"Hahaha..."


    Hal threw down his water gun andughed heartily, while Ned touched his own face.


    The ''water'' that Hal had just sprayed him with was warm and had an indescribable stench.


    ring at Hal who was giving him a gleeful mocking look, he cracked his knuckles audibly.


    Pa snapped at him right then, "What do you think you are doing, Ned?! Are you going to beat up


    your nephew in your father''s presence?! How dare you!"


    "I-I''m not." Ned sighed as he eased his knuckle.


    Halughed even loudly at that, even leaping up, punching Ned repeatedly in the knees while he did,


    "Get down on your knees! My daddy is right here!"


    "Hal."


    Yed suddenly spoke, frowning.


    Hal paused, asking, "What is it, Daddy?"


    Ned thought Yed was going to stop Hal, only for Yed to snort. "Why are you touching him? He''s filth."


    "Okay." Hal nodded obediently and stamped heavily on Ned''s foot before fleeing to Yed''s side,


    repeatedly sticking his tongue out at Ned.


    Ned almost snapped right then but ultimately held back—he had been biding his time for years, and


    this was nothing.


    "Ciril!" A thunderous voice that left the house shaking resounded just then.


    A group of thirtyish thuggish people suddenly charged inside the room, led by a stout man who was


    topless and wore gold chains.


    C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    It was Lothar Janko, Ciril''s younger brother and Ned''s uncle. He hadpleted Birthright rank and was


    almost unrivaled in Morhen as a local gangster who ruled over the outer reaches of the city.


    Most importantly, he was one of the few members in the Janko family who did not scorn Ned.


    The ones following him were Janko retainers, and they all stood in formation with their hands sped


    behind their back.


    Naturally, the Jankos had considerable influence to be brave enough to stir waves, vowing to usurp the


    Lawrences as one of the Four Families of Morhen.


    And those retainers were ons source of the Jankos'' influence. While Ciril himself was Ascendant rank,


    four of those retainers were the same level, while the rest were all Birthright rank.


    Uncle Lothar." Ned promptly made way when he saw the man.


    "Hey, Ned! You''re such a mess. What''s wrong?" Lothar frowned.


    Ned scowled but could only smile awkwardly since Pa and Yed were ring at him.


    "Oh..." Lothar did not press the issue, instead striding straight to Ciril''s bed, holding him by the


    shoulders, and shaking him. "What happened, Ciril? Who did this to you? Talk to me!"


    Yed strode up, grabbing his uncle''s hand and growling, "Don''t bother, Uncle Lothar. Dad was still fine


    yesterday, even receiving an invitation to the Turnbulls'' annual dinner. But this morning, he fell


    unconscious once Ned left the house, clearly poisoned, and by a poison that even Ascendant ranks


    can''t resist!"