Chapter 2: Who Are You Looking For

Words : 2890 Updated : Dec 20th, 2023

Just as the ID was about to hit the ground, Fanix moved with lightning speed, snatching it back with an effortless grace that spoke of years of training. The ID returned to his hand, and without a word, he carefully put it away. Then, his gaze turned to Frenetos, cold and piercing. Frenetos felt a sudden chill run down his spine. His clothes and hair fluttered as if caught in a sudden breeze, and the cups and bowls on the nearby table began to tremble slightly. He shivered, feeling a strange unease creeping over him. But Frenetos quickly masked his discomfort with a disdainful snort. He glared at Fanix with contempt. "What are you glaring at? Did I say something wrong? It's just a fake ID, and you're treating it like it's worth something. Does it bring you money? Unbelievable! You just got back, and you're already trying to scam us. Are you planning to get yourself thrown back in jail?" The mention of jail only stoked the fire in Fanix's eyes, making it burn even brighter. He gritted his teeth, fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. In his mind, he was already imagining twisting Frenetos' head off. But years of discipline and bloody battles had taught Fanix the value of self-control. He quickly reined in his emotions, forcing himself to remain calm in front of his relatives and friends. "So, you're Faela's fiancé? You can call me Fanix." Fanix extended his hand, maintaining his composure and politely offering a greeting. Frenetos, however, looked at Fanix with disgust. He wiped his own hand as if it had been contaminated and walked past him without a second glance. He slung his arm around Faela's shoulder as if deliberately flaunting his relationship with her in front of Fanix, wanting to assert his dominance. "Faela, your brother here has no sense of decency at all. A person who corrects their mistakes is priceless. Yet here he is, trying to deceive you and your parents. He's nothing like you. You're so kind and pure." "Exactly. Why did he even come back? Does he think we haven't been humiliated enough? He really has no shame. Ignore him, Frenetos. Keep eating, and let me pour you a drink." Keira raised her glass, personally pouring Frenetos a drink and downing her own in a display of respect. "Let's all toast to Frenetos together. Please take good care of Faela after she marries you, but don't spoil her too much." Relatives and friends immediately gathered around Frenetos, their attention completely shifted away from Fanix. Their expressions turned cold, and whispers filled the room, laced with disdain and sarcasm. Faela was dragged away by Keira to join the celebration, leaving her no time to pay attention to Fanix. She stood beside Frenetos, forcing a smile, though she occasionally glanced back at Fanix with a mix of disappointment and pity in her eyes. In her mind, the brother she had once admired and adored was gone. She thought to herself, "He's turned into such a disappointment. Not only did he fail to learn from his mistakes, but he's also given up on being a good man." "Fanix, don't pay attention to them. They don't know anything, but I believe you. Tell me secretly, are you really a general?" Verruckt asked, his voice filled with unwavering belief. Fanix nodded slightly. "I'm telling the truth." Anger flickered across his face, but he quickly suppressed it. He understood the depth of the misunderstandings and prejudices against him. "It's true, huh? I knew you'd make something of yourself. A real man doesn't care about what others think or say. Let's have a couple of drinks to celebrate your return." Verruckt beamed with pride, pulling Fanix over to another table and opening another bottle of wine. "Dad, you should drink less. Don't overdo it," Fanix gently reminded him. Just then, there was a knock at the door, and a young woman in a crisp military uniform walked in with a firm stride. She was Aila, Fanix's subordinate. Everyone's eyes were drawn to her immediately. She had an undeniable presence that commanded attention. "Who are you? What do you want?" someone asked cautiously. "Hello, I'm here to see Fanix. I'm his subordinate, reporting on some work." Aila walked up to Fanix and saluted him with precision. "Really? I don't believe it. How could someone like him have a subordinate like you?" a voice questioned from the crowd. "Look at the badges on her shoulders. They're high-ranking. She's at least a major general," someone whispered, sparking a wave of curiosity. Fanix glanced at Aila and then stood up. "I have some business to attend to. You all enjoy yourselves." Keira, eager to see him go, quickly added, "If you're leaving, then go. Stop pretending. What serious business could you possibly have? Quit acting like you're some big shot." Fanix didn't respond. Instead, he turned to Faela. "Faela, I'm leaving. I'll come back to see you another day." He then saluted both Keira and Verruckt, his posture straight and unwavering. The light cast a shadow that made him appear larger than life, just like a mountain that could not be moved. Faela felt a sudden wave of confusion wash over her. "Fanix, where are you going?" she called out, her heart racing for reasons she couldn't quite understand. "I have work to do. Keep this gift," Fanix said as he placed a small box on the table. "Work? That's laughable. You just got out—what kind of work could you possibly have? There's no one else here. Can't you just be honest? If you need a job, you can come to my company. We happen to be looking for a cleaner," Frenetos sneered, his voice dripping with condescension as he glanced at Fanix out of the corner of his eye. