HEIRS OF THE HIDDEN FLAME

RETAILIATION

Nathan endured the invasive search, his face a mask of stoic determination. He had nothing to hide, and he knew that his focus now lay beyond material wealth.

After a thorough examination, Mrs. Blackwood and James found nothing that could incriminate Nathan. However, James picked up Nathan's Tinder, the token of the Ashes, and held it up. He smirked and taunted Nathan, "Well, since you won't be needing this anymore, why don't you use it to cover three years' worth of expenses? Because you have been leaving off of us."

Nathan's patience was wearing thin. He couldn't bear the condescension and the mockery any longer. With a steely glare, he retorted, "I'm afraid you'll have to return that to me soon."

Mrs. Blackwood and James exchanged puzzled glances, clearly perplexed by Nathan's response, and wondered what he meant. He continued, his voice firm and unyielding, "The Tinder is a symbol of the Ashes, and I'll need it for a different purpose. But don't worry; it won't be to pay for my expenses."

Nathan's words left them in a state of confusion. They couldn't comprehend the depth of his determination and his unwavering commitment to the quest for justice that now consumed him. And Tinder is a very important part of his quest for justice.

James approached Nathan, and his amusement was evident in the mocking glint in his eyes. He couldn't help but find Nathan's words amusing, and he took a step closer, putting away the Tinder pendant in front of Nathan as if to taunt him.

Nathan, however, was no longer willing to endure their mockery. He had reached his breaking point. As James raised his hand, seemingly intent on slapping Nathan's face, Nathan's reflexes kicked in, and he swatted away James's hand before it could make contact.

The sudden turn of events left James startled, but before he could react, Nathan's own hand had met its target. Nathan's palm struck James's cheek with a loud slap, and the shock of the moment echoed through the hallway.

Mrs. Blackwood, Karina's mother, let out a scream, her fury evident as she saw Nathan's act of defiance. "You've beaten my son!" she cried out, her voice laced with anger.

“Guards!” She immediately called for the security guard, and within moments, the burly figure of the guard arrived, ready to intervene. The situation escalated rapidly, and it appeared that Nathan would have to face the consequences of his actions.

But just as the security guard was about to make a move, a new group of individuals entered the scene. It was Gwen Smith, the eldest daughter of the Smith family from Lothric, a city larger than Beloberg. She was in her late 20s and had blonde hair with gray eyes, along with her family's imposing bodyguards. They approached with a sense of authority and power that immediately commanded attention.

Gwen's voice cut through the tension as she spoke firmly, "Stop, everyone. Nathan, you need to come with us. Our grandfather needs you."

Nathan knew about the Smith family and was familiar with Gwen’s face, but he didn’t know her personally and wondered what she was doing here.

The security guard hesitated, caught between Gwen's and the imposing bodyguards influence and Mrs. Blackwood's demands for retribution. He did not dare go against either of them as he stood aside.

Gwen said it in a bold tone. “Come with me, Nathan, my grandfather needs your medical attention." He wondered why her grandfather needed his medical attention and how she even knew he had medical skills. But he wanted to deal with James first.

Ignoring Gwen's presence and her appeals for him to follow, Nathan made his way back to James, who was still reeling from the unexpected slap. Nathan's eyes bore into James, his gaze unwavering, as he delivered a stern command.

He slapped James awake once, his voice firm. "Listen carefully, James. You have three days to return the pendant to me."

James, still recovering from the shock of the earlier confrontation, was taken aback by Nathan's words. He hadn't expected such a demand, especially after his attempt to humiliate Nathan had backfired and he had received slaps from him.

Nathan wasn't finished, though. He raised his hand again and delivered another sharp slap, his tone resolute. "This is not a request. You will return the pendant within three days, or you will face the consequences."

The seriousness in Nathan's voice left no room for negotiation. He was determined to reclaim the symbol of the ashes, the pendant that held deep significance in his pursuit of the truth. He had faced enough obstacles and distractions, and he couldn't afford to let James or anyone else stand in his way.

Gwen watched in disbelief as Nathan asserted his authority, his unwavering determination evident in every word and action. She had expected him to follow her immediately, but instead, he had chosen to bully someone in front of her.

As Nathan turned away from James, leaving the stunned young man to grapple with the ultimatum, Gwen could only watch in amazement. She realized that there was a relentless resolve in Nathan, one that nothing could deter, and she couldn't help but respect his unwavering commitment to what he wanted.

With the pendant as his priority, Nathan had set a clear deadline for James, and the countdown had begun. The journey towards justice and the truth about his parents' deaths had taken another unexpected turn, and Nathan was determined to see it through, no matter the obstacles that lay ahead. Mrs. Blackwood also watched the whole scene in disbelief.

Nathan turned to look at Gwen. “Let’s go; I am coming with you." He agreed to go with her, even though he had multiple questions in mind.

***

Nathan followed Gwen into her car, determined to focus on the task at hand. He hadn't allowed himself to be distracted by the escalating confrontation earlier, and now he was resolute in pursuing the truth about his parents' tragic deaths. He didn’t know what kind of medical attention Gwen’s grandfather needed from him, but he hoped that she would be able to help him with his investigation.