The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 18 Uncle
"We're here, Roland."

Enid said, rubbing her eyes.

Fernandez got off the carriage in front of him and slammed his heels on the ground, spreading out white lines one after another:

Roland also saw clearly the shop to his right.

A thick brown wooden board was slung diagonally over the door, with the four corners polished to a point; the walls were painted lake green, and the wooden door was also brown, with two copper handles and double openings; there was a small balcony on the second floor with a thin railing painted black, and the arched wooden windows were not closed tightly, allowing a hint of light to leak from inside.

"Herb Shop"

The words on the sign were crooked, as if they were hammered out with two chisels, then coated with a layer of black paint and burned with fire.

It's almost fallen off.

"I originally wanted to let you stay in a hotel for one night. But I think night might be more suitable than day." Enid helped Roland get out of the car and looked up at the light on the second floor. "I will stay with you, Roland."

Roland took the cane.

Fernandez passed two people and slammed the door.

Boom——Boom——!!

Dust was falling down and the sound of dogs barking could be heard from the alley not far away.

"Do you want to take this door down, Fernandez?"

Enid glared at him.

The square-faced priest turned around and bowed to Enid, with a sad face, turned around, bent his fingers, and "gently" touched the door twice.

Roland heard someone coming down the stairs.

His steps were hurried, and once he reached the first floor, his soles of his feet never left the ground.

He came all the way here.

"I fucking told you! If I find out which little bastard dares to knock on my door at night again--"

A man with great confidence.

Fernandez turned around and looked at Enid. After the woman nodded in agreement, he spoke in a deep voice to the door:
"church--"

"I'm still the fucking queen! You little bastard, what are you doing today——"

crunch.

The person who opened the door was an old man.

The person outside the door was a priest.

The street suddenly became extremely quiet.

Roland noticed that several houses around him quickly turned off their lights.

Puxiu Collins and Fernandez stared at each other in a daze. Only then did Roland have time to observe his appearance.

He was much older than his brother, Tyrese Collins.

The same blue eyes, brown hair, and especially the long, hooked nose, exactly like his brother.

The facial bones of both people are also developed in the same way.

He was hunched over, with a tangled beard and hair, each of which seemed to have its own agenda. In the curly brown beard were some green roots.

There was an unpleasant herbal smell all over his body.

"Oh."

The old man who was cursing a few seconds ago, his expression changed instantly after seeing Fernandez, especially the pendant on his chest.

"Good night, Reverend Eminence! Why! I thought a beech branch had fallen at the door this morning, and it turns out that good luck is reserved for the evening!"

He rubbed his face vigorously, trying to make himself look more energetic:
"I am Pushou Collins, sir. What can I do for you? Potion? Or flower seeds?"

His eyes passed Fernandez, stayed on Roland's face for a moment, and quickly moved to Enid.

"Holy Father! What an elegant, beautiful and noble lady this is!"

Enid didn't treat him the same way she treated Abner, but took Roland's hand, nodded slightly, and walked forward.

"This is Roland."

He introduced the old man: "Roland Collins, your brother's youngest son."

Simple and straightforward.

then…

Gone.

Puxiu was stunned and stared at Roland's slightly sleepy cat eyes again and again, with the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

"…Ahem, ma'am, are you—"

Enid frowned and patiently explained, "We have verified that Roland is indeed the youngest son of Thales Collins." "His eldest son was in a traffic accident and died in the rubble. Not long after, your brother, who was old and confused, went crazy and set the house on fire. The servants, the housekeeper and himself could not escape. When they had just found Roland, they abandoned the poor child..."

Anyway, that’s the explanation.

"Oh…"

Old Collins said "Oh" and looked at Roland with his blue eyes, which were now spotted and no longer shiny.

Roland tightened the crutches in his hand but still forced himself to hold his head high, trying to behave better in front of his uncle.

"Oh…"

He didn't utter a complete sentence for a long time, and his expression became a little complicated.

"…Talis's youngest son. Tsk, my brother."

Old Push scratched the back of his head a few times, looked at Enid, then at the stern-faced Fernandez - and at the group of black-clad priests who got off the carriage.

"I, I really, really didn't know he had a—"

"We are not here to interrogate you, Mr. Collins." Enid said gently, with a hint of expectation in her words: "You are Roland's only relative and you should raise him. We are just cooperating with the police station and bringing him here."

"Tell me what you decide."

"If you don't want him, the church will adopt him."

Decide?

What decision?
How can I not raise him?
With so many of you staring at me?
Old Collins twitched his lips a few times and looked deeply into Roland's honey-gold eyes that were still shining in the night.

They all have blue eyes.

"Well, ma'am, I-I think I--Yes! Yes! I think I can see it! Look, at least his nose is like my brother's, and mine--a Collins, isn't it?"

"I saw it right away!"

Enid stared at his hooked nose that bent downward for a few seconds, then tilted her head to look at Roland's nose, which was as straight as a sword and slightly upturned.

Ok…

"The second blind man of the Collins family."

The white text appeared very timely.

Roland wanted to laugh.

He always felt that Enid was bullying an old man who was getting ready to go to bed.

"Come on, kid, I'll make you some hot soup - well, I guess you've probably eaten it? Haha, follow you guys, you'll definitely be satisfied!"

He continued to squeeze his crying and laughing face, hugged Roland, and led him to the room.

At this time, Enid looked at Fernandez.

The male priest pulled out a bulging envelope from his inner pocket and stopped the old man.

"These are the remaining movables of the Collins family. Except for the ruined house, all the immovables have been sold by your brother."

"If you have any doubts, go to the Forks County Sheriff's Office. Do you understand? I think you are familiar with inheritance matters at your age."

"We're not responsible for this shit."

Pushu Collins let go of Roland, took the envelope with both hands, nodded and said yes, saying how could he trouble these adults.

"I'll come back to see you in two days and take you to church, Roland."

Enid raised her hand, brushed Roland's black hair, put her two fingers together, and drew a symbol on his forehead.

"Please take care of the child for me, Mr. Collins."

"Then you underestimate me. Not only can I raise him a white—"

boom.

The door is closed.

“…white and fat.”

Old Puxiu held the envelope in his hand, his face tense, and limped a few steps to the side of the room, then carefully opened the window:
After the carriages disappeared into the night and the sounds of horse hooves and wheels faded away, he breathed a sigh of relief, smacked his lips, pulled up a low-backed chair and sat down.

Look at Roland.

No words were spoken for at least a minute.

"alright."

He muttered dryly: "Well, you are my brother's son... I have never heard of you..."

"Sir," Roland whispered in the silent night, holding his cane, "I had never heard of this before he came to me."

(End of this chapter)