After Dili left, it was already close to midnight.
But unfortunately for Lux, it was not time to rest yet.
"Klein, do you think Dili is trustworthy?" Lux sat on the bed, holding her sword. "Honestly, I didn't find anything wrong with him..."
"I didn't either." Klein's answer was somewhat unexpected for Lux. She had thought Klein would discover something she hadn't. "Or rather, compared to Kodora, this guy's level is more than just a little higher—at least he positioned himself very well."
"Positioned himself very well?" Lux was stunned for a moment, then blinked her eyes in confusion. "Are you talking about his attitude when facing me?"
"Exactly, that's the point." Klein affirmed. "He wants to pledge allegiance to you, so he maintained the utmost sincerity from beginning to end, not caring about exposing his weaknesses. This kind of loyalty is a quality all superiors like."
"But to be honest, I don't really like it." Lux shook her head. "I know his actions might lead to a decent outcome, but I always feel that what he wants isn't this outcome, but something else."
"Your feeling is correct, but your statement is very problematic." Klein sighed helplessly. "I've said it before, you must be realistic when dealing with people, and not rely on your own subjective judgment—whether it's for praise, rewards, or power and status, those who do good deeds are always good people. Judge by actions, not by intentions!"
...But I can feel his heart isn't in it."
"You can only judge your own heart." Klein said earnestly. "And if there's someone whose actions and intentions align with yours, then he is like-minded with you—such people are ultimately a minority."
...Oh, right." Klein's words made Lux a little disheartened, but she quickly remembered her good friend, shook her hair, and quickly cheered up. "Not everyone can be like Sona!"
"So, have you thought about your next plan?"
"I need to contact the Demon Searchers, mobilize some of the stationed troops..." Lux stretched with a long yawn. "However, I think my great-uncle should be sending people to watch me outside right now, shouldn't he? Speaking of which, I'm a bit curious, won't Dili cause trouble for himself by coming to me so directly?"
"Who knows?" Klein's tone was indifferent. "He should have his own preparations. Compared to that, you need to think about yourself now—how to get the message out."
"I've already thought of that!" Lux chuckled at the words. "How about guards getting drunk and fighting?"
...It's really unlucky to be your guard." Klein was dumbfounded. "Throwing your own guard into the prison to deliver a message—you're something else, Lux!"
"What else can I do?" Lux spread her hands, looking helpless. "Isn't this all because you taught me so well?"
"Hmm, you're right." Klein's tone was pleased. "You've learned well."
"Klein, you're shameless!"
"Likewise..."
.....
On the other side, just after Dili returned home, Kodora's servant came to his door late at night, inviting him to the manor for a talk.
Dili, who was already prepared, put on a distressed expression and followed the servant.
Soon, in the study of Kodora's manor, Dili met the vigorous old man.
Unlike his "righteous" and "unrestrained" demeanor when facing Lux, Kodora put on a full ten-out-of-ten act when he saw Dili, not at all hiding his contempt for him.
If Lux were here, she would suddenly understand.
No wonder this bad old man had been so aggressive before, because the one who was "proud of his status and bound by etiquette" was exactly him!
"I heard you went to visit Luxanna alone?" Stroking the golden button on his chest, Kodora slightly raised his face. "So impatient?"
"I—"
Dili seemed to have been caught red-handed, raising his head awkwardly, but after meeting Kodora's gaze, he quickly turned away and closed his mouth, no longer speaking.
"Only capable of petty tricks!" Kodora snorted heavily, and the golden button hit the desk, making a dull, crisp sound. "Luxanna came to Silvermere with a mission, not to relax and entertain herself. Put away your dirty little thoughts!"
"I don't have any petty thoughts!" Dili stubbornly retorted. "I just simply hope Gao Kan can learn more from her, learn the noble etiquette of The Capital—"
"Learn etiquette?" Kodora stood up, grabbed an etiquette guide from the bookshelf, and threw it directly at Dili's face. "Then tell your little brat to read more books, and stop stirring up trouble in Silvermere all day long!"
The etiquette guide accurately hit its target, and the hard cover even cut a gash on Dili's forehead, with blood flowing out.
It was at this moment that Kodora's servant rushed in, bringing Kodora the latest news from the inn.
"Miss Luxanna's guard seems to have had too much to drink and got into a fight with a few drunkards who stayed until the end of the banquet. Even the stationed troops were dispatched, and they barely managed to separate them."
Upon hearing this news, even Kodora, old and cunning as he was, couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"Where are they now?"
"I heard the city defense army took them away to 'cool down'."
Kodora, upon hearing this news, finally twitched the corner of his mouth, leaving behind a phrase "bringing shame to the family," leaving the servant to deal with Dili's wound, while he himself flicked his sleeve and left the study.
When Dili returned home again, his forehead was already bandaged with gauze, and he looked incredibly disheveled.
And seeing his father beaten like this, Gao Kan almost went into a Rampage on the spot—however, after dismissing his servants, Dili couldn't help but chuckle.
"What are you laughing at?!" An anxious Gao Kan almost thought his old man had been beaten silly. "Like this, and still laughing—"
"I'm laughing at that idiot Kodora." Dili, having laughed enough, snorted disdainfully through his nose. "Not only was he completely seen through, but he also did me a huge favor."
"???"
"A wise leader always rewards and punishes clearly." Dili slowly tore off the gauze and pointed to the wound on his forehead. "Look closely, and learn well—this isn't a wound, this is clearly a medal!"
Gao Kan blinked.
"This is no joke." Seeing that his son didn't seem to believe him, Dili sighed softly. "This single wound is worth a medal earned by risking one's life fighting barbarians in the North."
"You don't have to do this." Gao Kan gritted his teeth. "That old scoundrel, the trouble I caused, I can handle it myself."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Dili smiled and patted his son's shoulder. "I deliberately let that idiot Kodora cause me trouble; otherwise, when I went to see Miss Luxanna, I wouldn't have needed to ride that white horse and parade through the city—Kodora thought I still wanted to use back-door methods. In his mind, I only have that much ability."
"..."
"It's a pity, my esteemed Uncle Kodora seems to have forgotten that before marrying your mother, I was the youngest Ranger Captain in Silvermere!" At this, Dili finally clenched his fists. "And Kodora... what is he? Besides the Crownguard surname, he is nothing!"
Gao Kan, seeing his father in such a state for the first time, was completely stunned.
"Alright, you can go back to sleep now." Dili seemed very satisfied with his son's expression, smiling as he patted his shoulder. "Your mother and I also need to rest—don't you want a younger sister?"
And so, under his old man's undisguised teasing, Gao Kan finally fled in disarray.
Watching his son's retreating figure, Dili shook his head helplessly—he had originally been quite confident in his son.
Until he met Lux.
Tsk tsk tsk.
Thinking of this, Dili clicked his tongue helplessly—it really is true that comparing people makes one feel inferior, and comparing goods makes one want to discard them!
It seems that his own education for his son was still not strict enough...
Perhaps, send him to the army for training?
Hmm, never mind—he went through all this trouble precisely so that Gao Kan wouldn't have to risk his life in the army!
Anyway, after this incident, his family would sooner or later go to The Capital.
Shaking his head, Dili, no longer thinking about these issues, whistled and happily returned to his room.