A Silent Protector

Ch 3: Hidden Dangers

The next day, Ethan arrived at the Civil Affairs Office on time. His face was calm, but his eyes carried a hidden storm. He waited outside the building with his hands in his pockets, staring at the cars passing by on the street. The cold wind blew against his face, but he barely noticed.

About twenty minutes later, Claire arrived in a shiny black Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The car stopped right in front of the office, and Claire stepped out. Her face was hidden behind large dark sunglasses. She looked every bit like the wealthy woman she was, wearing a designer coat and high heels that clicked sharply on the pavement as she walked.

She glanced at Ethan with a sneer on her face, not bothering to hide the disgust she felt for him.

"Well, look who's here! I didn't think you'd show up on time. Are you that eager to be out of my life?" She said mockingly while pulling her sunglasses down just enough to reveal her cold eyes.

Ethan didn't respond to her. He just looked at her with an expression that was unreadable. His lips were pressed into a thin line.

Claire rolled her eyes and laughed. She was truly happy now that she was finally getting rid of this trash out of her life.

"What? No words to say today? Where is that pathetic look of yours? Oh, I forgot. You were always too weak to stand up for yourself, right? Always doing whatever I and others in my family told you, like some servant. It is almost sad how much of a loser you are."

Ethan's cold face still didn't change. He let her words wash over him like they meant nothing. In the past, those words would have hurt and would have made him feel worthless. But today, they didn't touch him at all. Honestly, he felt nothing. If there was something, then all he felt was how much of a fool he had been all these years.

"Let's just get this over with," Ethan finally said in a calm but distant voice. 

Claire blinked in surprise at his cold tone. She had not expected him to be so quiet and so detached. Usually, he would try to explain himself, maybe even beg her to reconsider. But not today. Something about him felt different, and it made her feel uneasy, though she didn't show it.

Inside the Civil Affairs Office, the divorce process was quick. They signed the necessary papers, officially ending their three-year marriage. The officer stamped the documents, and just like that, it was over.

Claire turned to leave without saying anything more, but Ethan spoke up before she could walk away.

"You'll regret this. It won't be long when you will realize what you have done and what you have lost." He said quietly.

Claire froze for a moment, her hand on the door. Then she turned around to face him and snorted coldly, "Regret? Please. The only thing I regret is wasting my precious three years with someone like you."

Without another word, she walked out, her heels clicking loudly on the floor. Ethan watched her leave. His face was still as cold as stone.

As the door shut behind her, Ethan stood there for a moment longer, then walked out of the office as well. He didn't look back, not even once. 

The past was behind him now, and so was the Anderson family. Whatever happened to them from now on was no longer his concern.

When Claire had just come, Ethan had already sensed traces of faint dark energy on her body. Obviously, the curse had already started showing effect on every member of the Anderson Family now that it was no longer being suppressed.

"It won't be long when every member of the Anderson Family will pass away just like that old man," Ethan sighed, then he pulled his smartphone out and dialed a number.

Just after two rings, someone picked up the call.

"Captain, you finally contacted us. We have been waiting for you!"

A mature lady's voice came out of the other side.

"How are the things there?" Ethan asked softly, his voice emotionless.

"The situations here are dire. Civilians

"The situation here is dire. Civilians are clueless as always, going about their lives like nothing's wrong, but the corruption is spreading fast. More and more portals are opening. If we don't take care of them soon, we are looking at a full-scale breach."

The woman's voice waslaced with urgency. She stopped for a second before continuing, "If we don't hurry, civilians will become aware of this hidden world very soon. When that time comes, no one knows what'll happen. One thing is for sure, our world will be pushed into a long period of chaos and war where no one will be safe."

Ethan's grip on his phone tightened, though his face remained stoic. "How many casualties?"

"In the past three years that you've been absent, about 300 Guard Recruits have already lost their lives. Although there are not many casualties, it's only a matter of time. The signs of chaos are everywhere, Captain. We need you back. The team isn't holding up as well without your leadership."

Ethan closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. "Hold the line. I'll be there soon."

"Understood, Captain. We'll be ready."

The call ended. Ethan stared at the screen for a moment, his thumb hovering over it before slipping the phone back into his pocket. His gaze turned towards the sky, watching as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the ground.

Then his figure flashed and he disappeared. It was surprising that no one noticed his disappearance at all.

.....

Back in the Anderson Family...

Max Anderson, Claire's elder brother, was standing on the balcony. He was casually smoking as the cool night air brushed against his skin. He stared blankly into the distance, unaware of the dark energy creeping toward him like a shadow in the wind.

Suddenly, the dark mist swirled before him and drilled into his chest.

"Hiss..." he gasped in pain, clutching his chest. For a brief moment, the agony was unbearable, but just as quickly as it came, the pain faded away.

"What was that just now?"

Max blinked in confusion, but then he shrugged it off. He assumed it was nothing serious and continued smoking.