An Unfit Father

[Mission: Contract the God-Eater Rat "Bebe"]

[Mission Reward: 100 White Energy Points]

As Linley darted between the boulders, he stared at the information that had appeared before him, momentarily stunned.

"Big Brother Lin Ke," Linley said, communicating with Lin Ke in his mind. "What is a God-Eater Rat?"

"You'll find out when the time comes." Inside the System Space, Lin Ke smiled. "When you bind the God-Eater Rat, you'll also be able to complete the mission to hunt wild beasts."

Lin Ke's words made little sense, and Linley didn't understand.

But for now, Linley had no time to worry about anything else.

When Linley returned to Wushan Town, he saw a town reduced to ruins.

"Linley?" Hillman, who was leading the guards in rescue efforts, raised his voice when he saw Linley. "Where have you been? Your father has been looking for you."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Hillman." Linley apologized and quickened his pace toward Baruch Mansion. "I'll go see Father right away."

Linley's physical abilities had now reached an adult's standard.

And with much of the rubble in town already cleared, it didn't take him long to get home.

"Linley?" Hogg was about to go out and check on the casualties when he saw Linley rush in. "You—you went where?"

Hogg wasn't the sort of father who usually showed his vulnerable side in front of his children.

But seeing Linley return home safe and sound, Hogg's eyes still grew a little red.

"I'm sorry, Father." Linley lowered his head. "I shouldn't have run off and made you worry."

"All that matters is you're safe." Hogg took a deep breath and patted Linley's shoulder. "All that matters is you're safe. I've got work to do, so go check on Wharton!"

With that, Hogg hurried away. Linley watched his father's back, feeling a little dazed.

The last time Hogg had shown such a tender expression was two years ago, when Linley failed the bloodline test.

"Big Brother!"

Wharton toddled out of the room, his childish call snapping Linley out of his daze.

"Wharton." Linley smiled and spread his arms, waiting for Wharton to come over. "Are you hurt? Were you scared?"

"I'm not scared!" Wharton threw himself into Linley's arms. "I'm going to get this strong, too!"

Wharton tipped his head back as he spoke, showing off his little baby teeth. Linley couldn't help smiling.

"All right." Linley ruffled Wharton's hair. "I'll be waiting for little Wharton to grow strong."

"Young Master Linley." The steward, Hiri, came over with a cheerful smile. "Would you like to take a bath first?"

"No need, Grandpa Hiri." Linley handed Wharton over to Hiri. "I have something else to do. Could you keep Wharton company for a while?"

With that, Linley headed straight for the rear courtyard of the mansion.

"Big Brother Lin Ke." In the ruined rear courtyard, Linley looked around. "Is there really a God-Eater Rat here, like you said?"

"Don't worry." Lin Ke's lazy voice sounded in Linley's mind. "Keep an eye on the rear courtyard over the next few days. You'll run into one."

With that, Lin Ke cut off his communication with Linley.

No matter how much Linley called to him in his mind, Lin Ke didn't answer.

"Linley." Doehring emerged from the Coiling Dragon Ring. "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing, Grandpa Doehring." Linley shook his head. "I found the Coiling Dragon Ring here, so I wanted to see if I could find anything else."

Lying was wrong.

But Big Brother Lin Ke had said he couldn't reveal his existence.

So, sorry, Grandpa Doehring.

It was Linley's first time lying, and he looked a little uneasy.

To a Saint-level powerhouse, his lie was utterly transparent.

Even though Doehring was now only a soul, his past experience hadn't vanished.

He could naturally tell that Linley wasn't telling the truth.

But Doehring didn't mind.

"Just don't let it get in the way of your cultivation." Doehring stroked his beard. "You must cast your first spell within three days."

After saying that, Doehring returned to the Coiling Dragon Ring, while Linley looked troubled.

Today was his first day learning magic incantations, and he had spent more than half an hour shouting them out in Wushan Town without casting a single spell.

Linley was beginning to doubt his talent.

Forget three days. He felt he might not succeed even after thirty.

The battle between two Saint-level powerhouses had been an undeserved calamity for Wushan Town.

During their fight, most people had been inside their homes.

The falling boulders had caused countless houses to collapse, and the dead and injured accounted for more than half the population of Wushan Town.

There was even more damage from collapsed houses, dead livestock, and ruined farmland.

The Baruch Clan was known for treating the people under its rule generously.

In the end, Hogg decided that the Baruch Clan would cover most of the costs from this disaster.

On the bright side, many livestock had been crushed to death, so the residents of Wushan Town would probably be eating meat often for a while.

At dinner, Hogg stared in amazement as Linley polished off a roasted leg of lamb, a roast chicken, and a jug of fruit juice all by himself.

"Linley." Hogg furrowed his brow and looked at him. "Do you feel unwell?"

Linley had eaten far more than usual that day, and Hogg was worried he might make himself sick.

After all, Linley was still a child not yet nine years old.

"I'm fine, Father." Linley picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. "Maybe it's because I've made progress in my warrior training lately. I feel like I've gotten stronger."

As he spoke, Linley even showed Hogg the muscles on his arm.

But to Linley's disappointment, Hogg didn't look particularly pleased. He only nodded slightly. "Mm. Keep working hard, and don't get arrogant."

Hogg had already accepted the limits of Linley's potential as a warrior.

Without being able to cultivate the Dragonblood Secret Manual, Rank 7 Warrior was as far as Linley could go.

A Rank 7 Warrior—and one without Battle Qi, at that.

In the military, that would make him a mid- to high-ranking officer.

He might have some influence in the countryside, but across the kingdom, he would be utterly insignificant.

"Father, I'm full." Seeing that Hogg didn't seem interested in the subject, Linley felt a little disappointed. "I'll be going now."

With that, Linley stood and bowed to Hogg before leaving the dining room.

But Linley didn't return to his bedroom. Instead, he went to the kitchen, grabbed a pile of bones, and left the house, heading for Wushan.

"Linley." Doehring's voice rang out in Linley's mind. "It's so late. What are you planning to do?"

"Grandpa Doehring." Linley looked at the dark road ahead, his eyes full of determination. "I want to get stronger. I want to become a powerhouse and make Father proud."

Linley clenched both fists tightly, tears in his eyes, but he never let them fall.

Inside the Coiling Dragon Ring, Doehring couldn't help shaking his head.

He had naturally seen what had happened in the dining room just now.

At least, in Doehring's eyes, Hogg wasn't a fit father.