His eyes then turned to Dark Nova. "I want Agent Dark Nova gone from Gritnia immediately."

Several rulers exchanged subtle glances before turning toward President Julius.

Dark Nova himself offered no response.

Julius then spoke to Carson."You may dislike Agent Dark Nova’s methods, but they have consistently produced results."

"And if you insist on removing him before his investigation reaches its conclusion, does that not make the situation appear even more questionable?"

Carson began staring daggers into the eyes of the President of the Western Coalition, Julius, and for a while, no one else spoke.

Eventually, Carson released a slow sigh, as though that signified he had given in.

Julius then turned back toward Dark Nova.

"Continue your investigation. I want the complete report once you’ve reached your conclusion."

Dark Nova inclined his head. "Understood."

The displeasure on Carson’s face was so evident at this point, but he said nothing.

—

At the Stark Residence...

Outside the manor, Eduardo sat upon the broad steps leading to the entrance.

He wore nothing more than a black pair of trousers and a singlet, both damp with sweat from recent training.

He still had his sword, the Murasame, resting unsheathed on his lap.

Judging by the condition of the ground around him, he had only stopped practicing a few moments ago.

The door opened behind him, making the butler immediately turn his head before raising his feet to get up. "Master Ethan—"

Ethan gently raised a hand. "No... please. You don’t have to stand."

Eduardo hesitated for only a moment before settling back onto the steps.

Ethan walked over and lowered himself beside the old butler. He held a glass cup half-filled with wine.

He extended the cup toward Eduardo at first. "Care for some?"

Eduardo smiled a bit before shaking his head in refusal. "I appreciate the offer, Master Ethan."

Ethan nodded before taking another small sip himself.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Then Ethan began. "Seems you’re still thinking about it too."

Eduardo gazed ahead. "I don’t believe anyone in this house will be able to get today’s events out of their minds..."

Silence returned between them once more, leaving only the gentle rustling of leaves to fill the night.

After another few moments, Ethan spoke again. I do know he’s my father."

Eduardo slowly turned toward him as Ethan stared down into the wine swirling inside the glass.

"A dragon will always recognize one of its parents. It’s part of our instincts."

"Doesn’t matter whether that parent is a dragon or not. So long as we share the same blood."

He let out a weary sigh. "I truly wish we had met again under better circumstances."

Eduardo returned his gaze ahead before asking, "What do we do now, Master Ethan?"

Ethan slowly shook his head. "Honestly, my friend, I do not know."

———

Several hours into the night...

At this time, Eduardo had managed to go to bed. He lay on his back beneath the duvet, both hands resting calmly over it.

But suddenly, his eyes fluttered open as he quickly sat upright to meet the surprising sight standing before him.

It was Nathan, dressed in a three-piece suit, while his dark hair had been tied neatly behind him. This time, he wore a familiar calm smile.

Eduardo stared for quite a while as he slowly rose to his feet. "Master Nathan."

The words escaped almost instinctively. Then he suddenly became confused. "Wait... How are you here?"

He looked around the room before returning his gaze to Nathan. "How are you inside my room?"

Nathan replied, "In truth, I’m not. This place is your Mind Island. You fell asleep. And while you slept... I entered it."

Eduardo’s expression looked completely bewildered. "You are inside my mind?"

Nathan gave a nod. "Yes. Although I must say, entering another person’s Mind Island is rarely this simple."

Smiling a bit more, he added, lThere is a part of you that isn’t rejecting me. Had it been anyone else, I doubt I would have entered this easily."

"Perhaps I wouldn’t have been able to enter at all."

Every consciousness projected itself into the Astral Sea, even more deeply while asleep. However, to truly enter another’s memories, thoughts, and subconscious, one first had to cross into their Mind Island.

And most of the time, unless its owner willingly accepted the intruder, or there existed an overwhelming disparity in power between the two, forcing entry was extraordinarily difficult, and often impossible against those with sufficiently powerful souls.

They both hadn’t spoken for a few minutes as they kept their gazes on each other.

Then Eduardo stepped forward.

Nathan did the same.

And they both embraced.

It wasn’t just the embrace of a former master and his former butler. It was the embrace of two old friends who weren’t sure they would ever meet again.

Eduardo had a smile on his face.

"You really do have terrible timing, Master Nathan."

Nathan couldn’t help but laugh.

"I’m sorry my return has become another burden for all of you."

A few minutes later, after they had already separated from the embrace,

Eduardo looked thoughtful, then turned toward Nathan.

"I have... so many questions, Master Nathan."

Nathan gave a nod.

"And I will answer every single one of them."

His expression gradually became more solemn.

"That is, in fact, the only reason I’m here because there are truths my son may have difficulty seeing right now."

Nathan continued,

"Allow me to tell you everything that happened after Irene and I disappeared."

Eduardo nodded.

"I’m listening."

Nathan lowered his gaze briefly, as though gathering his memories.

"For the first two years, we stayed hidden somewhere between the Western and Southern Continents."

"We were certain we’d be able to cross completely into the Southern Continent, the only place we believed the dragons would have difficulty reaching."

"We were about to make the final step of our journey when they found us."

"The dragons."

—-

A/N: I Apologise for slow update and /low word count. I’m Currently on a work-travel thing