Gallon, who was approaching adulthood, wasn’t stupid. He knew perfectly well that the esteemed Duke before him was helping him rebuild his confidence.

No one had ever spoken to him like this, not even when he was very young. Even back then, before his mother started berating and beating him, she would always tell him that he had to become a Gene Fusion Expert in the future so he wouldn’t embarrass her.

Even the people closest to him had always made demands of him.

"Thank you," Gallon said. He thought he was smiling, but tears were streaming down his face uncontrollably.

Lu Xia watched him weep uncontrollably. Though a little surprised, she found it understandable.

She had a staff member bring tissues over and handed them to Gallon. "Cry now, so you won’t have to cry later."

Gallon nodded through his tears, trying to thank Lu Xia at the same time. He was quite a mess for a moment.

But Lu Xia didn’t console him further. Gallon wasn’t a child anymore. There were some things that didn’t need to be said more than once. How much he understood was up to him.

After all, many lessons in life cannot be taught.

Graces’s re-test report came back without a hitch. But when he emerged, he was followed by an older researcher in a white lab coat.

The moment he saw Lu Xia, he hurried over before Graces could even speak. "Greetings, Duke Lu Xia. It’s my honor to meet you here. We just re-tested Lord Graces’s gene fusion degree and found it has jumped from 23% to 78%! I asked him what happened... this is a miracle! No, a divine act!"

Lu Xia glanced at Graces, who stood quietly to the side, a pleased look on his face. She hadn’t expected his gene fusion degree to have risen again, from the previous 75% to 78%. Reaching the Empire’s highest gene fusion degree of 80% was now only a matter of time.

As for the man’s enthusiastic attitude, Lu Xia wasn’t surprised. She spoke with composure, "That is good news. And you are?"

"I am Dr. Seresi from the Gene Research Institute. This is my business card. I came to discuss something with you. Lord Graces’s case is exceptionally rare. In him, we see the future of gene fusion. If we can find the answers through him, can we not dare to imagine an Empire with no more defective males? Think of how many tragedies that would prevent. Don’t you agree?"

How could Lu Xia fail to read between the lines? Dr. Seresi was putting her on a pedestal, preparing to lecture her on morals and responsibility.

She simply said, "I don’t understand any of that. Doctor, you’d better just get to the point."

’I’m just a female who only knows how to eat, drink, and play. How could I possibly understand all that nonsense?’

’Sometimes, the rumors my predecessor left behind can be quite useful.’

And just as she expected, Seresi’s expression froze. He clearly hadn’t anticipated that she wouldn’t even bother to put on an act.

He cleared his throat. "What I mean is, I’m hoping Lord Graces will sign a consent form to voluntarily participate in a gene research study. I’ve just been told he is a military officer. As such, he should be willing to dedicate himself to the Empire."

"Dedication?" Lu Xia scoffed. "I don’t know if he has any, but I certainly don’t. ’Voluntarily participating in gene research’ sounds like a thankless task. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, Doctor. Surely you understand that. Or are you trying to use his military status to guilt-trip him?"

At moments like this, Lu Xia’s shrewdness shone through. Her ability to see right through his tactics made cold sweat bead on Seresi’s forehead.

He had originally thought that persuading Graces’s Female Master to sign the voluntary research agreement wouldn’t be difficult.

After all, females—especially powerful ones—were usually eager to do things for the Empire.

Besides, it was only a husband participating in the study. It wouldn’t affect them as the Female Master in the slightest. Why wouldn’t they agree to sign a piece of paper?

But what was this?

This Duke Lu Xia was impossible to fool.

"You’re right. Even though it’s a voluntary research agreement, we can’t ask Lord Graces to participate for nothing. We will provide some financial compensation, and you—"

Lu Xia cut him off with another sneer. "Do I look like I need your pocket change? I’m refusing. ’Voluntary gene research’ doesn’t sound like anything good. My Graces has finally seen the end of his suffering and can live the life he wants, and you expect him to cooperate with your bullshit research? In your dreams. Where were you when he was down on his luck? Don’t give me that nonsense. I refuse. Is that clear enough?"

More sweat dripped from Seresi’s forehead. He’d never imagined Duke Lu Xia would be so utterly unpatriotic. Guilt-tripping was completely useless against her.

’Is Graces really just her husband?’

’Is a mere husband really worth her protecting him so fiercely?’

He was starting to question everything.

Seeing Seresi stay silent, head bowed as he wiped away sweat, Lu Xia continued, "Oh, right. My Graces just became a Gene Fusion Expert. Doesn’t your... institute, or whatever it is, have any benefits? Everyone says there are so many perks to becoming a Gene Fusion Expert. What are they? Go on, tell me. It’s not all just a load of crap, is it?"

A bitter taste filled Seresi’s mouth. He hadn’t managed to get anything from her, and now she was the one demanding things from him.

And yet, he couldn’t just say nothing. "The Gene Research Institute provides one week of free training for everyone who successfully completes gene fusion. There are also regular free physical exams, a monthly stipend, and discounts on gene-related medication."

"That’s it? And here I thought it was something good. When all is said and done, only the training sounds decent, but that’s just for your Institute’s intelligence gathering, isn’t it? We don’t need the monthly check-ups; I have my own research institute. You don’t need to worry about Graces’s health from now on." At this, Lu Xia shot Graces a look of utter disgust. "I thought I’d get some perks out of you becoming a Gene Fusion Expert, but it turns out there’s nothing. Tsk. I have no idea what those people who are so impressed with Gene Fusion Experts are after. Empty promises? Hilarious!"

With that, Lu Xia turned and left in a hurry with her entourage, as if staying a second longer would be an embarrassment.

Graces and Gallon followed closely behind, exiting the lobby of the Gene Testing Center.

However, compared to Graces’s composure, Gallon seemed both bewildered and faintly excited.

’Duke Lu Xia was so amazing just now!’