Chapter 4: Returning Home

Port of Cyprus—this was the largest port and third-largest city in the entire Kingdom of Nicosia. Located at the tip of the Labrador Peninsula, known as the Corner of the Abyssal Sea, it bordered the Pale Blue Sea—the Abyssal Sea—that separated the Continent of Azure from the Continent of Vastness. Called the Pearl of the Abyssal Sea, its advantageous location and favorable natural environment fostered exceptional prosperity in commerce and industry. The Murray River, which ran from west to east through the western part of the Continent of Azure, flowed past the south of the city of Cyprus before emptying into the Abyssal Sea, making Cyprus a prime port with access to both sea and river routes. It was also the capital of the Homer Region, which had long been the fiefdom of Nicosia’s prominent families, notably the House of Grand Duke Philip. The Philip family had controlled this region for two centuries, and due to long-term intermarriage with the royal family, most of its members now carried royal blood.

Watching the merchant ships drift downstream and gradually approach the shore, the color of the river water shifting from cool to bluer, reed beds stretching for miles along the banks swayed in the wind from east to west, exuding a gentle charm. They were nearing the sea. Influenced by tides and gravity, slightly saltier seawater flowed back into the river mouth, giving the water a faint salty taste. As the cool breeze blew, one could even see a few beautiful seagulls following the fresh sea breeze from the depths of the Abyssal Sea inland. Their clear, melodious cries signaled to those returning from afar and those arriving for the first time that the beautiful and prosperous city of Cyprus had been reached.

The young man awkwardly shifted his position slightly away from those who cast disapproving glances at him. Although the faint smell of sweat was barely noticeable, it still disgusted his highly sensitive traveling companions. The clothes he wore hadn’t been changed in days—not because he lacked the chance, but because he had no other clothes to change into. Firstly, there was no time to disembark while traveling by boat, and secondly, an indescribable sense of unease made him feel that staying on the boat might be the safest option.

It was an utterly ordinary single-masted sailing ship designed for both passengers and cargo. The front half was generally used to carry goods and necessities, while the back half could be adapted as needed—providing simple beds for passengers when there were any, or converted back into a cargo hold when no passengers were around. It was extremely convenient and flexible, and such ships were very common on the Murray River and its nearby coastal waters. After three days and nights at sea, as they neared Cyprus Port, the young man finally shed that lingering sense of discomfort and settled down, sleeping soundly on the hard wooden bed.

Looking at the bustling dock filled with people and ships, the young man felt somewhat confused. Was this really his home? The tax office and the customs enforcement station in front of the dock hadn’t changed at all, seemingly no different from when he had left in shame three years ago. Yet something seemed different too—though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what.

He lazily jumped off the ship, casting one last resentful glance at the single-masted vessel that had accompanied him for days. Such a rickety ship had charged him three gold shields. If it weren’t for fear that the Rema Knights might return and find him, he would never have boarded this exploitative ship.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but glance at what was in his arms. Thanks to his keen senses, he was certain the Rema Knights had returned to their original location after leaving him behind. The spiritual detection technique he had set up there wasn’t very useful, but it was highly accurate—his mind would immediately sense any movement. Someone had disturbed that area in such a short time; aside from the Rema Knights, there could be no one else. Their goal in returning must be the corpse he wanted to cultivate. So what was their ultimate purpose in searching for it? Were they trying to cover up something? Could there really be some unknown, huge secret hidden in that corpse?

But right now, he didn’t have much energy to ponder these questions. He would think about them once he got home. Taking a deep breath of the fishy air at the dock, the young man thought, “Cyprus, my home—I’m back!”

Seeing butler Sanders leading in a disheveled man, the young man, dressed in his robust knightly armor and with his silver-wrapped bullhide whip neatly retracted in his hand, carefully examined the somewhat familiar man as he entered.

“Sanders, what does this guy do?” Frowning, the young knight couldn’t immediately recognize who this man before him was, so he asked in a deep voice. The ragged-clad youth glanced sideways at the man standing atop the steps, still looking the same, his cold gaze making the knight on the steps recognize him right away: “Comer! It’s you!”
“Yes, it’s me. Surprised?” The ragged-clad youth’s lips twitched slightly as he replied with a mocking smile and a tilted head.
“Hmph! You’re still the same, unchanged at all. Where have you been for three years?” The young knight’s initially excited mood cooled down instantly upon seeing that annoying smirk on the other man’s face, and his expression returned to its usual composure.
“Where have I been? Weren’t you the ones who told me to go and hide for two years? It’s already been three years—I even exceeded the deadline by a year. I guess there shouldn’t be any problems now, right?” The tattered youth carelessly scanned the courtyard around him. “Heh, it seems our father has had a good harvest in his territory these past two years. Even the inside and outside of the walls have been well taken care of. It seems my absence really brought good luck to our father.”
Frowning deeply, the young knight straightened his sturdy frame slightly. “Comer, how can you speak like that? Haven’t three years of wandering taught you any manners or rules? Father has gone to the grand duke’s palace and will be back soon. I hope you’ll be careful with your words when he returns, so as not to anger him!”
Seeing that his worthless half-brother was still so unruly and dissolute, the young knight felt frustrated. How could the Lessor family produce such a scoundrel? Descendants of servants would always remain lowly, and even though he had inherited noble blood, that reality couldn’t be changed.
He sighed inwardly. His usually wise and decisive father’s moment of indulgence after drinking had created such a worthless scoundrel, which he found hard to accept. Over these three years, the Lessor family had earned the grand duke’s approval thanks to his own efforts, and their reputation had gradually improved. But with this guy’s return, all the hard work his father and he had put in might be ruined. Yet, since he shared the same father and was also part of the Lessor family, he couldn’t say much as the eldest legitimate son. He could only wait for his father to return to decide what to do about him.

Seeing his self-righteous elder speak in such a manner, the ragged young man sneered slightly: “Don’t worry, I won’t anger Father. He probably wouldn’t want to see me either. I think I’d better stay quietly in the backyard.” With a disdainful glance at his lazy-looking counterpart, the young knight said coldly, “Stay quietly? I doubt you can do that. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have fled Cyprus with your tail between your legs! Do you know how much blame Father has taken on for you? If you still consider yourself a member of the Resser family, I hope you’ll stop doing anything that damages our family’s reputation!” “A member of the Resser family? Heh, such a glorious and noble status is beyond my capacity. Conan, I suppose only you are fit for this sacred role in everyone’s eyes. If I could bear such a status, I wouldn’t have had to run away three years ago.” The ragged young man shrugged nonchalantly, but his expression darkened unnaturally, clearly as the other had touched the deepest, most painful part of his heart. Seeing the two brothers about to engage in a heated argument full of insults, the butler Sanders, who had remained silent until then, stepped in to stop the impending clash and forcibly pulled the ragged young man—Cormer Resser, the illegitimate second son of the Resser family—away from the front yard. Taking a deep breath, Cormer stood in the quiet courtyard, gazing silently at the blue sky.