Early in the morning, the roosters roaming freely around the estate crowed loudly.
After an exhausting night, Aron got up completely refreshed.
He loosened up his body a little and performed the Eight Brocades.
The bones and joints throughout his body cracked clearly several times, and the muscles in several places stretched completely before he slowly finished the exercise.
He lightly rang a copper bell, and the maid waiting outside the door respectfully brought in a warm breakfast.
Atarisa lazily opened her eyes.
She was Elaine’s mother, and thanks to the fact that her daughter possessed two mutant abilities, she herself was one of Aron’s more favored women.
After washing up a little, she changed into a pink dress with a corset, walked over to the dining table, wrapped her arms around Aron’s neck, and sat in his lap.
Her large, clear eyes looked at her man with admiration, while an indescribable satisfaction could be seen in her hazy gaze.
“Husband, you got up very early today. Is something important happening in the family?”
Aron ate slowly and patted her full buttocks.
“Nothing special. Old Howlett invited James and me over as guests.”
“Today is the weekend and there are no classes, so I’ll take the opportunity to bring him along for a visit.”
The corners of Atarisa’s lips lifted slightly.
“That boy really is good. Elaine finally doesn’t run away from class anymore, all thanks to him keeping an eye on her!”
Aron nodded, ate the last piece of steak, and elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin.
When a man had many children, there would always be a few mischievous ones among them.
However, even among such children, it was rare to find someone like Elaine, who had the courage to go to the Moon or dive to the bottom of the sea just to satisfy her curiosity.
Sometimes even he wondered whether he had spoiled her too much in the past, causing her to develop a completely fearless character.
A person should not be overly weak and timid, but in the Marvel Universe, where gods and demons existed, it was even more dangerous to completely lose one’s sense of awe.
Atarisa reluctantly stood up and carefully helped her man get dressed.
Whenever her slender fingers passed over his strong chest, pleasant memories of the previous night always returned to her.
Aron caught her mischievous hand, looked at himself in the mirror, adjusted his tie with the other hand, and said in a low voice:
“You insatiable little temptress, I have important business today. Next time, I’ll definitely teach you to be obedient!”
After saying that, he took the top hat from the hanger and left the room under Atarisa’s fiery gaze.
In the entrance hall on the first floor, James, dressed in cowboy clothes, was constantly pacing back and forth.
When he saw Aron coming down the stairs, his eyes lit up, and he asked somewhat nervously:
“Father, look at me. How do I look? Do I look like a brave cowboy and a fearless explorer of the New World?”
He turned around to show off the outfit, his eyes full of anticipation.
Aron nodded and smiled with relief.
“James, you really have grown up. Old Mr. Howlett will be very happy when he sees you like this.”
James looked somewhat confused.
He was sixteen years old.
Wasn’t he already grown up?
The old-fashioned cowboy clothes had been given to him by old Mr.
Howlett.
They were exactly the same as the clothes he had worn when he first set foot on Canadian soil.
Ten years had passed, but John Howlett had failed to restore the Howlett family bloodline.
On the contrary, his health grew weaker by the day.
He spent his nights unrestrainedly with women and exhausted the last remnants of his strength, so there was a possibility that he would die even before old Mr.
Howlett.
“Heh, it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand now. You’ll understand when you become a father one day.”
“That outfit is not merely a gift. It represents the spirit of old Mr. Howlett. He hopes that you will be the one to continue passing on the spirit of the Howlett family.”
Watching James scratch his head in confusion, Aron draped an arm over his shoulder and smiled.
Father and son left together through the main gate, mounted their horses, and galloped toward the Howlett estate.
…
In front of the gate of the Howlett estate, old Mr.
The back that had once been completely straight was now bent, while a grayish veil covered his once sharp and clear eyes.
The once-famous Bloodmane was now old and suffered from mild cataracts.
He could no longer clearly see the scene before him, but he still stubbornly stared into the distance.
“They’re coming!”
Suddenly, a piercing shout echoed from the watchtower on the estate wall.
“Mr. Howlett, I can see young Master James!”
“He’s coming together with Mr. Blackwood!”
The guard excitedly waved a flag, signaling to the hidden guards that the newcomers were friends.
Old Mr.
Howlett’s lips trembled slightly, and the hand holding his cane began to shake.
The servant taking care of him quickly helped him sit down on a bench.
“Don’t get so excited. Dr. Thomson said you must remain calm.”
The servant anxiously patted the old man on the back, trying to calm his surging emotions so that his condition would not worsen.
“I’m fine, Carls. Go and tell the cooks to prepare several dishes that James likes.”
“God will not call me to Him yet. It’s not time!”
“I want to watch my grandson grow up. Don’t worry, Carls. Hurry and do what needs to be done.”
Carls helplessly left, occasionally turning around to look at him.
Not long afterward, the estate gate slowly opened.
Aron and James rode inside, then dismounted in front of old Mr.
Howlett.
“Grandfather, why are you sitting here? Why is there no one taking care of you?”
James’s face was full of concern.
When he had returned the previous year, the old man had still been in good health and full of spirit.
He had not expected his condition to deteriorate so much in less than a year that he could barely see James standing directly in front of him.
Old Howlett heard the voice of the grandson he had longed for day and night.
