Unleash the Dog!

Aunt Mary regularly trimmed Grandfather's hair, beard, and nails; Aunt Winnie pressed suitable clothes every day for Grandfather to change into; and no matter how busy work was, as long as the weather permitted, Uncle Mason always took the time to wheel Grandfather outside for a stroll. After school, Mina, Lunt, and Chris would also come to Grandfather's bedroom to share amusing stories from school. Thanks to the family's attentive care and devotion, when Grandfather awoke, the person Karen saw walking down the stairs was entirely the Diss of his memories. As if a hand named the Taboo of Time had gently plucked the strings of fate, Karen had the fleeting illusion that he had never left home on a distant journey, and that Diss had never fallen into deep slumber. Just like any ordinary, peaceful day a few years ago, he had prepared a meal for the family as usual, and Grandfather had come downstairs to eat at this exact time as usual. Life was sometimes wondrous in this way: people were always in a hurry to pinch off the beginning, only to spend a lifetime of regret trying to hold on to the end. Karen closed his eyes, then opened them before the moisture at the corners could gather into tears, maintaining his smile. A tearful reunion might have suited the occasion, but it did not suit this grandfather and grandson. Down to their bones, both were proud and strong-willed. They were far more accustomed to holding up an umbrella for themselves, standing at the center while everyone else orbited around them. When an old lion awoke from slumber, the returning young lion would not crowd close to affectionately lick its mane. Instead, it would instinctively stand tall, showing the old lion its growth and magnificent strength. Diss walked down the stairs and stepped up to Karen. "You're back?" "Yes, I'm back." Diss nodded, walked to his own seat, and sat down. The cutlery had long been set out before him. Uncle Mason rose and asked, "Dad, I'll go call the doctor over to the house to give you another checkup." "No need." "Alright, Dad." Just like before, no one in this family dared defy Grandfather's will. Karen took a seat as well. Aunt Winnie had originally saved a spot for Karen beside herself next to Little Kanna, but Karen had naturally walked over to the seat opposite Grandfather and sat down. The dining table in the Inmeles family's dining room was an elongated oval. Although far from as extravagant as the table in the castle dining hall of Allen Manor, in the past, when Diss sat at one end, no one would dare sit at the other. It was not bound by any etiquette, but simply that no one in the family wanted to face the pressure radiating from Grandfather during a meal. Only after sitting down did Karen realize he seemed to have taken the wrong seat. He hadn't done it on purpose; it was simply an unconscious habit formed after rising to higher status. Aunt Winnie passed the cutlery over to Karen, so Karen didn't bother getting up to change seats. Grandfather's awakening should have been the most joyful moment for the family, but when he appeared in the dining room, he brought back that familiar oppression. In the past, Diss would always finish his meal early and head upstairs so the family at the table could feel more relaxed and at ease. This time, however, everyone actually enjoyed this oppressive atmosphere. Everything had two sides; viewed from the other side, this was the steadfast pillar of the family. Diss looked toward Mary, and Mary immediately straightened her back. Earlier, when Diss came downstairs, Aunt Mary had wept tears of joy, and her repeated complaints about "favoritism" had merely been her habitual venting of emotion. "Mary, thank you for your hard work." "Dad, please don't say that. It was all my duty." Uncle Mason also straightened his back a bit, like a child waiting to be praised. Diss, however, only thanked Mary, without thanking Mason or Winnie. Only when Diss picked up his cutlery and said, "Let us eat," did everyone together pick up their utensils and begin dining. With his head lowered, Diss cut a piece of steak, put it into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. As he cut the second piece, he asked: "Have you been doing well?" He didn't specify whom he was asking, but everyone present understood he was addressing his eldest grandson. Karen was sipping fish soup from a spoon. Setting the spoon down, he answered: "Very well." "Are you used to life outside?" "Except for Wien bean paste, I'm used to everything." "Is the scenery out there nice?" "It is, but it cannot compare to home." This was a simple exchange between grandfather and grandson, but in the eyes of the rest of the family, it seemed more like Karen