The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

"Young master Desmond," Felix began, his voice filled with desperation as he scanned the room, desperately searching for any sign of his beloved daughter Clara. His heart sank when he couldn't locate her among the group. A gnawing worry gripped him, as he still clung to the belief that perhaps she had been sent on an errand by their master.

Then, catching sight of the pained expression on his young lady Alice's face, Felix felt a jolt of ice-cold dread shoot through his veins. It seized him so suddenly that his fingertips tingled with numbness.

"Uncle Felix," Alice's voice quivered as she stepped forward from behind Desmond. Tears welled in her eyes as she moved to embrace Felix, knowing that he had invested all his hopes in her best friend. "I-I'm sorry," she managed to choke out, her voice strained. "Clara... she lost her life defending us against those ruthless academy people."

Laura and Annie, who had also overheard Felix's desperate plea, couldn't bear to witness his agony any longer. They turned their gaze away, unable to face the distraught man who stared blankly at Desmond.

"This... This can't be real, can it? Young lady? Young master?" Felix's voice trembled, his breath ragged. He repeated the question to Alice, who continued to cling to him, and Desmond, who now had his back turned.

"She's... she's..." Alice's voice wavered, her tears flowing freely. "I'm sorry to say this, dear old man, but we must face the harsh reality. Clara was ruthlessly beheaded while bravely trying to protect my sister. She even entrusted me with the responsibility of keeping you safe in the days to come."

"It's time to let her soul rest in peace," Desmond interjected, his voice devoid of emotion as he turned to face Felix. His expression remained stoic, but the glint in his eyes revealed a different story—burning with an icy intensity and laced with a hint of vengeful resolve.

"Are you still prepared to follow me, even knowing that your daughter has passed on to the afterlife?" Desmond's words cut through the air as he passed by Felix, his gaze sweeping over the rest of his subordinates. "I won't force anyone to stand by my side, nor will I offer immediate or future rewards."

"The future remains uncertain, just as it does now. However, if you seek retribution for your own demise or the loss of a loved one, then count on me. I won't make any empty promises. But in due time, the North Kingdom will become a forgotten tale. By aligning yourselves with me, I won't tolerate cowardice or abandonment of friends in times of peril," Desmond declared firmly.

With that, he turned away again, his back facing them as he awaited their response. True to his nature, Desmond didn't display his power or dangle false hope in front of them. He sought genuine loyalty, rooted in the depths of their hearts.

In this dire situation, the possibility of spies or future infiltrators couldn't be ignored. These individuals were expendable pawns. With Desmond's strength having ascended to that of a fourth-class swordsman, he merely required loyal servants to carry out smaller tasks.

Desmond's words hung heavy in the air, leaving Alice and the other maids teetering on the precipice. Though they had followed him wholeheartedly, his question caused ripples of doubt to surge within them.

A minute passed, the scorching sun baking their bodies, yet not a single complaint escaped their lips. They fixed their gaze upon Desmond's back, their emotions mixed, some hesitating to commit to his cause once more.

Unbeknownst to them, they sought guidance from their leader, Felix, who stood with his head lowered, muttering words under his breath. Clearly shaken by his daughter's demise, he grappled with his decision.

Finally, exchanging glances and sharing an unspoken determination, they approached Desmond as a unified front. "Young master, please accept us," they declared, their voices resolute and unwavering.

Desmond turned to face Felix, his gaze meeting the tear-filled eyes of the old man. He couldn't help but find the display somewhat distasteful, though he understood the bond between his sister and Felix. She had always been kind-hearted, wiping away the tears and offering comfort to the old man.

Desmond had no intention of interfering in their relationship. If his sister found solace in Felix's presence after three years without male protection, so be it. As long as she remained safe, he saw no reason to fuss over trivial matters.

"And what about you?" Desmond asked casually, his eyes narrowing as he observed Felix. With a subtle gesture, he signaled for his sister to release her hold on the old man.

Felix, in turn, glanced at his fellow subordinates and his master, aware that their eyes were fixed upon him, awaiting his response. Memories of his daughter flooded his mind, intertwined with Desmond's heartfelt words that had struck a chord within him.

In that moment, as Felix looked at his young lady Alice, he felt his daughter's image overlap with her figure. A smile slowly formed on his face, transforming the sorrowful tears into tears of joy. In his mind's eye, he could faintly see his daughter waving at him, standing proudly beside Alice.

"My heart and soul belong to you, young master Desmond!" Felix exclaimed, his voice filled with unwavering determination. Bending his body 180 degrees, he displayed his utmost loyalty. Deep inside, the longing for his daughter began to heal the wounds within him.

Offended by Felix's display, the rest of the subordinates followed suit, bending their bodies at an angle and shouting in unison, "Our souls and our lives, in this world and the next, belong to young master!"

Observing their unwavering devotion, Desmond couldn't help but smile. He was slightly taken aback by their resolute decision, their willingness to sacrifice even their afterlife for his sake. Drawing from his past experiences in managing subordinates, he recognized the tremendous level of commitment they were showing.

"Very well, very well," Desmond acknowledged, his smile widening. "From this moment onward, you shall have no regrets in following me, be it in this lifetime or the next."

As he spoke those words, a surge of energy emanated from Desmond's body, drawing upon the surrounding energy and enveloping the entire group in the aura of a black dragon. The sight of their master exuding such power both thrilled and terrified them. Based on their collective experiences, not even a Grandmaster possessed the ability to emit such a dark and majestic aura.

"Control Element: Grand Canyon!" Desmond activated his spell in an instant, causing a massive magic circle to materialize beneath them, stretching across an area of 1000 meters. The circle pulsated with raw power, encompassing their surroundings.