Chapter 1 Thanatos

• Countless black armored soldiers, all of them cold and ruthless like the demons of hell, stood in front of a hospital in the outer regions. But despite their animosity terrified the doctors and nurses, they were well aware that these soldiers came from Thanatos.
• They were the legendary brigade credited as Freyna's ultimate line of defense, stopping countless invaders from entering their borders, and enemies would be left terror-stricken at the mention of their names.
• But they had gathered on this day for none but one person—the Lord of Thanatos, Hades—a man so invincible that he could fight a battalion on his own, a man credited to be the youngest general of Freyna history.
• Not too long ago, Hades successfully obliterated Paradise—the mysterious force that attacked Thanatos five years ago—on his own after five years of pursuit. Because of this, an exception was made, and he became the tenth general of the Nine Generals of Freyna.
• Inside the ward, a model-like woman looked at the man in the bed with distress. "My lord, have you really decided to return to Goldshore to recuperate?"
• "That's right," said Daniel weakly, his handsome face pallid. "Also, there's this person I need you to find."
• Five years ago, after Thanatos had been attacked, Daniel Hardon disregarded military orders and pursued the attackers on his own. He returned to Goldshore once but was ambushed, leaving him with severe injuries, only to be saved by Evelyn Sutherland in the end.
• In the two months since then, the two went from acquaintances to lovers.
• But because he still had a vengeance to carry out, he didn't reveal his true identity to Evelyn for fear she would be dragged into the mess. He had only asked Evelyn to wait for him, and he also promised that he would return to her after settling everything.
• At that, Daniel balled his fists subtly. Five years, Evelyn. Five years have passed, and now I can finally go back to you.
• …
• A few months later, a handsome man walked out of the airport. Despite his pallid face, his gaze was piercing.
• "Goldshore is chilly, my lord." Phantom, who followed close behind Daniel, draped a coat over his shoulder.
• "What's the update on the investigation?" Daniel asked plainly.
• "The phantom guards are still looking into it," reported Phantom. "We should be hearing news by tonight."
• At that, Daniel nodded. "In that case, take me to my family first."
• …
• The Hardon Family meant a great deal to Daniel, for he'd be long dead if his adoptive father, Christopher Hardon, hadn't saved him from the burning orphanage.
• Even following the birth of his sister, Tia Hardon, the man he now called his father still treated him the same and had even arranged for them to be wedded in the future.
• If he hadn't met this woman named Ingrid Bergman, everything would've gone according to plan, and he and Tia would've long been married.
• Alas, things never always went according to one's wishes, and he became the culprit that destroyed Hardon Group.
• Daniel was arguably Goldshore's most eligible affluent bachelor ten years ago. But Ingrid, who was obsessed with him then, and a few of the elite families joined forces to frame him, drugging him so that he would pass out. By the time he stirred, he found himself naked in bed with a woman also in her birthday suit beside her. The next second, what seemed like all of Goldshore's press barged in, and in less than an hour, a semi-conscious Daniel was transported to prison.
• Later, chaos spread across the other nations, and all the prisoners were forced to be enlisted and sent overseas to fight a war.
• After going through countless warfare, Daniel gained an unmatched achievement, and in the end, possessed a brigade that was exclusively his, Thanatos, and gained the title, Hades.
• Meanwhile, Hardon Group fell victim to public criticism after he was sent to prison. With the few elite families fueling the crisis, it ultimately fell into the hands of who else but the culprit of this entire ordeal—Ingrid Bergman!
• And because of this, the Hardons became down and out.
• This time, he returned not only to find Evelyn but also to clear his name from the crime he was falsely sentenced to and reclaim what was rightfully his.
• According to Phantom's report, his family and relatives were discussing Tia and her boyfriend, Aidan Hill's marriage in Coastal Jewel, an up-scale restaurant, over lunch.
• However, when Daniel arrived at the private room on the top floor, he stood in front of the door for a long time, not daring to open it, for he didn't know how to face his family, whom he hadn't seen in a decade.
• He held the door handle with hesitation and nervousness.
• The leaders of the forces in the outer regions would surely be gobsmacked if they saw this, for Hades, the man who feared nothing even in the face of a troop, would actually wuss out at this moment.
• Just then, the door opened from inside, and Christopher came out only to be stumped when he saw the young man standing upright right in front of him.
