"Come on, dear. Cut some slack for our son-in-law, would you?" the lady uttered gently.
The woman had long golden-blonde hair, fair skin, and a graceful figure with a motherly air.
It was clear Reva had inherited most of her mother's genes. Because they looked almost identical. Like an older version of Reva.
Draven heard the term son-in-law and growled:
"Since when did he become our son-in-law? I haven't approved of this relationship yet. I will never accept this loser as my daughter's husband, not even if his grandfather comes to ask for her hand in marriage!"
"Like I care, you fool. She is still my slave," Vahn snickered inwardly.
The lady giggled. "My, my… Please calm down, dear. He's just about begin his path as a Hero. How can you say he'll always stay the same? Don't forget how shy you were when you were little."
Draven's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "Don't compare me to him. At least I wasn't a coward like him," he retorted.
"I know, I know... Just give him some time," she added gently.
"Hmph… We'll see about that. The Awakening is in three days. Then we'll know his true worth."
Draven harrumphed and walked inside.
"Th-thank you, Aunty. He's really scary…" Vahn said, looking gratefully at Reva's mother.
Seeing his timid expression, she simply smiled.
"Hehe… You're still calling me Aunty? Try switching to Mother-in-law as soon as possible. And don't mind his rude behavior."
Vahn scratched his head, embarrassed. "I'll try, Aunty. And Uncle isn't at fault. I understand that every father wants the best for his daughter. So I'll do my best to become that person. I promise."
Reva watched his performance in stunned silence. His acting was flawless. If only those words were true, how wonderful that would be.
But she knew better. He wasn't the same Davis. He was now a vengeful monster in human skin.
But her mother didn't know that.
So she looked pleased.
"Great! I'll look forward to that day, son-in-law. Would you like to come inside and have something to eat? Afterward, I'll have someone escort you home," she offered with a warm smile.
However, Vahn politely declined the invitation.
"I'm sorry, Aunty. Maybe another time. Uncle doesn't seem to be in a good mood, and I don't want to bother him any further."
"Aww, see how thoughtful you are, Davis." She turned to Reva with a smile and added,
"You've chosen the right person, Reva."
At her mother's enthusiasm, Reva could only force a smile.
Afterward, Vahn took a ground vehicle—similar to a car—and set off toward his own residence.
Before leaving, he cast one last glance at Reva, cold and sharp, silently warning her to behave if she wanted to live.
To him, she was nothing more than a pet. A tool to use whenever he saw fit.
He was escorted by two bodyguards, one of whom served as the driver.
Sitting alone in the back seat, he watched through the window as the people outside moved on with their peaceful daily lives.
His gaze remained distant, as if caught in a memory.
Once, he too had known happiness. A family. Comrades he could trust. And her—the one who had been his anchor.
But all of it had crumbled into dust.
Now, there was nothing left but a hollow void inside his chest.
After thirty minutes, the car came to a halt before a grand mansion.
One of the guards stepped forward and opened the door. Vahn exited calmly.
He glanced at the mansion with a faint, almost ironic smile. It was large enough to house several families comfortably.
This was Davis' home. He had everything here. A father, mother, sister, grandparents; but none of them belonged to Vahn.
Still, it would serve as the perfect disguise. A safe haven to continue his operations, all while staying under everyone's radar.
At the entrance gate, two guards observed him with mild surprise.
"The young master's back… but something's different about him," one murmured.
"Brother, any guess what happened to him?" he asked.
"I'm not sure. He disappeared for five days. Something must've happened during that time. He looks... changed."
"Yeah, he seems a bit taller. More muscular too. At this rate, he's gonna become a lady killer."
"He must've taken the Super Serum. That explains it."
"But doesn't that strain a person's potential?"
The older guard shook his head. "Not if you've got a special physique. Word is, he has a Scarred Mana Physique."
"Really? Then maybe... just maybe, Master Blackwell will finally have a worthy successor for the Hades Mercenary Group."
"Who knows? Now it all depends on the Mana Core he gets."
On the other hand:
As soon as Vahn took his first step into the garden, a few maids gasped in surprise.
One of them darted down the hallway, shouting:
"Madam! He is back! The young master is back!"
"Master, Young Master Davis has returned!"
"Quick, inform everyone."
The mansion hall erupted into sudden chaos.
But despite all the exclamations, Vahn calmly walked into the main hall.
The place was lit with warm golden lamps, adorned with chandeliers and intricate ornaments that shimmered gently in the air.
In the drawing room, he was met by a crowd of people lounging on couches.
Their expressions shifted quickly from curiosity to confusion, then settling into suspicion.
The reason was clear.
His physique had changed.
They overlooked his plain black shirt and trousers, instead scrutinizing everything else: his stance, his aura, the sharpened edge to his features; things that couldn't be explained by time alone.
Vahn's expression was neither too calm nor too timid.
He met their gazes as he always had. But when it came to the elders, his eyes remained lowered.
The rules of the Blackwell family were strict. Filial piety and unwavering respect for one's seniors were the foundation of their traditions.
Present in the hall were Davis' father, his grandparents, two uncles, their wives, and several of his cousins.
From this lineup alone, it was clear that they had assembled for a thorough inspection.
Vahn's gaze shifted to the doorway, expectant. Waiting.
And then, with the whistle of a breeze cutting through the hall, they finally arrived.
A voice rang out, light yet firm, laced with fondness:
"Dave, you've finally returned! I missed you very much, little brother!"