The military vehicle stopped in front of a slightly dilapidated small manor. From the overgrown weeds at the entrance and the rust creeping across the iron gate, it was clear that the owner of this estate had already fallen into decline.
Yago, Annie, and A-One stepped out of the vehicle. The soldier driving saluted, then drove away.
Yago frowned as he looked at Loya's ho in front of him. On the rusted iron gate, he spotted that familiar L-shaped emblem. He recalled having seen the sa mark on Loya before—apparently, it represented Loya's family.
While he was lost in thought, a group of people staggered toward the manor. Leading them was a blond young man wearing a high-collared outfit, his face pale. Perhaps because of that pallor, he gave off an overall impression of… weakness.
When the group arrived at Russell Manor, they also noticed Yago and the others standing at the entrance. The blond young man at the front looked surprised upon seeing Yago. He walked up to him, sizing him up from head to toe.
"Loya? You're back already?"
Yago looked at the unfamiliar face, then at the group behind him. A bad suspicion surfaced in his mind—he thought of the letter he had received at the front lines earlier.
"Kastner?"
Hearing Yago call his surna, the blond young man's pale face turned sowhat strange.
"What do you an? It's only been a little over two years, and you're already this distant? Loya, you used to call Harry all the ti."
"Speaking of…" the young man nad Harry glanced at Annie and A-One behind Yago, who were disguised. Their unusual facial features made Harry stare in disbelief. He looked back at Yago.
"Loya, what happened to you after two years in the army? Your taste got this weird? So desperate for won that you'd even go for this kind of…?"
"?"
The mont those words ca out, Annie and A-One's expressions changed instantly. Their fists clenched. If Yago hadn't stopped them, Harry would've paid for his loose tongue the next second.
"Harry? So what exactly are you here for? To take this manor as repaynt?"
Yago recalled the contents of the letter. It ntioned that Loya owed quite a lot of money, and that the Kastner family had threatened to seize his ancestral ho as compensation. Looking at the group Harry brought along, their intentions didn't seem friendly.
Hearing the guarded tone in Yago's voice, Harry showed a helpless expression. He stepped forward and patted Yago on the shoulder.
"Co on, Loya. So that's why you've been so cold? Hey, do you really not know what kind of person I am? We grew up together."
"Huh?"
Yago was stunned. Looking at Harry, whose face was full of sincerity and loyalty, he didn't know how to react. This… wasn't how things were supposed to go. According to the usual storyline, shouldn't it be the blind creditor Harry showing up aggressively to cause trouble and demand repaynt, only for the successful and triumphant Loya to slap him in the face? So what was going on now?
"That letter was written by my old man. You know what he's like—loves money more than his life. If he wants to send you a debt collection letter, how could I stop him? But don't worry, I already paid it off for you with my own savings. Don't thank —we're brothers, aren't we?"
Harry wrapped an arm around Yago's shoulders as he spoke enthusiastically.
"Then what about all these people you brought?"
"Huh? Oh, that?"
Harry scratched his head.
"I saw how ssy your place was, so I figured I'd bring so people to help clean it up. Who would've thought it'd be such a coincidence? You just happened to co back today."
As he spoke, Harry pulled Yago toward the manor. Still a bit dazed, Yago followed along. The people Harry brought let out a shout and began grabbing various tools from handcarts behind them before entering the manor—so pulling weeds, so picking up trash, others hauling bricks and mixing mortar, all working efficiently.
Annie and A-One exchanged a glance. Though they didn't understand what was happening, they still followed Yago.
As Harry walked with Yago, he kept chattering nonstop.
Looking enviously at the colonel insignia on Yago's uniform, he said in a slightly sour tone:
"Didn't expect it—you've really made it big now. A colonel, huh? Even my old man would probably look at you differently now. You're way more capable than your father ever was."
Yago gave a vague grunt in response. He knew nothing about Loya's past—what was he supposed to say?
But Harry seed like quite the chatterbox and kept talking.
"Loya, you're seriously lucky. Out of those nobles who enlisted with you, barely any made it back. I heard the train you were on got attacked by Middle Easterners—all those noble officers died. Their families still go to the Ministry of National Defense to make a scene from ti to ti."
As he spoke, Harry showed a lingering look of fear.
"Good thing my health was bad back then. Otherwise… I probably wouldn't have made it either. But you—how are you this lucky? I even thought you had died at the ti. My old man was about to sell your family's ancestral ho. Luckily, I stopped him."
"Who would've thought I'd later see you in the newspapers—you even beca a hero. After that, the old man insisted on writing to you."
Yago nodded stiffly. By now, they had reached the center of Russell Manor. A worn but still faintly grand villa stood before them.
Harry stepped forward and knocked on the door. Soon, a maid hurriedly opened it and bowed to him.
"Young Master Harry."
Harry nodded and asked, "How is Madam Russell doing?"
The maid spoke softly, "Not very well. The doctor said Madam Russell's body is too weak. Combined with this severe case of typhoid, even after taking dicine, her fever still hasn't gone down."
Harry turned to Yago.
"Do you want to go see your grandmother?"
The maid looked at Yago in surprise. So this was Young Master Harry's friend—the owner of this manor, Loya Russell? She had never seen him before, but then again, she wasn't originally from this manor. She had only been hired to take care of Madam Russell, so there was no need for her to concern herself with anything else.
The maid bowed, then stepped aside to make way. Yago and Harry entered together. Unlike the dilapidated exterior, the inside of the villa was spotless and well-organized—the maid Harry hired had clearly been very diligent.
The maid led them upstairs and showed them to Madam Russell's room. As they reached the door, a voice suddenly ca from inside, making Yago's entire body stiffen.
"Norman! Norman! My child, my child… Norman…"
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