A Father's Legacy and a Son's Struggle

"My father?" Ivanov spoke. "How should I put it? If I could achieve anything significant in the prosecutor's office, the first person to thank would be him. But from another perspective, I don't recall having the opportunity to choose a different path. At the age of four, he taught me to read legal codes. While most children were demanding bedtime stories from their parents, I had to recite the day's studied articles in front of him to be allowed to sleep. Yes, he was a very strict man. In my early years, I just followed orders, without the ability to consider if there were other possibilities—or even the time to contemplate such matters." He paused and continued, "Of course, the easiest to understand is: I was born as his only son when he was already forty-five. If I were in his position—aging, longing for a political career for a long time but forced to abandon it for various reasons, lacking a noble title that would make 'Chief Prosecutor' seem like the highest and final achievement in life—then my next step would undoubtedly be to focus on grooming my son."

As he spoke, Ivanov leaned back in his chair, as if his body sank slightly with the deepening memories. His hands dangled above his thighs, fingers interlocked, and when not looking at Dalia, his gaze unconsciously moved towards his thumbs. He lifted his cup, took a sip of tea, smiled at her, and continued, "The trouble is, he never told me what his expectations were. Perhaps he hoped that, at least when I reached his age, I would climb to the same position. That's quite challenging."

"Why?" Dalia asked.

"That might sound a bit conceited, but... times have changed. His generation—there's a two-generational gap between him and me—worked on pioneering. We, on the other hand, inherit. Striving in the established achievements is relatively easy, but stumbling upon crucial opportunities is challenging. My father, growing up with Stormwind during its formative years... Oh, sorry, my words might be boring you?"

"No, not at all."

"But you can't deny there's a hint of complaint in what I said. I'm sure you noticed."

"Well... perhaps a little. But I believe there's no harm in that."

"I have this habit of not saying the right things in front of ladies. At the age of twenty-two, I had two blind dates, both from prestigious families and nice people, thanks to my father's efforts. However, in front of them, I just kept talking incessantly about constitutional amendments and the significant judicial exams I went through at that time. Both blind dates turned into disasters. One girl went home and cried to her parents, saying, 'Ivanov makes me feel less feminine than an exam paper.' I learned about it later from their servants because, in my delusion, I thought I did well—I tried to show my ambition and a bright future. This caused my father to lose face twice, and he stopped bothering about my marriage. Perhaps I can't become Chief Prosecutor at the same age as he did, but in terms of family life, it seems I have a chance to catch up."

Dalia could sense that even though Ivanov claimed not to understand the subtleties of speaking to a lady, there was no trace of embarrassment or shame in his tone. If he was self-deprecating, it was a kind built on confidence. Making fun of oneself for neglecting women due to excessive focus on work was usually trite and often fabricated bureaucratic humor. Still, Ivanov managed to make these words sound fresh and genuine. Perhaps those engaged in legal work, unraveling and reconstructing truths and lies, possessed the ability to make such statements, or maybe it was just Ivanov's personality—Dalia couldn't draw a conclusion yet.

"I think we are all too eager to find our place in this world. I believe you are the same."

"No... my life is not that busy."

"Perhaps. But, as I mentioned last time, the image you presented at the fundraising event is unforgettable. I saw a determined woman who knows she's using the right method to do the right thing. So, I'm grateful I arrived on that rainy morning. Allowing women lacking self-awareness to cause trouble at your gathering would be intolerable."

Ivanov's self-proclaimed slight arrogance was somewhat palpable to Dalia, but it didn't elicit disgust. It wasn't the boastful pride of a rookie soldier recounting war exploits but more akin to a general proudly adorning his chest with medals. Straightening himself, Ivanov continued, "Actually... I have some thoughts about Mr. Jorgen, and you should hear them."

"Oh?" This was somewhat unexpected for Dalia. "Please go on."

