037: [Oh... that slave the original owner bought back, could he be the male lead? That can't be, right?]

Ruan Qing'an fell silent: "Is that right?"

The glaring "-20 affection points" practically plastered the question "Is it true?" on its face. She couldn't help but frown and sigh deeply: "When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it."

In the original story, the original owner's relationship with the male protagonist was already complicated.

The original owner was invited to a banquet, and afterwards, someone, in order to curry favor with the Lancaster family, mysteriously took her to the slave market, wanting to give her a male slave.

However, unexpectedly, when the original owner went there, he discovered that the male protagonist, Aldrich, seemed to attract elements to him, and suspected that his magical talent was outstanding, so he bought him directly.

After Aldrich became the original owner's slave, the original owner discovered that he seemed to have intellectual disabilities and that his overall state was unstable. Therefore, the original owner abandoned the investment and training of Aldrich and instead treated him as a plaything, beating and scolding him at every turn.

The female protagonist, Eileen, met Aldrich through this meeting. When the original owner of the body beat and scolded him, she repeatedly appeared as a redeemer and saved Aldrich's world.

In the later part of the original story, because the Lancaster family wanted to seize control of the Church of Light and interfere with divine authority, the original owner and the female protagonist Eileen became enemies and severed all ties. As a result, the original owner became a pariah in the Lycas Empire, hated by everyone.

Meanwhile, the female protagonist, Eileen, with the support of the common people, thrives in the Church of Light and the noble class of the Lycas Empire.

Finally, just as Eileen was about to ascend to the position of Pope in the Church of Light, she was betrayed by the Church's higher-ups, and also oppressed by the original owner of the body and the Lancaster family. Just when she was about to be hunted down and killed, Aldrich appeared to save her as a hero.

It was only then that it was revealed that Aldrich had long since returned to normal. He not only cleared away the obstacles from the Church of Light for Eileen, but also destroyed the Lancaster family, and even utterly destroyed the original owner of the body who had humiliated him.

In the original ending, Irene ascends to the throne of the Church of Light and lives happily with Aldrich. Aldrich not only unifies the continent for her, allowing the divine authority of the Church of Light to rule over the royal power, but also becomes a god with Irene.

As for the original owner, he has been dead for who knows how many years...

037 watched the plot along with everyone and was terrified: [Oh no, oh no, oh no—the male lead's love level is all negative, and the female lead is about to meet him, we're doomed!]

Ruan Qing'an remained calm and casually remarked, "...What's the rush? Did the male and female leads fall in love at first sight?"

"Little system, instead of worrying about the strategy, you should think about our new mission first—find the person who was invaded by negative emotions, and the virus carriers he came into contact with."

037: [Waaaaah, this mission is even harder! Ancestor, you might as well let me think of a strategy! ?????????]

Ruan Qing'an: "...Fine, you can be the mascot."

After saying that, Ruan Qingan opened the door.

Standing outside the door was a handsome young butler in a tailcoat. Upon seeing Ruan Qing'an come out, he immediately bowed and then stepped forward to hold the door open for her, speaking respectfully.

"Miss, let me do it."

"Go to the disciplinary room first, Lucas."

Ruan Qing'an walked past him, casually giving instructions, slightly raising his chin, as if he couldn't stand anything or anyone else.

The original owner has always been like this.

Family background, talent, ability... Apart from her character flaws that made her the target of countless people's ridicule behind her back, Dolores was practically perfect, and her butler had long since gotten used to it.

Lucas didn't dare linger and immediately followed.

Along the long manor corridor, the walls are gilded, the floor is covered with a deep red, custom-made soft carpet, the wall lamps are made of the most expensive magic stones, and even the light element magic that is charged was personally arranged by the priests of the Church of Light.

Moreover, this place is less a manor and more the oldest castle in the Lycas Empire, and the entire Lancaster family, led by Dolores, has taken this ultimate nobility, luxury, and arrogance to the extreme...

Unfortunately, the Duke of Lancaster also had the financial resources and ability to do so.

On the way to the punishment room, Ruan Qingan casually asked, "Lucas, what's the deal with that slave I bought?"

"Miss, as per your instructions and the usual procedure, our people took him directly to the disciplinary room to teach him a lesson beforehand, in case he gets hurt when you visit him."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Qing'an chuckled softly: "There are only a handful of people in the entire Lycas Empire who can hurt me. What is he, a mere slave? But—at least you have the heart, Lucas. What I hate most is disobedient things."

"It is my duty to share the burdens of the young lady."

Lucas, not daring to take credit, bowed and replied.

The disciplinary room was located in the basement of the manor, in a dark passageway with a deep red carpet that looked as if it were stained with blood.

Even when you get close, you can smell a strong stench of blood.

Only when she approached the closed door of the disciplinary room did Ruan Qing'an stop in her tracks. Her lace skirt trailed on the ground, and tiny specks of gold powder shimmered on the black tulle, like stars.

She slightly raised her chin: "Open the door."

"Yes, Miss."

Lucas spoke respectfully, then stepped forward. With a single hand, blue water elemental magic condensed and landed on the magic circle at the entrance of the punishment room. The magic circle flickered for a moment, as if it were recognizing something, and finally the light disappeared, and the door slowly opened.

Lucas stepped aside and bowed, saying, "Please, Miss."

Then, Ruan Qing'an went inside. The basement was dimly lit. With a slight movement of her slender fingertips, the leaping fire elementals, like red sprites, landed on the wall lamp as she flicked her finger.

Flames suddenly rose up, illuminating the punishment room.

The first thing you see is a wall covered with shelves of torture instruments, and you can also see bloodstains that have congealed into black blood—the punishment room, which the Lancaster family used to punish servants and slaves who made mistakes.

In the very center of the punishment room, a tall man knelt, heavy chains and shackles falling from above and tightly binding his limbs and torso.

Beneath his tattered clothes were his strong, beautifully sculpted muscles, and the tall man had short, dark brown hair that was almost so thick it turned ominous.

His eyes were sharp and fierce, like a wolf's.

But Aldrich's expression was blank and dazed. He looked like a large, silly dog, and his body was covered with scars that looked recent, indicating that he had been tortured.

037: [Holy crap, ancestor, aren't you going to check on things?]

Ruan Qing'an simply frowned, then a cold smile appeared on her lips as she leaned against the door. Not only that, she also raised her hand to stop Lucas behind her.

She watched coldly as Eileen, dressed in the robes of a saint from the Church of Light, anxiously crouched in front of Aldrich, trying to unlock the chains.

"No rush, I'd like to see what she's up to."

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