sovbooks Chapter 1 Unlocking the Rubik's Cube
Chapter 1 Unlocking the Rubik's Cube
Inside the Earl of Chengshi's mansion in the Kingdom of Atlantis.
Today is the Chinese New Year, a day symbolizing family reunion in mainland China. The servants of the mansion are extremely busy. Earl Chengshi is getting old, and each one will be one less time to celebrate it.
Three young people who looked alike stepped into the ornately decorated hall one after another.
Leading the way was Victor, the Earl's eldest son. He was calm and composed, highly regarded by the Earl, and the most popular candidate to inherit the territory.
Following closely behind was the second son, Simon, who possessed exceptional business acumen and made significant contributions to the region's economic prosperity, earning him numerous supporters within the territory.
The young man at the very back was named Lin Wei, and he was an illegitimate child.
He was born to the count and a commoner woman after the count got drunk, and his mother died shortly after his birth.
Whether it was because the count had few children or out of guilt, the count doted on Lin Wei, even more than his two older brothers.
Whether it was equestrian training or learning aristocratic etiquette, the Earl required Lin Wei to follow the same standards as his two elder brothers, never lowering them in the slightest.
Of course, due to his status, Lin Wei had no chance of inheriting the title.
Neither Victor nor Simon took their adopted younger brother, Lin Weitai, seriously.
At this moment, all the other members of the group had arrived in the hall, except for Earl Chengshi and the head butler.
Victor and Simon were chatting casually with the people around them.
However, those who pay attention can sense that the two brothers, though seemingly chatting casually, are actually subtly at odds with each other.
Victor picked up his glass, a smile on his face, and raised it to his unusually quiet underling, Lin Wei, teasingly saying, "Lin Wei, it's been a week. What's wrong with you today? You're barely saying a word."
Simon joined in the fun, jokingly saying, "You've probably fallen for some girl, you seem quite preoccupied."
"The girl is lovely, but don't forget your father's expectations for you. They're even higher than for the two of us!" Simon added. The two brothers, one after the other, vividly portrayed Lin Wei as a lazy, spoiled illegitimate son.
Lin Wei couldn't get a word in edgewise, so he could only smile bitterly and drink one glass of wine after another in silence.
Ever since the old count’s health deteriorated, the status of his illegitimate son, Lin Wei, has plummeted.
"What we can confirm now is that the previous owner of this body was killed by the people here." Lin Wei thought to himself, "I never expected that after an accident, I would actually travel to this medieval-like world."
Lin Wei has been in this world for several days now, and he has been trying to digest the memories of his former owner in his mind.
"This is troublesome. Illegitimate children are most likely to become sacrifices at such a critical moment of power transition." Lin Wei groaned inwardly. "Right now, the only thing I can rely on is that slowly rotating six-sided Rubik's Cube in my mind."
"But this Rubik's Cube only has one purple cube that keeps filling in, as if it's unlocking a new function. The other five faces are shrouded in mist, and you can't see them at all."
After a while, Earl Chengshi, looking sickly, finally arrived. He was sitting in a wheelchair and was slowly pushed into the hall by the head butler.
"Ahem, sorry to have kept you all waiting."
"The Earl of Chengshi said weakly, looking like a wilted eggplant, extremely weak."
"Father!"
"My Lord Earl!"
Everyone in the hall immediately stood up and greeted the old count with respect.
Lin Wei looked at the sickly old count and his heart tightened.
He hadn't expected the old count to be so weak, that he might suddenly pass away any day.
"It seems the old count's time is running out, and so is mine."
As for the middle-aged man behind the count, he was the head steward of the territory.
He was a partner who had followed the Earl in his early years and made great achievements. He was the second most important person in the Earl's territory, holding a high position and great power.
As the old count took his seat, the atmosphere gradually became more lively.
Stewards and commanders from all over the territory rushed forward to flatter him, saying all sorts of nice things.
During this time, Lin Wei also exchanged glances with the Earl several times. He could feel the deep fatherly love in the Earl's eyes, as well as the undisguised worry.
"Buzz!"
Just as Lin Wei put a piece of turkey meat into his mouth, the purple face of the six-sided Rubik's Cube in his mind was completely pieced together.
A flash of purple crossed his eyes, but he quickly returned to normal.
"What's going on? What happened?" Lin Wei was startled, but managed to calm himself down.
The next moment, the once bustling hall became exceptionally clear in his ears.
He could hear everyone's conversation clearly, even the whispers of people sitting at the end of the table, dozens of meters away.
"It looks like the Earl won't last much longer, old friend. What are your plans?"
"Of course I'll follow Second Young Master Simon. Only he can lead our territory to better and better. What about you?"
"you guess?"
"Could it be that illegitimate son, Lin Wei?!"
"Hahaha, how could that be? I'm not stupid!"
......
The aforementioned conversation, coming from every corner of the hall, flooded into Lin Wei's mind with unparalleled clarity, like a tidal wave.
"My hearing has become exceptionally sensitive, and my brain can easily process so much information without getting overwhelmed. It's truly amazing."
Lin Wei also discovered that each person's name was floating above their head.
Even more surprisingly, two additional items, "Attitude" and "Inner Thoughts," appeared below the name.
Most people's "attitude" is displayed as "indifferent" and "somewhat critical", while a few people's "keep at arm's length" is displayed.
"Good grief, I guess this attitude represents my personal opinion. The original owner really had a miserable time, and in the end, this mess has to fall on my shoulders." Lin Wei secretly groaned.
As for the eldest brother Victor and the second brother Simon, their attitudes are described as "hostile," while their father, the old count, is described as "unreserved."
Lin Wei pondered to himself, "These three's attitude towards me is just as I expected. But I don't understand why the head butler's attitude towards me is also 'full of hostility'?"
In his memory, the two did not have much contact. The head butler was always very polite to him, just like he treated his other two brothers. He was a kind-hearted man.
This left Lin Wei completely baffled.
Just as Lin Wei was about to study the "Inner Voice" item, the old count raised his silver spoon and tapped it lightly on his wine cup, signaling everyone to be quiet; he had something to say.
In an instant, the previously noisy hall fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on the old count.
"My old friends, thank you all for your selfless dedication to the territory over the years. I don't have much time left. In order to ensure a smooth handover of the territory after my death, I have decided to announce my will while I am still alive, and I ask that you all be my witnesses."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Wei could clearly feel that his older brother Victor and his second brother Simon were breathing rapidly.
Simon, the second brother, clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. After all, he was not the eldest son, and his chances of inheriting the title were slim.
"After my death, my title of Earl of Chengshi will be inherited by my eldest son, Victor, and the right to trade with the Kingdom's Chamber of Commerce will be managed by my second son, Simon. As for the military power within the territory, it will be controlled by my youngest son, Lin Wei."
"Yes, Father." Lin Wei and the other two looked at each other and replied in unison.