Chapter 70: Oscar-worthy Performance

"If there's nothing else, please excuse me." Fredrinn stood up and lightly bowed at Hannah before walking away with confident steps.Hannah was still shocked so she could only watch him leave. It was only when he was no longer there that she managed to gather her thoughts. 'That kid…'

At this moment, Fredrinn went out of the mansion and headed to the back garden. When he arrived, he saw Lucas and Samantha admiring the sea of flowers.

"Yo!" He called out to them.

The two turned around and looked at him with complicated feelings. He was someone they used to look down upon. After finding out his true power, they didn't know how to act in front of him.

"What did you talk about with mother?" Lucas asked him curiously.

Fredrinn shrugged. "She told me that I shouldn't even think about marrying her daughter." He sent Samantha a teasing glance when he said those words.

Samantha blushed and looked away from him.

"Huh? Don't tell me you came here to discuss about marriage?" Lucas stared at him in disbelief.

"Of course not!" Fredrinn shook his head. "Like I said, I only followed my father here since he has something to discuss with the city lord."

"I see. I thought you wanted to marry my sister." Lucas laughed while scratching his head.

"No way! Madam Hannah would skin me alive if I had such thoughts. Besides, your sister hates me so we are not compatible." Fredrinn replied without much thought.

Samantha punched her brother's back before she glared at Fredrinn. Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Aw! Why did you hit me?"

Samantha ignored him. "Why are you hiding your real abilities?" She asked Fredrinn with a cold look on her face.

'Did I offend her with my words?' Fredrinn muttered in his heart when he saw her icy gaze.

He came here to make allies so he had to give them a proper answer. His face suddenly turned serious as he muttered. "I believe you guys know about the conflict between my Firecrown Household and the Blackcrow Household."

"Yes, we have heard of it."

"From what we know, the conflict between your households started because of an energy stone mine."

Fredrinn nodded. He wasn't surprised that they knew this much. "That's right. I was afraid that the Blackcrow Household would assassinate me if they discovered my talent so I chose to hide it from everyone. I pretended to be a useless trash for half my life to make it even more believable. In the end, I managed to convince everyone that I was a failure.

My plan worked. The Blackcrow Household must have felt that I was insignificant so they didn't do anything to me."

Lucas and Samantha couldn't help but admire his meticulous mind. No ordinary teen would have been able to do something like that. In this regard, they felt inferior to him.

When Fredrinn saw their thoughtful expression, he guessed that they must have believed his words. 'These two are so gullible.' He chuckled in his heart.

"Then what is your true spirit root?" Samantha asked.

Fredrinn's lips curved upwards. "That I can't tell you. At least not for now." He shook his head.

Samantha snorted at his response.

Lucas sighed all of a sudden. "All this time I thought you were an abominable and vile person. I never thought that you only did all those things to survive. I have misjudged you, Fredrinn. Please forgive me."

'No, you're actually right. The previous Fredrinn was indeed such a person.' He thought to himself while looking at the apologetic Lucas.

"There's no need to apologize. I understand your situation. If I was in your shoes, I would have done the same. I did so many detestable things and caused many people to suffer. Do you see this scar on my face? I did this to myself to atone for my sins." Fredrinn revealed a look of self-loathing, an expression that he had practiced in front of the mirror countless times.

Lucas and Samantha didn't expect that. They thought that he got it from a battle. They never thought that it had such a deeper meaning.

"You don't have to be so hard on yourself, Fredrinn. You only did all those things to protect yourself." Lucas walked to his side and patted his shoulder.

Fredrinn shook his head. "That's why I hate myself. To protect my own life, I made many people suffer." He lowered his gaze as if he felt remorseful for the things he had done.

Fredrinn was satisfied with his own performance and he even felt that his acting was very Oscar-worthy.

Lucas didn't know what to say.

"Ahem! Why don't we have a drink? Alcohol will make you forget all the terrible things." Samantha suggested.

Fredrinn stared at her in surprise. It was the first time he heard her speak to him in such a sincere voice. Normally, she would speak to him in a sarcastic or cold tone. 'It seems like my acting worked. Hehe.' He was pleased with himself as he thought of this.

Lucas' eyes lit up. "That's a good idea! What do you think, Fredrinn?"

"Alright," Fredrinn responded with his signature acting-sad smile.

"Great! I know a place." Lucas enthusiastically dragged him.

Samantha looked at Fredrinn's back and for some reason, she felt that something was not quite right. In the end, she sighed and shook her head. "I'll let him off this time since he looks so miserable." She muttered.

***

Inside the city lord's study, Roland brought in Brielle who was the link between the Morten Household and the Snake Gang.

Ludwig stared at him with narrowed eyes. "Is this him?"

"Mn. This person's name is Brielle Morten. He is a distant family member of the Morten Household. The members of the Snake Gang called him 'The Sender' since he was responsible for delivering their funds." Roland replied.

Ludwig's expression hardened. "Brielle is it? I only want the truth from you so you better not lie to me!"

Brielle lifted his head. When he saw the city lord's face, he recoiled in fear. "C-City lord?!"

"It's good that you know me. This should make things easier!" Ludwig's voice was frighteningly cold.