Chapter 453 James
The four gardeners stared intently at the gatekeeper, their interest fully piqued.
The gatekeeper enjoyed their eager gazes. After capturing their interest, he coughed twice, sighed, and said, "James is incredible, his abilities far exceed those of ordinary people. Many say someone like him shouldn't exist in this world. Even God was jealous of James's excellence, so He took James away as a punishment."
"You must be joking. That’s an exaggeration. Are you implying James was a stand-in for God?"
"Believe it or not, there are indeed people who claim that James was God himself.
"We know James is amazing, but you haven't told us the reason he disappeared."
The gatekeeper said, "Some say James is dead, assassinated by his enemies. After all, over the years, James made quite a few enemies. Many feared him, but just as many wanted him dead. It's really a pity. Such an outstanding person, gone. If James were still around, the Ward family and the Stewart family wouldn't be so arrogant. James could defeat the geniuses of both families with just a flick of his finger. James used to enjoy chatting with me and even shared his cigarettes. What's with those looks? Do you think I'm lying? I'm telling the truth."
As gatekeeper boasted and bragged, the doorbell rang.
"Go answer the door, it might be Wylie coming back." The gatekeeper basked in the gardeners' admiration as they lit his cigarette, feeling very pleased.
Another gatekeeper ran to open the door and immediately saw a tall, lean man with a resolute face, dressed very plainly, standing at the entrance.
"Who are you looking for?" The newly arrived gatekeeper asked James.
He was engrossed in James's story, and suddenly someone came to the door, and it was just an ordinary man. He felt impatient as his tone wasn't very friendly.
"Are you new here and don't recognize me?" James said with a slight frown. After finally returning home, he found himself being stopped by a gatekeeper.
The new gatekeeper scrutinized James, seeing him as just a poor one from the countryside at that.
"Who are you? Judging by your looks, you must be some poor country bumpkin. Do you really think you belong here? Get lost as far away as you can." The new gatekeeper waved dismissively and was about to shut the door.
James laughed. It seemed he had been away so long. Now that he was home, even the gatekeeper didn't recognize him.
James blocked the door and easily pushed it open. The new gatekeeper stumbled a few steps, almost falling to the ground. His face changed instantly, and he pulled out a stun baton from his waist, striding forward. "You bastard! Do you even know where you are? How dare you cause trouble here? You must have a death wish!"
He swung the stun baton towards James's head.
The commotion caught the attention of the gatekeeper and the four gardeners nearby. They all looked over and saw James. The old gatekeeper who had been boasting earlier froze when he saw James. The next second, the old gatekeeper started trembling, and the cigarette in his mouth fell onto his pants, burning a hole without him noticing. It wasn't until the cigarette butt burned his thigh that the pain made him cry out.
Even though his thigh was scalded, he couldn't suppress the shock in his heart as his mind echoed with one thought, ' James is back! James is back!'
Unlike Archer, he had been a gatekeeper for the Smith family for ten years and was very familiar with James. Although James's demeanor had changed significantly, except his appearance so he recognized him at frist glance.
However, the four gardeners did not recognize James. Like the newly arrived gatekeeper, they mistook James for a poor man from the countryside and took up their weapons, rushing toward him.
They were all top graduates from prestigious schools and had finally been hired by the Smith family as gardeners. To them, the Smith family was a major family in the City of Mysteries, with top-tier power, influence, and wealth in the country. Working for the Smith family, even as gardeners, was an honor.
Their notions of social hierarchy were especially entrenched. In their eyes, even a corporate elite from outside could not compare to them, let alone a poor man from the countryside.
To them, teaching this poor man a lesson was a chance to get the Smith family's attention, maybe even their recognition.
"Let's get him, guys!"
"A pauper daring to cause trouble for the Smith family. This is sheer folly."
"Detain him and hand him over to Zaiden!"
"Yeah, this is our chance to make a name for ourselves."
With faces alight with excitement, they lunged towards James as if seizing the opportunity to achieve great merit.
At this moment, the old gatekeeper finally realized as well as he was shocked. He urgently shouted, "Stop! Stop! What are you doing? Are you looking for death? That's James, James!"
He roared in fury, mustering all his strength. His voice was so thunderous that it reverberated throughout the entire estate, even reaching those inside the house.
The new gatekeeper and the four gardeners were stunned by his shout as their movements slowed.
"What? James?" They exclaimed.
They were all dumbfounded. This plainly dressed, unremarkable poor man was actually James, the Smith family's most talented member who had been missing for five years?
James glanced towards the elderly gatekeeper and spoke, "Nash, do you still recognize me?"
Nash Clark hurriedly ran over, his heart trembling with emotion. James had truly returned—was he dreaming? Just moments ago, he had mentioned that James had been missing for five years and was presumed dead, yet here he was, back again. This was beyond exhilarating!
He quickly ran to James, nodding and greeting, extremely excited and nervous. "James, you're finally returned. Am I not dreaming, right? I remember you. This is great, James, it's so great you're back. I'll inform Saxon and Alistair right away. They'll be overjoyed!"
Seeing James, Nash's mind was in chaos, and he started babbling.
As for the new gatekeeper and the four gardeners, witnessing Nash’s behavior and hearing the name James, which resounded like a thunderclap, left them utterly stunned and bewildered.
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