"In truth, I admire his achievements. I don't aspire to work at MI7, and there have always been conflicts, big and small, between the prosecution and MI7. But I admire most of the work Mr. Jorgen is involved in. Honestly, he's engaged in one of the world's most dangerous and personally sacrificial professions. Not everyone agrees with MI7's specific ideals—including myself. Still, deep down, everyone understands it's all for the stability of the country. Of course, some people deviate, but what does that prove? Any undertaking, in its establishment and maintenance, will have some stains and errors, and Mr. Jorgen is evidently someone trying his best to rectify those mistakes."

"Can I convey these words to him?"

"Oh, please don't tell me you're joking. Perhaps the day when a prosecutor can openly praise MI7 operatives in public will be the day each of us has found our place. I must say, Mr. Jorgen is also a fortunate man because he has you—a kind, gentle, and independent woman—by his side. I believe only love can create truly compatible partners. Of course, I'm not using my single status as an excuse." He smiled at her and continued, "I also understand that your life is facing some difficulties. My initial purpose in coming to you seems to add to your troubles. Light knows how reluctant I am to do this. I sincerely hope you can overcome these challenges. You will because you two are the most determined couple I've ever seen, supporting each other like no one else. Of course, if there's any downside to this, it's that people who come into contact with you will unconsciously raise their standards for choosing a partner—like now, I'm thinking my future partner must be like you, able to be a patient listener to endure my verbose and immoderate discourse. Well, I should get going."

After seeing Ivanov off, Dalia leaned against the door, sighing. This conversation began with her cautiously asking, "What kind of person is your father?" Looking back, Ivanov deftly sidestepped the question, shifting the focus onto himself. She didn't know if he did it intentionally, but she tried to draw out these words, and it wasn't by chance.

Since Jorgen's return yesterday, he didn't seem too pleased—at least not as excited as one would expect after being apart for over a month. Although Dalia deliberately restrained her excitement to alleviate Jorgen's emotional burden, his stiff embrace made her feel something was amiss.

During this time, Lindy had only visited once due to his busy work. Ivanov had come four or five times, each starting with his investigative tasks but inevitably transitioning to more personal topics. Although these conversations never reached an intimate level, Dalia had no intention of telling Jorgen about this. Even so, she noticed that Jorgen quickly shifted the conversation to Ivanov, reminding her "not to trust him too much." So, Dalia said to him, "You read that newspaper again, didn't you?"

She had never seen Jorgen look so awkward. His eyes involuntarily glanced to the side, eyebrows deliberately lowering, looking somewhat frustrated, but he didn't say anything. Dalia had read that article long before, but it didn't bother her as much as the fact that Jorgen wasn't around. Moreover, she knew her fondness for Ivanov only extended to a friendly neighbor level, so she quickly dismissed it from her mind. Dalia could see from Jorgen's eyes that he didn't believe everything in the newspaper, but that didn't mean he wasn't troubled as a man.

"His father, Deza Gallmont, approached me. He showed me the newspaper." To avoid sounding like he was shirking responsibility, Jorgen immediately shifted the topic. "Deza's strict upbringing of his son during his childhood is famous. His purpose in finding me is simple—he hopes to isolate Ivanov from you."

"Why doesn't Deza do this himself?"

"That's the strange part. It took some effort to find out, but apparently, he and his son haven't been in contact for quite some time. He wouldn't make it clear, but it's probably measured in years. He can't directly discipline his son anymore."

It was precisely this statement that prompted Dalia to bring up the topic of Ivanov's father today. Of course, she didn't get the answers she wanted, but she fully understood Ivanov's evasion. By mentioning the extreme severity of his father, he provided a subtle response. More than Ivanov, she was concerned about Jorgen's actions because she believed Jorgen must have noticed: two defamatory articles, both written by the same person. The more deliberately Jorgen avoided mentioning it, the more it indicated he was planning something.

"I wish you would be more honest with me," she thought. The statement Ivanov made earlier, "supporting each other like no one else," seemed a bit exaggerated to her—Dalia felt Jorgen unintentionally underestimated the support she could provide. However, finally hearing an outsider say, "You two will surely overcome these challenges," made her feel content for the rest of the day.