Chapter 1 Major Changes

• In Jadeborough's Lonewood Prison, something big was brewing.
• Beep!
• “Everyone, get in line! Let's welcome Mr. Coldrell back!” the prison warden, Daniel Ziegler, shouted, his whistle and booming voice shattering the usual drabness of the prison compound.
• Even though the prison housed vicious murderers, sly swindlers, and skilled thieves, everyone did as instructed when they heard the name “Mr. Coldrell.”
• In a matter of seconds, they had lined up neatly in two rows and stood at attention.
• Daniel, too, kept a respectful distance as a tall and lean figure strode into view.
• With his steely visage, dark eyes, and buzz cut, the man who walked in might seem young, but there was no doubt he had seen the vicissitudes of life.
• The new inmates in the crowd stared wide-eyed at the young man. “I-Is that Mr. Coldrell? Winston Coldrell?”
• Despite being recently incarcerated, they had long heard about Winston's impressive reputation.
• Winston Coldrell was the son of one of Jadeborough's prominent families and already had a net worth valued at tens of millions at a tender age.
• Four years ago, he took the rap for his wife's misdeeds and went to prison.
• However, it was only half a year into his prison term when he started showing off his talents in combat arts, medicine, and even philosophy.
• Later, the top management discovered his potential and decided to put his abilities to good use.
• From then on, Winston would always come back with shocking good news whenever he went on a mission. Whether it was getting rid of drug lords, sniping at foreign enemies, or bringing fame to the country's combat arts scene, he'd complete all his tasks perfectly.
• As news of Winston began to make its rounds, it only took two years before he made a name for himself and earned the respect of everyone, including the most ruthless criminals.
• Alas, he'd always choose to return to prison upon completing his missions, and the last time he left was almost a year ago.
• The personnel and inmates in prison might come and go, but Winston's achievements would live on forever. It wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say he was the legend of Lonewood Prison!
• “Mr. Coldrell, we've kept that room for you this entire time,” Daniel said as he followed Winston, a hint of helplessness in his gaze.
• If one were to compare accomplishments, Winston's reputation and position had easily surpassed Daniel's, and there was no longer a need for him to return to Lonewood Prison.
• However, no one could fathom why he just refused to leave!
• “That's very kind of you, Daniel,” Winston said.
• As he gazed at the empty cell in front of him, a sad, nostalgic glint appeared in his eyes.
• If it weren't for that person, I wouldn't have become who I am today, would I?
• With that, Winston sighed and returned to the cell he had been away from for a year.
• “Mr. Coldrell, there's something I think you should know!” Daniel piped up after a moment's hesitation.
• “Oh?”
• “It's your sister... Something's happened to her!”
• Upon hearing that, Winston whipped around, his face ashen. “What?”
• His piercing gaze caused a sudden dip in the ambient temperature, and Daniel couldn't help but shudder.
• “When you left for your mission a year ago, there was news from home that your sister contracted some strange illness and fell into a coma,” the latter hurriedly explained. “Then, half a year ago, your wife gave her consent to stop all treatment and had your sister transferred to Jipsdale Rehabilitation Center. She's been there ever since!”
• Stunned and shaking with anger, Winston bellowed, “That's impossible! Anna's young and full of vitality. Besides, she has always been healthy as a horse! How could she have suddenly contracted a strange illness? Even if that were the case, Winnie would never give up on her treatment!”
• After Winston's parents went missing, the only people left who were dear to his heart were his sister, Anna Coldrell, and his wife, Winnie Lohan.
• When he got imprisoned, Winnie had promised him that she'd take good care of Anna, so how could she have abandoned the latter because of an illness?
• “Mr. Coldrell, I've checked it out myself, and sadly, it's all true. I've even helped to find various doctors to diagnose the illness, but to no avail! Also...” Daniel replied before pausing and stealing a hesitant glance at Winston. “The director of the rehabilitation center is a friend of mine. According to him, the family only paid the fees once after your sister's transfer and never visited again! If it weren't for our relations, she might have—”
• “That's even more impossible!” Winston retorted, shaking his head firmly.
• I still had assets worth tens of millions when I left for prison. Why would they need to owe any medical fees?
• With sympathy in his eyes, Daniel heaved a sigh. “If you don't believe me, you can head home to check things out, Mr. Coldrell!”
• Winston furrowed his brows as he gazed at the empty cell. The next second, he turned around and marched off.
• At Jipsdale Rehabilitation Center, a tall young man stood beside a girl leaning in a wheelchair with her eyes closed.
• “Anna, it's your brother. I've come back!”
• The girl was about sixteen years old, yet she had dry, dull hair and looked pale as a sheet. Worst of all, the only sound coming from her was her weak, shallow breathing.
• Winston's eyes welled with tears when he saw how his sister had become a mere shadow of her former self.
• Anna was his only family in the whole world, just like how he was the only one she could trust and lean on.
• Alas, for the four years he was in prison, Winston was either away on missions or cooped up in his cell to pore over his master's teachings.
• If I had taken the time to visit Anna, none of this would've happened!
• Just then, two figures stealthily appeared behind Winston. “Mr. Coldrell, we're done with our investigation!”
• “Spill!”
• After exchanging glances, one of the men lowered his gaze and began to share all the information they had gathered.
• “Everything that Mr. Ziegler said is true, Mr. Coldrell. Fee payments to the rehabilitation center are long overdue, and you no longer have any assets in your name. The person in charge of the company is now Hugh Gabel, while your properties belong to Lucas Lohan. All other financial assets have also been transferred to Mrs. Coldrell's relatives. As for Mrs. Coldrell, she doesn't have a single asset in her name either, but after some digging, we think that she and Hugh Gabel are—”
• “That's enough!” Winston interrupted.
• Even though he had predicted the outcome, he still felt himself burning with anger when he heard the investigation results.
• He had heard enough, and the truth was painfully clear.
• Nevertheless, Winston found it hard to swallow that his beloved wife would resort to such despicable means.
• Hugh, too, was another utter disappointment. They used to be thick as thieves, yet the former managed to rob him of everything in just four years.
• On top of the rage churning inside him, Winston also felt as though there was a knife in his heart. The pain was so excruciating he could barely breathe.
• Why is human nature so cruel and ugly? At this point, even fools can tell that whatever happened to Anna was no accident!
• As they stared at the red-faced Winston, one of the men cautiously asked, “What should we do next, Mr. Coldrell? Would you like us to take action?”
• Given their abilities, as long as Winston gave them the go-ahead, they'd easily wipe out all parties involved within the hour.
• “No. I'll settle this myself!” Winston replied with a firm shake of his head.
• After taking a deep breath, he fished out a token from his pockets and passed it to the men.
• “Hand this token in for me.”
• As soon as they saw the old token, the expressions of both men changed drastically. “But Mr. Coldrell, this is...”
• “I've been on countless missions for the past three years, and I'm tired. It's time for me to get some rest,” Winston said wearily.
• “But, Mr. Coldrell—”
• “No buts! This is an order!”
• Later, as he watched the two men walk away, Winston sighed and closed his eyes.
• After serving his country for three whole years, even he had to admit that he was burning out.
• That said, dealing with my exhaustion isn't my priority right now! What's most important is to figure out the situation so I can fight for the justice that Anna deserves!
• When Winston finally opened his eyes, a cold glint flashed across them.
• Without further ado, he whipped out his phone and dialed a number he knew all too well.
• It wasn't long before a sultry voice that was familiar yet unfamiliar sounded on the other end, causing his heart to ache.
• “Hello?”
• “You have thirty minutes! Come to Jipsdale Rehabilitation Center right now!”