Arknights' Lock of Heaven

In this situation, shouldn't we just wait quietly for the family to discover it, and then leave the rest to those who truly hold power to discuss?

This is the best way to survive!

Now that you're speaking up, what can you actually do? What can you promise? You don't even have the foundation to guarantee your promises!

What do you know about this mysterious man before you? His name? His appearance? His identity? Why did he kidnap us?

You know nothing, so why do you have the courage to speak up?

Grace couldn't understand her fiancé who was hanging on to her.

Why would someone who usually performs so well let their guard down at such a critical moment?

Strachey knew what Grace was thinking.

He also knew why Grace had stopped him from speaking.

However, people are ultimately different.

Was Grace wrong?

Of course she was right. In fact, she had completely predicted Xia Yu's purpose and chose the safest path.

do nothing.

Xia Yu's target wasn't them. In fact, if they had obeyed, aside from being hung up and exposed to the cold wind all night, they wouldn't have suffered any more harm.

But Strachey is different.

He was a man, an ambitious man, a man with one foot in the realm of political animals.

A crisis is both a danger and an opportunity.

His situation was different from Grace's.

Grace has a good father, a very strong father, a father who is the clan leader but doesn't care much about anything.

Therefore, she was the most pampered princess in the Loren family since childhood. Everyone followed her wishes, and no one ever disobeyed her, even though her Originium Arts were terrible.

No one poses a threat to her because she is destined to marry.

After marrying into the Mainz family, she was destined to encounter no major setbacks.

With the two families banding together for mutual support, everyone will speak kindly to her.

Strachey, however, is different.

His father did not become chieftain through sheer force, unlike Chief Loren.

His power was not so secure.

Simply put, this political marriage was the result of countless exchanges of interests between him and his father.

Yes, even in a political marriage devoid of any affection, the Mainz family has plenty of suitors vying for their attention.

Let alone Grace's stunning beauty, even if she were as ugly as a woman, plenty of people would still want her.

Do you think they care about Grace herself?

No, what they care about is the Loren family behind Grace, Grace's father, the famous Loren patriarch.

With this powerful backer, even the lowest-ranking infected beggar in the lower city could rise to prominence after marrying Grace.

They would create an inspirational legend for this beggar, which would be told throughout Letania. Even if he was fighting with wild dogs for food in the sewers of the moving city yesterday, those well-dressed gentlemen could still chat and laugh with him at a banquet today.

These days, there are plenty of people who would rather kneel down to make money.

If even a beggar is like this, what about Streich, the son of the patriarch of the Mainz family?

That night, after witnessing the exchange of interests between his father and those in high positions in the family, and after priceless shares and magical patents disappeared from his father's hands like flowing water, a fire ignited in Streich's heart.

He knew that his father was paving the way for him.

He knew that those people might not really want to compete with him for this marriage opportunity.

After all, everyone values ​​a good match in terms of social standing. If the daughter of the clan chief is to marry into the family, it's impossible to arrange for her to marry a member of an unknown family.

But if there's an opportunity to make a quick buck, why not?

As a result, countless 'young and promising' younger generations emerged in the family overnight.

They came for these things; the big shots who usually flaunt their nobility came like wolves drawn by the scent.

After several nights of fierce fighting, the exchange of benefits finally came to an end, and Streich was finally able to sign his name on the marriage certificate.

But at the same time, he also understood some things.

Power, authority, strength!

Streich looked at his fiancée beside him, who was shivering in the cold morning wind of Letania, but still stared at him proudly after noticing his gaze.

Why can Grace live so easily, while I have to give it my all every time?

Because his father never held real power in the family.

Would anyone take advantage of a situation where the Loren patriarch's children need to compete for an opportunity with others?

No, not only will they not, but countless people will come up to them with concern and care, as if they are afraid that they are not giving enough.

Why? Isn't it because he's so powerful?

Yes, Patriarch Loren is no match for either of the Twin Queens, but so what? He's not alone.

Behind him was an entire family, and countless former forces under the Witch King who, fearing being purged, banded together for mutual support.

Streich knew he would never become such a strong person in his lifetime; talent is always a helpless thing.

But isn't there a ready-made opportunity right in front of us?

Now, isn't there a powerful figure even more terrifying than Chief Loren right beside him?

Get close to him! Win him over! Show him the utmost goodwill! Show him everything you can!

Even if you offer your warm welcome but get a cold shoulder, even if you are ridiculed for overestimating your abilities.

Even at the risk of their lives.

He didn't ask for much; he would even be happy if he could just get a chance to use someone else's power to bully others.

This was all that young Strachey could think of after being provoked by that night's exchange of favors.

Even though the current situation isn't ideal, just as Grace predicted, this person in front of her shouldn't do anything to her.

Strachey turned his gaze away from his fiancée and looked again at the mysterious man beside him.

"Your Mightiness……"

118 Unexpected Disaster

"You're not reconciled!"

Xia Yu didn't look at him, but continued to gaze at the bustling city before her, her tone very relaxed.

"Perhaps you encountered some setback, or perhaps you discovered some truth. In any case, I can hear the resentment and ambition in your voice."

"Isn't today your big day? Why do you look so dejected, young man? Something's not right."

Upon hearing this, Streich lowered his head and pursed his lips tightly.

Is it really that obvious?

Seeing Strachey's expression, Grace beside him scoffed inwardly.

She could tell exactly what was wrong with her fiancé even with her eyes closed.

Contrary to the popular perception of her father as a simpleton, Grace knew that her father was not some kind of simple-minded, muscle-bound guy.

On the contrary, his own father was incredibly intelligent and knew what was most important in this world.

Power needs to be secured by force.

My father taught me this from a young age.

Before the wedding, her father gave her a thorough analysis of her future husband's situation.

Old Mainz had no fist, so his power as patriarch was not secure. Although his son Streich was outstanding among the young people, he had never seen much hardship.

So many things were traded away as bargaining chips for this marriage alliance. How could this still immature young man not feel heartbroken?

Therefore, he will inevitably seek change to avoid following in his father's footsteps.

At this point, his fiancée was the greatest external force he could rely on.

Her father wanted her to use this opportunity to keep Streich firmly by his side, and Grace was also preparing to do the same.

Unfortunately, such an accident occurred.

Before anything could be done, she and her fiancé were left hanging in this place exposed to the cold wind.

And he even impulsively wanted to get involved with this mysterious person in front of him...

Grace sighed again and moved slightly away from Streich.

I hope I won't be unlucky enough to be affected by it.

“You must have encountered something that you feel powerless about recently,” Xia Yu glanced at the silent, head-down Straitch and continued, “It must have been a huge blow to you.”