Chapter 92: Manning’s Ability
Now only Chu Feng, Illya, and Manning were left in the room. Manning nervously rubbed his hands together.
Chu Feng looked directly at him and asked bluntly, “You’re an ability user, right?”
Manning quickly shook his head. “N-no, I’m not.”
Chu Feng crossed his arms. “Don’t lie. You are. Don’t worry—whatever your ability is, I don’t care.”
By now, Chu Feng had spent enough time in this world to understand that not all abilities were beneficial. Some brought only trouble to their users.
Take hearing-based abilities, for example: one user’s hearing became many times sharper than normal, to the point he couldn’t sleep. Within a year, he died of a nervous breakdown.
Manning lowered his head, face red. “My ability is completely useless… and kind of awful…”
Chu Feng waved it off. “I said—it’s fine.”
After a long hesitation, Manning mumbled, “I can… see familial relationships—like who’s married, who’s related.”
Chu Feng blinked. “You can… see who’s married or related?”
What did that even mean?
Then Chu Feng paused and suddenly realized. “Wait—you’re saying… you can see who’s slept with who?”
Manning nodded and said, “Yes. You and that elf are in a marital relationship, but it’s not very deep yet.”
Chu Feng: “…” Because we’ve only slept together twice, the relationship isn’t deep?
“You two must have just become a couple,” Manning added.
Chu Feng cleared his throat and changed the subject. “How did you end up a slave?”
Manning looked dejected. “I used to do odd jobs for a wealthy merchant. I discovered that his son wasn’t actually his biological child—he was likely fathered by the merchant’s younger brother. His wife and brother had a… very close relationship.” Manning kept the secret at first, but eventually let it slip to a friend, who betrayed him. When the wife found out, she had him sold into slavery on false charges of theft.
He had tried to explain that he wasn’t making things up—that he was an ability user and could see these relationships—but no one believed him. They thought he was crazy.
Worse, when he claimed to be an ability user, he was beaten instead of being treated well. After that, Manning stopped talking about it.
Chu Feng looked at him thoughtfully. Manning’s ability is basically a human paternity test… actually, it’s even better. He just needs one glance.
Chu Feng rubbed his forehead. This ability sounds impressive… but also kind of useless. Real paternity tests give data. Manning’s just using his word.
But then he reconsidered: Among nobles, this could be incredibly valuable. Their private lives were often a mess. Affairs, secret children… people being cheated on was likely common. Still, once this ability was known, many would probably hate Manning—no one wants their dirty laundry aired.
Illya tilted her head at Manning. “That’s such a strange ability.”
Manning nodded sadly. “Doesn’t seem very useful.”
Illya replied, “It’s still useful. Where I’m from, paternity tests cost a lot of money.”
Chu Feng glanced at him. “How do you know about paternity tests?”
Illya tilted her head. “From that drama I’ll Raise Your Son for You. It was in there.”
Chu Feng: … “‘I’ll Raise Your Son for You’? What kind of show is that? Sounds like a Thai drama. Thai dramas have no shame—sons changing gender and falling in love with their dad and uncle… brothers stealing each other’s fiancées… It’s chaos!”
Compared to that, Chinese shows are tame. They’re too censored. No spirits allowed after the founding of the country. No nighttime gaming scenes, so everything gets shot in daylight instead.
Noticing Chu Feng zoning out, Illya gave him a light shove. “What’s up with you?”
Chu Feng snapped back to attention and frowned at Manning. “So, what do you want to do?”
Manning hesitated. “I could help with construction.”
Chu Feng rested his chin in his hand. Letting someone with eyes like a lie detector build houses? Isn’t that a waste? Besides, he’s so small and thin—he won’t be able to do much.
He shook his head. “Just help Hawk and the others with general tasks for now.”
Manning nodded. “Okay.”
Once Manning left, only Chu Feng and Illya remained.
“What a strange ability,” Illya remarked.
Chu Feng smiled. “Maybe others like him exist, but they hide it. Not every ability user wants to be exposed. Rumor has it some researchers in this world dissect ability users to study them. Combat-type users can protect themselves—but others aren’t so lucky.”
