Before the arrival of the Governor parachuted into the Kingdom.

Wenster's Festival of the Dead began first.

It's a festive occasion, but also a time of mourning.

People sing and dance in the streets, yet they also sob in anguish over the wine.

Ethan delivered a eulogy at the Festival of the Dead and simultaneously showcased his latest work.

"Rain in Wenster".

This painting naturally depicts the rainstorm that the citizens of Wenster find unforgettable.

The content of the painting does not feature overly bloody or brutal scenes; Ethan painted a city, empty and endlessly raining, devoid of people.

Yet this painting is enough to evoke the pain within people's hearts.

Bottled-up emotions were unleashed.

However, Ethan had already disappeared from the stage.

As the entire city was immersed in extreme emotions of joy and sorrow, Ethan had already mounted the Klaus Long Spear and departed the urban area.

His destination was the cemetery located northeast of the city.

Today, he also intended to pay tribute to a few people.

Anya's driving speed was not fast; her emotions had no fluctuations.

Only when her eyes caught Ethan's face through the rearview mirror did her expression soften a bit.

"Anya, how long have we known each other?"

Anya paused for a moment when she heard the question. If she was to calculate it, the first time she met Ethan was a long time ago.

Back then, they were both children.

Ethan stood proudly among the crowd like a little rooster, intimidating others from approaching.

Such an Ethan was distant in Anya's eyes.

Later, when grown up, she heard Ethan had gone to the Royal Capital to study art, only seeing him once a year at family gatherings, besides feeling that Ethan was excessively handsome, there was nothing else.

It was from the time she picked him up from the cruise ship that Ethan became clear in Anya's mind.

Initially, he was helpless like a drowned quail.

At that time, Anya somewhat looked down on him.

But later, he quickly changed everything, and the feeling in Anya's heart was completely different.

Until now, he sat in the back seat of the car, seemingly bored, watching everything outside the window.

In reality, it was all his territory.

"Almost a year now."

Anya said softly.

Indeed.

Almost a year.

Ethan looked at Anya's face. She seemed still young and still as indifferent and silent as at their first meeting.

But ultimately, the trials and tribulations of these days wore away her last trace of naivety.

Ethan couldn't help but gently grasp Anya's hand.

It was the two of them who got here together.

The two of them, from escaping under the moonlight once, came together to the top of the black mud now.

"Anya."

"Mm, young master, I'm here."

The two did not speak again.

The car finally arrived at the cemetery.

Ethan suggested paying tribute to Alberto together.

Since Alberto was buried, Ethan hadn't really visited much.

He knew Anya had deep feelings for Alberto, so he brought her along.

After bringing the prepared offerings, they arrived at Alberto's grave.

Because of daily maintenance by family members, Alberto's grave appeared clean, without a single stray weed.

Placing the offerings one by one before Alberto's grave, the two looked at the tomb silently.

Ethan mainly didn't know what to say to this father he barely knew.

And Anya likely already said many words in her heart.

Eventually, her eyes seemed a bit red.

Then she said, "Young master, I'll wait for you outside first."

And then left.

She said this because she knew Ethan came today not just to pay tribute to Alberto.

Ethan also came for two other people.

Klei, and... Sandro.

After Klei's death, Ethan buried him next to Alberto.

Technically speaking, it wasn't allowed because Klei didn't belong to the Bolita Clan, but truthfully, he was closer than a brother to Alberto.

For the Bolita Clan, for Alberto's descendants, he could even end his own life.

So he had the right to lie here.

After killing Sandro's original body before, Ethan visited once, and reburied the knuckle duster belonging to Klei in his grave to accompany him.

Today was different.

Today, Sandro was also buried here.

To be more specific, Sandro was formally buried here a couple of days ago.

The whole process was handled very discreetly, very few people knew, even those overseeing the burial weren't clear about who was being buried.

Even his tombstone didn't state the real name clearly.

Ethan only used the letter S to refer to Wenster's once underworld saint.

As for the epitaph, Ethan chose these words: Here lies a true human.

He thought Sandro might appreciate these words.

Looking at the three graves connected together before him, Ethan finally couldn't help but recount to Alberto's grave everything he had done.

Just like he promised at Alberto's funeral.

He ensured the family continued down the golden road, enough to let Alberto's spirit be illuminated above.

He also took good care of siblings, friends, and family, allowing the bloodline to continue flowing.

He also sacrificed all for the family.

He achieved everything.

"Father, you can truly rest in peace now."

Ethan poured a glass of wine for Alberto.

Then, he poured another for Klei.

"Klei, you can rest in peace too. Your revenge was completed, your enemy, I brought here before you. If you two truly meet in the Netherworld, feel free to fight again."

Lastly was Sandro.

Ethan also poured him a glass, and even clinked glasses with him.

The relationship between him and Sandro could only be described as very complicated.

They were opponents, enemies, and once partners.

But at the end, until the very moment Sandro truly died, they seemed to become friends.

Otherwise, Ethan wouldn't have truly buried him in Wenster, and right beside Alberto and Klei.

Ethan drank the wine in his hand and then said, "Sandro, our grudges are wiped clean too. I hope in the next life, you can truly live as a human."

And it was at this moment, fireworks suddenly rose in the city, in the brilliant sunlight, those fireworks appeared especially thin yet extraordinarily splendid.

These were daytime fireworks.

It was also the beginning of fading everything away.

Ethan looked up at those fireworks, unknowingly, on his left hand, the family emblem intertwined with black mud and thorns, at this moment, bloomed into a splendid rose.

(End of Volume One)