More than half a day later, the sun was already beginning to set. By this time, Alvin, riding Lil White, had arrived at the mountains outside the capital.
Looking down at the city below, Alvin's expression showed neither joy nor sorrow. In truth, leaving directly would have been the best choice for him. Yet for some reason, he had still come here.
Reason told him that leaving immediately would have been the wisest decision. However, a voice deep within his heart kept pulling at him and eventually brought him to this place.
Within the darkness there seemed to be an invisible force, like a tightly bound connection of blood that could never be severed, drawing him toward an inevitable meeting with that woman.
Alvin dismounted from Lil White and gently patted its body. A faint smile appeared on his face, though that smile seemed somewhat unsettling.
He spoke softly.
"Lil White, go. You are free."
Lil White seemed frozen when it heard those words.
Its originally bright eyes widened instantly as it stared at Alvin with confusion and disbelief, as if asking whether this was truly real.
However, Alvin gave no response.
Only then did Lil White understand that it had truly been set free.
It excitedly scraped its paws against the ground before suddenly turning and dashing toward the forest in the mountains.
But when it reached the edge of the forest, it suddenly stopped. It turned its head and looked back at Alvin once again.
Memories of Alvin "teaching it a lesson" earlier that day flashed through its mind. The tiger seemed afraid that Alvin might suddenly change his mind and rush over to beat it again.
However, Alvin simply stood quietly on the mountain peak.
The evening mountain wind roared past him, causing his clothes to flutter loudly. His figure looked like a motionless statue standing against the horizon.
This time Lil White finally felt certain that it was truly free.
It let out an excited roar before plunging into the dense forest and disappearing in the blink of an eye.
After Lil White left, Alvin took a deep breath.
Without hesitation he jumped down from the mountain and rushed toward the city. His figure looked resolute and mysterious beneath the fading light.
————
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the royal palace had become so oppressive that it felt difficult to breathe.
King Iron Jaw's brows were tightly furrowed, and his expression was as heavy as if he were carrying an enormous burden.
Ever since Iron Bear had departed with the royal guard unit, there had been no news from him at all.
More importantly, based on the current situation, it was highly likely that Red Hawk Alvin had already learned that his mother was in the capital.
"Red Hawk Alvin. Is his strength truly that terrifying? Could it be that the World Government did not exaggerate this time?" Iron Jaw muttered quietly to himself, his eyes filled with concern.
Just then, the crisp sound of high heels echoed from the corridor.
Without even looking up, Iron Jaw already knew it was his queen, Vera.
"Your Majesty, what is the situation with Iron Bear now?"
Vera's anxious voice sounded the moment she entered the hall. Her expression was filled with concern.
A gentle smile immediately appeared on Iron Jaw's face as he comforted her softly.
"Do not worry, Queen. Iron Bear should already be on his way back. There is no need for you to be so concerned."
Hearing this, Vera's tense breathing gradually calmed.
"That's good. As long as he is safe," she murmured softly.
"Queen, you have been worrying about him the entire day. Go back and rest for a while. If Iron Bear knew how distressed you were for him, he would feel very troubled," Iron Jaw continued to persuade her gently.
"I want to wait here until Iron Bear returns," Vera replied softly, but her voice carried firm determination.
Even though Iron Jaw had reassured her that her son was safe, she still wanted to see Iron Bear return with her own eyes before she could truly relax.
"Very well. Then we will wait here together for Iron Bear," Iron Jaw replied casually, though his voice had quietly become a little colder.
In truth, he already had a strong premonition in his heart.
Iron Bear had most likely been killed by Red Hawk Alvin.
If Red Hawk truly came to the capital, it would undoubtedly be to kill him.
However, as long as Vera remained by his side, Iron Jaw believed that Red Hawk probably would not act recklessly.
After all, he had treated Vera with great care all these years. There was no reason for Alvin to direct his hatred toward him because of her.
"Mhm," Vera responded softly.
Thus the two of them waited inside the palace hall from dusk until nightfall.
However, there was still no sign of Iron Bear returning.
Even the Red Hawk that Iron Jaw had expected to appear never showed up.
"Queen, they were probably delayed by something on the road. It is already very late. Let us return and rest first," Iron Jaw once again advised Vera.
"Alright..." Vera hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing. She was indeed exhausted after the entire day's anxiety.
————
When Iron Jaw and Vera returned to their bedchamber, they were immediately shocked by what they saw.
Everyone inside the room had collapsed unconscious on the floor.
This sight instantly terrified Vera.
"Ah!"
She screamed in fear and clutched Iron Jaw's arm so tightly that her nails nearly pierced his skin.
Her voice trembled as she asked, almost in tears, "Your Majesty, what is happening? Who did this?"
Iron Jaw did not respond.
Seeing the guards and servants lying unconscious on the ground, he had already guessed the truth.
Red Hawk Alvin had arrived.
Iron Jaw's expression immediately darkened.
However, after seeing that everyone was only unconscious and not dead, his tense heart relaxed slightly.
He gently patted Vera's hand and spoke in a voice that tried to sound steady.
"Vera, let us go inside."
When they stepped into the inner hall of the chamber, a tall figure appeared before their eyes.
The man was more than two meters tall.
He stood quietly by the window with his back facing them while holding a glass of wine.
Moonlight from outside shone through the window and outlined his firm silhouette.
"Ah!"
Vera screamed again and quickly hid behind Iron Jaw.
Her voice trembled as she asked in fear, "Who are you?"
"Red Hawk Alvin. You truly came."
Iron Jaw spoke in a heavy voice while staring at Alvin's back with a solemn expression.
"What?"
Vera's eyes widened in shock.
She looked at Alvin and then at Iron Jaw, her voice trembling.
"You are saying... he is my son?"
Iron Jaw did not answer her question. He simply nodded grimly.
With Red Hawk appearing here and no news from Iron Bear, the outcome was already obvious.
Alvin calmly drained the wine in his glass in a single motion.
He slowly turned around.
The moonlight cast sharp shadows across his face.
His gaze settled upon Vera.
Within his eyes existed a complicated mixture of emotions. There was the complexity of meeting again after fifteen years, along with the cold indifference of someone who had been abandoned.
The moment Vera saw Alvin's face, tears instantly poured from her eyes and blurred her vision.
Fifteen years of guilt and longing surged forward like a flood breaking through a dam.
She released Iron Jaw's arm and stumbled toward Alvin. Her lips trembled as she spoke through choking sobs.
"Al... Alvin, my..."
"There is no need for that, Vera... Queen. We are not acquainted."
Alvin suddenly raised his hand.
His voice was as cold as winter frost as he interrupted her words.
There was not a trace of warmth in his eyes. His gaze toward her was no different from the way he would look at a stranger.
...
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