Chapter Forty-Eight: The Southern Family

Andrew had no idea that, for Gong Hao, alchemical experiments were actually his moments of relaxation.

During his two years on Purgatory Island, survival required him to strain his mind every day, and his resistance demanded even more exhausting effort. Despite all this, risks constantly accompanied him.

Killing Neil, killing Pierre, even making deals with Bailey and the others—every action was fraught with enormous danger.

His survival until now was not merely the result of intelligence and hard work; luck had played its part as well.

If it hadn’t been for the new cocooning tenant completely purging the parasite from his body when he killed Neil, he would already be dead.

If not for the little princess’s favor, perhaps he wouldn’t have survived the year either, and would have been forced to escape on a raft, only to perish at sea.

If his soul magic hadn’t achieved the desired effect, Pierre might not have fallen for the trap, rendering all his plans useless.

If Chaklay had chosen to expose him instead of accepting the bribe, he would be facing disaster right now.

There were simply too many variables; no scheme or plot could ever be truly flawless.

Any gap in planning or flaw in execution could topple him.

For Gong Hao, this was a war in which he had to defeat an entire elite army singlehandedly.

He not only had to excel in every task and train diligently, but also constantly search for the enemy’s weaknesses and deliver a fatal blow.

If there was anything on this island that he could be grateful for, perhaps it was his ever-deepening understanding of magic and his steadily growing abilities.

Recently, through relentless practice of alchemy and soul magic, he sensed the faint signs of an impending breakthrough. Even his progress with wind magic had exceeded his expectations, showing similar signs of advancement.

Now he recalled what Klos had once said: possessing the ability to manipulate elemental resonance indicated an extraordinary talent in that domain.

No wonder that even with little effort, he was gradually approaching a breakthrough in wind magic.

Although Lancelot always claimed that diligence was the most important gift, sometimes innate talent truly could yield twice the results with half the effort.

With this thought, Gong Hao sighed softly and opened the dossier on Lancelot.

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The Southern Family could be considered the oldest lineage in the Lance Empire, its history predating the empire itself.

Mention the Southern Family and perhaps many would not understand the significance of the name, but if one referred to them as the Rose Family, everything would become clear.

The founding monarch of the Lance Empire, Edie Strick, was the most outstanding member of the Rose Family. Under the name Edie Moltset, he established the Rose Legion, which swept across the northern continent, winning countless victories and ultimately founding the Kingdom of Lance.

The Southern Family’s reputation soared as a result.

However, the establishment of the Lance Kingdom and Edie Strick’s glorious achievements were not blessings for the Southern Family; in fact, they were nearly a disaster.

Edie Strick was an abandoned illegitimate child of the Southern Family. Moltset was the surname of his unfortunate maidservant mother.

From his first day, he was almost wholly estranged from the Southern Family. To him, they were enemies, not kin.

Thus, after founding the kingdom, Edie Strick subjected the Southern Family to ruthless suppression, not allowing them to rise.

This repression only ended with Edie’s death from recurring old wounds, giving the Southern Family another chance to rise.

The death of Edie Strick offered the family a glimmer of hope, for the founding king had left no heirs. However, he had a half-brother named Dan Strick.

The very month Edie died, Dan demanded the throne on the grounds of their kinship.

However, this claim was not widely accepted.

General Charles, one of Edie's most trusted subordinates, outright declared Dan unfit for the throne.

A war erupted between Charles and the Southern Family, but neither side prevailed, for at that time, a man named Georgia Forlan appeared, claiming to be Edie’s illegitimate son. With this identity, he defeated both factions and ascended the throne as Strick II.

Later, it was discovered that Georgia Forlan had no blood relation to Edie, but he had indeed been adopted as Edie’s godson.

Thus, Georgia Forlan changed his name to Georgia Strick and began his rule over the Lance Kingdom, while the Southern Family—rightful members of the royal line—were met with relentless neglect.

Although Georgia Forlan publicly acknowledged the Southern Family’s royal status, they received no substantial benefit beyond titular recognition.

In truth, Georgia Forlan was always wary of them, forbidding the emergence of any member who might pose a threat to his rule.

This was perhaps the most unfortunate and awkward royal family on the continent.

The Southern Family never took pride in this.

As Georgia Forlan’s reign continued, he established his own descendants and his own family. Although nominally still part of the Southern Family, in essence, it was something else entirely.

His descendants would later be known as the Glory Family.

Thus, the Lance Empire became unique in having one nation with two royal families.

The Southern Family withdrew from politics and devoted themselves to commerce. To restore their former glory, they relinquished their noble status and rebuilt their family management, aggressively recruiting commercial talent. One by one, young people with a knack for business joined the Southern Family and became its pillars.

As the Glory Family’s bloodline grew ever more pure, the Southern Family became vast and diverse due to the influx of new blood.

These outsiders restored the Southern Family’s splendor, but also meant the family was no longer solely the domain of the Strick name.

Among these names, one stood out—the Lot family, now the most important surname within the Southern Family.

Originally, the Lots had nothing to do with the Stricks, but today hold great prominence in the Southern Family.

Reading this, Gong Hao couldn’t help but be moved.

This was truly a tale of a family’s hard-earned resurgence.

Whether for survival or to revive their glory, the Southern Family had paid a tremendous price. They abandoned the noble Strick name, married widely, and joined with talented outsiders, turning themselves into a vast mercantile clan.

