Chapter 206: Back Home

The crew's charter flight landed successfully at Atlanta International Airport. As Martin walked through the passage, he waited for Bruce to catch up. He pointed towards the Atlanta light sign ahead and exclaimed, "Bruce, I'm back again!"

Bruce, sporting an Atlanta Braves baseball cap, quipped back, "The troublemaker returns. Welcome back to the chaos!"

"That's all you!" Martin retorted with enthusiasm. "I've returned, and I've summoned the king to return to his rightful place."

Bruce suppressed a chuckle and added, "The leader has returned to the headquarters of his Holy sea."

As they approached the exit, Martin spotted Robert's distinctive presence. He quickened his pace and exited the passage.

Robert, dressed in a sharp suit with neatly combed-back hair, showcasing his prominent forehead, looked quite impressive.

Despite being thousands of miles apart for over a year, their shared connection through Coca-Cola had kept them close. When they met again, there was no sense of unfamiliarity.

Robert stepped up, ready to shake Martin's hand, but Martin, full of emotion, opened his arms and gave him a heartfelt hug. "My friend, my high priest, we're finally reunited!"

Robert, reciprocating the hug, remarked, "It's been only a year and a half, and you've already become a well-known star in the United States."

Martin released Robert from the embrace and chuckled, "You have a part to play in that."

Bruce approached and exchanged fist bumps with Robert, saying, "Man, you look pretty stylish."

Robert chuckled in response, "You're quite the character. Making an entrance."

A young man accompanying Robert chimed in, "He's now the acting director of the Marietta Agency, a big name in Atlanta's entertainment industry."

Martin couldn't help but nod slightly and asked Robert, "How's the leader doing?"

"Same as always," Robert replied, leading the way as they exited. "He always appears calm on the surface, but he's eager to see you. He's just not showing it."

Martin understood that sentiment and said, "I'll pay him a visit tomorrow."

The four of them didn't leave the terminal; instead, they headed to the underground parking lot and got into a black Cadillac.

Robert inquired, "Which hotel should we go to?"

Martin had already decided where to go upon his arrival. "Marietta, Clayton Community."

...

As the sun descended towards the horizon, silence filled the living room of Carter's house. Elena's four siblings sat in silence.

Hall stood up, walked to the door, and gazed out at the yard, which was now impeccably flat.

Lily, seated at the computer desk, clicked through web pages on the monitor. "I checked, the last flight from Los Angeles has already arrived."

Harris fiddled with a star-shaped object in his hand. "He's probably too busy to come today."

Elena rose from the sofa and moved towards the open kitchen area. "Let's not dwell on it. Let's start preparing dinner."

Lily muttered under her breath, "you took a leave from work specifically and the bastard didn't show up..."

Elena suddenly turned to glare at Lily, who quickly covered her mouth. "I didn't say anything."

A short car horn sounded from outside.

Hall called out, "He's here! He's here!"

Lily abandoned the computer desk, jumped up, and hurried to the door, followed by Harris.

Elena, hands in her jeans pockets, strolled out from the kitchen counter.

A black Cadillac was parked by the roadside.

Martin emerged from the car first, taking in the sight of two adjacent houses. His own old residence remained in its dilapidated state. In contrast, Carter's house had been repainted, with a new barbed wire fence, and the yard had been miraculously leveled.

Something was amiss!

Martin approached the fence gate, spotting the four Carter siblings standing on the porch steps.

Hall, at the front, had grown taller and had a somewhat sinister look, far from resembling a pleasant person.

Lily, standing beside him, was nearly five centimeters taller than Elena and greeted him with a smile.

Harris remained much the same.

Elena leaned against the doorframe, looking more self-assured than before.

"Idiot, we're at the door, why don't you come in?" Elena quipped in an old-fashioned tone. "Do you want me to come out and personally invite you?"

Martin grinned at them. "My dear friends, I'm back. Why didn't you come out to welcome me?"

Lily quirked her head. "Tsk, you're practically family."

Martin glanced at Hall, who suddenly turned his gaze away.

As the Cadillac pulled away, Bruce emerged from behind, carrying a bag on his back. He asked Martin, "What are you standing here for?"

"Waiting for you!" Martin quipped, pulling him along. "Let's go."

Bruce entered the yard first but stopped short after taking a couple of steps. He sensed something was amiss; there couldn't be any traps, right?

These four Carter siblings were truly extraordinary, welcoming him in such a unique manner. Martin couldn't help but wonder what they were up to.

Observing that Martin hadn't fallen for their tricks, Elena suggested, "Bruce, take the left route."

Bruce followed her instructions, and since he didn't encounter any further traps, Martin followed suit, circling around to the room's entrance from the left.

