The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1875

At this moment, everything happening in Havenia came to a halt, at least on the surface. It was as if this sudden chaos had been orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.

Wolf watched the retreating crowd and let out a deep sigh. Beside him, Ingrid slumped to the ground, trembling. This was the first time she had encountered such a scene.

Seeing this, Wolf helped her up. "Ms. Ingrid, they're gone. Let's go rest for a bit."

Ingrid's voice trembled as she spoke. "Okay."

Everything here had erupted and subsided just as quickly.

…

Meanwhile, an old man was walking through the streets, clutching a map. He had nearly scoured all of Havenia but found no trace of the treasure.

His eyes darkened as he wondered if it was all just a rumor. If so, then coming to Havenia had been a complete waste of time.

Just then, a figure in black appeared beside him. "Sir, there might be a problem."

The old man turned his gaze toward him. "What do you mean?"

"The scouts we sent out just reported that the treasure might be nothing more than a myth. After all, if it truly existed, why wouldn't Cascadia's higher-ups make use of it? Instead, they let the information leak, even if only to a select few. It's hard not to question its validity."

This aligned perfectly with the old man's own suspicions.

He frowned. "I was just thinking the same thing. But we need definitive proof. If the treasure is real, it would be a powerful asset for us. Keep searching for now. I'll handle the rest."

The man in black nodded. "Understood, sir." With that, he continued toward the marked locations on the map.

The old man folded the map and tucked it away before turning and walking in the opposite direction.

…

Meanwhile, after Ingrid had calmed down, she requested leave from her supervisor and left the area with Wolf.

The streets had returned to normal, and the previously blocked roads were now clear.

Wolf leaned against the car window, his gaze sharpening as he suddenly spotted something in a restaurant nearby. He quickly spoke up, "Ms. Ingrid, stop for a second."

Hearing this, Ingrid gradually pressed the brakes. "What's wrong, Wolf?"

Wolf didn't answer. Once the car was parked, he opened the door and headed straight for the restaurant. He had spotted several members of the Special Unit who had come to Havenia with him.

They were eating, clearly having been searching for Wolf all this time.

Just then, one of the team members looked up and noticed the figure outside. "Captain… That's—That's Wolf!"

Sheldon turned sharply and realized it really was Wolf. He stood up and walked toward him. "Wolf, we finally found you!"

Wolf wondered how this turned into them finding him when he was the one who spotted them.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose and sat down beside them. "When you got off the ship… did any of you see that person?"

The group exchanged glances before shaking their heads. Sheldon spoke up. "We checked everyone who disembarked. In the end, it was just us left."

Wolf nodded. "Like I said, that person... is here in Havenia. I saw him two days ago."

Though the team members didn't know who Wolf was referring to, Wynter had made it clear that they were to follow his orders without question if she wasn't around.

Sheldon lowered his voice. "Wolf, what should we do now?"

Wolf thought for a moment before speaking. "For now, nothing. Finish your meal, then head back to Colifernia. If the boss has returned, brief her on the situation. Once she hears it, she'll come find me herself."

Sheldon nodded. "Understood. We'll head back this time and take those men who kidnapped you with us. After all, we don't have jurisdiction here in Havenia."

Just then, Ingrid's voice came from behind them. "Wolf, are these your friends?"

The group turned to look while Wolf flashed a smile at her. "Yeah! They came to Havenia with me. I thought I'd never see them again!"

Ingrid nodded and greeted each of them politely, and the Special Unit members returned the courtesy.

Noticing an outsider present, Sheldon grinned at Wolf. "Running into you wasn't easy. But now that we have, it looks like we've got to leave already."

Wolf feigned surprise. "W-Why? Sheldon, you're leaving Havenia now?"

Sheldon sighed. "We're not making it here. Time to move on and try our luck somewhere else."

Ingrid, overhearing, offered kindly, "Why not work for my dad? His company's hiring."

Sheldon waved her off. "I really appreciate the thought, but we're used to drifting. Knowing that Wolf's doing fine here is enough for us. Anyway, we'd better get going."

With that, he settled the bill and led the team out. For them, Wolf's word was as good as Wynter's. Their job was to follow orders.

Wolf watched as Sheldon and the others left before murmuring, "Ms. Ingrid, let's go home."

Just as they stepped outside, Wolf caught that scent again, and his brow furrowed. "Ms. Ingrid, you go ahead. There's something I need to take care of."

Without another word, he followed the trail of the odor.

Ingrid, confused, called after him, "Where are you going?"

Wolf didn't answer, continuing forward with single-minded focus.

Then, Jemima's voice echoed in his mind. "Sir, are you looking for that old man from before?"

Wolf gave a low hum. "Exactly. That old man traveled all the way from Colifernia to Havenia. There's definitely something he's hiding."

Jemima's voice trembled. "Sir, you might be fine confronting him, but if I get too close… he could obliterate me in seconds."

