Chapter 7: Well then, there is only one answer
This sounds like a joke, but indeed—the ill-natured Nairn was no law-abiding person in his original world.
And Tris was given another reality check.
These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Tris's head.
He shuddered all over, and cold sweat instantly broke out.
Right, why had he assumed this lord was a "good person"?
Just because he drove away the pirates and saved a ship full of people?
Just because the other party seemed unfathomable, like a deity? But deities are divided into evil gods and benevolent gods!
But the chaotic, eerie mythical form he displayed, that indifference that saw Tris as an ant, didn't look like a character from an Orthodox Church at all.
Tris was entirely based on his own desire to escape fate, wishfully imagining the other party as a "savior" who could rescue him.
"Good person"? "Bad person"? In the eyes of such an existence, there was probably no such concept at all.
Tris's mind raced.
He didn't continue with this dangerous topic, but lowered his head deeply again, speaking in an almost humble tone:
"Whether your lordship is good or bad is not for a small person like me to judge. I only know that you are a great existence walking the earth, the only truth."
"Whether you are the incarnation of light or the master of chaos, I am willing to follow in your footsteps and become the sharpest blade in your hand."
What's more, in Tris's view, no matter what, this existence named thousand faces had saved everyone on this ship.
Looking only at the deeds, he had indeed performed a great act.
Even without mentioning that, just his mysterious and powerful nature itself was worth Tris firmly grasping this turning point to change his own fate.
He thought very clearly; no matter what faction the other party belonged to, it was ten thousand times better than his current desperate situation.
Following an existence that even the King of the Five Seas was wary of was definitely not a loss!
He emphasized again: "I am willing to accept any restrictions, whether it's an occult contract or something else."
That was a beautiful move.
Putting his posture at the lowest, completely giving up thinking and judgment, only seeking to become a pure tool.
"Very good." Nairn nodded, quite satisfied with his attitude.
Time for a carrot.
He paced slowly to Tris, looking down at him from above.
"There is indeed a way. And more than one."
Tris's breathing instantly quickened; he jerked his head up, his eyes bursting with the light of unbelievable ecstasy.
Nairn held up two fingers.
"Option one: high risk, but fast results. I can directly help you reverse your Beyonder Pathway, allowing you to switch to a neighboring Pathway. This way, the fate of a 'Demoness' will naturally have nothing to do with you. But this process is very dangerous; one slip and you will lose control on the spot, turning into a complete Monster."
Hearing the words "lose control," Tris's face turned pale.
"Option two," Nairn continued, "safe, but slow and high investment. You can continue down this path, and I will give you protection, allowing you to become a demigod of the 'Hunter' pathway when you advance to demigod status."
"This way, you can not only keep your 'Witch' abilities but also use the masculine side of the 'Hunter' pathway to neutralize and suppress the feminine traits within your body, completely solving the problem of gender transformation. But that requires a long time and a massive amount of resources."
Nairn didn't explain things too thoroughly.
The two options he had thrown out were already enough to hook Tris.
Tris fell into an intense struggle.
One was a gamble where hope was immediate but sudden death was possible at any time. The other seemed steady but was far off and required a long wait with a huge price.
He was a smart man; he didn't immediately choose between the two options.
Because he realized that no matter which one he chose, the initiative was in the hands of the mysterious existence before him.
What he needed to do now wasn't to choose a plan, but to choose a side!
Follow the right person, stand in the right line!
He lowered his head deeply again and said in a resolute tone: "I don't want to choose a plan; I only want to choose you! I am willing to be your eyes and ears, a pawn planted for you within the Demoness Sect!"
These words were spoken with passion and righteousness.
Nairn couldn't help but laugh after hearing it.
It was time to pull in the net.
He looked at the surplus [play value] in his [Chaos Theater], enough for him to use the [Identity Planning] ability once more.
And this "drama" of recruiting a subordinate would earn him another sum.
It was also time to put on another good show and harvest more [play value].
From the pile of junk nearby, he casually picked up a wooden cane of unknown purpose and threw it in front of Tris.
"Break it."
Nairn's voice carried an unquestionable majesty.
"Become my subordinate."
This was another variant application of [Name Sealing].
Though this cane looked extraordinary, it didn't seem like some powerful Sealed Artifact.
But in Tris's mind, every action and word of Nairn's was full of deep meaning.
This "thousand faces" lord's actions could never be judged by common logic.
Perhaps this seemingly simple action contained a profound meaning he couldn't understand!
Breaking this cane, in his view, was a special ritual for a contract filled with mysterious power.
Breaking the cane... "Breaking" represented "severing ties," a clean break from his past self.
The "cane" represented "reliance" and "support."
Only by breaking the old reliance can one welcome new support!
Breaking the cane represented breaking with the past and signing a contract that couldn't be reneged on.
This ritual symbolized that he would completely abandon the Demoness Sect and his past identity, placing his only reliance on lord thousand faces!
Within a few short seconds, Tris's mind had completed a set of logically consistent self-conjectures.
Without the slightest hesitation, he almost pounced forward, his hands tightly gripping the cane.
"Crack!"
The crisp sound of breaking echoed in the room.
The cane snapped into two pieces.
Tris held the broken cane high and slowly raised his head, a relieved and even slightly crazed smile appearing on his face.
"Haha, hahahaha! Well then, there is only one answer—"
He said loudly in a fanatical, oath-like tone:
"—and that is to be loyal to you!"
At this moment, he was a completely different person from the round-faced boy who had pretended to be harmless or the terrified Instigator after being exposed.
He lowered his head, his posture humble to the extreme, hands folded in front of him, body leaning slightly forward, like the most devout believer worshipping his deity.
When he slowly raised his head, Nairn clearly saw the expression in his eyes.
That was not fear, not resentment, and not calculation.
But a mixture of awe, worship, and... a flame so scorching it was distorted!
In those eyes burned the light of having found "truth" and a "home."
He looked at Nairn as if looking at a god walking the earth, the ultimate embodiment of chaos and drama that he had pursued all his life.