Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)
Chapter 496

"Sophie, don't ask."

Gordon's face was as pale as paper, and at this moment, he looked even more worn down. "Even if you knew, it wouldn't change anything. Wouldn't it be better to just live your life peacefully?"

"I am the daughter of the Russell family. My parents died, and I have the right to know everything!"

Gordon leaned on the table corner for support, barely keeping himself upright in his wheelchair. "I can tell you about the affairs of the four major families, but I truly don't know who killed your parents. Just like I still don't know who was responsible for the death of Alexander and Gwen after all my investigations."

Gordon's eyes didn't seem like those of a liar. Sophie fell silent for a moment before speaking, "Do you know everything about what happened with the four major families back then?"

"I have a general understanding of the grudges and disputes, the rights and wrongs of our families back in those days. It's not hard to see that the Costello family held military power and had absolute say, while the Aldridge family possessed the strongest intelligence network. The Russell family was also famously formidable under the command of the Russell's patriarch. They acted as the strategist. The members of Tredgold family used to be the Costello family's lieutenants. Thanks to considerable family wealth and their close relationship with the other families, they were made one of the four major families." Sophie listened quietly. She had indeed heard Perry mention the glorious days of that generation. The fact that the Russell family could take root and establish such a vast enterprise in Devonport was all thanks to her great grand-father's strategic genius.

"The Costello family, the Aldridge family, the Russell family, and the Tredgold family connected and quickly dominated Devonport. There were rumors that these four families could dominate Devonport within a year or two because they possessed a treasure from the late imperial period, wealth enough to rival countries. With monetary support, naturally, they could dominate a region."

"A treasure from the late imperial period? That's impossible..."

Sophie found it absurd, but before she could finish, she met Gordon's indifferent gaze and immediately said, "Please continue... I won't interrupt."

"While rumors are not always reliable, there's a possibility they're true. Devonport indeed has its secrets that are coveted by many to this day. The White family from overseas and the Cloude family from Bloomsbury are living examples."

What Gordon shared plunged Sophie into deep thought.

Indeed, this had been puzzling her as well. Ricardo could have stayed comfortably in Bloomsbury but, knowing the dangers of Devonport, spent over a decade pleasing the Freeman family, all to get a share of Devonport.

Honestly, with Ricardo's family wealth, there was no need for such actions.

"Ricardo covets the so-called treasure of Devonport, but why would he seek out the Freeman family? Were the Freeman family also one of the major families back then?"

Gordon said indifferently, "They're not worthy."

Sophie felt the same. If the Freeman family truly were one of the four major families, they wouldn't act so humble upon seeing James.

"Indeed, the Freeman family also has a century-old history, existing in the same era as the four major families. To have survived that period and built a legacy, their ancestors must have been formidable. However, they were not among the four major families. At best, they could be considered a close confidant who branched out from the Tredgold family to establish their own."