Chapter 112

The Lyne family… is truly finished…

Seeing the old duke, his neck wrapped in bandages, unable even to sit up, only half-reclining on his hospital bed, the surrounding nobles all couldn’t help but think similar thoughts.

Having lost over two hundred clan members in a single night, with nearly all their core strength dead, the only one capable of saving the family—the old duke—now lay dying, his neck arteries severed, bleeding out until heart failure set in; he was barely breathing, with only air leaving his body and none entering.

One could say the Lyne family’s collapse had entered its final countdown; apart from the hollow title of duke and a seat in the Upper Academy, everything else would be devoured by those present.

As this thought crossed their minds, the representatives sent by each noble house to “witness” or rather “mourn,” exchanged glances, their expressions silently understood.

As one of the former twin pillars of the kingdom, the Lyne family’s “legacy” was undeniably vast; even after centuries of intermarriage, there might have been a sliver of kinship—but compared to that immense legacy, such sentiment was worth less than a fart.

As soon as the old duke surrendered his title and finally breathed his last, countless sharp-toothed mouths would lunge forward, devouring every last scrap of fat and lean meat from the Lyne 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 with the last of his breath, he let out a heavy, guttural grunt.

“Speak! I’m listening!”

The butler beside him immediately bowed low, pressing his ear to the duke’s lips; the nobles instinctively held their breath, and the ward fell utterly silent.

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

“First… the first heir? Why… why… hasn’t he… come yet… hah…”

The old butler understood: the “first heir” did not refer to the deceased Bobby Lyne, but to the new first heir after the Lyne Massacre.

After a brief exchange with the attendant, the butler efficiently propped up the duke’s pillow to ease his breathing, then reported:

“He’s on his way. The first heir is closest—he’s in the building next door. He’ll arrive any moment.”

“Next… door?”

“Yes… next door…”

After a slight hesitation, the 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 Lyne, and was struck on the back of the head with a club. He didn’t die, but 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 erupted in fury, gasping out a hoarse shout.

“Make him… that first… get out! Second! Second!”

Second…

Hearing this, the butler clenched his teeth, then leaned in again, whispering:

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

Bobby Lyne!!!

Upon hearing that name again, the old duke’s heartbeat, nearly dropped to forty per minute, surged past eighty, and his aged, sallow skin flushed with a sudden tint of red.

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

Thinking of his sharp, capable, yet utterly despicable brother, the old duke’s eyes filled with profound pain.

After being injured in his youth and losing his fertility, he had essentially raised this brother as his own son.

And Bobby Lyne did not disappoint—he used methods even the duke didn’t fully understand, destroying rival families one by one, and successfully lifting his elder brother to the dukedom; their bond had always been strong.

But… but why did you rush so much?

I knew you wanted my seat long ago—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 clenched with dull pain; weakly, he whispered: “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 butler explained helplessly:

“The third and fourth heirs are twins, under two years old; the younger one can’t even say ‘mother.’ As for the fifth…”

“He’s here! The fifth heir is here!” ????

Another cripple?

Seeing the wheelchair at the door, and Leon, wrapped in bandages upon it, the old duke—who had just regained a little strength—stared wide-eyed, raised his trembling hand, and shouted at the butler:

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

“He only suffered skin injuries, with some infection at the wounds, but he is mentally sound.”

The cloudy eyes moved up and down, assessing Leon’s condition; the old duke slowly nodded.

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

“Then… let him be it!”

Feeling he was nearing his limit, the old duke firmly named his successor, then ordered:

“Bring him… over! I must tell him how to deal with those… vultures… who covet… the Lyne… family’s… hye… hye…”

“Perhaps… you should look further down the line?”

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

“He has black hair, not gold. There are still several heirs after him—there’s no need to choose only from the top five…”

“Hmm?”

From the butler’s hesitant expression, the old duke instantly sensed he was hiding something; his gaze sharpened.

“What… are you hiding? Speak!”

“…”

“Speak now!”

Though worried about the duke’s fragile state, the butler had no choice; he leaned close and whispered:

“Your brother… was killed by him.” ?!!

Hearing the butler’s words, a torrent of complex emotions—like a bursting dam—flooded the old duke’s heart.

Looking at the man who had killed his only brother, yet also avenged him, the old duke’s heartbeat doubled, then doubled again, surging to one hundred sixty—then, with a sudden jerk, he sat upright on the bed, pointing at Leon—who looked utterly bewildered—and roared:

“You! You! You!… uh!”

The Lionheart Duke died.

…

【Under the gaze of all, the Lionheart Duke named you heir three times. You have obtained the Silver-tier identity badge: “Lionheart Duke.”】

【Lionheart Duke: One of the Kingdom’s Twin Pillars, Twenty-Ninth Duke of the Lyne Family】

【Wearing Effect: Automatically gains favor when interacting with those who recognize noble status; provokes intense hostility from those who do not.】

【Advancement Path: None】

[Hidden Trait (No Need to Wear): Since you are only nominally part of the Lyne family and not by true bloodline, exposure of this fact will cause the badge to undergo unknown changes.]