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There were no nearby residences or other buildings—just this one imposing estate standing alone.

As they approached, they could see guards patrolling along the walls. Upon spotting Lina Jones, the guards hesitated for a moment before quickly bowing in respect, not daring to stop Firebolt\'s advance.

"Clop, clop, clop—"

The sudden sound of hooves echoed from deeper within the estate, growing louder as a young man on a fine steed, dressed in ornate clothing with a cape flowing behind him, came into view. Seeing him, Dean Bruce gently pulled Firebolt to a halt.

"Whoa!"

The young man on the other side also pulled his horse to a stop, staring at Dean Bruce in surprise. But the moment he noticed Lina Jones, his expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "Sister? What are you…"

Lina shot him a cold glance and said, "Is this how you behave? You see me and don\'t dismount to pay your respects?"

"..."

The young man, realizing his mistake, quickly dismounted and respectfully bowed to Lina.

He had no choice. Lina wasn\'t just his sister; she outranked him in talent, power, and status, so he had no room to resist.

After bowing, the young man finally looked up, curiously eyeing Dean Bruce.

Lina, while not exactly clinging to Dean Bruce, was holding his hand. She spoke softly, "Dear, this is my younger brother, Herbert Jones. He\'s still young and tends to be a bit reckless. Please don\'t mind him."

Herbert\'s mouth twitched at her words. Just as he was about to speak, Lina cut him off again, saying, "Why are you riding so fast right at our doorstep? Can\'t you act more composed? What if you had run into someone?"

Herbert, unfazed, thought to himself, Who could I possibly run into right outside our own home?

But he didn\'t dare contradict Lina. Even though he didn\'t agree, he still put on a shameful expression and replied, "You\'re right, sister. I won\'t do it again."

"And who might this be…"

Herbert\'s eyes shifted back to Dean Bruce.

"He\'s my lover," Lina announced, her expression turning both shy and irritated, glaring at Herbert. "You should show him the proper respect."

Dean Bruce knew the show was about to begin, so he smiled lightly and said, "Dear, is this your younger brother?"

"He seems to be in quite a rush. I wonder if he\'s run into any trouble. Do you need my help with something?"

"..."

Herbert Jones, who was aware of Lina\'s engagement with the Lord\'s Manor, felt his mind go completely blank in the face of this situation.

It wasn\'t until Lina scolded him that Herbert snapped out of it and finally spoke, "Father sent me to find you. We need to head to the Lord\'s Manor soon, and we need to get you dressed up properly."

"Since I\'ve found you, we don\'t need to go searching anymore."

Hearing this, Lina\'s eyes narrowed slightly, but she smiled and said, "Alright, let\'s head back together."

Herbert mounted his horse again, but this time, he didn\'t dare to gallop ahead. He followed closely behind Dean Bruce, keeping his pace slow.

In noble families, the difference in status was often vast, and it wasn\'t something to be crossed lightly.

Unless, of course, one had the power to dominate the entire family.

As they rode, Lina quietly introduced her family members to Dean Bruce.

Besides her parents and Herbert, Lina had two other brothers and two younger sisters. Their family was fairly large.

However, apart from Lina, the other siblings didn\'t have much talent. Only Herbert showed promise in martial arts, and he had already taken on a mentor. Soon, he would be leaving to continue his training.

By the time Lina finished her introductions, they had arrived at the main gates of the estate.

This was where the difference between a prominent family and a fallen one became apparent.

At the main entrance alone, there were a dozen servants waiting. As soon as Dean Bruce and the others dismounted, the servants stepped forward respectfully, taking the horses and helping them remove their magical robes or capes.

Once inside the manor, those garments were no longer necessary—it was like being at home.

In truth, they weren\'t needed outside either, but without them, it would be difficult for others to identify someone\'s status, which could lead to unnecessary complications.

So even if they were uncomfortable, people had grown accustomed to wearing such attire.

Dean Bruce understood this—it was no different from how people in modern times wore business suits to work.

"Miss, young master, the lord has been waiting for you," a maid, dressed in slightly more luxurious clothes than the others, stepped forward to inform them once they had finished.

"Alright, lead the way," Lina replied.

She wasn\'t one to take her frustration out on a maid, especially since she had already found someone to help her with the upcoming act and no longer had to worry about being forced into a marriage. A slight smile played on her lips as she affectionately wrapped her arm around Dean Bruce\'s.

