It was true that my grandfathers—the men who'd raised me—lived on an island, but they were no fishermen.

Edgar Blythe, or Grandpa Eddie, was the highest-bounty serial killer on the international wanted list. Countless tyrants and scum had died at his hands.

Franklin Graves, or Grandpa Frankie, was an underground boxing champion who could smash half a ton of granite into powder with just one punch.

Tobias Mercer, or Grandpa Toby, had been one of the top secret agents in Acratius in his younger days.

Then there was the king of mercenaries, Grandpa Harry, or Harold Keene, and the arms dealer, Grandpa Luke, or Lucian Calder. I had been brought up on an island by a huge group of men like them.

Back when I left Dreadvault Isle for college, these old men had held my hands with their eyes red-rimmed.

"Eli, if anyone gives you trouble out there, don't you dare just take it in silence."

"If anyone bullies you, you give us a call, and we'll come over and take care of them right away!"

That was what they said, and they were more than capable of doing it. But how could I possibly make the call?

Every single one of them had dabbled in things that could cost them their lives. The moment they set foot on this land and their identities were exposed, the consequences would be disastrous. There was no way I was going to risk my grandfathers' lives over something as trivial as this.

Fighting through the searing pain, I struggled to my feet and dropped to my knees in front of Mr. Chappel. Between my dignity and my grandfathers' safety, I would choose the latter every single time.

"Mr. Chappel, I'm sorry. I was wrong," I said in a shaky voice, keeping my head down.

"The men who raised me are old and aren't in the best of health now. They can't handle the stress. I'll apologize! I've saved up some money from working odd jobs. I'll give it all to Leonard for his medical bills. Please, just don't bother my grandfathers, okay?" I begged in a pathetic manner.

Before I left for college, my grandfathers had slipped a black bank card into my bag as a reward. I had never checked the balance, but it should be enough to cover Leonard's medical fees.

Just then, the door to the disciplinary office was kicked open. "No way!"

Leonard's father, Mr. Felix Hargrove, stormed in furiously. "Look what he did to my son! You think a simple apology will settle this? Have you forgotten who donated the funds for the college's new academic block last year?"

Mr. Chappel had initially been hesitating, but the moment he heard that, his expression changed instantly. When he turned around, his gaze had turned cold and vicious. "Call your guardians right now, or I'll send you straight to the police station!"

My heart sank immediately. If this really reached the police and I ended up with a criminal record, my entire future would be ruined. And even worse, if the police traced things back to Dreadvault Isle...

I was instantly flustered.

Seeing this, Leonard laughed smugly. "Go ahead, make the call! Tell those bloody fishermen to come over and grovel in front of me! If they don't lick the soles of my shoes clean today, I swear we won't be seeing the end of this."

I gripped my phone tightly, contemplating whether I should make the call. If I called, my grandfathers could be exposed. But if I didn't, the Hargroves would definitely destroy me, and they might even trace things back to Dreadvault Isle.

"Hurry up!" Mr. Hargrove kicked me in the shoulder.

The last shred of hesitation in me swiftly vanished. My finger moved across the screen, and right in front of all of them, I made the call.

There was no turning back now. Since they weren't giving me a way out, we could all end up in hell together.

The phone rang for only a second before it was answered.

"Eli? Why are you calling at this hour? Missing your old gramps?" Grandpa Eddie's voice carried a light chuckle, followed by a few coughs. It had been raining for days, and his lung condition was probably acting up again.

I was instantly hit with a pang of regret. They were all so old already—how could I bear to have them worry about me? I bit down hard on my tongue to stop any groans from escaping.

"Grandpa Eddie, I... I just miss you guys and wanted to hear your voices," I said, trying my best to sound as cheerful as possible.

If Grandpa Eddie ever found out I was being bullied, he would come charging off Dreadvault Isle no matter what. And if he did, there would be no going back.

"Just come home if you miss us! All of us here miss you a lot too. And don't forget to tell us if anyone is giving you a hard time."

Then, Grandpa Eddie laughed heartily, telling me to eat more and not to skimp on money.

My eyes stung, but I forced myself to lie, saying, "There's no one giving me a hard time. My teachers and classmates are all very nice to me, really."

Then, I hung up hastily and collapsed to the floor without a word.

When Leonard saw me hang up, he kicked me. "What's the matter? Are those fisherman grandfathers of yours too scared to answer the call? I knew it. The moment they heard they'd have to come to the college, those broke old geezers would just hide on the island and play dead."

I kept my head down and said in a hoarse voice, "My grandfathers are old and can't travel long distances. They won't be able to make it here. Whatever compensation you want, just tell me. Please just don't get them involved."

Mr. Hargrove gave a cold snort, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and forced me to look at him. "They won't be able to make it? You bit off half my son's ear, and you think that telling me they're old is reason enough to brush things off?

"Seems to me like you won't see the severity of the matter unless you're faced with the consequences of your actions. Give me your phone! I'll call those damned fishermen myself!"

With that, he bent down to grab my phone.

Clutching the phone to my chest, I scrambled backward like a madman. "No!"

All of a sudden, Leonard grabbed a thermal mug off the office table and, without the slightest hesitation, poured the steaming hot water in the mug onto one side of my face.

