Chapter 309 - Chapter 309: Chapter 294: The Lion of the Knight (2/2)

However, Christine initially did not acknowledge his unsolicited following and instead gave Andre three extremely difficult tasks to handle.

Verbal loyalty was meaningless to her; she felt that it was impossible to discern whether Andre was good or bad deep inside in a short period of time, after all, Andre was a descendant of Viscount Bast and might have hidden great ambitions deep in his heart.

So Christine decided to test this man.

“If you can accomplish all of them, I will allow you to follow me,” she said.

The first task was to test his wisdom. Christine asked Andre to thoroughly investigate the sensational case of the Snow Night Murderer.

The murderer was very clever, orchestrating several incidents that looked like accidental deaths, and at the same time, framing three people who intended to kill, making them scapegoats for his own crimes.

Ordinary people would think the incidents were accidents. Clever ones might uncover the “truth” behind the accidental deaths upon first investigation and would at most arrest the three heavily suspicious scapegoats with motives for murder.

However, Andre not only identified the murderer’s true identity from minor doubts but also pursued the felon through the snowy landscape for seven days and nights, ultimately capturing him alive.

The second task was a test of courage. Christine asked Andre to lead a team on a long sea voyage to obtain a Class 4 Extraordinary Material from the perilous Aphotic Sea.

It was indeed a very challenging task, yet Andre spent a full two years and managed to achieve it, even bringing back two pieces of Class 4 Extraordinary Material in the end.

The third task was to test loyalty. Christine required Andre to stay by her side for a year without speaking, to obey any command, without any defiance.

However, Andre did not agree immediately.

“The commands I can complete must not go against my principles,” he stated calmly.

“Miss Christine, I hope you can respect my principles. I never kill innocent people, I will always respond to the calls for help from women and children, and I will not harm my own family and friends without reason,” he explained.

Christine, in her wheelchair, nodded gently, and spoke just as calmly, “If that’s the case, then leave. You are not suitable to be my subordinate. Hmm, you have failed.”

Everyone thought Andre would persist or even beg desperately, given how much he had already invested and his apparent deep affection for Christine.

But contrary to everyone’s expectations, Andre just nodded, turned around, and walked away.

In the end, he was called back by Christine.

“Although you didn’t pass the test in the end, I agree that you can become my sword,” she said.

“You have won.”

At that moment, Christine felt she had also passed a test posed by Andre Leone.

If Andre had ultimately agreed to her and flawlessly completed the test, she would of course have made him a trusted subordinate, but that would have been the extent of their relationship.

——

After dealing with many family affairs, Christine on her wheelchair said calmly, “The time is about right. Andre, let them in.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Andre nodded gently, calmly opened the door, and went out to notify the three visitors who had not been waiting long.

Soon, the three “Purgers” walked in, wearing brown coats and revolvers at their waists, each bowing courteously to Madam Christine.

The leading Purger from the Path of World Order took a deep breath and presented a stack of documents to Madam Christine with great solemnity, saying:

“Madam Christine, here is the task you entrusted to us. After several years, we have finally completed it thoroughly, and it was no easy feat.”

“Fortunately, all three of us managed to survive in the end.”

Over the years, the trio had collected various intelligence and evidence across the East Coast, narrowly escaping being silenced several times, barely making it to this day.

Now, at last, it seemed their efforts were going to pay off.

Christine looked over all the documents indifferently, while everyone waited silently. After more than an hour had passed, she nodded seriously:

“Andre, go and invite my uncle His Excellency Byrne, my mother Vanessa, and Mr. Moore here,” she instructed.

“These matters must be handled by my uncle His Excellency Byrne, as for my mother and Mr. Moore, they will together carry out the ceremony to ascend to the ‘Arbiter’ title of the 4th Rank.”