"Mother, stop saying useless things."
Yilan cut her off impatiently, her eyes burning with urgency.
"Just tell me—what's the method? How do I make Vincent my partner?"
Melanie smiled faintly, then reached into her storage ring and took out the vial of medicine Bree Dekhart had given her. She placed it carefully in front of Yilan.
"As long as you can make Vincent drink this… he'll sever his bond with that Rory."
Then she produced the strange, bone-like stone and set it beside the vial.
"Once the bond is broken, have him drip his blood onto this. He'll become your partner."
Her voice lowered, laced with temptation.
"Bree told me—once his blood touches this stone, he will obey you unconditionally. Whatever you command… he will do."
Yilan stared at the vial and the stone in her hands, stunned.
She could hardly believe such things existed in the Empire.
"Mother… are you sure this works?"
"Of course."
Melanie nodded without hesitation.
