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Chapter 133 Sir Anderson

Tower! Tower! Tower!

The gleaming hooves landed on the compacted mud, making a steady and rhythmic sound.

Two magnificent, deep brown horses strode forward, pulling a gold and white carriage slowly and silently along the road.

The carriage boasts a luxurious yet understated design, with a striking "Eye of Wisdom" emblem adorning its roof, clearly signifying its exclusive status as a member of the Magicians' Guild.

At this moment, a corner of the carriage window was gently lifted, revealing a pair of bright blue eyes.

Mark peeked out and looked ahead at the road. As far as the eye could see, a series of gray tents were arranged in a neat and orderly fashion, stretching for miles.

Smoke curled from the campsite above, and soldiers hurried back and forth with solemn expressions, filling the air with a heavy sense of tension and impending doom.

Mark gently lowered the car window, retreated into the cabin, and buried himself deeply in the soft cushions, his mind churning with thoughts.

Around noon, Mark was still visiting the Albright family when he suddenly received an urgent summons from the Magicians' Guild, ordering him to immediately go to Dongzhuo Manor to participate in a secret operation.

This is a perfect illustration of Murphy's Law: what you fear most is what you are most likely to encounter.

This operation was a dangerous mission codenamed "Anchor Point".

At first, Mark had some doubts about the letter's credibility, but the magical mark that President Patrick had on the letter completely dispelled all his concerns.

As a formal member of the Magicians' Association, Mark had no choice but to rush to the base to report.

However, there was one thing that puzzled Mark: why was the contact person for this operation Madeline, the butler of the Adventurers' Guild in Pinewood Town?

The carriage continued on its way, driving deeper into the settlement, where a luxurious manor gradually came into view.

The lush fruit trees on both sides of the road were uprooted, and fresh traces of tilling remained on the ground.

The tents where they were stationed were getting taller and taller, but their colors were a jumble of reds, blues and grays, and the people coming and going were a mixed bag.

There were council members in their standard robes, and soldiers from the Stonehenge Fortress clad in armor. Occasionally, a priest in a white church robe would hurry by. In the distance, several adventurers were practicing in an open space. There was a sense of haste and haste that it all seemed like a makeshift assembly.

Soon, the carriage approached a checkpoint, where a fully armed elite guard was stationed on both sides. The captain in charge stepped forward, exchanged a few words with the coachman, and glanced at the carriage a few times. Seeing the coachman show his association badge, he waved to one side of the fork in the road, signaling to let them pass.

Following instructions, the carriage made a gentle turn and headed towards the buildings on the other side of the manor.

A moment later, a brand-new stone mansion appeared before us, the lime on the walls still bearing a faint white tinge, clearly indicating that it had only been built recently.

At this moment, two women and one man stood in front of the mansion, their eyes fixed intently on the road ahead.

The most eye-catching woman was a noblewoman of about forty years old, wearing a purple velvet dress that accentuated her voluptuous figure. Her eyes and brows held a touch of aloof pride, and although she was no longer young, she still possessed a captivating charm.

Behind her stood a fat, middle-aged man, wearing a loose, luxurious brocade robe that bulged under his weight. His face was covered in fat, and he exuded an air of greasiness.

On the other side stood a blonde, blue-eyed woman dressed in a clean and crisp black and white uniform. Her long blonde hair was piled high, and she stood tall and straight, exuding the aura of a decisive and powerful woman.

The lady crossed her arms, which accentuated her voluptuous figure. She turned her head to look at the blonde woman beside her, her tone laced with a lazy curiosity.

"Madeline, I'm genuinely curious, who is it that warrants my personal greeting?"

Madeline sighed softly, shaking her head with a hint of helplessness.

"Vanessa, after all these years, you're still the same."

"If you still had a Grand Knight to keep things in order, you wouldn't be forced to leave your ancestral home and end up in this newly built mansion."

Upon hearing this, Vanessa's face instantly turned ashen, her eyes flashing with humiliation and resentment.

The Drough Manor was originally the ancestral home of the Anderson family, but due to the family's decline and the lack of a professional to maintain order, it was forcibly requisitioned by the Allied Forces as a temporary base.

