After most of the day, the sun had already set, and Andy, riding Kuma, had arrived at the mountain outside the capital city.
Looking at the city below, Andy's expression was neither sad nor happy. In fact, directly leaving was the best choice, but for some unknown reason, he still came here.
Reason told him that leaving directly was the wisest choice, but a voice in his heart kept pulling at him, urging him to come here.
In the unseen, there seemed to be an invisible force, like an unbreakable and tangled bond of kinship, drawing him to see that woman.
Andy dismounted from Kuma, patted its body, and a smile hung on his face, though that smile seemed a little frightening.
He softly said, "Kuma, go... You are free."
Kuma seemed to be frozen by these words.
Its originally agile eyes instantly widened, staring straight at Andy, full of confusion and disbelief, as if confirming: Is this real?
However, Andy did not respond.
Only then did Kuma understand that it was truly free.
It excitedly pawed at the ground beneath its feet, then turned and ran towards the mountain forest.
But when it reached the edge of the forest, it suddenly stopped, turned its head, and looked at Andy again.
The scene of Andy "disciplining" it today flashed through its mind, and it was afraid that Andy would suddenly go back on his word and rush over to beat it again.
But Andy just stood silently on the mountaintop, letting the evening mountain wind howl past, making his clothes flap loudly, like a solidified statue.
This time, Kuma completely confirmed that it was truly free. It let out a joyful roar and plunged into the dense forest, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.
After Kuma left, Andy took a deep breath, then leaped down the mountain without hesitation, rushing rapidly towards the city, his figure appearing resolute and mysterious in the dimming light.
——
At the same time, the atmosphere in the palace was so oppressive it was suffocating.
King Tie E's brows were tightly furrowed, his expression as grave as if burdened by a thousand catties.
Since Tie Xiong left with the guard team, he had not received another call from Tie Xiong.
Most critically, from the current situation, Red Hawk Andy likely already knew that his Mama was in the capital city.
"Red Hawk Andy... Is his strength truly so formidable? Did the World Government not exaggerate this time?" Tie E muttered softly, his eyes filled with worry and doubt.
Just then, the crisp click of high heels approached, tap-tapping. Without needing to look up, Tie E knew it was his Queen Vera.
"Your Majesty, what is the situation with Tie Xiong now?" Vera's anxious voice rang out as soon as she stepped into the hall, her expression full of concern.
A gentle smile immediately appeared on Tie E's face, and he softly comforted her, "Don't worry, Queen. Tie Xiong should already be on his way back. You don't need to worry too much."
Hearing this, Vera's continuously rising and falling chest gradually calmed down, and she murmured, "That's good, that's good. It's good that he's fine..."
"Queen, you've been worrying all day. Go back and rest for a while. If Tie Xiong knew you were so worried about him, he would be heartbroken," Tie E continued to persuade her gently.
"I want to wait here for Tie Xiong to return..." Vera's voice was soft but firm.
Although Tie E had told her that their child was safe, she still wanted to see Tie Xiong with her own eyes to be completely at ease.
"Alright, then we'll wait for Tie Xiong here," Tie E replied casually, though his voice seemed to have cooled a bit.
In truth, he had a strong premonition in his heart that his son Tie Xiong had likely been killed by Red Hawk.
If Red Hawk truly came to the capital, it would definitely be to kill him!
However, as long as Vera was by his side, Tie E felt that Red Hawk should not act rashly against him.
After all these years, he had been meticulously caring for Vera, and he believed he had done nothing to wrong her.
"Mm~" Vera responded softly.
Thus, the two waited in the royal palace hall from dusk until nightfall, but Tie Xiong still did not return.
Even the Red Hawk that Tie E had anticipated did not appear.
"Queen, they're probably delayed on the way. It's very late now. Let's go back and rest," Tie E urged Vera again.
"Alright..." Vera hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed. She was indeed very tired today.
——
When they returned to their bedchamber, Tie E and Vera discovered that everyone in their bedchamber had fainted on the ground.
This scene directly frightened Vera.
"Ah!" Vera shrieked in terror, gripping Tie E's arm tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh.
Her voice trembled, almost tearfully asking, "Your Majesty, what happened? Who did this?"
Tie E did not respond to Vera. Seeing all the guards and maids fainted, he already had a guess: Red Hawk Andy must have arrived!
Tie E's face instantly darkened.
However, seeing that everyone was only fainted and not dead, his hanging heart slightly eased.
He gently patted Vera's hand, his voice low but feigning composure, "Vera, let's go inside."
Stepping into the bedchamber hall, a tall figure came into view.
The person was over two meters tall, standing with his back to them, quietly by the window, holding a glass of wine, his posture as straight as a tall pine tree.
Moonlight from outside the window spilled onto him, outlining a resolute silhouette.
"Ah!" Vera shrieked again in fright, hiding behind Tie E, trembling as she asked, "Who are you!"
"Red Hawk Andy, you've indeed come," Tie E said in a deep voice, his gaze solemn as he stared at Andy's back.
"What?" Vera's eyes widened, full of disbelief. She looked at Andy, then at Tie E, her voice changing pitch: "You mean, he's my son?"
Tie E did not respond, only nodded with a solemn expression. With Red Hawk appearing here and no news from Tie Xiong, the outcome was obvious.
Andy drained the wine in his glass, his movements graceful and decisive.
He slowly turned around, Moonlight illuminating his chiseled face, outlining sharp, cold lines.
His gaze fell on Vera, his eyes filled with complex emotions—the complexity of a reunion after fifteen years of separation, and the coldness of being abandoned.
As soon as Vera saw Andy's full face, tears instantly welled up, blurring her vision.
Fifteen years of longing and guilt surged forth like a broken dam at this moment.
She released Tie E's hand and stumbled towards Andy, her lips trembling, her voice tearful: "An... Andy, my..."
"There's no need, Vera... Queen, we are not familiar," Andy suddenly raised his hand, his voice as cold as winter icicles, abruptly cutting off Vera's words.
There was not a trace of warmth in his eyes, as cold as a stranger.
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