Chapter 24

The experienced Grandpa Leo had figured out that after the nobles took the iron ore from the Garriott family legally, the remaining members of the Garriott family had lost their value and were nothing in the eyes of their enemy.

Even though they belonged to the Tulip Alliance, the nobles of the Kingdom of Ilia did not have the ability to hunt them down in the Kingdom of Phaletis, which was the most powerful kingdom amongst the alliance.

Therefore, when Alvin and his old butler Leo settled down in the small town of Leopold, apart from disposing of some things that involved their original noble status, they did not change their names.

Between the ages of ten and fifteen, these five years of undisturbed life also proved that the name Alvin Garriott would not really cause any trouble for him.

Worried that his condition had given Alvin the wrong idea, Gull stared into Alvin’s black eyes and sighed as though he was reminiscing.

“Has anyone ever told you that you look like your mother after you grew up?”

If there was no name and family crest, even if he saw Alvin on the streets, Gull would not think that Alvin was associated with the Garriott family. After all, there were many people with the same name and resemblance. However, now that he knew Alvin’s identity, Gull found that Alvin looked extremely like his parents.

“What did you say?”

Seeing how Alvin was slightly dumbfounded and did not know how to react, Gull, who was not good at expressing his emotions, cut straight to the point.

“Look at the sword!”

A white light exploded in the bedroom. Gull suddenly attacked with his sword, his big and strong body rowing across the water like a canoe. He stabbed his longsword directly at Alvin’s left shoulder.

Sword Art, Pontoon.

His sword technique instincts caused Alvin to slide back on his own even though he was distracted.

Sword Art, Pontoon.

Using the same move, like a boat drifting with the current, Alvin deftly dodged the attack. As he retreated to the edge of the door, he got up and swapped places with Gull, but the distance between them did not change at all.

Gull smiled, and the last trace of uncertainty in his heart dissipated quietly after that attack.

The name could be the same, the appearance could be similar, even the noble coat of arms could be imitated, but the White Sail Sword Technique that was at the master level was the strongest proof.

He was the son of an old friend, Freeman. He was also his nephew, Alvin Garriott!

On the other hand, Alvin looked surprised. The familiar sword move brought back a memory deep in his mind.

“You are…”

Five years had caused a huge change in appearance for a teenager going through puberty, but not much had changed for an adult like Gull.

Even the distance between the two countries couldn’t be a hindrance to a naval captain, and as a close friend of Alvin’s father, Freeman Garriott, Gull visited the Garriott family estate at least once a year.

In fact, Alvin had met Gull more than once. The last time was five years ago at Freeman’s funeral, shortly after the night of blood and fire.

So even though Alvin was still very young and Gull did not stay long at any one time, Alvin still had some impression of his Uncle Gull, who always brought him gifts.

Although his impression of the gifts was much stronger than Gull himself, it was normal for a child like Alvin at that time.

As Gull stared at Alvin with expectation, Alvin finally figured out the familiarity and slowly said the words that Gull had been waiting to hear. “Un… Uncle… G… Gull…!”

Slap! Gull gave Alvin a high-five and almost jumped in joy.

“Wait, can you tell me if the black starfish-shaped spots on Katie’s body were on the left buttock or the right?”

Alvin, who was a little confused right now, had made the life decision to join the military and the Third Fleet, which was the closest to his home. After their recruit training, he was assigned to the ship that happened to be under his late father’s friend?

Alvin tried to make sense of the complicated situation.

However, he did not expect Gull to jump right next to him and hug him with a pair of strong arms. Gull patted Alvin hard on the shoulder, and said with some amusement, “Katie was a pure black filly that you got for your eighth birthday present. The black starfish-shaped spots might be on her cute forehead.”

“Welcome home! Alvin!”

…

As the two men sat face to face at the table in the captain’s cabin, the table gradually filled with the various delicacies that Gull had specially asked the sailors to bring back. Alvin was still a little dizzy.

The last time he dined in the captain’s cabin was with Captain Joseph on board the Yellow Bird. However, this time, he was far less relaxed. It could have been due to the sudden change in circumstances, or probably the sudden change in relationship between the two parties.

Unaccustomed to Uncle Gull’s warm attitude, Alvin felt that he needed some time to get used to it. With a tug on his collar, he finished the glass of dessert wine in front of him.

However, because he had never drank an alcoholic beverage in his life, he coughed uncontrollably.

