"Apologies, Noble Joe, we don't have any information regarding Dan."

"I'm really sorry, but we have no details about Dan. I hope this won't affect our relationship with your household, sir."

After more than two years, Joe found himself in Eldoria City at his father's mansion, sporting dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep.

A young child took small steps toward him, barely a two years old, laughing as he hugged Joe, happily murmuring, "Jo! Jo! Jo!"

Joe smiled warmly and lifted the child into the air, saying, "Jogo, I've missed you, brother!"

Jogo laughed as he hugged Joe and began playfully biting his nose, pulling Joe's hair while giggling. Joe smiled warmly, carefully holding onto Jogo to ensure he didn't fall from his arms.

"I apologize, Noble Joe!"

A maid approached Joe, bowing slightly as she spoke. "He wanted to see you. I understand you've just returned from your journey, so I can take him now."

Joe shook his head gently. "No, Ebe, go rest. You look tired."

Opi smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Noble Joe."

Joe then said firmly: "And stop bowing and calling me Noble Joe! We are friends and your mother Lyra is like a mother me, it is weird to see you do that!"

Ebe smiled as she responded: "Sorry, I have to do this as per tradition but I will try not to with you, alright?"

Joe nodded as carried Jogo in his arms towards the door when Ebe called out, "Joe?"

Turning to her, Joe listened as she said earnestly, "You're a good man, Joe. Please don't let the world defeat you. Please!"

Joe nodded, touched by her words though unsure of their origin. He smiled gently and reassured her, "Of course, Ebe. Always."

Ebe nodded back, noticing Joe's weary expression that seemed to darken with each visit. Despite this, she wished him all the happiness in the world.

Later, Joe played with Jogo and enjoyed their time outdoors. Eventually, Joe carried Jogo and they strolled through the streets of Eldoria City. Jogo marvelled at the new sights, clutching onto Joe's hair, knowing his embrace was the safest place he'd known.

After a few minutes, they passed by a candy shop and Jogo pointed excitedly at the array of candies, exclaiming, "Jo! Jo!"

Joe smiled warmly and replied, "Of course, anything for my little brother, anything!"

"Sorry, as the Adventurers Guild of Daekrahm City, we currently have no information about Dan. We will contact you personally once we obtain any, sir."

It was night time at the Adventurers Guild tavern in Roxana. Joe sat at a table, waiting for his dinner, while his guard kept watch over him, drinking nearby. The black circles under Joe’s eyes became clearer due to his lack of sleep, but this time he felt a sense of despair following him. He was more frustrated, though he didn’t show it, and it was taking a toll on his peace of mind and his ability to control his rage.

Two years had passed with no news of Dan. Joe was sipping on a cup of expensive tea when a woman approached him, smiling. She sat down beside him and said, "Handsome, why don't you buy this lady a drink?"

Joe glanced at her briefly before responding, "Chef! When will my dinner be ready? I'm hungry!"

The chef nodded hurriedly, "Sir Joe, it's coming! Apologies for the delay!"

The woman was visibly irritated by Joe's dismissal, but she quickly masked it with a smile. "How about we go to a private inn? Just you and me," she suggested, winking.

Joe looked at her calmly and replied, "Ma'am, I'm not interested. Please go bother someone else."

With a sigh of annoyance, the woman stood up and left Joe to enjoy his dinner, which had just been served.

Joe muttered to himself, "Not the first whore and certainly not the last. I have a reputation to uphold, and I'm not some lust-driven animal."

Joe then looked at the letter he was holding and smiled—a warm yet melancholic smile. He had read it many times, and it warmed his heart each time. He opened it again and read: "Joe, my son, I am happy to inform you before anyone else that you now have a sister, Ilana. As your mother, I expect you to finish your business and come visit us! I jest, but please do come, Joe. I miss you, as does Jogo! If you have time, come say hello to your sister and your father. We all miss you, even Agatha and Urien, though he doesn’t show it!"

