Chapter 3: First Blood

Four years had passed, and Leylin, now at the age of five, possessed a physique surpassing the norm for his age. His acting skills had reached a professional level, reminiscent of a renowned actor from his previous life. With the aid of the A.I. Chip, he had mastered the art of deception to such a degree that he could effortlessly fool even those who were intimately acquainted with him.

Currently, he sat in an opulent chair that exuded nobility, deeply engrossed in contemplation about the next steps in his carefully formulated plans. His thoughts revolved around how to further refine his mentality, making it better suited for this world, thus allowing him to adeptly navigate its intricacies while effectively upholding his cover.

{Leylin Farlier Image}

After some contemplation, he arrived at a decision regarding the next step. 'I should now proceed with the more challenging aspects of further enhancing my mentality, beginning with the experience of taking another being's life. This will undoubtedly be difficult for me, as I've never severely harmed any creature other than insects. Except for Fang Ming, I guess, though I suppose that doesn't count as it wasn't intentional, not to mention the lack of blood.'

"Elisa, come inside," Leylin ordered, and in response, a lovely 10-year-old girl entered the room. She possessed a charming appearance with long, flowing brown hair that cascaded gently around her shoulders, and her eyes shimmered in a deep shade of emerald green. Dressed in a maid's uniform, her stature barely reached 130 cm, underscoring her youthful presence in the room.

{Elisa's Image}

She served as his personal maid, a role assigned to her by his parents who were certain of her potential to be of great assistance to him in various capacities. Elisa was already receiving fundamental education in household maintenance, culinary skills, and, most importantly the art of bedroom affairs.

"Yes, master, you have summoned me," Elisa bowed respectfully before inquiring about the purpose of her presence. Her voice was characterized by a gentle and soothing tone that had a remarkable ability to put those in her vicinity at ease.

"Summon guards I spoke of earlier, and ask them to come to my room," Leylin instructed Elisa. After issuing the command, he picked up a book from the shelf and immersed himself in reading while awaiting the arrival of the guards. Leylin had discovered a sense of joy in reading since his reincarnation, speculating that it was due to the fact that he wouldn't forget the stories once he finished them.

The guards didn't keep him waiting for long; they arrived promptly and knelt before him. "Young master, we are here as you have ordered. What task do you wish for us to complete?" they inquired dutifully since Leylin was going to be a future noble head.

"Nothing of great importance, I simply require you to gather 5 male and 5 female death row criminals and escort them to the dungeon located in the castle's basement. In carrying out this task, you must ensure utmost discretion, as no one must become aware of this matter. Let me make it clear that your objections will not alter my decision, so comply with my orders as instructed, or be prepared to face the consequences," Leylin concluded, firmly conveying the potential repercussions of their defiance with a cold stare at the guards.

The guards hesitated briefly, exchanging uneasy glances, before bidding their farewells and departing to carry out Leylin's instructions. His stern glare served as a potent deterrent, and they were acutely aware of the severe consequences that defying their young master could bring, especially given their status as mere guards within the castle.

"I suppose I should also ready myself for the imminent moment. Hesitation won't serve me well; I must see this through to the end," Leylin muttered to himself. Returning back the book he had been holding to the shelf, he slowly rose from his seat, betraying subtle signs of trembling in his hands and legs.

He then retrieved the 80cm small sword that his father had given him as a present, even though it still felt weighty in his grasp, given his age of only five, despite having more strength than the average child. Holding the sword, he steeled himself and proceeded to the dungeon, where he would carry out the task of executing the ten criminals, determined to further adjust his mentality.

The slight thud of the sword hitting the ground echoed softly as Leylin made his way to the dungeon, the weightiness of the weapon evident in the trail it left. He only came to a halt upon reaching the dungeon, where he found the five guards in front of him, prompting them to place the criminals on their knees. The guards hesitated, lingering until Leylin issued a hand gesture coupled with another cold stare, compelling their reluctant exit.

"A.I. Chip, ensure that I don't succumb to clichés like vomiting or displaying any other weakness. I want to approach this differently than those feeble-minded and hypocritical protagonists," Leylin instructed as he forcefully lifted the sword before bringing it down on the prisoner in front of him.

The A.I. Chip promptly disabled the reactions that Leylin didn't want to display, suppressing any signs of weakness or clichéd responses. However, it left the emotional aspect untouched, as per Leylin's specific instructions, as he intended to gauge the strength of the mentality he had constructed.

This harrowing process resulted in Leylin experiencing nightmares for the entire week as he grappled with the memories of the victims he had callously killed. Nevertheless, this dark endeavor allowed the A.I. Chip to further refine his mentality without tampering with his core character.

He continued this distressing task for another twenty individuals. For the final ten, he specified that they should be innocent people aged between 16 and 26, individuals with their own lives. The path he tread sometimes necessitated getting his hands stained with the blood of ordinary people. However, he maintained a strict bottom line, refusing to take the lives of anyone younger than 8, acknowledging that most of them had yet to commit any wrongdoings and were still in the process of growing up.

Another realization that dawned on him was the discovery of the reason why nobles often allowed their children to abuse their power and take lives. It served as a survival strategy in a ruthless world where the strong thrived like kings, exercising god-like dominion over the weak.