Kyon left the mansion and leaned against the wall taking a deep breath. He had just taken his only chance of the day, the opportunity to get out of the mental trap of love. He had spent too much Synergy on resisting the curse. It would take a long time to recover. He’d better not see his love any time soon or all his plans would go down the drain.

Kyon took out the sound transmitter and dialed Marina. He asked her how things were going with Flitz. She told him she was taking care of the old man as he hated hospitals. At the moment, he was getting better in his mansion.

Kyon announced his imminent visit to Flitz with Juno and finished the call. Then he told the lady to get ready for the trip to the old man.

{Flitz is lucky to have such a beautiful maid! Marina doesn’t seem to be afraid of him anymore. Does her happiness lie in making him happy?} - Questions were swarming in his head. However, they were not the reason for his trip. Kyon was building a foundation for his further actions in the Stone family. He needed a new personality.

Soon, the servants brought a huge chestnut horse to the entrance. The magnificent powerful stallion is of great value. He is a symbol of the past greatness of the Stones. His proud disposition relates to his tremendous speed and almost inexhaustible endurance.

The horse glanced at Kyon and snorted contemptuously. The Stones of the 1st rank only were allowed to ride mustang the mighty.

Three guards rode up on horses to protect the lady during the journey. Even her own estate was not the safest place.

A minute later, Juno ran out of the mansion with a radiant smile on her face. She was dressed in her favourite short gray skirt and silver blouse. The girl looked like a delightful angel that could bewitch anyone with her dazzling natural beauty.

The young lady waved her golden hair, looked at her servant and climbed the noble steed. He did not resist. However, as soon as Kyon jumped in front of her, the stallion neighed and reared. He nearly knocked Juno to the ground.

Juno grabbed Kyon's waist just in time.

«Are you looking to get yourself killed, scoundrel?!» - The outraged guard roared at a couple of steps from the servant. His hand was glowing with azure cold.

«Everyone, say put!» - Juno shouted, frightened by the turn of events. - «If you dare to rear up again, you will starve for three days, inadequate animal!»

The horse bowed his head and clanged his hind hooves as a sign of apology.

«And you?! If you raise your hand to my servant once again I will have your head chopped off!!» - Juno threatened the guard.

The man swallowed, fearful of what was coming and bowed to her. «I-I am sorry, my lady… I thought that servants…»

«Think less and you will live longer.»

«Yes, my lady.» - The guard bowed.

From now on, the guards would let the servant be. Until the young lady showed her displeasure, they wouldn’t dare to go against the boy.

{Hmm... Maybe she doesn’t need code number one?} - Kyon wondered.

Code 1 imposes a strong cage of orders. Because of her ample freedom of action, Juno had saved Kyon from the sticky situation.

Kyon pulled the reins in the direction of Flitz’s mansion.

The stallion reluctantly obeyed. Once his owner was Yurich himself. Now a rootless creature was riding him at the young lady’s whim. The horse could feel the family members’ formation at a distance. The rider on his back had none. What a shame! What a bitter pill to swallow...

{How come that the slave born in the slums has excellent riding skills?} - Juno wondered.

She felt embarrassed by her arms still around Kyon’s waist. However, as soon as she removed them, the bastard pulled the reins, and she almost fell. She had to hold tight at him.

{What a jerk! He does it on purpose!} - Juno had an urge to pinch his ass. She couldn’t help asking herself what if the servant liked her arms around him?

The guards looked at each other in silence. They emanated a subtle aura of bloodthirst. Their beautiful lady was hugging a servant! And he acted up as soon as she loosened her grip!

Kyon frowned. A vague feeling was smoldering in his soul like a piece of coal in the fire. He had never felt anything like this before.

Soon the servants received their precession in front of the large mansion that belonged to Flitz.

Juno ordered the guards to wait outside. Kyon followed her as befit a servant. But when they came out of the guards’ sight, he grabbed Juno by the sleeve and pushed her behind his back.

The young lady opened her mouth with indignation. She was speechless by his blatant show of insolence.

The beautiful blonde girl met the couple with a dazzling smile at the entrance to the mansion. - «Juno! Kyon!» - With these words, she threw herself into Juno’s arms and gently shook Kyon’s hand.

Marina was in a wonderful mood. Her eyes sparkled with the fire of life. The maid beamed with happiness. She was sweet like a fresh rose. Dressed in a sexy maid uniform, she provoked a natural desire in any healthy man. Kyon felt uneasy.

«Juno, keep yourself busy. I need to talk to Marina in private.»

«You can’t take my friend from me!» - The little devil objected.