Illya nodded. “True. Some abilities can’t be spoken about. I heard of one guy who had x-ray vision. He’d sneak into wealthy homes and spy on the women, then draw detailed nude portraits of them and sell the illustrations.”
“He was so accurate—even moles and birthmarks were perfectly rendered. When the drawings circulated, many noblewomen lost their reputations.”
Chu Feng frowned. “And what happened to him?”
Illya shrugged. “He disappeared after he was exposed. No one knows if he ran or got killed.”
Chu Feng muttered, “Probably got beaten to death…”
“I think so too,” Illya agreed.
If you had a skill like that, why not enjoy it secretly? Drawing people? That’s just asking for trouble.
“There’s a rumor that a noble secretly kept him hidden.”
Chu Feng asked, confused, “Why would a noble do that? Abilities can’t be transferred. What, did he want the guy to spy on his wife?”
Illya shrugged. “Supposedly, the noble wanted him to look at other beauties and draw them for his own collection.”
Chu Feng: … “Disgusting. That has to be just a rumor. No one could be that shameless… right?”
“Let’s change the subject,” Illya said. “Are you sure it’s okay to leave the steward position to Hawk and August? That’s an important job.”
Chu Feng shook his head. “Not entirely. Let’s have Gray follow and learn from them.” If Gray were older, he might be a great candidate himself.
Illya blinked. “Okay.”
Chu Feng thought to himself: Letting humans manage the Dwarves and Highlanders might be a bit much. Even if they’re helping me now, they probably won’t respect normal humans. But Gray… Gray has presence. That might help.
Chu Feng assigned Hawk and August their first task: a population census. He instructed them to document all the residents of the Dwarf Village, Highlander Tribe, and Crescent Village—names, ages, family statuses, everything.
As they walked, Hawk said worriedly, “Dwarf Village, Highlanders, Crescent Village… where should we even start?”
August sighed inwardly. The Dwarves are known for their craftsmanship, but their artisans are notoriously proud. Just walking up and asking how many people live there, what their names are, and what they’re good at—we might get punched. Crescent Village is worse, full of half-elves and half-orcs, many of whom probably have bad tempers. Most of them were likely rescued after being harmed by humans. The Highlanders, while simpler-minded, are also incredibly stubborn.
Hawk sighed. “Boss really gave us a tough job…” He shook his head. This sounds easy, but it’s definitely not. Honestly, I’d rather haul rocks.
Manning walked beside them. Chu Feng had assigned him to assist with odd jobs, but he actually had a secret task: verify the accuracy of all recorded family relationships—marriages, parentage, etc.—with his special ability.
Manning took a deep breath. He’d never really used this ability in a serious way before. Now, with such a delicate assignment, he felt like a spy, under intense pressure.
What if he discovered someone had cheated, and the child wasn’t theirs? Should he say something?
“Manning, are you okay?” August called out.
Startled, Manning looked up. “N-no, nothing’s wrong.”
…
Gray came bouncing over. “Are you ready? Brother Feng told me to assist you.”
August nodded. “We’re ready.”
Gray clasped his hands behind his back. “Let’s start with the Dwarves.”
Privately, Gray also thought this census task was tricky. Of the three groups, the Dwarves were probably the easiest to survey. They had already pledged loyalty to Chu Feng, and in a way, they were now his private property—so checking in on them was natural.
“Young Master Gray, I brought the goods,” said Shi Li, dragging over a cart stacked with crates of beer. “Need me to find someone to help you move it?”
Gray waved him off. “No need. Let them pull the cart.”
Gray thought to himself, My brother and Chu Feng went through so much trouble to bring these people here—they’re not here to freeload. They’re here to work, not be pampered.
Shi Li nodded and said, “If you need anything, Young Master Gray, just let me know.”
“I will,” Gray said with a smile. “Alright, let’s head out. Who’s pulling the cart?”
“I’ll do it,” August volunteered.
Gray glanced at him and nodded. I don’t like nobles, he thought. And this guy used to be one—even if it was some minor noble family. Still, at least he knows his place now.
August caught Gray’s look and understood what he was thinking, feeling a bit helpless. He used to be proud of his noble status—now, it just made others wary of him.
