Chapter 176: Rura's Story!
After Luis' explanation of Multiplier Potion, Alicia's eyes widened in shock and her mouth agape.
"Twice the growth in cultivation?! Then, coupled with your gravity training, wouldn't the growth be even more astounding?!"
Upon seeing him nod, Alicia couldn't help but take a deep breath in amazement. Then nodded in understanding.
"No wonder you want her to be on our side so much. If she can create something so amazing, like a Multiplier Potion, her talent is incomparable."
"Yeah, but her formula is still incomplete. Which is why now is the perfect time for us to bring her to our side," Luis said, while leaning on the couch a little and because of his movement unknowingly, his hand pulled Alicia closer to his side.
Alicia observed him with a flat expression but didn't resist his 'inadvertent' actions and leaned against him, finding a comfortable position. Then she started asking all her doubts.
"What if she fails? Won't our efforts be in vain? Can't we just recruit her after she completes her formula? Then there will be no risk involved."
Luis smiled upon finding no resistance from her and became even bolder, wrapping his hand around her and closing her in his embrace. Then explained to her in a patient tone.
"You are thinking things too simply, Alicia. Once her formula is complete and the news comes out. All the powerful organizations and major forces will come after Rura like hawks. Some with the purpose of recruiting and others to exploit her. Whatever happens, we are bound to face a lot of competition in such a situation. That's why recruiting her in advance is necessary."
"Next, even if she fails. It wouldn't be too big of a loss for us to recruit an alchemist with S-grade talent, right?"
After hearing this, Alicia also realized things much more clearly and agreed with his decision to recruit her in advance.
"Even after completing her formula, she is bound to face so much risk and now you are going to put even more pressure on her using Thomas." Alicia sighed, then stretched her head to look at him and smirked with a playful expression. "Your actions are so much like a scheming villain attacking an innocent girl who is struggling hard to be independent."
When he heard this, dark lines appeared on his forehead, and he retorted. "I am not a villain, okay?! If it's just recruiting her, I still have many ways. However, what I want is her complete loyalty."
Alicia stopped teasing him and said with a serious expression. "I find it hard to achieve."
Luis nodded, knowing very well why Alicia would say this. So, he said with a calm expression. "According to her personality analysis, done by Lily. Helping her at her worst time and making her indebted to us is the best way to get her loyalty in the primary phase. Then we can use other means to ensure her loyalty."
"You already have it all planned, huh?" Alicia said in surprise. Then she thought of something and asked. "By the way, what's her situation with the Wayne family? Before you told me she wanted to escape from that family, but why?"
"Right, I haven't told you anything about her situation yet, have I? Let's start from the beginning." Luis uttered with a thoughtful expression. Then he started his explanation.
***
The Wayne Family has been the number one supporter of the Aiverson Royal Family. Since the founding of the Aiverson Empire, a century ago.
Whether it's the former 'Emperor' or the present 'King'. The Wayne Family has been loyal to them for generations.
The current head of the Wayne family, Steve Wayne, had two wives. Martha and Shaily. Each had two children.
Martha's marriage to Steve was arranged by their respective families, and she became Steve's first wife. However, in Steve's heart, his value for Martha was always lower than Shaily, the woman he loved and had a love marriage with.
She lived in the Wayne family like a concubine without enjoying the privileges that she should receive as the first wife.
When Martha had a son, she expected her firstborn son to become the next rightful heir of the Wayne family. However, it all ended up being her delusions. Her husband never cared about her child and showered all his love on the child of Shaily, who was born later.
Because of the lack of care and attention from her husband, she lived under depression. Which also made her health deteriorate. A few years later, when she had her second child. Martha, who was already sick, died at the time of childbirth and the child who was born this time was Rura.
Even after her mother's death, Rura's father never gave them the fatherly love and attention they deserved. It was as if he became free from a burden. Steve completely neglected Rura and her brother, Chris. While caring about his second wife and her half-siblings more.
From infancy to childhood, Rura was raised by her brother, Chris, and the kind maids.
***
"I never imagined that Rura's upbringing was so complicated. Does that mean she grew up without experiencing parental affection?"
Alicia took a deep breath and sighed. 'She is even more unlucky than me.' When she compared her dad with Rura's dad. She couldn't help but scold. "That kind of scum doesn't deserve to be a father!"
"Hehe, you are concluding too early." Luis sneered.
"There's more?" Alicia knit her brows.
Luis nodded and continued.
***
The Wayne family and the Aiverson Royal family have a long tradition going on. From each generation, the Wayne family sends one of their sons who enters his teenage years to train and serve under the Aiverson Royal family.
That boy would voluntarily sever all his familial ties and undergo brainwashing, living solely to serve under the king and aiming to become their sharpest sword.
As per the normal traditions, it should have been the turn of Shaily's son in this generation. However, Steve, who didn't care about his dead first wife's children, was more than glad enough to send Chris, his firstborn, to the royal family.
With this, the thirteen-year-old Chris officially lost his right to be the next heir and had to leave the seven-year-old Rura alone.
After being separated from her brother, Rura had lost the only person who could give her the familial love she yearned for.
In her attempts to distract herself from this loneliness, Rura tried various things and finally found herself attracted to Alchemy.
Then, for the next nine years, Rura lived under the love and the care of maids while immersing herself in Alchemy, as that was the only thing, she could find solace in.
After all these years, the only feeling she had for her so-called family was indifference. That is until she found that her so-called dad plans to use her as a chip into an arranged marriage in exchange for benefits.
She didn't want that. Which was why she was now trying her best to escape from that family of hers.
***
"…" Alicia was silent as she pressed her lips with a deep expression.
A few seconds later, she looked at Luis and said with a firm expression. "Luis, I want to help her."
"You sure? It's not our business to meddle in."
"Hmph, less nonsense. I know you also want to help her."
"Hehe, you got me. So, now do you think a person like her deserves your genuine friendship?"
"If what you said is true. Then I think it's possible."
"Good, but don't forget. Our primary purpose is still to recruit her and for the latter things we can do in due time."
"Yeah, I know," Alicia said with a smile. Then she thought of something and asked, "So now you plan to support her when Thomas sends her family an engagement proposal? In desperation, she will readily agree to become your subordinate."
"Not quite." Luis shook his head and said, "I can't answer you now, but you will understand everything when you see it with your own eyes."
"Fine!" Alicia pouted at his rejection and asked, "What do I have to do?"
"You just have to get close to her and become good friends."
"That's it?"
"That's it." Luis nodded in affirmation.
"Hmm, I see." Alicia nodded and asked the last question that's been bugging her. "Since that's over, can you now tell me why you involved the student named Alex Stain in all this?"
***
Quiz: Why is the current ruler of the Aiverson Empire a King, rather than an Emperor?
1) The former emperor is alive.
2) The emperor system was abolished.
3) The king doesn't have full control over the Aiverson Empire
4) Other reasons.
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