty, but looking at it for too long could make one feel extremely dizzy. He didn't wear a hood, and his entire head was bald, like a hard-boiled egg. Coupled with his wrinkled face and a smile that seemed kind but was actually increasingly repulsive, he was a complete freak.

"That's why we need to go and confirm it, Your Grace. If it's true, whether it's the Chimera bloodline or the bloodline technology that allows for three awakenings in four months, then your goal can be easily achieved, right? And even if all of these are false, it would still be a good thing to be able to cooperate with the new Earl Leon, the Kingdom's Minister of Intelligence, wouldn't it?"

The old man's casual remarks revealed something extraordinary: the letter in Duke Borodi's hand was related to Zhuang Sen, and judging from the content, it seemed to be the same letter Zhuang Sen had sent to the Bloodline Order.

In other words, both Brad and Duke Bologna are connected to the Bloodline Order.

Considering the fact that the Bloodline Cult colluded with Kross, a terrifying conclusion seems to be possible. If this were to leak out, the entire Fallen Star Kingdom would undergo a massive upheaval.

Unfortunately, this matter cannot be spread to anyone for the time being; the Black Swamp has swallowed too many secrets.

Duke Borodi put down the secret letter signed by Lizad and picked up his wine glass: "Alright, you are more familiar with matters of bloodline, but why are you coming to me when you are dealing with that kid?"

Brad also picked up his cup. His arms, beneath his red robe, were thin and withered, even showing signs of age spots. He trembled slightly as he held the cup, looking like a pitiful old man, weak and frail. He bowed respectfully to Duke Borodi: "For safety and to act discreetly, we wish to travel to the territory of Leon in Your Excellency's name. This will prevent that brat from killing and torturing us, and also avoid having too many of us on the road, which could attract unnecessary attention and lead to unforeseen events."

The events in Leon Territory greatly intrigued the Bloodline Cult. Kross's "success" alone was enough to provoke their serious study, not to mention the even more enigmatic Zhuang Sen. However, such research couldn't be undertaken empty-handed; they needed specialized, even unique, equipment, and experienced researchers. Naturally, these two elements required sufficient defensive support, which would make the size and quality of the team conspicuous. The sudden appearance of a group of bloodline members would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention.

Therefore, a plausible brand is needed, and the best one is naturally Duke Borodi's. It's perfectly normal for Duke Borodi to field such a team; it wouldn't seem out of place. Besides, no one would be foolish enough to try and poach his members. Even if they did, they wouldn't succeed, and no one would dare to retaliate. Even that madman Zhuang Sen, no matter how crazy he is, wouldn't challenge a duke in reality, so he naturally wouldn't dare to mess around with the Bloodline Order.

Of course, this is all predicated on the Grand Mission not doing anything excessive or giving Zhuang Sen any leverage; otherwise, that would be a different story. But it's still better than sneaking over and being caught on the spot, thrown into jail, and tortured.

Duke Bologna pondered for a moment, then finally asked a question: "On what grounds should we send someone over?"

Brad smiled: "It is Clos Leon who is loyal to the King, not Johnson Leon. Can't a duke bestow a title upon him before he takes his oath?"

The legendary aspect of the feudal system is that a nobleman doesn't necessarily have only one lord. Just because I'm a baron in France doesn't mean I can't be an earl in England. Not to mention that Johnson hasn't even sworn an oath to the king, and a duke can naturally grant an earldom, although that would inevitably cause trouble for the Land of Leon as a royal domain—but so what? There's plenty of land in the Black Marsh.

"That's settled then. You arrange the manpower." Duke Bologna drank the bright red liquid in his clear goblet in one gulp and closed his eyes to savor the sensation.

Brad stood up, bowed, and left the room.

Chapter 127: The Unbridled Undercurrent

Leon Territory, Glorious Manor.

While undercurrents surged within the Fallen Star Kingdom, the territory of Leon was far from tranquil. As mentioned before, with Kross having taken away a large number of nobles, the entire territory of Leon was now in chaos. Even though Johnson had issued an order prohibiting civil war, it was clear that, faced with enormous profits, many nobles could not contain their confident excitement, their hands trembling—they could always split the spoils with the Earl!

To put it bluntly, Zhuang Sen's prestige wasn't enough to control the greed in these people's hearts, and he couldn't make them obey his orders. Of course, they feared the power Zhuang Sen displayed, but at the same time, they also thought that no matter how strong Zhuang Sen was, could he really kill them, these noble vassals?

One or two might be possible, but all of them? That's impossible! Besides, they didn't object to Zhuang Sen becoming a count. It's not like he doesn't pay taxes or attack his neighbors to expand his territory. It's just a traditional practice among nobles. Look, Zhuang Sen didn't actually do anything, did he?

The more this happened, the bolder these nobles became. Although they were not as bold as Zhuang Sen, many nobles lost their territories, but not many died. After all, it wasn't a war between two countries. The methods they used for annexation were more like old men marrying widows, mature women marrying young boys, and signing permanent security agreements. Of course, small-scale battles were inevitable before these things happened, but a group of first- and second-level bloodlines could only destroy a few forests or a few wooden bridges at most, which wasn't a big problem.

