In Marvel, the System Made Me Work
Whether the security system had been shut off or wrecked by earlier adventurers, no one knew.
Either way, one kick sent the iron gate flying open.
Anderson froze.
Happiness had come so suddenly, without the slightest warning.
"Ahem. That was my plan."
Wearing an everything went exactly as I expected expression, Anderson marched proudly into the villa's front courtyard.
Calling it a courtyard was an understatement. It was at least the size of a soccer field, with trees around the edges and a manicured lawn in the middle. A straight concrete drive led to a circular fountain before the villa. Beyond the fountain, two curved staircases rose toward the main entrance, which stood another ten meters away.
The villa was a small Mediterranean-style castle, five stories at its highest point. White walls with pale blue accents and huge floor-to-ceiling windows gave it the air of a fairy-tale castle.
"This villa is incredible."
Anderson spread his arms as though he wanted to gather it all into an embrace.
"I, Anderson, swear I'll... definitely... buy a villa like this someday. Just wait! Pepper, how would you like to be its mistress?"
"Sure." Pepper nodded.
Peter curled his lip and muttered almost inaudibly, "Dream on."
Michelle said nothing.
Anderson might have been a big deal, but only at Maple Grove Public High School. Given his family's finances and his abilities, his grand declaration had little basis in reality.
Was it possible?
Technically.
A probability infinitely close to zero was still a probability.
Pepper, the prospective mistress of the house, knew Anderson well. That was precisely why she had no faith in him. Her perfunctory nod said it all.
Michelle suddenly shivered. "Does anyone else feel like it's gotten colder?"
Peter stiffened. He had felt it too.