"It's really you … I thought I got the wrong person."
The middle-aged man couldn't help but smile in surprise. He was stunned for a long time, and then he let out a long breath as if relieved of a heavy burden.
"Hello, Owen Carter. Just call me Owen."
He introduced himself excitedly, picked up the big bag he bought from the supermarket, and opened the door. "Please come in. The house is a little messy. Please don't mind it."
Ten minutes later, Huai Shi and Russell were sitting in the slightly messy but warmly decorated living room.
Faint steam rose from the teacup in their hands.
There was also a dog running around in the living room. In the end, it snuggled into Huai Shi's arms and asked for a pet. Huai Shi hugged it and rubbed the dog's head.
They looked around.
There were bookshelves everywhere, filled with all kinds of information. There was also a huge table full of drawings. There were all kinds of strange creatures and buildings drawn on them, as well as some young and cute children.
There were also all kinds of picture books and fairy tales in the display cabinet. It looked like a painter's studio.
And in the utility room, there was the sound of rummaging.
After a long time, Owen wiped the sweat on his forehead. His face and arms were covered with dust. He came back with a huge box with some difficulty.
He placed it in front of them.
"I finally found it."
He breathed a sigh of relief and sat down. "My father left a will before he died. He said that one day, if Mr. Russell in the photo came to visit, I should give this to him."
He took out an old photo frame and compared it with Russell in front of him. He sighed. "I didn't expect that after so many years, you really haven't changed at all."
"It's not surprising that people will stagnate and change when they get old."
Russell slowly put down the teacup and looked at the iron box in front of him. "That guy is really whimsical as always … But, didn't you suspect such a ridiculous will?"
Owen shook his head. "Most of my father's arrangements have his reasons. Besides, since it's a will, as a son, I have nothing to say."
Next to him, Huai Shi was holding the dog and looking curiously at the furnishings in the living room. He observed the exquisite fairy tale picture books. "Did you draw all these?"
"Yes."
Owen nodded, a little embarrassed. "I'm now an illustrator who contributes to magazines and advertisements. Occasionally, I'll produce some picture books to make a living. If you like them, I'll give you two later."
"That's great."
Huai Shi nodded. "I happen to be worried about what gift to bring for my students. Can I trouble you to sign a few more books?"
"Of course, that's not a problem. However, students?" Owen was puzzled.
"We work in an educational institution. Mr. Huai Shi has recently become my assistant," Russell explained calmly. "He, your father, didn't tell you about this?"
Owen shook his head.
His father seemed to have never told his child about the world of the Ascended. Under Russell's probing, he quickly discovered that his father knew nothing about it.
Perhaps this was the protection that the father had left behind for his child.
To ordinary people, the world of ascenders was not necessarily beautiful.
"He actually didn't tell you about his previous job?"
Russell said, "Mr. Carter used to be our best White Dove. Well, you can think of him as a member of the research institute. Before he retired, he once went deep into the wilderness alone for us and collected many precious samples and data. He made outstanding contributions."
"Oh, like an explorer?"
Owen's eyes lit up. "He never told me about this.
When I was young, I used to fantasize that he was an assassin who hid his identity, or a ruthless character in some dark organization … Now that I think about it, it doesn't match my father. "
"He had his difficulties." Russell said, "It's not good to tell a child about the hard life of living in the open. Besides, he sacrificed a lot for this."
"I can more or less guess."
Owen nodded and sighed. "Someone like him who is too serious about himself would definitely not let his life be empty. As for why he didn't tell us, he must have his reasons.
However, he was very satisfied when he died. That lack of regret made me envious. "
"So, I think he must have done a very valuable job, right? For example … saving the world or something? "
After saying that, Owen was amused by his ridiculous imagination. He shook his head and did not say anything else. He only pushed the dusty box over.
"No matter what, I believe that my father has completed his mission. Thank you for coming and allowing me to see his value once again."
He said solemnly to the guest in front of him, "Now, I'll give you his last legacy, Mr. Russell. I only hope that my father's legacy can be of some help to you."
Russell lowered his head and stared at the dusty box and the password lock that had never been touched.
"Aren't you curious about what's inside?" he suddenly asked. "You've never opened it?"
Owen was stunned.
He fell silent.
He seemed to be struggling between curiosity and some kind of persistence. After a long time, he shook his head.
"Before my father left, he told me that if I wanted to abandon my current life one day, I could open it. But I think my current life is good, and there's no need to change anything, so … forget it. "
He took a deep look at the iron box that had accompanied him for many years and looked away without any pity. "Anyway, it's not mine anymore. Let me maintain a mysterious fantasy."
Luo Su nodded and didn't say anything else.
Before leaving, he begged the two to sit down and drew two sketches for himself.
In the sketches, Russell was a dignified and cold old man, holding a scepter in his hand and looking awe-inspiring. Huai Shi, on the other hand, was a travel-worn wanderer, but she had a smug smile on her face as if she owned the entire world.