As for Lancelot, he was almost a reflection of Edie Strick. His father, Bert Lot, was the acting head and true power-holder of the Southern Family, but Lancelot was his illegitimate child. The Southern Family, merciful in most things, detested illegitimate children—a legacy, perhaps, of the Rose Monarch’s actions.

As a result, Bert Lot’s wife, Anita Strick, the current matriarch, refused to allow Lancelot into the family.

Despite the influx of other surnames and the matriarch’s diminished power, the Strick name remained unshakable within the Southern Family.

Thus, Lancelot became an orphan.

As for why Lancelot ended up on Purgatory Island, according to Bailey’s information, it seemed he had offended the wrong person over a woman. At that time, Lancelot did not possess his current strength; the influential figure simply waved a hand and exiled him.

Ironically, this exile made Lancelot who he is—now likely the youngest quasi-Saint in the Lance Empire.

If he were to leave now, even Strick VI would have to treat him with respect.

But how would the Southern Family receive this quasi-Saint?

Gong Hao was genuinely curious.

Without a doubt, Lancelot now yearned to go home.

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“Lord Lancelot.” At the lakeside, Gong Hao greeted Lancelot with a smile as he stepped out of the wooden cabin, looking utterly disheveled.

Smoke rose from his entire body.

“Damn it, Hughie, why is cooking so difficult?” Lancelot’s roar seemed to make the ground tremble. Since Gong Hao had become Heinz’s assistant, Lancelot had not tasted another meal prepared by him. Forced to rely on his own cooking, he continually failed.

“I suppose… perhaps because it brings you none of the glory you desire.”

“You think you know what I want?”

Gong Hao shrugged. “For a Star Warrior, what could be more wonderful than returning to your homeland and walking freely across those vast lands?”

“And you? Is that what you want?”

“For me, the sea of knowledge is endless and sublime. It allows me not only to grow but also to find joy. Unless I tire of alchemy, I have no desire to leave this place.”

“But for me, this is a prison. You’re right, I want to leave every day, but I cannot.”

“Why? You are already a Star Warrior—the pinnacle, a free warrior. Even His Majesty the Emperor would show you courtesy.”

“Power isn’t everything, and force cannot solve all problems. Hughie, this is what I’ve learned in twenty years on Purgatory Island. Having strength doesn’t guarantee a good life. You still have to face life, face countless problems that strength can’t solve. You can’t rely on force to become a bandit or a criminal, to challenge the laws of the land. No matter how strong you are, unless you wish to defy the world itself, you must live within the rules. That’s why the powerless can be rulers, while we warriors can only sell our strength. We have power, but lack the means to live; we must submit to others and sell our might.”

“There are always those who believe they are the exception.”

“Oh yes, like the Nightmare Mage. He wrought countless massacres, believing his might could solve anything. He killed tens of thousands, his very name a terror. And yet? He is still a fugitive. He could never overturn a nation by himself. If he could, he would be a god, not a man. His name might make newborns quiver, but he still hides in some remote corner, unable to show his face.”

“You’re right, Lord Lancelot. But do you really think you’re any different from that Nightmare Mage? Aren’t you, too, forced to hide in some dark corner? At least the Nightmare Mage can come and go as he pleases and kill as he likes—he is free. But you, my lord?”

Lancelot was momentarily stunned.

Indeed, was he not the same? No, perhaps even less than a fugitive.

He contemplated for a while, then finally offered a wry smile. “No, it’s different, Hughie. The Nightmare Mage has nothing to tie him down. I do.”

“A woman?”

“…Yes, Hughie.”

“I suppose she’s married now, maybe has children.”

“That doesn’t take away my right to love her.”

“But she has taken away your freedom.”

Lancelot suddenly shot to his feet, his aura expanding to envelop Gong Hao. He shouted, “What did you say?! Hughie Gleir, what do you know? Don’t think that being Heinz’s assistant gives you the right to be so insolent to me!”

Gong Hao remained unruffled. “Lord Lancelot, I thought I was your friend, but clearly I was mistaken. I know nothing; this is simply the most straightforward deduction. Over twenty years ago, you loved a girl but suffered a setback—perhaps you encountered an insurmountable obstacle, such as an influential figure. That cost you your beloved and brought you to this island. Stories like this happen every day; you are not alone, nor are you the most unfortunate, nor does such a tale demand much effort for me to unravel.”

The aura vanished.

Lancelot sighed. “Hughie, you’re always so perceptive. Since you’ve guessed it, why ask?”

“I simply want to know, if one day you have the chance to leave Purgatory Island, would you take it?”

Lancelot hesitated.

After a moment’s thought, he finally replied, “Yes, I would.”

“Then perhaps I can help you.”

“How?”

“The Teleportation Array. You know that’s my current research.”

Lancelot suddenly understood.

Yes, with a teleportation array, he could come and go from Purgatory Island at will. Hope lit his eyes. “That’s wonderful, Hughie. Are you sure you can do it?”

“No, I’m not sure. You know the teleportation array is the greatest challenge for all alchemists. But if you’re willing to help me, perhaps I can succeed.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“The Gate of Space. Lord Lancelot, I need you to take me to the Gate of Space. I need to see its existence, its structure, its operation. It’s like forging a weapon—you must first see the prototype; that would help me most.”

Lancelot drew a sharp breath.

This boy—his courage was astonishing.