"Even the various clues we previously uncovered were erased at the first opportunity."
He paused, frowning as he said, "The Tranquility Order's reaction was too quick, I've always been wondering if the Cyart King could be in collusion with the Tranquility Order."
"It's just a pity that I've been speculating without any evidence."
Byrne and his son Darren exchanged glances, both deep in thought.
A heavy downpour swept through the entire Cyart Royal Capital.
The raindrops pelted the ground like dense bullets, creating countless tiny splashes that twinkled mid-air like fleeting fireworks.
The deluge streamed down the eaves and along the trees at the sides of the streets, forming thin curtains of water that intertwined with the puddles on the ground, making a fluid painting.
The streetlights on either side appeared hazy and mysterious in the rain, their light soft and mottled due to the refraction through the raindrops. Buildings in the distance loomed through the curtain of rain, as if veiled by a light gossamer, adding a sense of hazy beauty.
"Patter, patter, patter, patter!"
Rain continuously struck against the windows, creating a pitter-patter sound that mingled with the distant thunder, composing a stirring symphony.
Outside the villa temporarily housing the three members of the Fischer family, people in rubber raincoats were running through the pouring rain.
A brown-haired young man, dressed in a grey cloak already soaked by the rain, kept one hand hidden beneath his cloak.
Below his cloak were plain but sturdy clothes, rainwater dripping down from the black brim of his hat, tracing icy trails on his cheeks, yet he seemed unconcerned, his eyes resolutely fixed ahead as if the letter in his hand was the only thing of importance in the storm.
His breathing was slightly rapid but steady, his steps quick and forceful, each one landing in the muddy puddles and sending up splashes. Rain beat against his back, making a "pattering" noise.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew fiercely, causing the brown-haired youth to tightly grasp the letter in his hand, fearing it would be swept away by the raging wind and rain.
He leaned forward against the wind and rain, struggling with every step, each one difficult yet resolute.
Finally, the courier arrived at the entrance of the villa and knocked on the door.
He saw a servant emerge from within, a familiar Daybreaker, even from his own batch.
The drenched courier nodded and said, "This urgent letter has been sent from the family with utmost speed, please ensure it's delivered to His Excellency Bain immediately!"
The Daybreaker took the letter and then went up to the second floor of the villa, knocking on Bain's room door.
At that moment, inside the room, Bain and Darren were discussing the affairs of the Ten Great Pillars family.
Soon, the Daybreaker opened the door and came in, bringing the still dry letter.
"His Excellency Bain, this is your letter, it's an urgent missive sent swiftly from the family!"
"Good, thank the messenger for me, go and take care of him for a bit."
Bain smiled as he took the letter, but after opening it, he was frozen still, staying silent for a long while even after reading it.
Darren suddenly noticed his father's unusual behavior; at that moment, he seemed to have truly aged, standing there without moving for a long time.
Bain set down the letter, covered his head with his hands, and paced on the spot, feeling somewhat helpless inside.
Although he had anticipated it, he never thought the day would actually come.
After a long while, Bain turned to look at Darren who seemed more like a brother than a son, opened his mouth to speak of the letter's contents, yet the words seemed to choke in his throat, unutterable.
"What's wrong, Father?"
"Margaret..." Byrne's voice was soft yet hoarse as he spoke the significant name, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
"Your mother, passed away in her sleep, she..."
Darren froze upon hearing this, took a deep breath, and tears began to stream uncontrollably from his eyes.
Byrne approached, gently patted his son's shoulder, then walked unsteadily to the bedside, gazing out at the pouring rain, his emotions incredibly complex deep within.
Outside on the street, people hurried along the drenched roads under black umbrellas that danced in the rain like blooming black flowers.
The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrellas was clear and crisp, and occasionally a gust of wind would bring a chill, dispelling the air's stuffiness and humidity.
After staring out the window for a long time, he took another deep breath, knowing in the depths of his heart that Margaret had remained a faithful devotee of the Moonshadow Lady until the very end.
That woman was the only heretic Lilian would ever love.
He felt the same, still loving her.
"I've never regretted falling in love with you, never have, but I want to confess to you... I should have never fallen for you, because the me who fell in love with you could not give you all of my love."
The last time the two met was years ago, during the birth of Darren's third child...
He had survived alone by reaching the 5th Rank.
Since then, he already knew such a day would come, didn't he?
Such is an Extraordinary Exponent.
Those who transcend the mundane, once they step into the ranks of the extraordinary, their lives' rhythms will never again align with those of ordinary people.
Extraordinary Exponents lead their own lives, worlds, and destinies, becoming more estranged from ordinary people as they grow stronger, until they are so powerful that they no longer share any commonalities with the mundane world.
"Byrne, I'm pregnant! It's true! I'm really pregnant!"
Margaret's joyful voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
He felt a sudden discomfort, his body shaking uncontrollably as scenes from decades ago with Margaret flashed through his mind, and tears finally began to flow from the corners of his eyes.
Love seemed like a curse, all memories of her so vivid, making forgetting her an impossible task.
At this very moment, those memories surged up one after another, her voice echoing endlessly.
"Byrne, I really like you!"
"Why do you always push yourself so hard?"
"I'm kind of curious to know what you've been up to lately?"
"Byrne, are you keeping something from me?"
"Why won't you ever speak clearly! I've never hidden anything from you!"
"Shall we have another child, okay?"
"Sorry, Byrne, I've just been a little tired lately."
"Yes, I'm going to rest up over in Fein City for a while, and I'll return to Nasir once I'm rested... I should be back soon."