Chapter 254 - 250: Funeral and a Mysterious Person

Hilbert contacted the local police, medical institutions, and his father's close friends. He wanted to uncover the cause of his father's death by any means necessary.

This stemmed from a powerful sense of guilt. His rebellion wasn't born from a repressive home, much less any abuse. On the contrary, the well-educated Hilbert had always been acutely aware of his parents' love for him.

His mother's care, his father's profound expectations… and in truth, his parents had rarely disrespected him.

It was simply that Hilbert didn't want to end up like his father, trapped watching over the family business. He was terrified that his father would plan out his entire future for him. He needed to live his own life, a brilliant life, and he yearned for extraordinary experiences.

He vaguely recalled the time he returned home after graduating from college, wanting to travel the world. He had originally intended to pick a fight with his father, preparing harsh words to argue against the family's rigid traditions.

But after listening to Hilbert's impassioned speech, that imposing figure, who favored a more traditional style of dress, said only one thing.

"Son, I respect your choice. I, too, once wished my father would respect mine. When you get tired of the outside world, you can come back and take over this family mess!"

The words held both respect and trust.

Now, looking back, those words had become his last face-to-face conversation with his father.

Hilbert wasn't a monster, but right now, he wished more than anything that his father had died for some other reason. It wasn't just because there was no history of heart disease in the Chakus Clan's medical records; it was also because if the death truly wasn't natural, he could avenge his father.

He had reason to be suspicious. Aside from his grandparents, whom he had never met and who had been lost at sea in their prime, every member of the Chakus Clan had lived well into their eighties or nineties.

Unfortunately, all the evidence pointed to natural causes.

His mother told Hilbert that ever since he had started coming home less frequently in high school, Old Chakus's daily routine had become erratic. He often stayed up all night reading, had started eating junk food, and his temper had grown short.

According to the doctor's report, these were all contributing factors for a sudden heart attack.

It was a difficult truth to accept, but the facts were undeniable. Though Hilbert had been an adult for years, it felt as if he had only truly grown up in this very moment.

Driven by profound self-reproach and guilt, he refused to let a professional team handle the funeral. Instead, he planned every detail himself, with staff assisting him with the arrangements.

Influenced by modern culture, dedicated funeral homes had appeared alongside traditional churches. However, the funeral was not held in any church or funeral home in Bangor City.

Instead, it took place in their ancestral home on the city's outskirts. Hilbert was aware of some of his father's wishes; if it weren't so inconvenient, returning to the castle on the Chakus Family's private island would have been more fitting.

The viewing and the memorial service were scheduled together. Hilbert wanted to avoid excessive formalities. He didn't want a viewing one day and a memorial the next; he just wanted their friends and family to be able to express their genuine emotions all at once, rather than having them segmented by funeral proceedings.

White flowers surrounded Old Chakus's casket, and one wreath after another lined the walls of the main living room, which served as the mourning hall.

The Chakus Clan had few relatives. Aside from his mother's side of the family and their friends, most of the attendees were his father's close friends and some of the elderly folk who had once served the Chakus Family.

Compared to the Huaguo People, many Westerners express their emotions differently at funerals.

Inside the mourning hall, friends and family sat or stood, quietly sharing memories of their time with Old Chakus. There were somber moments and smiles, but no one was crying. This was their way of paying final respects to the deceased.

If anyone grew hungry, they could help themselves to food in the adjacent dining room.

"Young Master Hilbert, try not to take it so hard. The Chakus Family is counting on you now!"

An elderly man slowly walked over to Hilbert, who was sitting near the Door, and patted him on the shoulder.

Hilbert looked up, not recognizing the man.

"Uncle Corini, it's so good to see you!"

At his side, his mother covered her mouth as she rose to embrace the old man.

"Hilbert, this is Uncle Corini. After your grandparents were lost at sea, he was the one who raised your father. He lived with us right up until you were born. Your father was heartbroken for a long time when he retired due to his age."

The old man looked at Hilbert's crestfallen face, and in it, he faintly saw the boy who had grown up to become a father. He also recalled his old friend, the man who had loved to fish with him on the island.

"Hilbert, I'm sure you'll take good care of your mother. The Chakus Clan is a great family, rich with history, and the men of the Chakus Family never bow to fate or hardship!"

...

Later that day, most of the guests had returned to their homes or hotels, planning to come back for the burial service the next day. Only a few relatives staying at the Chakus Family home and the old man, Corini, remained.

The day's viewing and memorial would be ending soon.

Suddenly, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

The rain wasn't heavy, but it kicked up a light mist, shrouding the surroundings in a hazy blur.

"More guests have arrived!"

Someone murmured.

'Close friends and family would have been notified long ago. Who would be arriving at a time like this?'

Through the fine rain, two figures dressed in black formal attire approached the house. They held no umbrellas and didn't quicken their pace, their steps steady as they walked from the edge of the estate right up to the door.

One was a beautiful blonde woman, the other an Asian man with long, graying hair.

Upon entering the house, the man removed his hat and glanced at Hilbert, who was standing by the door.

Hilbert shuddered inexplicably. The man's gaze was so deep, as if it held an endless, time-worn wisdom.

Their eyes met for only a moment before parting. The man and woman then proceeded to the casket with the same steady pace as before. Holding their hats, they stood silently, looking down at Old Chakus.

"Mentor, I never expected this... If only we'd arrived sooner..."

"It's not your fault, nor is it the association's."

Qin Xiaoxia stopped Su Su's self-recrimination. The map was merely a resource from the association. It was already a feat that it allowed them to see the building and vaguely sense a connection to the Chakus Clan, but it couldn't be used to divine the status of every single member from afar. That was why they only learned of Old Chakus's passing upon arriving in the city.

"Perhaps this is fate. Still... for someone of the Chakus Clan's bloodline to die from a sudden heart attack... it's truly... unthinkable!"

Qin Xiaoxia didn't speak loudly, but his words were clearly audible to those nearby. His tone wasn't one of suspicion, but rather one of profound gravity.

Upon hearing her Mentor's words, the color drained from Su Su's face. She glanced at the seemingly peaceful Old Chakus, then turned to Qin Xiaoxia.

"Mentor, are you saying... his death wasn't natural?"

"Let's hope I'm wrong."

Qin Xiaoxia said no more. In his Perception, Hilbert had already risen to his feet.

"Let's go."

he said to Su Su, before turning to lead the way to the door.

"Huh? Go? But Mentor, we came here to..."

"Let's go. We should leave them in peace."

Hilbert, his mother, and the aged Corini were already standing at the door.

"May I ask who you are?"

His mother watched them, and just as the pair was about to step outside, she finally voiced the question.

Qin Xiaoxia's pace faltered for a moment, and Su Su stopped with him.

He turned to look at the three of them, his gaze lingering once more on Hilbert's face.

"Us? We're merely old friends of the Chakus Family."

With those words, the man and woman stepped back out into the rain.

Hilbert started to call out to them several times, but each time he opened his mouth, he was struck by the feeling that they wouldn't answer him.

Once their figures had vanished into the rain, he snapped back to his senses, grabbing an umbrella to chase after them.

A withered hand rested on his shoulder. It was Corini.

"Young Master Hilbert, those two are not ordinary people. It would be best not to chase after them."

The words sent a jolt through Hilbert.

"Mr. Corini! Do you know something?"

The old man shook his head.

"I don't know who they are, but I noticed... when they walked in from the rain, there wasn't a single drop of water on them."

Startled, Hilbert tried to recall them, but found he couldn't remember the details of their faces.