was deliberately picking pleasant things to say to console the freshly awakened old master. Aunt Winnie worried that Karen might slip up if questioned further, so she took the initiative to change the subject. Gently wrapping an arm around Little Kanna's back, she smiled at Diss: "Dad, guess who she is?" Diss continued cutting his beef, not even raising his head as he asked: "Who is she?" Aunt Winnie replied, "She's the daughter of Karen and the young lady of the Allen family. She's your great-granddaughter." "Oh, is that so?" Aunt Winnie looked slightly awkward. Sitting beside her, Mason and Mary exchanged glances, finding it strange. Reason dictated that Father wouldn't react so coldly to the child of his most beloved grandson. The reason was simple: Diss could tell that this was a bone dragon of exceptionally pure and noble blood. The marriage partner he had arranged for Karen was human. Moreover, she could never be a sub-dragon hybrid born of Karen and a female dragon, because a hybrid's bloodline could never be this pure. Because of his slumber, Diss was even worse off than Rasma when it came to "information exchange" with the outside world. However, because Karen had once pursued an assassin back to Luojia City, Diss knew his grandson had long since embarked upon the path of faith. Furthermore, Rasma often held picked-up expired newspapers and complained loudly before Diss while he sat in the wheelchair. Logically, the first thing he should have done upon waking was call Karen into the bedroom or study to thoroughly question him about the current situation. Outside, there were twelve pillars of light, and Rasma's dharma body had already sealed off the Gate of Order. It could be said that the situation was critical in the extreme, collapsed to the point of utter ruin, urgently in need of someone stepping forward to deal with it. Yet at this moment, the actions of grandfather and grandson were completely aligned. Karen had returned home and gone to the kitchen to cook first; Diss had awakened and come downstairs to eat first. In their eyes, sharing a proper reunion meal with family was paramount. Matters of colossal import could wait until after dinner. Furthermore, Diss had always had a rule—a rule Karen had inherited—which was never to drag family into the vortex of the Church. Thus, they would never discuss things ordinary people couldn't understand at the dining table. Besides, even without Rasma's "live broadcasts," Diss could tell at a single glance what the divine robe on his grandson signified. In Mason and Ron's eyes, it was a shabby, ill-fitting long robe, but Diss knew what rank this garment represented within the Church. Thus, in Diss's view, Little Kanna was likely Karen's monster beast or mount. Karen introduced her very solemnly: "Grandfather, this is my daughter, Kanna." Karen's formal introduction caused Diss to pause in his movements. He looked at Little Kanna once more. Meanwhile, Little Kanna picked up the plate in front of her. On it were three large prawns she had just peeled; she had been peeling them ever since footsteps sounded upstairs, carefully deveining them as well. Circling halfway around the table, Little Kanna came before Diss, placed the plate in front of him, and said: "Great-Grandfather, have some prawns." Diss looked at Little Kanna standing before him. That address seemed to pull him back to that afternoon when Karen had first awakened and called him "Grandfather." Lovely things were always apt to touch the heart, especially when Karen had officially confirmed Little Kanna's identity. At last, Diss smiled. He never concealed his bias in treating family, yet neither was this narrow-mindedness, for his definition of family was, in fact, rather broad. Diss reached out, picked up a prawn, and took a bite. "Thank you, Kanna." "Hehe, I'll peel more for Great-Grandfather!" Little Kanna wriggled slightly with a hint of shyness, but didn't lower her head, letting her smile show clearly. This reclusive little bone dragon once locked in a prisoner cart had, under Purr's upbringing, become not only optimistic and cheerful, but also knew how to curry favor to win affection. This was not driven by survival, but by the pursuit of a better life. For she knew Karen wouldn't intervene, Grandma couldn't rein her in, and Mason and Mary could only treat her to an extra afternoon tea... None of them could stop the approaching footsteps of the terrifying Sister Purr. Yet the old man before her needed only a single word to rescue her from the sea of homework misery. Seeing a smile appear on Father's face and everything proceeding along a normal course, Mason, Mary, and Winnie all breathed a long sigh of relief. They had worried Father might