• Daniel, too, was surprised that his father would suddenly come out.
• But when he saw his father's gray sideburns and gaunt face, his heart wrenched. "Dad, I'm back." Daniel forced a smile.
• "D-Dan?!" Christopher's pupils shrunk at once. He looked at the tall man before his eyes with incredulity.
• The familiar voice got Daniel feeling a lump in his throat, and his voice became shaky as well. "I-I'm sorry for being a terrible son. I should've come back sooner."
• Meanwhile, the reunion got many around the father and son looking at them strangely.
• Christopher jolted after taking a good look at Daniel, and his eyes instantly turned red-rimmed with oncoming tears. "Dan, is it… is it really you?" he asked, lips quivering and hands trembling, while reaching out to Daniel.
• Daniel choked on his words when he heard his father's raspy voice, and he nodded with gnashed teeth.
• "W-Where have you been all these years? I've been looking for you everywhere!"
• Christopher threw himself into Daniel's arms after receiving his affirmation, bawling like a child as his tears streamed down like a never-ending waterfall.
• He was the only one who believed Daniel would never commit the crime he was sentenced for. Even when Hardon Group had been pronounced bankrupt, he still continued to pull connections, hoping to bail Daniel out.
• Daniel, too, bit down on his lip hard as tears began welling up in his eyes.
• No matter who, no matter how much grievances or pain one suffered, they would break down emotionally in front of their family even if they were the toughest person on Earth.
• Even the famously ruthless Hades was now having a silent meltdown.
• However, it wasn't a minute after the father and son shared a touching moment that someone interrupted them.
• "What are you doing, shouting outside, Chris?" A middle-aged woman came over from inside the room with curiosity, only to be rendered stumped by the two men hugging.
• Christopher hurriedly wiped his tears away, leaving Daniel's arms to stand straight, then turned around with a smile. "Look who's back."
• Daniel took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Mom."
• "Daniel?!" Pearl Lenton recognized the young man at once, and she turned grim after recovering from the shock. "When were you released from prison? How dare you still come back?!"
• Pearl's detachment was one that Daniel had anticipated, as his adoptive mother never liked him when he was growing up. So what more after he was sentenced to the crime he had been falsely accused of?
• "Are you even hearing yourself? Why can't our son come back?" Christopher retorted with displeasure, leading Pearl to shoot a glare at him. "He's your son, not mine!" she snapped.
• At that, she went back into the private room, enraged.
• Meanwhile, Daniel pursed his lips and said nothing, as it was within reason that his mother would hate him. If it weren't for him, the Hardon Family wouldn't have been down and out.
• "Don't mind her. Come, we'll talk inside." Christopher dragged Daniel into the private room like he feared his son would disappear the next second.
• There were five people seated inside the private room, chatting away.
• "Aidan, I heard you're from the Hills and also graduated from a university abroad. No wonder your father wants you to help him manage the company. Our Tia sure is lucky."
• "Tia, you have to treat Aiden well. Remember not to act like a brat anymore."
• Tia smiled perfunctorily against her uncle, Gerald Lenton, and his wife, Bridget Fowler's adulated smiles.
• Ever since the Hardons were declared bankrupt, Gerald and his family had dissociated themselves from her. But they recently began acting all chummy again after learning—from who-knew-where—her boyfriend, Aidan Hill, was of the Hill Family of Northside.
• It was instead Aiden, seated next to Tia, who took Gerald and Bridget's words seriously. "She doesn't. I will treat Tia well."
• The couple exchanged a glance, and Tia winked, slightly touched.
• Just then, noises came from outside the door, interrupting the conversation.
• Right as Tia wanted to ask what was up when she saw Pearl returning in anger, Christopher dragged a tall man in their direction. "Tia, your brother's back!"
• Tia jolted in response, and the smile on her face froze.
• "Daniel?! A-Aren't you in jail?!" Gerald and Bridget were shocked.
• "Long time no see, Tia." Daniel smiled. He nearly couldn't recognize his little sister. She had surely blossomed into a fine young woman.
• Daniel's appearance had everyone's expression turning awful, and Tia panicked subconsciously, moving away from her brother.
• But the next second, her face turned icy. "He's not my brother! He's no longer my brother after the barbaric act he did ten years ago!"