"Miss, do you genuinely plan to activate those from the family's branches?" The loyal old butler, Foster, faced Perfikot's request with a lack of surprise in his expression, yet he still advised Perfikot in his capacity as a butler, "Though I don't oppose your decision, I urge you to be cautious; these relatives of the family are not trustworthy."

Having been the knight attendant of Perfikot's grandfather, the old butler followed Perfikot's grandfather through life and death, witnessing firsthand how the Brandlis Clan rose from a humble knight family to a baron family, and then how it declined.

Throughout this process, the old butler knew precisely what role these relatives played and their varying attitudes during the family's prosperity and decline.

He didn't oppose Perfikot in employing and promoting these people, as Perfikot indeed lacked manpower presently. Though these distant relatives are untrustworthy, they are still somewhat usable.

"I know they're not trustworthy. When the family prospered, they clung to us like lapdogs; when it declined, they scavenged the family's heritage like hyenas—utterly detestable." Perfikot, likewise, despised these so-called relatives, but did not let her emotions sway her decision: "But doesn't their nature make them easier to control and manipulate? As long as I have power and status, ensuring their own power and wealth, they'll obey me and support my rule.

Regarding whether they might act recklessly and ruin my reputation, Grandpa Fu, do you think I wouldn't raise a blade against my relatives?"

Would Perfikot raise a blade against her relatives? Foster didn't want to know the answer to this question.

Perfikot's hands were already stained with too much blood, and if possible, Foster hoped she could avoid spilling her kin's blood.

Even though for her, those people were merely nominal relatives.

Thus, the loyal old butler requested Perfikot: "If you insist, let me handle this matter. Those people aren't worth wasting your thoughts on. Moreover, if you appear personally, they'll surely make unreasonable demands."

Upon hearing Foster say this, Perfikot touched her chin, thought for a moment, then agreed to the old butler's request: "Alright then, Grandpa Fu, I'll leave those people to you. Use them if you can; if not, dispose of them. Don't concern yourself with familial ties."

"At your command, miss." The old butler bowed to Perfikot.

After discussing this matter, the old butler, having organized his thoughts, spoke again: "Miss, there's another issue that might require your consent."

"What matter?" Perfikot, at this time, had already lowered her head to continue handling the documents before her.

"It's regarding the maids and other servants in your lord's residence. While their backgrounds aren't entirely unclear, they were arranged by others. Since we can't replace them all with Alchemy Puppets, I suggest summoning back the former servants of the Brandlis Clan—they are more trustworthy." The old butler sought Perfikot's approval, concerned not only for the security of the residence and Perfikot but also out of care for those servants who had served the Brandlis Clan for generations.

Previously, Perfikot had dismissed all the servants, as by then she was the only one left in the family. At that time, the old butler could manage Brandelis Manor alone, so for her safety, he supported her decision.

But now the Brandlis Clan is markedly different; Perfikot became the Lord of the Northern Territories, and in the old butler's view, should all the servants in the expansive Northern Lord's residence be predetermined by others, even if Perfikot can replace the key positions with Alchemy Puppets, it won't guarantee the safety and reliability of the residence.

Hence he hoped to take this opportunity to summon back the former servants, as every one of them had served the Brandlis Clan for several generations and was truly trustworthy.

Moreover, crucially, they are Brandlis Clan subjects, and given a choice, the family shouldn't abandon them.

"Summon back the former servants? Alright, handle this as you see fit, Grandpa Fu, just ensure no spies are inserted." Perfikot immediately approved Foster's request.

Perfikot didn't pay much attention to the matters Foster sought her approval for, as she trusted her old butler to manage everything well.

Foster naturally didn't say much more, nodded slightly, then exited Perfikot's room.

These matters the old butler could indeed handle himself, but without Perfikot's permission, his actions might seem somewhat presumptuous.

To Foster, he doesn't regard himself as Perfikot's elder, although Perfikot had always treated him as her sole elder and family; Old Foster merely considered himself Perfikot's butler.

Thus, even though he always hoped Perfikot would summon back the family's servants and subjects, he never directly spoke to her, waiting instead for the right moment.

It was precisely this respect and clarity in self-identity that led Perfikot to respect the old butler greatly, treating him as more than just a butler.

Now, having received Perfikot's permission, the old butler could finally summon back the Brandlis Clan's subjects and former manor servants, which for the old butler, meant removing a burden from his heart.

Watching the old Brandlis Baron, whom he had cared for since childhood, and Perfikot's parents pass away, the family declining almost overnight, leaving only Perfikot behind, who dismissed all manor servants, trusting nearly no one, saddened the old butler deeply.

He nearly thought the Brandlis Clan was doomed; even with Eldest Princess Annie's favor, Perfikot was merely an underage girl without inheriting the title—countless people would covet her and the interests she represented, and the old butler alone couldn't protect her.

At that time, the old butler even resolved to protect Perfikot even at the cost of his life.

No one could have foreseen that Perfikot would stabilize the Brandlis Clan within a few years and rise to the position of Lord of the Northern Territories, elevating the Brandlis Clan to a height it had never reached before.

This brought the old butler comfort, making him even more eager to restore the Brandlis Clan to its former prosperity, and summoning back those former servants, in the old butler's view, symbolized the revival of the family.

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