Chapter 20: Method Actor

"It seems Master truly can't remember. The reason for your previous coma might be because you didn't strictly follow the Secret Skill we agreed upon for your cultivation," Beinam said earnestly. Though he still addressed Kaios as "Master," his tone was entirely that of an elder speaking to a junior. "I am also to blame. I should have stayed by your side to supervise your cultivation habits."

"How could I blame you? Commander Beinam, you have been out expanding our new territory. That is the most important work," Kaios replied.

"No matter how much territory we conquer, it means nothing if something happens to you, Master! Your health and safety are what matter most!"

Watching the flashing red ring behind Beinam's head as he spoke these earnest words, Kaios had to exert a tremendous amount of effort to maintain his facial expression.

Naturally, Beinam followed this up with a detailed explanation of how to cultivate the Secret Skill, supposedly to help Kaios "remember."

Already on high alert, Kaios felt something was increasingly wrong the more he listened. He had read in the Old Baron's diary that this so-called Health Secret Skill was actually Spiritual Energy Cultivation. In this era, however, it was considered rather unpresentable for nobles to practice Spiritual Qi or Magic, so they used euphemisms like "Health Secret Skill" or "special Secret Skill for nourishing the body."

But this entire set of instructions Beinam was giving him—things like Qi Introduction after Meditation, and the use of tools like a Magic Power Generator—was fundamentally Magic Cultivation! Furthermore, according to the theoretical books on Magic he had read recently, this wasn't even an orthodox method of cultivation.

He thought, "This isn't right!"

Had he still planned to treat Beinam as a mentor and friend, he probably would have just asked about his doubts directly. Now, however, Kaios decided to just agree with whatever the man said, nodding along and giving affirmative hums to brush him off for the time being.

Unexpectedly, after finishing his guidance, Beinam looked up at him and smiled. "Does Master feel there are many parts you don't quite understand?"

"A little..."

"Has Master forgotten about Sating Castle as well?"

"Sating Castle? What does that place have to do with my Nourishing Secret Skill?" Kaios put on a confused expression.

Beinam simply laughed. "You should make a trip there later, Master. You'll understand once you go. For now, just practice using the method I just explained. Please don't slack off anymore; you must nurse your body back to health!"

"Understood. Commander Beinam, you should go rest first. You must be exhausted from rushing all the way back here. If there is anything I don't understand later, I will invite you over to ask," Kaios said with a sincere tone.

After Beinam left, Kaios returned to the leather chair behind his desk and sat down. He rubbed his face, relaxing the facial muscles that had just pulled off an explosive series of acting feats. He had really worked hard just now.

He had thought Beinam's return would provide him with a new trump card. After all, the Old Baron's diary had mentioned him, and Pete had said the original owner of this body had a good relationship with the man. He never expected this arrival to be a threat—and currently, his biggest threat at that.

With the enhancement of the North Mountain Manor's Guardian Array, Sharvella could unleash a strike that instantly reached Level 11 or even approached the power of Top Tier Spiritual Energy. However, Beinam was a Top Tier Spiritual Energy Warrior himself. Such an attack might not even be able to break his defenses.

Many of the Guardian Array's functions were also relatively ineffective against a Top Tier Spiritual Energy Warrior. The only way it might pose a threat was if Kaios first revoked Beinam's permissions as the Captain of the Guard, allowing the Grand Array to launch a full-powered attack against him. However, taking that step would alert the enemy. Taking him down with the forces Kaios currently controlled would be incredibly difficult and fraught with danger.

Of course, he also knew that from Beinam's perspective, this Top Tier Spiritual Energy Warrior and Captain of the Guard for the Li Family was equally wary of him. Not only did Beinam not dare to make a direct move against him, but he didn't even dare to arouse Kaios's suspicions. That was why the man had acted so hard when they just met.

Because of the Soul Subordination Contract, all it would take was a single thought from Kaios for Beinam to die without a burial place. Even if Beinam or someone else managed to ambush and instantly kill Kaios, Beinam would still die right along with him. But all of this rested on the premise that Beinam didn't know the current Kaios Li had lost the ability to control the life and death of his Contracted Servants.

He still had time. He needed to make preparations and seize the initiative.

Kaios pondered the words Beinam had just spoken. There were two key points: the "Nourishing Secret Skill" and "Sating Castle."

The former was definitely problematic. The original owner's coma might very well be related to this bullshit Secret Skill. The Old Baron's diary clearly stated it was Spiritual Energy Cultivation, yet what was being taught here was Magic—and the cultivation method for this Magic was exceedingly bizarre at that. He certainly wasn't going to continue practicing it, but he definitely needed to thoroughly study this cultivation method.

Then there was "Sating Castle," a name he had actually just heard a few days prior. When he had used the Silent Walker to eavesdrop on two servants chatting in the kitchen, he had heard a rumor that the original owner "ate people." They had also mentioned the "two Chief Stewards from the Woda Family and the Tec Family," which didn't sound like a baseless rumor. Judging by the emotions and imagery in the various paintings left by the original owner in the studio, it wasn't impossible that he had actually committed such a deranged act.

However, when he used this rumor to question Harvey, the servant who had been with the original owner the longest, he immediately received a refutation. The two Chief Stewards from the Woda Family and the Tec Family had been secretly dispatched to Sating Castle by the original owner, back when he was still the Young Master, to help oversee the properties in that desolate territory.

Harvey had reacted even more vehemently than Kaios to this vicious rumor. He went on to explain that Kaios had suffered a lot of grievances in his childhood. Across the Li Family's various territories, incredibly outrageous rumors targeting Kaios would inexplicably pop up from time to time.

In the beginning, the Old Baron had been furious. He sent people to investigate and executed many of the rumor-mongers. Yet, the rumors continued to surface sporadically. They always appeared in different, non-bordering territories, and even within the domains of other Lords. Gradually, even the Old Baron had been somewhat influenced by them.

Looking at the timeline, the "extremely depraved" evaluations written in the Old Baron's diary, as well as the rule forbidding maids in the North Mountain Manor, were very likely influenced by these rumors. Kaios, who already had health issues and was rather frail, became even more withdrawn and introverted because of them.

Harvey had nearly cried when bringing this up. He firmly believed the original owner had absolutely nothing to do with those outrageous rumors.

At that time, Kaios had felt a bit curious about the name "Sating Castle." He wondered why the original owner would secretly arrange for people to guard that place. He definitely needed to make a trip to this place, but not right now.

Kaios had Sharvella, who was stationed at the door, call Housekeeper Pete over. He first asked about Beinam's accommodation arrangements in the manor, and then asked if Pete had mentioned their ongoing investigation to the man.

"Master previously instructed me not to mention it to anyone. So, aside from some necessary communication with Physician Grossman, I haven't spoken of this matter to anyone else. Oh, and I also cautioned Physician Grossman. He's never been one to run his mouth anyway, so he will definitely be able to keep it shut," Pete said cautiously.

"Mhm." Kaios knew he was telling the truth, so he asked further, "Can you confirm exactly which day Beinam set off to rush back here from the Northern Realm?"

Pete replied, "Chief Guard Beinam is the Commander and Chief Commander of our Fengyuan Seventh Camp. If he wishes to leave, he needs a handover document. According to the handover document he brought back, it was April 16th..."

He paused mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something. Looking at Kaios, he asked in astonishment, "Could it be... Captain of the Guard Beinam said he rushed back because of Master's coma?"

Kaios gave a slight nod.

Pete's eyes widened, and his expression grew incredibly grave. Kaios had fallen into a coma on April 16th.