Chapter 556: I’m his Father

Inside the Starfall estate, Serene sat beside her husband with a light frown on her face.

The atmosphere inside the living room was somewhat heavy, subtle tension filling the otherwise peaceful room.

Serene opened her mouth many times and tried to speak,but always closed it halfway.

She looked at her husband from the corner of her eyes, noticing the solemn expression on his face as he stared ahead without saying anything, his hands resting quietly on his knees.

She understood what was troubling him.

Ever since Thoren entered the Abyss, the Starfall family had changed.

Not because they suddenly became stronger or gained some powerful backing, but because their son had left behind resources that were far beyond anything their family had ever possessed.

And most importantly, the connections Thoren had created after becoming an awakener. All of those things had made the Starfall family a target.

At first, the attention had only been subtle.

A few visitors had come to the estate under the excuse of paying them a visit. Some had asked harmless questions about Thoren.

Others had tried to learn what exactly he had left behind before entering the Abyss.

Then the questions had slowly changed.

Some people began asking about the resources Thoren had supposedly stored inside the estate.

Others had started suggesting that the Starfall family was too inexperienced to handle such resources.

There were even people who had indirectly offered to help manage them.

Serene knew what all of that meant.

They wanted what belonged to her son.

Finally, she broke the silence.

"Dear, what are you going to do?" She asked softly and reached out her hand to get hold of the palm of her husband, caressing it gently.

Ardyn felt the gentle touch of his wife and the solemn expression on his face lessened a bit.

He turned his head and looked at Serene. For a moment, he remained silent before gently squeezing her hand.

"I plan to do nothing." He said slowly. "I know they are all after the resources left by Thoren, but they can forget about it."

His voice was calm, but there was firmness hidden beneath it. Serene listened to the firm voice of her husband and nodded in agreement.

Their family might be new to this awakener family thing, but they weren’t fools. They knew the importance of all the resources left by their son.

They also knew that many people would do anything to obtain those resources.

As for trying to intimidate them with force, they were mistaken.

As long as there was no news of their son falling in the Abyss, none of them would dare go overboard with them.

The Abyss was a dangerous place.

Everyone knew that.

And Thoren had already proven that he was not an ordinary awakener.

Until his death was confirmed, nobody would be foolish enough to openly attack the Starfall family and risk provoking him if he suddenly returned.

Besides, Ardyn had already made his decision.

He would not hand over anything that belonged to his son.

Even if they were unable to use some of those resources themselves, they would rather keep them untouched until Thoren returned.

"If they want to wait, then let them wait." Ardyn continued after a moment, his eyes becoming cold. "If they want to pressure us, then let them try."

Serene looked at him and smiled faintly.

"You have become quite brave."

Ardyn chuckled softly.

"I am his father."

This was the pride he earned from having a son that made him proud. And with that, there was no need for him to say anything else.

As for Serene, she understood him perfectly.

No matter how powerful those people were, no matter how many resources they possessed or how much authority stood behind them, they were still trying to take something from his son.

And a father would naturally protect what belonged to his child.

The couple fell silent once again.

Outside the living room, the Starfall estate remained unusually quiet.

The estate was large, but it had never been a place filled with excessive noise.

The Abyss was not a place where strength alone guaranteed survival. Too many powerful awakeners had disappeared inside it.

Too many families had waited for years only to receive news that their loved ones had never returned.

Serene tightened her grip around Ardyn’s hand.

"I just hope he is safe."

Ardyn looked at her. "He will return."

His answer came without hesitation. He might not believe anything in this life but his strong beliefs in his son never waver for once.

As for Serene, she stared at him for a moment before nodding.

She wanted to believe those words.

She had to believe them.

Just as the couple were lost in thought, a convoy of military jeeps entered their estate.

The sound of engines suddenly broke the quiet atmosphere.

Several large military vehicles moved through the main gate one after another, their tires crushing the gravel beneath them as they advanced toward the main building.

The sudden commotion immediately caught the attention of the servants.

Several servants hurried toward the windows, while the guards stationed around the estate straightened their backs and looked toward the incoming convoy with surprise.

Nobody had expected the military to arrive.

Serene immediately raised her head while Ardyn frowned.

"Military?"

Neither of them had received any notice that soldiers were coming.

Ardyn slowly stood from his seat. His expression became cautious as he looked through the window.

The military jeeps stopped in front of the main building, and several soldiers immediately stepped out.

Their movements were orderly, but there was something unusual about their behavior.

They did not look like people who had come to cause trouble.

Instead, they appeared excited.

Before Ardyn could say anything, hurried footsteps sounded from the corridor. The estate butler rushed into the living room with a bright smile plastered on his face.

"Master, Madam..." He called, his voice trembling with excitement.

Serene turned toward him.

The butler was usually a composed man who rarely allowed his emotions to show in front of the family, but right now, his face was completely different.

His eyes were wide and his breathing was slightly hurried. More importantly was the uncontrollable smile on his face.

"The Young Master is back."