1: Chapter 1: Refusing to be "optimized" by the succubus, I set her a KPI instead.

A cold sensation came from his throat, like a venomous snake with its tongue pressed against his carotid artery.

Levi's eyelids were as heavy as lead, and it took all his strength just to crack them open.

In his blurred vision, a face so exquisite it seemed distorted hovered above him, her dark red pupils shimmering with a heart-palpitating luster that mixed hunger and Charm under the dim candlelight.

A woman?

Fragments of memory were like shattered glass, stabbing his brain with a burst of stinging pain.

Hadn't he just pulled ninety-six consecutive hours to get a damn project launched, only for everything to go black in the conference room?

Is this a hospital?

This nurse's uniform... is a bit too revealing.

His body still didn't feel like his own; weakness seeped from every crack in his bones, leaving him unable to even move a finger.

This was a classic symptom of overwork.

He was all too familiar with this feeling.

But soon, more memories that didn't belong to him surged forth—the useless heir of the Byron Family, failing the Battle Qi awakening ceremony, judged incapable of ever becoming a warrior, with zero magic affinity.

On the continent of Terrarium, where martial prowess was revered, this was a certificate of worthlessness.

Thus, the person lying on this creaking, musty bed was the new lord of Blackstone Territory, Levi Byron.

And straddling his waist was his personal... succubus maid.

Evelyn.

The name surfaced naturally in his mind.

Her delicate hands, which were supposed to serve her master, were now gently cradling his cheeks, but her nails, trimmed like sharp blades, were pressed mercilessly against his vitals.

A faint scent, like a mix of cheap spices and sulfur, wafted into his nose, making his already groggy head spin even more.

The barbed tail occasionally brushing against his calf under the covers clearly revealed her identity.

She was going to kill him.

In the most erotic and deceptive way possible—draining his essence and disguising it as a sudden death during intimacy.

For a useless person who had just failed their awakening and was extremely weak, this cause of death was perfectly plausible.

There were no screams, no begging for mercy.

His past life of groveling before clients and swallowing his pride under bosses had left him utterly tired of playing the weakling.

Panic solves nothing; it only accelerates death.

The brief clarity brought by a surge of adrenaline allowed him to forcibly suppress his body's instinctive fear.

His brain, that precision processor worked to the point of failure in his previous life, began analyzing the current situation at an astonishing speed.

Evelyn's breathing was a bit ragged, and the greed in her eyes was almost overflowing.

Her actions seemed lethal, but in reality, they were full of hesitation.

Levi's gaze moved past her supple shoulders and landed on the nightstand.

There sat a glass of water, a piece of parchment, and a charcoal pencil.

These were left by the original owner of the body while trying to write a suicide note last night; unfortunately, he had fainted after writing only two words.

"Your movements are too rushed."

Levi spoke, his voice raspy and dry, like it had been sanded down.

But his tone was exceptionally calm—not like a lamb waiting for the slaughter, but rather like a manager conducting a project review.

Evelyn's body visibly stiffened, and her dark red pupils suddenly contracted.

She hadn't expected this acknowledged loser to be able to speak on the brink of death, let alone say something so... bizarre.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about, Young Master." She instinctively switched back to a weak and innocent voice, leaning forward slightly until her softness was almost pressed against Levi's face, attempting to use her succubus talent to cloud his mind.

The sweet scent grew stronger, mixed with an imperceptible Charm power that began to erode his fragile willpower.

A tingling sensation spread from the tip of Evelyn's tail, climbing up his nerves and making his body heat up uncontrollably.

But having endured countless tests of drinking culture in his previous life, he had long ago severed his reason from his physical desires.

"First, improper frequency." Levi ignored the overwhelming temptation and stared directly into her eyes. "The news of my 'failed awakening' spread throughout the castle only yesterday. For an extremely weak man to die on a maid the very next day, don't you think that's too obvious? Those holy rollers in the Church, with noses sharper than dogs, love investigating such scandalous incidents to extort 'atonement money' from the nobility. Butler Klaus wants you to act, but he definitely doesn't want to provoke the Church."

Evelyn's breath hitched for a moment.

She was just an assassin following orders and had never considered so much.

"Second, the returns are too low." Levi didn't speak fast, but every word was like a nail driven into Evelyn's mind.

"If you kill me, what will Klaus give you? A hundred gold coins? Or your freedom? Don't be foolish. How could a new master trust a servant who easily betrayed their old one? Once your mission is complete, your only end will be silenced. Risking your life for such negligible short-term gains is the ultimate failed investment."

He could clearly feel the pressure of the nails against his throat loosen slightly. It was working.

"Third, and most importantly." Levi curled his lips into a smile that could be described as gentle. "You, a Mixed-blood Succubus, an outcast of the Abyss, are alone in the human world. Who do you think will truly protect you besides me, your master on paper? Klaus is just using you as a blade. Once the blade has served its purpose, it will naturally be discarded to avoid getting blood on his hands."

