Before long, the news reached Ulada Magic Academy.
The residents of Dormitory 2023 immediately left the academy without even attending class and hurried to Rhode Mansion to visit him.
Inside the palace.
Prell listened to the report from his covert guard and frowned.
"Jonathan was assassinated? He's both a mage and a warrior, and he's reached level six in both?"
"What a monster!"
"A seventeen-year-old level-six mage and peak level-six warrior. That's truly hard to believe. The news will probably reach the Dark Church's ears soon."
After a flicker of thought, Prell rose at once and ordered that a carriage be prepared so he could visit Jonathan.
Jonathan's potential was worth the effort.
Prell had golden hair, a handsome face, and a burly build. He had all the makings of a wise ruler.
He took an ordinary carriage and brought only three guards to the common district.
Though he had few men with him, one of the three guards was an early-stage level-nine warrior, while the other two were late-stage level-eight warriors.
Prell himself was also a late-stage level-nine warrior, with such powerful battle aura that he could stand against an entire army.
When he arrived at Rhode Mansion and saw Charles inside, he cried out in surprise.
"Father!"
Charles was just as astonished, and suddenly seemed unsure of himself.
"Your Majesty!"
Collette immediately started to kneel on one knee and perform the noble's greeting, but Prell stopped him.
"This isn't the palace. I'm traveling incognito, so there's no need for that."
Ford's body trembled slightly, as if intimidated by Prell's presence. For a long moment, he couldn't manage a complete sentence.
Jonathan bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, your visit to my humble home truly honors it."
"I heard you were injured, so I came to see you. And what brings all of you here?"
He looked at Charles and the others.
"He's in the same dorm as us. Does Your Majesty not know?" Charles asked.
"Father's very busy. I didn't want to bother him, so I never mentioned it."
"I see. I'm grateful to you all for looking after Charles over the years."
"Your Majesty, you're too kind. Charles is the one who looks after us. We're always mooching food and drink off him."
Prell was in good spirits. He laughed heartily, then continued, "By the way, how are your injuries? Do you know who did this?"
"I'll see that justice is served."
"I'm fine. Just a few small cuts. They'll heal in a few days. Luckily, I never let on that I was also training as a warrior. Otherwise, they really might have succeeded."
"Charles, Collette, Ford, you don't mind that I kept it from you, do you?"
"What are you talking about?" Collette said. "We're brothers. Of course we don't mind. The stronger you are, the happier we are."
"You promised to be our big shot someday, so we could cling to you."
They all laughed, and the tension brought on by the king's arrival quickly eased.
"Still, the people who attacked me were extremely skilled. They must have been professional assassins. I just don't know which organization they belonged to."
"As for people who might hold a grudge, I've always kept a low profile. All I do every day is train."
Charles and the others all vouched for him.
"The only people we've had any real trouble with lately are the Bred Family."
"The Breds? That family again?"
Prell's expression darkened. He seemed to have a deep dislike for the Bred Family. "Can you tell me what happened between you?"
Charles changed the details of the story before recounting it to everyone present.
"I don't like fighting, but they tried to kill my adoptive father and the woman who was about to become my stepmother. Even the mildest person would fight back in that situation."
"After a fierce battle, the young man who claimed to be a direct descendant of the Bred Family died by my hand."
"I guess Bred noticed something was off and sent assassins after me for revenge."
"They tried to kill you first, and they still have the nerve to seek revenge?!" Ford said.
Jonathan sighed. "It's strange, too. The first time Aunt Sanita saw me, she said I looked like her eldest brother. That young man from the Bred Family was surprised to see me as well. I have no idea why."
Prell thought for a moment, then said, "I remember now. More than a decade ago, a tragedy struck the Bred Family. The entire main branch of the head's direct line was slaughtered overnight. After the old head died, the family leadership passed to Canina."
"Could you be the rightful heir to the Bred Family?"
Jonathan smiled bitterly. "Don't ask me. I don't know, and my adoptive father never told me. I have no memories from before I was two or three, either."
"The main branch of the Bred Family did have a child who'd been born not long before, about two or three years old. I even met him once. I praised his intelligence and said he was destined for great things."
"You do look a little like your father, but you resemble your mother more. Back then, your mother was famous throughout Black Phoenix City for her beauty."
"Your Majesty, you can't be serious. How could I be from the Bred Family? If I really am, wouldn't that mean I killed my own cousin?"
Once Prell realized Jonathan was a member of the Bred Family, he'd decided to throw his full support behind him. He might even help him deal with Canina and the others, so Jonathan could take complete control of the family.
That way, Prell believed Jonathan would surely side with him and serve his interests.
"It wasn't a case of killing the wrong person. If my guess is right, your second uncle, Canina, was behind that tragedy. He hired assassins to slaughter your entire branch!"
"Back then, though, I had no proof, and in the end, the matter was dropped."
Jonathan stood stunned for a long moment, then bowed. "If I really am a member of the Bred Family, and if Marquis Canina truly killed my whole family, then I beg Your Majesty to seek justice for me and for my innocent parents!"
Prell patted Jonathan on the shoulder, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Don't worry. Once I've confirmed the facts, I'll punish Canina severely and restore the Bred Family to its rightful line."
Charles and the others listened as if they were hearing a story. It was so full of twists and turns that they couldn't help but be moved.
Who could have imagined that Jonathan would discover the truth about his origins?
In fact, everything had gone just as Jonathan had expected. Once he revealed more of his talent, he was bound to attract even greater attention.
He'd been seventy percent certain Prell would come.
That was why he'd told the story specifically for him. As the king of the country, Prell couldn't possibly have been unaware of the Bred Family tragedy.
"Jonathan, focus on recovering. I'll be heading back now."
"Safe travels, Your Majesty."
After Prell left, Charles and the others finally relaxed and spoke freely.
"Jonathan, what matters to you matters to me, too. I'll ask my father to look into it. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything," Collette said.
"Thanks."
Before long, the others left as well, not wanting to disturb Jonathan's recovery.
Jonathan really was injured, but he'd inflicted the wounds himself. With the Dao Fruit's restorative properties, even the scars would be gone in a few days.
There was no doubt that now Prell had set his sights on him, Canina was finished. As for the fate of the Bred Family, it all depended on Jonathan's decision.
If he put in the effort, the family would surely prosper and have a brilliant future.
But he wasn't interested.
He was dealing with Canina partly to avenge Yuan's grudge. It might not make much difference, but at least he could have a clear conscience.
But more than anything, he wanted the Bred Family's accumulated wealth to support his future research.
His name was Jonathan Rhode, and that was all he would ever be!
He was about to meet Linley for the first time. Everyone, look forward to it!
Before you continue