After dinner, Mackenzie had someone summon the current head of the Jax Family.§.•´¨'°÷•..× ×,.•´¨'°÷•..§
"Greetings, Ancestor. Greetings, sirs."
The head of the Jax Family was a stern-looking middle-aged man, but at that moment, he hardly dared breathe in the hall.
Anyone the Ancestor entertained with the highest honors was probably a Saint Realm expert. He wouldn't dare show the slightest disrespect.
"Oden, who's the city lord of Chier County City now?"
Oden was baffled. Why had the Ancestor suddenly asked about this? He knew of small and midsized cities like Chier County City, but unless something major happened, he usually paid them no mind. Why bring it up today?
Still, he didn't dare show the slightest neglect and quickly racked his brain.
"Reporting to the Ancestor, after Lockley Jax, the city lord of Chier County City, died some time ago, Keane Jax became the city lord. He's a junior of our family."
"Oh? Is that so? Then why have I heard that a woman named Wade is running the whole city? She even tried to get her brother appointed city lord."
"Ancestor, Wade is Lockley's mother. After Lockley died, she may have been managing Chier County City temporarily."
"Good. I don't want outsiders governing our family's cities. Do you know what to do?"
"Ancestor, I'll look into this at once. I absolutely won't let one of another surname take control of a family city."
"Good. You may go."
As Oden slowly backed away and left the hall, Garen knew that Jenny and Keane would no longer be in danger in the Northwest Province.
Garen and Linley stayed at Mackenzie's residence for five days, often discussing the Laws and Mysteries together.
In truth, Garen did most of the talking, Linley offered a few opinions, and Mackenzie listened.
"Garen, Linley, won't you stay a few more days?"
Mackenzie had hit it off with his two young friends. Spending time with the younger generation had made him feel several years younger over the past few days.
"Brother Mackenzie, I've been traveling for three years. It's time I went home for a visit. We'll surely meet again."
Garen spoke sincerely.
"I've gained a lot of insight these past few days. I plan to find somewhere nearby to cultivate in seclusion. It's a bit inconvenient to do that here. I'll be coming to the provincial capital often in the future, so I hope you won't mind me dropping by, brother."
Linley replied as well.
"Very well. Since you both have things to take care of, I won't insist you stay."
Mackenzie said reluctantly.
The two climbed aboard the Golden Sun Eagle and quickly flew toward Chier County City.
"I gave them five days. They should've had enough time to settle things over there."
"Garen, you seem pretty concerned about those siblings. Don't tell me I was right—you've fallen for Jenny?"
Linley wore a broad grin.
"As the saying goes, a lovely maiden is a fine match for a gentleman. Understand? You think everyone's like you, all bottled up and too afraid to admit they're in love?"
When it came to matters of the heart, Garen never lost.
Garen really did like girls like Jenny—gentle, hardworking, and strong-willed.
He'd seen that, despite her polite manners, knowledge of noble etiquette, and kind way of treating others, she behaved like a true noblewoman.
But the calluses on her hands showed that she often did housework. When she met them, she'd also dared to take a chance for her younger brother's safety. She'd seized her opportunity and, in the end, won their help.
The Golden Sun Eagle soon reached the skies above Chier County City.
After the guards announced their arrival, Jenny and Keane quickly came to the city wall.
"Big Sister, Garen and Linley are back!"
"Yes." Jenny felt a little nervous.
She didn't know what had come over her. Whenever she had a spare moment these past few days, a handsome figure appeared in her mind.
He was sunny and confident, and every casual gesture he made was so easygoing and graceful.
Especially the way he'd drawn his bow and loosed an arrow that night—it seemed to match the image of the prince on a white horse in her heart.
Whenever she thought back to that moment, her heart fluttered like a startled deer, pounding wildly.
I wonder if Garen will look down on a country girl like me. Even if I'm acting city lord now, I'm probably nothing in the eyes of a Saint Realm expert.
At that moment, Jenny's thoughts were in turmoil.
Sometimes, you fell for someone in an instant.
Though she hadn't spent long with Garen, they'd been through things she'd never experienced in her whole life and seen sights she'd never laid eyes on before.
Garen and Linley soon flew down.
"Garen, Linley, you really came back!"
Keane immediately greeted them warmly.
"Garen, Linley."
As soon as Jenny spoke, she lowered her head the moment her eyes met Garen's.
Her face turned bright red.
"Oh, dear. Am I feeling a little out of place here?"
Linley teased them outright.
Jenny knew she'd made her feelings too obvious. She was so embarrassed that she wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.
"What's wrong, sister? Why's your face so red? Did you catch a chill out there?"
Keane asked with concern.
"Keane, your sister's fine. Come on, let's go inside and talk."
Garen spoke up to help Jenny out. Only then did she come to her senses and realize how rude she'd been to leave the two men standing outside without inviting them in.
She quickly invited them inside.
They entered the City Lord's Mansion, where the guards at the entrance greeted them with great respect.
"Miss Jenny, Young Master Keane."
In the hall.
"How's it going, Keane? Has taking over as city lord gone smoothly?"
Garen asked with a smile.
"Garen, you don't know what happened. Not long after you left, I told my aunt I wanted to take over as city lord. She actually said I was too young and told me to wait another two years."
"The city guards wouldn't even follow my orders. It made me furious. My aunt thought she could fob us off with good food, drinks, and entertainment, as if we didn't know any better."
"But two days ago, a Guard Team from the provincial capital showed up and arrested Lady Wade and both her brothers. Some of their men tried to resist, but those guards from the provincial capital were incredibly strong. They killed a number of them in no time and captured the rest. Then the people from the provincial capital showed us a handwritten order from the head of the Jax Family, appointing me city lord and telling my sister to assist me for the time being. Heh, the Jax Family's pretty powerful after all. They haven't forgotten us juniors."
Keane told the story with great animation, gesturing as he spoke.
Jenny was already eighteen, and her thoughts weren't so simple. She'd considered a lot of things herself.
The Guard Team had arrived not long after Garen went to the provincial capital. How could that be a coincidence? Garen must have gone to the Jax Family's headquarters. With his strength as a Saint Realm expert, even Mackenzie, the Ancestor, probably had to show him respect.
"All right, Keane. I understand. You've been city lord for two days now. How does it feel?"
Garen asked with a smile.
"Ugh, it's exhausting. I had no idea a city lord had so many things to deal with. If my sister weren't helping me, I wouldn't know what to do."
At that, Keane's excitement faded. His head drooped, and he looked utterly dejected.
After learning that Jenny and Keane were still worried about money, Garen waved his hand and brought out a pile of Magic Crystal Cores in various colors.
He had plenty of them, and they were of little use to him anyway.
This time, Jenny and Keane were even more grateful to him.
Jenny felt a deep sense of happiness, too.
Thanks to Ye for the 1,900-point tip, and thanks to everyone for the monthly and recommendation tickets.
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