"Speak carefully, I promise not to leak it to anyone else." The prison guard's eyes shone even brighter.

Saima Lynch, a woman known for her beauty and intelligence.

Who would want to miss the rumors about her?

Although he could never reach that bright and glamorous lady in his lifetime, just hearing about her deeds and secretly imagining himself in her place was enough to excite him for a long time.

It turns out the rumors about those nobles really living it up are true...

"Thank you for being willing to listen to the last words of a dying man." Duge looked at the prison guard with an exceptionally sincere gaze, "If I enter the netherworld tomorrow, I will send you the sincerest blessings from there."

"..." The prison guard was stunned for a moment, "Holley, you're somewhat different from the legends."

"Hearing is false, seeing is true. Saima Lynch is a legendary genius beauty in the stories, but don't people outside also not know her true face?"

Duge sat down cross-legged, looking at the prison guard like a sage, and said, "Everyone lives behind a mask, smiling at those stronger than themselves, hoping to gain the favor of the greats;

when meeting those weaker, they put on a stern face to maintain their own dignity; how many are willing to show their true selves to others?"

"..." The prison guard looked at Duge and suddenly fell silent.

"What's your name?" Duge asked.

"Simon Sis," the prison guard replied.

"Alright, Simon. Because of your job, you must act aggressive to deter those vicious criminals, but I can see the kindness deep inside you." Duge nodded at him and gestured with his hand, "Feel free to sit down and listen to my story, consider it as adding to your life experience."

Perhaps it was the enticing secret of Saima Lynch that tempted him, or perhaps it was Duge's repeated praise of his generosity and kindness that moved him, Simon actually sat down cross-legged opposite Duge.

"Simon, what kind of person do you see me as?" Duge asked. He looked at Simon, who was hesitating to speak, and smiled, "Don't worry about my feelings, I'm going to die tomorrow, just be honest."

"Scum, a sewer bug, maggots in the toilet..." Simon said.

"What if I say I'm not?" Duge's expression remained calm as if the other's insults were not directed at him.

"You do seem a bit different to me today," Simon observed Duge, his brow slightly furrowed, "Your manner of speaking, your expressions, they seem like those of a true noble, and a bit like the sages in the legends."

"Simon, not only are you kind, but you also have eyes that see through everything. Hold onto the fine qualities in your heart, and your life will become ever more splendid." Duge looked at Simon, his praise unrestrained.

A few words made Simon somewhat uncomfortable. He was just a mere prison guard, lowly as the dirt.

And Holley, even if imprisoned, was once a noble.

Even in his downfall, his experience was greater than Simon's, and to receive such high praise from him was truly unexpected for Simon.

Few nobles ended up in prison, in Simon's eyes, nobles were beings he looked up to all his life, those people who never deigned to spare him a glance, but at that moment, he saw equality and respect in Duge's eyes.

Simon inadvertently added an honorific for a condemned prisoner, "Mr. Holley, you really are different from the rumors..."

Duge interrupted him, continuing on his own, "Everyone knows that I failed to awaken my Martial Spirit, but no one knows that my Martial Spirit actually awakened halfway."

Simon asked, astonished, "A Martial Spirit can be awakened halfway?"

"Simon, when you've experienced more, you'll understand that in the vast world, nothing is impossible." Duge smiled and continued, "Normally, a person can only awaken their Martial Spirit once in a lifetime, but some people have their Martial Spirit awakened twice; there are even those who awaken two Martial Spirits at once; compared to them, I am quite pathetic, having failed to awaken my Martial Spirit while still retaining half of it."

"Are there really so many strange things in the world?" Simon smacked his lips and said incredulously.

"A person's fate is not fixed, whether they are commoners or nobles, everyone has infinite potential. Simon, don't let this small prison confine your steps. Try stepping out, and you'll find that life is fascinating and the world is vast." Duge looked at Simon, encouragingly, "The size of your heart determines the size of the stage. Perhaps one day, you too can become a noble."

"..." Simon gave a sheepish laugh, "Mr. Holley, I'm different from you."

"Counting back dozens of generations, who were nobles and who were commoners?" Duge lamented with a smile, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Pointlessly adding to your troubles, let's continue with my story instead!"

"Please do," Simon said, his respect for Duge growing, as he used more honorifics.

"My Martial Spirit is a precognitive type, a very powerful one that can anticipate danger and predict an opponent's moves in battle. If nurtured, it was destined to reach Martial Saint stature. Had I awakened my Martial Spirit, it would have been the glory of the entire Allos Family. Unfortunately, there were those who didn't want such a Martial Spirit to be born..."

Though Duge was looking at Simon, his gaze drifted past him, towards the dark corridor behind, as if lost in memories; but soon, he shook his head with a wry smile and said, "What's the point of talking about the past."

But Simon's eyes widened, "Mr. Holley, your Martial Spirit awakening failed because someone deliberately caused it?"

"Perhaps so!" Duge shrugged noncommittally, steered away from the hero's template, "Anyway, I'm already dying, so let's let the matters of the past dissipate like smoke!"