27. The World of Night

From Lin Ke’s perspective.

As she had managed to slip through the cracks and emerge as the Grand Leader of the Merli United Kingdom amidst the competition from the other three prominent families, thanks to a mix of internal and external factors, and perhaps a touch of “coincidence,” Lin Ke had recently encountered a kind of “trouble” she had never faced since taking on this role.

A moment’s carelessness could cost her the position she had worked so hard to attain, a position she was finally ready to “showcase.” Impeachment could lead to her downfall, and worse still… a series of repercussions that might very well lead her family head to consider her life forfeit!

The struggle for territory in the “Ruins”; her discreet search for “external help”; and the various troubles brought on by the “bounty hunters”—by the time Lin Ke had managed to handle and cover up everything, coffee cup in hand, sleepless for nights on end, several days had already passed. Throughout this ordeal, she had to constantly bear the suspicious gaze of Mr. Oujilide, concocting excuses to mask her true situation.

After all… she knew a little about why those who had been turned into monsters—once human, now ravenous creatures that attacked on sight—had ended up this way. Yet… she couldn’t bring herself to speak of it.

Because tonight, at this very moment, what Lin Ke was about to confront was the real “trouble.”

Returning from the “Black Palace,” the Grand Leader’s office, it was already late at night. However, Lin Ke did not head straight back to her residence to collapse into bed. Though she had returned to her home—the sprawling castle—her steps did not falter. She took out a nearly rusted key and quietly unlocked the door leading deeper into the castle, a section that had been deliberately kept closed off from Mr. Oujilide and the others during this time. Taking a deep breath, she closed the door behind her and stepped forward.

In an instant, everything around her seemed to change!

What had appeared somewhat dilapidated, even “fallen,” was likely just a “guardroom” of sorts. But upon opening the “great door,” Lin Ke discovered the true secret of her “home”!

It felt like another world; the originally dark and gloomy night was illuminated by a blood-red moon hanging high, casting a vivid, eerie glow over everything. Stepping in here felt like entering another’s “realm”! The decorations that surrounded her no longer bore any signs of “decay.” Instead, intricately crafted adornments stood proudly along the path; in a flowerbed, seemingly tended to by someone, blooms of “blood red” appeared to be dyed by the moonlight surrounding them. It was still quiet here, yet not empty; men and women clad in black attire, resembling members of the Merli United Kingdom’s underbelly, moved silently among the surroundings. Where was the semblance of Lin Ke’s claim that “there are no servants in my home”? Not to mention their unnaturally pale skin and pointed ears—everything made Lin Ke feel tense, even out of place.

But now, Lin Ke had no choice. No matter how ambitious or troubled she felt, she could only submit to the authority of the true head of the “Degula” family, one of the four great families of the kingdom, while playing the role of a “surface head.”

“The head of the family sent me to see her.”

Gazing at the men and women who had already noticed her, or rather, the “servants” belonging to the head of the family just like herself, Lin Ke spoke.

The Merli United Kingdom was certainly not a realm devoid of “history,” nor did it neglect “culture.” For Lin Ke knew well that her own Degula family had a legacy spanning many “generations.” If one were to truly assess it, the actions of the other three families in the kingdom were nothing more than childish games!

However, the head of the family, Degula herself, seemed uninterested in these power struggles. Coupled with reasons Lin Ke could only guess at but dared not inquire about, it had led to her taking on the role of the “surface head.”

Thus, Lin Ke understood that she was merely a “small fry,” a scapegoat pushed to the forefront! The head of the family could end her life at any moment if she so wished! And indeed, the head seemed to possess that capability! Because… like Mr. Oujilide’s two wives, the head was certainly no “ordinary person” who knew nothing!

Her steps halted, and after receiving permission, Lin Ke found herself in the empty hall of the castle.

The blood-red moonlight that streamed in through the windows almost made Lin Ke’s eyes ache. In the empty hall, there wasn’t even a single candlestick; the stone pillars, oil paintings, and the red carpet underfoot stretched all the way to the throne-like chair at the end, as if proclaiming that this was the little kingdom belonging to the head of the family.

An inexplicable pressure caused Lin Ke to kneel just a few steps before the platform. The head of the family was absent, but… the head of the family was also present.

Because when Lin Ke knelt down and raised her head, not far away on the throne, amidst the blood-red moonlight mingling with the dark chaos, a figure had already “appeared” there.

“Head of the family… I… I have come.”

Her family’s true “head of the family,” Degula, was shrouded in a hazy light and shadow. Lin Ke could only vaguely make out her white hair, tinged with red from the blood-like light, and the scissors that lay discarded nearby, resembling both an ornament and a weapon, more like a “torture device.”

The exaggeration of this “weapon” was no less than that of the previous white-haired elf’s weapon.

“Ah~ it’s Lin Ke.”

The youthful voice of the head of the family snapped Lin Ke back to reality. Seizing the opportunity to look up, she saw the head of the family lounging lazily on her throne, her small body sinking into the soft chair.

However, due to this posture, the “pointed ears” that were not quite human revealed themselves, making it impossible for Lin Ke to even think of estimating the age of these beings, who should mostly be called “elves,” based on their appearance.

Moreover, there was neither time nor courage for that! After all, the head of the family wouldn’t just come to see someone like her, a “little cricket,” and this time she had actually allowed Lin Ke to come see her, which was unprecedented.

Good news? No, all Lin Ke could think of now were bad omens! Because during this time, she had done far too many things that could get her killed by the head of the family!

“Recently, the Merli United Kingdom seems to be a bit restless.”

The half-reclining “head of the family,” Degula, opened her eyes as if she had just woken up.

The distance was great, but Lin Ke couldn’t help but shiver! Those blood-red eyes, with pupils like a beast, seemed to be gazing at “prey,” revealing her master’s current mood.

“As the ‘Supreme Commander,’ do you have any clues?”

“Clues sufficient to spare your life…”

In the next moment, the white-haired girl’s hand slowly descended, grasping the handle of the oversized “scissors” on the ground.

“Tell me, how can I avoid regretting the decision to make you, such a waste, the ‘head of the family’?”