So the three wives and several brothers all expressed their congratulations to Dick in a neutral tone. The third brother, who had bullied Dick the most, was even generous for once, saying that he would prepare a magic item as a gift when Dick was awarded the title.
After dinner, Dick got in the carriage and left the Duke's Palace and headed for St. Mary's Hotel.
It's embarrassing to say, not long after Dick left the Duke's Mansion last year, the small courtyard where he originally lived was flattened and converted into flowers and plants. Although there is no shortage of guest rooms at home, it is somewhat awkward to live in. It would be better to go to a hotel where the conditions would be better.
After they arrived at the hotel, Rita and Momiji checked every corner of the room as usual to confirm that there were no magic props for eavesdropping or peeping. Then Dick released a barrier that could block remote peeping, and only then did he let Lukoya come out of his arms.
The Dragon Girl turned back into human form and stretched lazily, feeling duang, duang all over.
"I've been so bored this day! Mr. Dick, please let me turn into a brooch tomorrow. At least I can go outside and enjoy the scenery."
"I'm really shocked. You hid in the young master's arms for a whole day, but you didn't cause any trouble?"
"I thought about it, but Dick's belt was too tight, so I couldn't get through."
"Okay, stop talking nonsense. We've been running around all day, so let's go to bed early."
"Hey! It's still early, and if you feel tired, Dick, we three are willing to help you! "
Lukoya said as she hugged Dick from behind, making Dick feel like he was being crushed by two mountains!
Dick certainly knew his succubus physique. If he wanted to, he could work all day long! Even if he didn't sleep, it wouldn't be a big problem. But as a human soul, he still wanted to close his eyes occasionally and lie on the bed for a lazy sleep.
But just as he was about to reject Lukoya's invitation, the dragon girl who had been mistaken for a succubus whispered in his ear with a devilishly seductive voice.
"Mr. Dick, I am also a dragon. I was also listening in on your conversation with the professor during the day. I think I saw the branch of dragons that once lived in this world a long time ago, including the succubi that traveled through the warp with them. So I might have some ideas about the breakthrough method you need!"
099. Don’t think of yourself as a person
As one of the gods of creation in the world of Dragon Maid, Lukoya had seen a lot at her age. So when she listened in on the conversation between Dick and Professor Britt in the afternoon, she quickly felt that they were very similar to a group of giant dragons she had seen before, based on the historical description of the migration of dragons.
This tribe visited Lukoa's world and stayed there for less than a thousand years. A group of succubi who hitched a ride with the dragons traveled with them. Later, they felt that the environment there did not meet their expectations, so they set off again and went to other worlds.
Lukoya didn't say it before because she was not sure at that time that the succubi she had seen were from the branch that had left blood in this world.
Moreover, creatures from different worlds, even if they have the same names, often have huge differences.
For example, although they are both called "elves", who dares to say that the elves in Japanese fantasy and Warhammer are the same species?
But now that the origin of the matter has been figured out, Lukoya has a solution.
"Mr. Dick, I guess your biggest problem right now is psychological. You have a deviation in your self-perception."
"What do you mean?"
"What it means is that you think you are a human, not an elf or a succubus, but in fact you have the blood of all three races. You shouldn't ignore the other two bloodlines subconsciously just because you identify more with humans. They are also part of you."
Lukoya's words were like an epiphany for Dick. He suddenly realized that because he was an Earthling whose soul had traveled through time and space, he always thought of himself as an individual, an Earthling. This deviation in self-cognition was indeed a taboo in spiritual practice.
So Dick immediately corrected his attitude and humbly asked Lukoya for advice.
"Then what should I do?"
"It's very simple. Just don't think of yourself as a human being."
"????"
Seeing Dick's confused expression, Lukoa's smile became somewhat ambiguous.
"Mr. Dick, you are too reserved sometimes. You are a succubus, and the desire for sex is your innate nature, just like it is natural for humans to eat and drink. And what about us servants? We are all slaves who have signed a magic contract with you. You can do whatever you want to us and do whatever you want to us!"
