A hand gripped Joseph Qiao's throat tightly. In the moonlight, Stanley Tang smiled coldly.
"What exactly do you want to do?"
"Just as it sounds."
Stanley Tang spoke as he forced Joseph Qiao to the ground. A patrol of soldiers passed by the gate.
"Let me put it this way: The eleven northern tribes have reached an agreement to break away from the control of the Grant Family, and your father, Charles Grant, has agreed to it."
Joseph Qiao's expression was extremely complicated. Such an important matter, yet his father had left without telling him, and hadn't sent anyone to inform him. Thinking of his uncle Quentin Grant, a wave of sorrow surged in Joseph's heart.
"I'll tell you honestly: Your uncle found out about this and wanted to report it to King Grant in the capital, but your father killed him with his own hands."
In an instant, Joseph Qiao shoved Stanley Tang away.
"That's impossible."
Stanley Tang burst out laughing, pointing at Joseph Qiao.
"Did you forget? In your tribe, besides you and your father, there's one more person who can inherit the tribe's rights."
Joseph Qiao was stunned. Instantly, his mind flashed to his uncle. He remembered, as a child, watching his uncle and father fight—his father won. He never knew why they fought, but he still recalled the unwillingness in Quentin Grant's eyes.
"If your uncle could tell King Grant about our rebellion, he'd earn great merit. The Grant Tribe would fall under his control. With the Grant Family's power, wiping out the northern tribes would only take a military campaign. So, what do you think? Which side benefits more? Haven't you suffered enough under the Grant Family's rule? Doesn't it make you sick, living under such an incompetent king?"
Back at his lodging, Joseph Qiao looked shattered. As soon as he entered, Lucille Xing shouted at him.
"Where were you in the middle of the night? You're so noisy! You woke me up when you left, and now you're back again. Can I ever get some sleep?"
"Shut up."
Joseph Qiao yelled, his face twisted as he glared at Lucille Xing. She was stunned—he'd gone out for a bit, and now he seemed like a different person.
Lucille Xing was frightened. She stood up and walked over to Joseph Qiao.
"Are you possessed or something?"
Joseph Qiao brushed Lucille Xing's hand away and curled up alone in the corner. He was angry—why hadn't his father told him anything?