Chapter 37 Disturbing News

Auction house.

"Fifty thousand gold coins!"

Puxin narrowed his eyes, filled with murderous intent: "If you keep raising the price, you'll receive a withered fishman root and my frenzied revenge."

He blatantly targeted the frail one, as conflict among nobles was commonplace after all.

Every family has disputes, let alone a clan.

Of course, such blatant threats were generally despised by nobles, evident from the uncomfortable expressions of some around them.

However, Puxin didn't care about that anymore.

The frail one silently looked at Puxin, but then suddenly laughed: "My dear brother, the fishman root is yours!"

Puxin breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and then smiled: "A wise choice. You have gained my friendship, and thus the friendship of Parrot City."

The two exchanged smiles as they sat down, seemingly brotherly, yet inwardly wishing for the other's immediate demise, best if they exploded on the spot.

"Dad, what is a fishman root?" At this moment, Puxin's son voiced Lin Ke's inner curiosity.

What could cost fifty thousand gold coins?

Even Parrot City would need some savings to buy, right?

Lin Ke was extremely curious.

"We'll talk about it when we get back." Puxin was unwilling to say more, and it seemed that even Fulon and Lin Ke didn't want to be told.

Fortunately, Lin Ke wasn't too eager to know, after all, there was still a socially anxious person at home who could be asked later.

"Lady Fulon, shall we go? The family should have already prepared dinner." Puxin very gentlemanly invited Fulon, obviously very happy after obtaining the fishman root.

And so, the group quickly left the auction house.

...

The Baron's Mansion, also the City Lord's Mansion, was located at the center of the city.

After buying their goods, the procurement team stayed here, while some familiar guards went to Pink Street to have fun.

When Lin Ke and the others arrived, the dinner had just been prepared.

John and the others ate elsewhere, only Lin Ke and Fulon sat at the dining table.

However, Puxin seemed to be off dealing with the fishman root, so they waited a while before he appeared.

They saw Puxin full of vigor, his face flushed with excitement, even his skin was oilier than usual, as if he had used lard as moisturizer.

"Come, let's dig in!"

Walking over, Puxin laughed heartily as he spoke, the table also seating his three wives, though only his son was present.

Lin Ke and the others immediately began eating, and it wasn't until the juice was being served that Puxin softly spoke:

"Lady Fulon, I think there is some news I must share with you all."

Saying this, Puxin gestured with his eyes, and the butler promptly led the servants, including John, out of the dining room.

"What news is that?"

Fulon gently sipped the sweet apple juice, its tart sweetness bringing such joy that her eyes crinkled, and she signaled Lin Ke to drink more.

In Azaenn Castle, the sour fruit juice was the most consumed, but too much could be cloying.

Lin Ke, however, had no mind to savor the sweet apple juice, his thoughts were on Puxin's news.

"When did you and Viscount Garoce arrange for his return? Was it for Young Master Like's birthday?"

Puxin lightly swirled the juice in his glass, as if tasting fine wine.

However, the Naseng Continent had no wine culture, but rather a fruit juice culture thriving.

Nobles enjoyed various delicious fruit juices, believing that intoxicating wine was a drink for the lower classes.

"Yes, that's right!"

Fulon again tasted the apple juice, her expression sweet and joyful, something that drew jealousy and disdain from the heavily made-up faces opposite her.

Mother is truly lacking in perceptiveness... Sighed Lin Ke sitting beside her at the table.

He had already guessed what Puxin was about to disclose, certainly news related to Garoce not returning.

And given Puxin's blatant behavior, one could expect that "Garoce not returning" would likely carry a permanent implication.

Garoce will never return!

Dead!

"The glory of Viscount Garoce shields our family, but unfortunately, he may be forever staying in the Minoccher plane."

Puxin took a deep sip of his juice, then smacked his lips and said: "Andrew's Leg, what a pity!"

His tone suggested anything but pity, rather a hint of celebration.

"You... what did you say?" Fulon was suddenly dumbfounded, staring blankly at Puxin.

"I said, Garoce may be staying permanently in the Minoccher plane, Lady Fulon, please accept my condolences."

Puxin tried to make his expression somber, but joy was unmistakably written all over his face.

"No... that's impossible, he's so powerful, it can't be, he... he... you're lying!..."

The sudden loss of a husband, the helplessness of mother and child having no one to rely on, the uncertainty of the future...

All sorts of chaotic emotions came rushing in at once.

Fulon's eyes rolled back, the apple juice in her hand spilled onto the table, and her body leaned over, seemingly about to faint directly!

