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In the eyes of their martial uncle, they were nothing more than unruly children who needed discipline. Worse still, the two had avoided returning to the Pathfinders Guild precisely to escape Everett’s grasp. Now that he was here, didn’t that mean their long-dreaded reckoning had arrived?
Inside the study, Everett sat calmly sipping coffee with Jacob. As for Kyle and Winona, they were being punished forced to hold a horse stance while balancing large water jars on their heads. The jars were so massive that their heads seemed to disappear beneath them, leaving only their struggling, unsteady legs visible.
Kyle’s usual scholarly grace was nowhere to be found, while Winona’s confident and graceful figure had turned into a clumsy, bent-legged mess. They had already endured this punishment for an hour. Those who entered the room with updates caught sight of the scene, but wisely kept their reactions in check. They dared not laugh aloud, even though their amusement was evident in their fleeting glances.
However, Dylan wasn’t as restrained. He stifled his laughter so hard that his stomach hurt. Since no one dared enter the study, reports were delivered to him outside, and he passed them along to Jacob inside. “I’ve got an update on Hartstone Estate,” Dylan announced, snapping out of his amusement.
He kept his gaze downward, avoiding any more glances at the comical sight of Kyle and Winona as he prepared to deliver his report.
Jacob rubbed his stomach, his hands massaging his face as he let out a long sigh.
What a tough situation!
Then, he muttered, “What’s the update from Hartstone Estate?”
“Three carriages have been moved, and they’re parked at the back door. They’re loading up things looks like gold, silver, and other valuables from a distance,” came the response. Jacob nodded. “He’s trying to run.”
“Should we send someone to intercept them on the way out?”
Ever the diplomat, Jacob turned to Everett for advice. “What do you think, Sage Everett?”
With a calm expression, Everett replied, “Where can he go? He’s definitely heading for Valken. Send someone to follow him, and along the way, take all his valuables. Let him head to Valken empty-handed. Once he’s there…” He gave Winona a pointed look.
“Have your people keep a close watch. Everything he does and every move he makes needs to be reported back.”
Winona gritted her teeth and responded with a firm, “Yes, sir!”
Jacob was aware that he would need to send someone to keep an eye on things, but the idea of stealing all of Hartstone Estate’s valuables struck him as particularly ruthless-and he couldn’t help but admire the cunning. Everett glanced at Kyle and Winona, and finally relented. “Fine, you can go now. Put the jars down and get on with your business.”
The two of them felt like they had just been granted mercy. With shaky hands, they carefully carried the massive water jars out of the room. The jars were so large that they barely fit through the door. Had the door been any smaller, they wouldn’t be able to get in or out. Once the jars were placed down, they returned, bracing themselves for more reprimands. Having been punished so many times before, they knew the process was never complete without at least a few words of scolding.
“Thank you for your forgiveness, Sage Everett.”
Everett took a sip of his coffee before saying slowly, “I’m not punishing you because I’m heartless. If you want to blame someone, blame your hopeless mentor. He’s up on the mountain experimenting with gunpowder and blew up my courtyard. And then he had the nerve to ask me to come to the capital to help his apprentices. If I don’t punish you, how can I let off some steam?”
The two of them exchanged a look. Was Adrian still messing around with gunpowder from the kingdom of Nerathia?
He had been working on it when they first heard that Sophie was going to the battlefield. It wasn’t the first time he had tried-each time ended in failure, with nothing but loud explosions and thick smoke.
This time, however, he had destroyed Everett’s courtyard. Could he have actually succeeded?
Winona, unable to help herself, blurted, “How did it go? Did he blow up your entire courtyard?”
It was a foolish question, one that only fueled Everett’s irritation. The moment the words left her mouth, Winona saw the change in the older man’s expression-his face instantly darkened.
“Go tell your people to handle their business. Then, come back and continue holding up the jar.”
With that, Winona quickly left, her head low in defeat.
Jacob watched the scene unfold, a deep sigh escaping his lips.
No matter how famous Kyle was or how well-known Winona was in the martial arts world, they were nothing in front Everett. All their usual grace and intimidation melted away. Each punishment was met without a word, and they didn’t dare utter a single complaint.
Not just them—Jacob suspected even Sophie would be the same.
It wasn’t long before Winona left, and soon enough, Rafael, Sophie, and the others returned.
They had only found out Everett was in the estate after arriving. The couple’s reactions were entirely different one pleased, the othet inwardly groaning. Still, both knew they had to go to the study and greet him.
Everett’s reputation in Meadow Ridge was notorious. Violet and Travis would never approach him willingly. After all, there was no point in seeking trouble when it could be avoided.
As the study door opened, Everett’s gaze softened slightly when he saw his only apprentice enter, affection filling his eyes. His gaze shifted to the troublemaker in the corner the one who had been a constant headache ever since joining the Pathfinders Guild. His expression soured once again.
“Sage Everett, what brings you here?” Rafael asked with a bright smile, quickly stepping forward.
“Sir, what brings you here?” Sophie asked with a furrowed brow, dragging her feet as she walked in, clearly less than thrilled.
Everett naturally chose to answer his apprentice, saying, “That troublesome martial uncle of yours blew up my courtyard, so now I have to renovate it. Looks like I’ll be staying here for a while.”
He finished his statement with a cold, piercing glare at Sophie.
Naturally, Sophie silently walked over to stand beside Kyle and kept her mouth shut.
Rafael wisely avoided commenting on the previous subject and quickly changed the topic.
“When did you arrive? Why didn’t you send someone to let me know?”
“You have your own things to handle. I’m just here to keep an eye on things for you. How’s everything going? Have you captured the target?” Everett asked. From Everett’s tone, it was clear he was already aware of the assassination attempt that had taken place earlier that evening.
Rafael, looking rather pleased with himself, answered proudly, “Sophie and the others have already apprehended Commander Icarus and delivered him to the Supreme Court. He claimed to be the best fighter in Westhaven, but ended up being utterly defeated when he faced Sophie.”
Everett responded with a neutral grunt before casting a brief glance at Sophie. “She has no real skills except for her martial arts. Icarus isn’t the top fighter in Westhaven, either. That kingdom has many skilled warriors who choose not to serve in the court. Beating him isn’t much of an achievement. Don’t get too proud of yourself.”
“Yes, sir,” Sophie replied obediently.
After everything Sophie had been through, the way people looked at her had changed. Some pitied her, some admired her, and others envied her.
But Everett? He still treated her the same way he had when she was at Meadow Ridge. There was no difference at all.
Jacob then gave a brief rundown of what had happened since their participation in the palace banquet-details about Edgeview Estate, the movements of the people at Hartstone Estate, and the reports from Concorde Lodge. Once he finished, Everett spoke first before Rafael could.
“Everything else can wait, but sleep should never be delayed. I know you’re in charge of the negotiations, and everything depends on you. Go get some rest,” he said.
Rafael had no choice but to comply when his mentor gave him an order. However, he still had one more question.
“What did you mean when you said my martial uncle blew up your courtyard?”
Jacob nearly jumped out of his skin, and hurriedly shot Rafael a look that pleaded for silence. However, Rafael was completely unaware or perhaps simply didn’t care. “He was playing with gunpowder and blew it up,” Everett replied.
“What?” Rafael didn’t expect Adrian to have such a hobby. “Your courtyard is so large. Did he blow up the whole thing?”
Everett shrugged. “Not really. Just my bedroom.”