"This...isn't appropriate!"
"What's inappropriate about this? Your concerns are nothing more than that you feel the contract is unequal, that forcing us is disrespectful, and that you're worried that it will cause resentment from everyone. This is a good idea, but you also have to know that everyone actually likes you, so Dick-kun can be naughty and act like a willful child occasionally, and no one will hate you for this. If you don't believe me, ask Rita and Hongye."
Dick looked at the two people beside him. Hongye nodded vigorously and seriously, while Rita's gentle smile said it all.
At this moment, Dick seemed to have a flash of enlightenment.
Just like Lukoya said, he thought of himself too much as a human being, so he subconsciously suppressed the innate nature in the succubus bloodline, and felt that it was shameful to obey desires. Therefore, even though the succubus's physique allowed him to be a "perpetual motion pile driver", he would still consciously restrain himself and would only get intimate with the girls every two or three days.
This kind of self-awareness is very human and elf-like, but not a succubus at all!
"understand?"
"understood."
"Very good, then next, it's time to move on to the practical part."
"what?"
Dick was slightly startled, and then he heard the sound of his trousers being unzipped.
"Shit! Which one of us is the succubus?"
Lukeya's "one-stop service" naturally includes not only psychological counseling and theoretical explanations, but also hands-on practice.
What about subject one and subject two? Just skip them all!
Drive the truck directly onto the highway and step on the accelerator!
And it wasn't just Lukoya. Rita and Momiji didn't plan to just stand by and watch. They got on the track decisively and rear-ended Dick from behind, ramming him with their headlights. The push on his back was extremely fierce!
Dick, who was clear-minded, completely released his nature. He let the three big horses line up in front of him and drive side by side. He was like an ancient chariot driver, using his "spear" to constantly thrust left and right, making the three beautiful horses constantly neigh with joy, and together they played a happy symphony.
This is how a succubus should be. After she has eaten and drunk her fill, she also wants to satisfy others.
But what surprised Dick was that he was not the only one who released his nature. Hongye, who was always serious and serious, also showed her true side under the strong impact of Dick. Her charming and soft waist allowed her to twist her body and kiss Dick even when she was penetrated from behind, greedily asking for the warm body fluids that tasted as sweet and delicious as honey, making Hongye feel intoxicated.
After all, succubus is also a demon. It is a fixed process that Momiji, as a demon ninja from the DOA fan work, will be defeated by desire in the end.
Fortunately, Dick is not an ugly monster or a greasy fat uncle, this wave at least has a good ending!
"My lord, 気木ちいい?!"
This exhilarating battle lasted until dawn. Surrounded by three plump bodies, Dick did not feel the slightest bit of fatigue, but only felt an unprecedented comfort.
The three girls were also very satisfied, savoring the afterglow of the climaxes.
But at this moment, Hongye suddenly let out a scream. Dick raised his head from Lukoya's cleavage and saw her sitting up and reaching out to touch her flat belly. In the small area of the triangle, there appeared an inverted triangle pink magic rune, which looked a bit like a tattoo, but it miraculously emitted a faint light.
Dick couldn't help but be stunned when he saw this. He was not unfamiliar with this pink rune, but as someone who had systematically studied magic, he was very sure that there should be no such thing as "× mark" in this world.
"What's going on?"
"I, I don't know. I just felt a little hot in my abdomen, and then I found this..."
Momiji looked confused as to the rune that appeared on her stomach, but Lukoa opened one eye to take a quick look, then spoke in a lazy tone.
"Congratulations, Miss Hongye, this is proof that you and Dick-kun have signed a deeper contract. If nothing unexpected happens, your slave contract should have been covered by this higher-level one. Without the restraint of that contract, you can now learn the power of this world."
100. Seeking talents like a thirst
Although he didn't sleep much the previous night, Dick came out of his hotel room full of energy early the next morning, ready to go to the headquarters of the Magicians' Association in the imperial capital to renew his membership certificate.