“Cough… cough…”

The unexpectedly smooth discovery of his best friend’s son had left Gull in an excellent mood. He never felt happier apart from the time he had received the news of his son’s birth at sea. He liked Alvin so much that he did not bother with his lack of manners.

“By the way, Alvin, I received news that some bandits have broken through and taken over the town of Black Rock, but I was delayed for some days because of a task at hand.

“When I arrived, an administrator of the Earl said that he had confirmed that all of you had been killed and that they had collected your bodies. What’s this all about? What about Anita and Butler Leo?”

Gull was very concerned about what had happened back then, and he poured another glass of wine for Alvin.

“Oh, is that what they said to the outside world?” A smirk spread across Alvin’s face.

That night, when the bandits attacked the town, Grandpa Leo was attacked by two full-fledged knights with the same level of skill. Even though he had managed to escape with Alvin, he was still seriously injured.

Thinking about it, how could there be a knight among ordinary bandits? And two at the same time?

Now it seems that the Earl, who had ended up with the huge iron ore profits in Black Rock Town, was a major suspect. If he had not faked his sister and brother’s remains, there still remained a possibility that it was a third party. However, now it seemed that there was a high probability that he was the mastermind behind it, and he was not hiding it!

The robbery was just a staged trick!

Little by little, Alvin told Gull about how he was separated from his sister, Anita, before he settled in Leopold, and how Grandpa Leo soon died of his wounds, and so on.

What Alvin did not know was that the old butler knew that Gull served in the navy in Phaletis, and that Freeman’s correspondence with Gull was handled by Leo. However, having lost the eldest daughter, and because of the sudden change in his life, he could not trust anyone.

After all, not many people knew about the iron-rich mine and not many people could have been unmoved by the millions of gold lions. Even Freeman’s best friend could not be ruled out with the possibility of betrayal.

The two men were not desperate at that time, and Leo preferred to be cautious rather than regret his actions for life.

However, unlike the cautious old butler, Alvin had a database vision that could detect breathing, heartbeat, subtle eye movements, and mood changes, much more than a lie detector. With the portrait of his father, Freeman, hanging on the wall next to him, Alvin was sure that Uncle Gull was trustworthy.

After all, even a vicious and evil man, unless he was born perverted, would not be able to hang his victim’s portrait in front of him all day long.

“I’m sorry, Alvin!” Although Alvin had downplayed the situation, Gull could also imagine the crisis and danger of the situation.

As for why Leo, who knew his address and the fleet he was serving in, had not come to him directly, it seemed that there was a tacit understanding, so Gull did not pursue the matter. Whether he was afraid of implicating himself, or whether he was being cautious, it was all in the past and everything was no longer important.

“Anita is a real little genius. The last time I saw her, she was already almost at the peak of trainee knight. She will be alright.”

“Yes, she will be.”

Neither the older nor the younger man was the chatty type, so the atmosphere was quite quiet.

Cut… cut…

There were only sounds of knives sliding across the plates.

“Here, have a drink!” Gull had never been the type who knew how to comfort others. Having been stationed on the sea for years and not even spending much time with his own son, he definitely did not know how to get along with a younger person like Alvin. Therefore, he could only use that method.

Alvin smiled and took up his glass to clink glasses with Gull.

It had been so long, Alvin had long since stopped dwelling on the past, and there was only hope in looking forward. The enemy was there, and Alvin would not be so foolish as to hit a stone with a pebble.

However, he was convinced that Anita was somewhere in the world, waiting to be reunited with him.

His own career in the navy had gotten off to a great start, now all he had to do was get stronger! Keep getting stronger!

Finishing his glass of wine, Gull looked at Alvin and said hesitantly, “Alvin, do you have any plans for the future?”

“What? Are you going to kick me off the ship on my first day aboard as an official sailor?” After the beginning of a shared reminiscence of the past, the uncle and nephew had become acquainted, and Alvin made a small joke.

“Hahaha, you brat! You are definitely Freeman’s son. How dare a new recruit talk to his captain like that on his first day!”

Obviously, this way of speaking made Gull more comfortable. Moreover, he was fond of Alvin because of his status as the son of his late friend. Unlike the conventional army, being a sailor required daring courage and agility.

“You don’t want to be an explorer anymore?” Gull asked.

Every member of the Garriott family was a brave explorer, a phrase even written into the family motto, and Gull knew it well.

“I will be a good sailor first!” said Alvin with a chuckle.