Man on the ark, forced to become king

Having obtained the information she wanted, Lin Lu originally didn't intend to interfere—as long as she left him alone, Dasmi would die from excessive blood loss in a few minutes, which wouldn't violate her promise not to take further action.

However, he has now changed his mind. Although Dassim is not a very good person and his IQ is not very high, he has one special quality—he wants to live more than anyone else.

He would stop at nothing to survive.

This kid... this kind of person, maybe we can trick him into making some contribution to the still immature little golden tree. It just so happens that he's not very bright, so he shouldn't be too hard to fool.

"think."

Seeing that Lin Lu really had no intention of making a move, Dasmi's desire grew even stronger.

"Let me live, and I'll do anything for you!"

Chapter Twenty-Six: What malicious intentions could the Golden Tree's blessing possibly harbor?

Since it is a plant, it needs nutrients to grow, and the golden tree is no exception in this respect. However, unlike ordinary grasses and trees, the golden tree does not need to absorb nutrients from the soil to grow, but needs something deeper - the soul and body of life.

Lin Lu didn't know much about the more ancient past, but he did know quite a bit about the growth mechanism of the Golden Tree.

In the past, when the Golden Law still shone brightly in the Borderlands, the existence of the Golden Tree was the core that governed the cycle of life in the Borderlands.

Those who believe in the Golden Tree will return to the Golden Tree after death through the 'Return to the Tree' ritual. The power contained in their bodies and souls during their lifetime will become the nutrients for the Golden Tree's growth. After returning to the tree, they will be purified into the most original and purest soul, washing away all the past, and then returning to the world as a brand new individual.

The golden tree obtains nourishment and strengthens itself through the return of life to the tree, while also spreading its power so that new life can survive longer.

During the golden age of the Golden Dynasty, the power of the Golden Tree was magnificent and formidable. Within its coverage area, it controlled all cycles of life, directly replacing the ancient 'Death Spirit Fire'.

This can be considered a kind of exchange, a cycle of life. The Golden Tree needs to survive in this way, and the beings that believe in the Golden Tree also rely on it to obtain greater power and a longer lifespan.

As for whether this approach is good or bad, Lin Lu makes no comment.

One person's opinion cannot represent everyone. When he ventured into the borderlands, the Elden Ring had already collapsed, and the demigods were fighting each other, leaving behind only a devastated land. What he saw was indeed the negative side of the Golden Law.

However, before the French Ring collapsed, the people of the Golden Dynasty lived prosperous and peaceful lives, and no one thought it was bad.

Therefore, he couldn't judge right or wrong in this matter. Or rather, the Golden Tree itself had no will; it was just a tool, an inanimate object. Without the Beast of Elden residing within it, it wouldn't even have a clear will. Whether it was right or wrong, the blame would ultimately fall on the person who controlled it.

Moreover, he had no right to judge. If he wanted the little golden tree he brought to grow quickly to the point where it could reshape its body, he would inevitably have to use the same method.

Lin Lu couldn't guarantee whether his ideas were correct or whether his methods would be effective. After all, in the borderlands, returning to the tree was a rule of the Golden Law, and he didn't have the Elden Ring at the moment. Whether it would work or not, he would only know after trying.

Since arriving in this world, he has always stayed in Longmen. Out of a desire not to cause trouble when his strength declines, he has rarely killed anyone, and even injuring people is a rare occurrence. Today is the first time he has truly made a move, so he has no way to verify his conjecture.

Dassim's appearance was undoubtedly an opportunity.

Lani's awakening had already made Lin Lu more anxious about cultivating the Golden Tree. Just then, he recklessly walked into the line of fire. If he wasn't unlucky, who would be?

Anyway, it was his own fault, and Lin Lu felt no psychological pressure at all for using the enemy as a guinea pig.

-------------------------------------

“I can let you go back, let you return to Syracuse, and I will also give you even greater power.”

After parting ways with Texas, it was already past midnight when Lin Lu returned to her residence from the slums. Seeing that the lights were still off upstairs, Lin Lu knew that Chen was probably still working overtime at the Guard Bureau and didn't have time to come back.

He didn't intend to take Dassimmi upstairs; he just stopped downstairs and began to try to fool this not-so-bright Syracuse assassin.

"And what's the price? What is the price?"

After prayer and healing, Dassim's wound stopped bleeding, but his injury was quite serious and could not be fully healed. At this moment, he could only move around freely.

Upon hearing Lin Lu's words, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes. He quickly asked what he would have to give up. As long as he could live, there was nothing he couldn't accept.

"The price is that I will brand you, and from then on your life and death will be in my hands. When I need you, you cannot disobey my orders."

"no problem!"

Dasmi agreed without hesitation. The conditions were much more lenient than he had expected. As long as he could get back alive now, anything after that would be fine.

"Very good, don't resist."

Lin Lu nodded and waved her hand gently. A leaf emitting a faint golden glow drifted down from the small golden tree on the upstairs balcony, swirled in the air, and disappeared onto Dashimi's forehead.

Before long, Dasmi's wounds, which had only begun to heal, began to recover rapidly, and a faint golden light shone in the center of his brown pupils.

The Golden Tree Blesses - Youth Edition

This little golden tree was originally created by Lin Lu using his own power. It can be said that his will is the will of the golden tree. It is not difficult for him to control the golden tree to bestow blessings. However, the power of the little golden tree is still too weak. The blessings it can give are far inferior to the true blessings of the big golden tree in the border area. It is not even a youth version. At best, it can only be considered a children's trial version.

"This is... I feel my body becoming stronger."