The words "outcast of the Abyss" hit Evelyn's heart like a heavy hammer.

The color drained from her enchanting face instantly, and the murderous intent in her eyes was replaced by a deeper fear and confusion.

This was her greatest secret and her deepest pain.

How did this useless young master... know?

Of course, Levi didn't know.

He was just bluffing.

According to the original owner's memories, Evelyn had been bought by the old butler, Klaus, three months ago, and her origins were unknown.

A succubus willing to serve as a maid in such a godforsaken border territory was suspicious in itself.

Coupled with her impure bloodline aura—a true pure-blood succubus would be far more seductive than this.

Combining this information, Levi had boldly thrown out a guess most likely to sting her. It seemed he had gambled correctly.

"I..." Evelyn completely lost her composure. Her posture straddling him became incredibly awkward; she couldn't decide whether to kill him or not.

"Get off." Levi commanded in a tone that brooked no argument.

Evelyn subconsciously backed away from him and stood by the bed, looking somewhat at a loss.

The predator who had been so superior just a moment ago now looked like a child who had done something wrong.

The opportunity had arrived.

Levi thought to himself.

He forced himself to sit up, leaning his back against the cold stone of the headboard, the intense dizziness making his vision darken.

He quietly took several deep breaths to suppress the discomfort.

"Bring that parchment and the charcoal pencil here."

Evelyn did as she was told and handed the items to him.

"Killing is the lowest form of labor output; it generates no compound interest and carries immense risk." As Levi spoke, his trembling hand sketched a few simple boxes and arrows on the parchment.

"And I can give you an opportunity to capitalize on your 'talent'."

"Capitalize?" Evelyn was completely unable to understand the term.

"Simply put, it's turning your power of seduction into a project that can generate sustainable revenue." Levi pointed to the first box on the parchment. "This is Blackstone Territory, our base. It's poor and dilapidated now, but it has land, a small population, and a nominal iron mine. This is our startup capital."

He drew another arrow pointing to the second box.

"This is you, Evelyn. What is your core competency? It's Charm. But your application of it is still stuck in the primitive, inefficient, and high-risk stage of 'draining essence.' You're like a fool sitting on a mountain of gold but only knowing how to dig with their bare hands."

Evelyn's face flushed bright red; these words were an absolute humiliation to her.

"Follow me, and I will teach you how to conduct business negotiations, how to gain insight into customer psychology, and how to use your talent to make those fat-bellied nobles and merchants willingly empty every single gold coin from their pouches without ever drawing a weapon." Levi's voice was full of seduction, much like the boss from his previous life who used to paint grand, empty visions for him.

"Money?" Evelyn was stunned. She had never considered that her abilities could be used to earn money.

"Of course. Money is far purer and more valuable than that pathetic essence of men. It can buy gorgeous clothes, comfortable dwellings, powerful guards, and even status and respect." Levi drew a third box on the parchment and heavily wrote the words 'Business Empire'.

"And you will become a founding member of this empire. I will grant you the status of 'Senior Partner' and you will enjoy a 10% equity dividend of Blackstone Territory's future profits. This is the 'Equity Incentive Plan' I am giving you."

Equity, partner, business empire... these unfamiliar terms bombarded Evelyn's existing worldviews, yet she strangely understood the core message—Levi was promising her a bright, lucrative future.

This was far more tempting than the ethereal 'freedom' Klaus had promised.

Seeing the wavering look in her eyes, Levi knew the fish was on the hook.

"Of course, words alone are no proof. To verify my professionalism and evaluate your potential, we need to conduct a small test." Levi tossed the parchment aside and scrutinized Evelyn once more. "Now, cast your lowest intensity Charm spell on me."

Evelyn hesitated, but seeing Levi's black eyes that seemed capable of piercing through everything, she nodded as if possessed.

She took a soft breath, ripples undulating in her dark red pupils, and her voice became sweet and cloying. "Young Master, are you tired? Shall Evelyn serve you while you rest?"

An invisible wave spread out.

Levi instantly felt his heart rate begin to accelerate and his mouth go dry.

He immediately closed his eyes and began to silently count his heartbeat and breaths.

"One, two, three... heart rate increased by 15%... respiratory rate increased by 22%..." He muttered to himself like a madman recording experimental data.

Evelyn was completely bewildered.

She had seen countless men make fools of themselves under her Charm, but she had never seen anyone use this method to... analyze her skill?

"Stop." Thirty seconds later, Levi opened his eyes, which were now clear.

He looked at the stunned Evelyn and began his critique coldly.

"Failure. An absolute failure."

