WTR-LABMarvel Reverses WolverineCh. 5 / 3431.5%#5unexpected resultAI Model: gemini-2.5-flashChapter 5 Unexpected Results
O'Hara dismounted somewhat awkwardly, bowed to Mr. Howlett, and stood silently to the side.
James stepped forward a few paces and said, "Mr. Daniel is off for half the day today, so you can't blame us."
Mr. Howlett laughed heartily, ruffled James's hair, and said to Victor, "Black Mountain's coat has been getting purer lately; you've done a good job, Victor."
"It's what I should do, Mr. Howlett," Victor responded softly.
This steady demeanor made Mr. Howlett nod slightly.
"Alright, I haven't moved in days.
Let's take Black Mountain out for a stroll.
Do you want to come, James?"
"That would be great, Grandfather, I've always wanted to try riding Black Mountain!" James replied, feigning excitement.
He then told O'Hara to play for a while and then go back, before following Mr. Howlett out of the stable.
Even in a simple linen shirt and the standard wide-legged jeans, Mr. Howlett wore them with a special flair.
He didn't possess the refined nobility of a long-standing aristocrat, but rather the imposing aura of an old general, with a decisive manner in his movements.
Bending down, he helped James onto the horse's back, took the reins, and the two of them, with the horse, ambled across the vast pasture.
"Jamie, what do you think of Victor?" Mr. Howlett asked.
"Mature for his age, steady and capable," James replied briefly and quickly.
Mr. Howlett looked at his young grandson with great surprise, then smiled and praised, "It seems you're really taking to your studies now.
Daniel wasn't wrong; you've truly made great progress."
Mr. Howlett nodded repeatedly, walking forward with great satisfaction.
Seeing this, James considered for a moment, then said to Mr. Howlett, "Grandfather, I heard that Victor's father... well, isn't easy to get along with?"
Mr. Howlett didn't answer directly, only saying, "What do you want to say? Say it all first."
"It's like this: Victor is a useful person.
In the future, when I manage the family's assets, I'll also need manpower, and loyalty cultivated from a young age is naturally the most solid.
However, I heard that Victor and his father, Mr. Thomas Logan, don't have a good relationship.
It's said that besides being an alcoholic and never taking care of Victor, Mr. Logan often beats and whips him.
I hope to improve Victor's situation to some extent; that way, he will surely be grateful to our Howlett Family."
Mr. Howlett's gaze towards James became increasingly different.
He asked in return, "Then what do you think should be done?"
James thought for a moment, then calmly said, "Why not have Mr. Logan leave the estate and go somewhere far away?
Give him a position with no real power, but where he can live more comfortably, such as overseeing the northernmost cattle ranch or the eastern cotton fields.
This way, Victor can not only leave him but also grow up under the Howlett Family's care, and he will surely be able to serve the family well in the future."
Mr. Howlett, whose pace had slowed, let out a long sigh: "I've tried my best to estimate your growth, Jamie, but you still surprise me so much.
I still underestimated you.
Very good, very good, excellent!
You are indeed William Howlett's grandson!"
James lowered his head, slightly shy, muttering to himself if this idea was worth such joy.
Then he thought that since he was only "twelve" and had been weak and introverted before, it was no wonder the old Howlett was so happy.
Mr. Howlett, now a little calmer, continued, "It's excellent that you think this way.
As the future heir of the family, you need to have such considerations.
I've felt for some time that Thomas Logan remaining on the estate would sooner or later cause trouble.
You don't need to worry about this matter; Grandfather will give you a satisfactory answer."
The grandfather and grandson strolled for a while longer, then returned to prepare for dinner.
This was an idea James had considered for a long time, and so far, things had gone unexpectedly smoothly.
He had thought of all sorts of possibilities; the safest was to kill Thomas Logan, but as his true biological father in this life, James, though not strongly averse to the idea, did not want to bear the evil consequence of patricide.
He was unwilling to do so unless absolutely necessary, and besides, he was only in his early teens now.
Even if he had some means to deal with Thomas Logan, it would still carry enormous risks.
