The Grand Guardian of Avalon

"... Okay, I understand."

The middle-aged man with bright blond hair raised an eyebrow, but calmly replied, "I'll be right there."

His face was as deep and rugged as a stone statue, with a pair of jewel-like green eyes. Perhaps because of his elven mixed blood, he was over 1.9 meters tall, yet he did not appear thin at all. His back was as straight as a pine tree, and his shoulders were broad and thick. Sitting there motionless, he was like a mountain, giving people a strong sense of security.

Of course, if the positions were reversed... then it could also be a feeling of oppression.

"What's wrong, George?"

His dark-haired, dark-eyed wife Nadia, was wiping their medals. Seeing her husband put down the phone, she casually asked, "Is our Grand Guardian on official business again?"

"There's a lead on Moriarty's case."

George Barton replied, "Do you remember Bran Boca?"

"The one from the White Queen District? Or the one from Lloyd District's? Sorry, darling, there are a lot of people named Bran, I might have got the wrong person," Nadia said.

"You're not mistaken, it's the same person. The judge in the White Queen District, the vice president of Lloyd's's ..."

The Grand Guardian narrowed his eyes, stood up, and put on his coat. "He just confessed to me. He said that the men who attacked Moriarty were sent by Lloyd, and now Lloyd wants to silence him."

His coat was a pure white double-breasted trench coat with a stand-up collar, bearing the Avalon emblem on the back—a silver triangle with a turquoise gem in the center. After he put on the coat, the silver triangle began to gleam.

He tucked two slender elven scimitars into the sides of his blouse, and then flipped the necklace hanging from his chest out. It was also the symbol of Avalon, but the central piece was not simply a green gemstone, but an eye carved from an emerald.

He gently touched the gemstone eye, and a silver light shone from its pupil.

His perspective suddenly shifted—to a view overlooking the entire borders of Avalon from high above.

As his attention focused, the image zoomed in at an extremely fast speed.

Avalon, Glass Island, White Queen District, 113 Green Vine Avenue...

Finally, the Grand Guardian clearly saw Vice President Boca hang up the phone.

His face showed obvious anxiety, as if he were afraid of something. At the same time, there was a sinister look in his eyes, and he was saying something in a self-deprecating tone.

By reading his lips, the Grand Guardian basically understood what he wanted to say, "Being captured is better than being killed. If we can rescue Iver this time, my previous plan won't be a complete failure..."

The Grand Guardian tapped the eye again.

His gaze returned to the highest point.

He then zoomed out to the Lloyd's's headquarters.

On the way, he suddenly saw something and turned the camera to Meg, the Grand Arbitrator, sitting in a roadside pub eating fried chicken and drinking beer.

The old woman, who looked no different from anyone else and dressed very plainly, was so short that her heels couldn't even touch the ground when she sat on the chair, suddenly seemed to sense something.

She raised her head and gazed at the Grand Guardian across time and space.

Meg then flashed a bright smile, raised her beer, and toasted George Barton. She then took large bites of the freshly fried chicken.

She moved her lips silently, and George understood what she meant. "The fried chicken at this place is pretty good. Next time you come, it'll be my treat."

The Grand Guardian's lips curled up slightly, but he quickly suppressed the smile.

He touched the gem eye again, and this time the image smoothly descended to the top floor of Lloyd's's, the president's office.

The Mixed-Blood Giant's face was flushed red with anger, the redness extending from his head to his shoulders.

His intense anger caused him to gasp for breath, billowing white steam from his mouth and nose. Large, spiderweb-like veins bulged on his forehead and neck, throbbing rapidly with his heartbeat. His pupils were bloodshot from the ruptured blood vessels.

The table he was pressing on with his left hand had sagged slightly. He was standing there with his shoulders hunched and head down, trying to breathe heavily, attempting to cool down his head and calm his endless rage—but clearly with little success.

The Grand Guardian of Avalon took a deep breath, and the silver light in his pupils dissipated.

"How is it?" Nadia asked.

"About the same."

George Barton replied, "That Mixed-Blood Giant looks really angry."

"Giants are always angry."

She smiled and casually replied, "That's normal."

"I'm particularly angry today—I think it might be related to Ms. Meg."

As George spoke, he looked down at his wife as she put her pocket watch into his pocket.

He then continued, "She's also in the Lloyd District."

"Went out for drinks?"

"Yeah. Beer and fried chicken."

"You should also advise Ms. Meg that this isn't good for her health."

"Who can persuade her..."

George smiled wryly and said, "I guess only Her Majesty the Queen could persuade her."

"But Her Majesty the Queen will drink with her."

"That's great."

Nadia said with a hint of envy, "I really hope I can be this carefree when I'm old."

"Then it depends on whether David will give in or not."

George said, pushing open the door and leaving. His wife followed behind.

When they got into the yard, they saw their son playing ball with his griffin, Emily.

Seeing George approach, the griffin Emily flew over and made a sound like Little Cat purring.

George smiled, touched her chin, and waved for her to leave.

"Dad, where are you going?"

The boy, with Olive -green eyes and short, flowing blond hair that reached his shoulders, asked curiously, "Didn't you just get back?"

"I have official business to attend to again."

George replied briefly, "Go protect the witness."

"Have the people who attacked Mr. Iver been found?"

David Barton ran over with the ball in his arms and asked as he went.

"Found him," George nodded. "His name is Aleister, a demon possessed by the Shadow Fiend... Avalon is very dangerous lately, so try not to go out. If you do go out, take Emily with you, understand?"

"What?!"

To everyone's surprise, David reacted unusually strongly.

His eyes widened. "The one who attacked Mr. Iver... was Aleister?"

Seeing this, George and Nadia exchanged a glance. But neither of them said anything nor asked directly.

George, however, said something more, "Yes, I'm here to protect the witness. To prevent him from being killed by Aleister."

"...Then, Dad."

David hesitated for a moment. "Can I come with you?"

"Nonsense!"

Nadia frowned immediately, startling David, who shuddered. "That's a battle between a group of superhumans who start at Fourth Level! What are you getting involved in?!" "Go train, swing your sword a hundred times, thrust your spear a hundred times, then guide the lightning. You can have lunch after that! You don't have to go to school, but you can study and train at home. Laziness is not an option."

"I've reached the Second Level, Mom!"

David said somewhat discontentedly, "Besides, I can already skillfully guide lightning!"

As he spoke, a crackling bolt of electricity shot across his arm.

He knew that his father ultimately had the final say, so he looked at his father expectantly and asked, "I want to go see... Can I, Dad?"

"It's not impossible."

George stroked his chin and agreed.

Nadia frowned. "George..."

"It's okay, I'm here."

The Grand Guardian said calmly, "If you're worried, then let Angelica with him."

Angelica is the name of the griffin that Nadia keeps.

"I have no objection."

The white griffin answered from the side.

Her voice was gentle. "I'll go with David."

"That's wonderful! Thank you, Aunt Anjie!"

David said excitedly.

I think maybe we should stop Chapter 2 at 2 AM from now on. (Thinking)