"Ahh!" I let out a bloodcurdling shriek and rolled on the ground, clutching my face. My skin instantly blistered and swelled from the burn. The burning pain was so intense that it nearly shattered my sanity.

Leonard planted his foot on my face, his lips twisted in a menacing smile. "Look at you, acting like such a coward. What happened to all that spunk you had earlier when you bit my ear?"

I convulsed in agony, barely able to speak. "I-I'll do a-anything… as long as you d-don't go after my grandfathers."

Leonard crouched down and patted my cheek. "Fine. Starting tomorrow, you'll wait at the campus gates on your knees every day, shining my shoes where everyone can see.

"Also, you owe me five thousand dollars in medical fees, not a cent less. Otherwise, I'll call the police and have them go straight to that little island of yours to arrest your grandfathers."

I agreed through clenched teeth. "Y-yes, I promise. Please, just don't call the police."

Leonard excitedly pulled out his phone and started recording me. He clicked his tongue and said, "Don't you usually act all high and mighty? But look at you now! You're behaving like a well-trained dog!"

After Leonard left, I had just walked out of the academic building when Grandpa Frankie gave me a video call. I panicked and quickly adjusted my collar to cover the side of my face that was red and swollen.

On the screen, Grandpa Frankie was clumsily fiddling with pieces of a building set. The former formidable boxing champion was now wearing reading glasses and sweating profusely.

"Eli, look, this is the Black Comet spaceship you said you wanted before you left for college. But my hands aren't very steady, so I'm only halfway done after working on it for two weeks. I'll give it to you when you come back during break."

Then, he smiled at the camera with a simple, honest grin.

I gripped the tree trunk beside me hard enough for my nails to dig deep into the bark just to stop myself from crying out loud. "Grandpa Frankie... it's beautiful. I love it."

He nodded happily with a chuckle, gave me a few more reminders, and finally ended the call.

The moment the screen dimmed, I could no longer hold myself up. I slid down the tree trunk and sat on the ground.

I just had to make it until graduation. As long as it meant my grandfathers could live in peace, I would accept whatever it was, even if it meant living in humiliation.

Early the next morning, Leonard was waiting for me at the campus gates. "Clean them," he ordered.

Murmurs flooded around me like a tide.

"Isn't that the top student in that batch? He actually got on his knees?"

"I heard he stole from Leo. Serves him right!"

I kept my head down and pulled a handkerchief from my pocket. But just as my fingers were about to touch his shoe, Leonard suddenly stomped down, grinding the sole of his shoe into my fingers.

"Using your hands doesn't show much sincerity, does it? Use your tongue!"

The hand that held the handkerchief trembled. In my mind, all I could think about were the warm smiles of my grandfathers back on the island.

I closed my eyes and was about to lean down when Leonard suddenly burst out laughing. "You really take orders well, don't you? Now, let me hear you bark. If you sound convincing, I might consider knocking a grand off the medical bills."

Laughter erupted across the field.

I clenched my fists tightly in the dirt and barked, "Woof… Woof!"

"Louder! I can't hear you!"

Leonard kicked me in the shoulder and sent me tumbling into the muddy water. As I lay sprawled out on the ground, all I could do was repeat those humiliating sounds against my will.

When Leonard had had his fun, he swaggered off with his crew, kicking me one last time before he went.

I silently picked myself up and walked back to the classroom under everyone's contemptuous stares.

I just had to get through this. Once I paid off his medical bills, everything would be over.

But I had underestimated how evil people could be.

That evening, as soon as I walked out of the campus gates, several thugs cornered me in the back alley. Leonard slowly advanced toward me with a heavy steel pipe.

I stepped back, and my back hit the wall. "Leonard, I already did everything you asked."

"What? Do you really think that barking a few times will make us square after you bit my ear off?"

Leonard swung the steel pipe hard and slammed it into my shin.

He yanked the 500 dollars I had just received in student aid out of my pocket. That was supposed to be my living expenses for the whole of the next semester.

"This is all you've got? Are you messing with me?" Leonard sneered. Then, right in front of me, he tore the bills into shreds.

Next, he stuffed the shredded bills mixed with rain into my mouth. "Eat it! Swallow every last piece!"

After that, he proceeded to slap me furiously across the face, over and over again. My head spun from the blows, and my mouth filled with the taste of paper mixed with blood.

"Call the cops, Leo," one of the thugs said viciously. "There's no way this punk can come up with five grand. Just get the cops to go to that darned island and throw all his good-for-nothing grandfathers into jail!"

The moment I heard them mention the police, the taut string in my mind finally snapped. I lunged forward desperately and clung to Leonard's leg. "Don't call the police! Please, I'll find a way to get the money. Just don't get my grandfathers involved!"

Leonard kicked me away. "Oh, so you're begging for mercy now? Well, it's too late! Tomorrow, I'll go to that shithole of an island with my men, break every last bone in those old bastards' bodies, and feed them to the dogs!"

He then raised the steel pipe and swung it down at my head.

I closed my eyes in despair. "Grandpas, I'm sorry. I couldn't protect your peace," I thought.

But the excruciating pain never came. Instead, the steel pipe was caught by a strong, powerful hand.

"Who is it?" Leonard spun around and came face to face with a pair of eyes burning with rage.

The person's gaze fell on me, and the pain in his eyes was almost too much to bear. "Eli, didn't we tell you to tell us if you were ever wronged?"