Joe smiled tiredly as he read the final part: "You have a family; never forget that! Evangeline, your mother."

"Thank you, Noble Joe, for purchasing our unique pets. I'm delighted to fulfil any requests you may have, and rest assured, it will remain our secret. Only those involved should know."

A year later, Joe found himself in Oria city's prison, having brutally attacked a local guard with the guard's own iron shield in a bloody altercation that became the talk of the town for days.

Joe now bore darker circles under his eyes, looking more despondent than ever. Filled with anger, he occasionally punched the cell walls. Despite being just 16 years old, he was tall and possessed a strong, muscular build, honed from his life as a merchant, which had kept him physically robust and resilient over time.

After a day, Joe was released upon paying his way out of prison. As he walked out of his cell, a fellow inmate glanced at him and remarked, "Just because you're nobility, you think you can get away with anything. I heard what you did! He was a good man!"

Joe looked at the prisoner and replied firmly, "The nobility rejects me for my commoner background, and you, deep shit, reject me for being noble, yet all my wealth is the result of my hard work."

The prisoner fell silent as Joe added mockingly, "I suppose I don't belong to either of your worlds. Call me an outcast."

A week later, Joe arrived in Eldoria City urgently summoned by his father, who had sent him a letter to return home immediately.

Joe entered the mansion and immediately noticed the preparations for Eldoria's annual festival. Inside the hall and beneath the balustrade balcony, a large table adorned with fruits and cakes caught his eye. The maids, along with Agatha and Evangeline, were busy with excitement as they ensured the table was laden with everything one could desire.

After a quick survey of the festivities, Joe made his way to his father's office where he waited. He knocked and entered, finding Jeffrey and Urien in discussion. They paused upon his entry, and Jeffrey spoke with a serious expression, "Please, have a seat. We need to talk."

Joe replied, taking the seriousness in Jeffrey's tone seriously, "I came here from Oria City, so I know it's important. What is it?"

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Joe sat down, waiting for either Jeffrey or Urien to speak. They exchanged glances before Urien spoke up, his tone serious. "I heard you beat a guard nearly to death. Care to explain?"

Joe met Urien's gaze squarely and replied bluntly, "He said things I shouldn't repeat in front of you, so I beat him up. Is there a problem?"

Urien's anger flared at Joe's nonchalant response. His voice became more aggressive as he retorted, "You beat up a damn guard with his own shield, and that's all you have to say?"

Joe maintained his calm demeanour as he looked directly at Urien, who now noticed the intensity in Joe's dark eyes. "Yes, and what's your point?" Joe responded evenly.

Urien fell silent for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "You've tarnished the Gostave name. People will talk..."

"People will always talk, so what?" Joe interrupted Urien, his tone firm. "Do you ever step outside this house, Urien? Do you hear the tales told in taverns about how nobility behave? What I did is nothing compared to the wild and outrageous stories people tell. He disrespected me, and I dealt with it, plain and simple, as we Gostaves always do."

Urien's anger simmered, and he stepped closer to Joe, his voice low and intense. "Established noble houses may have their titles, but they lack the respect you have and earned. Even with all this, the Gostave name is still new among the nobility, and people will seize any opportunity to besmirch it."

Jeffrey listened intently, his gaze fixed on Joe's empty, hollow eyes. Joe, seemingly unaffected by Urien's words, appeared annoyed.

Joe stared back at Urien and retorted, "Don't you ever tire of all the bullshit you spot every day, Urien?"

Urien was shocked as Jeffrey stood up, and Urien struggled to comprehend Joe's words. He turned to Joe, who wore an annoyed expression, and started to say, "Urien, this is...."

But before he could finish, Urien slapped Joe across the face in frustration, shouting, "BECAUSE THE NOBLES ARE WAITING FOR YOUR FATHER TO DIE, TO FAIL, TO MAKE A MISTAKE SO THEY SATISFY THEIR EGO! JOE, WHAT THE...."

In a swift move, Joe kicked Urien in the groin, sending him collapsing to his knees in agony. Jeffrey watched in shock, rendered speechless.

