Chapter 1173: Chapter 1173: Richard Shaw Is a Born Soldier

As soon as Griffith Squire returned to the Coldwell Mansion, he offended the majority of Brocade City’s elite, and by that night, the news had spread throughout the circles, gaining a wave of attention.

The rumors outside were tumultuous, united in enmity, while the Coldwell Mansion was unusually harmonious.

The people Griffith Squire brought along took over all the security systems of the mansion, refreshing its spirit entirely.

The local aristocratic clans of Brocade City were all probing the origins of this person, only to find they couldn’t trace it, leaving them stunned and sending people to test the Coldwell family members’ responses.

At this critical juncture, Ian Coldwell, the Family Head of the Coldwell Family who’s always been in poor health, fell ill, making the situation quite sensitive.

Ian Coldwell’s illness was aggressive, and he had only two daughters. The elder daughter from his first wife was mute, with her mother dying early, and there were no ties with her maternal family, leaving her genuinely unsupported. The younger daughter not only had backing from the Kingston Family but her fiancé was also the eldest young master of another renowned clan in Brocade City, the Seymour Family.

The inheritance should have surely belonged to Brooke Coldwell, yet the situation subtly changed due to the mysterious man Griffith Squire’s involvement.

Brocade City’s situation didn’t garner the attention of the Imperial City’s upper echelons. However, recently Griffith Squire showed up in the Imperial City, appearing as an international arms dealer. Richard Shaw sent someone to investigate, simultaneously uncovering the situation in Brocade City.

"Three years ago, Griffith Squire was severely injured in the Vatican, accidentally rescued by the Coldwell Family’s eldest Miss Aurora Coldwell who was sketching there at the time, and has been recuperating in a private sanatorium in Florence." Sozi reported the findings, instantly delving into Brocade City’s events thoroughly.

Richard Shaw had just gotten up, and with the colder weather, the cabin’s charcoal fire was already lit.

Brocade City? Coldwell Family? The man stirred the charcoal with his slender, slightly pale hand, hiding behind a woman it seems, no wonder he couldn’t be traced.

Previously, the Elvis Family sent people to Brocade City, which could now make sense.

"Major General, there’s one more rather important matter. The situation at the Golden Triangle has changed; Griffith Squire is cooperating with the local government, receiving a military rank, and his subordinates have all been incorporated into the regular army. They ask when you’ll return to the Military District to resume duties?" Sozi scratched his head, asked cautiously.

"Returning to resume duties today." Richard Shaw spoke slowly and deeply, a cold expression on his face, revealing no emotion.

Unexpectedly, Griffith Squire chose to cooperate with the government to legitimize himself. Richard Shaw thought about the confidential files above; is Griffith Squire planning to penetrate government institutions? Over the past year, he’s controlled the massive black market military district trading market, shifting focus from the Golden Triangle to domestic concern.

Due to his special background, even now, he can’t easily move against this person. Unexpectedly, after an accident years ago, he seized the opportunity to lie dormant and secretly achieved a transfer of power.

If not for the deep enmity between the two families, Griffith Squire’s animosity towards the Imperial City’s elites, Richard Shaw might genuinely admire this man.

"Major General, are you serious, really returning to resume duties?" Sozi nearly jumped up in delight.

"Yes." Richard Shaw responded blandly, having planned this move upon returning to the Imperial City, with superiors urging almost annually, he’d already reported it.

Reflecting on Leah’s drastically changed demeanor, the man knew Griffith Squire had certainly met her. Since she didn’t want to see him, he had to tend to proper affairs.

"Sozi, head to the small villa first." The man softly spoke, his tea-colored eyes revealing a bit of worldly-wise understanding.

"Alright, alright." Sozi replied, seeing the Major General stand up from the wheelchair suddenly widened his eyes, rubbed them, when did the Major General’s legs heal?

"Major General, returning to Shaw Mansion?" Sozi said loudly in shock, eyes filled with delight, if the elderly lady knew the Major General’s legs, paralyzed for years, could now walk, she’d be ecstatic?

"Later return." Richard Shaw replied blandly. With Griffith Squire’s return, he no longer needed to feign leg paralysis.

The man touched the wheelchair that had accompanied him for years, eyes showing a hint of complex emotion; these three years were stolen time, regardless of the outcome, these three years were enough.

Richard Shaw cast off the final trace of detachment, his eyes returning to their sharp deepness, once again becoming the indomitable Major General of the Imperial City, the paralysis of nearly nine years was merely a necessary ordeal in his military and political career.

Before returning to Military District duties, the black Hummer arrived at Delphine Carter’s small villa.

Richard Shaw visited daily, though mostly unseen, occasionally encountering Leah and Delphine returning with groceries, or glimpsing her tall, slender silhouette through the window.

This time, the man didn’t wait in the car but instead stepped out to knock on the door.

Leah, thinking Delphine brought Nicholas Carter back, quickly opened the door, seeing a man in uniform with an armband, handsome and stern, hesitated silently, fingers instinctively clenching.

"Won’t you invite me in to sit?" Richard Shaw spoke deep and smiling.

Leah instinctively stepped aside, and as he entered, only then belatedly realizing he was walking, standing. Being 170 herself, the man was a head taller than her, subtly imposing.

"Your leg." Leah blurted in shock, peach blossom eyes flickering with surprise.

"Thanks to you accompanying me to Switzerland for treatment, now I can walk unhindered. I’m resuming duties at the Military District today, came to see you." Richard Shaw stood two steps away, neither too close to pressure her nor too far to avoid catching her scent.

His voice was steady, his face was very stern, so unlike the man washing hands cooking or crafting by hand in her memory. Overnight, from a simple, silent man living in a rustic cabin, eating simply, silently meditative, he turned into the Imperial City’s powerful Army Major General.

Perhaps this is the real Richard Shaw.

Leah recalled Griffith Squire’s words, both had retreated to safer boundaries, years of close company seemed like a dream, and she didn’t know how to face Richard Shaw.

"Resuming duties at the Military District is very good, you were born to be a soldier." Leah said lightly.

The man suddenly stepped forward, his tall figure enveloping her, speaking lowly: "Don’t move."

His long, rough fingers gently brushed her collarbone, removing a long strand of hair, softly saying: "Did you straighten your hair?"

Leah felt a tingle where he touched her, like a slight electric shock, she stepped back, nodded saying: "Changing hairstyle, changing mood."

Her hair had been growing all these years, previously a charming big wave curl, suddenly straightened, long down the waist, enhancing her features, captivating peach blossom eyes enchanting.

Richard Shaw regarded her visage etched deep in his heart, tea-colored eyes darkened, voice hoarse saying: "Leah, are you still willing to go home?"