The Inheritance XVI

The Inheritance

-16-

Chapter 751

“Not long, actually. I estimated you’d be here around this time, so I simply got out a little earlier,” replied the old man in a cheery tone as he slipped his hands into his sleeves.

“Hmm? Are you proficient with fortune telling as well …?” asked Richard as he turned to look at Master Ghost.

“Negative. I simply estimated how long it’d take for you to get here if you set off at dawn! Don’t worry, I only waited here for a little while just so we could get things done a little faster,” replied the old man as he shook his head.

Feeling slightly pleased that the old man was being so eager to leave thus showing just how concerned he was over Richard’s affairs, Richard was then prompted to ask, “So… are we leaving right away?”

Nodding in response, the old man then turned to look at his family members before saying, “Remember my orders last night. Keep a constant eye on the Futabas and immediately stop anyone who poses a threat to them. If they don’t get the message, then just get rid of them. If anything else takes place, I’ll deal with it once I return. Understand?”

“Got it! After leading everyone there, I’ll make sure that each of the Futabas will remain well guarded till you return!” declared what appeared to be the leader of the group with a nod.

“Well said. Let’s get going then,” said the old man as he turned to look at Richard again.

Looking at the four seater SUV that was now going to be cramped because of Fujiko’s sudden intrusion, Richard who didn’t want the old man to be forced to sit behind with Aiden and Master Ghost was prompted to ask, “Um… By chance, do you have a bigger car…?”

Upon hearing that, the old man then yelled, “Get the car!”

Nodding in response, one of the old man’s subordinates then bolted off and shortly after, a seven seater MPV came to a halt before everyone.

“This should suffice, right? I just had a feeling that space would be an issue the night before, so I got this car prepared. As for how we’re getting to Yanam, my family has a small cargo ship at the dock. With that said, we shouldn’t have a problem getting to our destination,” said the old man with a smile.

Momentarily stunned, Richard quickly snapped out of it before placing his hands together and saying, “I… appreciate the thoughtfulness.”

“It’s really no big deal. I was practically the unofficial head butler of your family back then, you know? With that in mind, even after all these years, considering such things is second nature to me,” replied the old man with a chuckle.

Nodding in response, Richard then opened one of the car’s doors before saying, “After you.”

Laughing joyously, the old man then got in as he called out, “Come now, get in as well, you four!”

Going on a trip with Daryl’s descendant was making the old man reminisce about the good old days, which explained why he was feeling so cheery. Regardless, once everyone was inside, they immediately began driving toward the docks.

Once they were gone, the other Yamashitas couldn’t help but whisper among themselves, “I’ve never seen Third Elder this happy before…”

For as long as they knew him, the elder had rarely ever portrayed any other emotions aside from the solemn expression he was known for. Hell, most of the time, he barely even spoke, simply communicating through gestures. However, from the day the Westoner first came to their family, the elder had said more than he ever had. In fact, it probably wasn’t even a stretch to say that the elder had spoken more in these few days compared to the entirety of last year!

“That has nothing to do with us. Let’s just focus on what Third Elder told us to do,” replied the leader of the group who didn’t like them talking behind their elder’s back. Hell, they shouldn’t even be talking about all this in the first place. After all, the Yamashitas had rules that prohibited them from doing so!

“Roger!” declared everyone else upon hearing that.

Nodding in response, the leader then added, “Alright, once you and your subordinates arrive at the manor, remember to keep your eyes peeled at all times. If anyone tries to look for trouble, take them down the second you can. Remember, prioritize keeping the Futaba family members safe. If we fail to do that, then none of us will be able to answer to the Third Elder once he returns!”

With that agreed upon, over ten cars began driving from the Yamashita territory toward the Futaba manor.

—

Moving back to Richard and his party, it wasn’t long before the five of them arrived at the dock. Under the old man’s lead, they soon saw a small cargo ship that had been anchored near the docks bearing the logo of Yamashita family.

Before they even got to the ship, a man came running up to them before saying, “Third Elder! Just as you’ve requested, we’ve prepared enough oil in the cargo ship for you to head back and forth from Japan to Yanam up to three times!”

“Good job,” replied the old man as he patted him on the shoulder.

Feeling overwhelmed to be praised by the elder, the man immediately bowed before declaring, “I-I only did as I was ordered to!”

Once that person ran off, the old man turned to look at the others before saying with a smile, “Speaking of which, there are quite a few shops on this dock, so if you need anything, go ahead and get them. If nothing’s needed, then we can just set off now.”

“I mean… From my past experience, Richard’s probably going to stop us from getting anything unnecessary! He says it’s a waste of money!” grumbled Aiden who would definitely love to get some snacks.

Unfortunately, Richard didn’t share the same sentiment.

“Hmm? Now who said anything about spending money?” replied the old man as his smile broadened.

Confused, Aiden then scratched the back of his head as he asked, “Um… How else are we going to get things…?”

“My boy, the Yamashita family owns this dock. I’ve already told them of our arrival yesterday, so feel free to get anything you want from those shops as long as the items can be brought up the ship,” replied the old man as he pointed at the shops that were in business.

Upon hearing that, Richard thought for a moment before saying, “Well, while I assume the ship already has plenty of food and water prepared for us, I believe we’ll be needing extra sets of clothes. Remember, this isn’t going to be a short trip. With that said, I’d rather not stink to high heaven as we traverse through Yanam and eventually to Yearning Island.”

Richard knew that he had to be clean and neat when he finally reunited with his family. After all, his sister would probably begin lecturing him about the poor way he dressed the second she saw him wearing his current tattered clothes. Thinking back, he remembered playing in a bog a lot as a child, and every time he returned, his sister would grab him by his ear before dragging him to the shower room and leaving him there. The thought of it alone made Richard smile a little.

Whatever the case was, aside from saving his family, Richard was also secretly hoping to learn more about the Sun League.

Regardless, Richard snapped out from his train of thought when the old man replied, “As Richard said, there’s ample food and water on the ship, so you guys should probably focus on getting clothes. When asked to pay, just say that you’re with the Third Elder.”