"First, poor timing. You used the skill just as I had established absolute dominance and psychological expectations, which left me fully prepared. You should have used Charm to reinforce my promises when I was at the peak of excitement while painting the grand vision; the effect would have been ten times better."

"Second, a singular approach. Your Charm remains only at the visual and auditory levels, lacking tactile coordination. If you had massaged my shoulders while speaking just now, the success rate would have increased by at least 20%."

"Third, and most foolishly, your grasp of the audience's psychology is a complete blank! I am your boss, your superior; you are demonstrating your ability to me, not seducing a drunkard on the street. What you should show is professionalism, reliability, and the side of you that can create value for me, not a vase that might climb into my bed at any moment. Your Charm should carry a hint of reverence and obedience, not cheap flirtation."

Each of Levi's words was like a sharp slap to Evelyn's dignity as a succubus.

The talent she took pride in was dismissed as worthless by this man, filled with quantifiable flaws.

Was she... really that bad?

An unprecedented self-doubt began to grow wildly in her heart.

Just then, steady footsteps echoed from the end of the castle corridor.

"It seems your former boss has come to check the results." Levi leaned against the headboard, watching the door with composure.

Evelyn immediately grew nervous, instinctively wanting to hide.

"Kneel," Levi commanded.

"What?"

"Kneel before the bed and tidy my blanket. Make it look as if you have been serving me diligently."

Despite the humiliation filling her heart, Evelyn was now completely suppressed by Levi's aura, and her body obeyed uncontrollably.

She knelt by the bed, lowered her head, and used her slightly trembling hands to smooth the wrinkles on the blanket. Her clothes were somewhat disheveled from her previous actions, and from a certain angle, it truly looked like a scene full of ambiguous possibilities.

Creak—

The old wooden door was pushed open.

Klaus the butler walked in carrying a silver tray. On the tray was a goblet filled with a deep red liquid.

An unchanging, humble, and hypocritical smile hung on his face.

When he saw the scene inside the room clearly, that smile froze on his face.

Levi's cold corpse, which he had expected, was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, the disheveled succubus maid was kneeling meekly before the bed, while that useless young master who should have been dead was leaning comfortably against the headboard, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Butler Klaus, you've come at just the right time." Levi acted as if he didn't see the shock in the other man's eyes at all, instead showing an appreciative smile. "Evelyn's sense of service is excellent; I am very satisfied. I have decided that starting today, she will be promoted from a common maid to my 'Chief Operating Officer,' responsible for the daily management and external communications of the Lord's Manor."

Chief... what officer? Klaus's brain stalled for a moment.

"This is the 'Soothing Wine' you should drink upon waking, Young Master. It will help your body recover." Klaus quickly composed himself, stepped forward, and handed the goblet on the tray to Levi, a flash of ruthlessness hidden deep in his eyes.

Levi took the goblet.

The liquid in the cup emitted a rich fruity aroma, but it couldn't mask a very faint scent similar to bitter almonds.

He glanced at the poisoned wine in the cup, then smiled and handed it to Evelyn, who was kneeling by the bed, right in front of Klaus.

"Evelyn, this is a reward for your new appointment. Drink it."

Evelyn's body trembled violently. She looked at Levi in terror, then glanced at Klaus, whose face had turned ashen.

She realized in an instant what kind of wine this was.

Klaus's heart sank. Levi's move was no different from tearing off his mask to his face!

"What's the matter, my Chief Operating Officer? Do you not even dare to drink the first cup of wine rewarded by your boss?" Levi's tone remained gentle, but his gaze became as cold as a blade, piercing straight into Evelyn's heart.

This was an obedience test.

It was also a pledge of loyalty.

Drinking it meant she had completely betrayed Klaus and joined Levi's side.

If she didn't drink, the consequences were easy to imagine.

Evelyn's lips quivered. Finally, she gritted her teeth, took the goblet, and drained it in one gulp.

After finishing, she stared fixedly at Klaus.

Levi nodded in satisfaction, his gaze returning to the butler whose face had already become extremely unsightly.

"Klaus," he said in a tone that brooked no argument, "go immediately and gather everyone in the territory. That Halfling cook named Buck, and those Grey Dwarf carpenters—not a single one is to be missing. Assemble in the castle hall in half an hour."

"Young Master, it's so late, they..."

"I am going to convene the first 'Blackstone Territory All-Hands Strategic Mobilization Meeting'," Levi interrupted him, enunciating every word. The aura of a long-time superior made Klaus instinctively feel a pang of trepidation.

This useless person... something's wrong. Is he still the same Levi Byron?

Under Levi's eagle-sharp gaze, Klaus felt pressure for the first time.

His originally seamless disguise finally showed a crack.

He opened his mouth, but found he couldn't say a single word of rebuttal.

In the end, he could only lower his head deeply.

"...Yes, Young Master."