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't need it," Fanix replied calmly before turning and walking out. Verruckt, worried, followed him outside. "Fanix, if you really are going to work, then do your best. Just don't push yourself too hard. And remember, you're always welcome here." Verruckt watched as Fanix and Aila got into a military vehicle parked at the door. Only then did he feel reassured. He hummed a tune to himself as he returned inside, instinctively reaching for the wine bottle again. But, remembering Fanix's advice, he set the bottle down. "What's got you so happy? You actually believed him?" Keira scoffed, her tone cold and dismissive. "You don't know anything, woman. There's much about Fanix that you don't understand, and I haven't told you either," Verruckt said with a knowing smile. "Verruckt, Fanix is clearly lying to everyone again. Think about it—what rank did that woman hold? Major general, right? How could she possibly be his subordinate? That would mean Fanix is more powerful than the mayor of Norston. If he's going to lie, he should at least make it believable. He probably just hired an actress. I saw through it immediately." Frenetos chuckled, his laughter filled with smug satisfaction as he reveled in his supposed superiority. His doubts quickly spread through the room, and soon everyone was cursing Fanix as a disgrace, vowing to distance themselves from him. "Don't worry, I guarantee he won't show up here again. He's embarrassed us enough," Keira declared, her voice dripping with contempt. "Forget it. I'm going to bed," Verruckt muttered, giving Frenetos a disdainful look as if he hadn't heard a word he said. With his hands behind his back, he headed to his room. "Faela, what are you daydreaming about? After dinner, spend more time with your fiancé, or maybe you two can go out for some fun," Keira urged, nudging Faela out of her thoughts. "Oh, okay," Faela replied, her gaze drifting to the small gift box Fanix had left on the table. She was about to reach for it when Keira abruptly snatched it away and tossed it into a corner. "What could he possibly have to give you that's worth anything? It's probably just some cheap trinket from a street vendor," Keira sneered. "She's right, Faela. Whatever you want, I'll buy it for you. I could even get you the stars and the moon if you asked," Frenetos said with a smirk, stepping on the gift box and using it to wipe the dust off his shoes. Faela glanced at the discarded box, then looked toward the door where Fanix had left. She sighed heavily before forcing a smile for Frenetos. Meanwhile, in the military vehicle, Aila handed Fanix a set of photos. "Mr. Edwards, here's the information you asked me to investigate. Please take a look." Fanix's hands trembled slightly as he caressed the photos. His expression tightened as he stared at the images of a beautiful woman and an adorable little girl. They were his wife, Brisa Genry, and his daughter, Serin Genry—two people he hadn't seen in years. "How are they doing now?" Fanix asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The memory of Brisa's tear-filled eyes the day he was taken away flashed through his mind. All the battles he had fought, all the injuries he had endured, paled in comparison to the scar that memory had left on his heart. "She's been very independent since you left. Despite opposition from the Genry family, she raised Serin on her own. They live together while Brisa runs a company. But their relationships with both the Edwards and Genry families have become strained," Aila reported, her tone professional yet empathetic. Fanix stared at his daughter's smiling face in the photo, his eyes moistening. He had never flinched in the face of danger, even on the battlefield, but the emotions he felt now caught him off guard. Aila, observing this rare display of vulnerability, realized that no one—not even the most feared international criminals—would believe that the man before her, known for his ruthlessness and decisiveness, had this side to him. At that moment, Aila began to understand why Fanix had to return personally to deal with certain matters. "Should I investigate the Dean family further, especially Frenetos? I can have a full report ready in three days," Aila offered. Fanix shook his head. "There's no need. After all, Faela chose him. I should respect her decision. Leave it at that. I need to go see my daughter now." "I'll arrange a meeting for you immediately," Aila responded promptly. "No need. I'll go on my own," Fanix replied as he stepped out of the vehicle. He rented a shared bike from the roadside and pedaled away. When he arrived at Brisa's company, he saw that it had grown significantly since he last saw it. "It seems she's endured a lot over the years. It must have taken immense effort to achieve this," he mused to himself. Fanix quickly devised a plan. He applied for a job as a janitor at the company and began working immediately. "If she sees me, will she hate me? Or has she forgotten about me?" Fanix wondered. "My daughter won't recognize me either. I don't want to scare them." The young commander who had once dominated the battlefield and struck fear into countless enemies now found himself as nervous as a child. Fanix quietly made his way to the CEO's office, using his cleaning duties as a cover. His heart raced as he stood before the door, hesitating for a long moment before finally knocking. There was no response. The door was locked, leaving Fanix feeling a twinge of disappointment. He turned to leave, but suddenly, a little girl came running toward him. "Mister, are you looking for my mom?" the girl asked innocently. Fanix froze. The little girl before him was none other than his daughter, Serin. Although he was her father, this was truly their first meeting, and he found himself at a loss for words. He had imagined countless scenarios of how their first encounter would go, but nothing had prepared him for this moment. "Mister, are you okay? Your clothes are dirty. You must be very tired," Serin said, reaching out with her small hand to wipe the dust off Fanix's uniform. Her bright, innocent eyes blinked up at him. Fanix felt his heart swell with emotion. He was just about to reach out and hug her when a familiar yet distant voice suddenly called out. "What are you doing? Stay away from Serin!" Brisa came running over, her expression anxious as she pulled her daughter into her arms. She looked at Fanix with a mix of fear and suspicion. But then, as she got a closer look, Brisa froze. Her beautiful face filled with disbelief as she recognized the man standing before her.

Chapter 2: Who Are You Looking For

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