On the other side of the world, the chill of Silveke Harbor cut through the night air like a knife.


    Elvis stood on the balcony, the harsh wind whipping against his face and billowing his ck trench coat around him. Avery''s voice, mocking and smug, was like a whisper from a demon.


    Elvis felt a chokehold on his breath, his eyes bloodshot with fury: "Avery, do you have a death wish?"


    "That line, I''ve heard it countless times over the past fifteen years. Sadly, they were all talk, no action. Not one couldy a finger on me."


    Avery chuckled, his tone arrogant, "So, Elvis, thinking of being the first to pull the tiger''s whiskers?"


    "A tiger? Please..." Elvis''s chest heaved with heavy, stifled breaths, "You''re nothing but a scavenger, feasting on the dead in the wilderness!"


    "Next Saturday, Elsie and my assistant Harvey are getting married in Helgen. As the woman you love, wouldn''t it be a lifelong regret if you missed her wedding?"


    Elvis, a top agent with instincts beyond the ordinary, felt a shiver of terror at Avery''s words: "Avery... if you dare touch Elsie, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth, even to hell itself!"


    "On their big day, I will present a special gift to the newlyweds." Avery''sughter was low and ominous, hinting at the madness and excitement of a man pushed to the edge, "I hope you''lle to Helgen and witness it with me. Otherwise, I assure you, you''ll regret it for the rest of your life."


    "Avery!" Elvis roared with hatred.


    The call was abruptly ended, not giving Elvis a chance to vent, fueling his anger and frustration.


    "Ellie... wait for me. Even if it costs me my life, I will save you!"


    Elvis inhaled the icy air deeply, the pain cutting through him like a knife. His muscles were tense as he stepped back from the balcony, only to freeze: "Dad...?!"


    As a top agent, his reflexes were sharp, his senses acute. Yet, in his heated confrontation with Avery, he hadn''t noticed his father''s arrival.


    "Elvis, were you on the phone with that Little Critter from the Chambers family?" Emeric Ashbourne looked at his son with deep concern, "What did he want? What''s he nning?!"


    "It''s nothing, don''t worry." Elvis''s voice was weak.


    Years of wandering and his secretive profession had made him ustomed to solitude, unable to share his burdens even with his father.


    "It''s not nothing! How can it be nothing!" Emeric, frantic with worry, stepped closer, "You''re my son. No matter how much you avoid me, you''re still my child, Emeric''s child! Since you were little, you never opened up to me like your brothers. You seemed independent, but I know you carry the heaviest burdens, prone to mncholy! How could I not worry? Aren''t you my boy?!"


    Elvis locked eyes with his father, feeling a surge of pain.


    "The Chambers family''s youngest, notorious and ruthless! To get what he wants, he''d even cross me, let alone you..." Emeric, panic-stricken, grabbed Elvis''s shoulders, "Elvis! Don''t go! No matter what Avery says to lure you, don''t go!"


    Trying to lighten the mood, Elvis managed a cheeky grin, "Dad, remember? I''m a trained agent. If Avery''s tricks could best me, I''d have been history long ago."


    "Damn it, this is no joke!" Emeric, furious,nded a punch on Elvis''s head, "I''m ordering you as your father, don''t go!"


    The pain was sharp, but Elvis felt a warmth in his heart. Such moments of closeness between father and son were rare, making him regret not embracing this bond sooner.


    "Dad, I have to go." Elvis''s gaze was fierce and determined, "I have to confront Avery, the woman I love is in his clutches."


    "What woman? What woman is more important than my son?!"


    "To me, she''s as important as I am to you." Elvis''s voice choked up, overwhelmed


    by emotion, "Dad, I want to marry her. I want to be with her."


    Emeric was stunned, feeling a sharp pang in his heart. The Ashbournes, always fools for love.


    "Dad, don''t worry. I''lle back in one piece, and bring your daughter-inw home." Elvis opened his arms for a big hug.


    Emeric was close to tears, knowing he couldn''t dissuade him. He repeatedly cautioned, "Juste back safe, son. I''ll be waiting to have dinner with you." Elvisughed heartily, "Of course! We''ll have a feast when I return!"


    Emeric cursed lightly, knocking Elvis on the head again, "A feast? Nonsense! Don''t talk about bad omens!"


    After escorting Emeric back to his room, Elvis stepped out to find Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy and his eldest brother waiting for him, a solemn air about them. "What''s this about?" Elvis blinked, still managing to joke, "Gearing up for a final showdown? Been reading too many adventure novels?"


    "Elvis, you''re going to save Ms. Archer. We''reing with you." Thaddeus held Evadne''s hand tightly, his eyes burning with a fierce, determined resolve.