The harsh afternoon sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Expensive velvet curtains, a crystal chandelier, and polished mahogany furniture gave the room a truly royal and majestic appearance. The rare paintings hanging on the walls and a silver clock were clear testaments to the immense wealth of the household. A deep, heavy silence hung over the room, as if everyone was waiting for something crucial to happen.
Right in the middle of the room was a large, grand bed. Sitting on it was Naomi Ward, Felix's mother. She was dressed in a simple, normal grey cloth. Her face was soft, gentle, and mature, but her stomach was prominently large due to her pregnancy, and a distinct look of weakness and exhaustion was clearly visible in her eyes. Sitting close to her was Anthony Ward, Felix's father. He was a tall man, well into his forties, wearing a very expensive custom grey suit paired with a crisp black tie.
Standing right at the foot of the bed were a male butler and two maids. The butler wore a sharp black suit, had a light beard growth on his face, and noticeable dark circles under his eyes. Everyone's eyes in the room were fixed on Chris, who had just bowed respectfully to introduce himself.
Chris In a calm, confident tone "Please forgive me. Your son, Felix, was with me. Recently, in the incident that took place inside the forests of Greyrock, your son became involved because of me. However, keeping Felix's safety as my utmost priority, I protected him throughout the ordeal."
Hearing this, Leo and Ray, who were standing just outside the room, froze completely like statues. Neither of them could comprehend since when Chris had become so blatantly honest. Inside the room, the exact same thought flashed through Felix's mind as well.
Suddenly, the butler standing at the foot of the bed lost his temper. His face contorted with anger. He lifted a newspaper he was holding in his left hand high up into the air and stepped forward, about to strike Chris right on his head.
"Do you even comprehend what you have done?! You threw Master Felix into such a massive, perilous trouble! That danger in the forest was no small matter, and yet you stand here taking responsibility for his protection? Are you absolutely sure that Master Felix is completely out of danger now?!"
Before the newspaper could hit Chris, Felix's father cut in sharply, "Enough."
Instantly, the butler froze in his tracks, calmed down, and stood perfectly still like a statue with his head bowed down in submission. Anthony Ward stood up from the bed, walked over, and looked straight into Chris's eyes.
"Thank you very much for looking after my son and providing him with protection. I will not ask you why you did it, nor will I ask what happened inside that forest. Right now, my wife is pregnant, and my only and greatest concern is her well-being."
Chris let out a gentle, yet slightly mischievous smile. "It was simply my duty as a Captain," he replied. Then, wiping the smile clean off his face, his tone turned serious. "Could I get five minutes of your time in private? Away from your busy schedule, this is highly important, and I absolutely cannot accomplish this task without your assistance."
Anthony smiled back and said in an appreciative voice, "Impressive. I will grant you six minutes. But I will only extend my hand to help if I find your words to be truly important or interesting."
Following that, Ray, Leo, and Chris left the room alongside Anthony, heading toward another part of the mansion. They walked into the grand library.
The library was breathtaking. Every single wall was lined from top to bottom with massive, towering wooden shelves packed with countless books. The floor was crafted from a highly polished, premium, expensive dark wood that reflected the soft ambient light. The furniture inside was masterfully carved out of solid wood—absolutely flawless, with not a single defect or scratch to be seen. It was the epitome of a perfect, high-class study.
Chris, Leo, and Ray took their seats on a luxurious sofa. Right across from them sat Anthony on an opposing sofa, his expression completely calm, unbothered, and collected. Between them stood a low wooden table holding a bowl filled with various fruits and a freshly brewed teapot.
"Begin. Tell me what you have to say." Chris (Letting out a deep sigh): "I will get straight to the point. Your wife is in grave danger."
Even after hearing such a shocking statement, Anthony did not react at all. His face remained completely stoic and calm. Looking at this unbothered face, Chris thought to himself, 'The expression I expected to see on Anthony's face after dropping this news was completely different. How can a man remain this calm after hearing that his own family is in danger? This man is entirely different from the other nobles.'
"You don't seem worried at all after hearing this. May I know why? Do you not feel any tension regarding your wife's safety?" Anthony With a solemn, quiet expression "I am well aware that my family is in danger."
Hearing this, Chris smiled inwardly. 'I suspected he might know, but I wasn't entirely certain until now,' he thought.
"How did you find out? And since when have you known?" Anthony spoke "Before my wife reached the 25th week of her pregnancy, everything was perfectly normal. But after that, certain people began keeping a close eye on us. At first, I assumed they were individuals targeting my business. But gradually, I began to realize that their eyes were fixed solely on my wife. Because of this, I spent fifty platinum coins to hire highly skilled individuals for her protection. However, just the other day, one of those skilled bodyguards I hired was brutally killed at the hands of the people who are watching us."