With eyes filled with anger, Joe glared at Urien and spat out, "YOU SCUMBAG!"

Joe gripped the chair he had been sitting on and swung it at Urien's face. Blood splattered as Urien fell to the ground, clutching his head.

Joe stood up, only to be shoved to the ground by Jeffrey. Joe got to his feet swiftly, incredulous. "You too?"

Jeffrey couldn't find words, watching Joe as he stormed out.

Suddenly, Urien retaliated, pushing Joe's head against the door frame. He shouted angrily, pinning Joe in place, "YOU DAMN KID! DON'T DESTROY WHAT YOUR FATHER HAS BUILT!"

Joe shouted in anger as he pulled his head back and forcefully headbutted Urien, who stepped back, letting go of Joe. Staggered, Urien quickly exited the office. Jeffrey moved to follow, but Joe slammed the door shut and broke the lock, trapping Jeffrey inside.

Jeffrey tugged at the handle in a futile attempt to open the door. On the other side, Urien gripped the balcony railing as Joe approached.

Fury contorted Joe's face. He seized Urien's head in a brutal grip and slammed it against the rough stone balcony. Blood erupted from the impact, staining the surface. With a raw shout, Joe grabbed Urien's face. "You're dead!" he roared. "This ends now!"

Urien managed to free his left arm and landed a punch on Joe, causing him to stagger back. Seizing the opportunity, Urien grabbed Joe and pinned him against the wall, his voice raised in urgency. "Your father is an outcast! This world is unforgiving, but we must move forward! We need to keep our heads down and help our friends, our families. Don't destroy everything, Joe! Please............son!"

Joe's anger burned inside him, he gazed at the wall and talked with a calm voice tinged with pain. "The same nobility that let my mother die? The same nobility that valued a damn cave more than a village?"

Joe shouted in anger and forcefully thrust his fingers into Urien's eyes.

Urien screamed in agony, releasing his grip on Joe and collapsing to his knees. His cries echoed through the mansion, drawing the attention of nearby maids and guards stationed at the entrance.

Agatha rushed forward, shouting. "Urien!"

Urien struggled near the stairs, attempting to stand. Joe, standing over him, spoke with intense rage. "I'll never bow to nobility or follow their corrupt rules. In my world, it's my rules or nothing."

Jeffrey finally managed to break down the door of his office. As he turned around, he was met with a scene of chaos—the guards rushing in, maids screaming in panic, and Agatha and Evangeline running up the stairs.

Time seemed to slow down as Jeffrey pivoted back toward Joe and Urien. In a moment of horror, he shouted, "NOOOO!"

Joe pulled Urien and threw him from the balcony railing, sending him crashing onto the table below with a loud, bone-crunching impact.

"BAMMM!"

The table shattered into pieces upon impact, and Urien lay unconscious amidst the broken shards, blood pooling around him on the ground.

As Agatha and Evangeline dashed towards Urien, one guard rushed to his aid, while the other scrambled up the stairs to apprehend Joe, who, with a steely gaze, met his approach. "You too?" Joe challenged.

The guard closed in, but Joe swiftly retaliated with a forceful headbutt, seizing the guard's face and forcefully meeting it against the wall. Locking eyes with his assailant, Joe bellowed, "YOU TOO!"

In that intense moment, Jeffrey intervened, descending upon Joe with a punch to the face. Remarkably, Joe stood firm, his eyes alight with anger as he addressed his father, "You too?"

Jeffrey was at a loss, staring at Joe who spoke with a venomous tone: "My mother died, and her killer, Dan—DAN THE CURSED—is out there, living it up, sleeping with women, drinking wine. And you? Have you forgotten her?"

Jeffrey remained silent as Joe, seething with anger, continued: "She died protecting me, protecting others, and you've forgotten her, abandoned any thought of revenge. What kind of men are you?"