Wolf frowned again. "Just stay inside the emerald pendant. Nothing will happen to you."

As he spoke, the scent grew stronger. Finally, up ahead, he spotted that familiar figure. Aged, yet standing tall without a trace of frailty.

Wolf kept his distance. Dealing with the old man wasn't the issue. The real question was figuring out what he was after.

The old man seemed to sense something and slipped into an alley. Wolf immediately followed, but when he turned the corner, the old man had vanished.

"Are you looking for me?" A hoarse voice came from behind.

Wolf spun around. The old man, Mervyn Barrie, stood there, a faint smile curling his lips. "Fate works in strange ways. I've seen you often at the municipal building, and now, even in Havenia."

Wolf narrowed his eyes. Despite Mervyn's smile, an inexplicable chill prickled at his skin.

Slowly, Wolf spoke. "Because… you're the bad guy."

Mervyn's smile widened. "I'm the bad guy?" Then his gaze turned icy. "Then let me show you what a real bad guy looks like."

The moment he finished speaking, scattered pebbles on the ground levitated into the air. Within seconds, they shot toward Wolf like bullets.

Wolf's expression darkened. He lifted a foot and stomped. Just as the stones were about to hit him, they froze mid-air before clattering harmlessly to the ground.

Mervyn clapped mockingly. "Not bad. You've got some skills. But now, I'll get serious. Try to keep up."

In terms of looks, none from the sects could compare to him. In terms of combat, he could take on dozens of them single-handedly and even strip them of their spiritual roots. None dared to cause trouble.

Necropolis had seen Spirit Kings before, but few were like Dalton. He was too strikingly handsome to be an evil spirit. He was more like the moon reflected in water—noble and untouchable.

The two green-faced, fanged evil spirits guarding the city gates immediately dropped to their knees at the sight of Dalton descending.

Their eyes gleamed as they hunched their backs and cheered, "Congratulations to Your Majesty for achieving your heart's desire!"

Dalton twisted the ring on his finger, the silver adornments clinking softly with his movements, like wind chimes scattering moonlight.

As he stepped down from the platform, the evil spirits dissipated into wisps of smoke, leaving only the city gates creaking open on their own, revealing the winding streets within.

Lanterns hung from the buildings lining the streets, their crimson curtains glowing under the eerie flames, silhouetting the revelry of spectral cultivators inside.

A finely dressed female spirit leaned against the railing, the golden hairpin at her temple swaying with delicate chimes. She had been singing The Summons of the Path of Death, but swiftly switched to The Spirit Bride.

The once gloomy underworld lights had all turned into festive red. Even the cracks between the bloodstained cobblestones sprouted blazing red spider lilies, creating a breathtaking sight.

It was a celebration spanning all three realms.

Even the puppet show on the stone stage changed its theme to "A Perfect Match". Behind vermilion curtains, marionettes in embroidered robes flipped and twirled, their mournful tunes replaced by songs of heavenly union.

The eerie flames surged like crimson tides, with glass lanterns bobbing in the waves.

Dalton's arrival sent the spirits into a frenzy.

With a single word, "Reward", he unleashed a shower of merits.

The evil spirits scrambled to bow before Dalton, their cheers echoing throughout the underworld.

…

In the deepest part of the underworld, the dark water churned violently.

Echoseer, resting beside Kyro, suddenly opened its eyes and glanced at its master, who had remained silent for so long.

Kyro murmured, "All things are but fate. Millennia ago, it was she who bore the divine retribution for all living beings. Now that the heavenly calamity approaches, the cycle of cause and effect is beyond our intervention."

Hearing this, Echoseer shook its massive head and settled back down.

Kyro pressed his palms together, gazing at the dark water that could no longer be restrained, then closed his eyes once more.

The heavenly law must not know love, for to love is to invite divine retribution.

He did not know whether the slim hope that had once been fought for remained, nor did he know if the hearts of mortals today could withstand the sin of annihilation. As a long-forgotten deity, the only thing he could do was strive to keep the underworld from spiraling out of control.

But if the evil in humanity surpassed all else, severing the flow of fortune, even he could only watch as ruin came, utterly powerless to stop them. After all, this was the heavenly law's resentful energy, the unbreakable order of karma.

…

Dalton, standing in Necropolis, knew this well. His gaze swept over the world beyond the city walls.

The White Tiger, representing the beast clan, leaped down from the ramparts and knelt before him in reverence. "The beast clan offers its blessings. May Your Majesty and my master remain united for centuries, and for lifetimes to come."

Dalton's eyes briefly flickered to the basket beside the White Tiger before he tilted his head slightly, his voice languid yet commanding. "Reward."

A single word could alter fortune. Such was the heavenly law's power.

As if in defiance, a bolt of divine retribution struck the distant clouds. Yet, Dalton remained unmoved, his lips curling into a cold smile.