Chapter 48: Under Investigation!
Ethan frowned as he stared at the unfamiliar entourage standing outside his room.
Who the hell were these people?
There were several of them, all dressed in clothes that practically screamed wealth, authority, and old money. The two figures standing at the front appeared to be middle-aged, their expressions cold and severe, while the others stood behind them with the rigid posture of people who were accustomed to following orders without question.
Ethan instinctively became cautious.
He had never seen any of them before, yet the way they were looking at him made it feel as though they already knew everything about him.
"Who are you people?" Ethan asked, his hand still resting on the door.
The middle-aged woman at the front immediately snorted, looking him over as though she had just discovered something unpleasant on the sole of her shoe.
"Have you forgotten your own parents already?"
Ethan’s expression froze for a moment.
"My... what?"
The man beside her gave him an impatient look. "Don’t act as if you don’t know your own parents, Ethan."
Oh.
Ethan stared at them.
Then he slowly blinked.
So these were the Ashfords. Steve and Elina Ashford. The parents of the original Ethan. Which were now his own parents.
He had never actually met them since transmigrating into this body, and judging from the way they were standing there, he suddenly understood exactly why the original owner had become so bitter.
There was not even a hint of warmth in their expressions. Not even the slightest concern.
They looked more like people who had arrived to collect property that belonged to them.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed, if they were going to act like this to their own son then he wasn’t showing them any respect too. "What do you want?"
Steve frowned at his tone, clearly displeased that he was not immediately showing the respect they expected.
"We heard about your recent achievement at the academy."
His mother continued before Ethan could respond. "You have advanced from an F-rank to a D-rank, and apparently you managed to perform exceptionally well during the assessment. Your situation is no longer what it was before."
Ethan almost laughed.
"So?"
His mother’s expression hardened. "We have decided to acknowledge you back and have come to take you back home."
Ethan stared at her for several seconds before giving her a blank look.
"No."
The answer came so quickly that both of them seemed momentarily caught off guard.
His father’s brows drew together. "You should think carefully before refusing."
"I already did."
"You are still a member of the Ashford family."
"And?" Ethan folded his arms across his chest. "Does that suddenly mean I have to go crawling back because I finally became useful to you? Remember you guys abandoned and cut me off there’s no way I’m coming back"
Elina’s face darkened. "We are giving you an opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Ethan scoffed. "You mean now that I’m no longer an F-rank embarrassment, suddenly you remember that you have another son?"
His parents remained silent.
Ethan’s expression became colder. "If I remember correctly, you two already have a much better son. Your precious Lucas."
He deliberately emphasized the name.
"Your little star of the Ashford family. The talented one. The one who was supposed to awaken as an S-class Guide or, at worst, an A-class Guide according to the wonderful expectations you had for him." His eyes narrowed. "So what happened?"
Neither of them answered immediately.
Ethan’s lips curled into a humorless smile. "Why are you bothering with me? Go to him."
His father’s jaw tightened. "Lucas is ill."
The smile disappeared from Ethan’s face.
"He is seriously ill," his mother added coldly. "His condition has deteriorated considerably, and he is currently unable to fulfill the responsibility that was assigned to him."
Ethan stared at them. "And somehow that became my problem?"
"You are his elder brother."
"So?"
"You will take his place."
There it was.
Ethan felt something inside him sink. He had wondered the main thing they wanted from him, but now everything suddenly made sense.
They had not come because they were proud of him. They simply needed something from him.
"What responsibility?" Ethan asked, although a growing suspicion was already forming in his mind.
His father answered without hesitation. "Your brother’s engagement."
Ethan’s eyes widened. "...What?"
"The engagement has already been arranged." His mother spoke as though she were discussing the transfer of some valuable piece of property. "It was originally arranged for Lucas. Since he is currently unable to fulfill it, you will take his place."
For a moment, Ethan simply stared at them.
Then he let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
"You people are insane."
His father’s expression turned furious. "Watch your mouth."
"No, seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
Ethan stepped farther away from the doorway. "You arranged your son’s marriage like he was some fucking business contract, and now that he is sick, you decided to replace him with me?"
"You will fulfill your family’s obligations."
"I said no."
"You don’t have a choice."
"I do. Last time I checked you cut me off from the Ashford name!"
His mother’s eyes became icy. "You seem to have forgotten who you are speaking to."
"No, I remember perfectly." Ethan’s voice was surprisingly calm now. "I’m speaking to the people who abandoned me when I was useless and suddenly remembered that I existed the moment I became slightly valuable."
His father’s face darkened. "You will return home with us and you will fulfill the engagement. You are not in a position to refuse."
Ethan’s patience finally snapped. "And you’re not in a position to decide my life for me!"
His voice echoed through the corridor.
The guards behind his parents immediately moved.
Ethan’s expression changed. "Don’t you dare!"
One of them stepped forward anyway. The next second, a hand grabbed Ethan’s arm.
"Let go of me!"
He struggled, but the man’s grip was far stronger than his.
"Stop resisting," his father ordered. "You are coming home."
"Get your fucking hands off me!"
Another guard reached for him, and Ethan instinctively tried to pull away, but they were already attempting to force their way into his room.
"This is my room!"
His mother scoffed. "You are our son. We have every right to decide what happens to you."
The words made Ethan’s blood boil, where this people fucking psychopaths?
He was just about to fight back when a cold voice suddenly cut through the corridor.
"He isn’t going anywhere."
Everyone froze.
Ethan’s head snapped toward the end of the hallway.
Principal Ronan stood there.
His expression was calm, but there was something unmistakably authoritative about his presence as he approached with several well-built figures behind him.
Ethan’s parents turned toward him.
"And who exactly are you to interfere in an Ashford family matter?" his father demanded.
Ronan stopped a few feet away. "Mr and Mrs Ashford I’m Principal Ronan. The head overseer of the Imperial Academy" He paused before continuing. "And as the principal of this academy, I have every right to prevent a student from leaving the premises when said student is currently under investigation."
Ethan’s eyes widened slightly of all things he expected to happen this was the least of them.
His parents frowned. "Under investigation for what?"
"That information cannot be disclosed to you yet." Ronan responded calmly.
His father’s expression hardened. "You cannot simply keep our son here."
"I can when there is an ongoing academy investigation involving an incident that occurred on academy grounds." Ronan’s gaze shifted briefly toward Ethan. "He will remain here until the investigation is concluded."
Ethan stared at Ronan. For once, he didn’t know what to say.
His parents clearly weren’t pleased. Elina clicked her tongue. "You’re lucky this time."
His father looked directly at Ethan. "When the investigation is finished, we will return."
His eyes narrowed. "And when we do, you’re coming home with us."
His parents turned and left, their entourage following behind them.
Only when they had disappeared down the corridor did Ethan finally release the breath he had been holding. He sagged slightly against the wall.
That had been close.
Way too close.
He looked toward Ronan.
So this man had actually saved him?
For a brief second, Ethan almost felt grateful.Then he immediately reminded himself who he was dealing with.
No.
There was no way Ronan had suddenly developed a conscience. The man definitely had an ulterior motive.
True to his thoughts, Ronan’s next words immediately confirmed it.
"Don’t mistake me, Ethan. I’m not doing this for your sake."
Ethan’s expression twitched.
Of course.
Ronan turned toward the well-built men who had accompanied him, men Ethan had barely noticed until now. "Enter his room."
Ethan’s eyes widened.
Ronan’s expression remained completely unreadable. "Search everywhere and don’t leave a single pin unturned."