Chapter 960: Hero (2/4)

Chapter 960 Hero (2/4)

Children are children after all.

Especially at an age like Ruby’s, when memories don’t stick so easily.

Though the Westport Harbor incident had terrified her, thanks to that Mr. Escher, everything came to a happy ending in the end.

And as time passed, that little angel returned to their side once more.

Hearing the commotion in the living room, Yarman, who had just fetched the newspaper, walked back from the entrance.

Looking at mother and daughter, a gentle smile spread across his face as he spoke.

“Let me play with Ruby instead—you’re pregnant now, it’s not good for you to crouch on the floor.”

Because his wife was expecting, he had recently slowed down the pace of his business expansion, delegating many matters to his subordinates instead of charging ahead himself.

The war would likely be over soon, and lately, quite a few capable young Valyrian men had arrived at Settlement No. 1.

He felt it was time to give those younger lads a chance, to free himself from the hustle and bustle of life, and to properly spend time with his family, whom he had neglected for too long.

Clearly not willing to let go of her mother, this “powerful right-hand man,” little Ruby, nestled in her mother’s arms, rolled her eyes and suddenly had a bright idea.

“We could… we could lift the castle up! Build the castle on the table! That way, Mommy won’t squish the little brother! And Ruby… can stand on a chair!”

“Haha! What a clever little Ruby, my dear—already learning to take care of Mommy!”

Margaret laughed so hard she shook, joyfully planting a kiss on little Ruby’s cheek, then glanced at her husband with a raised eyebrow, before turning back to Ruby and speaking softly. “But Mommy just got pregnant—it might not be a little brother. If it’s a little sister, little Ruby has to be good to her too.”

“It’s definitely a little brother!”

Little Ruby suddenly looked serious, staring at her mother with a solemn expression, as if it were the absolute truth.

“I saw him in my dream yesterday! I promised him I’d comfort him and tell him not to cry, that big sister would look after him and build him a huge, huge castle!”

Seeing her innocent face utter such earnest words, Margaret smiled indulgently and gently tapped her daughter’s little nose.

“No wonder you dragged out the building blocks Uncle Henk gave you first thing this morning—you were building him a new home.”

Putting the newspaper on the dining table, Yarman also smiled and stroked his daughter’s hair.

“I’ve known it all along—our little Ruby is going to be a brilliant architect someday!”

Ruby blinked, looking at her father curiously.

“Architect?”

Yarman nodded with a smile.

“Mm! The kind who builds even taller and bigger houses, like… your Uncle Henk.”

Strictly speaking, Henk wasn’t exactly that type, but among all the elders his daughter knew, he was the closest to the construction industry.

Come to think of it, the Valyrian Street they now lived on was Henk Group’s handiwork.

Though the project had initially faced fierce opposition from the Brahmin of Settlement No. 1, once the beautiful model homes went up, they pragmatically rushed to buy them, and then became supporters of the entire Valyrian Street project.

The conflict between Brahmin and Valyrians thus turned into an internal Brahmin conflict.

For both the radicals and conservatives in the local council, this was, for the time being, a win-win outcome.

For the former, the feelings of the “disadvantaged group” were no longer repeatedly wounded; for the latter, Settlement No. 1’s economy would see rapid growth.

And all Henk had to pay was a slight discount on interest.

In truth, that cost wasn’t even borne by his Henk Group, but by the Fili Bank, which had tied its entire fortune to Henk Group’s real estate projects.

That jeweler who had fled from Eternal Night Harbor was now practically Henk’s little sidekick, though their positions had once been completely reversed.

Yarman couldn’t tell if Henk was clever or cunning—the man seemed born restless. Recently, he’d had a sudden whim, saying a baby boom was coming across the wasteland, and he wanted to expand into toys, using Henk Group’s real estate project quality as a guarantee for children’s toys… though that idea seemed to have been quickly shot down by investors.

Still, Yarman thought it might actually be a good business opportunity.

Thanks to the shelter residents, children of the new era no longer had to scavenge trash on the wasteland like their fathers.

Besides textbooks, they could have something nicer to burn off their boundless energy, exercise their intellect and hands-on skills, and leave some beautiful memories of childhood.

Maybe he could fund Henk for this venture.

Shipping profits weren’t as high as before…

Just as Yarman was lost in thought, he suddenly met two pairs of eyes, half-smiling.

“Darling, are you thinking about work again?”

“Daddy must have fallen into a money pit again!”

Looking at the mother and daughter staring at him intently, Yarman quickly smiled and denied it.

