World’s End: My Keyword is One More Than Others

Bask City.

Count's Mansion.

Count Greta was warmly entertaining the Araus family.

When the Araus family, exiled by Grand Duke Lynch, passed through his territory, he intercepted them. However, he did not send them back to the Count's Mansion.

"Viscount Araus, what martial soul did Holly fail to awaken back then?" Count Greta raised his glass to Wills Araus and asked with a smile.

"Your Excellency, my title has already been stripped by Grand Duke Lynch," Wills replied with trepidation, quickly pondering Count Greta's intentions.

During their exile, Holly had brought endless trouble and cold shoulders upon them. No one was willing to lend a helping hand.

When they passed through Count Greta's territory and were suddenly entertained by the Count, Wills felt both flattered and puzzled.

Their family's business had collapsed, and at this moment, he had no value left.

He especially didn't understand why the Count would mention Holly. By the timeline, Holly should have been dead for several days by now.

The exiled Araus family was cut off from information and knew nothing of what was happening outside.

"Wills, titles can be restored even if stripped. Holly's situation shouldn't implicate the innocent. Perhaps I can offer you some help in this matter," said Greta.

"Your Excellency, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Is there something I can help you with?" Wills grew increasingly cautious.

"Wills, don't be so tense. I simply admire you and want to be friends," Greta smiled, putting down his glass. "You're right, Holly isn't dead. Something special has happened to him. That's why I'm here to ask you about Holly. Only by telling me the truth can I help you."

"What happened to Holly?" Wills asked.

"He broke out of prison, along with all the heavy criminals in White Stone City Prison," Greta replied.

"Broke out?" Wills' eyes widened in shock. "He's just an ordinary person. How could he break out?"

"He shared a cell with Stephen Gao, Grand Duke Lynch's prized disciple, a mage. They caused some trouble in White Stone City. That's why I intercepted you, to ask about Holly," Greta said vaguely. "Wills, this is your chance to redeem yourself."

Wills keenly sensed something was off. He knew his son's nature.

If not for his protection, Holly would be a standard waste. Even if there was a prison break, the investigation should focus on Stephen Gao, not him.

So, something significant must have happened in White Stone City, with Holly at the center.

But he didn't know if this was good or bad, or what fate it would bring to the Araus family...

Under normal circumstances, inquiries about Holly should be interrogations, not hospitality. Wills looked at Greta and cautiously asked, "Your Excellency, what do you want to know?"

"What martial soul did Holly awaken back then?" Greta asked.

"Crimson Gold Leopard," Wills hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Are you sure?" Greta was taken aback.

"Yes, Holly's martial soul had half-awakened, revealing the shape of a Crimson Gold Leopard. At that time, I thought the Araus family would produce a five-star martial soul powerhouse and was very excited, but it ultimately failed."

Wills had too little information, but he didn't dare not answer Count Greta.

After much thought, he gave an answer. He didn't think Holly's failed martial soul awakening would matter.

Even if Holly was mixed up with Stephen Gao, could they possibly oppose Grand Duke Lynch?

Deep down, Wills was already very resentful of Holly, who had caused such a catastrophe and harmed the entire family.

Seeing a glimmer of hope for the family's redemption, Wills no longer wanted to shield that ungrateful son.

After speaking, Wills felt much lighter and asked again, "Count Greta, can I know what exactly happened to Holly?"

"Unfortunately, Wills, you need to be mentally prepared. Holly might already be dead," Count Greta looked at Wills and suddenly sighed.

Wills was stunned. "But you just said he broke out!"

"Holly did break out," Greta said, "but it wasn't led by Stephen Gao. Holly awakened a ten-star martial soul in prison, helped Stephen Gao break free from his mental cage, defeated Warden Levi Carl, who had a seven-star martial soul, and the next day, single-handedly defeated Grand Duke Lynch and took over White Stone City..."

Greta briefly recounted some of the things Du Ge had done. Wills' heart raced faster and faster, and he couldn't help but retort, "That's impossible. I know Holly. He's definitely not that strong..."

"Wills, you're right," Greta nodded. "When you told me Holly's failed martial soul was the Crimson Gold Leopard, I already knew Holly was no longer himself. There's a high chance he's been possessed by an evil god."

"Possessed by an evil god?" Wills swallowed hard.

"Yes, the kind of evil god that delights in causing disasters among humans," Greta said. "To plunge the world into greater chaos, he even whitewashed Holly's past deeds, making the foolish masses madly adore him and become his followers."

"Whitewashed?" Wills frowned. "Holly did so many wrong things. Can his evil deeds be whitewashed?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"He told the world that Holly's failed martial soul was a precognitive type. Although it had no soul power, it could foresee disasters on others..." Greta looked at Wills and simply recounted what Du Ge had done in White Stone City.

Wills was completely stunned. At this moment, his mind was filled with thoughts of how this could be possible, how it could be done, and how amazing it was!

"Wills, what are you thinking?" Greta asked.

"Nothing!" Wills shook his head in panic.

"Let's cooperate!" Greta said.

"Cooperate on what?" Wills instinctively asked.

"The one possessing Holly is a wise evil god. He has almost fooled all the people in Grand Duke Lynch's territory," Greta looked seriously at Wills. "Only you, Wills, Holly's biological father, can expose his true nature and wake up the people he's deceived, saving this world."

Wills took a sip of his red wine and fell into deep thought.

"Wills, that's no longer your son. You can't still be hoping that an evil god will bring glory to the Araus family!" Greta frowned. "He's using Holly's name to establish himself as king, which will only bring greater disaster to the Araus family. If you distance yourself from him now, when His Majesty of Lucerne quells the rebellion, the Araus family will surely regain its former glory, maybe even more."

"Count Greta, Holly defeated Grand Duke Lynch. Even you are under his mental cage. If we expose his true nature now, it will only invite his wrath," Wills said awkwardly. "Count, can we really deal with a mad evil god with our strength?"

"Wills, I never fight unprepared battles," Greta smiled. "A day ago, His Holiness the Pope had already set out to exterminate the evil god and rescue Grand Duke Lynch. The Pope is the messenger of the Sun God. You wouldn't think an evil god could defeat His Holiness, would you?"

Seeing Wills' astonished look, Greta patted his shoulder. "Recruiting you is a secret order from the Pope. Our mission is to undermine the influence Holly has established in Grand Duke Lynch's territory. Wills, seize this opportunity. The future of the Araus family depends on whether we succeed this time."