Chapter 96: Chapter96-House Carter's Invitation

Outside Stellarburg, in the outer city district, lies Black Mountain Cemetery.

To the west of the outer city district, a modestly sized mountain known as Black Mountain is covered in greenery, with birds singing and fragrant flowers.

On the sun-facing side of the mountain, there's a well-maintained public cemetery where Old Dog and Gold Flash were buried.

Under the blazing sun, tombstones stand solemnly atop Black Mountain.

At a spot overlooking Stellarburg, several new tombstones mark the final resting place of those from Hidden Stars who perished in the Dusk Sect incident.

John placed a bundle of yellow chrysanthemums in front of the tombstones of Old Dog, Gold Flash, and others, standing silently for a long time without speaking.

There weren't many flowers at their graves, only a few sparse bunches, indicating that not many had come to pay their respects.

Many people didn't know who they were or what they had done.

Scarlett stood behind John, gazing at the dense clusters of graves.

She smiled at John, "Most of those buried here are from Hidden Stars, and the vast majority die without their names or deeds being known. This is quite common in Hidden Stars; maybe one day, I'll be buried here too."

If it weren't for the sadness in Scarlett's eyes, John might have believed she had grown accustomed to such occurrences.

John chuckled lightly, "Maybe I'll end up buried here too, one day. If that happens, I'll make sure to be buried next to you."

He had moved past the somber mood, reverting to his usual self.

Scarlett's smile widened at John's words.

Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, she teased, "As if I'd let myself be dug up by someone."

Knowing John's character all too well, she mused about the number of women who might visit his grave.

John, wisely choosing not to pursue this line of thought further, asked, "Now that you've been dismissed, what are your plans?"

Scarlett had been stripped of her position because of the Dusk Sect incident.

Regardless of the outcome, she certainly had some free time on her hands now.

Nonchalantly, she replied, "What else can I do but continue running my bar? Even though Hidden Stars doesn't control direct power, that doesn't mean there aren't influential figures who do. Under pressure, my superiors have temporarily removed me from my position, but they won't actually let me leave Hidden Stars. So, once this all blows over, I can return to my duties within Hidden Stars."

John gave her a look, indicating, "That's not what I meant."

He was actually suggesting that Scarlett take this opportunity to leave Hidden Stars.

Despite being a clerical job, White Gloves was still fraught with danger.

The firsthand information they acquired didn't just materialize out of thin air; most of it was carefully gathered by Hidden Stars members themselves.

Now that Scarlett had been dismissed, even if she could return to Hidden Stars later, she'd likely have to start from scratch.

Then, taking a step forward, he bowed slightly, addressing John in a very gentlemanly manner, "Mr. John, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Robert, the new heir of House Carter. My visit today is mainly to express my gratitude for your assistance."

John raised an eyebrow, looking at him with interest, "Oh? Thanking me for my assistance?"

Killing their heir and seizing their inheritance class, yet the people from House Carter still wanted to thank him?

John was now genuinely curious about what Robert was up to.

Robert continued with a smile, "Indeed, thanking you for your help. I owe you thanks for killing that idiot Lucas, which allowed me to ascend to the position of House Carter's heir sooner. Otherwise, I might have had to wait another year to kill him myself."

As he spoke, Robert's storage ring flashed, and he suddenly held a beautifully wrapped gift box in his hand.

"This is a gift I've prepared for Mr. John. I believe you will find it very satisfactory," Robert said, slowly opening it to reveal its contents.

Inside was a splendidly gilded invitation, accompanied by cheerful congratulations and a very exquisite storage ring.

John glanced at it, his brow furrowing, "A wedding invitation? What's the meaning of this? If you have something to say, don't beat around the bush. Everyone's time is precious."

Robert's smile remained unchanged as he responded, "Since Mr. John prefers straightforwardness, I'll get right to the point. You've acquired the Legacy of the Crimson Demon, which is no secret. And it so happens that our House Carter's inheritance class also originates from the Crimson Demon."

Seeing a cold light flash in John's eyes, Robert gestured reassuringly, "Mr. John, there's no need to worry. We, House Carter, are a renowned family and naturally wouldn't resort to coercion or force to claim your legacy. This matter is entirely based on mutual consent."

After a brief pause, Robert continued earnestly, "So, if Mr. John is willing, we would like you to join House Carter and become one of us. Believe me, the resources and benefits we can offer you are something Hidden Stars cannot match, beyond anything you could imagine. Whether it's beauty, resources, fame, power, wealth, or status, just name it. Even my position as the heir can be yours!"

Robert looked directly at John, stating, "Mr. John, this is the sincerity of House Carter."

Upon hearing Robert's initial proposal, the others didn't show much reaction.

But as he elaborated, everyone showed signs of astonishment.

House Carter wasn't just recruiting John; they were clearly grooming him to be their next leader! If what Robert said was true, John would become the next head of House Carter, should he agree.

Before John could fully grasp the situation, a cold voice suddenly chimed in.

The speaker scoffed, "Isn't this a bit shameless of House Carter?"

As Robert's expression shifted slightly, everyone turned towards the source of the voice.

There, Theodore, clad in a blue suit, accompanied by an expressionless Seraphina, was slowly approaching.

Robert narrowed his eyes, stating calmly, "Lord Theodore, even with the backing of House Harris, you cannot slander House Carter without cause."

Theodore scoffed, "Slander? The unsavory actions of House Carter are well-known to all. Claiming to nurture John is merely a facade for wanting him to continue your lineage, a deed only your House would conceive."

Robert's complexion turned decidedly grim.

John, now fully aware of the situation, realized House Carter intended to use him as a means to propagate their lineage!

Most inheritance classes rely on bloodline for transmission, categorizing familial talent based on the concentration of bloodline and the compatibility with the inheritance class.

Thus, heirs from potent lineage awakeners like John, whose offspring naturally inherit robust genes, stand a significant chance of carrying forward the Crimson Demon's power.