The Invincible Young General by Kerr Temple
Chapter 15

Chapter 15

At the base of Astral Residences district.

A light night drizzle meandered through the sky.

Chapter 15

A young lifeless body, shrouded by a white sheet, lay in a pool of blood.

The City Watch set up a cordon while a cluster of onlookers gathered at a distance.

The elderly Thompson couple cried their hearts out, their words coming in sobs as they explained the evening’s events to the police.

Tonight, Emily had locked herself in her room and even skipped dinner.

They had been considering asking an old friend of Mr. Thompson for a loan, to send Emily on a trip, hoping it might help her relieve her mind.

And then, out of nowhere, a bang.

Then someone screamed, “There’s a dead body!”

At first, they didn’t realize what was happening, until they looked out the window.

Emily had… jumped.

In that instant, the old couple went numb.

In a corner, Markus motioned to a passing officer, “Buddy, got a cig?”

Not really knowing who he was, only aware that he was brought in by Commander Hampton, the officer courteously pulled out a pack of Salem cigarettes from his pocket and offered one to Markus.

But Markus grabbed the whole pack, leaving the officer gaping as he put one in his mouth and the rest in his jacket pocket.

“Hey, buddy, that’s not quite…”

“Just a pack of smokes. You can square it with your Commander Hampton later!” Markus unabashedly replied.

The officer was still miffed. He’d offered a cigarette out of goodwill, and this guy pocketed the whole pack.

Was this acceptable?

This was not acceptable at all.

“Alright, go do your thing!”

At this moment, Abigail approached.

As soon as Abigail spoke, the officer reluctantly walked away.

Standing next to Markus, Abigail’s gaze fixed on the body as she spoke, “The deceased, named Emily Thompson, was 25 years old. She was universally recognized as a good girl in this neighborhood. Her parents were perpetually unwell, needing constant medical care. Plus, she had a younger brother who needed to be educated. So, after finishing high school, she started working immediately and didn’t pursue college.

“Considering the steep medical expenses, she found a job as a barmaid at Insatiable Bar. She had recently found a wealthy boyfriend, who was good to her, and was planning to quit her job.

“Her last shift at Insatiable Bar was last night. Her parents claim she was raped by some young high-flyer that very night. She came back unhinged, wallowing in the gloom. Never did they see the suicide leap coming,” Abigail said.

Markus just sat there, puffing his cigarette, not making a sound.

Abigail exhaled deeply and continued, “You probably know the score. The ‘boyfriend’ in her parents’ words is none other than Harrison Sinclair, a spoilt rich brat from Riverside. He might be a handful, but he’s got a kind heart. For Emily, just a regular girl next door, landing a boyfriend like that, you’d think she struck gold. Too bad, all ruined by Reginald!”

Reginald, the man who had raped Emily.

“I’m curious,” Markus said, “Emily had the guts to jump off a building, a tough nut to crack. If she had the courage for that, why didn’t she cry out for help to the City Watch?”

Markus, stubbing out his cigarette, finally broke his silence.

“You probably guessed it, right?” countered Abigail.

More or less.

“She wouldn’t dare!”

Abigal nodded, “Reginald isn’t a one-time offender. He’s a seasoned wolf. Usually, he plies a girl with drinks, rapes her, and

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Chapter 15

then threatens her with a pay-off to hush up. If the girl happens to be tough, he brings out the Montague Crime Family card. Threatened Einily with hurling her entire family off a building if she dared to call the City Watch!”

And just like that, a tragedy unfolded.”

So this is the infamous Montague Crime Family!

It was truly unforgivable.

Dipping into his thoughts, Markus turned his gaze to Abigail, “So, when are you planning to arrest them?”

“We can arrest them anytime. But the million-dollar question is, after arrest, will we be able to hold them?” Abigail looked helpless. “It’s a frustrating lack of evidence. More than a day has passed, and almost all incriminating evidence would have been destroyed by now.

“I told you, Reginald is a pro at this.”

At this, Markus sneered, “So, you just let Reginald get off scot-free?”

Abigail replied. “The City Watch can’t operate like the Montague Crime Family, flouting the law. To tackle the Montague Crime Family, relying solely on Riverside’s City Watch is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. So… I need your help.

Her gaze firmly on Markus, she continued, “Only by putting an end to the Montague Crime Family can we return Riverside City to a peaceful place! And only then, such horrors can be prevented in the future.”

Lighting another cigarette, Markus replied, ‘Count me in.”

After leaving the scene, Markus headed back to his temporary digs, a local hotel.

By rights, Markus should have been arrested for at least a day. But to put it in Abigail’s words, she wouldn’t have thrown the book at Markus even if he had torn down the Insatiable Bar brick by brick, let alone him not causing much damage.

She, Abigail, still had this right.

Markus took an icy shower, flung himself onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts.

Memories flooded back, of the first time he was summoned by his godfather.

“Field Marshal, my name is Markus Blackthorn.”

“Your name includes ‘thorn’ Why would your parents name you that?” the Field Marshal questioned.

“I wouldn’t know, sir, my biological parents are strangers to me. I was found by my foster father with a jade pendant around

my neck, engraved with the word ‘thorn.’ So I took the name, Markus Blackthorn!”

“Where’s this jade pendant? Show me!”

“I’m afraid, sir, my foster father lost it in a gambling wager!”

Aurelius was speechless.

Then there was another encounter.

“Markus, do you remember the vow of the Northern Boundaries’ solider?”

“I do. Never betray the homeland or our comrades. Never oppress the common folk!”

“And if one day you retire, and you see some hooligan wreaking havoc, what would you do?”

“Pulling out swords when I meet injustice.”

“Good, from this day forward, you are the sixth adopted son of minel” Aurelius said.

Then, another scene occurred.

This year, Aurelius’s hair had significantly greyed.

“Being a soldier should be a simple affair, Markus. You just need to remember your duties and, if fate wills it, die on the battlefield. But the world doesn’t allow for such simplicity. I sealed your file when I took you in as my foster son, warning you never to reveal your origins. Do you know why?”

By this time, Markus was far from being clueless.

He understood very well.

“You fear that my existence might be a thorn in someone’s side, sir, which could lead them to target my family.” “Yes, and you’re already a thorn in someone’s side.”

“Who?”

“Magnus!”

“My second brother?”

Chapter 15

Aurelius inhaled sharply. “He’s more than just your second brother. He’s a scion of the Ironfist family. I only recently discovered he is Galen Ironfist’s son. It seems we’ve nurtured a serpent in our bosom!

“Markus, if there’s ever a great upheaval in Northern Boundaries that can’t be resisted, you should leave here…”

Markus’ eyes snapped open, filled with a chilly determination.

Now that he had walked out of the Greenvale Mental Institution, he was bound to square accounts with Magnus back in Northern Boundaries!

He had once assured his godfather that faced with injustice… he would pull out his sword!

In the face of the prevailing injustice… he would solve these matters!

That night, Markus didn’t fall asleep.