The Strongest Family Has Arrived!

Chapter 2

—–CROW—–

***

Two years later.

Imperial Year 934, August 9th.

*Clank.*

“Number 922851, you’re released.”

The heavy iron cell door opened, and at the guard’s call, the waiting man stood. His large frame filled the already cramped cell.

“…”

The guard sweated, intimidated by the approaching man’s menacing appearance.

Golden hair like the sun and blazing gold eyes. The man was like a lion, as his name suggested.

“What are you waiting for? Unlock these, quickly.”

The man casually held out his bound wrists, and the guard unlocked the handcuffs.

Prisoner number 922851.

August 5th, 922. The culprit of the “Konrad Massacre” that occurred twelve years ago.

He was excommunicated from his family and sentenced to twelve years in prison for the massacre of innocent Konrad villagers.

He was the son of the Duke of Vasenberg, the power behind the Empire’s throne, but now he was just a criminal without family or title.

He had served a ridiculously short sentence, a mere twelve years, for taking countless lives.

“Hyung-nim! Are you leaving?!”

“Congratulations on your release!”

As the man, now in changed clothes, gathered his meager belongings and exited the prison building, the inmates engaged in labor cheered enthusiastically.

“Alright, take care!”

The guard frowned at the man waving with a smile.

This was Abyss, the Empire’s prison, where only those who committed serious crimes against humanity were gathered.

The man’s notoriety needed no further explanation, as he was called “hyung-nim” even among the demonic inmates.

The guard let the man out without a word of farewell.

*Bang.*

The prison gates slammed shut behind Ryan, the man released after serving twelve years.

“Ah, the outside air is nice.”

In the distance, he could see the lighthouse at the pier and the horizon stretching beyond.

The scenery of the remote island, with only the prison facility, looked utterly peaceful.

“It would have been more peaceful if it weren’t for the unpleasant face I saw as soon as I got out. Right?”

Ryan sneered at the elderly aide waiting for him.

“You’ve aged a lot, Bill. Well, I guess wagging your tail like a dog next to my father must have been tiring.”

“It’s been a while, Young Master. Welcome back.”

Bill, the Duke of Vasenberg’s aide, delivered a short greeting and handed over documents in a businesslike manner.

“Young Master, due to your significant damage to the family’s honor twelve years ago with the civilian massacre, His Grace, the Duke, has ordered your excommunication. You may no longer use the Vasenberg name.”

“Yeah, I got it. I’m leaving now.”

“Nevertheless, His Grace, concerned about your livelihood after your release, has granted you an estate. He hopes you will spend the rest of your life in gratitude for his generosity.”

“Huh.”

Ryan scoffed as he looked at the documents thrust upon him.

“What is this worthless land? Am I supposed to play lord on land where not even an ant lives?”

“Whether you reside on the estate or not is your prerogative.”

“He could have at least given me some of the gold he’s always dripping with instead of this inconvenient piece of land.”

“Indeed. That is why there is one more thing.”

Bill gestured, and one of the soldiers behind him pulled someone forward.

Hidden behind the large soldiers, someone I hadn’t even noticed…

‘What’s that?’

A young girl with pink hair tied back tightly.

Her pretty face, indicative of a sheltered upbringing, had a strangely familiar quality. Was it because her golden eyes resembled someone?

“Hello. My name is Vania Vasenberg.”

“Eh? Vasenberg?”

And then, Bill’s shocking declaration followed.

“She is your daughter, Young Master.”

“…Bullshit.”

“We have also prepared gold bars worth three thousand gold in her name. We will give them to you if you decide to raise her.”

“No, what kind of bullshit is this? Who is she?”

“She is your daughter, Young Master.”

“Are you kidding me?!!!”

Ryan couldn’t hold back and yelled, causing Vania to flinch in surprise.

“My daughter? Did the world change without my knowledge while I was locked up for twelve years? Is it possible to have a child without even holding a woman’s hand?”

“There’s no way to confirm your private life before your imprisonment, Young Master.”

“I went to prison when I was twelve!”

“…”

“Don’t you find that ridiculous yourself? Who’s the mother? If you’re going to try to scam me, at least bring the mother along for a proper confrontation.”

“Only you would know that, Young Master.”

“So, you’re saying I caused some kind of ‘accident’ when I was a twelve-year-old brat?”

“It’s not impossible.”

“…”

Seeing Bill’s unyielding attitude, Ryan understood.

That snake of an aide knew.

That the girl was neither his daughter nor anything of the sort.

Yet, there was a reason why he had to foist her onto Ryan.

“This child is indeed your biological daughter, Young Master. She’s incompetent.”

“Aha.”

Only then did Ryan look at the trembling Vania and chuckle.

“I see. I thought her eyes resembled Father’s. It seems Father produced another incompetent cripple besides me. So, she’s my… half-sister?”

“No. She is your daughter, Young Master.”

“Yeah, I get it. The Duke of Vasenberg doesn’t want to hear rumors about his reproductive abilities, so he’s disguising this child as my daughter and throwing her away.”

“Please watch your words.”

“Hey.”

Ryan, wiping the smile from his face, leaned close to Bill and whispered.

“I rotted in here for twelve years in place of the real murderers. I think I’ve paid my dues as a Vasenberg.”

“…That’s not true. You were the culprit of the massacre, Young Master.”

“Now you want me to just die quietly, stuck in some backwater estate with a criminal record and a kid? Do I look like a fool after obediently serving my time?”

“Since the child has already been declared your daughter, if you refuse to take her…”

Bill added, his eyes cold.

“I’ll handle it myself.”

“This damn…”

A suffocating tension hung in the air between the cold Bill and Ryan, who glared at him as if he would kill him.

Vania, anxiously watching them, bravely shouted,

“Appa!”

“Hey, do you want to die? Why am I your appa?”

Ryan immediately frowned and turned around.

“Let me introduce myself again!”

Vania shook off the soldier’s hand and ran to Ryan.

An incompetent cripple? Incompetent?

No.

This man, Ryan, was hiding a terrifying ability.

Vania, who knew his secret, was afraid, but she couldn’t just keep trembling like a fool.

She had a plan she’d been preparing for two years since her regression.

The first step was to follow Ryan from here.

“My name is Vania, and I’m twelve years old!”

“I didn’t ask.”

“His Grace gave me three gold bars! If you take me with you, they’re all yours, Appa!”

“I don’t need them.”

Ryan replied indifferently.

Vania clenched her sweaty hands.

Calm down, Vania, you have to be calm.

If she couldn’t follow Ryan, she’d have to move to Plan B, and that would make things complicated.

“Where are you planning to stay?”

She changed her tactic and tried a whimpering tone.

“Wherever you go, you’ll have to clean and do laundry… I’ll do all of that for you…”

“Oh, really?”

Was this offer interesting?

Ryan stared intently at Vania.

“I-I’ll be obedient… Please take me with you… I was kicked out of the house, and I have nowhere to go…”

“Come here.”

Vania’s hopes rose as Ryan kindly took her hand, but only for a moment.

“Do you even eat regularly? How pathetic, letting such a tiny girl wander around lost.”

He handed Vania right back to the soldier.

“No! Take me with you! Please take me!”

Then, without a shred of hesitation, he turned and walked away. Vania cried out after him.

“I’ll die if you don’t take me! Appaaa! Please take meeee!”

—–CROW—–