Life at the Top

At almost the same time, far away in Harbor City.

Conrad sat on a skerry at the Dammer Fishing Grounds with a fishing rod in his hands as he stared with focus at the fish maw that danced in the waves.

Waves smacked against the skerry and wet the leg of his pants, but the man remained frozen in place.

He had lived this lifestyle for around a week.

Behind him stood his confidant, Valentine.

“The tide us rising, Mr. Monty. We should return soon.”

Valentine told Conrad softly.

Conrad waved his off and replied, “I haven’t caught a single fish today, I can’t leave yet.”

Valentine sighed gently at how stubborn Conrad was.

“I don’t like seeing you like this, Mr. Monty, it feels wrong to me. I’d rather you vent about it,” Valentine said sincerely.

Conrad smiled and replied, “I know what you want to say, Valentine, but you worry too much. What is there for me to vent? Victories and losses are common in war, and it’s not the first time I’ve lost to Jasper anyway. After a few losses, you start to get used to it.

the kind of life I’m living now. It doesn’t have any of that fighting

being too hasty and that I should learn to calm down and have some patience. I didn’t understand him then, but now that I look at it, Father knew me too well. After these past few days of peace, I’ve

“I was too impatient.”

his mouth to refute but did not make

knew that there were some things someone of his status and identity could not say. He should never

two days ago. Are we really not

could potentially work together to defeat him. Not to mention that Mr. Atticus isn’t someone we can easily afford to offend,”

don’t worry. He’ll come and look for me. It’d be too cheap of

right, a yacht sped toward them from not too far out

beeline for Conrad’s skerry. The yacht stopped around a

speedboat arrived before the skerry with a man standing atop it. He

calmly, “I’m

man gave a small smile and said, “Mr. Atticus said that you’re welcome to go fishing on Mr. Atticus’ yacht if you wish, Mr. Monty. There are larger fish in

then it would be disrespectful of me to not take his offer.

speedboat pulled up to the skerry and Conrad got on. At the same time,

hand to halt him. His tone was polite but firm as

Valentine looked at Conrad.

bring my fishing rod back first. It seems like today isn’t a good day for fishing,” Conrad told Valentine as

the yacht alongside the young man

…