Having him leave the estate was the best option.
Even if he was unwilling or refused, Mr. Howlett had plenty of ways to deal with Thomas Logan, and as long as Logan didn't go mad or try to end his own life, he wouldn't publicize his affair with Mrs. Elizabeth.
With a huge weight lifted from his heart, James ate an extra steak that evening.
His appetite was growing significantly, and his training over the past few months had clearly promoted his physical development, and he hadn't fallen ill inexplicably as before.
After dinner, Mr. Howlett mentioned to John and Elizabeth that he wanted Thomas Logan to oversee the fodder and other supplies at the northernmost cattle ranch, offering him a relatively generous weekly wage and a small house.
Elizabeth, overjoyed, supported Mr. Howlett, feigning indifference and saying it was entirely up to Father.
John, however, expressed some opposition, saying things like Thomas would eventually come around.
Mr. Howlett couldn't help but be displeased with his soft-natured, indecisive son, but the thought of his grandson being capable of great things brought him some solace.
It seemed everything was settled, and the estate appeared to have averted a potential storm.
As expected, Thomas Logan rejected this promotion, but he gritted his teeth and accepted when Mr. Howlett coldly told him that if he didn't want to go, he should leave the estate and go wherever he pleased.
That same evening, he tried to approach Elizabeth to tell her everything and accelerate their "elopement" plan, but coincidentally, Mrs. Howlett had been keeping to herself lately, giving him no opportunity to meet or speak with her.
The weather in Alberta had been gloomy and unsettled recently, as if brewing something.
As night fell, a dull, heavy rumble of thunder echoed in the thick, inky black sky.
In this era, without moonlight or starlight, the outdoors was truly pitch black.
Thomas Logan sat deeply sunken into his old fabric sofa, holding a nearly empty bottle of rum, with two empty bottles at his feet.
Victor had already hidden in his room, lying down, whether truly asleep or deliberately silent, as if he didn't exist.
Logan's dark red face, clouded like a storm, was contorted with savagery.
His heart roared, accusing everything.
Alcohol had muddled Thomas Logan's brain, and his already muscular mind, fueled by the strong liquor, surged with energy.
He rose boiling with rage, grabbed the hunting rifle standing by the bed, broke it open to check the loaded bullets in the chamber, and with a flick of one hand, readied the stock.
Thomas Logan pushed the door open and strode out; finally, a bolt of lightning struck, and the heavy rain poured down.
Mr. Howlett, being advanced in age, and unable to sleep on such a stormy night, tossed and turned in bed, feeling somewhat uneasy.
Faint thumping sounds of banging on a door could be heard downstairs, but they were unclear amidst the heavy rain.
Boom!
The tremendous crash of the front door being blown open by the hunting rifle completely startled him awake.
Mr. Howlett suddenly rolled out of bed, fumbled for the short-barreled flintlock pistol in his bedside table, checked it, and deftly exited his room, leaning against the hallway wall.
"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"
Thomas Logan shouted repeatedly, pacing and yelling in the main hall of the estate, his head red like a fighting cock.
John also put on his clothes and left his room.
He reassured his wife not to move and to stay in the room.
He then encountered his father by the stairs.
"It sounds like Thomas.
I'll go check.
Father, you go back and rest; it's nothing."
The old man tried to grab his son, but only caught John's coattail.
John, saying "don't worry," ran down unarmed.
Mr. Howlett quickly went down from the other side, called out to four already awakened workers who had armed themselves, nodded slightly, and led them to follow quickly.
Just as they approached the hall, with a "boom," the roar of the hunting rifle sounded again.
His heart sank.
The old man's beard trembled with urgency as he took two steps onto the landing, only to see his son, dressed in a White long sleeping shirt, lying in a pool of blood, his entire chest stained crimson.
Thomas Logan stood nearby, gun in hand, breathing heavily, as if he were merely an observer.
He watched as the four gunmen beside Mr. Howlett raised their hunting rifles at him, and the muzzles flashed with dazzling Fire one after another...