Around six in the afternoon, Uncle Edwards picked up Charles Amos from Court Music Academy.
Seeing that several new cars had joined their convoy, Charles Amos, feeling somewhat anxious, asked, âGrandpa Edwards, has something happened again?â
âItâs because of the messages online,â said Uncle Edwards, holding on to Charlesâs hand, âThird Master is worried that someone might use you against miss, so he has placed some extra guards.â
Having seen the messages online, Charles frowned slightly at Edwardsâ words, âHas it not been resolved yet?â
âThird Master and miss know what theyâre doing.â Uncle Edwards helped Charles get into the car, âThe cars following us have been modified for performance but look ordinary. This keeps our profile low.â
âHmm.â
âDid you find your classes tiring today?â
âNot tiring. But todayâs song was kind of tough.â As Charles spoke, he looked outside at the passing city, âUncle Driver, are we taking Heriken Road today?â
âYes,â the driver responded.
âI want to buy coffee from the coffee shop across from the Night View Hotel,â Charles turned to Edwards, âSister Lily is visiting Clark Manor today. She really loves the coffee and desserts from there.â
âAlright,â Uncle Edwards said warmly, âIâll accompany you.â
The cars pulled over one by one into the parking spaces in front of the coffee shop.
Charles exited the car, opened the door for Uncle Edwards, and they then made their way toward the coffee shop together.
Just as they had arrived at the entrance of the coffee shop, an electric vehicle came hurtling toward them.
The vehicle was too fast and too close â it didnât leave either of them any time to react.
The guards of the Clark Family, who had confirmed the safety of the surroundings before they got out of the car, werenât close enough for a timely response.
No one had expected the danger to come from an electric vehicle.
Uncle Edwards, noticing the vehicle, instinctively hugged Charles and darted sideways. But, in his haste, he dodged in the wrong direction, placing them in the path of the vehicle.
The suddenness of it all terrified the bystanders; those who were closer intended to help, while the ones further off screamed in panic.
âGrandpa Edwards!â Charles yelled in distress.
The child driving the electric vehicle, gripped the handles tightly in fear, increasing the speed of the vehicle with his crying.
Uncle Edwards shielded Charles, thinking to himself: Weâre done for. If we fall and get crushed, weâd be bedridden for at least a month.
But the expected collision didnât occur.
The electric vehicle was stopped. The child on the vehicle was hoisted up, and Uncle Edwards was steadied.
Uncle Edwards regained his footing, neglecting everything else, he first checked on Charles.
âGrandpa Edwards! Are you hurt anywhere?â a worried Charles asked urgently.
âIâm alright. Iâm okay,â Edwards answered, relieved that Charles was unharmed. He glanced at the electric vehicle lying at his feet, then turned to the man who was holding the child, âThank you, sir.â
The man was wearing a duckbill cap. His head bowed low, only his chin and thin lips were visible. On hearing Edwards, he shook his head gently, then turned a little to comfort the child in his arms.
Charles, held by Uncle Edwards, watched the man intently.
âSir, I am deeply grateful for your actions today,â Uncle Edwards continued his gratitude.
Without speaking, the man kept shaking his head.
It wasnât until the mother of the child came running over that Uncle Edwards ceased his thanks.
The woman witnessed the entire incident and was desperately rushing towards them. She had left the electric vehicle unattended while she was talking to someone and the child had gone back inside the vehicle.
Upon noticing the child had wandered off, she immediately gave chase. But, the accident still happened.
She took the child from the man, apologized profusely, and seeing the large number of bodyguards at the scene, she got all the more anxious.
Setting Charles down, Uncle Edwards didnât say much, only advising, âBe more careful next time. With the child being so small, getting hurt would cause pain for the child and also heartache for the parents.â
Though there were many onlookers, the Clark Family bodyguards managed to clear the crowd.
The woman, holding her crying child, kept apologizing.
The man in the duckbill cap was about to leave.
But as he took a step, his sportswear was tugged at.
He looked down, to see Charlesâs little hand gripping it tightly.
Charlesâs grip tightened.
Seeing this, Uncle Edwards assumed that Charles wanted to thank the man and told the woman a few words before sending her away.
The Clark Family bodyguards even helped the woman upright the electric vehicle, and escorted them for a while.
âSir, I truly canât thank you enough for today,â Uncle Edwards offered his business card, âThis is my contact information. Please donât hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything. Orâ¦â
âGrandpa Edwards,â Charles suddenly interrupted Uncle Edwards, âI saw his face.â
Uncle Edwards was taken aback.
Charles was very understand, and empathetic.
The man was clearly wearing a duckbill cap because he didnât want anyone to see his face.
So Edwards didnât immediately figure out what Charles was saying.
