novelraw Chapter 738: Liking and Possessing Are Almost Equivalent
Chapter 738: Liking and Possessing Are Almost Equivalent
On the second day, Ignatius Leclair returned to the Leclair Residence, specifically to address Isaac Leclair’s situation.
The man sat in the tea room, holding a white Go piece in his hand, seated across from the old master, playing a game of Go.
The old master enjoyed Go, but there were few around him skilled at it. Ignatius was one of them, although he did not particularly love playing; he would only play a game with the old master when he was in a good mood.
"Have you been coordinating with that Squire boy for some major moves lately?" The old master had caught wind of something. Griffith Squire had recently been exceedingly aggressive, stirring unrest in Southeast Asia so severely that everyone was on edge, recklessly throwing money around to disrupt people’s peace.
The scope of these actions had the potential to shatter existing dynamics. If anyone suggested his grandson was uninvolved, the old master wouldn’t believe it—not even with his little toe.
Ignatius lowered his eyes, his handsome face devoid of expression. Placing a piece on the board, his deep phoenix-like eyes revealed nothing as he spoke, "Simply playing around out of boredom. Since his sister went missing, Griffith has been stewing in anger."
It wasn’t just the loss of his sister; even the woman he loved had vanished. It was understandable that Griffith was enraged.
But among many rivals in love, Ignatius had a peculiar appreciation for the bandit leader. Most men, including himself, approached relationships from a vantage of self-interest, equating love with possession. Griffith, however, had considered Delphine’s well-being slightly more. This time, his quiet withdrawal was, in a way, an act of selfless fulfillment.
"Aren’t you worried about stirring up such a big commotion, unable to clean up the mess?" The old master had long chosen to turn a blind eye, placing unwavering trust in his grandson and refraining from interfering in Southeast Asian affairs. The Wade Family and Cloud Family had already been toppled, leaving one more—the Squire Family. Ignatius clearly had his sights set on the Yeager Family. Once they were defeated, new aristocratic families would need to be fostered. The Imperial City would never tolerate Southeast Asia bearing the Leclair name indefinitely.
"With the Squire Family involved, it’s no trouble." Ignatius placed another piece on the board. Griffith Squire could be regarded as a temporary ally and a long-term adversary. With the Squire Family there to counterbalance the Leclair Family, it allowed him to focus on ruthlessly targeting the Yeager Family. Reginald Yeager had overextended his reach.
"I heard Isaac Leclair got into a fight at school and is now staying with Nathan?" Ignatius remarked casually, "The boy is growing up. Leaving him unchecked for too long won’t do. He might as well go abroad early. Away from Southeast Asia, those nasty rumors won’t reach his ears."
Regarding Nathan Leclair, Ignatius glossed over the matter. In the eyes of both the old master and Ignatius, Nathan was the losing candidate for Heir. He was destined never to be involved with succession, and neither would the second household ever return to Southeast Asia unless granted approval by the ruling family.
The old master was also troubled by Isaac’s situation and nodded in agreement, "The boy’s temperament has indeed grown quite unruly these past few years. His father doesn’t care for him, and his mother passed away early. Sending him abroad to study might be a suitable path."
Seeing the old master agree, Ignatius finally revealed a faint smile. He believed the human heart was so small that it could only accommodate two insignificant figures. He would not allow anyone else to occupy Delphine’s heart. It was better to send Isaac abroad, away from Stone Leclair and the environment of Southeast Asia. Perhaps he could grow into a man of impeccable character and values.
Ignatius was resolute and efficient. Once Isaac’s departure was decided, all formalities were completed in a short period, and he was sent to the United Kingdom, placed directly under Arthur White’s watchful eye.
Isaac was still a child and naturally had no say in the matter. The old master had a brief conversation with the young grandson, essentially a unilateral notice informing him of his upcoming studies in the United Kingdom.
When Nathan Leclair learned of this, he lit a cigarette, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows of his apartment, squinting as he smoked leisurely. So, even toward his own younger brother, his eldest brother could be this heartless—as he had been back then. Anyone or anything that obstructed him would be exiled far, far away.