Before anyone could say anything else, they ended up staring wide eyed as the old man leaped off the ground and right onto the approximately sixteen feet high ship’s deck!

Aiden and Fujiko in particular were momentarily shocked speechless. After all, not even high ranking soldiers like them were able to perform such a feat! Yet the old man had made it seem like a piece of cake!

Already used to seeing such things, Richard himself simply headed into the nearest clothing shop to get some new apparel. Once he was done, he got aboard the ship, only to see the old man sitting on deck while enjoying a cup of tea. Upon seeing Richard, the old man quickly got a new cup before pouring more hot tea into it.

Sitting beside the old man, Richard then placed his new clothes aside before saying, “Well, that’s done with. Speaking of which, I still don’t know your name, Sir.”

“Well, names aren’t really important, but if it helps, you can call me Senior Jobson,” replied the old man with a wave of his hand. Thinking back, it had been a few decades since he had used his real name. After all, to Jobson, names were simply a referential code that bore little meaning.

“Got it, senior Jobson,” replied Richard with a nod as he noted down the old man’s surname.

Nodding in response, the old man then said, “So… what’s the plan?”

—

“Well… the only plan is to head to the ancient ruins of Yanam now. Aside from that, there’s not really a Plan B. After all, it’s exactly because we know so little about Yearning Island that we’re heading there in the first place. Hopefully we’ll learn more about the island once we get there, otherwise, we’ll just hit another dead end…” muttered Richard as he shook his head with a sigh.

“Nothing else?” asked Jobson with a slight frown, clearly expecting Richard to know more about Daryl.

“Sadly. However, I do have this…” replied Richard as he slipped his hand into his coat before pulling out the sea map.

“Hmm? Is that the legendary sea map?” asked Jobson as he took the map from Richard before studying it carefully.

“Oh? You know about it, sir?”

“Of course, I do. Remember, I’m a Weston cultivator as well, so it makes sense that I’ve heard about the map. Regardless, according to legends, this map leads to a secret treasure in the sea, right? The one that if obtained, grants the seeker great wealth?” replied the old man as he pointed at an island in the middle of the map.

“A… secret treasure…?” asked Richard, his eyes widened in surprise.

“Indeed. Why? Weren’t you going after that? Or does the map serve another purpose?” replied Jobson in a curious tone.

“I used the map to try locating Yearning Island… You see, I once saw the island appear on the sea map, but it only lasted for a little under ten seconds before disappearing again… As for the secret treasure you mentioned, it’s the first I’ve heard of it,” explained Richard as he shook his head.

“If that’s the case, then I guess that the sea map leads to multiple things. Either way, if we have the chance, we should try seeking out the secret treasure as well. I have a feeling that it’s the real deal,” replied Jobson.

“Oh, I’ve already been there. I just didn’t know that the treasure was there back then. As for why I headed there in the first place, I initially thought that it was Yearning Island. Unfortunately, the island only houses a sect of the Crawford family,” replied Richard as he pointed at the same island that Jobson had identified earlier.

“Oh? How interesting…” muttered Jobson.

“Indeed… Regardless, while I was on the island, Daryl sent his subordinates over to test my strength. Shortly after that, Will sent some of his own men to assassinate me. All in all, I think I got attacked three times on that island…” said Richard as he recalled those incidents.

“Will?” asked Jobson.

“Ah, he was adopted by Daryl, and he’s about the same age as I am. From what I know, he’s currently the heir of the Crawford family, and he apparently thinks that I’m trying to find the island to snatch his position away! You can tell how desperate he is since he even dared to disobey Daryl’s orders!” explained Richard with a laugh.

“How interesting… To think that while Daryl merely wishes to test your strength, his heir is trying to kill you. The current Crawford family doesn’t sound peaceful at all,” replied Jobson as he stroked his beard with a smile.

“Indeed… Either way, I really couldn’t care less about that position. I just want to rescue my family already…” muttered Richard as he shook his head. In fact, even if Daryl really wanted him to be the next patriarch of the Crawford family, he would’ve declined.

“Speaking of your family, how long have they been locked up?” asked Jobson.

“A very long time,” replied Richard with a sigh.

“And Daryl hasn’t hurt them?” asked the old man as he poured more tea for Richard.

“From what an assassin that Will sent over told me, they’re apparently treated well, though they’ve remained locked up in a room at the back of the Crawford manor this entire time…” replied Richard.

Chapter 752

“I was also told that only Daryl is allowed into the area they’re locked up in, so Will can’t mess around with them. At the very least, that’s what the assassin told me,” added Richard as he shook his head, unsure of whether to believe that or not.

“Things simply get more and more interesting, huh… So after he captured your parents and sister, he’s now forcing you to go save them? At the same time, he doesn’t want you dead either. I wonder if you’re missing something here…” muttered the old man who knew Daryl’s personality well, which was why he still refused to believe that Daryl would harm his family without good reason.

Understanding that Jobson was trying to justify Daryl’s actions, Richard simply clenched his fists before replying, “Even if I am, no grandfather should ever make their grandson learn about something through such despicable means…”

It was clear that his hatred toward Daryl had peaked, and had anyone else said that, then Richard would’ve already attacked them without the slightest hesitation.

Sensing Richard’s hostility, the old man simply muttered in a slightly resigned tone, “… Let’s talk about this again once we reach the manor. Who knows, he may finally tell you why he did all that once you arrive. Again, before parting ways, I remember him always being extremely kind to his family members, especially your parents. In fact, he’s hardly ever scolded them!”

Before Richard could reply, Fujiko, Master Ghost, and Aiden returned. Seeing them, Richard chose not to continue the topic. Instead, he slipped the sea map back into his coat before sipping on his tea.

Once they were close enough, Aiden fished around in his bag before taking a beer bottle out. Tossing it toward Richard, he then said, “Have a drink!”

Easily catching it, Richard then placed it on the table before getting on his feet and replying, “Appreciated. Either way, I bet you guys are hungry. Let me cook something up for us!”

It was now three in the afternoon, and none of them had eaten anything since last night’s dinner. Since even he was feeling a little hungry, he could only imagine how starved ordinary people like Aiden and Fujiko were.

