Chapter 112: 111 This is Too Much of a Coincidence?

111 This is too much of a coincidence?

The Lane family… is truly finished…

Seeing the old duke, his neck wrapped in bandages, unable even to sit up, only half-propped on his hospital bed, the surrounding nobles all simultaneously formed similar thoughts.

After losing over two hundred clan members overnight, with nearly all their core strength dead, the only one capable of saving the family—the old duke—had his neck arteries severed, bled out excessively, and suffered heart failure; he now seemed to have only breath leaving, none entering.

One could say the Lane family's collapse had entered its final countdown; everything—except the hollow title of duke and the vice-chair seat in the Upper House—would be devoured by those present.

As they thought of this, the representatives sent by various noble houses to "witness the ceremony," or rather, to "pay their respects," exchanged glances, each revealing a silent, mutual understanding.

As one of the former twin pillars of the kingdom, the Lane family's "legacy" was undeniably vast; even after centuries of intermarriage, there was a sliver of kinship, but compared to that immense legacy, such sentiment was worth less than a fart.

As soon as the old duke relinquished his title and finally breathed his last, countless toothed mouths would lunge forward, devouring every scrap of fat and lean meat from the Lane family, even licking the bare bones clean and gleaming!

You damned hyenas! I'd rather feed the benefits to dogs than give them to you!

The old duke knew full well the nature of these "kin" families; seeing those eyes that appeared respectful but brimmed with ill intent, a deep venom flashed in his cloudy pupils, and he mustered the last of his lung air to let out a heavy grunt.

"Speak! I'm listening!"

The butler beside him, hearing the grunt, immediately bowed low and pressed his ear to the duke's mouth; the nobles instinctively held their breath, and the ward fell utterly silent.

After several labored breaths, the old duke finally managed to utter a few words.

"First… first in line? Why… why… hasn't he… yet… huff…"

The old butler understood: "first in line" did not refer to the dead Bobby Lane, but to the new first heir after the Lane Massacre.

After a brief exchange with the attendant, the old butler efficiently raised the duke's pillow to ease his breathing, then reported:

"He's arriving soon—the first heir is closest, right next door in the building beside this hospital; he'll be here any moment."

"Next… door?"

"Yes… next door…"

After a slight hesitation, the old butler still gave the truth:

"The current first heir is the original third heir. Eight years ago, he had a dispute with your brother… with Bobby Lane, and was struck on the back of the head with a club; though he didn't die, he became paralyzed—no sensation below the collarbone—so he could only…"

"Get out!"

Whether because of the first heir's condition or because he heard the name of the man who had reduced him to this, the old duke flew into a rage and gasped out a hoarse shout.

"Make him… that first… get out! Second! Second!"

Second…

Hearing this, the old butler clenched his teeth, then leaned in again and whispered:

"The second… is in the asylum. He once competed with Bobby… with that man for control of the arms company, then somehow went mad…"

Bobby Lane!!!

Hearing that name again, the old duke's heartbeat, nearly fallen to forty per minute, surged violently past eighty; his yellow, aged skin flushed with a sudden tint of red.

Damn you! Why so impatient? You only needed to wait a little longer! Just a few more years, and the Lane family would have been yours! You damned…

Thinking of his sharp, capable, yet utterly despicable brother, the old duke's eyes filled with deep anguish.

After being injured in his youth and losing his fertility, he had essentially raised this brother as his own son, and Bobby Lane did not disappoint—he used methods even the duke didn't fully understand, destroying rival families one by one, and successfully lifting his older brother to the dukedom; thus, the two brothers had always gotten along well.

He was raised as a son, and Bobby Lane did not disappoint, using methods he himself didn't fully understand to ruin his rivals' families and successfully elevate his older brother to the dukedom, so the two brothers had always gotten along well.

I knew you longed for my position, but why couldn't you wait even two more years? After I die, everything is yours!

Remembering his brother's betrayal, the old duke's weakened heart throbbed with dull pain; he whispered weakly: "Third! Fourth! Fifth! Are there any… any normal ones?"

"The third, fourth, and fifth heirs are all physically normal, but none are suitable—you should summon those further down the line…"

The old butler explained helplessly:

"The third and fourth heirs are twins, both under two years old; the younger one can't even say 'mother' yet. As for the fifth…"

"Here he is! The fifth heir has arrived!"????

Again, another cripple?

Seeing the wheelchair at the door and the bandaged figure upon it—Li Ang—the old duke, who had just regained a little strength, bulged his eyes and raised a trembling hand to point at him, shouting at the butler:

"You… you said the third, fourth, and fifth… were… all…"

"He only suffered skin injuries, and some infection at the wounds, but he is mentally normal."

His cloudy eyes moved up and down, assessing Li Ang, then the old duke gave a slight nod.

Though also a patient, at least he appeared a normal adult—better than the first four by far!

Although also a patient, he at least looked like a normal adult—no matter what, he was better than the previous four!

Feeling he was nearing his limit, the old duke instantly fixed on the heir, then ordered:

"Bring him… over! I must tell him how to deal with those… vultures… who covet… the Lane… family's… hye… hye…"

"This… perhaps you should look further down the line?"

Hearing the old duke's choice, the butler hesitated slightly, then suggested:

"He has black hair, not gold. And there are still several heirs after him; you don't necessarily have to choose from the top five…"

"He has black hair, not golden hair, and there are several others with inheritance rights; it's not necessary to choose from among the top five…"

Seeing the butler's hesitant, evasive expression, the old duke's gaze sharpened instantly.

"You… are hiding something… speak!"

"You… hide what… speak!"

"Speak now!"

Though worried about the duke's fragile state, the butler had been cornered; he reluctantly leaned close and whispered into his ear:

Though concerned about the old duke's capacity to endure, the butler had been pushed to this point and could only reluctantly lean close, whispering softly into his ear:

Hearing the butler's words, a torrent of complex, overwhelming emotions surged into the old duke's heart like a bursting river.

Upon hearing the old butler's words, countless extremely complex emotions surged into the old duke's heart like the Yellow River breaching its dikes.

Staring at the fellow who had killed his only brother yet at the same time avenged him, the old duke's heartbeat suddenly doubled, then doubled again, instantly spiking to one hundred sixty, and he actually sat bolt upright in bed, jabbing a finger at the bewildered Hearing Li Ang and bellowing:

"You! You! You! …Ugh!"

Lionheart Duke, dead.

……

【Under the gaze of the crowd, the Lionheart Duke named you his heir three times. You have obtained the silver-grade identity badge "Lionheart Duke"】

【Lionheart Duke: One of the Kingdom's Twin Pillars, twenty-ninth Duke of the Bobby Laien Family】

【Equip Effect: When interacting with those who acknowledge noble status, you naturally receive a certain degree of preferential treatment; conversely, you will incur their intense hostility】

【Advancement Path: None】

【Hidden Trait (no need to equip): Since you only belong to the Bobby Laien family in name and are not a true Bobby Laien by blood, if this fact is exposed, this badge will undergo unknown changes】