"Short-sighted, with no ambition, has your brain fully developed in your body? If you wish to become the wife of God, you must assist him when he is at his weakest and accompany him through all the hardships. Only then is there a slight possibility, rather than indulging in a spring and autumn dream, daydreaming here!"

His rebuke and scolding were among the harshest words he could conceive, intending to use them to provoke his incompetent daughter into accepting the family’s arrangement.

"Father, either kill me today, or don’t expect me to marry that gangster commoner!"

"Smack!" A slap landed heavily on her face.

She was instantly stunned; it was the first time her father had hit her. Previously, no matter how strict he was, he had never struck her.

"If you weren’t my daughter, I wouldn’t give such an opportunity to a fool like you. At the age of twelve, others can create magical engravings that even I can’t understand and can establish a gang capable of almost taking over Roland City in a matter of days."

"Such a person is likely to become a hero in the future, maybe even a member of the Praise Society, yet you, short-sighted and unambitious, dare to... cough cough cough..." He started to cough, his face turning pale and then red.

However, Belie remained silent, looking at her father with resentment.

"Whether you agree or not, this is the family’s requirement, and it’s also your fate as a noblewoman. Having enjoyed the comforts provided by the family, you naturally need to consider the family’s interests."

After he said this, his trusted aide entered from outside the door and said, "Patriarch, the other servants and maids in the room have all been dealt with."

"The eldest lady is tired, escort her to the carriage, then present the invitation and formal letter to the leader of the Xiao Organization for review and invite him to meet with Patriarch Alben tomorrow," said Patriarch Alben.

He hesitated slightly, then continued, "Also invite him to participate in the Alben family’s annual family sacrifice a few days later, a grand event attended by members of the Praise Society."

"Understood, I comprehend," the aide promptly withdrew.

"Father, I will hate you..."

"Shut up!" Patriarch Alben, rarely willing to speak further with this daughter who couldn’t understand her circumstances, even regretted why he had this daughter 14 years ago.

In truth, he no longer wanted to send this fool for the marriage alliance; he feared she would ruin everything.

There were many women among his nephews and nieces, but perhaps due to selfishness or because he wanted his foolish daughter to fully understand reality, he decisively made this decision.

Marrying and facing reality should stop this fantastical way of thinking, right?

This is his current thought.

...

Soon, Xue Dili received the official invitation and insignia from Patriarch Alben.

This time, unlike the casualness of the previous occasion, there was a special envoy delivering the invitation, directly representing Patriarch Alben, which was tantamount to announcing to all of Roland City that the Alben Family supports the Xiao Organization.

After all, the Xiao Organization had not yet come into direct conflict with noble interests, as they had only targeted gang members, who directly harassed them. As for the higher echelons of nobility, the Organization had no conception of them.

It’s like in ancient times, if someone was bullied by a tyrant, they would only hate that individual and perhaps his family, unaware that he might be a distant relative of a eunuch in the Imperial Palace, far removed from their hatred.

And in Xue Dili’s observation, this world was even more closed and backward than ancient times; not to mention other cities, 99.9% of people lived their entire lives on one street, never even visiting other neighborhoods.

In such a society, members of the Xiao Organization couldn’t even recognize that their true adversaries were the nobles, simply believing that once the gangs were eliminated, life would improve.

However, this was beneficial for Xue Dili, who sought to rely on the Alben Family to get closer to Mephisto.

"Reporting to the leader, the patriarch’s own daughter, the eldest lady of the Alben Family, has already set out and is expected to arrive here before tonight. After tonight, the patriarch invites you to tomorrow’s family banquet as well as the family ceremony initiated by the main family of Alben in a few days." The messenger was extremely courteous.

Like a professional diplomat, and although Xue Dili was only twelve in body, there was no semblance of disdain, at least on the surface.

Xue Dili thought to himself, this was truly the demeanor of nobility.

He nodded and replied, "I have witnessed the sincerity of the Alben Family; from now on, I am willing to serve the family. As for the eldest lady..."

"The patriarch has said, once married, she is free; the Alben Family has no excessive rules or demands."

Xue Dili offered a smile and saw the envoys off from the base.

Once they left, Xue Dili’s smile immediately vanished, revealing a blank expression. Using the Cursed Blood to stimulate facial muscles, he controlled his features—an art he had perfected.

"I thought they would be more resolute, at least revealing their hand after my refusal a couple of times, but I only declined once, and they completely exposed themselves," Xue Dili mused.