Chapter 419: Stunned

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Dad, let me ask you something. If you had managed to make your mark in Peregrine Hall, would you still have returned to San Francisco?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Why? You probably would’ve risen quite high up in ranks in that case. Perhaps you would marry someone there and settle down too. Why would you come back to San Francisco?”

“That’s different. You always have to return to your hometown. Did you think that your great-grandpa was a nobody in Peregrine Hall? I’m telling you that he was quite a respected man there, but he returned to his hometown too.”

“Dad, did Great-grandpa bring you to Peregrine Hall?”

“Yes, there were many boys in the family at that time, but your great-grandpa eventually chose me to inherit his position in Peregrine Hall.”

“How did you get chosen? I think Uncle Francis and Frederick are quite smart. Although I don’t really know your youngest brother, I’ve heard that he was quite acute.”

“You’re right. Logically speaking, your uncles should’ve been chosen instead of me. However, your great-grandpa chose me exactly because I’m not as smart as them.”

“What do you mean? Did Great-grandpa choose you because you’re dumb?”

“Yes, Peregrine Hall is too complicated, and it’s hard to even protect yourself there. Some people die even faster just because they pretend to know what’s going on. On the contrary, they usually ignore foolish people, and these fools are the ones who last the longest.”

“I don’t really understand. Can you explain it to me?”

“Just think about it. What kind of people are the most pitiful in this world? The kind that is scheming and pretends to be smart but isn’t. If you’re truly intelligent, you’ll be able to see the moon and get there. But if you’re a fool, you won’t even be able to see the moonlight. However, the scariest is pretending to be smart. Even though you can see the light, you’ll never be able to reach it.”

“I get it now. Are you saying that my uncles aren’t really that smart but have lofty ambitions?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

As the pair chatted, they quickly arrived at the Larson family’s old residence. The fire had already been extinguished by then, and they were only there to tidy up the loose ends.

“Finn, Mom has been kidnapped.”

“By whom? Melanie Taylor?”

Although Melanie Taylor was his enemy, he didn’t think that she was capable of doing such a thing. She was too proud to do that. In fact, she didn’t even think that he was worthy of being her opponent, much less someone around him—especially Linda James. If Melanie Taylor wanted to, she would’ve dealt with her when she visited last time. There was no need to wait until now.

“No, it’s Hilary Stone.”

“Her? Why would she do that?”

“It seems like she kidnapped my mom just as this place was set on fire, so she must have an accomplice. Who do you think that is?” Francis Larson was the one who asked this question.

Yvette Larson had not even thought of that.

“So she has an accomplice. Let me think about it.” He racked his brain for an answer, and a name suddenly flashed past his mind—Gremlin!

“Why do you think of him and not Quince Larson?”

“It’s exactly because I thought of Quince Larson that I think Gremlin is the culprit.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it. Didn’t Quince Larson already lose? But he managed to rise up again and strike back at us. It’s because he had Gremlin’s help. Hilary Stone had nothing to do with us, but she’s suddenly going against us. It’s obvious that someone is fanning the flames. When Yvette and I went out of the city the other day, we ran into Hilary Stone. She seemed to be waiting for someone there. Quince Larson would never meet someone there since only people who aren’t from San Francisco would ask to meet outside the city. That leaves us with only Gremlin then.”

“Based on what you say, it seems like Gremlin won’t be an easy one to deal with unless we get some help from your master.”

“There’s no way my master will help me. He’s already told me to deal with it alone. Otherwise, he will disown me and not allow me to return to Chicago.”

“What are you afraid of? Even if your master doesn’t want to help, didn’t he find two people to help you?”

“Two people?” Finn Taylor was slightly confused by what his father-in-law meant, but he quickly realized that the latter was talking about Lancelot and Guinevere. They had spared his life and had even changed their minds to help him afterward. ‘So that’s the reason. Master defeated them and forced them to help me.’

“Hey, you’re behaving strangely today, Dad. Why do I feel like you know a lot about me? Besides, I’ve never told you about things in Chicago. How do you even know about my master, Lancelot, and Guinevere?”

“I’m from Peregrine Hall too; it’s just that I’m just a small fly there. I was sent there to protect you. I wanted to work my way up so that I could support you, but I unfortunately failed and had to pack my bags and return to San Francisco.”

“What? You were part of Peregrine Hall, and you were even supposed to help me?”

‘Everything feels like an illusion. Has the world been turned upside down?’

“It’s not just me—there are many more like me. Did you really think that this is just a fight between you and your brother? Do you know how many families are involved?”

Finn Taylor sighed helplessly. ‘Everyone has gone mad.’

So many people were getting involved in the affairs of the Taylor family—a family that he didn’t even care about.