A Simple Method

Mr. Howlett had ordered his men to drive the carriage back to the estate throughout the night. By the time they arrived, it was already dawn. Late autumn in Canada was bitterly cold, requiring leather garments for warmth morning and night. He was helped off the carriage, shivering under a thick wool blanket.

The old man's body was truly riddled with ailments; he simply could not withstand the exhaustion of traveling for a full day and night. James had already finished his morning training and, seeing the family carriage rolling slowly toward him, he hurried over to meet it.

"Grandfather!" Seeing Mr. Howlett, who could barely stand, James scooped him up into his arms and carried him upstairs to his bedroom in a few quick strides.

"It's fine, it's fine."

Old Howlett looked at his tall, handsome grandson, his eyes swelling with emotion.

After helping the old man lie down, the private doctor who looked after Mr. Howlett at the estate quickly entered to examine him. James stood quietly to the side, the gaze in his eyes looking somewhat terrifying.

"How is he?"

"Mr. Howlett is just suffering from extreme fatigue. At his age and with his current health, he cannot handle such strain. If he rests quietly for these next few days, he should slowly recover. However, Master James..." The doctor hesitated, leaving his words unfinished.

"Dr. Rody, please, you must tell me the truth." James looked earnestly at the middle-aged doctor, whose face was full of hesitation.

"You know Mr. Howlett's condition. He is over seventy, and he developed some ailments in his youth. But since he hasn't been able to rest properly in his old age, they are becoming increasingly severe. The most fatal thing, however, is the heavy pressure he has been carrying in his heart; his spirit is on the verge of collapse... If possible... you should prepare yourself."

James understood the implications of Dr. Rody's cryptic words. With his own insight, he knew the old man did not have much time left, but the fact that his grandfather had returned from the Governor's Mansion in such a state meant the situation was certainly not simple.

Staying by Mr. Howlett's side until he fell asleep, James gently closed the bedroom door. He went downstairs and said to the maid, O'Hara, "Go and fetch Steward Vane. Tell him to meet me in my grandfather's study." For a moment, O'Hara seemed not to recognize the young master before her; at that moment, James's calm and unquestionable demeanor was more like Mr. Howlett himself.

After speaking, James turned and headed to the study. O'Hara stood dazed for a few seconds before lifting her skirt and trotting off to find the steward.

Mr. Howlett's study was very spacious, backing onto a bright and wide outer terrace. There were not many books; the old man had not read many, nor did he follow other estate owners in using books to stack up and decorate his image. Instead, there were various antique or exquisite muskets, as well as Western rapiers, Persian scimitars, daggers, and other weapons.

Against the backdrop of the numerous weapons, the reddish-copper floor and furniture of the study were plated with a metallic luster. James sat loosely in Mr. Howlett's high-backed armchair, one hand lightly supporting his forehead while the other rested casually on the armrest, his eyes closed in silence.

To be honest, the moment Steward Vane knocked and entered, he was momentarily intimidated. The solemn atmosphere in the room felt as if it were filled with soldiers armed with live ammunition. The James before him possessed a unique sense of calm and peace, yet he felt inviolable. He wasn't sure if he should speak and break the silence of the space.

"Uncle Vane, what did Grandfather encounter at the Governor's Mansion?" James's voice made the steward heave a deep sigh of relief. Only after speaking did James open his eyes, looking at Mr. Vane with a gentle gaze.

"Actually, the Governor did not make things difficult or act with hostility. He allowed us to take back the detained herdsmen in good condition and even shared dinner with the master." James remained silent, waiting for Steward Vane to continue. "It's just that Smith asked the master one thing and made one request."

The steward's face turned somewhat pale, and he said stiffly, "He asked if you were the master's sole heir, and he wanted you to marry his niece."

What Steward Vane could not understand was that there was not a trace of joy on the face of this twenty-year-old youth upon hearing about a marriage alliance with the Governor, let alone confusion, anxiety, or anger. He seemed to think this was... ordinary?

