After putting the cutlery on the table, Annan followed Grand Duke Ivan into the secret room of the Grand Duke’s Residence.
The purpose was not to avoid outsiders but to avoid Winter’s Hands.
Even Winter’s Hand, who wore the ring, was only allowed to know that “Grand Duke’s three-color scepter was a legendary curse vessel”— this aided them in helping the Grand Duke protect this treasure.
But the deeper secrets… including the real name and effect of this curse vessel, were kept hidden from them.
This was necessary to maintain dominance and tradition.
“And the other reason… is actually to protect them.” Grand Duke Ivan stared at Annan calmly, “Last year, I was not sure whether you could inherit the position of Grand Duke.”
“The reason is that you have reversed the ‘Winter Heart’ bloodline curse. Even though it is mandatory for you to wield the Book of Divine Transporter, it might mean you lose the ability to wield this scepter… at least, you can’t use half of its ability.”
The “Winter Heart” was indeed a cruel curse but also a protection.
Not for anything else but for protection from being enchanted by the curse of this legendary curse vessel.
Annan came to a sudden realization.
In a split second, all the little quirks Annan had noticed throughout his journey suddenly clicked in his mind like lightning.
I see…
No wonder the Old Grandmother maintained the curse in the bloodline and watched Her children suffer throughout their mortal days; no wonder they would lose this curse after they died.
No wonder the power from this curse didn’t seem that strong, as if it was merely designed to keep someone alive; no wonder despite having the highest level in [Austere Winter’s Blood] talent, Grand Duke Ivan insister not to become a transcender.
That was how Grand Duke Ivan was different from his children, including Annan.
Ivan should have known the secret of this three-color scepter since he was very young.
Then, Ivan kept silent, perhaps because…
“Is the price of bearing this curse terrifying?”
Ivan said slowly, “That’s right.”
He took his hand away from the scepter.
“There’s no point in talking about it.” He added, “Just feel it for yourself.”
Huh, did you let me try just like that?
Then, if something goes wrong with me, can you kick me away from this scepter, given your health?
Annan complained, but he wisely said nothing.
Annan was cautious, imitating Ivan’s movements and lightly pressing his hand on the scepter.
It was different from what Annan had imagined.
The attributes of this curse vessel didn’t even appear in front of his eyes.
Annan didn’t feel the slightest pain. On the contrary, he felt an intense sense of comfort.
It felt like he was caressing by an invisible warm hand, with an almost serene calmness, joy, and laziness washing over him. Annan squinted his eyes as if about to fall asleep any moment, feeling as though everything was perfectly in place as if there was nothing in the world to worry about.
“Wake up, Annan.”
Suddenly, Annan felt a gentle push coming from in front of him.
Annan didn’t fight back at all.
It wasn’t until Ivan pushed him away from the scepter that Annan woke up instantly as his hand left it.
That drowsy feeling instantly set off the alarm bells in his mind.
It reminded him of the first time he encountered the Rotten Man and the incredibly soothing, numbing scent that wafter from Him.
“What is that?” Annan asked vigilantly, “Is this its effect… or a curse?”
“Both.” Ivan replied briefly, “This is one of the forms of this scepter.”
“Turn it upside down and try it.”
“Upside down?”
“That’s right. Place the cross and the ring handle at the bottom, and switch the three extended branches to the top, essentially holding it upside down. Try it and see if you can use it that way.”
Ivan said sternly, “If possible, I will tell you its name. If it still doesn’t work, I can only pass it to Dmitri.”
“Even if he is infertile, that’s the only option left. It’s the only method to conceal the existence of this ‘legendary item’. Dmitri may be naive and easily manipulated. Therefore, I’ll find a way to sideline him for you… and then you can quickly have a child, and we’ll adopt them under his name as the heir.”
“Let’s not get into that now. I will give it a try first.” Annan felt a bit uneasy about getting married and having children.
He interrupted Ivan, took a deep breath, and looked at the scepter solemnly.
With a burst of determination, he swiftly picked it up and, using his remaining wits to turn the scepter upside down.
“Huh?” At that moment, Annan couldn’t help but gasp slightly.
A surge of intense cold emanated from the scepter, rushing through his body in an instant.
Unlike the warm current that made him feel drowsy and content before, this rush of cold instantly swept away all of Annan’s fatigue.
But it didn’t make Annan feel the pain of the cold. Instead, he shivered as if the blood in his veins surged, and his mind became incredibly clear in an instant.
“You seem compatible for the [Tyrant] form.” Ivan glanced into Annan’s eyes and heaved a sigh of relief.
“Tyrant?”
“It’s one of its two forms.” Ivan explained, “The real name of this legendary item is [Three Sirens] with two distinct forms: one that brings endless joy known as the [Inept Ruler] and another that evokes boundless rage, called the [Tyrant].”
The latter explanation didn’t matter much.
When Annan heard the name [Three Sirens], a system panel appeared before his eyes.
[Three Sirens: Tyrant]
[Type: Supreme Proof (Orange)]
[Description: Once a testament to the authority of the ancient elf king, crafted from the lives of the innocent, the souls of the guilty, and the will of the saints. Those seeking its cursed power will become inept rulers or tyrants.]
[Description: When the Siren is reversed, it will transform you into the form of a tyrant.]
[Effect: The holder will be afflicted with the curses of “Heart of Suspicion”, “Soul of Rage”, and “Blood of Madness”.]
[Heart of Suspicion: You’ll always be distrustful and envious of others until you summon the “Tone of Purity”. But if you choose not to, your learning, training, and growth rates will triple (your experience gain and attribute growth speed will increase threefold).]
[Soul of Rage: You’ll forever be engulfed in uncontrollable anger until you summon the “Tone of Clarity”. However, if you resist this, any damage you deal to others will automatically be tripled (when holding the scepter, your overall damage increases by 200%).]
[Blood of Madness: You’ll sporadically fall into bouts of insanity with random negative emotions becoming extreme until you summon the “Maiden of Light”. However, if you choose not to, you can permanently control the will of three transcenders (can only be used three times and only on the transcenders; each use can permanently alter the mind of a Transcender with Gold Rank and below. However, there’s a one-in-three chance of turning them into a fallen being of the same tier)]
“So, this is what they called the legendary curse vessel?” Annan had mixed feelings.
Is it powerful?
Indeed, it’s undeniably powerful.
But somehow, it feels… not entirely irreplaceable?
Rather than its bestowed power, the curse it carried seemed even more unbearable. If Ivan had grasped the “Tyrant” form of the [Three Sirens], he probably would have turned into a terrifying tyrant instantly.
It was only because Annan possessed the “reversed Winter Heart” he could nullify its negative effects.
By that logic, its “upright” form must have a different effect. But Annan couldn’t even pick it up. He almost turned into a blissfully clueless fool when he touched its upright form.
“In fact, you can treat it as a kind of [seal].” Ivan said slowly, “You must have felt it—the power and the curse of the scepter both operate on the premise of ‘not releasing the Siren’. But there’s another way to use it: to release one of the scepter’s ‘three colors’ and summon a Siren. But no one knows what would happen if a Siren is summoned…”
“Has the Sirens ever been summoned?” Annan couldn’t help but ask.
Annan did know what the Siren was—when he saw those three names, he guessed it was indeed the “Siren” he knew.
However, Annan wasn’t sure if the Sirens here were consistent with the Sirens he knew.
After all, in this world, even Master Michelangelo had become a deity.
“Actually, the siren was summoned once.”
“When was it?”
“It was the year when Yaselan Imperial Capital sank.” Ivan frowned and said solemnly, “Just in case, you’d better not be curious about it.”
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