If it weren't for the fact that the family's founder, Wood Anderson, had expanded the Glover family's territory and made great contributions, and that Stonehenge had shown them some leniency, they probably wouldn't even have this place.

The thought of this made Vanessa feel uneasy and agitated, and she hugged her chest tighter, making her fair skin stand out even more.

"You're saying this young mage from the Mage's Guild was once Felix's teammate?"

Madeline lightly licked the corner of her mouth with the tip of her tongue, her tone carrying a hint of ambiguity.

"Yes, he's a very energetic young man."

"Giggle~"

Vanessa chuckled softly, her eyes alluring as she looked at Madeline with a half-smile.

"So, it seems you know him quite well?"

Madeline blushed slightly, but did not deny it. Instead, she defiantly countered some of the noblewomen's secrets.

The two women whispered intimate words, completely ignoring the obese man beside them.

The man showed no displeasure, only a fawning smile, as if he were already used to such treatment.

Just then, a carriage slowly approached from a distance and stopped in front of the mansion.

The driver respectfully opened the carriage door, and a tall figure stepped out, bowing low.

The three people waiting to greet them were taken aback.

Before them stood a small giant, about 2.4 meters tall, whose azure mage robe faintly emanated a chilling aura, exuding an oppressive presence. It was Mark who had arrived.

Vanessa's eyes unconsciously swept over Madeline, who was also looking somewhat dazed, as if silently questioning, "How can you stand this?"

Madeline quickly snapped out of her daze, ignored Vanessa's gaze, and stepped forward to greet her first.

"Mark? That's amazing! I didn't expect you to change so much in just two months."

Just over two months ago, Mark was an unknown, fledgling adventurer, but now he has been promoted to a formal mage, and even his figure has become so tall.

Mark looked at the refined and elegant Madeline before him, a gentle smile playing on his lips, revealing a hint of ambiguity and teasing.

"Aren't you the same? You're even more feminine than before."

Madeline's cheeks flushed instantly. She glared back at Mark with a hint of reproach in her eyes and quickly lowered her voice to speak.

"Everyone's watching, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Mark smiled, stopped joking, composed himself, and asked seriously.

"I received a letter from the association inviting me to participate in the 'Anchor Point' operation, but why are you the one receiving me?"

When the topic turned to business, Madeline's expression immediately became serious.

"This operation is very complex, involving multiple forces. The presidents of our Adventurers' Guild and the Mage's Association have reached an agreement to join forces."

"After all, we are all neutral organizations that operate across the entire continent. Compared to forces like Zhenshibao and the Parliament Hall, which have strong regional characteristics, it is easier for us to reach a consensus."

Mark nodded, his doubts immediately dispelled; it turned out that the two neutral forces had joined forces.

Then, Madeline continued.

"I will explain the specifics of the operation to you in detail tomorrow once all the remaining personnel have arrived."

"Several people want to see you now; they've been waiting for you for a long time."

As she spoke, Madeline turned to look at the noblewoman and the obese man behind her.

Vanessa stepped forward with graceful and dignified steps, gave Mark a slight curtsy, her voice calm yet unable to conceal her aristocratic reserve.

Vanessa Anderson, acting head of the Anderson family.

Seeing the vague familiarity in the other person's eyes, and recalling the surname "Anderson," Mark felt a sudden urge to ask.

"Anderson?! Could you be...?"

"That's right."

Vanessa slightly raised her chin, a hint of barely perceptible pride flashing in her eyes.

"I am Felix's sister."

Mark suddenly realized.

He had long heard that Felix had an older sister who was twenty years his senior, and now that he had met her, he was right. She was indeed a typical aristocrat, and even though her family had fallen on hard times, she couldn't hide her pride.

Vanessa continued, her voice now carrying a hint of approving admiration.

"Felix often mentions you to me, saying that you are exceptionally capable and reliable. It's a pleasure to meet you this time."

As soon as Vanessa finished speaking, the obese man next to her immediately came over enthusiastically, extending his bloated hand with a fawning smile on his face.

"Master Mark, hello! I am Locke Anderson, Vanessa's husband..."

"snort!"

Before Locke could finish speaking, Vanessa gave a heavy snort, glancing at him with icy eyes full of disdain and disgust, as if she were looking at something filthy.

