Chapter 40: Difficult Situation! (2)

“Our request is simple,” Helena said. “Withdraw the accusation. Go to the Order and tell them it was grief, confusion, whatever excuse you want. Just take back your words. Dante walks free. And your family walks free.”

Lucy stared at her, stunned. “You want my son to lie so that snake can walk out smiling?”

“We want our brother’s sentence reduced,” Rowan snapped. “Family takes care of family.”

“Ethan took care of all of you,” Lucy cut sharply. Her voice shook, but it did not break. “When Helena’s tithe ledger came up short, Ethan sold two of his mares to pay the fines. When Rowan’s axle snapped and killed a boy on West Pike, Ethan signed the fine to our house so it would not bury you. He sheltered you, fed you, saved you.”

Her eyes hardened. “This is how you repay him?”

Cedric stared at the floor. Maris swallowed hard.

Helena did not flinch. “Spare the theatrics. Withdraw the accusation against Dante and you keep everything you love. Refuse, and in two weeks, the Order will seize your property under Debt Enforcement.”

Bruce finally spoke again. “Is that all?”

Helena’s mask slipped. “We are not arguing with a boy in front of a weeping woman. Bruce, a word alone.”

Lucy took a step forward, a mother’s defiance. “You will say what you have to say here.”

“It is fine,” Bruce said, and his eyes did not leave Helena. “Say it here.”

Helena abandoned pretense. “Withdraw your words to the Order, and this ends. I will carry the assumption petition to Chancery myself. The guild fine will be adjusted, erased. You wake tomorrow to quiet.”

“My brother.. ” Cedric’s voice slicked, honeyed. “He’s still your uncle, please consider.”

The temperature dropped.

Without warning, Bruce released a crushing wave of killing intent.

The four of them collapsed instantly, forced to their knees by sheer terror.

“Say that again,” Bruce said, voice low. “Say one more word of that garbage, and I’ll show you what happens when you insult my family.”

No one spoke.

Bruce straightened.

“As for your so-called offer…” he said quietly. “Go to hell. I’ll pay everything myself. Then I will come for each of you.”

They didn’t argue after that. They stumbled to their feet and left in fearful silence.

At the door, Helena turned back, trying to salvage pride.

“Two weeks,” she said coldly. “If you fail to pay four million gold… your entire family will suffer the consequences.”

She slammed the door behind her.

Lucy trembled with anger. “Shameless parasites!”

Bruce placed a calming hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll handle it.”

She looked into his eyes, she believed him. Maybe it was his aura, but his voice felt so comforting to her.

“Big brother…” Lily tugged his sleeve. “Are… are our uncles and aunties bad people?”

“Yes,” Bruce said simply… It was bad that she had to see all this, but it’ll serve as a great lesson to her in the future…

He scooped Ash into his arms—soft, warm, alive—and ruffled the dragonling’s small head. “I’m coming back soon, okay? I’ll get more candy for you.”

Lily’s face lit. “Really? Yay!”

She waved as Bruce left, and Lucy watched him go—pain edged in her eyes, but also a fierce, stubborn pride.

One name burned in his mind.

’Jordan.’

He needed money fast. And with Jordan he should be able to get the exact amount he needs quite easily

Ash purred on his shoulder, rubbing against his jaw.

’Good job holding back in there,’ Bruce murmured. ’If you had gone full dragon, there would not be a house left to save.’

Ash actually nodded, solemnly, as if he fully understood. That pulled a small, helpless chuckle from Bruce.

Then he ran.

Minutes later, the noise of the Beast Exchange Market washed over him. Sharp voices. Clattering cages. Beasts growling and hissing behind reinforced bars. It was the usual chaos, yet today it grated on him. He had no patience for noise. Not after what had just happened at home.

’I did not think I would come back here this soon,’ he sighed inwardly.

Ash sat perched on his shoulder, little claws gripping his shirt, tail swaying idly as his sharp golden eyes scanned the crowd. He was alert. Focused.

Bruce moved through the rows of stalls with silent precision, ignoring merchants shouting out their prices. Soon, he reached a familiar tent. Jordan’s stall. The eccentric merchant was hunched over a ledger, muttering numbers under his breath, when he suddenly looked up and froze.

Then his eyes lit up.

“Brother Bruce!” Jordan practically flew out from behind the counter. “You are finally back!”

He clasped Bruce’s hands like they were long-lost relatives. “The beasts you made were unbelievable. They sold out faster than anything I have ever seen. I was planning to hunt you down if you did not show up within a week!”

Ash narrowed his eyes, judging Jordan with silent disdain, but the merchant did not notice. He was too busy grinning.

“I even kept one of each beast unsold,” Jordan continued proudly, tapping his chest as if he had done something heroic. “I had a feeling you would return.”

Bruce watched him calmly. Jordan was overly theatrical, as always, but he was useful.

“I did not come here for pleasantries,” Bruce said coolly. “I need money. A lot of it. So I will fill your entire stock today.”

Jordan blinked. Then smiled even wider.

“Finally,” he exhaled. “Business.”

He gestured inside. “Come. We will talk properly.”

Bruce stepped in, eyes sharp. The storm inside him had not settled yet. He needed money fast. Jordan being cooperative was exactly what he needed.

Ash hopped down from Bruce’s shoulder and began sniffing around the stall with lazy arrogance, tail flicking like a tiny emperor inspecting lesser territory. He remembered this place perfectly. He remembered Jordan.

Jordan did not notice the faint tension around Bruce, but he felt it anyway. Something serious had happened. He knew better than to pry.

“I kept one of each beast unsold while I waited for you,” Jordan said again, tone respectful now.

“Good,” Bruce replied with a faint smile that held no warmth. “Because we are about to do a lot of business.”

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