“Yes,” Colbert replied to Alexis’ question. “I am a member of the Riggs Family. But, I’m just a bastard that one of the Branch Families sired because he got horny one night. Fortunately, my father wasn’t a total scum, and at least tried to support my mother after getting her pregnant.
“But, he made a mistake. He thought that giving me the Riggs Family surname would make up for his past blunder. But, it only brought me pain because I was never treated as one because, in their eyes, I wasn’t worthy of their name.”
Cristopher patted his friend’s shoulder, and the latter just smiled back. Although the two of them didn’t always agree on some things, the two of them had already recognized each other as comrades through the years.
“It’s fine now,” Colbert said. “I’m sure that sticking with the Young Master will benefit me more than just trying to flatter my relatives. I’m the Legendary Rookie’s left-hand man, and it can’t get anything better than that.
“Actually, the cousins who ignored me in the past approached me not long ago, and asked me if I could get the Young Master’s autograph. Everyone’s circumstances can change, and mine did after being with the Young Master.”
Colbert then pointed at Alexis and Paul with a smirk. It was very obvious why the two of them spent a lot of gold coins in order to become part of Thirteen’s army.
“It takes one to know one.” Colbert hinted. “I know why the two of you are here and, frankly, I don’t really care. I’m sure that the Young Master feels the same way as I do. So, just do whatever you want to do.
“You will soon realize that he is a bigger man—errr teenage boy than we’ll ever be. So as your senior, allow me to give the two of you some words of wisdom.”
Alexis and Paul looked at Colbert with calm expressions on their faces, as if they weren’t affected by his words.
However, they were also curious about what the person who knew about them wanted to say to them.
“Even if the entire world abandons you, he alone will not,” Colbert said softly. “So, in your darkest moments, don’t hesitate to take his hand. Trust me, you’ll be happier on this side of the fence than the side you are currently on right now.”
Cristopher nodded his head in agreement because this was the truth, and nothing but the truth.
When he was still a retainer of Terrence Leventis, Cristopher understood that he was just one of the many disposable tools that his former Young Master could use in order to reach his goal.
But, Thirteen never made him feel as if he was just a tool.
He didn’t think of him as a burden.
He didn’t think of him as someone that could be discarded in order to save his life.
In whatever battles Cristopher faced, in front of him would always be Zion’s small back, which seemed capable of carrying the entire world with room to spare.
So, the first thing he did when he returned to Pangea was to beg Arthur and Michael to discharge him as Terence’s retainer because he only wanted to serve one person in his lifetime, and that was none other than Zion Leventis.
He was prepared to be punished, to be whipped, to be insulted, and even starved because he knew that what he was asking for was too much.
However, he chose the thorny path because he believed that at the end of it, he would see the person whom he would lay down his life for without hesitation.
Just as the six Captains were about to continue their talk, a blaring siren reverberated in the surroundings, making all of them leave the room in haste to go to the command center to better understand the situation.
When they arrived at the Bridge of the ship, Thirteen was already there, so all of them saluted at the same time.
Thirteen saluted back before making a gesture for them to look at the projection that was being shown in front of them.
“It looks like our welcoming party has come to pick us up,” Thirteen commented as he looked at the Aircraft Carrier in front of them, which was accompanied by over a dozen warships.
“They don’t look friendly though,” Cristopher commented, which made Thirteen chuckle.
“Relax, if they really want to blow us up, we wouldn’t stand a chance,” Thirteen replied. “I’m sure they’re just trying to intimidate us, and let us know that we have entered their home turf.”
“But, we’re still several days away from Dvalinn,” Piper said. “Isn’t it too early to greet us?”
“The Dvalinn Federation’s ships are the fastest ships in the world,” Thirteen replied. “I’m sure that it only took them a day or two to reach our location from their Island Fortress. It seems that they are too excited to meet us.”
‘Or too excited to know the real reason why we’re here,’ Michael mused as he fixed the glasses on his face.
He had informed the Dvalinn Federation beforehand that they would be making a stop on their Island Fortress before going to the Rigel Continent.
Although not all of the Monarch Clans and the Prestigious Families got along with each other, they did their best to keep their skirmishes in the dark, and away from the views of the public.
“I see Old Man Benedict on the deck of the Aircraft Carrier,” Thirteen smirked when he saw the Old Man, who he had met at the party of the Remington Clan. “I wish Grandma was here. If she was, she’d probably slap him to oblivion.”
The corner of Michael’s and Colbert’s lips twitched after hearing Thirteen’s words.
Although Benedict Riggs was not the Patriarch of the Riggs Family, he was still among the top five most influential people in it, who could make decisions for the entire family.
In Colbert’s eyes, the Old Man was someone who could order his death with just a word.
But, after seeing how Zion casually called the one, who was known as the Berserker of the Battlefield, Old Man Benedict, he felt as if the anxiety he was feeling about meeting his family again, disappeared completely.
“Make sure to be respectful to him when we meet him, Zion,” Michael stated. “We can’t afford to make Benedict Riggs lose face, especially in front of his subordinates, as well as his peers.”
“Alright, I’ll behave.” Thirteen nodded. “But, since he is the one that came to meet us, instead of the Elrod Clan, proves that they have no intention of barring us from entering their Domain.
“But, I’m sure Old Man—errr Sir Benedict will try to intimidate, and make things difficult for us. Let’s just play along to make the old fart happy. It will be a pain to clean up his corpse if he suddenly dies due to an aneurysm.”
Michael sighed before shaking his head helplessly.
He really hoped that his nephew wouldn’t say anything to embarrass the old man, who wouldn’t even bat an eye if he was facing Arthur Leventis on the battlefield, despite the disparity in their Ranks.