I've Become the King of Villains in the Game

At the luncheon.

Baron Barnie sipped fine wine, laughing and chatting with Viscount Pompey and his wife.

It was evident that the issue with the horse had come to a conclusion.

Chen Lun ate in silence, listening to their conversations about amusing incidents within the noble circle, and the latest decisions from the parliament.

"Little Rebecca, that horse caused you to fall and hurt your leg, and it almost hit you afterwards... Uncle Barnie feels very guilty, so let me apologize to you here."

Baron Barnie raised his goblet, smiling and nodding to Rebecca who sat across the table.

Rebecca quickly put down her knife and fork, also lifting her own wine glass.

"It's okay, Uncle Barnie... It wasn't your fault; I was the one who was being playful."

After both had drunk the red wine, Viscount Pompey began talking about the afternoon itinerary.

"Barnie, I heard that the main investor behind the Tweety Zoo is Earl Bradley?"

"Oh, it seems there's nothing that can escape your notice, Pompey... Yes, Earl Bradley has invested a considerable sum there."

Baron Barnie, having finished his meal, took the napkin a maid handed him to wipe his mouth and spoke with enthusiasm.

"The place is doing well at the moment; so many people visit every day... With so many tickets sold, the return is a handsome amount of gold pounds. It's truly enviable! They've just received two new elephants; we could go see them."

Rebecca, upon hearing this, showed much interest and immediately started coaxing Mrs. Pompey. Overwhelmed by her pestering, Mrs. Pompey agreed as if placating a child.

After all, the plan was to visit the zoo in the afternoon, and spending extra time to see the elephants was not an issue.

"Mr. Jack, you'll come too, won't you?"

Rebecca turned to Chen Lun and asked, her eyes brimming with anticipation.

"Of course, Miss Rebecca."

"That would be wonderful!"

Rebecca seemed very happy and then, remembering to be more ladylike, she lowered her voice and added:

"You'll have to teach me about the animals, just like a lesson."

"No problem, consider it an outdoor practical class,"

Chen Lun replied with a smile.

After the luncheon.

Butler Binose had the carriage prepared in advance, with Mrs. Pompey and Rebecca in one, and the three gentlemen in another.

This arrangement made Rebecca pout with dissatisfaction.

The carriage left the manor's great gate and traveled down the road.

Baron Barnie sat across from Chen Lun, looking at the young man and laughing:

"Mr. Jack, you are quite accomplished for your age, having diagnosed the precise cause of death of my horse with just a simple examination - truly worthy of a scholar in this field..."

However, Viscount Pompey sitting beside him, revealed a puzzled expression and cast an inquiring look at Chen Lun.

"Does the study of nature also include knowledge of veterinary medicine?

The situation was urgent yesterday, but in hindsight, it does seem a bit presumptuous... Mr. Jack?"

[Baron Barnie's affection towards you has decreased, he is now in a hostile state!]

Chen Lun saw the notification and also noticed Viscount Pompey's suspicion.

"There's something off about Baron Barnie!"

He thought anxiously, though he kept his expression unchanged.

He wondered what Barnie and Viscount Pompey had discussed that had allowed the horse incident to blow over.

But Chen Lun knew that the horse had consumed food containing superhuman strength, which had caused it to become frenzied.

Based on Rebecca's encounter, it was very likely that the attack was specifically targeted at Viscount Pompey's family.

However, the superhuman powers that could make a horse act to this extent weren't limited to a single sequence, and Chen Lun could not yet speculate which it might be.

"Viscount, I purposely learned about veterinary science in the past for my studies,"

Chen Lun lied with a straight face.

Viscount Pompey nodded, not pursuing the topic any further.

Baron Barnie, on the other hand, gave him a deep, probing look.

After a while, the carriage came to a stop.

The group alighted, and not far away stood a grand archway with guardrails extending on both sides.

A large sign hung above the gate— "Tweety Zoo".

Streams of people came and went as Butler Binose tied the carriage to the post outside and returned after paying for the entrance tickets.

He took responsibility for pushing Rebecca's wheelchair, while Mrs. Pompey opened a floral umbrella to shield her daughter from the sun.

The group slowly entered the zoo.

"Mr. Jack, I heard you're from out of town?

This trip with us is also a way to show you around the city."

Baron Barnie laughed heartily.

Chen Lun nodded politely to him and then said in a soft voice:

"Thank you, Baron, but I believe the most convenient way to understand a city is to find out how its people work, love, and die.

I've stayed in the Outer City District for a while and I already understand it quite well."

Baron Barnie's smile stiffened, and he said no more.

"Mr. Jack, so you've actually stayed in the Outer City District... Is it fun? I've never been there.

I want to go see it too, but my parents don't allow it."

Rebecca looked at Chen Lun with curiosity.

"It's not fun there, Miss Rebecca."

Chen Lun said evenly, glancing at Mrs. Pompey beside her.

"The life you have now is one those from the Outer City District dream of, yet cannot attain."

"Is what Mr. Jack saying true, Mom?"

Rebecca turned her head to Mrs. Pompey for confirmation.

Mrs. Pompey nodded.

"Yes, Rebecca, there are many bad people in the Outer City District; they do evil things all day long just to move to the Inner City District.

Do you remember the son of Congressman Lawson? That young man was killed by someone from the Outer City District..."

Rebecca was successfully frightened by her mother's words and covered her mouth.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Immediately, she looked at Chen Lun, her gaze once again filled with familiar admiration.

Mr. Jack is so amazing!

The bad people of the Outer City District can't do anything to him!

"Kellie, don't talk about these things with Rebecca."

Viscount Pompey and Baron Barnie, walking ahead, turned back and instructed his wife.

Mrs. Pompey patted Rebecca on the shoulder and teasingly said:

"Our dear Viscount is very concerned about you, Rebecca."

The group saw many animals along the way; to Chen Lun, these were not anything exotic.

But here, only residents of the Inner City District have the financial resources and time to visit often.

The cost of a ticket isn't much, but to the poor, it's half a month's expenses.

"Mr. Jack, are those two gorillas... kissing? Are they a couple?"

Rebecca pointed at a large cage, where two black gorillas were embracing, and asked curiously.

"Uh, no..."

Chen Lun glanced over and explained to Rebecca:

"They're both males; They just fought over mating and are now comforting each other.

Kissing for them has a reconciling meaning, much like how we shake hands."

"Ah...?"

Rebecca was somewhat surprised.

The others also heard Chen Lun's explanation and were surprised by it. But remembering Chen Lun's identity, they silently chose to believe this explanation.

Such is the charm of authority.

[You have witnessed the courtship process of the gorillas! [Survival of the Fittest LVMAX (Passive)] is activated!]

[Strength +1, Agility +1, Charm +1]

Chen Lun was slightly taken aback, not expecting the skill activation criteria to be so simple.

He looked around, suddenly filled with anticipation.