After stating this, Anthony reached inside his suit jacket, pulled out a sharp, gleaming dagger, and placed it quietly on the table in front of him.
"Look at this. I have reached a point where I must keep a dagger on my person at all times just to ensure my family's survival. I don't even sleep through the night out of the sheer terror that someone might launch an attack on my wife while I rest."
Chris, Leo, and Ray listened intently to his grievance.
"But if you are so wealthy, why didn't you seek help from a Captain or someone of high authority? Anyone would willingly help a rich man like you."
Anthony leaned back deep into his sofa and looked at Leo.
"Felix told me about you. Your name is Leo, right? You study with my son at the academy. Listen, Leo being a wealthy person comes with a hundred advantages, but it also carries a thousand disadvantages. I have never actually seen the people who are tracking my wife; I can only sense their underlying presence. Who would I even approach for help without any solid identity or proof of these people? If I go to a high-ranking official with just suspicions, they will think I have lost my mind. The biggest problem with being rich is that you never truly know who is genuinely your own and who is a hidden enemy, waiting for the perfect opportunity to snatch your position away. That is the exact reason why I kept this to myself and told no one."
Suddenly, Anthony covered his face with both hands and began to weep silently. "Look at how powerless I am," he choked out. "I can't even shoulder the basic responsibility of protecting my own family."
"Do not lose heart. We have come here precisely to help you. All you need to do is place your trust in us."
Anthony sat back up straight, pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket to wipe away his tears, and cleared his throat. "Please forgive me for showing such weakness."
"As a father, you carry an immense weight of responsibility on your shoulders. I can truly understand your pain. You are not powerless at all. Just trust us, and we will provide the protection your family needs." Anthony "Very well. I beg of you, please save my family. In return, name whatever it is you desire, and it shall be yours." Chris "We do not want anything in return. Just answer a few of my questions." Anthony "Ask." Chris: "At what specific time do you feel the most intense sensation of someone watching your wife?" Anthony "During the night. I feel as though four to five pairs of eyes are constantly locked onto us. So, yes, it happens mostly at night." Chris spoke "Understood. And at what distance do you sense their presence?" "There is a window in my bedroom that we keep closed at night. Every single night, I feel like someone is peering through that window, staring directly at us. But the moment I turn around to look, there is absolutely no one near the window." "Perfect. Those are all the questions I had. Tonight itself, I will drag those people and throw them right in front of you—the very ones who dare to spy on your family." anthony spoke with a smile"If you successfully pull this off, I will reward you with twenty platinum coins immediately, and even more money later on."
Chris immediately shook his head and declined the offer.
"No, no. I do not want any money. I am doing this strictly because it is my duty as a Captain. If I start accepting money for this, then what is the point of me being a Captain in the first place?" Anthony "No, I cannot allow that. You are providing such monumental help, and the Captain of the 6th Division himself is assisting me. I must give you something."
As Chris continued to refuse, Ray suddenly chimed in, interrupting the back-and-forth.
"Let's do this instead. Since you insist on giving us something, you must have heard about the recent attack on the 6th Division's headquarters. Because of that, Chris is currently in urgent need of a new base. Why don't you cover the entire financial cost of constructing a brand-new base for Chris? That way, Chris gets the help he needs, and you get to fulfill your wish of rewarding us."
Hearing this solution, both Anthony and Chris internally agreed that it was a brilliant proposal. A wide, satisfied smile spread across Anthony's face, and he spoke in a highly impressed tone
"Ray Moir. I expected nothing less from a boy belonging to the Moir family. You possess exceptional knowledge when it comes to striking a deal. Your skill in making a tactical decision where neither party suffers a loss is truly remarkable. Tell me, what is your age?" Ray "I am 11 years old." "Impressive."
With a sudden snap of Anthony's fingers, a blank sheet of paper came floating through the air and settled gently onto the table. Right behind it, a pen floated over on its own and began rapidly scribbling clauses onto the paper. Within a few moments, the completely blank page was filled with formal writing. Anthony caught the pen out of the air, signed his name at the bottom, and said, "Here is our official agreement."
Chris stepped forward and signed the agreement as well. Anthony shook Chris's hand firmly, before turning to shake hands with Leo and Ray as well.
"Both of you are far stronger and more skillful than anyone your age should be." Leo and Ray Smiled "Thank you." Anthony spoke to Chris with a smile "I will instruct my butler to have your room prepared immediately." Chris also spoke "Could I get a room located close to your own room?" "Of course. Just a short distance from my room is Felix's room, and right opposite to his is another room. I will have that one readied for you three." Chris: "Thank you."
Chris then glanced up at the clock ticking away on the library wall.
"We should go ahead and get some rest now... because we are going to have some real fun tonight."