“We’re on a cargo ship, you know? Not some private yacht! With that said, we already have chefs on board. We have sailors and a captain as well, so all of you can just relax,” replied Jobson as he held onto Richard’s arm.

Upon hearing that, Richard nodded in response. How convenient.

It was sometime later when Richard decided to take a walk around the deck. Since Master Ghost and Fujiko were busy distributing the things they had bought, Aiden who didn’t have anything else to do and just so happened to see Richard walking out tossed whatever he was doing aside before running after Richard.

Once he was on the deck, Richard stared at the slowly shrinking country of Japan behind them. Holding onto the ship’s rails, Richard sighed as he felt a light and salty sea breeze brush against his face.

Walking to Richard’s side, Aiden remained silent for a while before asking, “Who exactly is that old man…?”

“He’s the Yamashita family’s elder… He’s also a cultivator who, together with my grandfather, studied under the same master…” replied Richard.

“And… he simply wants to help us…?” asked Aiden.

“It would appear so,” said Richard after taking a deep breath, not even able to see Japan anymore.

“I see… well, not to be rude but… he’s quite old, isn’t he…? Rather than helping us, don’t you think we’ll have to spend more time taking care of him instead…?” whispered Aiden after taking a peek at the cabins.

Bursting out in laughter, Richard simply replied, “You know, even I can’t say for sure that I’ll be able to beat him!”

Though he had never witnessed the old man in combat, the fact that Jobson was able to summon a flame out of thin air showed just how strong his cultivation was. However, the fact that Jobson was able to do that meant that Daryl could probably do the same. If that was the case, then Richard was worried that he’d fail to rescue his family once he got there.

Even so, Richard had already made up his mind. Even if he got heavily injured or even killed, he was still going to try to save his family.

—

“… Come to think of it, he did leap onto the ship’s deck earlier! How could I have forgotten?!” exclaimed Aiden as he quickly covered his mouth. Was Jobson even human?!

“Indeed. Either way, that just shows how strong he is. The truth is, I’m feeling much more confident with him here,” replied Richard as he leaned against the railing while lighting a cigarette.

Shortly after, they entered the ship’s restaurant, only to realize that the chef was already done with their meals. From the looks of it, the chef was a pro. After all, even though only five of them were eating, the chef had prepared up to eight Weston dishes with even some soup on the side. Seeing that, everyone quickly gathered around the table to begin digging in.

Since everyone was already gathered there, Richard took the chance to remind them that danger could pop up at any time during their mission to uncover the secrets of the Seadom tribe.

After all, even during the special forces competition, a Yanam soldier had come looking for trouble with them. With that in mind, Richard had no doubt that the second they docked at Yanam, news about his arrival would get to the Yanam Military in no time.

Still, the fact that the military leader was just Carter made Richard a little more relieved.

Either way, once Richard was done, Jobson looked at everyone before asking, “Speaking of which, are any of you interested in participating in an auction once we arrive in Yanam?”

“Hmm? What sort of auction?” asked Richard.

“From the rumors I’ve heard, it’s focusing on traditional medicine, though I could be wrong,” replied the old man as he shook his head.

“Then I’m afraid I’m not interested,” replied Richard with a wave of his hand, clearly prioritizing saving his family.

“I see… Well, I just thought to say it out… Just in case anyone would be interested, you know?” said the old man before going quiet.

—

Meanwhile, a very flustered Will could be seen in his room. Though he had initially assumed that Amare would successfully assassinate Richard, in the end, Amare never came to him to report how the mission went. With that in mind, Will wasn’t even sure whether Richard was already dead or not! He couldn’t just look for Amare to clarify things either. After all, Daryl had already caught him trying to assassinate Richard once. If he messed up now and Daryl managed to put two and two together, he would surely end up in boiling water…!

As Will continued wondering how to settle this dilemma, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of Amare walking past his door. Eye widening, Will immediately called out in a hushed tone, “Amare…! Come over here…!”

Ever since Daryl learned that Will had attempted to assassinate Richard, Will had noticed that more cultivators from his family had been transferred to his living space. With that in mind, Will knew that Daryl had sent them over to keep an eye on him, which explained why Will was trying so hard to lie low.

Instead of deterring Will from doing the same thing, however, Will was now keener than ever to kill Richard! He was utterly convinced that this person would snatch his position as the heir!

—

Whatever the case was, upon hearing Will’s voice, Amare couldn’t help but shudder as he turned around and replied, “Master Will…”

“Get in here…! Hurry…!” grumbled Will as he continuously looked left and right, glad that none of Daryl’s cultivators were around at the moment.

Watching as Will then gestured for him to hurry up, Amare knew he had no other choice but to obey. Though Amare had actively been trying to avoid Will since he returned, it appeared that he couldn’t run forever.

Once Amare entered, Will quickly got two teacups out before asking, “Care for some tea?”

“I… No, I’m fine. Is… there anything I can do for you, Master Will…?” asked the uneasy Amare with a gulp.

Raising a slight brow, Will then replied, “What do you think? Tell me what happened already…!”

“W-what happened where, Master Will…?” stuttered Amare who was a terrible liar.

“I told you to assassinate Richard, didn’t I? It’s already been a week since you’ve returned, don’t you think it’s high time you told me whether you succeeded or no t?” grumbled Will with a frown, knowing full well that Amare was playing dumb.

“O-oh…! So you were asking about that, Master Will… Well… though I searched far and wide, I simply couldn’t locate Richard in Japan! He’s really good at hiding…” replied Amare as he smacked his forehead, hoping to fool Will that he had just recalled the incident.

“Bullsh*t! I already got confirmation that Richard had been where the special forces competition was being held! With that said, how the hell couldn’t you find him if you went there?! You didn’t take my order seriously, did you?!” growled Will, actively trying to suppress his anger.

“O-of course I did…! You’re our family’s future patriarch! There’s no way I’d disobey your others on a whim! Believe me when I say that I would’ve definitely assassinated him had I managed to locate him back then!” declared the anxious Amare.

“… Then explain why you didn’t immediately report back to me the second you returned to the island?” replied Will in a slightly calmer tone. The fact that Amare had called him the future patriarch of the family had clearly pleased him, and Will was now starting to think that Amare was telling the truth.

