Chapter 14: Mei’s transformation

Ethan lounged lazily on his couch, arms sprawled over the plush green cushions. His chamber, decorated in elegant green and white, radiated a peaceful atmosphere—

Behind him, Ellie stood in her usual silent posture, an ever-watchful shadow. In front of him stood Mei Suzane, a young woman with striking Eastern features. Her silky black hair cascaded to her lower back, and her dark eyes, once filled with hesitation, now gleamed with a quiet power.

Mei had changed.

Five years of relentless training had hardened her, molding her into the blade she swore to become for Ethan. She was no longer the lost girl who once trembled at the thought of failure—she had survived, climbed, fought, and earned her place.

But Ethan wasn’t satisfied yet.

He studied her, his green eyes flickering with something unreadable. “How’s the Tower treating you?” he asked, his voice light, yet carrying an undertone of expectation.

Mei immediately knelt, head lowered. “My lord, with the resources you’ve provided, I encountered no difficulty clearing Floor 20.”

She wasn’t exaggerating. With the sheer number of platinum coins, potions, and skill books Ethan had dumped on her, Floor 20—a brutal war survival challenge—had been nothing more than an extended training session.

Ethan nodded, satisfied. Then, without hesitation, he spoke bluntly.

“I called you here to unlock your bloodline.”

Silence.

Mei blinked. “ ... My what?”

Even Ellie, ever composed, tilted her head slightly.

Ethan smirked. That was the expected reaction.

Bloodlines were no joke. Even among powerful families, they were rare and often tied to ancient legacies. Ethan’s own family had none. So the fact that Mei—an orphaned maid, supposedly picked up off the streets—possessed one? That was suspicious.