TCPUAAV Chapter 106

 

Garland didn’t bother using a disguise capsule this time. His striking red hair, combined with his sharp, aloof features, gave him an aura that seemed to balance between ice and fire, making him difficult to read.

 

His eyes slanted upward at the corners, and when he cast his gaze downward to scrutinize someone, he naturally exuded an air of superiority. At this moment, he was using that very gaze to look at Liv, the slight downturn of his lips betraying a hint of disdain.

 

Liv was infuriated by his expression.

 

She had grown up showered with affection, her father being the Fox King and her mother the Fox Queen. Her maternal lineage was even more powerful than her paternal side, and as her mother’s only child, she was nearly untouchable on the planet Tutar.

 

She had always been the one to look down on others with such a condescending gaze—never had anyone dared to regard her with such blatant contempt.

 

Her chest burned as if scorched by fire. Gritting her teeth, she shoved Merwin aside, straightened her clothes, and sneered, “What? Are you trying to protect these lowly commoners who dared to harm a noble? The injuries on my face are proof! If you can’t handle this matter fairly, then I won’t mind teaching you how it’s done!”

 

Garland was intrigued by her fearless ignorance. He let out a short laugh and said evenly, “Even if your parents were here, they wouldn’t dare talk about teaching me a lesson. You, however, are far more brazen than they are. No wonder the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan has been reduced to consorting with those foul-smelling aquatic creatures. Truly… each generation is worse than the last.”

 

His cold gaze remained fixed on her as he let out a soft scoff. “As for your injuries, I’ll compensate you for medical expenses. But you did disrupt public transportation and openly threatened the safety of citizens—that part is true. So, you’ll need to make a trip to the Security Bureau.”

 

With that, he gave a slight nod, and the security officers behind him immediately understood. One of them stepped forward, pulling out a pair of handcuffs, ready to restrain Liv.

 

Merwin’s expression shifted as he quickly stepped in front of Liv, forcing a smile to mediate. “Governor Garland, the Four Ancient Clans have always stood together. Miss Liv is technically your junior—shouldn’t she call you uncle? Why escalate such a small matter to this extent?”

 

Garland lifted his eyelids slightly and regarded him with indifference. “I don’t have such an arrogant niece.”

 

His gaze then shifted toward the young dragon, who had been curiously stretching his neck to watch the commotion. The coldness in Garland’s expression softened. “Besides, I think you’re mistaken—this is not a small matter. The people you bullied aren’t just anyone; they happen to be my son and my benefactor.”

 

His final words were spoken lightly, but his gaze turned toward the little dragon and his companions.

 

The young dragon hadn’t recognized him yet. His golden eyes widened as if he couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

 

On the other hand, Ruan Shiqing seemed to have realized something. Lowering his gaze to Rong Heng, he murmured, “He’s Garland?”

 

Rong Heng shot a glare at the attention-stealing dragon and let out a snort through his nose.

 

Garland’s tone wasn’t particularly forceful, but Merwin could tell that there was no room for negotiation.

 

He knew that things wouldn’t end well. If Liv were truly taken away, they wouldn’t be able to walk out of this unscathed.

 

He subtly signaled to the bodyguards, preparing to resist. But before they could act, an overwhelming, violent pressure unique to the dragon race surged outward. The bodyguards, instinctively sensing the lethal threat, tensed up and didn’t dare to move.

 

Merwin was horrified by the sheer force of it. It took everything he had to stand upright under the crushing weight of the dragon’s aura.

 

He had always known that dragons were overwhelmingly powerful, whereas the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan was not known for their combat prowess. But he had never imagined that the difference in strength was this vast. The moment he felt that suffocating pressure, a terrifying realization struck him—Garland could kill them in an instant.

 

And they… wouldn’t be able to fight back at all.

 

Merwin’s expression turned bleak. He abandoned the thought of resistance.

 

“Please escort Miss Liv to the Security Bureau,” Garland said flatly. “Since she doesn’t want to leave, then she might as well stay.”

 

This time, the officers who had been blocked before immediately stepped forward, cuffing Liv’s hands and forcibly restraining her.

 

Liv had never suffered such humiliation before. Instinctively, she tried to use her illusion magic to resist, only to realize that she was being completely suppressed—no matter what she tried, she couldn’t activate her abilities.

 

When she saw Merwin and the others giving up without a fight, a sense of panic finally set in. Turning to Garland, she pleaded, “Let me go! Whatever you want, my parents will give it to you!”

 

Garland scoffed, his gaze filled with unconcealed disdain. “The wealth of the dragon race surpasses a hundred planets like Tutar combined.”

 

Tutar had been declining for years, growing poorer and more insignificant by the day—so much so that even the princess’s worldview had become so pitifully narrow.

 

If it were his child, they wouldn’t even bat an eye at scattering gemstones like playthings. The Nine-Tailed Fox Clan had truly fallen to a sad state.

 

He had no interest in wasting more time with an ignorant little girl. With a wave of his hand, the officers immediately led Liv and her group away.

 

They would be temporarily detained at the Security Bureau.

 

Originally, Siyan hadn’t planned to move against the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan so soon. But since they had handed him the perfect excuse, he had no reason not to take it. As soon as he received Rong Heng’s message, he informed Garland, who had been rushing over to find Ruan Shiqing and his companions.

 

Now that Liv’s group had been taken away and Siyan’s instructions had been carried out, Garland should have left.

 

But he didn’t.

 

Instead, he hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, making a conscious effort to appear approachable as he extended a hand toward Ruan Shiqing. “Mr. Ruan, we meet again.”