Clearly getting better at lying now, Amare quickly explained, “Well… I just didn’t have the courage to face you after failing the mission… After all, you trusted me to complete it!”

By this point, Will was so overjoyed by the thought of getting to be the future patriarch that he didn’t even care anymore. Thinking back, of course a simpleton like Amare would fail to outsmart Richard! With that in mind, Will then replied, “Well, since Richard managed to evade even me, I guess it makes sense why he was able to escape your grasp. Fine, you’re forgiven!”

Hearing that, Amare who couldn’t help but secretly sigh in relief then declared, “If the chance ever arrives, I’ll gladly attempt to take him down again!”

“Just go back for now. And remember, don’t tell anyone about this…!” replied Will in a slightly resigned tone.

“Very well. If there’s anything else you wish to get done, make sure to call for me again!” said Amare before attempting to leave the room.

“Wait,” called out Will.

Chapter 753

Momentarily frozen in fear, the terrified Amare gulped as he slowly turned to face Will again.

Seeing that, Will then cleared his throat pretending to be serious as he said, “Keep in mind that I’m just a regular member of the family. With that said, don’t identify me as the future patriarch since Mr. Daryl is still in control.”

“Got it,” replied Amare as he nodded before swiftly leaving.

After he left, Will quickly closed his room’s door before pacing up and down his hands behind his back as he muttered, “How odd… Aside from being able to take Wolf and Luc down, Richard was even able to evade Amare for so long! What kind of cultivation does Richard even possess? Could his talents exceed that of ordinary people…?”

Though there were many questions in his mind, Will decided to put everything aside for now.

In the end, he was pretty sure that Daryl was still dissatisfied with him for sending others to assassinate Richard before this. With that in mind, he didn’t dare make another move so soon or he may really need to give up his position as the heir of the patriarch… It certainly didn’t help that there were many others who were more talented than him within the family. What more, though being adopted by Daryl made him special, it also meant that he didn’t possess Crawford blood in him.

Fast forward to two days later, the cargo ship from Japan finally arrived in Yanam waters. Aside from eating and sleeping, Richard had spent much of his time staring out at the ocean in the direction Yanam was. Knowing that he was getting closer to saving his family, Richard couldn’t help but feel slightly anxious.

After all, if he failed to save them now, there was a high chance that such a good opportunity wouldn’t present itself again anytime soon.

Whatever the case was, since the cargo ship was now so close to Yanam, it wasn’t long before the Yanam Military received news that Richard was coming.

Upon getting the news, Carter who was in his office instantly got up from his seat before exclaiming in fear, “W-what?! Richard’s back?!”

It had been extremely difficult to send Richard off in the past. To think that that devil was back when Carter had barely had the time to relax and enjoy his new position as the Yanam Military leader!

“He is! We saw him standing atop a cargo ship through a telescope as we were inspecting the local sea areas!” reported a subordinate who was standing before Carter.

Feeling his palms grow sweaty, Carter was prompted to ask, “A-are you sure you weren’t mistaken?”

“A hundred percent! Otherwise, we wouldn’t have reported this to you in the first place! Regardless, why do you think that evil man’s returned leader…? Not only did be cause a massive mess in our military, but he’s also exterminated three major families here! If he’s really back for more trouble, then we may not be able to stop him!” replied the subordinate.

“Should we arm our most capable soldiers with our heaviest weapons to kill him before he lands? I’m sure trouble will start brewing the second he disembarks!” suggested the individual in charge of Yanam’s seas. He, for one, didn’t want history to repeat itself.

“Like I haven’t thought about that already! Either way, resume with whatever you were doing! I’ll contact you if I need anything else! Also, keep a close eye on Richard at all times! Don’t let him sneak past us!” grumbled Carter who could feel a minor headache coming.

—

Carter honestly couldn’t believe that the living nightmare had returned to haunt him again so soon! He had barely even been able to enjoy his new post as military leader!

What more, he was utterly terrified that he would somehow end up just like Godwin. After searching for an entire month, they eventually managed to find him.

However, he looked more like a savage than anything at the time. Hell, had the investigation team not recognized his clothes, he would’ve probably been shot to death the second they bumped into him!

Either way, Carter had made sure to conceal the incident well. After all, he didn’t want unnecessary trouble to brew since that could potentially affect his post as leader. With that said, Carter had hidden Godwin in a remote mountain village, making sure to have a few of his subordinates guard him there at all times.

Regardless, after seeing what happened to Godwin, Carter was determined not to repeat his ex-leader’s mistakes. With that in mind, though the individual in charge of Yanam’s seas had made a tempting proposal to immediately send heavily armed military teams to take Richard out earlier, Carter knew better than to just agree with that.

After all, Richard had yet to make a move on them. Due to that, even if they did manage to take him down, Weston as a whole would potentially come after him next for murdering an innocent man!

However, if he allowed Richard to set foot on Yanam, then dealing with Richard would become even more difficult. As the saying went, prevention was better than cure.

Thankfully, after thinking for a good, long while, Carter finally thought of a good idea. Picking the phone on his office desk up, Carter then called the person in charge of Yanam’s seas. Once he picked up, Carter immediately told him to come back, stating that he was about to issue an extremely important order to him.

Shortly after, the man from before burst into the room before asking in a hushed tone, “Are we going to make Richard disappear before he reaches land, leader…?”

As the person in charge of Yanam’s seas, he wasn’t about to allow Richard to cause any more trouble if he could help it. Hell, after Richard left the last time, he had even filed an application to pursue and kill Richard while he was still out at sea. Unfortunately, Carter had denied his request, so he had to give up on the idea at the time.

Whatever the case was, upon hearing that, Carter couldn’t help but narrow his eyes as he asked, “Are you really planning to kill Richard just like that?”

“Are you proposing that we let him enter Yanam? If he manages to get to land, Richard will surely cause a chaotic scene like the last time! He was Godwin’s murderer, for heaven’s sake!” replied the man in a slightly reluctant tone. When Godwin was leader, he never hesitated when it came to dealing with his opponents. Carter was the complete opposite of him. With how hesitant he always was, Carter didn’t have the demeanor of a leader at all!