mind Little Kanna's hair color. Mason chuckled, "Time really flies. Our Inmeles family already has a fourth generation." Diss asked, "What about Mina?" Mina hadn't expected Grandfather to call on her; in her nervousness, her fork clattered down. "Grandfather, I'm listening to Big Brother and continuing my studies." Mary chimed in, "Yes, Dad, Mina's grades are very good. We originally planned to send her to Wien for university in the second half of the year." Karen said, "That's wonderful. I'll arrange it." "No, no, no need, Karen! Now that you're back, just stay home and relax." Uncle Mason felt his nephew was becoming more and more like him. Not only were they both handsome, but even the boastful tone after falling on hard times was identical. When he had slunk home after his investment failed back then, he had also frequently given grand promises about introducing old friends to jobs in the capital. "And Lunt?" Even with his sister's turn before him, when his name was called, Lunt was frightened into a stammer: "I... I... I'm also... going to school!" Mary said, "We're already saving up for Lunt's sponsorship fee." Lunt's grades were far worse than his sister's; to get into a good university, they would have to pay a far heavier price in other ways. Diss finally looked toward Chris. Chris blushed red. "I'm in school too." "Mm." Diss gave a curt acknowledgment, as though fulfilling the duty of not appearing overly partial, then lowered his head and continued dining. The children all breathed a sigh of relief and lowered their heads to eat. In truth, for the family's children, they sometimes preferred the elders' attention to remain fixed on the most outstanding one rather than spreading favor equally or forcing parity, which only piled enormous pressure onto them. Yes, even though their parents had told them that Big Brother Karen was currently "down on his luck," they still believed Big Brother Karen was the most exceptional of all. On this point, Richard, currently far away in Wien, would have related deeply. Diss remarked at this point, "The flavor isn't as good as before." "Ah, really? I think it's still delicious! After Karen left, Winnie and I kept making the dishes he used to prepare, but none of ours turned out as good as his. Isn't that right, Winnie?" "Yes, yes," Aunt Winnie promptly chimed in. Karen replied, "I've had many affairs to handle, so there were fewer chances to cook. My skills have grown rusty." Little Kanna piped up, "Big Sister Maid usually cooks; Karen taught her." Uncle Mason sighed. Ah, poor boy. Going to someone else's manor and still having to head into the kitchen with the maid to cook—just how humiliating and stifling must his life have been? It could only be said that how the Inmeles family viewed Allen Manor and how Allen Manor viewed the Inmeles family were two entirely different perspectives. Like before, Diss set down his cutlery early: "I have finished. Take your time." With that, Diss rose and walked up the stairs. Karen immediately stood as well. "I'll go brew tea for Grandfather." Then he followed him up the stairs. Once both of them had left, the atmosphere at the dining table noticeably relaxed. Mason looked at Mary: "Mary, hurry, pinch me. I feel like I'm dreaming right now. Karen is back, Dad is awake... do you know, even in my wildest dreams I wouldn't dare dream both things at once!" Mary gave Mason's cheek a hard pinch, leaving a bright red mark, and asked expectantly: "Does it hurt?" "Ouch, yes, very much!" Seeing this, Mary pinched the soft flesh at Mason's waist fiercely. "Ow! I told you it hurt!" Mason jumped right out of his chair. Mary: "Who told you to react so calmly just now? I wanted to see if I was dreaming too." "Then why didn't you pinch yourself?" "I'm afraid of pain." Mason: "..." The children giggled, clearly well accustomed to this couple's daily bickering, and even the shop hands took no notice. Uncle Mason sat back down and retrieved the can of herring he had secretly stashed under the table when his father came downstairs earlier. "Ah, today is a happy day, well worth opening a can of herring to celebrate!" *** Karen reached the third floor and saw the cat and dog on the windowsill. To show his impatience, Kevin wagged his tail so furiously it looked ready to take flight. Karen glanced at the sky outside and said, "Wait a little longer." With that, he carried the hot-water kettle into the study. Diss sat behind the desk, hands resting in front of him, as if reacquainting himself with his desk. Karen walked over, put tea leaves into a teacup, and poured hot water. The study had been cleaned regularly; the cup was clean, and the tea leaves were fresh. After pouring the tea, Karen pulled over a