Volume One, Chapter 12: Sooner or Later, I'll Finish You Off

Hekun grasped his hand, which was bleeding profusely, and looked up at the sky. The eagle had flown far away, but the bitterness in his heart only grew stronger.

As he released his hand, the severed fingers had already regrown.

“Rest assured, Rester.”

“Young master, this way.”

The alliance members stationed on the outskirts of the city had been anxiously awaiting news of the young master. Unable to wait any longer, a few sneaked out to investigate, only to encounter this scene halfway. They only dared come out after the eagle colonel had left.

Hekun flexed the newly regrown hand. “Inform the alliance leader that Rester has a descendant of the Cobra Clan. Gather all forces; we must retrieve them at all costs.”

“W-what?” The alliance members who came to assist were shocked. Their young master... had a child?

They glanced at each other, thinking they must have misheard.

“Deaf? Then I’ll help you cut off your ears.”

Hekun’s fierce voice echoed in their ears, terrifying them into immediate submission.

“Young master, we were just too shocked. Judging by your mental strength, it should be nothing... Could it be a female tricked you?”

The man stammered, clutching his throat as if suffocating. “P-please, young master, have mercy.”

In an instant, he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

“Dare to question me? This is your fate.” Hekun rubbed his wrist.

The remaining members trembled and kowtowed repeatedly. “Young master, mercy! We will carry out your orders immediately.”

But no orders came, and none dared raise their heads.

After a few seconds, at last, they heard the young master say, “Begone!” Only then did they dare leave.

Hekun glanced back at the empty road behind him. The soldiers who had pursued him had all withdrawn, acting as if he were beneath notice.

“Rester, I will kill you sooner or later.”

Meng Wan had been awakened by the horrific sight of the female nanny’s death. In her dream, the nanny reached out, seeking vengeance, blaming her for causing the man to kill her, warning that danger always followed when they were together.

“Forgive me, it’s all my fault.” Tears glistened in Meng Wan’s eyes. Suddenly, she realized something—where were the children?

Without bothering to put on shoes, she jumped out of bed to search.

The young maid, hearing the movement in the room, opened the door and saw that Miss was awake. She quickly urged her back to bed.

“Miss, you just gave birth not long ago. Your body is still weak. Please lie down and rest! Otherwise, if the butler finds out, he’ll blame me for not taking good care of you.”

Meng Wan grabbed her wrist firmly. “I ask you, where are my children? And the female nanny who stayed with me—where is she?”

The young maid answered timidly, “Miss, your children still need to incubate. The colonel has already retrieved them and sent them to the hospital. You can rest assured.”

“What about the other nanny?”

“I... I’m not quite sure.”

Fine. If the young maid wouldn’t say, then she would have to go ask others herself.

Meng Wan ignored the maid’s protests and insisted on going out to find the colonel. Following her last memory, she aimed to go to Rester’s study.

Halfway there, she encountered Rester, who appeared quite angry.

“How did you let Miss walk barefoot out here?”

The young maid knelt down fearfully. “Colonel, I couldn’t stop Miss. Please... punish me, Colonel.”

Rester gave a single glance, and his adjutant immediately understood, taking the maid away for punishment.

“My... ah! What are you doing?” Meng Wan was startled when he suddenly picked her up.

“You dare be so reckless right after giving birth? Don’t you want to keep your health?”

Meng Wan could clearly hear his steady heartbeat and a faint scent of smoke on him.

“I’m worried about the children and that nanny. Is she really... dead?”

“Yes, she’s dead.”

“But don’t worry. I’ve already successfully taken your children back from Hekun. They’re now in incubators at the hospital. With the hospital’s care, they should hatch soon.”

So that man was called Hekun. “He took my children?”

Rester didn’t answer. In just a few strides, he reached her room, gently laid her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

Then he poured a cup of warm water for her.

“Drink this first.”

Meng Wan obediently complied.

Rester pulled a chair close and explained what had happened after she fainted.

“Did he really do such a thing? Are you hurt?”

Rester extended his arm. “Does this count?”

A thin scar ran along his wrist, caused by the mental energy that burst forth when he broke Hekun’s spatial ring. He could have easily healed it with his power, but suddenly he didn’t want to.

“Is there a medical kit?”

Rester searched and finally found one, handing it over. “What do you want it for?”

“To bandage your wound. Thank you for all your trouble on my behalf.”

Rester obediently extended his hand.

He was still wearing his Federation military uniform. His long, pale fingers rolled up his sleeve, and the accidental touch of their skin made him tense.

Sensing his discomfort, Meng Wan immediately asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“Cough, cough, it’s nothing. Please continue.” Rester looked away. Fortunately, she kept her head lowered, carefully tending to his wound, unaware of his flushed cheeks.

Meng Wan was not very skilled, but since the wound was shallow, she simply applied iodine and wrapped it twice with a bandage.

“All done.” She released his wrist and put the supplies back into the medical kit.

Looking at the butterfly knot tied around his wrist, Rester felt a wave of tenderness.

“Colonel?”

“Colonel?”

Meng Wan waved her hand in front of him.

Rester suddenly snapped back. “Sorry, I was lost in thought about work. What did you just say?”

“Oh, I wanted to ask if I could visit the children in the hospital.”

“Not yet. In about five days, the hospital will bring the children back. Until then, you just need to rest well.”

“Alright. And what will happen to the nanny’s body?”

“The body will be sent to the crematorium. The ashes will be given to her family. If she has no family, they will be laid to rest in the Volzan family cemetery prepared for their subordinates.”

“That’s good. She died protecting me. It’s all my fault.”

Rester couldn’t bear to see her so sorrowful. He reached out to pat her back but withdrew his hand in the end.

“Take good care of yourself. You’re not to blame for her death. When I catch the culprit, I will ensure he is dealt with according to the law, and I will avenge the fallen.”

“Okay. I won’t disturb you any longer, Colonel.”

The moment the door closed behind her, Rester exhaled deeply. Reflecting on these past two days, what had he truly been doing?

He had once been an emotionless imperial colonel, but now he felt pain for a female. Having these feelings meant he was developing a vulnerability.

Rester, are you... beginning to care for her?