Hilbert contacted the local police station, medical institutions, and his father's friends. He tried every means to find out the cause of his father's death.

This was actually due to a strong sense of guilt. His rebellion was not caused by family oppression, let alone abuse. On the contrary, Hilbert, who received a good education, had always been very clear about his parents' love for him.

The mother's care, the father's high expectations, and the fact that his parents often did not disrespect Hilbert.

But Hilbert didn't want to be stuck guarding the family business like his father. He was afraid that his father had arranged his future life for him. He needed his own life, a wonderful life, and longed for extraordinary experiences.

He vaguely remembered that when he graduated from college, he went home and wanted to travel around the world. He originally planned to have a quarrel with his father. He prepared fierce words and intended to refute the family stereotypes with his father.

But the tall figure who liked to dress in a more classical style said only one sentence after hearing Hilbert's excited words.

"Son, I respect your choice, because I also hoped that my father would respect me. When you get tired of being outside, come back and take over the family's mess!"

This sentence contains both respect and trust.

Thinking about it now, this sentence turned out to be my last face-to-face conversation with my father.

Hilbert was not a pervert, but at this moment he wished that his father had died of other reasons, not only because there was no heart disease in the medical history of the Chakus family, but also because if it was not a natural death, he could avenge his father.

He had reason to be suspicious. With the exception of his grandparents, whom he had never met and who met with a shipwreck in their prime, no one in the Chakus family had lived past the age of eighty or ninety.

Unfortunately, all clues pointed to natural death.

His mother told Hilbert that since he came home less and less often in high school, old Chakus's schedule became irregular, and he often stayed up late reading. He also started eating junk food and his temper became irritable from time to time.

In the doctor's report, these are all triggers for sudden heart attack.

Although it was hard to accept, the fact was before his eyes. Although Hilbert had been an adult for a long time, it seemed as if he had only truly grown up at this moment.

Out of deep remorse and sense of guilt, he did not let a professional team take full charge of the funeral. Instead, he planned all the arrangements for the funeral himself, and then asked relevant personnel to help with the funeral affairs.

Influenced by today's popular culture, there are not only churches but also specialized funeral homes. However, the funeral was not held in any church or specialized funeral home in Bangor.

Instead, it was in this ancestral home outside the city. Hilbert understood some of his father's wishes. If it were not really inconvenient, it would be more appropriate to return to the castle on the Chakus family's private island.

The farewell ceremony and memorial service were arranged together. Hilbert did not want too much formalism. He did not want the ceremony to be held the day before and the memorial service the day after. He only hoped that all relatives and friends could express their true feelings completely, rather than expressing them in segments because of the funeral procedures.

White flowers surrounded the coffin of old Chakus, and wreaths were placed around the walls of the main living room, which served as the mourning hall.

The Chakus family did not have many relatives. Apart from relatives from the mother's side, most of those who attended the funeral were good friends of the father and some elderly people who had worked as servants in the Chakus family.

Compared to Chinese people, many Westerners express their emotions differently at funerals.

In the mourning hall, relatives and friends were sitting or standing, talking in low voices about themselves and old Chakus's life. There were heavy feelings and some smiles, but no one cried. This was how they showed their final respect to the deceased.

If anyone is hungry, they can go to the restaurant on the side and get their own food.

"Master Hilbert, think more positively. The Chakus family is depending on you now!"

An old man walked up to little Chakus who was sitting near the door and patted him on the shoulder.

The latter looked up at him and didn't recognize who this person was.

"Uncle Collini, it's good to see you!"

The mother on the side covered her mouth, stood up and hugged the old man.

"Hilbert, this is Uncle Corini. He took care of your father after your grandparents died in the shipwreck. He lived with us until you were born. When he resigned due to his advanced age, your father was sad for a long time."

The old man looked at Hilbert's dejected face, vaguely saw the boy who had grown into a father, and also recalled the peer who liked to fish with him on the island.

"Hilbert, I believe you will take good care of your mother. The Chakus family is a large family with a long history, and the men of the Chakus family will not succumb to fate and setbacks!"

…

Later that day, most of the relatives and friends had temporarily returned to their homes or hotels to attend the funeral ceremony tomorrow. Only some relatives who were temporarily staying in Chakus's house and an old man named Corini were still there.

In a moment, today's viewing and memorial service will be over.

A light drizzle suddenly began to fall from the sky.

The rain was not heavy, but it brought up a slight mist, making the surrounding scenery hazy.

"Another guest is coming!"

Someone whispered.

Familiar relatives and friends should have received the notice long ago. Who could it be that came at this time?

In the drizzle, two figures in black formal attire walked towards the house step by step. They did not hold an umbrella nor walked hurriedly in the rain. They walked steadily from outside the manor to the door.

A beautiful blonde woman and an Asian man with long gray hair.

After entering the house, the man took off his hat and glanced at Hilbert at the door.

The latter's body shook inexplicably, and his eyes were so deep, as if his sight contained endless vicissitudes.

However, their eyes separated as soon as they made contact, and then the man and the woman walked to the coffin at the same pace as before, and just held their hats and looked quietly at old Chakus in the coffin.

"Teacher, I didn't expect this to happen. If we had come earlier..."

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

Qin Xiaoxia stopped Su Su from blaming herself. The map was just the material of the association. It was rare to be able to see the buildings and vaguely sense the related Chakus family, but it was impossible to predict every member of the Chakus family from a distance. So they only knew that old Chakus had passed away when they arrived in this city.

"Maybe this is fate! But... the bloodline of the Chakus family would die of a sudden heart attack, it's really... incredible!"

Qin Xiaoxia didn't say this loudly, but it was clearly audible to those around him. Rather than a tone of doubt, it was more like an unusually deep and serious tone.

When Su Su heard what her mentor said, her face changed. She looked at the seemingly peaceful old Chakus, then turned to look at Qin Xiaoxia.

"Teacher, are you saying that his death was not normal?"

"I hope I'm wrong!"

Qin Xiaoxia said no more. He sensed that Hilbert had already stood up.

"Let's go."

He said something to Su Su and then walked towards the door first.

"Ah? Let's go? Teacher, but we are here..."

"Let's go, leave them alone."

At the door, Hilbert, his mother and the elderly Collini were already standing there.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

The mother looked at them, and finally asked a question before the man and woman left.

Qin Xiaoxia paused slightly, and Su Su also stopped.

He turned to look at the three people, pausing again with emphasis on Hilbert's face.

"We? We are just old friends of the Chakus family!"

After saying this, the man and the woman stepped into the rain again.

Hilbert wanted to call them several times, but every time he opened his mouth, he felt that the other party would not answer anything at the moment.

When the two figures disappeared in the rain, he immediately reacted, picked up the umbrella and wanted to chase after them.

An old hand pressed upon his shoulder; it was Collini's.

"Master Hilbert, these two are not ordinary people. You'd better not chase them out like this."

These words shocked Hilbert.

"Mr. Collini! Do you know anything?"

The old man shook his head.

"I don't know who they are, but I noticed that they didn't have even a drop of water on them after coming through the rain..."

Hilbert was surprised and thought carefully, but he seemed unable to remember the details of their appearance.