The two men on the other side of the mansion's gate had assault rifles aimed at him and seemed ready to shoot him down at a moment's notice.

Seeing this scene, his expression turned grim for a moment before indifference replaced it. Then, he calmly walked toward them.

Each step he took made the two men narrow their eyes, their fingers twitching on the trigger.

When he was just ten meters away, one of them shouted. "Stop right there. If you come any closer, we'll shoot you dead. This is the first and final warning."

Max looked the man in the eyes for a moment, his gaze darkening. Then, he turned his head around and swept his gaze across the street, noticing many figures previously hidden gradually reveal themselves.

From their body language, he could tell over half of them, almost 100 people, were hostile to the Governor's Mansion for reasons unknown. Moreover, none of them looked like they had been eating less.

After a moment's thought, he shifted his gaze back to the two beyond the gate and announced in a loud enough voice for everyone to hear.

"I have no intentions to cause anybody any trouble. I'm here just to take my mother away. I hope you won't refuse."

"Just get lost—" The man who gave him warning before snarled, but before he could finish his sentence, the other man stopped him and asked Max, "What's your name, Kid?"

"Maxwell Williams." Max stated.

"I see." The man muttered and then said, "Do you have any weapons on your person? If yes, take them out for us to see."

Max nodded and took out the kitchen knife tucked in his pants.

"Just this?"

"Yeah." Max nodded.

"Alright. Now, drop the knife and slowly come forward." The man instructed.

Clank!

His face expressionless, Max dropped the knife and walked forward. When he was a meter away, the man looked at his partner and nodded.

His partner clicked his tongue and said, "Raise your hands in the air and make no hasty movements, understood?"

Max nodded and raised his hands.

Clink!

The man unlocked the gate, "Now, come in."

Max stepped inside and the man shut the gate close before fixing his gaze across the street.

It was at this moment the first guy who had asked his name said, "Go to the administration building. Report your name to anyone you see there. They will take you to the Governor."

Max furrowed his brows.

Seeing this, the man narrowed his eyes at him, "What? Did you want to take your mother away without informing the man who has been taking care of her?"

"Taking care of her? What do you mean?" Max asked, feeling something wrong.

"What's with all these questions? Just go in. You are being distracting." The other man said impatiently.

Max didn't even bother to spare him a glance and just stared at the man, who frowned and said, "Governor will tell you whatever you want to know."

"I understand." Nodding, Max headed inside and soon spotted the administration building. When he entered it, he saw a middle-aged woman, probably in the early forties, sitting on the reception desk with a heavy frown on her forehead.

Tak! Tak!

"Hello, Ma'am." Max lightly rapped the tabletop and called out, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Huh, who are you?" The woman asked before her eyes widened in horror and she shrank back in her chair.

"Don't worry, Ma'am. Those people are still outside, everything is still peaceful." Max said, knowing why she looked so afraid, "I'm not one of them. My name's Maxwell Williams. Those two at the gate said you'll take me to the Governor."

Upon hearing he wasn't an enemy, the woman relaxed and patted her chest as she heaved deep breaths.

Then suddenly, her eyes widened, "Wait! What did you say your name was? Williams?"

"Yes. I'm Maxwell Williams." Max nodded while feeling curious.

"You are little Max?" The woman stood up and looked him up and down excitedly, "You have grown to be such a fine young man."

"You know me?" Max finally couldn't help but ask.

The woman came out from behind the desk and gently took his hand, smiling, "Of course, I know. Miss Sarah used to talk about you all the time. She would praise you to the moon, making everyone think you were the sweetest child in the world. I even wanted to meet you, but—anyways, let me take you to the Governor."

'Hm?' Max's eyes flickered when he saw her suddenly change the subject and he hadn't missed the subtle shift in her expression.

He didn't want to make any wild guesses, but he was beginning to feel uneasy.

Soon, following the woman, he arrived in front of a room deep within the mansion.

"Can you wait for a bit? I'll quickly go and tell the Governor about your visit." The woman apologetically asked.

"Yeah, no worries, Ma'am." Max nodded.

"Don't call me Ma'am. It doesn't sound pleasant. Call me Aunt Vivian." Saying this, she stared at him, her expression saying, 'Come on, do it.'

Max smiled wryly and said, "Aunt Vivian."

"Good." Nodding in satisfaction, Vivian knocked on the door two times before entering.

Just a minute later, she returned and said, "Go in."

Max nodded and was about to enter when she grabbed his hand and worriedly said, "Max… you know, if the Governor is rude to you, please don't mind it and no that he doesn't blame you for even a bit."

Max's heart rate, which he had been keeping in check all this while, began to spike hearing this. But he didn't ask her anything because he could tell she wouldn't tell him anything.

Taking a breath, he entered the room and immediately saw a grey-haired, feeble old man, sitting on the sofa, looking at him with his murky eyes.

Max stared at him.

He had seen the Governor's photo before, but in that photo, he looked like a rugged middle-aged man, completely different to his current self.

Just then he heard him ask, his voice hoarse and weak, "Is that damned bastard… dead?"

"Hm?" Max stared at him in puzzlement. He knew he was talking about his father, John, but he didn't understand why he looked so angry or asked this question.

Then he realized he wasn't feeling angry even though the old man had just cursed his father.

Seeing Max's expression, rage flashed in the old man's murky eyes and then he broke out in a coughing fit.

Max hurriedly moved to his side, and patted his back. Once he calmed down, Max was about to give him some water from the table, but then he heard the old man let out an enraged and wounded roar.

"That bastard… He didn't even tell you about us. How dare he?!"

Max waited for him to calm down a little before he gave him some water and asked, "Sir Governor, I'm a bit lost here. Can you tell me what's going on?"

"Why would I tell you anything when that bastard father of yours didn't do it? Who do you think I am, your family's dog?" The old man raged.

Then, he raised his hand and...

Bang!

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