“No, how could I… Let’s eat quickly, or breakfast will get cold.”

His status in this household was only third, and in a few months, it might drop to fourth.

Then another little angel would come into his life.

By the Silver Moon Goddess, he would surely love that little angel with all his heart and give him the finest things in the world.

With that, Yarman hurriedly sat down at the table and picked up a newspaper he had just brought in from outside.

When he saw the headline, his index finger trembled, and for a moment, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Escher…

Dead?

The Survivor’s Daily of Settlement No. 1 hadn’t placed this news on the front page, but it was on the second page, accompanied by a photo of that young officer.

His face bore a bright smile, his arm draped over another man’s shoulder—probably the commander of the Death Corps… That was an old photo from the victory at Akale County.

What a brutal battle that had been—the Third Ten-Thousand-Man Unit was nearly wiped out, and some decurions were promoted to centurions in just two days.

Now that photo had turned black and white, as if marking the end of an era.

The spoon for adding sugar to the cup clattered to the floor. Margaret suddenly covered her mouth, tears welling up in her reddened eyes.

“…Mommy?” Ruby, swinging her little legs on the chair, tilted her head, not understanding why her mother had dropped it, but she hopped down with a hey-ho to pick up the spoon.

Not wanting her child to see her lose composure, Margaret pushed back her chair, stood up, and hurried into the kitchen.

Watching his wife rush into the kitchen, Yarman silently folded the newspaper on the table, then spoke gently to little Ruby.

“Mommy forgot to get the milk… Daddy will help her find it. Ruby, will you stay here nicely?”

Ruby nodded blankly, but as if recalling some bad memory, a frightened expression crept onto her face.

“Okay… but you have to come back.”

Realizing he might have scared the child, Yarman quickly crouched down, stroking her head as he spoke softly.

“Daddy and Mommy are right here at home… We’re not going anywhere today, just staying with our dear little Ruby.”

Seeing Ruby nod with mustered courage, Yarman hurried into the kitchen.

Standing by the sink, his wife was sobbing into her hands. He placed his arm on her shoulder, saying nothing, just gently patting her like he would comfort a child.

After about five or six minutes, the strong mother finally lifted her tear-streaked eyes.

“Why… why did this happen? Wasn’t their war already over?”

Not knowing how to console his wife, Yalman fell silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.

“I am as perplexed as you… but I think if it were him, even a deadly trap like Xifan Harbor could be escaped, and with everyone brought out alive—how could he not escape the current predicament?”

In that case, perhaps this ending was also his own choice.

Yet in the end, he still could not understand why the Brahmin had killed him.

He was, after all, their hero!

This might be something he, as a Valant, could never comprehend.

Julius had failed, triumphed, been brave, and been vile; he was not even a Valant, and had likely been involved in the crimes of the War Construction Committee’s Defense Department… yet none of that prevented them from remembering him, along with his glory and his faults, and building a grand sanctuary to commemorate this great liberator.

But then again, perhaps Marshal Julius was unworthy of the Brahmin, and even the Alliance’s administrators were unworthy.

Perhaps they had found a deity more deserving of worship.

“…In any case, this is their collective choice… we should respect it.”

He planned to go to Jingallen and find Anwo, Isher’s former superior.

That man had also been helped by Isher, and must now be deep in the grief of losing a friend.

Besides mourning, they, the living, could still do something for that gentleman.

At least preserve his remains.

In Settlement One, many lived who were that gentleman’s compatriots; like the displaced Valants, they were victims of that war.

Henk could not understand their hatred for the Valants, but he, saved by Isher, could understand.

He would build a mausoleum for the hero who had saved everyone, erect a statue for him, just as the predecessors had done.

The War Construction Committee did not want him—

Then let the Valants commemorate him!

Yalman solidified his resolve, and he was not the only one to do so.

“…Darling, I have an idea… I think… perhaps we can do something…”

Looking at Margret’s swollen eyes, Yalman held her warm shoulders and gently stroked her soft hair.

“I understand what you mean. Perhaps this is not just the thought of you, me, and little Ruby, but also the will of the Silver Moon Goddess.”

That was a name of bravery, kindness, resilience, and wisdom.

It once belonged to a great hero, or rather a warrior.

He hoped his child would be like that person, possessing a burning heart, not waiting for anyone’s salvation, but becoming the torch that illuminates both oneself and others.

“If it’s a boy, let’s call him Isher.”

…

Jingallen Harbor.

The study of a certain house on Tulip Street.