During his time in the imperial capital, Dick had always carefully concealed his true strength, only showing the level of a low-level magician to the outside world, practicing the survival rule of "playing pigs and eating tigers".
But that was a dormant period a few years ago after all. Now, times have changed and he is about to be conferred the title of Earl. At this stage, it is no longer meaningful to continue hiding his personal strength. Instead, it will attract criticism from others. It is better to show this trump card.
Anyway, he now has stronger cards, and far more than one.
Following the association's procedures, Dick applied for the high-level magician level assessment.
Unlike many fantasy works where the test only requires touching a crystal ball, the world here not only tests one's total amount of magic power, but also requires corresponding written tests and practical exercises.
And this is just the "level assessment". The professional title assessment is another set of processes, which is more complicated than this.
Dick did not plan to develop in the academic world, so it was enough for him to pass the level test. With his real ability, he was easily promoted to a high-level magician without much effort.
Under the awed gaze of the association staff, Dick received his own high-level magician certificate and badge. The magic world is relatively pure, and other magicians may not look up to you just because you are the son of a duke, but a 19-year-old high-level magician can!
However, just as Dick updated his membership certificate and was about to leave the association's headquarters, a black-haired young man in fancy clothes walked straight towards him, smiled and greeted him.
"Congratulations on passing the test, Senior Magician Dick."
"Uh... Your Excellency?"
"Call me Bailey. I'm a magic swordsman."
"His Royal Highness the Third Prince?"
"That's me. I'm here to take the level test as well. I heard that a high-level magician who is only 19 years old has emerged in the examination room next door, so I came here specifically to make friends. I wonder if I can have this honor?"
"It is my honor to have the friendship of Your Highness. I am Dick Best, and I am glad to meet you."
Dick politely shook hands with the third prince in front of him. He thought it was quite a coincidence, but in line with the principle of seeing through but not saying it out loud, he chose to cooperate with the other party's performance and see what the other party was up to first.
Slightly different from Dick, the third prince Bailey is a rare magic swordsman.
This profession is quite special. It sounds like "practicing both magic and martial arts" is very impressive, but in fact, if you want to learn both martial arts and magic at the same time, the difficulty is by no means as simple as "1+1=2".
Therefore, most of the magic swordsmen are neither high nor low, or they major in martial arts and only learn a few of the simplest low-level magic spells as auxiliary skills.
But the third prince was no ordinary person. Dick had heard of his talent in both magic and martial arts. He had already been promoted to a high-level warrior at the age of 20, and then he became interested in magic, so he changed his job and became a magic swordsman.
After the death of the old prince, the third prince, as the only adult prince left in the empire, was theoretically the best candidate to be appointed as the new crown prince. However, because the supporters behind the third prince were the southern nobles group headed by the Best family, the civil servants group headed by the prime minister did not want to see him take the throne.
Dick was actually very reluctant to have such a prominent figure approach him at this time, because he didn't want to get involved in the power struggle in the imperial capital, at least not now. He was eager to wait for the enthronement ceremony to be over in a few days, and then rush back to Laguge without stopping.
But the third prince Bailey obviously did not intend to let Dick go, and his attitude was very clear.
I'm so sorry for your friend!
To be honest, in the eyes of ordinary people, Dick was originally on the side of the Third Prince. After all, his surname was Best. Even if he was conferred the title of Earl and went to Laguge to set up his own faction, as long as Dick did not make a public statement, it would be assumed that his political stance had not changed.
Dick also realized at this moment that the Third Prince came here to make friends, probably because he saw his talent and wanted to recruit him to be an aide.
For many minor nobles or illegitimate children, this is indeed a good way out, but Dick does not need this way out. He just wants to politely refuse the other party.
At the same time, in the Duke's Mansion, Rune was processing official documents in the study. At this time, the butler came in and whispered a few words to him. The old duke nodded after listening, and the butler was a little confused.