“Remember that he’s still a Westoner. If we look for trouble with him out of the blue, I’m sure Weston will try to make an issue out of this. After all, we haven’t exactly had a good relationship with the country in recent years,” muttered Carter who found out about these things while he was still working under Godwin.

“Then… why did you summon me here…?” asked the man in confusion.

“Right. I want you to keep a close eye on Richard and report his every move to me. If it truly seems like he’s approaching our docks, immediately report back. I’m meeting him in person this time…” ordered Carter after thinking for a bit.

—

“B-but leader! You should know how cruel Richard is…! Not only did he kill our former leader, but he’s also taken out our country’s three major families…! With how much chaos he’s caused here, it’s only safe to assume that you’ll be in serious danger if you face him!” replied the terrified man.

“It’s fine, I’m the leader, after all. If I don’t step up, what right do I have to hold this position?” said Carter as he pointed at his seat in a calm tone.

Truth be told, Carter was extremely terrified. However, he was also well aware that he had yet to offend Richard. In fact, he had even given Richard his silent approval to leave Yanam back then, and he was sure that Richard would remember that.

As for why he wanted to meet Richard, Carter wanted to inquire why he had come to Yanam this time. Regardless of whatever or whoever Richard was looking for here, Carter would surely obtain and hand it or them to the youth in exchange for peace. With any luck, Carter would be able to retain his new position for much longer.

“Leader… I…!” said the person in charge of Yanam’s seas before his voice trailed off. While he had no idea what Carter was thinking, he couldn’t help but feel that his previous opinions about Carter were too rash now. As it turned out, the leader had been placing Yanam first this entire time. Hell, he was even willing to risk his life for the country!

“There’s no need to say any more than that. Just do as I ordered,” replied Carter as he gestured for the man to leave.

“…Understood! I’ll get some men to be with you, just in case! That way, if Richard tries anything funny, you’ll at least be able to remain relatively safe!” declared the man before leaving Carter’s office.

The second he left, Carter couldn’t help but slump into his chair. Just thinking about meeting Richard made his hands tremble uncontrollably. Even so, he’d rather take the initiative to look for Richard rather than the other way around. Doing so could at least minimize the potential damage done.

Either way, Carter’s orders were quickly spread around, and in no time at all, over ten fleets from Yanam’s maritime forces set off to keep a close eye on Richard, everyone aboard making sure to detail the location of Richard’s cargo ship at all times.

It was only when evening fell when Richard’s ship was finally anchored at Yanam’s docks. By that point, aside from the old man, the other four had changed into new sets of clean clothes.

The second they were about to go through customs, however, they were immediately stopped by ten armed soldiers.

“Quite the warm welcome we’re getting, don’t you think?” said Jobson with a chuckle, seemingly unafraid of all those guns. After all, he had already seen much of the world.

“Let’s just say I had some issues with them before so they’re a little scared of me…” replied Richard as he scratched the back of his head before sighing.

Shortly after, the person in charge of Yanam’s seas stepped forward before saying, “Mr. Crawford! Our leader would like to meet you!”

“Carter wants to meet me?” replied Richard with a slight frown, recalling how Carter had merely been an executive before Richard had gotten rid of Godwin. Thinking back, it was rather funny how that drunken man whom Richard had captured back then ended up getting elected to be the next military leader of Yanam. Whatever the case was, the man then nodded before saying, “Indeed. Please cooperate with us, Mr. Crawford.”

“Gladly, though could you accommodate my friends for the meantime?” replied Richard.

“We’ve already considered that. With that said, please come with me, ladies and gentlemen. I’ll be leading you to your guest rooms to rest in the meantime,” said the man as he turned to look at Aiden and the others.

Chapter 754

Feeling a chill run down his spine, Carter fought the urge to flee before gesturing for the men surrounding Richard to leave as he said, “Leave us be.”

Hearing that, the soldiers gave a salute before leaving the office.

The second they were gone, Carter quickly closed the door. Gulping as he walked toward Richard and handed him a cigarette, Carter then said, “Um… So… Why exactly have you returned, Richard…? I-If there’s anything or anyone you need, just say the word and I’ll help obtain them for you…!”

Lighting the cigarette before sitting on the couch, Richard then crossed his legs before replying, “I’m not looking for anyone or anything.”

“H-huh…? Then… Why are you here…?” whimpered the terrified Carter.

“I’m just here to sightsee. Or am I not welcome here? Just so you know, I still have the green card issued by your government,” said Richard, amused by Carter’s hypervigilance. This man was incomparable to Godwin!

“O-of course you are…! I welcome you if you’re just here for that…!” replied Carter as he placed his hands together.

“Good to hear. Anyway, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave first,” said Richard as he placed his unfinished cigarette into an ashtray before getting up to leave.

“P-please wait!” called out Carter.

“What is it now? Stop wasting my time…” growled Richard with a deep frown.

“I-I… Please… is that the only reason you’re here in Yanam…? I’m just worried for my country’s sake after all you’ve done here in the past…” whimpered Carter who had no choice but to be honest since he didn’t want to accidentally anger Richard.

“You’re worried, you say…?” replied Richard as he looked at the terrified man.

“Y-yes… You should know that I’m telling the truth since I’ve always been honest with you… P-please remember that I was also the one who gave the order for you to safely leave back then… Had I not done that, the person in charge of Yanam’s seas would’ve definitely continued trying to retaliate, you know…?” stuttered Carter as he revealed an awkward smile, clearly trying to butter Richard up.

“So you’re saying I should state my true objective as thanks?” sneered Richard in response.

“O-of course, not! I’m just saying that we’ll definitely help you if you need anything! In return, I only ask that you don’t… well… go on another rampage…” muttered Carter.

—

“Fine, I came to Yanam to look for something, but I’m not interested in causing any unnecessary trouble,” replied Richard before turning to face the door again.

“T-then I’ll-” However, before Carter could even finish his sentence, Richard had already walked out.