chair and sat down opposite Diss. Behind Diss was the study window, with a tree outside. Karen had imagined this scene countless times in his mind; today, it had finally returned to reality. For a long time after, grandfather and grandson gazed at each other, each the dominant tone in the other's view, neither speaking a word. Yet not even a single bubble of the tense, anxious atmosphere that should have prevailed managed to surface. Diss raised his teacup, breaking the silence: "You have grown up." "Yet you haven't aged a bit." "How can a child grow up without the elder growing old?" "I'm still small, still too young." Diss said, "Stand up and let me look." Karen pushed back his chair and stood up, slightly spreading his arms to let Grandfather look at him. Diss lifted the cup lid and prompted, "Activate the divine robe." Karen activated the divine robe. The solemn primary tone of black, paired with austere patterned motifs, radiated supreme dignity and grace. A high-ranking garment required the right person to wear it; though Karen was young, he still carried off the robe effortlessly. That confidence, that poise, that restraint forged by weathering countless storms—this was Karen's true appearance now. Diss asked, "What position do you hold now?" "Your grandson is currently the Head of the Disciplinary Department of the Whip of Order." Karen had already braced himself for Grandfather's further questioning. He had so many things to tell Grandfather, so much he could boast about to him. Diss blew gently across the surface of the tea, took a sip, and asked: "How much is the department head's stipend and allowance?" *** Vic stood on the roof of the church. He watched his mentor's dharma body bar the Gate of Order, and watched his mentor's true body fall from the sky like a blazing meteor, the landing spot being none other than No. 13 on this very street. "Sigh..." Vic rubbed the corners of his eyes. His mentor had never caught on to his eye signals, even though he had blinked until his eyes were practically swollen. Though Vic also understood: earlier, his mentor had mistakenly assumed he was under mind control. If he were to tell his mentor that he was about to knock on the door and disturb the reunion of the God of Order and his grandfather, his mentor would probably think he had completely lost his mind. Vic pulled out the leather whip he carried with him and carefully measured its length. He had no intention of running out now to stop his mentor and brandish the Whip of Order against him. Rather, he was calculating how many segments this whip could be cut into to splint his mentor's broken bones. This was the best wish he could offer, for it meant his mentor would at least still have his life. Otherwise, he was truly going there to deliver his own... Oh. Yes. Where he was heading was indeed a funeral parlor. *** Rasma appeared at the door. He had completed his task, and Diss hadn't reacted in time, which meant he had preemptively blocked Diss's leverage to threaten the Church. "Diss, I know you are already awake. You should recognize reality as well. Bow your head and admit your errors; you are still a temple elder. "Your grandson, no matter how many mistakes he has made, no matter what his true identity is, can receive lenient treatment for your sake. "This is your last chance. In just a little while, they will descend." On the third-floor windowsill, Kevin held his mouth open, panting constantly, while Purr on his back stroked his canine head with her paw, soothing him. "This little Rasma is truly just as he was before—hasn't changed one bit. Every time before challenging Diss, he has an awful lot to say." In the study, the soul voice from Rasma interfered with the grandfather and grandson's conversation, causing even the light and sightlines in the room to refract and distort. ["Diss, face reality. The door—I have already shut it for you."] Diss set his teacup back on the desk and sighed: "So noisy." Karen nodded and said, "Grandfather, I'll go unleash the dog first." With that, Karen walked to the study door, opened it, looked toward the windowsill outside, and instructed: "Make it quiet out there." *** Rasma continued, "Diss, this is your last chance and the Church's final mercy to you. If you still refuse to admit your mistakes and bow your head, you truly won't have any chance left. "This isn't a duel between you and me. Behind me stands the Church of Order! You have no—" A giant dog paw suddenly materialized out of thin air. Smack! All defenses and barriers around Rasma instantly dissolved before the dog paw, and he himself was sent flying with a single swat! Following right behind it was a furious roar: "Rasma, what the hell are you barking about?!"