"Master, didn't you want the Fifth Young Master to go to Prince Heinz before? Why did you suddenly change your mind and let our people go to inform His Royal Highness the Third Prince?"
"Haha, I haven't changed my mind. It's precisely because I hope that the fifth prince will side with the prince that I want the third prince to contact that kid first. His Royal Highness the Third Prince is a man who is eager to seek talents. As long as we spread the word and let him know that the fifth prince is a capable person, given his personality, he will definitely take the initiative to win him over. But you have to know that sometimes overdoing it will have the opposite effect."
The old duke smiled with a look of control over the situation. Knowing the Third Prince's style of doing things, he deliberately let the Third Prince know about Dick's feats in Laguge through the other party's intelligence network used to recruit talents. But he also knew that Dick probably would not want to get involved in the disputes in the imperial capital at this point in time.
Therefore, the more enthusiastic the third prince was, the more Dick would stay away from him.
The next step is to find a suitable opportunity for Prince Heinz and Dick to meet and get to know each other.
And this "right opportunity" will come the day after tomorrow if nothing unexpected happens.
In the evening, Dick finally returned to the Duke's Mansion with an invitation in his hand, which was forced upon him by the third prince.
The invitation invited him to attend a talent show at the Rose Court the day after tomorrow afternoon.
The Rose Garden is the royal garden of the imperial capital, and the so-called gathering of talented people is only held once a year in early autumn. Dick had heard a little about it before. It sounds like a gathering and salon that only high-end talents can attend, but in fact, those who go there are all young masters from powerful families.
It is worth mentioning that the Crown Prince had always been in charge of organizing the Elite Talent Conference before, but now that the Crown Prince has passed away, although the Third Prince has not officially ascended the throne as the new Crown Prince, he has been ordered to be in charge of organizing this year's Elite Talent Conference. This is undoubtedly a signal to the outside world.
To put it bluntly, this was a big party where a bunch of children of the empire's top officials gathered together to eat, drink and have fun. Dick thought about it and decided that since it was before his enthronement ceremony, there was nothing wrong with going there to eat and drink for free.
101. The Proud Third Prince
The Rose Garden is one of the eight "wonders" of the imperial capital.
This royal garden was built more than a hundred years ago. It is located in the center of Yuewan Lake in the inner ring of the imperial capital. It is an artificial island covering an area of 80,000 square meters. It uses magic barriers to isolate external climate changes and planted a large number of precious flowers, but roses are the main ones.
The main reason why this garden can be called a "wonder" is that the artificial island that serves as the base of the garden has the ability to fly.
On the night of the Elite Club, Dick set out from the hotel, and the only person he brought with him was Rita, while Hongye and Lukoa were sent to perform other tasks.
The master and servant rode in a carriage all the way to Yuewan Lake. After showing the invitation to the guards, they had to walk across the only bridge on the lake and enter the rose garden in the center of the lake.
Dick was not the only one from the Best family who was invited. His eldest brother Reinhardt also had an invitation, and he was also a good friend of the third prince Bailey.
In the past, only the eldest brother could go to Yingcai, and the other brothers and sisters could still tolerate it. But then the younger brother who had always been looked down upon by everyone also got an invitation, which made the other brothers feel very unhappy.
But no matter how unhappy they were, no one could show it on the surface. They even had to pretend to be friendly and respectful to each other and congratulate the fifth brother on winning the favor of His Royal Highness the Third Prince.
Speaking of which, the mentality of Dick's brothers is generally very subtle now. A year ago, they looked down on Dick, their younger brother with impure blood, from the bottom of their hearts. Seeing that Dick took the blame for his unlucky elder brother and was "exiled" to that hellhole of Laguge to be the governor, they were gloating in private.
As a result, a year later, he not only returned safely, but was also rewarded and conferred the title of earl for his meritorious service in suppressing bandits.
A mere third-class earl was indeed looked down upon by several arrogant brothers. What they wanted most was still their own prestigious dukedom.
But it's not entirely true to say that they don't envy Dick at all.