Still, since Richard had clarified that he wasn’t here to cause trouble, Carter couldn’t help but feel slightly relieved. As long as he didn’t go out on his way to offend him, then Richard wouldn’t be an issue for Yanam. Regardless, Richard soon made it to the guest rooms that wasn’t too far from Carter’s office where the others already were. Though the term ‘guest room’ had been used, the truth was, Carter had booked one of the more luxurious hotels in Yanam for them. Since the place was usually reserved for important people from overseas, if one didn’t have the right connections, then they wouldn’t be able to stay there, even if they had the money.

Either way, the others were eating at the moment Richard entered the room.

Seeing him, Aiden immediately put his food down before asking, “Richard! What did Carter want from you?”

“He’s just worried that I’ll cause unnecessary chaos here. After all, he just got promoted to being the military leader,” replied Richard as he shook his head with a smile.

Watchng as Richard then sat beside him, Aiden couldn’t help but sneer, “Hah! It all depends on whether they pick a bone with us first!”

“Indeed. Either way, all of you should rest up for the night. For tomorrow, I’ll have Master Ghost come along with me. Aiden, Fujiko, and Senior Jobson, you three can continue resting here,” replied Richard, not taking Carter who was nowhere near as big a threat as Godwin was seriously at all. As long as Carter made one wrong move, Richard could easily get rid of him.

“I’ll be coming along,” said the old man.

“Alright,” replied Richard, knowing how knowledgeable and experienced Jobson was. Hell, though the probability was low, there was always a chance that Jobson would notice something that Richard missed while they were in the ancient ruins. Either way, once dinner was over, everyone returned to their respective rooms to rest.

Lying on his bed that was right next to the window, Richard took a peek outside and saw that several Yanam soldiers were guarding the hotel’s entrance. Not even bothering about them, Richard then turned to face the vast, silent ocean before looking at the cloudy and moonless night sky.

“We’re going to have heavy rain tomorrow…” muttered Richard as he lit a cigarette.

Just seconds after he began puffing on it, a few raindrops fell against the windowpane. Soon enough, torrential rain began crashing down. Despite the heavy rain, the Yanam soldiers seemed completely unfazed as they continued patrolling the area.

Staring at the falling rain, Richard was reminded of the night his family was kidnapped. Drenched in rain upon returning home, Richard had no idea what had happened to his family till he eventually rescued Master Ghost and found out.

Putting his hands together, Richard then closed his eyes while facing the sky before wishing, “May things go smoothly this time… The sooner I get to save them, the better…”

The second his sentence ended, thunder rang in the sky, followed by a bolt of lightning that momentarily lit the dark sky up.

—

Daryl appeared in his dreams that night, and the old man kept on talking about Richard’s childhood till the moment Richard finally awoke from his nightmare. Even as he panted vigorously upon waking up, Richard couldn’t help but check his surroundings. It had all felt so real. Once he calmed down a little, Richard saw that it was only four in the morning.

Looking out the window, Richard realized that it was still raining heavily. Knowing that he wasn’t going to get any further rest that night, Richard then rolled out of bed and stood by the window, silently gazing out.

All of a sudden, knocking could be heard from his door. Raising a slight brow, Richard then looked through the door’s peephole and saw that it was Aiden. Opening the door, Richard couldn’t help but smile as he said, “Well someone’s early…”

“Yes, about that… You see, I just received an urgent message from my superior, but before that, do you still remember Miss Lawrence?” asked Aiden in a nervous tone.

“That unruly young lady? Of course, I do. You escorted her back, right?” replied Richard who needed a moment to even remember her.

“Bingo. While I did send her back, she apparently returned to Yanam alone. Since then, nobody’s been able to contact her. With that in mind, my superior has urgently ordered me to locate her. Following that, I’m to safely escort her back.” muttered Aiden as he double checked if anyone was nearby before closing the door behind him.

“Now why on earth would she come here?” asked Richard with a frown as he recalled the time he and Aiden had escorted her to the Grubb family. Had they not stepped in back then, she would’ve surely gotten deflowered.

Either way, Richard also remembered telling Lindsay time and again not to contact that family, and he was pretty sure that she had promised not to back then.

“How should I know? My superior has even asked the Lawrence family regarding this, though they refused to explain why she had returned. Personally, I assume she’s here because of that mysterious keepsake that she sent. The Grubbs may have some contact with the Lawrences as well, so the Lawrences probably had no say in Lindsay’s return, which ultimately resulted in the current situation,” replied Aiden with a helpless shrug.

“Well isn’t this interesting…” said Richard with a chuckle.

“Easy for you to say… What should I do…?” muttered the anxious Aiden.

“You like Lindsay, don’t you?” replied Richard with a slightly raised brow.

“…H-huh? Where did that come from…” muttered Aiden, failing to stop himself from blushing.

“Be honest with me.”

“That… I’m… not too sure about that, to be honest…” replied Aiden as be lowered his head. Since he had been in the military for so many years, he had never truly considered starting a love life.

“Alright, listen up. You, of all people, should know that my goal is to uncover the secrets of the Seadom tribe at the ancient ruins so that I’ll potentially be able to locate Yearning Island and save my family. I trust you understand how much this matters to me, correct?” asked Richard after taking a deep breath.

“I do,” replied Aiden with a slight nod.

“Good. Now… If you truly like Lindsay, I’ll definitely help you save her. After all, what are friends for? However, if you dislike her, then this is a matter between you and your superior. In other words, you’ll be saving her on your own. With that said, what’s it going to be?” asked Richard in a solemn tone.

Chapter 755

“I… Don’t know…” muttered Aiden, clearly conflicted about the whole matter. While he wasn’t sure if he really liked her, he did feel great unease the second his superior told him that Lindsay had gone missing. After all, his first reaction was to update Richard about this despite the ungodly hour!

“If that’s the case, remind your superiors that you’re currently on vacation and tell them to send someone else to save her. If you’re not serious about her, then stay with me. I’ll need all the help I can get,” replied Richard as he looked out the window.

“But… Miss Lawrence could be in danger…” said Aiden.

While he would normally prioritize Richard, the thought that Lindsay was locked up by the Grubbs was making him hesitate. However, Aiden was also worried that if he rushed over, he could potentially ruin things.

