Frank''s Maybach drove into Lane Manor soon enough.


    Frank felt emotional even as he stared at the building—thest time he had gone inside was during


    Henry Lane''s funeral.


    He made up his mind to have Helen move into Skywater Bay with him as well.


    Cindy and Gina could have the manor if they knew their ce and stopped messing with him.


    Still, his phone rang just as he was about to press the doorbell.


    It was an unfamiliar number, but Frank answered without hesitation.


    "I''m surprised you''re alive, Frank," an ancient but authoritative voice spoke from the other end.


    Frank''s fingers clenched around his phone—the voice invoked all sorts of memories from the past.


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    Taking a moment to calm down as much as possible, he soon replied tly, "You do indeed seem


    surprised."


    "Hoho... Holding a grudge now are we, boy?"


    The voice seemed to pierce Frank in the brain, striking a nerve.


    Still, Frank changed the subject instead of answering. "Hans, huh?"


    "Nope. You''ve really moved heaven and earth over at Riverton that even I heard about it all the way


    from Cloudington. I mean, crashing a wedding? Your temper''s really never changed."


    Frank was briefly silent and clenched his fist as he asked, "Why are you calling me now?"


    "What, isn''t it perfectly normal for a dad to call his own son?" Godwin Lawrence chuckled before saying


    quietly, "If you''re done behaving like a petnt child out there, then it''s time toe home. That wager


    we had? It''s always been a joke."


    "And your joke was an insult to me." Frank''s chest heaved even as he snapped, "I''ll ask you a question,


    old man, and you damned well be honest! Were you the one who ordered the massacre of Mystic Sky


    Sect?!"


    A suffocating silence, and then.


    "Yes, I did," the ancient voice answered.


    "Why?! Why did you do it?!" Frank screamed in rage, his heart bleeding. "You knew I poured out my


    heart and soul for them! Hundreds were killed, and all because you''re forcing me to go home?!" "That''s


    not all," Godwin remained haughty and authoritative, pausing a moment before adding, "The things that


    embroil Mystic Sky Sect are exceedinglyplicated, and it''s more than what you can see. I can''t give


    you the full picture, but you''ll eventually understand—the fate of all nations is strung up into


    a single fatal knot. Whoever snaps first would fall, with no hope of recovery."


    Then, Godwin appeared weary as he said, "Riverton is too far from me, and I can''t protect you even if I


    wanted to. Come back to Cloudington already."


    "No, I won''t," Frank retorted coolly, his gaze determined. "Our wager still stands, old man. I''ll reach


    beyond Ascendant rank, perhaps even reaching Immortal rank! When that happens, I shall return your


    insult by a hundredfold!"


    Over at Cloudington, a city in Draconia''s southern borders, a quiet sigh could be heard.


    Reclining against his wooden armchair, Godwin put down his phone and stared outside, spacing out as


    the bamboo forest rustled against the wind.


    "Fret not, my lord. Master Frank wille around eventually." His white-haired valet smiled in


    assurance.


    Godwin sighed softly even as he picked up his cup from the table. "How long have you been working


    for me again, Fenton?"