Chapter 240: NEW THREAT
The moment Ali said that Alice was kidnapped and Logan had gone after her alone, Rudeous staggered back. Though he had thought of this possibility, the confirmation was hard to accept. His heart ached in pain.
Rudeous looked up at Ali’s face again and asked in a pained voice, "Who is it? Who kidnapped Alice?"
"I believe you already know about them. It’s the third eye sect," Ali said.
"It’s them again. I wish I could just bury them all alive." Rudeous clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug into the flesh.
Meanwhile, both Mirena and Darius, who were standing at the back, narrowed their eyes. "So he is really alive. And back as well." That was the thought they both had at the same time.
Noah who was standing beside Ali, stepped forward and placed his right hand on Rudeous’s shoulder. "Mr. Smith, don’t worry. Though Logan went alone, his existence alone is equal to a full-fledged party of capable hunters." He paused briefly before continuing, "He will surely bring his mother back."
Meanwhile, many in the house still didn’t know that Logan was alive. Only Mirena and Darius had faint suspicions that he might still be living. So, when they heard about it, they felt a brief moment of happiness, but that joy quickly faded when they realized that Alice had once again been kidnapped by the same Third Eye Sect, and Logan had gone alone to rescue her.
Rion, Rudeous’s younger brother, stepped forward and said, "Brother, let’s take the guests inside first. For now, we can only hope that both of them return safely."
Rudeous nodded and then looked at Ali. "Please forgive my rudeness, Mr. Arman. Let’s go inside." With that, Rudeous gestured with his hand, inviting everyone in.
Ali and the other six in the group understood that this wasn’t the right time to linger here—the family was in turmoil. The house lord’s wife had been kidnapped, the supposedly dead heir had returned, only to leave again in search of his mother.
Still, they too were waiting for Logan. They couldn’t just walk away after starting a mission together and coming this far.
So they followed Rudeous inside, while the remaining members also entered one by one.
Only Mirena and Darius stayed behind, standing silently.
"Mother, what should we do now? Even though I’ve reached Tier 2, if Logan comes back, I won’t have any chance of becoming the family patriarch." Darius paused, then added, "And you heard what Mr. Starwind said. Logan has become far stronger than before."
Mirena’s eyes grew cold as she looked at Darius angrily. "So what if he’s strong? I will still make sure that you become the family patriarch. And..."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Logan himself told me that he has no interest in the patriarch’s position. I can only hope he truly meant those words."
Though Mirena reassured Darius, she knew deep down that Logan now stood on an entirely different level. Two of the kingdom’s three S-class hunters had appeared here—and all because of Logan. At this point, even his father’s status would be useless against him.
All she could do now was pray that Logan would never claim the family patriarch’s seat.
A few seconds later, they also walked inside.
Now everyone sat quietly in the hall, the atmosphere heavy with silence. The air itself felt tense, pressing down on each heart.
Time passed bit by bit, and night’s darkness grew deeper.
Meanwhile, Logan and Alice were galloping toward the Smith Villa, both mounted on horseback.
Alice’s body had grown thin after so many days of irregular meals and sleepless nights of worry. The bright glow in her eyes was now shadowed by dark circles.
But today, all of that faded before her lively heart. Happiness bloomed within her, beyond what words could capture. She was riding side by side with her son. Logan had finally returned. Where he would go tomorrow, how long he would stay, none of that mattered. She only wanted to savor this moment.
Logan, too, was filled with relief and joy. He was finally reunited with his mother after almost three years. Three years in which so much had changed, so much had happened.
The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed across the quiet road. The moon shone gently above, casting its pale light over the two figures riding together.
Alice leaned slightly forward, her grip tight on the reins, but her gaze never strayed far from Logan. Every now and then, she stole glances at his face. He looked calm, but she could sense the strength hidden under that calmness.
Her heart swelled with both pride and fear. "He has grown so tall. I wish he didn’t have to leave again."
