Wolf lowered his head and spoke softly, “Master, I…”
“Wolf!” Oliver Prescott interrupted him sharply, his voice stern. “I feel like you’re no longer worthy of the title ‘Crazy Sword’! If you keep acting like this, I might have to reconsider whether you’re even fit to be my apprentice!”
The reprimand left Wolf flustered and helpless.
“I’m sorry, Master! I won’t let it happen again,” Wolf admitted reluctantly, bowing his head.
Oliver Prescott let out a cold snort. “But I must say, I’m quite intrigued by someone who can make my proud and fearless apprentice so anxious and uneasy. I’d like to see just how formidable they are. Let’s see if they can withstand my Thirteen Blades of Destiny.”
As he spoke, a look of pride spread across his face.
At that moment, Ryder hobbled into the room, visibly enraged. Following closely behind him was a bodyguard trying to interject, “Young Master, the Master and Mr. Prescott are discussing important matters. Please wait before-”
“Shut up!” Ryder barked angrily, cutting him off. “Father! Father! Something happened to me! Something happened to me!” He shouted as he caught sight of Gavin.
The bodyguard opened his mouth to speak again, but Gavin waved him off, dismissing him.
“What happened?” Gavin asked, his brow furrowing as he looked at Ryder’s limping figure.
Ryder, fuming, exclaimed, “Father, it was an outsider! Some guy from out of town! He stabbed my leg with chopsticks! I had no choice but to come home to you for help. Just look at my leg-it’s a mess!”
Having spent a few days in the hospital, Ryder’s indignation had only grown. The thought of Kayden’s arrogant, untouchable demeanor made his blood boil even more. He was determined to exact revenge. The humiliation of being bested by an outsider was unbearable-if he didn’t get his revenge, how could he hold his head high in the future?
But Ryder knew he wasn’t a match for Grant Rocco, who had backed the man. So, he turned to his father for help. If Gavin would only lend him Wolf to handle the situation, that outsider would surely meet his end.
Gavin glared at Ryder and snorted. “Your cousin got married, and you didn’t even show up. I was beginning to think you’d died somewhere out there. Turns out you’re still alive after all.”
Ryder retorted, “Father! What does her marriage have to do with me? Have you forgotten how she used to bully me? She’s always looked down on me with her nose in the air. Why would she expect me to come back just because she’s getting married?”
“Smack!” Before Ryder could say another word, Gavin stood up and slapped him hard across the face.
The blow sent Ryder stumbling backward, collapsing onto the floor.
“You useless brat!” Gavin roared, pointing a finger at him. “You’re an absolute failure! I can’t believe I fathered such a worthless son. I’ve built my legacy with my own hands, and yet it’s all going to be ruined by someone as shortsighted and petty as you!”
“How do you expect to accomplish anything significant with such a small-minded attitude? How do you expect to inherit my empire in the future?” Gavin’s voice was thunderous as he lashed out, punctuating his words with two swift kicks to Ryder’s injured leg.
Ryder howled in pain, clutching his injury as tears streamed down his face. “Father, please! Just help me this time! I swear, if you help me now, I’ll listen to everything you say from now on!” Ryder begged, his voice full of desperate indignation.
Gavin raised his hand to strike again, but Oliver Prescott stepped forward and stopped him. “Master Gavin, let it go! The Young Master’s stubbornness is clearly inherited from you. If he didn’t have this vengeful streak, he wouldn’t be fit to take charge of the family in the future.”
Ryder glanced at Oliver Prescott, feeling a surge of gratitude. Prescott’s words sounded reasonable-like he truly understood him.
Ryder nodded eagerly. “Yes, Father! I think Mr. Prescott is absolutely right!”
“And you still have the nerve to speak?” Gavin snapped, glaring at Ryder with fury.
Oliver Prescott chuckled and said, “Alright, Master Gavin, that’s enough. Let’s hear him out.” He stepped forward to block Gavin, turning his attention to Ryder. “Young Master, tell me-who dared to provoke you? Surely, with your influence, you should’ve been able to handle it yourself.”
In the Western Frontier, Ryder had a certain amount of sway. Normally, he wouldn’t need to involve his family in small matters. Gavin despised the idea of Ryder running home to him for help-it was the kind of behavior that Gavin found most contemptible.
If Ryder had come all the way home, it meant the issue wasn’t trivial.
Ryder fumed, “I could’ve handled it, but then Grant Rocco got involved and stopped me!”
At the mention of Grant Rocco, everyone froze.
The Rocco family was no trivial matter. If they were involved, the situation was indeed serious.
Seeing their reactions, Ryder continued, “If it weren’t for Grant Rocco, I wouldn’t have come to you for help!”
“Explain what happened,” Oliver Prescott demanded, his tone grave.
Ryder’s face twisted with anger as he recounted, “I was eating at a restaurant when two people walked in-a man and a woman. The woman was beautiful, and the man was plain-looking. I glanced at the woman a few times, and she kept giving me flirtatious looks, as if she was trying to seduce me.”
“I didn’t think much of it at first. I mean, she already had a boyfriend, so what was the point? But then, while the guy went to the restroom, she came over to me and asked for my contact information.”
“I didn’t want to make a scene in front of my friends, so I gave it to her. But as soon as the guy came back, she accused me of harassing her. We started arguing, and the guy attacked me-he stabbed my leg with chopsticks. He even threatened to kill me if I ever harassed his woman again!”
“I told him I was from the Walsh family, but he didn’t care. He said if the Walsh family crossed him, he’d come to our house and deal with us too.”
“I was furious and called some people to teach him a lesson. But before they could do anything, Grant Rocco showed up. He slapped me in the face and said that man was his master!”
“I… I’ve never been so humiliated in my life! Mr. Prescott, Father! I’m completely innocent in this! Is it a crime to be handsome? Is it my fault that I have so much charm?”
Ryder’s story, full of distortions and exaggerations, was clearly far from the truth. His ability to twist the narrative was impressive enough to write a novel.
“Smack!” Before Ryder could finish, Gavin slapped him again.
“Keep lying! You think I’m an idiot? You think I’m going to believe this nonsense? I’m your father, you little brat! Do you really think you can fool me?”
“I know exactly what kind of person you are. Don’t think for a second that I’ll fall for your lies!” Gavin growled.
Despite Ryder’s fabrications, Gavin fell silent after hitting him. He paused for a moment before turning to Oliver Prescott. “Mr. Prescott, what do you think?”