Kyon took embarrassed Marina by the hand, led her to the nearest room and closed the door right in front of Juno's nose. She became even more furious, growled in anger and stamped her foot.

«Is it okay to wear this revealing outfit around Flitz?» - Kyon asked.

The blonde straightened her short skirt looking at the floor and smiled at him. – «Thank you for your concern... It’s okay. I guess Flitz has changed. He doesn’t harass me anymore. Our time together showed his new traits. I‘ve seen him from a new perspective. He can be kind, caring, sensible. He is willing to do anything to earn my forgiveness. He hears me out, supports, protects and helps me in everything! He turned into a perfect master... But he is not my master… At least that’s what I thought... Hmm.»

Kyon thought: {Stockholm Syndrome?} - «Do you love him?»

«I don’t think so... He was so handsome in the image of Frantz. He was full of life and enthusiasm! But now... I do not know how to put it. He seems to have turned into my granddad, kind, loving and caring. Once, he saved me from living on the street. He had been caring for me all these years. I am endlessly grateful to him and I will not leave him alone... But my attitude to Frantz was a little different. I'm confused. It’s one person, after all!»

{I see... The ugly old man scares her off. Young Flitz - Franz was a different person for her. That’s why she acted like a silly girl in love.} - «I know what you mean. Why are you looking at the floor?» - He laid his hand on her shoulder.

Marina looked up and stroked her hair, embarrassed. - «I am worried about Flitz. He coughs too much, and his eyes are sometimes empty... I get it… He is in his late 130s… So…» - She said in a trembling voice, failing to hold back her tears.

Kyon held her tenderly stroking her hair, trying to calm her down.

{The stress might bring the old man to the grave in the coming year.} - Kyon kept thinking about returning his debt to Marina. He came up with a nice idea at the party. For its implementation, he needed the Student degree of Synergy (2).

Kyon talked to Marina about her life, then gave some instructions to Juno and went up to Flitz's room.

The formacist was in bed smoking his pipe, his frozen eyes stared at the ceiling.

When he saw who had entered his room, he pushed himself into a sitting position.

«Juno, what the hell are you doing here?! If you dare to take Marina from me, I…»

«Marina decided to stay. I am not going to talk her out of it.» - Juno muttered.

«Then why did you come?» - The old man's penetrating eyes shifted to Kyon.

Juno answered:

«I want you to give my servant a family member formation.»

Flitz coughed dryly.

«That’s your little game! It seems like yesterday he was a slave. Now he is about to become a rightful Stone! And in some years he will be what, the king of the world! Ha ha he! What rank do you want for him, baby?»

«I am not your baby. The higher, the better.» - Juno said coldly looking inquiringly at Kyon.

«Did I miss something important yesterday? Did the kid win the tournament? Ha ha he!» - Flitz laughed hoarsely.

Kyon suspected the old man was a kind of psychic. Almost twice to the point!

«You must know the rules of joining a family…»

«The laws don’t apply to me. Just give my servant the highest possible rank.» - Juno repeated irritably and gave Kyon another searching look.

«I get it now... Alright, I can give him the 4th rank. It usually requires pledges, guarantees or recommendations. But I will do you a favor… Haven’t I promised your grandfather to help you with everything, eh?.»

«Can’t you give him anything higher?» - Juno asked.

«Are you crazy, baby? You want me to give high rank to a servant?! Don’t you know that 80% of family members are satisfied with the 5th or 6th rank?! Our golden youth is given the 4th rank and below! The second rank is an unattainable dream for many!»

«Don't call me baby, old fart! I am the patriarch’s granddaughter! Mind your manners.» - Juno flared up at Flitz, her hands on her hips. Her fierce eyes burned brighter than ever before. She looked aggressive like a wild fox. Flitz fucked up big-time when he brought her Kyon. She would never forget it. More than that, she was willing to beat his lascivious old ass to a pulp for her dear Marina.

The old man cleared his throat. «Forget it. I can’t apply any formation above the fourth rank. I need the documents to confirm his bloodline, merits or passing the test to upgrade the rank. Also, he must be registered at the family center. There are so many requirements like years of bearing the surname, etc. Elder Boe personally checks the documents! I can’t persuade him to give the rootless guy the third rank. If I cheat, they will discover it pretty soon and accuse me of betrayal. No, thank you very much. And forget the second rank altogether! It will take at least three elders to confirm that he has passed the test of becoming a descendant of direct blood! And to pass it, he needs to be at the Noble phase. I was an exception because of my formacist skills but... The boy s still wet behind the ears!»

Juno looked at Kyon with a silent question “what's next?”