Lin Ke was shocked, quickly got up from his chair, and climbed onto the table, disregarding any damn decorum, to pinch Fulon's philtrum.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the three haggard women covered their mouths and giggled, as if mocking Lin Ke's actions.

The son of Puxin laughed loudly, shouting as he laughed, "Are you the famous curly-haired baboon or a stupid merman? Hahaha! You don't look like a noble, you look like a mud breed mixed with noble and commoner blood!"

Puxin ignored his son and instead smiled broadly, finishing the juice in his cup before scolding, "Don't speak like that, Lady Fulon is the sweetest red daffodil in the Azanen Territory, and Young Master Lin Ke is your cousin."

Lin Ke ignored these people and focused on trying to wake his mother up.

Fortunately, for whatever reason, either the pinching or something else, Fulon slowly regained consciousness and saw her son.

The moment she saw Lin Ke, tears welled up in Fulon's eyes, like a burst dam, and she began to wail loudly.

"No... no! Garoce... Garoce!"

Fulon held onto Lin Ke as she sobbed uncontrollably, then suddenly stood up with him in her arms: "Where is he? I want to save him! I want to save him!…"

Fulon's eyes were completely bloodshot, bright red.

"His remains are probably already buried in the Minoccher dimension." Puxin said.

And Lin Ke.

At this moment, he felt Fulon's inner sorrow, and his heart ached silently: "Mother, calm down, calm down now."

Fulon collapsed to the ground with Lin Ke in her arms, tears flowing incessantly, soaking the front of her clothes instantly.

She placed Lin Ke in front of her, tears streaming down as she gently stroked Lin Ke's back: "Little Lin Ke, your father is gone... Little Lin Ke... woo woo..."

Crying, Fulon hugged Lin Ke tighter: "Little Lin Ke, don't be afraid, Mommy is here, Mommy will protect you…"

Saying this, a trace of strength appeared on Fulon's face, and she prepared to stand up with Lin Ke.

A woman in her natural state is weak, but as a mother she becomes strong!

Seeing Fulon's heart-wrenching yet feigned strength, Lin Ke felt pained.

He hugged Fulon tightly and calmly spoke to Puxin: "Baron, have you confirmed the death of Viscount Garoce?"

"Of course, dear Young Master Lin Ke, my poor big brother has absolutely no chance of survival!" Puxin replied confidently.

"Absolutely no chance of survival?"

Lin Ke raised his voice: "Then how did you receive this information? And where are Viscount Garoce's remains, or his followers?"

Garoce had many followers, among whom five Knights were particularly strong.

Puxin frowned as he heard this, placing his juice back on the table: "Young Master Lin Ke, you must understand that not only remains signify death. Disappearance and being in dire straits can also signify death in certain contexts."

"Disappearance and dire straits? So you're saying that Viscount Garoce is not dead, but just lost contact with the family, or perhaps trapped in some kind of desperate situation?" Lin Ke asked loudly.

Even Fulon stopped crying and instead looked up, her eyes filled with hope as she gazed at Puxin.

Puxin frowned, secretly cursing Lin Ke's persistence, but he didn't lie: "Yes, previously Viscount Garoce sent a Knight to inform that he was in a dire situation, told the family he might be delayed in returning, and then he lost contact for almost a month."

Disappearance! Dire situation!

This indeed signifies death in a certain context, but...

But Lin Ke cannot let Fulon accept this news all of a sudden, he must give her some buffering time.

"So, Viscount Garoce is not dead!" Lin Ke declared resolutely.

Fulon stopped crying, and gradually, hope rekindled in her eyes.

"Where is that Knight now?" Lin Ke asked with a frown.

Over these years, as Garoce fought outside, Lin Ke should have understood him.

But leaving Fulon, a weak woman, alone in the castle, not only facing threats from the lady of the house but also seeking a Witch Doctor when Lin Ke fell ill...

If Garoce had been there, how could a mere Witch Doctor dare do such things?

A weak woman, painstakingly raising Lin Ke.

And Garoce not returning for six years—this was really too much.

Like in a past life, the problem of left-behind children was severe enough, but usually, they'd come back once a year.

Six whole years!

If Lin Ke hadn't crossed over, he probably would have developed psychological issues by now.

But no matter how much he resented Garoce's actions as a father, Lin Ke had to admit that everything he enjoyed in terms of status and privilege was brought by Garoce.

So, Garoce can't die no matter what!

Furthermore...

Lin Ke glanced at Fulon beside him.

Furthermore, Garoce was still his biological father and Fulon's husband to rely on!

"I think the Knight my father dispatched certainly didn't say my father was deceased, did he?" Lin Ke spoke confidently: "Where exactly is that Knight?"

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