Logan noticed her gaze. He smiled softly, trying to ease the worry that he knew was running through her heart. "Don’t worry, Mom. Everything will be fine now. We’re almost home."
Alice nodded, though she did not speak. She feared that if she opened her mouth, her emotions would spill out uncontrollably. Instead, she chose silence, letting the warmth of this rare moment sink deep into her heart.
The villa was still a distance away, but Logan’s mind was already moving. "The Third Eye Sect is down for good this time. Now I don’t have to worry about exposing my strength anymore. But I need to grow even stronger. And fast. I can’t breathe relief until I take down the dungeon boss Nolan spoke of."
His eyes grew cold for a brief moment. Then he quickly masked it, not wanting Alice to notice.
Back in the villa, the air remained heavy. No one spoke. Rudeous sat at the center, his face pale, his fists clenched.
Rion looked at his older brother, then at the guests. He wanted to say something to lighten the mood, but nothing came to his lips. The weight of the situation pressed on him as well.
Ali, seated among the hunters, let out a slow breath. He turned his head toward Noah. Both of them shared the same thought... Logan was strong, but the Third Eye Sect was not to be underestimated. "I hope that brat returns safely." He whispered.
Mirena sat quietly in one corner, her expression calm, but her mind was far from it. She was still calculating, weighing every possibility. "If Logan truly intends to stay away from the patriarch’s seat, then good. But if not... then what?" Her hands clenched tightly on her lap.
Darius, seated beside her, kept his eyes fixed on the ground, his jaw tightened.
A long time passed just like this. And finally, Logan and Alice were close to their destination. The gates of the Smith villa came into view.
When they got closer, two guards stationed at the main gate widened their eyes as they recognized Alice riding at the back. And so they knew, who the other person was.
"It’s young master Logan!" one of them shouted, his voice breaking the heavy stillness of the night. "And Mrs. Smith is also safe."
The news spread quickly through the villa.
Rudeous stood up at once, his chair scraping against the floor. His heart pounded. "They are back," he could barely control his emotion.
Everyone else rose to their feet as well. The tense atmosphere started to fade.
And outside, under the veil of night, Logan and Alice finally reached the gates of the Smith Villa.
Logan was the first to dismount. He then walked over to Alice’s horse to help her down.
But Alice slid off with ease, her steps steady despite her weakened body. By then, the guards had already rushed forward to assist, and from inside the house, everyone came running out, at the very front was Rudeous.
The moment his eyes fell on Logan and Alice, he broke into a sprint and pulled the two of them into a tight embrace. Tears streamed down his face. Until now, he had been consumed with worry about Alice’s safety and about Logan, from whom he had heard nothing for so long. But at last, both of them stood before him, safe and sound.
"I cannot even describe how happy I am to see you both return safely," Rudeous said, his voice trembling.
Alice smiled gently, and Logan too nodded with a rare softness in his eyes. "I’m happy as well, Father. Truly... it feels good to be back."
At that moment, Ali and the other hunters finally let out the breaths they had been holding. "Phew! Finally, the brat is back." Ali muttered, half-scolding, half-relieved.
_______
Meanwhile, at the same time, inside a massive dungeon where the ceiling seemed to stretch into infinity, a creature was kneeling on the cold, damp ground. It was the same one that had once been seen alongside Nolan.
Before him, the same eerie orb floated silently in the air.
"Why did you suddenly call for me?" A hoarse, ancient voice drifted out from within the orb.
"M... Master, please help me," the creature stammered. "The hybrid who was aiding me here has somehow died. And my spiritual energy is still too short for me to break through the dungeon gate."
Lowering his head even further, he continued, "Master, please send more help. Otherwise, things will become very difficult here."
For a moment, silence filled the cavernous dungeon. Then, the hoarse voice replied, slow and deliberate.
"Very well. I will send two of your brethren. They are far stronger than that hybrid, though still weaker than you. You should be able to command them with ease."