"Faster! Didn't you like showing off outside?" Shawn taunted, his face full of amusement as he watched Caleb sprint ahead. In his hand, he held a leather belt, and every time Caleb slowed down, Shawn would snap the belt across his bum without hesitation.
Caleb's lips were cracked, his eyes dulled by exhaustion. His spirit seemed broken, and only sheer willpower kept him moving. For two hours, Shawn had been chasing him relentlessly with that belt, and every time he even thought about stopping, another sharp sting would land on him.
Inside, Caleb screamed in despair. He was the heir of the Schafer Family, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?!
Meanwhile, Matthew sat leisurely on a chair on the sidelines, watching the whole spectacle. Beside him stood a plump middle-aged man with worried eyes, staring at Caleb with a pained expression.
"Mr. Summit Warden, is this really necessary?" Bartholomew asked cautiously, glancing at Matthew.
"You can't make a diamond without some polishing, Mr. Schafer. If you had started training this boy seriously from a young age, he could have been one of the new pillars of the Seraphis Martial League by now," Matthew replied, taking a sip of his tea as Cole refilled his cup.
Bartholomew looked at Caleb, torn between sympathy and resolve. Finally, he gritted his teeth. Son, don't blame me. This is all for your own good.
The sun grew hotter as Caleb's steps wobbled more and more. He was drenched in sweat, his body trembling from exhaustion, but his eyes still held a flicker of defiance. Gritting his teeth, he kept running, his mind burning with rage.
"Keep running!" Shawn shouted.
"Sir, it is Caleb's great fortune to receive your personal guidance. Please train him however you see fit. Don't hold back," Bartholomew said, placing Caleb in the shade before turning back to Matthew with utmost respect. "Starting today, the Schafer Family will be the most loyal partner of the Martial League."
Matthew smiled as he watched Bartholomew hurry off. Smart man.
Bartholomew knew exactly when and how to make the right moves. His parting words about being the Martial League's strongest partner meant only one thing—he was promising to fund the Martial League fully from this point on, ensuring Matthew would invest his efforts into training Caleb.
Under the shade, Caleb slowly opened his eyes, still disoriented. "Dad… is that you?"
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