Feeling the tingling sensation in the wounds on his back and shoulder, Dasmi stretched out his palm, clenched his fist and then released it, his expression one of utter disbelief.

His talent wasn't particularly good, and as he got older, his body gradually began to decline. It was already very difficult for him to maintain his strength, let alone make any progress.

So, just by accepting a brand, he's become stronger? That's unbelievable!

“Your men didn’t cause any major trouble. Now that I’ve captured you, the Rat King will most likely teach them a lesson and kick them out of Dragon Gate. You can wait outside the city and go back to Syracuse with them. Let’s go.”

"You're just letting me go like that?"

Dassim looked even more surprised.

Lin Lu glanced at him. Even though he hadn't done anything, Dasmi suddenly felt his body stiffen, a huge sense of crisis surged into his heart, and a fine bead of sweat immediately appeared on his forehead.

He wanted to shout, but he couldn't utter a single word. His body seemed to slip out of his control in an instant, as if something terrifying was slowly awakening within him, about to take his 'life' with it. Boundless fear surged around him like a tidal wave, almost completely engulfing him.

The young man's voice seemed to come from the depths of a distant abyss, sending chills down one's spine.

"The mark will give you greater power, but when you lose it, your life will also disappear, understand?"

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Melina, My Melina~

Dassim left, and he left in a very sorry state.

Chen didn't come back all night, and Lin Lu didn't sleep either. She sat by the window all night, watching the little golden tree.

The Rat King controls the underworld of Lungmen. In a sense, he follows the rules better than anyone else, because only if he follows the rules will others follow them.

Therefore, most of the Syracuses who were captured will not die. Those who caused trouble in Lungmen will definitely be dealt with, while those who did not cause trouble will most likely be released. This is the rule of the slums.

So Lin Lu is waiting, waiting for the seeds she planted to bear fruit.

Dasmi didn't keep him waiting too long. As dawn approached and the sky began to lighten, a burst of light suddenly shone from the sparse branches and leaves of the golden tree. Several golden specks of light floated out from the void and merged into the trunk. The trunk of the small tree, which was only a little over a foot long, suddenly became thicker and grew more than ten centimeters taller. Its branches and leaves also became much more abundant.

Lin Lu reached out and touched the tree trunk. A gentle power flowed into her body through her fingers, allowing both her body and mind to grow considerably.

"This guy acted even faster than I expected."

Feeling her body grow stronger, Lin Lu smiled, a bright smile playing on her lips.

He let Dasmi go for this very purpose. That kind of person will stop at nothing to survive. Since the mission failed, in order to avoid being held accountable after returning to his family and to have a chance for promotion, Dasmi would definitely not let his subordinates go back with him. Only when everyone is dead will he have the final say.

Therefore, he will definitely kill the others and return to Syracuse alone.

As long as he commits murder, the blessing of the Golden Tree that he carries will serve as part of the 'return to the tree' ritual, and the soul and a portion of the physical energy of the person he kills will flow into the Golden Tree through the blessing.

Under Lin Lu's special control, 99% of the nutrients extracted through the Returning Tree are absorbed by the Golden Tree and then fed back to him. The remaining little bit is used to strengthen Dasmi's power under the guidance of the Blessing.

This is a long-term investment. Syracuse is different from Lungmen. There is no shortage of fighting and killing there. People like Dassim, who crave status and survival, will try every means to gain power after tasting the benefits and knowing the effects of the blessing. They will not give up even if it is a desperate measure, let alone a tangible benefit.

When he dies at the hands of others one day, all his power and soul will return under the blessing, becoming nourishment for the growth of the Golden Tree.

It's a sure thing; Lin Lu won't lose out no matter what...

"Listen to me, thank you~"

The phone rang abruptly, interrupting her thoughts. Lin Lu took out her phone and glanced at it. It was 5 a.m., and the caller ID showed "Boss".

This penguin's sleep schedule is always bizarre. He seems to be able to be seen at any time of day, as if he never sleeps. Only he would do something like calling someone at five in the morning to disturb their sleep, and he seems to enjoy it.

Fortunately, he didn't sleep at all today.

As long as I don't sleep, no one can bother me.jpg

"what's up?"

Lin Lu picked up her phone and answered it, and as expected, she heard the Emperor's signature voice, tinged with disappointment.

"Tsk, you negotiated a big deal with Lao Wei yesterday? He's rarely this generous."

"That's true. Lord Wei offered a very generous reward."

"Kid, you can't take all that money if you're dead. Kazdel isn't an easy place, especially now."

On the phone, the emperor's voice was unusually serious, unlike his usual carefree demeanor.

“If this is not something you did willingly, then I can refuse Wei Yanwu right now. With me here, he won’t cause you any trouble.”

“It was my own choice; after all, he gave me so much.”

Touching the staff leaning against the windowsill, Lin Lu felt a warmth in her heart, but also some doubts.

The Emperor knew that he was not weak in combat, so what had happened to Kazdel that made him so cautious? Just yesterday, he had swindled a large sum of money from the Letania Theater Company using their information, and he wasn't worried at all then.

"It seems you're quite confident, so I won't say anything more. Mostima will be going back to Laterano soon, so you can go together. That way, your safety will be guaranteed. If you need anything, come to the bar in the morning to get it. The company will reimburse all losses incurred during this mission."

"Don't worry, I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Lin Lu smiled slightly, already calculating in her mind how much stuff she should bring.

In short, take it regardless of whether it's useful or not; opportunities don't come twice.

This stingy penguin is usually incredibly stingy when it comes to reimbursing travel expenses. I wonder how much money Wei Yanwu gave him that even this miser has started to pluck feathers from his trousers.