After leaving the suburban hotel, Kayden returned straight to his own accommodation for some rest. It was time to prepare for the next day’s cultivator auction.
The main purpose of attending the auction was to observe Cyrus Nightbane. Additionally, if the opportunity arose, he hoped to acquire items for Wood Faulkner. Wood needed to break through to the Grand Level-only then could she provide the support Kayden required.
If Wood remained stuck at her current stage, her usefulness would be limited.
As for the earlier incident, Kayden chose to let it go. He knew exactly what he had done, and trying to explain it would be pointless-no one would believe him anyway. He saw no need to convince others of his innocence.
If John Baker didn’t trust him, any further explanations would be futile. That was simply Kayden’s way; he never wasted time on meaningless justifications.
Yet, there was a bitter aftertaste to it all. When he first met John Baker, he felt a faint resemblance to his father-an illusion, as it turned out. John Baker was only John Baker, and his father was long gone. No one in this world could believe in him the way his father once did.
With that thought, Kayden let it go. He wouldn’t dwell on it anymore.
As for Ryder, Kayden planned to deal with him in due time. Once his current matters were resolved, he would personally pay a visit to the Steele family.
Kayden’s expression darkened at the thought.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
When he looked at the screen, he saw it was a call from John Baker.
Kayden wasn’t angry about it, though he felt disappointed in John. Still, he didn’t hesitate to answer the call.
“Kayden! Where have you been?” John’s voice came through the line.
“Do you need something, Mr. Baker?” Kayden asked calmly.
John sighed deeply and said with guilt, “Kid, I owe you an apology. I wronged you. I’m such a fool-I should have trusted you. It’s my fault, entirely my fault!”
John’s regret was palpable. He had spoken harshly to Kayden, and it had surely hurt him. The thought pained John deeply. Kayden had no family to turn to, and their rare meeting had ended in misunderstanding.
“It’s fine, Mr. Baker,” Kayden replied evenly. “Emma is your daughter, after all.”
“No, no! I was wrong! I should have trusted you. Your father was a man of great honor-how could I have doubted his son? Kayden, it was foolish of me. I know everything now. It was Ryder who orchestrated this. I falsely accused you. Please, tell me where you are so I can apologize to you in person.”
“There’s no need for that, Mr. Baker,” Kayden said with a faint smile. “Really, it’s fine. I have other matters to attend to, so let’s leave it at that.”
With that, Kayden hung up the phone.
When he returned to the hotel, Wood Faulkner was nowhere to be found-she had gone out again. Kayden didn’t know where she had gone, but he couldn’t help recalling what Grant Rocco had mentioned the previous day.
Could there be a problem with Wood Faulkner? It didn’t seem possible.
Kayden trusted his Zodiac Generals implicitly. He couldn’t bring himself to believe that Wood might betray him.
While lost in thought, his phone rang again. This time, it was Wood.
“Mr. Scott,” she said hurriedly, “Mr. Alfredson has invited you to join us for dinner. We’re at Ridge Manor right now.”
Kayden didn’t respond immediately, and Wood sounded nervous. “Mr. Scott, I’m sorry! I should have informed you before coming here. Mr. Alfredson said he needed to speak with me, so I came over. I apologize…”
“It’s fine,” Kayden replied. “Wait for me. I’ll be there shortly.”
—
Half an hour later, Kayden arrived at Ridge Manor.
The manor had a unique charm. Its entrance was a large stone archway-plain and unassuming. But once inside, the view transformed completely. Beyond the gate lay a hidden paradise.
Though called a manor, it was more of a small meadow. The scenery was stunning, with lush greenery and colorful flowers. Tents dotted the landscape, a testament to the owner’s ingenuity.
Despite the remote location, the manor attracted many visitors who came to enjoy both the views and the food.
In one of the private rooms, Zack Alfredson sat with a warm smile, his face glowing with good health and high spirits.
Kayden had heard of Zack Alfredson during his time in the Western Frontier. The man had a reputation as a philanthropist-a true good Samaritan who was down-to-earth and genuine.
“Ah, Mr. Scott!” Zack exclaimed, raising his glass in gratitude. “I can’t believe my five-year illness has finally been cured. I owe it all to you. If not for you, I’d already be dead.”
Kayden waved him off. “There’s no need to thank me. It was fate that brought us together. Besides, a man like you, who has accumulated so much goodwill, deserves a bit of fortune in return.”
“Ha! Well said, Mr. Scott, well said!” Zack laughed heartily. “Come, let me toast to you.”
He downed his drink in one gulp, and Kayden followed suit after a brief pause.
Afterward, Zack’s expression turned somber. “Mr. Scott, I can’t thank you enough. Without you, I might have turned into something… unnatural.
“When the birds chirped, I didn’t hear their songs-I heard voices. At night, the sound of insects wasn’t just noise-it was words, conversations.
“At first, I thought it was a gift, a special ability to understand animals. But over time, it warped my mind. I started wanting to talk to them, to learn from them. I even felt like I was becoming one of them.”
Kayden nodded slightly. “That’s Ravenwood Syndrome. If untreated, you would have become an animal yourself. This doesn’t happen without cause-it’s not random.”
Zack’s face darkened as he nodded. “You’re right. It wasn’t random. Someone poisoned me-an old enemy.”
“An enemy?” Wood Faulkner asked, narrowing her eyes. “Mr. Alfredson, how could someone like you have enemies?”
Zack sighed. “My enemy… is my brother.” His voice broke, and he hesitated before continuing. “Anyway, when I first noticed the symptoms, I sought help. I met an old man-he must have been a hundred years old. His name was…”
Zack struggled to recall the name, then his eyes lit up. “Eldridge! That’s it, Eldridge!”
Kayden froze. Eldridge.
That was the name of his master.