Andy was well aware of being discovered, but he wasn't free to deal with these gangsters yet.
He didn't clean up his dilapidated home; he simply put some nostalgic items into his spatial dimension, then walked out the door.
Seeing Andy walk out, the intelligence agents from the gangs outside became even more terrified; they immediately fled to report.
Red Hawk Andy was back, and he might be preparing to eliminate them at this very moment!
"Scream... be afraid... I'll let you live a little longer. After I pay my respects to Grandma, I'll come back and deal with you," Andy murmured, watching the fleeing gang intelligence agents.
His chilling tone sent shivers down one's spine.
He then averted his gaze and slowly walked towards the mountain where his grandma was buried—a barren, treeless peak overlooking the sea.
——
At the same time, inside a castle in the Port City, the Dark Tide Family was in utter chaos.
The castle looked magnificent from the outside, but its interior was filled with an aura of decay and sin.
Upon receiving the news of Red Hawk Andy's return, the entire Dark Tide Family was on high alert, and every member was plunged into extreme panic.
Salvatore Scalzi, the current Godfather of the Dark Tide Family, was sprawled in a chair, his expression flustered and terrified.
Years ago, to secure his position as Godfather, he resorted to unscrupulous means, using the pretense of avenging the former Godfather to relentlessly pursue Andy.
But he never expected that the 15-year-old boy, like an unkillable cockroach, would not only escape successfully but also establish a formidable reputation on the sea in just over a year.
"Irene, Red Hawk has indeed returned. He won't let us go. What should we do?" Scalzi asked, his voice trembling, looking anxiously at the beautiful woman beside him.
Irene Ferrante, the Dark Tide Family's strategist, had a beautiful face but shrewd and calculating eyes.
It was she who had orchestrated everything, helping Scalzi ascend to the Godfather's position and advising him to eliminate Andy completely.
Yet, she never imagined they would let a child escape, nor did she expect this child to grow into the West Sea's Ultimate Evil - Crimson Owl Andy, who now struck fear into the entire West Blue.
Irene frowned, pacing back and forth, trying to calm herself. Her mind raced, devising countermeasures.
"Don't panic, we still have time," she said, feigning composure, her voice slightly trembling. "Although Andy is back, he won't act immediately. We can send people to probe his strength first, and at the same time, gather all the family's forces to strengthen the castle's defenses."
Scalzi felt a little calmer after hearing Irene's words, but the fear in his heart lingered. "But he's too powerful now. Can we really withstand him?" His voice was full of doubt.
Irene stopped pacing, looking at Scalzi with determined eyes:
"We have no choice.
If we don't fight, there's only death.
Besides, Andy just returned; he might not immediately move against us.
He might have other matters to attend to.
We must seize this opportunity and make thorough preparations."
Scalzi also understood that even with a glimmer of hope, they had to fight, otherwise, only death awaited them!
"No! ...No, no, no... There must be another way!" Suddenly, Irene's eyes lit up; she thought of someone!
"What way?" Scalzi immediately looked at Irene with hopeful eyes.
Irene smiled slightly, then softly spoke a name to Scalzi.
Upon hearing the name, all the fear on Scalzi's face vanished, replaced by the joy of having escaped a disaster.
"That's wonderful, Irene, you truly are my best strategist!" Scalzi excitedly picked up Irene and placed her on his lap.
Irene smiled radiantly, holding Scalzi and letting out clear, bell-like laughter...
——
Just as the Dark Tide Family was discussing countermeasures, Andy had already arrived at his grandmother's grave.
The wind on the mountaintop was strong, stirring up dust and disheveling Andy's hair.
He stood quietly before the grave, gazing at his grandmother's photo on the tombstone, his eyes gradually welling up.
"Grandma, I'm back," Andy said softly, his voice trembling slightly in the wind. "These past years, I've been working hard to become strong. Don't worry, no one can bully me anymore."
He knelt down and gently caressed the tombstone with his hand, as if he could feel his grandmother's warmth.
All was silent, with only the sound of the wind whistling in his ears.
But suddenly, his expression instantly turned indifferent, and a strong killing intent quietly emanated from him.
Although he had come to the mountain, he had been using his Observation Haki to keep an eye on every move of the Dark Tide Family.
He knew all about the discussion between Scalzi and Irene, but when Irene spoke that person's name, his heart couldn't help but waver.
"Mama... I didn't expect you to still be alive..." Andy muttered to himself.
...
——
The Queen's bedchamber was lavishly decorated, with gold and silver utensils shimmering alluringly under the soft light, and exquisite carpets covering the floor, making every step feel like walking on clouds.
At this moment, a beautiful woman with a voluptuous figure hung up the Transponder Snail in her hand, her expression utterly flustered.
She was dressed in opulent and luxurious attire, and the pearl necklace around her neck swayed slightly with her rapid breathing.
This person was Vera Rosato, the Queen of Cortes Kingdom's King Tie E Gregor.
She was also Andy's mother!
The call she had just received was from Irene, who used to be her good friend. This time, Irene contacted her to ask for help in resolving the Dark Tide Family's current trouble.
Upon hearing Irene say that Andy had returned to Cortes Kingdom, she was no longer calm; she was in a state of panic.
Fifteen years ago, it was Irene's introduction that led her to meet Tie E, who was then the Prince of Cortes, and she quickly accepted Tie E's pursuit.
Finally, she abandoned her family, left the Port City, and returned with Tie E to the capital of Cortes Kingdom.
Now, 15 years had passed, and it was all like a dreamlike adventure. She was immersed in her new life, burying everything from the past deep within her.
No one knew about these things except Irene; even Andy didn't know where she was or if she was still alive.
Now, Andy had carved out his own territory on the sea, shaking the West Blue with the name "Red Hawk," and had returned to this country. This news, like a bombshell, completely shattered her outwardly peaceful life.
Irene's request on the phone put her in a dilemma.
Irene pleaded with her to intervene and help the Dark Tide Family resolve the threat from Andy.
If she refused, Irene would expose all her secrets, including her past of abandoning her family, and her current identity and life.
This was a consequence she could not bear, yet facing Andy, facing the son she had abandoned for 15 years, she simply didn't have the courage.
"Mama, look, this is the clothes Papa gave me today. Only the future King can wear this, you know..." At this moment, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy walked in, his face full of excitement.
Hearing the boy's voice, Vera suddenly snapped back to reality, as if waking from a nightmare.
She instinctively took a deep breath, quickly adjusted her emotions, and gently tidied the strands of hair at her temples, trying to appear as calm as before.
Then she slowly turned around, a gentle smile on her face—a smile that concealed her helplessness, her guilt, and her awkwardness towards the boy in front of her.
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