Chapter 1 I'm Back

The autumn wind whistled through the streets, marking the arrival of fall in Fregend. Pedestrians moved in small clusters, hurriedly tightening their coats and hunching their shoulders against the chill, their footsteps brisk and purposeful. Amidst it all, a young man, dressed plainly, stood out. Around 6 feet tall and just over 20 years old, he strolled unhurriedly along the streets blanketed with golden maple leaves. From time to time, he furrowed his brows, smiled, or paused to take in his surroundings, appearing unique and independent. Despite his plain attire, the young man carried an indescribable aura that gave off a mysterious vibe. His features were well-defined, and beneath his sharp eyebrows were a pair of bright eyes with a hint of sharpness, deep and unfathomable. As he walked, the young man shook his head and muttered to himself, "Three years ... Fregend is still the same old Fregend, but I, Ryan Howell, am no longer the man I once was. I'm back. The Kanes, are you ready? And you, Abigail ... " Beep, beep, beep ... The sound of a car horn rang out. A taxi pulled up beside Ryan. Behind the wheel sat a man well past middle age, his receding hairline forming a noticeable bald patch. Thick glasses perched on his nose, and a lit cigarette dangled from his fingers as he tapped off some ash. He looked at Ryan. "Where are you going, young man?" Ryan paused for a moment, then smiled warmly and brightly. "The Kanes Residence." It had been three years since the old man had saved him. Since then, most of his days had been spent in the solitude of the mountains. Occasionally, the old man would send him down the mountain to treat people, but only in a few places like Aetheria or Demonia. He had never returned to Fregend, until now. Fregend was no longer the same. The Howell family was a thing of the past, and he had no home to return to. So why not go straight to the Kanes? Revenge waits for no one, does it? "The Kanes? That Kanes?" The middle-aged driver raised an eyebrow, surprised. After all, the Kanes were a prominent name in Fregend. "So, you're a distant relative of the Kanes? On your way to Mr. Joel's wedding? It's not exactly nearby, and with the traffic, it'll take about an hour." Ryan opened the car door and got in. "A wedding? Joel and Abigail's?" The middle-aged driver started the car and glanced at Ryan through the rearview mirror. "Kid, be careful how you speak. Mr. Joel and Ms. Xander are names we don't just mention casually." Ryan smiled but didn't reply. However, a cold, penetrating chill flashed in his eyes, so intense it seemed as if it could freeze everything. That coldness tugged at his memories, pulling him back to three years ago. Three years ago, the Howells were the undisputed top family in Fregend, a true powerhouse. The Howells nearly monopolized Fregend's shipping, fishing, and glass industries. At their peak, their assets exceeded ten billion. At that time, the Kanes were a small, third- or fourth-tier family in Fregend, merely distant relatives of the Howells. Because of this distant connection, the Howells had always looked out for the Kanes. Ryan had known Joel Kane since childhood. They attended the same private elementary school and were even seat mates. After graduating high school, Joel skipped college and went straight to work at the Kanes' company to gain experience. Because of his lack of experience, Joel was tricked and made a huge mistake in business, resulting in a loss of 60 million in funds that he needed to pay back in a short time. The Kanes couldn't come up with this amount! In the end, Ryan turned to his father, pleading for the money. His father provided the 60 million to help Joel out of the crisis. That same year, Joel organized a company trip, a team-building retreat, to Firesoul Mountain on the outskirts of Fregend. True to his nature, Joel didn't opt for the usual, well-traveled routes. Instead, he chose a secluded trail on the mountain's less-frequented backside. As a result, the group got lost halfway up, and Joel, in a stroke of bad luck, ended up wandering off and getting separated. When the news reached the Kanes, it felt like the sky had fallen. Desperate, they turned to the Howells for help, crying and pleading. The Howells, however, weren't willing to get involved, as it was troublesome. Once again, it was Ryan who, shouldering the weight of the entire Howell family's pressure, devoted considerable time, effort, and money to the rescue. He arranged for more than ten helicopters and over a hundred drones to search the back of Firesoul Mountain. In the end, after three days of searching, they found Joel near a massive boulder on a cliff, half-starved and barely clinging to life. In short, he considered Joel a brother, a friend he'd trust with his life! It was that absolute trust in Joel that led to the events of three years ago. That night, as a freshman in college, Ryan took time out of his schedule to represent the Howells in a business negotiation with Violet Fyre, the heir to the Fyres of Aetheria. Because the 19-year-old Ryan was participating in the family business for the first time, he was very cautious and well-prepared. The meeting went smoothly. In the teahouse, Ryan and Violet sat across from each other, discussing business while enjoying tea. The conversation was pleasant, and they quickly reached an agreement. Although Joel wasn't there that evening, the teahouse had been arranged and reserved by him. With his early entry into the business world, Joel was familiar with all the key spots in Fregend—teahouses, cafés, and restaurants commonly used for business meetings. It made sense for Ryan to rely on him for the arrangements.