“Hmm? Didn’t you say you disliked her?” replied Richard with a laugh. Richard, for one, knew Aiden well enough to know that if he didn’t care about Lindsay, he wouldn’t have come running over to tell him about this in the first place. Hell, if that really was the case, he would’ve probably rejected his superior’s orders the second he got them!

Upon hearing that, Aiden went silent for a moment before eventually saying, “… Alright, I’ve made up my mind. Let’s save her.”

“Well said. We’ll focus on rescuing Miss Lawrence first, then,” replied Richard with a nod.

While saving his family was important, Richard knew that Lindsay’s rescue had to be prioritized. After all, he was well aware of what kinds of people were in the Grubb family. With that said, if she truly had been captured by them, then any delays would surely result in her either getting hurt or defiled.

Should that come to be, then Aiden would definitely be brimming with self reproach, and Richard really didn’t want to see his good friend drowning in such grief.

“Thank you, Richard…” said Aiden, pleased that Richard was willing to help.

Shaking his head, Richard simply replied, “There’s no need for that. Either way, did your superior provide any hint as to where she could be?”

Though he hadn’t said it, Richard had been keeping tabs with all the times Aiden had remained by his side to help him. With that in mind, now that Aiden needed his help, Richard was definitely going to lend his aid. Regardless, Aiden then shook his head before saying, “Unfortunately, no. He just told me that Miss Lawrence went missing in Yanam, and that the Lawrences provided no useful information about all this…”

“I see… Well, either she was captured by the Grubbs, or she may not be in Yanam at all,” replied Richard as he narrowed his eyes.

“That’s what I’m thinking as well,” muttered Aiden with a sigh.

“Then let’s start the investigation at the Grubb family’s manor,” replied Richard in a helpless tone. Since he had killed Frey back then, nobody else in the Grubb family should have ulterior motives against Lindsay. Though that was the case, they really didn’t have any other leads at the moment, so they may as well inquire the Grubbs about this first.

“And the ancient ruins…?” asked Aiden, feeling slightly embarrassed for causing Richard’s goals to be delayed.

“Let’s save Miss Lawrence first,” replied Richard with a slight wave of his hand.

With their minds made up, the duo then immediately left the hotel. On their way out, Richard made sure to send a text message to Master Ghost, explaining the gist of where he and Aiden were off to. Aside from telling him to relay the message to Fujiko and Jobson, Richard also stated that they would return immediately if they managed to save Lindsay.

—

Though it had already been raining for ages, the rain only seemed to get heavier as the duo got into their car. Since Yanam soldiers were still patrolling the area, the second they saw Richard and Aiden leaving, one of them immediately reported the situation to their superior.

Meanwhile, Carter was sleeping soundly within the leader’s lounge. After learning that Richard wasn’t here to cause chaos, Carter had been so relieved that he had invited several executives to drink with him the night before, which explained why he was in such a comfortable slumber.

However, the snoring man was abruptly awoken when his butler burst through the door, gently shaking Carter’s sleeping body as he exclaimed, “B-bad news, Captain…!”

Annoyed that he was suddenly awoken, Carter then yelled, “Get lost!”

“Captain! Richard and that special forces soldier from Weston have just left the hotel! Should we send our men over to keep an eye on them?” replied the butler who wasn’t intimidated in the least.

Under normal circumstances, the butler would’ve surely sent people after the duo without even needing to ask for Carter’s permission. However, since Carter apparently had his own ways of dealing with Richard, the butler refrained since he was worried that sending their men to tail Richard would eventually ruin everything.

“Let’s just talk about it once I’m up…! With that said, if you don’t get lost now, you’re in for a world of trouble …!” growled Carter. Since he wasn’t fully sober yet, he hadn’t really heard what his butler had said. To him, everything was simply gibberish.

“With all due respect, captain! Richard and his ally have left the hotel…!” replied the butler who had no choice but to raise his voice a little.

“Are you courting death?!” roared Carter as he fished for his pistol that was by his bed before aiming it at the butler!

“I-I’ll leave immediately…!” cried out the butler before rushing out of the room. While he knew that the half awake Carter hadn’t gotten the message, the butler wasn’t about to risk his life just to get his point across.

Knowing that he had successfully gotten rid of the loud butler, Carter then tossed his pistol onto the floor before lying in bed again. It wasn’t long before his snoring resumed.

Back on Richard’s side, he and Aiden continued speeding toward the Grubb family’s manor. Though the wipers were doing their best to clear the windscreen, the rain was absolutely horrendous. Not wanting to risk crashing the vehicle since he could barely see the road by this point, Richard had no choice but to slow the car down.

Staring at the onslaught of rain outside his window, Aiden was prompted to ask, “Do you think Miss Lawrence is in danger, Richard…?”

“You know I can’t answer that,” replied Richard as he focused on the road. Honestly, had it not been a mission to save his friend’s love interest, Richard wouldn’t even have considered driving in this weather.

“I see… Still, since we’ve gotten rid of Prey, she should be fine if she’s currently with the Grubbs. After all, aside from being her father’s good friend, Lucian is also Miss Lawrence’s godfather. With that in mind, I really hope that she’s there and that her phone is just broken or she just hasn’t been looking at it…” muttered Aiden.

“That would be for the best,” replied Richard with a shrug.

—

While the journey to the Grubb manor should’ve taken three hours at most, it ended up extending to five hours due to the torrential rain. With that said, it was near noon by the time they got to the manor.

After parking the car, Richard checked his phone and saw that Master Ghost had seen his message. Pleased that Master Ghost had also said that he would relay the message to the others, Richard was about to leave the car when he suddenly noticed a servant running toward him with an umbrella.

Outstretching his hand that was holding onto a folded umbrella, the servant then asked, “Good day, sir. May I know why you’re here?”

“I’m looking for Mr. Grubb to discuss something,” replied Richard as he took the umbrella and opened it.

Once Aiden was under Richard’s umbrella as well, the servant smiled before asking, “Pardon me, but which Mr. Grubb could you be referring to?”

