Revering Only for You

Chapter 3

The Captain of the guards was called Arthur Ward. His family had been members of the guard in Redmond town for many generations. The town was the most prosperous in the Rosewood fief due to the close vicinity of the Rosewood summer manor, leading to a higher population and higher crime rate. But this was the first time he faced something like this.

Captain Ward looked away from the burning dead bodies. There was nothing he could do for them. However, there was something he could do. Aside from the masked men, the most suspicious person was the unknown boy.

“Young man, what is your name? Release those men. We’ll take them down,” he commanded.

Ren Xiyang dissipated the flames, leaving only the weak dawn light coming through the windows.

The world of the novel was a vague medieval-Europe inspired setting steeped with magic. Whether or not Asian-inspired countries existed was not mentioned in the novel at all. So Ren Xiyang didn’t want to give any part of his real name. Instead, he gave the name he prepared earlier: “Ayden Rosewood.”

Captain Ward narrowed his eyes. “Apologies, Master Rosewood, but you need to confirm your identity.” He knew that there were spells that could change hair colour and eye colour, and the Rosewoods weren’t the only ones with fire magic. And anyone could wear a piece of clothing with the Rosewood crest on it.

Ren Xiyang was unfazed. It was technically true that he was a Rosewood. If they had a paternity test or magical lineage spell, there would be no cracks. While it might have been easier to impersonate Alyssa Rosewood, being assigned female at birth—or assigned female at transmigration—didn’t make him female, be it in his first life, or this second life.

“Unfortunately, my father is dead,” he replied coldly. “I live nearby. I noticed the fire in the study room and came to investigate, only to find my family dead. Why did you take so long?”

Captain Ward scowled. “Live nearby? Then why haven’t we seen you before?”

“Perhaps your security clearance was not high enough.”

Captain Ward’s scowl depended. This impudent bastard child!

One of the assassins stealthily moved while everyone’s attention was diverted. But a second later, a burning rope of fire wrapped around his wrist. “AH!!” he screamed in pain.

Ren Xiyang loosened the flame rope a moment later. “Don’t move,” he said darkly. The flame rope expanded out, encasing the assassin and once again burning all the oxygen to render him unconscious again. He looked at the incompetent guards. “Guards, strip them and search them, make sure they won’t kill themselves, and tie them up.” If his body was bigger, he would have done it all himself.

Many wide, nervous eyes looked back at him. The speed at which this Ayden Rosewood reacted was too fast! He could kill any one of them in the next moment!

“Captain, maybe we should alert the Capital,” a male servant said bravely. This was too big for little town guards. He suspected that this new young master Rosewood was even more dangerous than the murderers.

Captain Ward forcefully dispersed his own fear. “Yes, I was about to do so. Corporal Lir, send a message to the Capital requesting support into the investigation. You men, tie these intruders up and take them downstairs.”

“Yes, sir!”

Ren Xiyang was about to follow the guards, to make sure the assassins remained compliant, but one of Alyssa’s old memories came to the fore.

Normally, nobles hired their own private investigators, but Alyssa didn’t know how, and so neither did Ren Xiyang.

However, Alyssa did know that her father had an expensive crystal ball that could communicate with the Capital, displayed in the study room behind wards that prevented any non-Rosewood from using it. Importantly, Alyssa knew how to use it and what kinds of people could be contacted using it.

Ren Xiyang strode back into the study room, with nervous servants trailing after him. He headed for the crystal ball, which was displayed on a podium near the desk. He placed his hand on the protective ward. It recognised him as a Rosewood, allowing his hand to pass through.

“Connect to the Capital Investigators’ Office,” Ren Xiyang ordered.

The connection was successful. “Good morning, Earl Rosewood. How can we help you?” There were no visuals, only sound transmission.

“This is not Earl Rosewood. This is Ayden Rosewood. Earl Rosewood has been murdered. Please send detectives and investigators immediately to the Rosewood summer manor. I have already apprehended the six assassins.”

There was a stunned pause. Then, in a polite voice: “Please wait a moment, Ayden Rosewood.”

There was a clatter of sound from the other side, and a faint, “Clarke, come over here, listen in and prepare a report.”

“Yessir!”

The voice became clear again. “Ayden Rosewood, please tell us as much information as possible. We will dispatch suitable Investigators.”

“Yes.” Ren Xiyang’s eyes drooped slightly as he relayed all relevant information. This was the kind of smooth organisation he expected.

It took Alyssa Rosewood years to uncover information about the murderers, but Ren Xiyang had supernatural knowledge of the novel and caught the assassins.

As he spoke, the sun finally crossed the horizon, turning the sky blue.