"It has been this long, and you still don't know where Ian went? You can't even figure out what happens in your own place. What is the use of your position?"
Duke Eldric shouted in anger, his voice filled with frustration.
"I'm sorry, Lord Eldric. My military is useless. I will immediately resign from my position."
Marshal Garrick sneakily wiped the sweat from his head and directly resigned from his post.
As the highest-ranking military officer, commanding the duchy's armies and defenses, he couldn't find out his Lord's son's whereabouts, even after using all his power.
He felt utterly useless in front of his Lord.
"Does your resignation help find my son?"
Duke Eldric grew even angrier at his response, making Garrick breathless.
He was rough and didn't know intricacies, so he spoke of what he thought was the gravest punishment. However, it seemed the Lord didn't like it.
Just as he grew anxious, a young voice interrupted their quarrel, saving him from embarrassment.
"Dad, you don't need to worry. I'm here."
Seeing his father full of anger and anxiety, Ian felt warm and hurriedly interrupted.
"Sorry. I was held up by something and couldn't contact you in time."
He scratched his head in embarrassment. Although it wasn't his mistake, as he didn't know it would take so long, he still felt the need to apologize.
"Ian? You're fine?"
When Duke Eldric heard his voice, he looked at him in surprise and hurriedly came in front of him, elated.
"Good... It's good that you're fine. You scared me to death. I didn't know what happened to you. Your mother is already thin from worry. Brat, inform us before disappearing. I thought something happened to you."
Duke Eldric spoke continuously, pouring out all the grievances of a parent.
One thing that no parent in the world could withstand was not knowing their children's whereabouts or well-being.
Eldric knew Ian was going somewhere and would be away for a while.
So, even after four months, he wasn't worried. However, when no news came after that, he began fearing something might have happened to him.
After all, Ian did mention before leaving that he killed Adrian, who had connections with Ethos.
Eldric almost took Morgrave to the capital to directly confront the old man. Fortunately, nothing worse happened.
Ian felt warm at his parents' concern and inexplicably guilty.
"I'm already old and strong enough. No need to treat me like a child."
He rolled his eyes. With his strength, he didn't believe anything could endanger his life.
Even if Ethos came, he had the confidence to survive.
"But you still need to inform us before going anywhere. If you disappear suddenly, of course, I'll be worried."
Duke Eldric calmed himself, smiled, and sat on his chair in a relaxed mood.
"Oh... this is your Uncle Garrick. He's the marshal of our duchy, responsible for the military."
Eldric noticed Garrick standing awkwardly and introduced him to his son.
"Hello, Uncle Garrick," Ian gave a knightly salute.
"Haha, hello... hello. Time passes so fast. You're already this big. Last time I saw you, you were still a small pipsqueak following that little girl."
Garrick smiled and joked while Ian twitched the corner of his mouth.
"Okay, it's good that you returned. Otherwise, this old man would have resigned. Don't go anywhere without notifying us in the future."
Garrick spoke in his thick voice, filled with helplessness.
"Who wants to fire you from your job? You're the one overthinking things."
Eldric chided him in annoyance but was in a good mood.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm getting old and can't be as energetic as you and your father. I still have some things to do, so let's meet another time."
After saying this, Marshal Garrick left the room, not wanting to stay another second.
"This guy..."
Duke Eldric mumbled irritably, watching Garrick flee.
Ian laughed, closed the door, and sat opposite him, making tea from the teapot. All the running without stopping had made him thirsty.
As he sipped the hot tea, his face contorted with bitterness.
"Ugh... do people in power always have such a strong taste?"
He couldn't help but complain, recalling a similar experience in Duke Alex's office.
He swore never to drink tea at their place again.
"Haha... it keeps me awake at work. I'm not like you, with free time to run around."
Eldric laughed at his antics.
"Okay, let's not talk about this. So, how is that project going?"
Ian didn't want to waste time on trivial matters and directly asked about the plan they had formulated when he left the Imperial capital.
Hearing his question, Duke Eldric became serious. He placed his teacup on the desk and looked at Ian with interest.
"Can't you feel it?"
"Oh?"
Ian looked at his father's eyes and understood. He subtly enhanced his perception to sense his surroundings and noticed something in one corner of the room.
Feeling a subtle mental energy, he turned to the corner looking at a shadow that was otherwise undetectable to the naked eye.
"Young master is indeed extraordinary. He could even sense me while I'm using a spell."
Seeing that Ian had found him, Morgrave emerged from the shadows, cloaked in black robes from head to toe.
"Haha, he's my son after all."
Duke Eldric laughed, proud of how easily Ian had identified the presence.
He already knew his son had been on some adventures but didn't know how strong he was or the opportunities he had encountered.
He didn't pry; children had their own destinies.
"Good spell," Ian smiled and praised the magic used by Morgrave.
He also wanted to learn some spells but this didn't suit him.
'It seems I'm still reckless,' Ian admonished himself for his carelessness.
Since he was in his own territory, inside his father's mansion, he had lowered his guard. So, he didn't initially notice someone hiding in the dark.
Just because the person hiding was Morgrave didn't justify being off-guard. If it had been someone else, he could have been gravely injured.