 

Seeing the surprise in the other man’s eyes, he smiled slightly and spoke with deliberate solemnity. “I’d like to reintroduce myself. My name is Garland Calverley. I am also Hawthorne. Previously, I had to conceal my identity, so I could only interact with you as Hawthorne. I sincerely apologize for deceiving you.”

 

As he spoke, a trace of nervousness flickered across his expression.

 

He was worried that Ruan Shiqing would resent him for deliberately approaching them under a false identity. He was even more afraid that the little dragon wouldn’t accept this father who had suddenly appeared in his life.

 

People always said that Garland was cunning and politically adept. But precisely because of that reputation, he had few true friends. Yet, in the time he had spent with Ruan Shiqing, he had grown to genuinely appreciate him and value their friendship.

 

He had prepared himself for the worst outcome and was willing to offer his most heartfelt apology.

 

But to his surprise, Ruan Shiqing held out his hand without hesitation, shaking his firmly with a calm smile. “Governor Garland, I know who you are. Hector once told me—you are Heli’s other father.”

 

With that, he turned and patted the little dragon’s head. “This is your other dad.”

 

The little dragon’s eyes widened. He hesitated, pulling his claws back slightly. After a long moment, he finally huffed and tentatively extended a paw toward Garland. “Hello.”

 

Then, after a brief pause, he hesitantly added, “Dad?”

 

He had heard Hector talk about Garland many times before. From the way Hector spoke about him, he knew this other father loved him deeply and had eagerly anticipated his birth. When he went missing, Garland had been devastated.

 

Back then, Hector had uncharacteristically softened, gently patting his little head as he said, “If Heli ever meets him, remember to call him ‘Dad.’ He will be very happy.”

 

—The little dragon’s first encounter with Hector hadn’t been particularly pleasant. Even afterward, their relationship had been more like friends than father and son. He rarely called Hector “Dad” properly, instead addressing him directly by name in a casual, playful manner.

 

Hector never expressed dissatisfaction about this, but whenever he mentioned Garland, his voice would always carry a rare tenderness, reminding Heli to call him “Dad” when they met.

 

At the time, the little dragon had dismissed it as unimportant. But deep down, he had actually remembered.

 

If I call him ‘Dad,’ he won’t be sad anymore, right?

 

With that thought, he stretched his little paw forward again.

 

Why isn’t Dad shaking my paw yet?

 

Garland stared at him in stunned silence. His usually cold and sharp features softened, warmth gradually filling his gaze.

 

Suppressing the surging emotions in his chest, he carefully reached out and clasped the little dragon’s paw in his own.

 

It wasn’t the first time he had touched this little dragon.

 

But it was the first time he was doing so as a father.

 

During those endless days of searching—when he still held onto hope that the lost dragon egg could be found—he had often imagined different scenarios.

 

He had wondered if someone else had discovered the egg. If, by some miracle, it had already hatched into a young dragon. And if, when he finally found him, the child would refuse to acknowledge him. Perhaps even resent him.

 

He had considered countless possibilities.

 

But he had never dared to hope that the little dragon would extend his tiny claws toward him and call him “Dad.”

 

Garland’s eyes reddened slightly, but the corners of his lips lifted in a rare, genuine smile. He turned to Ruan Shiqing and said sincerely, “Thank you. You’ve raised him so well.”

 

After a pause, his voice turned slightly unsteady, his words tumbling out almost clumsily.

 

“Better than Hector and I ever could.”

 

Before Garland knew that this little dragon was his own child, he had already marveled at how well Ruan Shiqing had raised him.

 

Now, that feeling was even stronger.

 

He suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude—thankful that the lost dragon egg had been found by Ruan Shiqing, thankful that his child had grown up happily under the care of a loving father.

 

Among the countless worst-case scenarios he had imagined, the little dragon had ended up with the best possible fate.

 

Garland hesitated for a moment before extending his hands tentatively. “Can I hug you?”

 

The little dragon looked up at him, then turned to Ruan Shiqing. When he saw the warmth and encouragement in his father’s eyes, all his doubts and hesitations melted away.

 

With a few excited flaps of his wings, he leaped into Garland’s embrace.

 

He had always been a lively and affectionate little one. In no time, any awkwardness or uncertainty from their reunion disappeared amidst his soft, happy chirping.

 

He reached into his small backpack and pulled out a gleaming golden gemstone that he treasured dearly. “You gave this to me! Did you recognize me back then?”

 

“No,” Garland admitted with a small, genuine smile. “At the time, I didn’t know you were my child. But I still liked you very much.”

 

Perhaps this was the inexplicable bond of blood ties.

 

From the very first moment he laid eyes on this little dragon, he had felt a strong sense of affection.

 

He had once imagined what his child would look like when the dragon egg finally hatched. But it wasn’t until he met Heli that those vague imaginings took shape.

 

At that time, he had thought—if my child were to grow up, he would probably look like this little one.

 

And now, this endearing young dragon truly was his son.

 

Garland’s lips curved into a deeply satisfied smile.

 

Meanwhile, the little dragon swayed his tail proudly, clutching the gemstone with a look of triumph.

 

After all, he had always been a charming little one.

 

 

 

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I am gonna cry ;_;

 

(ALSO WHAT THE HECK I’M NOT DREAMING I SWEAR IT WAS WRITTEN SIYAN RECEIVED RONG HENG’S MESSAGE IN THE RAWS???? IS THE AUTHOR SERIOUSLY REVEALING THAT LUCIEN IS SIYAN IN SUCH A WAY???? AM I DREAMING????? WHAT THE HECK WHAT THE HECK WHAT THE HECK??? WHAT IS GOING ON?????)

 

 

Thanks for reading!

For every three ko-fis, I will upload a bonus chapter~