Faust naturally agreed to Viviana's request with pleasure.
Delegating power to his childhood friend was no big deal; it wasn't as if Viviana would suddenly stage a coup.
Faust didn't doubt Viviana's loyalty in the slightest. Not only were the Roselin family and the royal family as close as could be, but he also held the girl herself firmly in his grasp.
As long as it was his request, Viviana could never refuse. She would exert all her effort to complete it, working like a tireless beast of burden. As for her motivation... wasn't the desire to earn her beloved's joy and praise enough?
This was why Faust said Viviana was an easy woman to handle; she was simply too easy to drive.
The prince of Qingxi granted the girl authority equal to his own on the spot, allowing her to freely enter or leave any location and utilize all resources.
Faust smiled at Viviana.
"I'll leave the rest to you then."
The blonde, purple-eyed girl closed her eyes and slowly clenched her fists, whispering as if hypnotizing herself:
"I will fulfill your expectations. It has always been so, and it shall always be so..."
Viviana's state was a bit strange, but Faust didn't think much of it. He handed the task of finding "Cinderella" to his childhood friend and added even more stakes to the operation.
For several days, royal spies, court guards, and even kingdom bureaucrats were dispatched by Faust, all for the sole purpose of finding a single woman within the country.
Simply trying on the dancing shoe wasn't enough; Faust had to consider the possibility that "Cinderella" might be unable to come in person for some reason.
This required taking the initiative.
Finding "Cinderella" was mandatory. It was not only related to Faust's path toward becoming an 【overlord】, but it was also the key to whether the Qingxi Kingdom could survive the destiny of the 【witches' feast】.
However, such a commotion reached a level that alarmed neighboring allies, leading to Faust being summoned to the king's bedchamber.
Inside that warm, dim study, the old king sipped a thick, bitter medicinal soup while speaking to the prince.
"Faust, I heard you found a woman you favor at the ball."
"That is correct, which is why I am currently searching for her."
After receiving an affirmative answer, the king spoke expressionlessly.
"But I heard you've gone a bit too far. To do all this for one woman... it's unnecessary."
His esteemed foster father's heavy tone was incredibly oppressive; anyone could tell the king was angry.
He wasn't angry because Faust's absurd actions were wasting manpower and resources, but because his usually calm and steady heir had suddenly become "impulsive for love."
A wise man does not fall into the river of love! How could someone obsessed with romantic sentiments lead the rise of Qingxi?!
The old king tapped the armrest of his chair repeatedly.
"...I have seen too many people act on emotion. Their vitality is burned away by fleeting passions, leaving them mediocre and accomplishing nothing in the end. As a monarch, the only emotion we need is the responsibility and love for the kingdom. My child, you have never disappointed me before..."
After being established as the crown prince, Faust's power was already nearly equal to the king's. Using that power for a small indulgence was no problem at all, but no matter how one looked at it, this was far too indulgent.
The prince was well aware of this, and he had already prepared the rhetoric to handle his foster father.
Faust placed his hands behind his back, straightened his chest, and said calmly:
"This is a revelation from the fairy."
"!!!"
The old king's withered arm trembled, spilling medicinal soup onto the blanket over his legs.
The old man's hawk-like gaze stared fixedly at Faust as he asked syllable by syllable:
"You have already spoken with the fairy?"
Faust nodded. "Yes. Just a few days ago, His Excellency Mephistopheles gave me a revelation. That girl is very important to the kingdom and to me."
He even knows the fairy's honorable name?!
"Good! Good! Good!"
The old king clapped his hands excitedly, saying the word three times. A joyful flush actually appeared on his pale face.
"So soon? As expected, you are indeed one favored by the fairy."
"Why is that girl... No! You don't need to answer me. Just follow the revelation."
"Just say the word for whatever you need. The kingdom will support you with all its might!"
The old king's faith in the fairy's authority had reached the point of superstition. He didn't even ask further questions, fearing he might ruin the fairy's mood.
Seeing his father being so reasonable, Faust breathed a sigh of relief. There was no need to use other excuses to brush him off.
As for his deal with Mephistopheles, it was better not to let his esteemed foster father know for now; besides, telling him would be useless.
On the way back, Mephistopheles spoke up.
【This is correct. A son of man who has not awakened cannot bear the weight of destiny. Especially the heroes among the son of man—they are the most loyal pawns of destiny】
Faust wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he thought he heard... pity in Mephistopheles's whisper?
What did that mean? Were those who hadn't awakened just unlucky wretches in the eyes of a fairy?
Faust pondered the deeper meaning behind Mephistopheles's words as he returned to his room.
It was late by now. Usually, the prince's nightlife would be quite rich, often involving summoning maids or noble ladies for a wild party, but he certainly wasn't in the mood for that now.
With "Cinderella" not yet found, the 【witches' feast】 hung over his head like the sword of Damocles. Faust would only have time to focus on other matters once the current crisis was resolved.
But being anxious was useless. Faust had done everything he could; the rest was just praying that he wouldn't actually trigger the "fate-defying route."
Though I am indeed interested in 'defying fate,' don't mess with me right now.
Thinking this, Faust planned to meditate for the night and check his own progress in the 【mystery】.
When the prince closed his eyes, an information interface appeared on his retinas:
【Faust Qingxi】
【Path: sovereign monarch】
【The path leading to the supreme ruler. As the monarch of a realm, you shall conquer, rule, and subjugate, thereby achieving the great deeds of heroes and kings】
【Path of Conquest: Conquer the minds and bodies of humanity, conquer realms and wilderness, making them surrender completely to you and view you as the sole ruler】
【Path of Governance: Govern your realm toward prosperity, lead your armies to victory, and guide your team to glory】
【Path of Subjugation: Challenge powerful demons and calamity beasts, and eliminate your hereditary enemies】
Don't misunderstand—this wasn't some system panel, but a simple inspection spell, a small trick used by warlocks to examine their own paths.
The transcendents of this world could generally be divided into 【warlock】 and 【hero】.
The former, as the name suggests, were those who continuously gained knowledge and power through talent, study, and research. They were the most common type of transcendent.
【hero】 were more unique. Their power did not come from cultivation or study, but from the practice of their paths.
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