Herbert Jones watched the close interaction between Dean Bruce and Lina Jones, observing how natural their intimacy seemed. He sighed softly.

In his heart, he wanted Lina to be happy, but in a family like theirs, personal happiness often had to be sacrificed for the sake of the family\'s interests.

To project confidence, Dean Bruce didn\'t look around nervously. Instead, he kept his composure, walking calmly with Lina on his arm, following the maid.

They walked for a good ten minutes, passing through two or three courtyards before arriving in front of a three-story building made entirely of crystalline minerals.

The courtyard in front of the house was vast, almost as large as the outer gardens.

Powerful magical energy pulsed through the air, filling the entire area around the house.

Even though Dean Bruce had mentally prepared himself, he couldn\'t help but have a moment of surprise as his pupils slightly contracted.

Using crystal minerals to build an entire house? That was beyond extravagant!

If a family in Stanlow City could afford such luxury, then what must the nobility in Saint Laurent City or the imperial capitals be like?

Did they build their homes out of amethyst? Or perhaps their entire estates?

Beyond that, Dean Bruce could sense the presence of large-scale magical formations within the Jones family estate.

[Being rich is truly something… Dean thought to himself. I need to figure out a way to use my power to make some serious money too!]

Though his mind was racing, Dean Bruce maintained a calm and composed demeanor as he walked alongside Lina toward a portly, well-dressed middle-aged man.

The man was surrounded by over a dozen people, who seemed to be hovering around him like stars around the moon, offering him protection and attention.

There was no need for guessing—Dean Bruce knew instantly that this man was none other than Obona Jones, the current head of the Jones family.

As Dean Bruce observed Obona, the man was sizing him up in return, his gaze sharp and piercing like that of a hawk.

Seeing that Dean and Lina had no intention of letting go of each other\'s hands, Obona\'s anger flared up inside him.

However, as a noble, he was well-trained in manners and self-control. Dean Bruce\'s calm demeanor suggested that he was no ordinary guest, and Obona knew better than to act impulsively. After a brief flicker of irritation in his eyes, Obona smiled and said warmly, "My dear daughter, this young man is quite impressive. Might I ask who he is? Perhaps he is another emissary from the Temple of Wisdom?"

When addressing outsiders, maintaining face was crucial.

While the term "follower" wasn\'t flattering, it was customary to refer to those associated with the temple as "emissaries" to show respect.

Lina Jones smiled and replied, "Father, this is the man I love—the man I plan to marry!"

As soon as she said those words, the atmosphere shifted. Apart from the servants, who were unaware of the engagement with the Lord\'s Manor, everyone in the family turned pale with shock.

Obona Jones\' face twitched, and anger flickered in his eyes as he glared intensely at Dean Bruce.

It took a long moment before Obona managed to suppress his emotions, and he spoke in a low voice, "As far as I know, you\'ve never mentioned having someone you loved. How is it that after just one trip, you\'ve suddenly found someone?"

He turned to Dean Bruce, his tone heavy with suspicion. "Young man, what is your name? Where are you from? And what is your status?"

Before Dean Bruce could respond, Lina feigned irritation, softly interjecting, "Father, Dean is visiting our home for the first time, and you\'re interrogating him like a criminal. Isn\'t that a bit impolite?"

She knew that Dean Bruce came from another continent and didn\'t have an established background. If he answered plainly, it would only give Obona more reason to look down on him.

"…"

Obona remained silent, but suddenly, a young man from behind him stepped forward with a grin and said, "Dean, is it? This is the first time my sister has brought someone home. Welcome!"

As he spoke, the young man approached Dean Bruce, extending his hand in what appeared to be a friendly gesture.

Since the act was underway, Dean Bruce had no intention of showing the Jones family any weakness. He extended his hand as well. But the moment their hands clasped, Dean felt a surge of pressure.

Raising an eyebrow, Dean Bruce instantly understood the young man\'s intent. Keeping his expression calm, he subtly cast Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain magic.

Crack—

In that instant, Dean Bruce\'s hand became as solid as stone.

The young man\'s face flushed red as he attempted to squeeze harder, only to realize that he had met his match. He quickly released his grip and let out a pained scream, his noble demeanor shattered.

Seeing this, Obona\'s expression grew even more sour.

He had hoped to humiliate Dean Bruce, but instead, it was his own son who ended up making a fool of himself.