Was it his imagination and processing as a painter, or had he accurately grasped something with his intuition?
It was really hard to understand.
After finishing the sketches, Owen was also shocked by his results. He asked excitedly, "If possible, can I use them in the picture book?"
"This is your work. Of course, it's as you wish."
Russell carried the box and finally said, "If you need any help, please call this number at any time. I owe you and your father a big favor. "
He handed over a business card. "Trust me, I can do most of the things you need."
"I will."
Owen took the business card seriously and put it in his pocket.
He didn't doubt Russell's promise, but he didn't seem to care about the promise that was worth a lot.
"Just in time. It's time for me to pick up my daughter from school."
He picked up the car key, full of expectation and joy. "Thank you for your visit today. It seems that I have a new bedtime story to tell her tonight.
Grandpa's legendary story. She'll listen to it! "
Russell was stunned for a moment and sighed helplessly. "I really hope that I can have a positive role in it. It would be better if I could live to the end of the story."
"I'll try my best to arrange it!"
Owen promised with a smile.
Just like that, after saying goodbye to the two of them, he drove away.
After a long time, Huai Shi looked away.
"You're envious, aren't you?"
Russell sighed. "There's nothing better than having a descendant who's willing to live a normal life, watching him get married and have a family, and finally die with no regrets.
I'm afraid people like us will never have such a wonderful life. "
"Isn't it good now?"
Huai Shi shrugged. "Although that kind of life is enviable, I don't think there's anything bad about my life."
"That's right. Other than not being able to have a stable relationship, there's nothing bad about it." Russell looked deeply at Huai Shi, hinting at something.
Huai Shi suddenly choked and was speechless.
After returning to the car, he looked at the heavy box in Russell's hand and asked curiously, "Can you tell me what's inside?"
"What's there to hide?"
Russell slowly fiddled with the combination lock and asked, "Do you remember what 'White Dove' does?"
"Uh, I remember Raymond told me that they're all elite researchers of the Ivory Tower?" Huai Shi was a little uncertain.
"More or less. They're all explorers of the original Kingdom of Heaven."
Russell sighed. "White Dove, Red Deer, Gray Stork, and Black Whale are all honorific titles for outstanding explorers. Only researchers who have made great contributions to their own fields can get such titles.
Red Deer is a wandering merchant who patrols hell, Gray Stork is a lurker who goes deep into hell, and Black Whale can only be obtained by a group leader in hell.
As for 'White Dove', they're the most elite explorers of hell. They're the researchers and combat units who fight on the frontline. They're responsible for the rescue excavation of hell's relics and important discoveries. As plunderers who are granted a privateering license and are allowed to use all kinds of force, when necessary, they can exterminate anyone from the body to the soul … "
White Dove was the symbol of the Republic's ruthlessness in the Abyss.
For lone explorers like them, it was not an exaggeration to say that they were an army by themselves.
In the past, Huai Shi needed a secret ritual to recruit a large group of people in the Village of Dusk, but every White Dove had at least ten army contracts and more than a thousand hell creatures serving them.
It was because of their existence that the Republic of Heaven could control the network of hell, and the research of the Ivory Tower could complete continuous breakthroughs.
"And this is the legacy left behind by the most outstanding White Dove —"
Russell slowly opened the iron box and stared at the ancient scrolls that were almost overflowing. Every one of them was filled with the words of hell and stamped with seals and origin substance.
There were six thick notes that recorded all the exploration experiences of hell, more than four hundred army contracts, hundreds of tokens from hell, three anonymous accounts from the Demonic Gold Bank, and two deep safe keys.
The terrifying reserves that were enough to start a full-scale war between hell were now stored in this small iron box. After a long period of silence and waiting, it followed the will of its owner and came to Russell's hands.
"Welcome back, my friend."
Russell pulled out a short sword from the top of the chest. The radiant blade forged from cursed iron shone in his eyes, and countless illusions from the past appeared in his eyes.
"Let us rebuild everything once again …"
He murmured softly as he sheathed the sword, carefully keeping it in his bosom.
Everything returned to silence.
"Let's go, Huai Shi."
He closed the box and stared at the dusk outside the window. "It's time for us to go."
Huai Shi nodded, turned the key, and started the car. He turned around and asked, "Where are we going next?"
"Let me think …"
Russell pondered for a moment and suddenly asked, "Do you like to drink?"
"I'm alright. Occasionally, I'll drink a few glasses, but I don't care if it's good or bad."
"What about gambling?"
"Although it's very exciting, I still don't want to touch it at all."
"Then, what about beautiful women?" Russell suggested.
"Forget it." Huai Shi sneered and asked, "No matter how beautiful they are, can they be as good-looking as me?"
"If you always argue like this, you won't find any fun, Huai Shi."
Russell shook his head and sighed regretfully. He felt sorry for his student's poor performance.
"Next stop, America."
It was as if he saw the neon lights of luxury. His words became mocking and hoarse.
"Las Vegas."
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