Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 286

The group didn't linger over the butler and servants' greetings, only nodding lightly before walking through the castle gates.

Their final destination was a room in the southeast corner of the castle's first floor.

This was a computer room with the most advanced computing equipment available.

For centuries, this room had been the Russo family's intelligence center.

"Just looking for this guy called Neville?" Tommy hadn't been in this room for years. Just entering now, his previously weak voice instantly became robust.

Before him lay only a slip of paper with the name "Neville" written on it.

This information was somewhat sparse—even for Tommy, who was used to finding people, it was hard to find immediate direction.

"He's from the Norvayne Confederacy. Twenty-some years ago, maybe earlier, he went to Lumaria." Sebastian clearly understood that finding someone with just a name was impossible, so he offered his intelligence.

Tommy nodded lightly. "In that case, I should be able to find him."

While Tommy was busy, Marco stood at the room's entrance and beckoned to Sebastian. "Jacob, come here."

When Sebastian reached him, Marco said nothing more, only leading the way toward a nearby staircase.

Sebastian actually had some impression of this castle.

Seeing Marco head up the stairs, he frowned slightly. If he remembered correctly, there seemed to be something up those stairs that couldn't be seen.

As a child, he'd tried to go up this staircase but had been stopped by his mother.

And she'd been serious about it—even made Sebastian swear he'd never go near that staircase.

So Sebastian's impression was extremely deep.

Marco had walked several steps before realizing Sebastian hadn't followed. He doubled back. Seeing Sebastian still standing at the base of the stairs, he said, "What's wrong? Come on."

Those words pulled Sebastian from his memories. His gaze gradually focused, following the stairs upward before finally landing on Marco's face.

Though well-maintained, Marco was nearly sixty—the wrinkles on his face were deepening.

Sebastian took a deep breath. Right—he wasn't a child anymore. His mother's warnings were outdated.

He stepped onto the stairs. His heart tugged faintly, keeping pace with his footsteps. His chest tingled, but his expression showed no change—even his eyes watching Marco remained calm and still.

"What's up here, Uncle Marco?"

When he asked this, his expression showed no change—as if just casually asking.

Marco had no intention of hiding it. "It's an armory." As he spoke, his steps paused slightly. He looked back at Sebastian, as if remembering something amusing. "Luci wouldn't let you come up here back then. Every time this came up, she'd go pale with fright."

The memory pushed back into his mind. Sebastian recalled his mother hurriedly pulling him away from here each time. He couldn't help lowering his head and laughing softly.

Up the stairs was a long, narrow room—only wide enough for three adults to walk abreast. Weapons hung densely on both walls.

Though Sebastian didn't deal much with firearms, as a man, he still understood weaponry somewhat.

He'd once been dragged to a shooting range during negotiations with Drovinskians. Good feel to them.

After entering, Marco didn't linger at the heavy weapons by the door but walked straight to the room's deepest section.

He dragged out a large case from beneath a rack.

When Sebastian walked over, Marco had just opened the case's lid. Inside were five well-preserved long-barreled hunting rifles.

After his gaze lingered on those rifles for a moment, Sebastian looked at Marco. "Going hunting?"

Marco carefully inspected the rifle in his hands. Hearing Sebastian's question, he didn't even lift his head. "Now's the perfect time to catch rabbits. And young goats—some are raised in the forest over there. Let's go take a look."

The two men gathered what they needed and headed downstairs.

Passing the computer room, Marco stopped and stuck his head in to talk to Tommy.

"We're going hunting in the eastern woods. Come to the estate for dinner tonight."

Tommy was bent over his computer screen. Hearing Marco's words, he didn't turn his head—just nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

The hunt went smoothly.

Before noon, Sebastian and Marco had bagged two rabbits and a wild pheasant. As for young goats, they hadn't encountered any, so they simply pulled one from the breeding pen.

At the vineyard estate.

Scarlett and Rosalia were nestled in the small sitting room's sofa, chatting about everything under the sun.

The herbal tea that had been warming over the fireplace had run dry an hour ago and had already been replaced with another variety.

A faint mechanical hum came from outside the window.

Both women, chatting simultaneously, turned to look. A black pickup drove past the window.

"It's Dad!"

Rosalia recognized Marco's truck at a glance. She immediately stood with a smile and pulled at Scarlett, still sitting. "I had him go hunting. We're in for a treat today."

Scarlett rose with her momentum and followed her out.

Beside the small sitting room was a door leading outside—a clever little design.

Through the small door, across an external corridor, you could reach the house's main entrance.

Rosalia and Scarlett exited this way.

When they arrived, Marco and Sebastian were directing servants to take the game to the kitchen for processing.

"Dad!"

Rosalia called out and immediately rushed over to hug Marco.

The father and daughter hadn't seen each other for two months. Both held each other tightly.

Sebastian looked at Scarlett.

She wore a hand-knitted cashmere blanket draped over her shoulders. The pattern was traditional Virella Island design—from the weaving technique, this blanket should be Olivia's handiwork.

He walked over, his palm lightly stroking her cheek. Warm to the touch, skin delicate.

"Did you nap?"

Sebastian asked softly.

Scarlett shook her head and dodged Sebastian's hand. She clutched the shawl around her. "It's very warm inside."

Even without her saying so, Sebastian knew this.

Their conversation paused briefly. Scarlett's attention was drawn to the young goat being dragged from the truck.

"You shot that?"

The young goat had no wounds, but Rosalia had said earlier they'd gone hunting.

Scarlett was somewhat puzzled.

Sebastian shook his head, taking the opportunity to pull her hand closer. "We didn't run into any goats today. This one's from the breeding farm."

After the young goat, a servant carried two dead rabbits by hand, along with a wild pheasant.

They had obvious wounds—blood staining the fur.

"I shot this one."

Sebastian pointed at one rabbit—its fur tinged with gray.

This one was larger than the other, all-white one.

Hearing this, Scarlett initially didn't see any issue. But after a brief silence, she followed his gaze back. "What is it?"

Sebastian's tone was flat, as if merely stating a fact. "This is my first time hunting."

"Then you're quite good." Scarlett roughly understood what he wanted—a perfunctory compliment—but then grew curious. "You've never hunted before?"

She'd assumed that as a Russo family member, he would have learned to hunt long ago.

After all, many wealthy Sovereign City families took their children on hunting expeditions from a young age.