Zhuang Sen had no interest in dealing with it. Otherwise, how would he have an excuse to eliminate all those who weren't absolutely loyal and replace them with his own people?

"But brother, if you kill them all, where will you find so many people to replace them?"

Anjie knelt in front of Zhuang Sen, looking up at him.

"You'll see later. Okay, stop talking, it's making my teeth chatter."

Zhuang Sen pressed down on Anjie's restless little head with one hand and picked up the newly delivered letter with the other. It was an urgent letter from the capital, recounting the king's judgment.

"Arriving in two days? That's surprisingly decisive. Is it because of the Bloodline Cult, or because of the war?"

After reading the letter, Zhuang Sen paused briefly at the signature "Cerine Anser" before tossing down the flimsy letter and carrying Ange out.

……

Two days later, at Leon Manor.

Although the banquet hall was not yet fully renovated, it did not diminish the lively atmosphere of Leon Manor today. After all, Zhuang Sen had sent out invitations two days in advance and specifically mentioned that a noble princess would be coming. As a result, people from all over Leon territory, whether qualified or not, flocked to Leon Manor. However, only those who were invited were allowed to enter the manor and wait for the princess's arrival. Those who were not qualified could only watch from outside Leon Manor, separated by a human wall of guards.

Johnsen sat on the Earl's throne, with Hanna holding Nia on his right. Miss Mira, disguised as a little bat, hid under his clothes. Behind them stood the tall Dantalian, who, like a holy goddess statue, accentuated Johnsen's petite stature. Lady Lia sat on another chair to his left, with Lydia standing behind her. Only poor little Angela had no seat and had to share a table with the other sons of Leon.

Although consanguineous marriages are not uncommon among noble bloodlines, they are not topics that can be discussed casually. Therefore, in such formal occasions, Ange should not be too intimate with Zhuang Sen—for this reason, Zhuang Sen had to feed the little guy thoroughly.

Below that are the various nobles belonging to the territory of Leon, including one viscount, eight barons, and knights, not to mention the titles. Their actual territorial area, military strength, and level of armament are all unknown and cannot be determined until they are confirmed.

In addition, there are some non-granted nobles, most of whom are so-called honorary nobles. These can be ignored, but there are a few figures who cannot be ignored, such as:

Shado Leon, a distant uncle of Johnson, is the current Grand Master of the Shadow Raven Knights. He possesses the Shadow Raven bloodline and has awakened three times. After the Minister of Military Affairs "unfortunately passed away," he now commands the three thousand standing troops of Leon Territory, which originally belonged to Earl Cross. In addition, there are the one hundred Shadow Raven Knights and their squires who were already under his command, making it a large and elite army.

James Leon, also one of Zhuang Sen's uncles, is the Minister of Internal Affairs of Leon Territory. When Cross is not in the territory, he is responsible for handling most affairs and can be considered the chief steward of Leon Territory. Although he is only a first-level bloodline user, the secrets and data he possesses are very important, and he also has quite a few "friends".

Besides these two most troublesome typical cases, there are other sensitive roles such as the official in charge of issuing warnings, the official in charge of archives, and the Grand Secretary, all of which need to be dealt with.

In addition, two noteworthy figures have also arrived in the religious sphere:

Torbjörn War, a newly appointed bishop of the Church of War. Because he was a commoner before, he simply took War as his surname after awakening his bloodline. He is also said to be a rare master blacksmith who can forge high-level magic iron equipment. He is also a level three bloodline user. He is obviously here to clean up the mess of the Church of War, and may very well be here to steal business. We should pay close attention to him.

Pauline Fell, the new bishop of the Healing Church, is a noblewoman from the prestigious Fell family of the Falling Star Kingdom. The Fell family is one of the four marquises. It's strange that she would go to a roadside church like the Healing Church, and she is also a level three bloodline user. It's too strange and we need to be careful.

As for the rest, there's nothing worth paying attention to at the moment.

Zhuang Sen continued to caress Hana's soft thigh with his right hand, focusing his gaze on Xia Duo Leon, and chuckled, "Uncle Xia Duo, I heard that the princess was escorted by the Zhanxing Guards who guard the palace. I wonder how they compare to our Shadow Raven Knights?"

As soon as Zhuang Sen spoke, the once lively hall suddenly fell silent, as if everyone had been staring at him the whole time, and all the previous conversations, eating, drinking, and dancing were just a facade.

The man named Shado Leon put down his wine glass and addressed Zhuang Sen with neither servility nor arrogance: "The Zhanxing Guards are the royal guards since the founding of the nation, while the Shadow Raven Knights have always been responsible for invasions and field battles. It is really hard to compare them."

This statement cleverly separates the Azure Star Guardians and the Shadow Raven Knights into two separate groups, avoiding offending the upcoming King of the Capital or the newly appointed Earl. It can be described as excellent rhetoric.