He tried to open his eyes wide so he could see him clearly, but a thin whitish layer covered his pupils.
With trembling hands, he stretched out his dry arms and began feeling toward the place where the voice came from.
James’s heart ached.
He quickly grabbed the old man’s hand, tears streaming down his face.
“James, you are my best grandson, but the men of the Howlett family never cry!”
Old Mr.
Howlett had obviously missed his grandson greatly, but he still scolded him in a stern tone.
“Mr. Blackwood, I have something to say to you…”
After scolding his grandson, the old man pointed toward Aron.
James gave his foster father an apologetic look.
His eyes were full of pleading, hoping Aron would not argue with the old man.
Aron shook his head and looked at the stubborn old man.
“I disagree with you, Mr. Howlett. A man who cries because of someone he loves shows that he is capable of sincere love.”
“Do you really want James to become a cold-blooded man?”
Old Howlett froze for a moment, stroked his grandson’s hand, and smiled bitterly.
“Mr. Blackwood is right. I was too strict.”
He tried to stand up, but his weak and limp legs could not obey him.
James and Aron quickly helped him to his feet.
Old Howlett struck his thigh with his fist, swung his cane, and slowly said:
“Old age truly makes a man useless. Let’s go inside and eat!”
The two of them supported old Howlett and slowly led him toward the house.
The Blackwood family’s musketeers spoke with the butler of the Howlett estate and watched from a distance as the three of them entered the house.
“Gentlemen, come with me to the guest rooms and rest there. The master probably has much he wants to discuss with Mr. Blackwood and James.”
The old butler was no longer young, so even standing for a short time was already tiring for him.
The musketeers nodded and followed him toward the nearby guest rooms.
Aron, who was entering the house behind grandfather and grandson, turned his head and met the gaze of Captain Samuel Carter from a distance.
He made an almost imperceptible hand signal.
When Samuel responded with the corresponding signal, Aron stopped paying attention to the servants carefully avoiding them and continued helping the old man walk.
In the dining room, James ate voraciously, while old Howlett watched him affectionately.
Aron, who had already eaten breakfast at home, slowly sipped a cup of black tea.
“Eat more slowly. Food at home is still tastier, isn’t it?”
“When I see how much you enjoy eating, even my appetite returns. I’ll order them to bring more food.”
His teeth were no longer strong enough to eat beef, but he still forced himself to eat a piece of soft pastry so that he would have more strength to talk with his grandson.
After the meal, the three of them went to Mr.
Howlett’s study.
With James’s help, the old man leaned back in an armchair, picked up an elegant dark-yellow ivory pipe, and slowly filled it with tobacco.
James wanted to stop him, but Aron signaled him not to.
Click!
Click!
Click!
The flint struck several times and threw off bright sparks, igniting the tobacco in the pipe.
The old man took several puffs, released a large cloud of smoke, and said with a faint smile:
“James, your grandfather does not have much time left. Your father’s health is not good either. The Howlett family’s legacy must not disappear. From now on, you will have to carry the banner of our family.”
“With Mr. Blackwood’s support, I believe there will not be any major problems.”
As he spoke, he suddenly began coughing violently, and his face turned red.
James quickly patted him on the back to help him calm down.
“Grandfather, don’t say such nonsense. You’re still strong and will live for many years.”
The old man shook his hand with a bitter smile, grasped his grandson’s fist, and addressed Aron seriously:
“I know my own body best. I may have a year or two left. Mr. Blackwood, I ask one thing of you. You must help me take care of this child and ensure that the Howlett family bloodline continues.”
Aron laughed, wrapped an arm around James’s shoulders, and said:
“Don’t worry, Mr. Howlett. James is my son as well, and I am his foster father!”
After receiving his promise, old Howlett let out a long breath, as though all the worries in his heart had disappeared.
He knew very well how powerful the Blackwood family was.
The modest wealth of the Howlett family was not worth the man before him plotting to seize it.
After securing the future of the family, old Howlett seemed much more relaxed.
He began telling his grandson amusing stories from his childhood, which made James look embarrassed, but he did not want to interrupt the old man’s enjoyment.
After they talked for a while, old Howlett sent his grandson to rest, then lit several kerosene lamps on the table.
“Mr. Blackwood has surely already guessed that I did not invite you merely to entrust James and the future of the Howlett family to you.”
“You surely know more than I do about the latest news from Ottawa.”
“The new Governor General Edmund does not come with good intentions!”
Aron nodded, narrowed his eyes, and said coldly:
“That Governor General’s goal is nothing more than abolishing the profit-sharing policy that was previously agreed upon and increasing Alberta’s tax burden!”
“Heh, he has imagined it beautifully. We went through countless obstacles to build such enormous businesses.”
“And now some idiot who has only just arrived wants to take the fruits of our labor. He must have completely lost his mind!”
Old Howlett laughed loudly, clapped several times in approval, and shouted:
“Exactly! An ordinary idiot!”
The old man also could not tolerate the disgusting behavior of the new Governor General.
However, when he remembered the information he had received from Britain, he continued worriedly:
“But we still must not underestimate that idiot. He brought powerful military units with him, and besides…”
After saying those words, old Howlett gave Aron a meaningful look.
“A demon hunter sent by the Vatican arrived with him as well. I heard those people are extremely powerful and far stronger than ordinary humans.”