Jeffrey's heart felt pierced by Joe's words. He had never forgotten Beatrice, never replaced her, never let go of her, yet he couldn’t speak. He just looked at Joe, who seemed like a completely different person from the son he once knew and loved. What tormented him most was the idea that it was his fault his beloved son had turned into this.

Jeffrey stood silent as Joe glared at him and said, "Keep playing by their rules... they'll support you just like they did that night. But remember, I hope you rot and burn with your noble friends, and when they start screaming, I will be there watching and thoroughly enjoying it!"

"Sorry, Noble Joe, Dan disappeared a long time ago; we have nothing on him."

"Sir... I am sorry, but we have nothing. We tried, we dug, we searched—there is nothing."

Joe left his house, got into his carriage, and threw his guard aside. The guard fell to the ground, looking at Joe with confusion and saying, "S... sir?"

Joe, with anger, said, "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Joe left the mansion, and the carriage exited Eldoria City. He sat inside, staring at the carriage's floor, his face red as he murmured to himself, remembering Beatrice, Jeffrey, Urien, Evangeline, Agatha, Jogo, Kaelen, and himself.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Joe shouted in anger, his eyes bulging as he recalled the devil, the monster—DAN!

After that, Urien was in his chamber, being helped by a nun who healed his injuries, though he still needed rest. Agatha, sitting beside Urien and fuming with anger, said, "Joe could have killed you! Why didn't Jeffrey stop him!?"

Urien patted her head to calm her and said, "Please! Jeffrey is in deep water now; just forget about it."

Agatha, still furious, shouted, "FORGET IT!? HE WAS ABOUT TO KILL YOU!"

Urien shook his head and said, "He wouldn’t. Please, I beg you, lower your voice!"

Agatha sat in silence, rubbing Urien's cheek, and said with a tear in her eye, "I thought he would have killed you. I... I..."

Urien smiled as he grabbed her and pulled her closer, kissing her cheeks. "Don’t... don’t worry, I’m here, honey."

Agatha hugged Urien. As her husband and life partner, she loved and respected him deeply; he was her other half, a part she feared she might have lost today. She looked at Urien, kissed his nose, and said, "I’ll spoil you today. Just wait until I cook you something you love."

Agatha smiled, then got up and walked toward the door. Urien, with a warm expression, said, "You’ve worked a lot today; let the chef handle it instead?"

Agatha turned to face Urien, a warm smile on her lips as she replied, "I said I will spoil you today. Am I a woman without a word here?"

In Jeffrey's chamber, Evangeline patted his back while Jeffrey, looking at the ground and clearly hurt, murmured, "Believe me, I... I..."

Evangeline nodded and said, "I understand, I do."

At that moment, they heard a knock on the door. Jeffrey answered, "Come."

Ebe opened the door, holding Jogo’s hand. “He was worried and wanted to see you,” she said.

Jeffrey nodded with a smile. He opened his arms, and Jogo eagerly jumped into his embrace. Jeffrey then addressed Ebe, saying, “You can go now, Ebe. You did a great job, as always.”

Ebe offered a sad smile, bowed, and closed the door behind her. Though only 15 and even younger when she first joined the Gostave household, she had always been a diligent and kind-hearted maid. Yet, she felt a deep sadness thinking about Joe, who seemed to grow darker with each visit. Ebe noticed the change in him but never knew when he might lose control.

Ebe then closed her eyes and whispered, "I wish you safety and happiness, Joe."

"Sorry, sir. As we mentioned a month ago, his last known location was Feuerhügel city in the east. That’s all we know."

A week later, Joe sat in a tavern, staring blankly as he waited for his dinner. His eyes were vacant.

"We have no information."

"We have nothing."

"He disappeared!"

"He vanished!"

The chef then served Joe his dinner and asked, "Sir, anything else?"

Joe didn’t respond as he started eating. The chef nodded and left him to his meal.

"We..."

"Don't..."

"Where he is."

"Chef!"

The chef turned to Joe and asked, "Sir?"

"Can't you just forget about him?"

Joe snapped, "Give me the damn wine!"