The Anderson Family's Old Estate,
The black Rolls-Royce came to a stop in front of the iron gates. I stepped out of the car in a black overcoat. The cold wind lashed against my face, yet it wasn't enough to cool the killing intent surging in my chest. This feeling… was so familiar it made me unusually clear-headed. Hunter stood beside me, saying nothing, but the aura around him was already primed.
The butler guarding the gate went pale the moment he saw me, as if Death itself had descended. I didn't spare him a glance, shrugged off my coat, and strode inside.
Each step echoed across the cold stone floor, dragging frost along with it. The entire old house seemed to freeze with every breath I took. The air was so heavy it was hard to breathe.
When I appeared at the living room doorway, every conversation inside died instantly.
I stood there, not taking another step forward. Simply standing still was enough to draw every gaze to me. Daniel and Jonas froze. Mrs. Jessica Anderson, seated in the place of honor, stopped fingering her prayer beads. Aunt Vecna, standing at her side, stiffened like a statue.
No one had expected me to return.
"Captian, why did you suddenly come back?" Daniel was the first to recover. He smiled, his usual gentle smile, the kind that so easily made people mistake him for harmless.
Mrs. Jessica paused for only a beat before resuming her prayer beads, her hawk-sharp gaze sweeping over me. "So you still know how to come back? Last time you left without a word, what do you take the Anderson family for?"
Jonas pressed his lips together, lowering his head very low. I could clearly see his shoulders trembling.
I let out a soft laugh.
In the silent room, the sound was chilling. I walked into the center of the living room, my killing intent undisguised. In that instant, I knew it clearly, they were afraid.
"Elders?" I drew the gun from my hip. The cold black metal fit neatly in my hand, beautiful and lethal. I idly twirled it between my fingers.
"If you'd known your place and stopped playing tricks behind my back, you might still have the right to call yourselves that."
"Captian, what do you mean by that?" Daniel frowned. Even he could no longer maintain his gentle façade.
Mrs. Jessica's breathing grew heavier, her voice icy. "Everyone has heard about Ravenholm. Are you suspecting the Anderson family?"
I didn't answer. My fingers tightened lightly around the grip.
Daniel hurriedly spoke, reproach creeping into his tone. "You can suspect outsiders, but not family. Everyone here is your kin, we barely have time to worry about you. How could we possibly harm you?"
As he spoke, I saw Jonas subtly shrink back. His eyes were panicked, as if he were sitting on burning coals. Every tiny change, I saw it, and so did Mrs. Jessica.
She immediately withdrew her gaze and fixed it on me. "If you suspect the Anderson family, then where is your evidence?"
"None for now," I said coldly. "But you'd all do well not to play games. Once I get hold of a weakness, there will be consequences you can't bear."
With that, I pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The gunshot rang out, deafening. The bullet buried itself straight into the ceiling. The entire living room jolted. Someone screamed; someone clutched their ears. Jonas shook like a leaf in a storm.
I holstered the gun.
"Next time," I said slowly, my gaze dark as an abyss, "it won't be the ceiling."
Mrs. Jessica stared straight at me. There was fear in her eyes but deeper still was something I knew all too well: resentment.
"Captian, this is not a place for you to show off your power. Don't forget your grandmother is still alive."
I didn't respond.
I turned and left. Today was only a warning. If there were a next time… I wouldn't waste words.
…
After Captian left, a dark cloud immediately settled over the Anderson household. Mrs. Jessica Anderson, furious, swept all the teacups off the table with a crash. Tea splashed everywhere as porcelain shattered. She slammed her hand down and said sharply,
"Was Captian's incident in Ravenholm caused by any of you?"
Daniel and Jonas exchanged looks, then shook their heads hard.
"Grandmother, how could I ever send someone to assassinate Brother Captian?" Jonas swallowed, hurriedly defending himself. "He's so formidable even with ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare."