Ascending the steps, Martin raised his fist and playfully tapped Hall's head, saying, "You fool."

Hall remained silent, his mind racing, trying to figure out where to set a trap to ensnare the crafty Martin.

Martin exchanged fist bumps with Harris, pulled Lily aside, and approached Elena.

Elena stepped aside and gestured, "Come in."

Martin followed her into the living room, where much of the furniture and appliances had been replaced with new ones.

Elena noticed his gaze and explained, "I won a bartending competition in Georgia last year, and now I have a pretty good income. I have to thank you for teaching me bartending." Bruce handed the bag to Martin.

"I'm going back to take a look," Bruce stated, looking at Harris. "Buddy, can I borrow your car?"

Harris handed him the keys to the Ford car.

Martin reminded him, "Bruce, please be careful."

Bruce nodded, saying, "I will. A year and a half have passed, and the situation in Mexico may have changed significantly. Those people might have disbanded long ago."

As before, Elena set a variety of dishes on the dining table.

Martin washed his hands and sat down at the dining table to eat with his four siblings.

"This tastes just like home!" Martin exclaimed after savoring a piece of barbecue steak. He turned to Elena and complimented, "You still cook incredibly well."

Elena inquired, "Are you not injured?"

Understanding her concern, Martin replied, "I suffered severe psychological trauma, so I came back here seeking your comfort."

"You're such a fool! So naive!" Elena teased in her usual tone. "Those Californians will pay for their crimes, and you should know better than to risk it."

Lily chimed in, "Exactly, they aren't like Elena and me!"

Hall, in surprise, questioned, "What's it got to do with you?"

Lily shot her brother a wide-eyed, menacing glare. If her sister hadn't been present, she might have started a physical altercation.

Martin explained, "You know me, I was just trying to save myself."

After dinner, he helped Elena clear the table, and Martin began distributing gifts from the bag Bruce had brought.

He tossed a box to Elena and asked, "How about this one? Do you like it?"

Lily eagerly approached, eyes fixed on Martin, but she remained silent.

Martin explained, "You've got quite a few gifts. I'll have someone deliver the rest of the cargo that came with the crew's items to you tomorrow." Lily's face displayed surprise, and she inquired, "Is there that much?" Then curiosity got the better of her, and she added, "What's in all of them?"

Martin replied with a grin, "I've ordered dozens of Australian buffalo horns from Australia specifically for you. Since you're into carving, why not try your hand at it? That clown you carved based on me was impressive and a hit with some people. You can carve them all and send them to me later."

Lily's surprise transformed into astonishment, akin to a child expecting a gift but receiving a book instead. She took a few steps back, sat down on the sofa, and remained speechless for a long while.

Particularly when she saw her sister opening the gift box to find a beautiful ladies' watch, she felt inexplicably moved.

"You're such a bully!"

Martin gave Harris and Hall mobile phones, and then he handed a gift box to Lily, saying, "This one's your reward for carving." Lily opened it and discovered a ladies' watch of the same brand but a different model than Elena's. She laughed and stood up, pledging, "You can count on me to carve hundreds, not just dozens."

Martin nodded in agreement, adding, "Australian bison are quite abundant..."

Lily clapped her hand over her mouth, realizing she'd said too much.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from outside the door.

Thump!

Oops –

"There's a thief!" Hall grabbed a bat and rushed outside, but as he stopped at the door, he noticed that his father, Scott, had fallen into a pit he'd dug as a trap and landed in a pile of dog poop.

Scott, splayed on the ground, struggled to get up and took a step forward. He then fell again, this time landing on his rear. Scott jumped up quicker than he fell this time, exclaiming, "That hurts!"

Just as his feet touched the ground, he fell into the pit again with a thud, landing in front of the steps.

Scott looked up and saw his four children.

Elena, her tone cold, inquired, "What are you doing here instead of accompanying your wealthy lady friend?"

Scott, still recovering from the ordeal, pointed at Martin and said, "This guy is a Hollywood scoundrel. Let me warn you, don't be deceived by him!"

But Lily chimed in, "Martin may be rough around the edges, but he's been really good to us!"

Hall, who had just received a gift, nodded in agreement.

"Let's go, Scott," urged Harris. He remembered that Martin had taught Elena how to bartend, which had significantly altered the family's fortunes. The Astronomical Association had also eased his concerns about tuition and living expenses.

"No matter what Martin does out there," Elena stated, "he's always been good to us."

"I'm your dad..." Scott's weak protest was cut off.

Lily added, "Go enjoy your life with your wealthy woman."

Scott shot a cold glance at Martin, turned around, and hobbled away, nursing bruises on his arms and legs.

With Scott's departure, the atmosphere in the house quickly improved.