Chapter 102: A Calculated End

The cliff lay beyond the hills, reachable only after traversing a dense forest and then ascending a mountain path.

Arguments could be made that the journey was somewhat perilous, yet many chose this shortcut to save time, as it allowed direct entry into the city without needing to go the long way around.

His parents, too, had taken this route that fateful day, but their luck had run out; they had accidentally fallen from the cliff on their return, vanishing without a trace.

“Ah,” Will said, feigning a sigh, “coming here always brings back memories of your family head… that is, your father.He was an exceptional man, meticulous in thought, always considering everything thoroughly before acting.I truly never imagined his end would be falling from a cliff…”

He had changed into light, comfortable clothing suitable for walking, and even brought a black fedora to shield him from the sun.Yet, the day was exceedingly gloomy, with thick clouds obscuring the sunlight, making the hat seem rather superfluous.

“Therefore, one must always exercise the utmost caution in all matters,” he continued. “Until a task is complete, one must give it their all, without the slightest oversight.Just look now, for instance; although the town often commissions adventurers to clear out the monsters in this area, who can guarantee there aren’t any stragglers?The reason I brought all the guards along is precisely for such contingencies.An extra layer of protection is never a mistake.”

He gestured towards the group surrounding them, all of whom were Will’s subordinates residing on his estate.There were six in total: four positioned behind, and two leading the way.The masked figure at the front exuded an imposing presence, likely the assassin Saki had mentioned.

‘To kill me, they’ve certainly gone to great lengths.’

“Uncle truly is thoughtful,” Yalin said with a smile. “Is all this wisdom born from your adventures out in the world?”

“Heh heh, of course,” Will chuckled, stroking the stubble on his chin and assuming an air of seasoned wisdom. “So, do you have anything you wish to ask?I wouldn’t mind imparting some life lessons to you, you know.”

“I am merely a student; even if I wanted to ask, I wouldn’t know what to inquire about,” Yalin replied. “However, I am rather curious about my mother.Does Uncle know anything about her?”

“Your mother?Are you referring to Livia?”

“Yes, I heard Mother was once a scholar, and I’d like to learn more about her past, such as how she and my father met.”

“A scholar?No wonder…” Will muttered to himself.

“Regarding your mother, I don’t actually know much myself; I didn’t even attend their wedding,” Will explained. “But it seems your father chanced upon Livia while attending a conference out of town.He fell in love at first sight and began a relentless pursuit.”

“Father did?” Yalin asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.After all, in his own memories, his father had always maintained a stern and unsmiling demeanor.Though he cherished his wife, it was difficult to envision him relentlessly pursuing her.

“Quite surprising, isn’t it?I was just as surprised as you are now,” Will exclaimed. “Who would have thought that calm and composed elder brother would become so utterly infatuated with a woman… Heh heh, in that regard, you two are truly alike.Like father, like son, indeed.”

Will couldn’t help but laugh, narrowing his eyes as he seemed lost in memories of the past.

“Their marriage, however, met with fierce opposition from the family,” Will continued. “Though the Ravensters had fallen on hard times for many years, they were still, at the very least, local nobility.Livia, on the other hand, was merely a commoner; she didn’t even have a surname.Naturally, the family head wouldn’t approve.”

“However, at the family council, Livia rendered everyone speechless with her arguments… I’ve long forgotten the exact details, but that old geezer who always carried a tattered book and put on airs of great scholarship was utterly silenced.Of course, if Livia was a true scholar, then it’s not surprising at all.”

Will shrugged, then continued, “And so, your parents naturally came together.As for what happened afterward, I’m not clear…”

“We’ve arrived.”

The masked figure leading the way suddenly spoke.Everyone halted their steps.

Before them lay a clearing deep within the dense forest, surrounded by low-lying shrubs, while the faint outlines of mountains were visible in the distance.

Yalin surveyed his surroundings.

“Where are we?Have you taken a wrong turn?”

“No, we haven’t,” Will replied. “While our chat was quite enjoyable, this is the end of the line.”

Will stepped back a few paces, revealing a sinister smile.

The next moment, the six guards drew their swords, aiming them at Yalin simultaneously and surrounding him completely.

“Hey, Will, can I just kill this guy already?” the masked figure grumbled, impatiently brandishing a gleaming weapon in their hand. “This trash doesn’t even deserve my magic.”

“Don’t be so hasty,” Will said, a glint in his eye. “This is my only good nephew; let me have a few more words with him in his final moments… Besides, wouldn’t it be quite amusing for you to just kill him like this?”

“Hah, you’ve got a point.”

Having said that, Will fixed his gaze back on Yalin.

“Yalin, do you know?This is an excellent spot.It’s so remote that even if you screamed yourself hoarse, no one would ever know.It’s perfectly suited for murder.”

‘Indeed, an excellent spot.’ Yalin, too, revealed a meaningful smile.

“So, why don’t you have them kill me immediately?” Yalin challenged. “Are you truly such a cautious man?”

“Your attitude is quite surprising, honestly, it’s even changed my impression of you slightly… But there’s no need to keep up the facade,” Will sneered. “I’ve seen plenty of pretentious people like you.Just cut off a few fingers, and anyone will show their true colors.”

Will stared intently at Yalin, a deep hatred surfacing in his eyes.

“As for why I won’t kill you directly, it’s because that would be too good for you,” Will spat, his voice laced with venom. “That bastard elder brother of mine, presuming on his intellect, always acted with such contempt, daring to put on airs and lecture me!Pah!”

“However, I can only say that Heaven has eyes; his miserable end was truly satisfying!Hahahaha, he would never have imagined he’d father such a foolish son, who has now fallen into my hands!If that bastard were still alive, I’d truly love to see the expression on his face!”

The flabby flesh on Will’s face jiggled with his laughter, a sight Yalin found strangely comical.

“Ah… it truly feels much more satisfying to say it all aloud, my good hero,” Will sneered. “I must thank you for leaving me with such unforgettable memories… Very well, as compensation, I shall grant you the opportunity for last words.Do you have anything final to say?Oh, and if you grovel on the ground like a dog, begging for mercy, I might just grant you a swift death, you know?Hahahahaha!”

Yalin did not reply; he simply held up five fingers.

Will stared at those five fingers, blinking with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

“Hmm, what are you trying to say?”

“Five thousand riel.”

“Five thousand riel?What does that mean?”

“It’s quite simple,” Yalin stated, his smile unwavering. “That is the amount of money it will cost to kill all of you.”