"Is that all?" James finally took over the conversation, asking with a slight tone.

"Master James! You may not know how excessive this is!" The steward said anxiously, "Smith wants to completely annex the Howlett Family through this marriage. The master is old and lacks the energy to maneuver or resist. Once he is gone, and you have married the Governor's niece, the family will be as good as..." James waved his hand to stop the steward's somewhat uncomposed speech and asked quietly again, "Is that all?"

"That is all." Steward Vane felt a bit deflated. He felt that the James who possessed more oppressive power than Mr. Howlett, whom he had seen the moment he entered, was purely an illusion, or perhaps just a young man's childish attempt at feigning depth. This young master simply did not know how troublesome the situation was.

"Very well. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Vane. In the coming days, please do your best to look after Grandfather. Do not let him worry about family affairs; let him rest in peace." James instructed Steward Vane lightly. He thought for a moment and added, "Don't worry, this will pass." He then walked toward the massive terrace outside, as if to catch the breeze.

Steward Vane really didn't know what else he could say. Without dwelling on James's final, meaningful look, he left the study.

With eyesight as sharp as an eagle's, James clearly saw a horned deer on a distant hillside being pounced upon by a mountain lion. Its neck was clamped tightly by the predator's sharp jaws. The mountain lion thrashed its body and head, making the deer's final struggles even more futile. James curled his lips in a slight, happy smile, enjoying the comfort of the autumn wind blowing against him.

"This is still an era of savagery and disorder. Many problems, to me, are simply too easy."

Governor Kevin Smith had spent quite a bit of effort convincing his willful and spoiled niece. In reality, this so-called niece was merely the daughter of a distant cousin in the Smith family. When he was promoted to Governor, this cousin brought his daughter to offer congratulations, claiming that this disappointing child had never seen the world and lacked experience, hoping the Governor could take her along for "discipline."

She could handle some daily chores, and family was always better than the servants in the bitter, barbaric colonies. Seeing the impressive bosom and face of this girl named Sinier, the Governor readily agreed and secretly brought her to Canada. Considering that the Governor's wife could not accompany him for the first few years, this niece was his only "relative."

"My wife is moving here next year, and you'll only suffer if you stay. Besides, that James Howlett is very young, and I hear he's tall and handsome; he won't treat you poorly. I also want to see if Sinier, once she has a husband, will still be as attentive as she used to be..."

The Governor chuckled wickedly while "disciplining" his niece, who was sprawled across his lap. The young girl murmured something about how she must tell her uncle today just how wronged she felt, before breathlessly embracing Governor Smith and returning to the bedroom.

James wanted to go out for a walk to digest his dinner. The clouds were thick tonight, with no stars or moon in sight—perfect for getting things done. He set off toward Yellowknife, where the Governor's Mansion was located. Along the way, he avoided human habitation and main roads, sprinting through forests and mountains, enjoying the thrill of speed and power as he ran at full tilt.

A pounce, a leap—whether it was mountain streams, giant boulders, or fallen logs, he crossed them as if walking on flat ground. The journey that took Mr. Howlett a full day by carriage was covered by James in less than two hours. Seeing the brightly lit, massive estate and the patrolling soldiers in the distance, he slowed down, approached cautiously, steadied his slightly labored breathing, and observed the environment of the Governor's estate.

He had considered simply storming in openly, which would have been a good chance to exercise his skills—which he had practiced for years but never used in real combat—while also gaining a more intuitive sense of his own strength. However, unnecessary slaughter was truly uncalled for; resolving the problem was enough.

Taking advantage of a gap in the patrol, James vaulted over the two-meter-high wall, landing as lightly as a civet cat without making a sound. He crept to the corner of the estate, climbed up the walls and onto the roof, and searched for the Governor's room based on the layout of the estate.

James flared his nostrils, catching a peculiar, musky scent, and faintly heard the sound of a woman's panting. He jumped onto the balcony and, through the window, saw the short, stout middle-aged man entangled with a young girl. He knew clearly that he had found his target.

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