Chapter 308


    "Thank you for your efforts," vin said, smiling at the familiar surroundings. He had never seen


    this ce as a hardship but as a home where he grew up.


    During the eight long years as a servant, full of toil and suffering, and being mocked and hurt often,


    vin would return to the warehouse everyday, and once he saw the familiar setting and the old


    master, he felt safe and at peace.


    "So this is where you grew up," E said, looking around curiously. She was eager to understand


    what kind of environment had shaped vin''s tough and stubborn nature, and what secrets had


    suddenly propelled him to rise.


    "Lord vin, you have suffered much," Grima and Godfred felt a pang of difort in their hearts.


    It had been nine years since that fateful night when vin, then only seven years old and a


    cherished young lord of the royal household, had his life turned upside down. His life of silk and


    jewels had abruptly been exchanged for coarse bread and wild vegetables, and he was cast from


    the opulence of the pce to a dpidated warehouse. They could scarcely imagine what he must


    have felt at that time, or how he had managed to endure. Had it been someone else, they might


    have broken down, or be weak and shadowed by the ordeal. But thankfully, vin had not!


    "It is nothing. If you endure, it bes wealth; if you do not, it bes a nightmare."


    vin stood before a lone grave, bowed deeply three times to the nameless stone, then rolled up


    his sleeves to tend to the magnolia flowers growing beside the mound.


    “Who lies buried here?” E appeared just as she stepped out of the warehouse.


    Carlys replied, “There’s a stone but no name. Nobody knows who is interred within. The old man


    spent many years by its side, yet he never spoke of it to us.”


    “And who is this old man?”


    “We do not know.”


    “Where has he gone? I see no one.”


    “He has departed.”


    E rolled her eyes, toozy to inquire further.


    Grima and Godfred also wondered why there would be a grave in the warehouse yard.


    Over the years, it was Lucan who apanied Miss Oda to visit vin, rarely speaking of this


    ce upon their return. They had never had the chance toe themselves. By the look on


    vin’s face, someone of great importance must’ve been buried there.


    Godfred approached and examined the stone. It was strange to find a marker without inscriptions.


    "Lord vin, whose grave is this?"


    vin shook his head, clueless as to whoy beneath or why the old man would be connected to


    Cobalt Strike. From the whispers of the Chained Spirit, vin sensed the old man was a


    remarkable figure from a distant ce, someone who should not have any ties with Cobalt Strike.


    vin had never asked before, and there seemed no need to now. What was to be known would


    eventuallye to light.


    “Do you need us to pay respects?” Godfred asked. If it mattered to the Lord vin, it mattered to


    them.


    “No need. Godfred, go to the back and forage some wild vegetables, catch a few game birds.


    Tonight, I will cook.”


    “Eh? Are you not visiting the Commander today?"


    "No rush. We''ll go tomorrow."


    "You know how to cook?" E looked at vin in surprise.


    "What do you think I''ve eaten these past eight years?"


    "Make a few extra dishes. I want to taste them properly."


    Godfred ran off to the back, foraging for wild greens and catching two game hens. He even


    managed to snare a wild hare.


    Grima went outside to gather some firewood.


    vin began boiling water to prepare the meal. The various ingredients were stillid out by the


    hearth, untouched. He busied himself with the task, feeling a joyful semnce of his past life, the


    weariness from his body swept away.


    Everyone got busy, and even E lent a hand to vin.


    By midday, the rich aroma wafted from the warehouse, and one by one, exquisite dishes were set


    upon the stone table outside.


    "Lord vin, how about a drink? A couple of cups?" Godfred shouted while bustling about. He had


    a wine pouch always at his side.


    "I''ve brought some peanuts." Carlys returned with a basket of peanuts and Elixir Fruit.


    vin called out, "Godfred, there''s pickled vegetables inside, bring some out to apany the


    drink."


    "Right away!"


    Laughter and cheerful banter filled the air as the atmosphere grew warm and congenial. Soon, the


    stone table wasden with food and drink. They pulled up logs to sit on, encircling the table to enjoy


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