Locke's smile froze instantly, his face turning pale and then red, utterly embarrassed. He dropped his fawning expression and changed his words.

"I am... the manager of this manor, responsible for managing all the affairs here. I hope you will take good care of me in the future, Master Mark."

Mark watched this scene and secretly understood.

It seems that Mr. Locke is nothing more than the Anderson family’s son-in-law, with no status in the family, and is even humiliated by Vanessa in public, even in front of guests.

Life as a live-in son-in-law is really not easy.

Vanessa ignored Locke's embarrassment and turned to look at Mark, her expression softening somewhat while also showing obvious respect.

"Master Mark, the person who invited you here today is my father, Sir Anderson, who wishes to see you."

"When he heard that you had come, he specifically instructed us to wait here. Please come inside with us."

Mark nodded slightly, without refusing.

Felix was his former captain, and both morally and logically, he should meet Felix's family.

"Since Sir Anderson has invited you, please lead the way."

Mark followed Vanessa and the others deeper into the mansion, through the living room, and into a spacious bedroom.

The room was dimly lit, with a large wooden bed in the center, on which lay a frail, elderly man.

It was Sir Anderson.

The old man had gray hair, a pale face, and breathed so weakly that it was almost imperceptible. He was clearly old and frail, and even getting up was very difficult for him.

Upon learning of Mark's arrival, Sir Anderson, with great effort, slowly sat up with the help of a maid, a glimmer of light flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"Master Mark, we've been waiting for you... Please, have a seat."

Mark, well-versed in social etiquette, understood the purpose of the meeting instantly.

He is now a first-tier professional and a formal mage of the Mage Guild. This strength is far beyond what the long-declining Anderson family can compare to.

Vanessa, the acting head of the Anderson family, probably had a past relationship with Butler Madeline, so she specially arranged this meeting to win over Mark through Felix's connections.

If the Anderson family could be on good terms with a formal mage, they would have more leverage in the city of Sergei in the future.

Mark, with a clear understanding of the situation, neither resisted nor pointed out the truth. Instead, he took the initiative to step forward and gently comforted her.

"Sir Anderson, you flatter me. Felix and I have fought side by side and trust each other. If the Anderson family ever encounters any difficulties in the future, I will certainly not refuse to help if I can."

Although these words did not make any explicit promises, they were already giving the Anderson family enough face.

Vanessa and Locke's faces lit up with joy upon hearing this, and even the usually weak Sir Anderson broke into a long-lost smile.

"Okay, okay..."

Sir Anderson said "good" three times, his voice trembling with excitement, and gave the order to Vanessa.

"Vanessa, take that thing out and give it to him."

"Yes, Father."

Vanessa glanced at Locke beside her, her eyes showing a hint of impatience.

Locke immediately understood and hurriedly ran out. A moment later, he returned with a delicate little wooden box in both hands and carefully presented it to Mark.

Mark looked at Vanessa and Sir Anderson with a hint of doubt on his face. Only after receiving their nods of approval did he slowly lift the lid of the wooden box.

Inside the wooden box, an octagonal silver badge lay quietly. The front of the badge was printed with a Corinthian helmet pattern, with clear lines and excellent workmanship. It was clearly a "war emblem".

Vanessa then offered a timely explanation.

"This holy emblem was originally the reward for our hired Henry to carry out his mission."

"I heard you are heading to Mount Tabora to rescue the trapped people, so I am entrusting this to you. I hope Henry will be safe and sound."

Mark picked up the silver badge, his fingertips tracing the cool metal surface as he pondered to himself.

The Anderson family has long since fallen into decline, and it was clearly a great deal of effort for them to acquire a War Emblem.

Although the badge was nothing to Mark, the fact that they paid Henry in advance instead of getting it for nothing was a sign of their sincerity.

Mark put away the silver badge and sincerely thanked Sir Anderson and Vanessa.

"Thank you, Sir. I appreciate your kind gesture."

Sir Anderson and his companions' faces lit up with joy upon hearing this.

This means that Mark acknowledged their overtures, and the two sides have established a preliminary bond of friendship.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Sir Anderson warmly invited Mark to stay at the newly built mansion, sparing him the inconvenience of living in the military camp outside.