If he had delayed longer as originally planned, or hadn't thought to get information from Hen in time,
and returned a few months later, he was afraid that only a cold grave would be waiting for him.
These thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning.
But in the eyes of Marta and the maids, Karl was just a little stunned by the news he had heard.
Karl asked no more questions; his gaze quickly moved away from Marta and the others, as if looking for the way.
In fact, a gleam of light that ordinary people couldn't see flashed in his eyes, and he used his clairvoyance ability.
His gaze easily penetrated the walls and corridors before him, quickly swept across the entire manor, and immediately stopped at the garden location.
In the garden, two people sat on benches, one of them looking unusually thin and sluggish, with Hans and Dalton standing nearby.
He turned his head and quickly explained to Marta: "This is Dales, an old friend of mine from the village."
"Arrange a suitable job for him based on the vacant positions in the manor, one that matches his abilities."
"Yes, young master, I understand." Marta nodded in agreement.
Although she was the head maid, primarily responsible for overseeing the maids,
according to the rules, she didn't have the authority to assign a male servant like Dales to work; that was the butler Hans's authority.
But at this moment, Master Karl personally ordered it and gave her temporary authority, so she naturally had to carry it out strictly.
She turned to the side. Dales, who had been a bit shaken by the news of the baron's serious illness and had his hope rekindled by Karl's words,
she said in a calm tone: "Dales, please come with me."
When Dales heard this, he hastily bowed deeply to Karl again and couldn't stop thanking him: "Thank you! Thank you, Lord Karl!"
Then he cautiously followed Marta to the side wing.
Karl hesitated no longer and didn't even take the usual interior passage; he quickly walked along the stone path to the back garden.
His heart was full of anxiety about Raymond's condition; he could no longer delay—it needed to be resolved as soon as possible.
Karl soon reached the back of the manor and saw at a glance Raymond leaning against a bench, his eyes closed, his face as pale as his linen shirt.
His breathing was weak, his chest barely moving, and the butler Hans stood silently behind his chair.
Worry remained on Hans's face, while Jack was quietly talking to Dalton, both looking somewhat somber.
Dalton was the first to notice Karl from the corner of his eye and sharply turned his head, his face lighting up with surprise.
He excitedly blurted out: "Young master! You're back?!"
This cry broke the silence of the garden.
Hans's eyes lit up; he was about to greet Karl, but Dalton beat him to it.
Jack also noticed immediately, a relieved smile appearing on his face.
Karl slightly raised his eyebrows and nodded slightly to Dalton and Jack.
Raymond on the bench woke up at the sound and struggled to open his heavy eyelids.
When he saw Karl before him, his dim eyes flashed with genuine joy.
His cracked lips moved, as if he wanted to say something.
Then, an uncontrollable, violent cough began, shaking his entire body violently, as if he might die in the next second.
"Cough... cough... cough..."
He also wanted to stand up on his own to greet the returning Karl.
But his weak body wouldn't obey at all, and he fell forward as soon as he rose.
Karl stepped forward and firmly supported him.
Raymond leaned against Karl's strong arm, gasping for a moment.
He slowly said in a very weak, almost hoarse voice: "Child... you... you're back... I... I thought I wouldn't be able to wait for you."
Karl was silent for a moment, looking at Raymond, his heart bitter, but his tone very firm: "I'm sorry... Raymond, I will take you for treatment."
Raymond weakly shook his head, a bitter and resigned smile on his face.
He said despairingly: "Don't... don't waste time and money... child, my illness is incurable."
"You came back just in time... just... in time for me to pass everything on to you."
These pessimistic and desperate words stung Karl's heart like thorns.
His brows, which had just been relaxed, immediately furrowed again, and an indescribable anger mixed with heartbreak surged forth.
Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed Raymond by the collar, pulling his weak body up to his eye level.
Karl's movements might seem rough, but they were shielded by his bio-field.
This seemingly forceful action did not harm Raymond's body.
Karl looked into Raymond's cloudy eyes, his voice full of suppressed anger.
"If my mother knew that you are giving up now, that you don't even dare to try, that you've given up..."
"Even if you die from this and go to the legendary underworld, she would never pay you any attention!"
"Karl!"
"Young master!"
Seeing such sudden and rough behavior, Hans, Jack, and Dalton were stunned.
They exchanged glances, unsure for a moment whether to step forward to stop it or wait and see.
Then Raymond, grabbed by the collar, heard the name Alyssa and Karl's harsh accusations.
His body suddenly trembled, and he remembered the girl with the bright smile and strong character.
Remembering the promise he had made to live well and protect their children, an endless sense of shame rose in his heart.
Raymond closed his eyes in pain and lowered his head.
Seeing that Raymond remained silent and didn't object, Karl released his other hand and waved it towards the open space beside him.
A BOOM sounded, not loud, but a low rumble that shook the air and exploded.
A portal, glowing orange with a slowly rotating interior like a fiery whirlwind, appeared out of nowhere in the garden.
The powerful energy fluctuations and suction disturbed the surrounding air, swirling the fallen leaves on the ground.
This sudden and unimaginable scene completely stunned Hans, Jack, and Dalton.
All three stared at the whirlwind emitting orange light in a daze—this was... a sorcerer's means?!
Karl ignored their shock, let alone offer any explanation.
He turned to Dalton, who had reacted the fastest, and his tone was indisputable: "Dalton, you're coming with me!"
"Hans, Jack, you stay in the manor and keep things running. I'm taking Raymond for treatment!"
As soon as the words were spoken, Karl supported Raymond, who could barely stand, and stepped into the portal. The figures of both were instantly engulfed by the whirlwind.
Dalton looked at the still-swirling portal, full of the unknown.
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