Mrs. Jessica Anderson remained composed, letting out a cold chuckle without saying a word. Jonas immediately lowered his head, afraid something might be seen.
"Mother, I couldn't have sent anyone to kill Captian either," Daniel added. "Though Captian may be rebellious, I'm still his third uncle, his elder. How could I lay a hand on him?"
Mrs. Jessica Anderson wound the prayer beads around her wrist again. Her tone, cold and severe, suddenly carried a hidden implication. "If it truly were one of you, then you should have ensured the problem was eliminated cleanly, not like now, failing to finish it and instead alerting him."
Daniel and Jonas looked up at the same time, staring at her in shock, completely confused.
"Mother, what do you mean by that?" Daniel asked quietly. "Grandmother?" Jonas grew restless.
Mrs. Jessica Anderson didn't explain. Holding her beads, she stood up. "Vecna, let's return to our room."
Aunt Vecna immediately supported her as they left.
On the way back, Mrs. Jessica narrowed her eyes, sharp as a hawk's. "Vecna, who do you think made the move this time?"
Called out directly, Aunt Vecna hesitated. Mrs. William took a deep breath, weighed her words, then said, "I noticed earlier that Young Master Jonas's behavior was a bit unusual. And considering his father..."
"Jonas?" Mrs. Jessica Anderson let out a cold laugh. Without turning back, she continued walking toward her room, prayer beads clicking softly.
In the main hall, Jonas swallowed, looking like a fish stranded on land. "Third Uncle, what exactly did Grandmother mean just now? Does she suspect us? Was she even implying we should've done it more cleanly?"
Daniel shook his head hurriedly, fear creeping in. "I didn't do it."
Jonas rushed to add, "I didn't either."
"Jonas," Daniel said slowly, eyes suddenly darkening, stepping toward him, "I've noticed you transferred a very large sum of money recently. You don't usually spend much, where did that money go? Does it have something to do with Captian?"
Hearing this, Jonas bristled like a startled cat, nearly jumping. "Third Uncle, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
Daniel grabbed his arm, his voice tense. "Jonas, tell me the truth. Was this your doing? If I can find problems with your cash flow, Captian surely can too. If he finds out, the consequences will be unbearable."
Thinking of Captian's ruthlessness, Jonas clenched his teeth, his body going limp like overcooked noodles. He spoke weakly, "Third Uncle, please believe me. This time it really wasn't me. It's true that at first I wanted Captian dead, I even hired the assassins. But before anything could be done, someone else moved faster. I don't know who did it either."
As soon as he finished speaking, he panted heavily, feeling as though invisible hands were tightening around his throat.
"Third Uncle… Captian won't think it was me, will he? Will he come and kill me?"
Jonas looked up at the bullet lodged in the ceiling, his whole body turning icy.
Daniel was nearly furious to death. "Jonas, how can you be this stupid?!"
"Because I hate him," Jonas said hoarsely, as if struck by something. "Even in my dreams, I want him dead."
After shouting, Jonas still couldn't calm down. His dark eyes reddened, veins clearly visible. Daniel looked at him in shock, unable to understand where such hatred came from.
"Jonas, why would you think this way? Even if Captian is like that, he's still family and the one who holds power in the Anderson family. You'd better rein in these thoughts. If others hear them, it won't end well."
"I really can't take it anymore, Third Uncle!" Jonas nearly collapsed, gripping the corner of the table. "I've held this in for years. Now… I truly can't endure it anymore."
"What exactly happened?" Daniel frowned, sensing something was wrong.
Jonas ground his teeth, venomous bitterness in his voice. "I know you've all been hiding it from me but I know exactly how my father really died."
Daniel froze, his eyes flickering. "Jonas, what are you talking about?"
Jonas stared straight into his eyes and said, "My father didn't die in some random shooting. He was killed by Captian. Back then, to become the head of the Anderson family, Captian killed my father. If my father were still alive, the position of power in the Anderson family would be his."