As the man was about to leave, Charles tightened his grip,â You canât leave. The more you try to, the guiltier you look!â
Charles had pulled his clothes out of shape before saying, âGrandpa Edwards. He looks just like Jack Amos!â
Man: Damn this kidâs eyesight.
âWhat?â Uncle Edwards asked.
âHe looks just like Jack Amos,â Charles repeated his words.
Uncle Edwards froze. He was there when Edward Kirsten killed Jack Amos.
âYouâre not leaving.â Charles pulled hard at his clothes, âEveryone here works for me, so you canât escape! Have you heard of the Imperial City Clark Family? Even if you run, weâll catch you.â
Man:
âMy momâs really powerful, sheâll find you in no time,â Charles stated.
The man gave up on the idea of running, and looked down at Charles.
He had just seen them walk into the store and had originally planned to leave. But then he saw the electric vehicle charging towards the two of them.
Without giving it another thought, he put on his hat and ran out.
He didnât anticipate this little brat being so observant.
If he escaped today, the Clarks and Enigma Starry would scour the entire Imperial Capital for him tomorrow.
Rather than that, it would be better to bribe this little terror.
âIâm not running. Letâs talk about it in the store,â said the man.
Wilton Edwards looked stunned, but upon hearing that familiar voice, his pupils still trembled.
The Clarks were keeping watch outside the coffee shop, while the three of them went inside.
Once the man had entered the shop, he removed his hat. Upon seeing his face, Wilton Edwards began to tremble a little.
âYou, youâ¦â he stuttered.
âUncle Wilton, I didnât die.â Jack Amos smiled slightly.
Charles Amos looked at him, his little eyebrows gradually raising.
âYou, but youâ¦â Wilton Edwards was too shocked to finish his sentence.
âI guess I just have a knack for survival.â Jack Amos said.
Twice he had been reported dead, but both times he hadnât.
âWhy are you staring at me like that?â Jack Amos looked at Charles Amos.
Charles crossed his arms and glared at him, âMom missed you. She really, really missed you. But you chose to hide away.â
âI had something to do,â Jack Amos said.
âWhat?!ââ
âI canât say.â
Charles Amos narrowed his eyes, âLiar. Youâre making excuses!â
Jack Amos squinted back at him, âIs this how you talk to me?â
Charles Amos lost a bit of his bluster.
âYou little brat,â Jack Amos replied.
Charles Amos stared at him, considered his words, and chose not to refute them.
Seeing that he had quieted down, Jack Amos turned to Wilton Edwards, âDonât tell Enigma Starry⦠or I guess now you should call her Daisy. Donât tell her yet.â
âWhy not? The young lady would be overjoyed to hear that youâre aliveâ Wilton Edwards said.
âI still have a few things to handle,â Jack Amos explained, âShe has a lot on her plate. Letâs not give her more to worry about. When the time comes, Iâll see her.â
Wilton Edwards felt that Jack Amos was trying to hint at something.
It was as if he didnât know if he would survive, so he didnât want to let her know and cause her to grieve again.
âUncle Wilton, we all want her to be happy, right?â Jack Amos continued.
Wilton Edwards looked at him for a moment, and after a while, he nodded, âFair enough. You should see her when the time comes.â
âAlright.â Having resolved one issue, Jack Amos turned to the other. âYou are not allowed to say anything either.â
âWhy not?â Charles Amos asked, a touch of arrogance in his tone.
Jack Amos looked at him. This little troublemaker was as difficult to deal with as a certain person had been when they were a child.
âDonât you want mom to be happy?â
Charles didnât say anything, tacitly conceding the point.
âIf you want mom to be happy, then you wonât say anything.â
âWhy not?â Charles asked again.
Jack Amos:
Jack Amos: âNever you mind what adults have to do.â
âOh, okay then.â Charles agreed.
âJust make sure you do as you say,â Jack Amos warned.
âMmhm,â Charles replied softly.
âGood,â Jack Amos said, âGo tell the waiter what youâd like to drink.â
âAre you treating?â Charles asked.
âMmhm. Iâll treat.â
Charles immediately went to order something. He stood at the ordering desk and pointed out what he wanted to eat and drink.
Then he turned to look at Jack Amos, who was still talking to Uncle Wilton.
Various memories suddenly resurfaced in his mind.
Like how a certain cell phone back at home would regularly receive updates on his whereabouts.
Considering the content of the texts on the phone, Charles accessed the chat box of Charlotte Lane with a few taps.
Charlotte Lane had just finished an experiment with Kevin Clark when she received the message.
Her phone was flooded with messages due to something that happened online,
but Charlesâ message stood out right away.
Charles sent her a location.
Followed by two characters: [Come immediately.]