Aside from the live in son-in-law and the daughter-in-law, most of the people living there were Grubbs.

“Lucian,” replied Richard in a calm tone.

“Oh? You’re here to meet the master?” replied the stunned servant who quickly straightened his back to appear more respectful.

“Is he in? If he isn’t, there’s no need to ring him up. We’ll just wait here for a bit,” said Richard as he and Aiden began walking into the manor.

“He’s in. With how heavy the rain is today, he doesn’t have any other guests visiting either,” explained the butler as he lowered his gaze, not even daring to look Richard in the eye. After all, not only had the youth dared to come over, but he had even called his master by name! All that could only mean that Richard either possessed a high status or he was someone his master took extremely seriously.

“Lead us to him,” replied Richard.

With that, the servant instantly led the two to the reception room, where they were promptly served some hot tea.

A short while later, Aiden who had ants in his pants couldn’t help but say, “… I’m taking a look around.”

If Lindsay really was locked up in here, he was going to take every chance he could to search for her.

Frowning slightly, Richard replied, “Just remain seated here. I’m sure he’ll come soon.”

“But I’m worried about Miss Lawrence’s safety…!” grumbled Aiden as he stared out the window. Not showing signs of letting up at all, the rain was so heavy that he could barely see a thing.

“Even if she’s here, haven’t we already alerted the enemy by showing ourselves? If you start searching now, aren’t you just making it even more obvious that we’re looking for her?” replied Richard as he sipped his tea.

“I… didn’t think of that…” muttered Aiden as he quickly calmed down.

“I’m glad you’ve realized. Now get back here and have your tea while it’s hot,” replied Richard as he held Aiden’s cup out for him.

The second Richard’s sentence ended, Lucian under the guide of his servant could be seen entering the reception room. Though his pants were drenched in rainwater, he didn’t seem to care at all, especially when he saw Richard.

Instantly breaking into a smile, Lucian then walked up to Richard his hand extended while saying, “And here I thought my servant was kidding when he said you were here!”

“It’s been a while, Mr. Grubb,” replied Richard as he began walking toward the enthusiastic man as well.

“Indeed! Still, why are you back so soon? Do you have some affairs to attend to? Or could it be that… You’ve managed to grasp the meaning behind the Devotion Mirror and you’re here to return it?” asked Lucian as he shook Richard’s hand.

“You’re thinking too highly of me, Mr. Grubb. There’s no way I’d be able to see through the mirror this quickly! Truth be told, I’ve yet to even scratch the surface of the mirror’s secrets!” replied Richard as he shook his head with a laugh.

Chapter 756

The truth was, Richard hadn’t even looked at the Devotion Mirror from the second he got it. He had simply been too busy to unravel its mysteries. What more, the mirror wasn’t exactly as important as Lucian would’ve liked to believe, though Richard knew better than to tell him that. After all, an enraged Lucian would only spell more trouble for him.

“Oh please, your talent’s exceptional, mister! After all, you’re the first person who’s been able to retrieve the mirror from the cave! Since you’ve even obtained recognition from my ancestors, I have reason to believe that it’s only a matter of time before you uncover its mysteries,” declared Lucian as he shook his head, making it clear that he trusted the Devotion Mirror’s choice.

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely share what lies within the mirror if I manage to crack the code,” replied Richard with a hearty laugh.

“If you manage to do so, you’ll truly be a great benefactor to my family!” declared Lucian, his eyes glimmering with hope.

According to his family’s ancestral records, anyone who managed to grasp the meaning of the mirror would gain supreme skills and cultivation that would then grant them easier access in becoming a top cultivator. With that said, if Richard succeeded in decoding the mirror, then the Grubbs would easily become the largest and strongest family in the entirety of Yanam! Actually, since all the cultivators in their family would be able to max out their cultivation by then, forget Yanam, they’d become the strongest cultivating family in the cultivation realm!

Regardless, Richard then replied, “It’s already an honor to be given the chance to inspect this mirror…”

Throughout their conversation, Richard had kept tabs on Lucian’s expressions. Aside from excitement, however, Richard couldn’t discern any other vague expressions, which meant that Lucian hadn’t kidnapped Lindsay. Though that was the case, that didn’t mean that the other Grubbs hadn’t done the deed.

Whatever the case was, upon hearing that, Lucian couldn’t help but exclaim, “You truly are my family’s lucky star, mister!”

“You flatter me. Speaking of which, have any weird incidents happened within your family recently?” asked Richard.

“Hmm? Everything’s been normal as far as I’m concerned… Honestly, have you returned to deal with my family’s affairs, mister? Does it concern the cave or the mirror…?” replied Lucian after thinking for a bit.

“Let’s just say that I’ve returned to look for something, though it doesn’t concern your family. Don’t overthink my earlier question,” replied Richard with a wave of his hand, not wanting to accidentally mention that he was here to investigate Lindsay’s disappearance.

“I see… You scared me for a moment there… However, there is one other thing I’d like to talk to you about…” muttered Lucian after heaving a relieved sigh. It was something that he had realized right after Richard left back then.

—

“Go on,” replied Richard as he momentarily looked at the heavy rain outside.

“Well… I’m sure you know of my adopted son, Frey, right? You see, it’s been ages since I’ve last seen him… He seems to have just vanished into thin air! It doesn’t help that as far as I know, he didn’t have any disputes with my other family members. With that said, I was wondering if you had bumped into him…” muttered Lucian with a slight frown.

In his search for Frey, not only had Lucian searched every nook and cranny of his manor, but he had even gone to all the places Frey usually went to. Hell, aside from meeting up with Frey’s friends, he had also used all his connections to locate his son to no avail even after two entire months.

“Frey?” asked Richard in a calm tone, though honestly, he couldn’t help but feel sad for Lucian. After all, he had killed Frey back in that cave, and Richard was pretty sure that not even Frey’s ashes remained. Still, to think that Lucian the mighty master of the Grubb family would end up adopting such an evil son… How truly pitiful.

“Yes… While I had initially doubted that he had met with an accident or was kidnapped, after so long, I just want news about him already… Any news…” muttered Lucian, his eyes now slightly red and teary.

Unable to