Homecoming

"I refuse."

When Sifa's clear, resolute voice rang through the hall, people responded with wry smiles and sighs.

As one of those involved, Barton's mind went blank with a buzz. A thought immediately surfaced in his mind: he was going to lose his job.

For a noble, making a minor police officer like him lose his livelihood was no difficult matter. After that, he would have to find another way to make a living.

Before he found work, his children might have to sell newspapers or labor in illegal factories. His wife already worked as a laundress; that poor woman's workload would likely increase even further.

Beside Barton, Inspector Roy wanted to snort through his nose in displeasure. But considering the other party's status, as well as his own prospects, he chose to remain silent.

Yet anger was carefully concealed in his eyes.

As for Bison, he was not surprised at all. He knew his son's temperament well. If Sifa had truly received that sort of "treatment" aboard the ship...

Revenge would have been the most natural choice.

Bison only hoped his son would not make too much of a mess, lest things become impossible to handle. He had already begun considering how to stop his son at a crucial moment.

At that moment, Sifa continued, "Why should I forgive you? Officer Barton, you did nothing wrong."

"You were merely fulfilling the duty expected of a police officer. If that required forgiveness, then being a police officer in our kingdom would be far too difficult, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, I merely..."

Barton froze, thinking he had heard wrong. He looked at his superior beside him in disbelief.

Roy wore the same bewildered expression, scarcely daring to trust his ears. Not only did this young nobleman have no intention of blaming Barton, he had instead tactfully and subtly praised Barton's actions?

This was a little different from the nobles I knew.

The inspector quickly recovered. Seeing his subordinate looking at him, he hurriedly cleared his throat. "Why aren't you thanking Mr. Sifa?"

As though waking from a dream, Barton realized his livelihood had been saved. He said joyfully, "Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Sifa."

Sifa had originally wanted to say, "It is all thanks to my father's excellent guidance." Then he remembered that the people of Loen were reserved by nature. Such a blatant statement would have seemed too deliberate, so he merely smiled, nodded, and took his leave.

He and Bison climbed into a carriage that had been waiting for them. Inside, Bison adjusted his clothes, removed his top hat, and looked at Sifa with a smile.

Sifa felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze and could not help saying, "Father, just say whatever you want to say."

Bison laughed heartily. "I have nothing to say. I simply find it strange. Sifa, after seeing you this time, I feel that you have changed greatly."

The baron counted on his fingers. "First, you had a lawyer defend other people, then you generously gave them travel expenses. Just now, not only did you forgive that police officer, you even subtly praised his actions. Well, provided he understood what you meant."

"To be honest, none of this was something I had expected before seeing you."

"Can you tell me what made you do this?"

The reason? Probably because your son had already become someone else. Sifa adjusted his posture and casually glanced out the window. Seeing that the carriage was heading toward the harbor, he finally said,

"Probably because, after experiencing this incident at sea, I felt it was necessary to reevaluate my life."

"Father, I think I must change. I cannot go on muddling through life as I did before. I want to participate more actively in your work and contribute to you and to the family, fulfilling my responsibility as the eldest son."

Sifa knew that his actions would certainly draw Bison's attention. While alone in the "single room," he had already prepared his wording.

He also intended to use this as groundwork. That way, if he did things in the future that did not match the original Sifa's personality, those around him would only think that Sifa was changing, rather than suspecting that "Sifa had been replaced."

Of course, these changes had to be natural, subtle, and gradual. Only then would they avoid arousing suspicion.

Bison showed a gratified expression. "I am very pleased that you think this way, my son. You have finally grown up."

"Don't worry, there will be opportunities. Soon, you will step onto a broader stage. I am looking forward to your performance."

On the following evening, Sifa returned to Enqi Town.

This bay town in Desi County faced Desi Bay and backed onto the Aiberry Mountains.

The scenery here was pleasant, and many people came every year for holidays. As a result, Enqi Town had many small inns with local character.

When the carriage passed Mermaid Road, Sifa saw that one inn was brightly lit, with people gathered around its entrance. Police officers in black-and-white checkered uniforms moved in and out. It seemed something had happened there.

"Your mother must have been worried sick, but I sent a telegram back yesterday. She should not be too concerned."

His father's voice inside the carriage drew Sifa's gaze away from the street outside.

Soon, the carriage turned onto Golden Champagne Avenue and stopped before a black iron gate on that street. A plaque marked "No. 13" stood beside it.

Night had fallen, but the gas streetlamps on both sides of the road shone exceptionally brightly. The black iron gate slowly opened, revealing the brilliantly lit residence within.

This was Sifa's home: a four-story villa with more than twenty rooms, a stable, servants' quarters, and a large garden.

At that moment, the household servants emerged under the butler's lead. They divided into two lines inside the gate and awaited the baron and his son.

Following his father from the carriage, Sifa immediately spotted the butler, Sebas. He was a middle-aged man nearing fifty, stern and unsmiling, with classical features and a gray-white beard.

Behind this butler stood an entirely male staff.

On the other side, a woman stood at the front. She was the household's female steward, Kunna, responsible for managing the maids and the family's financial expenses.

This woman in her early forties had dark brown hair. Deep nasolabial lines made her appear very severe.

Naturally, an entirely female staff stood behind her.

Seeing Bison and Sifa step down from the carriage, all the servants, led by the two stewards Marion and Kunna, stood perfectly straight and respectfully said in unison, "Welcome home, Master Bison, Young Master Sifa."

Sifa followed his father into the villa amid the servants' escort. As soon as they entered the first-floor hall, they heard a cheer.

"Dad!"

"Big Brother Sifa!"

A nine-year-old boy with black hair and brown eyes, dressed in a child-sized tailcoat, rushed over excitedly.

This was the youngest member of the family, Sifa's younger brother, Jom.

He seemed to be very close to Sifa. Passing directly by his father, who had already crouched down and opened his arms, he threw himself straight at his elder brother.

Sifa picked him up, feeling a surge of affection from the bottom of his heart. "How is our little general? Has your swordsmanship improved while I was away?"

Jom, who always aspired to become a "Kingdom General," waved his little hands proudly. "Of course! Just yesterday, I was already able to hit Mr. Shirey's hand."

Mr. Shirey was the tutor employed by the family, responsible for teaching Sifa and his siblings horseback riding, swordsmanship, combat, and marksmanship.

Besides this tutor, Sifa's family also had an etiquette teacher, a general studies teacher, and an art teacher.

At that moment, a crisp voice with a teasing tone rang out in the hall.

"Isn't this our Big Brother Sifa? I thought you had become a sailor aboard the King of the Five Seas' ship. I never expected you to come back."