Chapter 307: Chapter 276: Return, Embrace, Aggrieved Big Mimi

"I’ll keep you in suspense for a bit."

Jon chuckled softly, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding faces—some tired, some excited, all etched with the longing to be home.

"Everyone’s tired. Let’s talk inside. This is no place to discuss things."

He gently patted Rosalind and Reya on the shoulders, let them go, and gestured for everyone to move forward.

Reya, her curiosity piqued by the secret anticipation, opened her mouth to press him but was stopped by Jon’s smiling gaze. All she could do was stomp her foot lightly in a huff, which earned another silent giggle from Xia beside her.

Rosalind had already taken a silent half-step back, resuming her cool and composed demeanor as the Grand Steward, directing the manor’s servants to guide the party.

Like a stream flowing into a harbor, the procession slowly trickled into the front courtyard of Grent Manor.

Heavy hooves clattered on the meticulously paved stone path, making a rhythmic "CLOP CLOP" sound, mingled with the soft clash of armor.

"Boss!"

"Mentor!"

"Captain!"

Almost simultaneously, the apprentices who had remained at the manor’s Giant God Workshop area swarmed out like a flock of fledgling birds from their nest, cheering loudly.

Their young faces were brimming with pure joy and adoration as they ran toward their fellow apprentices and the Radiant Knights who had returned with Jon from the expedition.

For a moment, the front courtyard was filled with the clamor of long-awaited reunions, a warm cacophony woven from the scrape of metal, the patter of footsteps, and the sound of youthful laughter.

Jon’s gaze lingered on the joyous reunion for only a moment before turning to Rosalind beside him. He asked in a low voice,

"What happened with the Eternal Frost Sect’s attack? What were the damages?"

Rosalind’s silver eyes, for once, flinched slightly under Jon’s focused gaze.

She lowered her head slightly, maintaining the composed posture befitting a Grand Steward.

"While you were on the campaign, the Eternal Frost Sect took advantage of the opening and dispatched at least nine Frost White Sub-dragons to raid the manor."

"One of them was exceptionally large, with the presence of an adult Dragon Species."

Her words were concise and powerful, as if she were reciting a routine inventory report. Only the fingertips of her hands, clasped before her, tightened imperceptibly for an instant.

"Their target... was me."

Although he had already learned of the attack on the manor from Sutton, Jon’s breathing still slowed slightly upon hearing Rosalind’s report.

A Dragon Species, even a Sub-dragon, possesses strength close to the Advanced Level once it reaches adulthood.

If the Old Dwarf hadn’t been defending the manor, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

He looked directly at Rosalind, his voice deepening.

"So why did you want to hide it? Did you want me to come back and find the place in ruins?"

Rosalind lowered her gaze, her long, silver lashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes.

She was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice.

"I... I didn’t want to distract you. The war effort was more important..."

"Important?"

Jon cut her off, his tone becoming uncharacteristically harsh.

"Nothing is more important than your safety! Next time—you are absolutely forbidden from hiding anything from me again."

"Understand?"

Rosalind’s head dipped even lower, her pale chin nearly touching her delicate collarbone.

After a long moment, a very soft syllable escaped her lips.

"Mm."

But soon, her barely audible response was drowned out by a sudden, aggrieved, and furious roar.

"AWOO—!!!!"

Along with this earth-shattering roar, a massive shadow slammed into him.

It was Jon’s mount, the Ice Vein Scorpion-tailed Lion, Big Mimi!

Its enormous head, heedless of Jon’s hard rock-crystal armor, desperately nuzzled into his chest with such force that it nearly sent him staggering.

Its enormous, bell-like beastial eyes were now filled with blatant grievance and accusation. A low, rumbling "WHUFFLE WHUFFLE" came from its throat, and its thick tail slapped anxiously against the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"AWOO! AWOO AWOO!!!"

Nudged so hard he had to take a half-step back to steady himself, the tense lines on Jon’s face finally softened completely upon seeing his indignant partner. He sighed helplessly.

"Alright, alright, I know."

He raised a hand to Big Mimi’s big, furry head, ruffling it vigorously as he soothed it.

"I know you’ve been wronged. Left at home to guard the manor, and then bullied by those bad dragons, right?"

Big Mimi immediately let out a louder, choked WHIMPER, rubbing its massive head even more forcefully against his palm, as if trying to pour out all its grievances.

"It was my oversight."

Jon’s voice grew low, laced with a hint of apology.

"I shouldn’t have left you behind. I made you stay and guard the place, only for you to be attacked."

"Don’t worry. Once this is all over, I’ll personally craft you the best set of Enchanted Armor!"

"And I’ll find you some Crystal Cores from High-tier Magical Beasts to help you increase your Power!"

"AWOO!"

Big Mimi abruptly lifted its head. Its beastial eyes, which had been teary just a moment ago, instantly lit up. All previous grievance was swept away, replaced by excited fighting spirit and a gleam of anticipation.

It raised its head and let out a series of short, powerful roars, its tail also raised high and wagging forcefully, clearly extremely satisfied with this promise.

Having soothed his agitated and aggrieved mount, Jon’s gaze shifted to the rear of the procession.

There, Carina—who had been teleported a short distance with Claudio’s help and was still unconscious—was being carefully carried on a stretcher by two Radiant Knights.

"Rosalind, settle her in the convalescence room on the top floor of the main building. Use the best Soothing Divine Medicine and arrange for reliable people to watch over her in shifts."

"The moment she wakes up, I need to speak with her."

"This person will be an indispensable intelligence chief for the Workshop in the future. Her safety is paramount."

"Understood."

Rosalind glanced at the haggard, pale face of the one-armed woman on the stretcher. Without asking any further questions, she turned to make the arrangements.

Just then, two figures lightly approached.

"Reya!"

Dolores skipped over to Reya’s side in a few steps and affectionately linked arms with the red-haired girl, whose arm was still a bit stiff.

Her short, dark purple hair glinted in the sunlight, and her amber eyes blinked mischievously.

"Come on, come on! Boss Jon still has a lot of important things to do."

"Let’s go check out the kitchen! I can smell Uncle Kiran’s honey-glazed ribs! I’ve been craving them after fighting for so long! And while we’re at it, tell me, what’s new in the city since I’ve been gone?"

As she spoke, she unceremoniously began to gently pull Reya, whose gaze was still glued to Jon, away from the center of the crowd.

After being led a few steps, Reya subconsciously glanced back at Jon, just in time to meet his gaze.

Jon gave her a slight nod, his eyes holding a hint of reassurance and telling her to go on ahead.

The blush on Reya’s cheeks hadn’t fully faded, and now another layer was added. In the end, she was half-pulled, half-coaxed away by Dolores.

Meanwhile, Esra also carefully approached.

She habitually pushed up the slightly oversized glasses on the bridge of her nose, her voice still soft.

"Mr. Jon, at the Workshop... there’s nothing that needs my immediate attention, is there?"

"My grandfather is waiting at home... I’d like to go back first and let him know I’m safe."

Jon looked at the dust and unknown stains on her Mage Robe, and the weariness she couldn’t hide behind her glasses. He nodded, his voice also softening.

"Go on, get some rest. And say hello to Old Quil for me."

"Thank you, Mr. Jon! I will!"

Esra’s eyes instantly brightened, her face breaking into a smile of relief and joy.

Without further delay, she gave a quick bow to Jon and the nearby Rosalind, then turned and trotted out of the manor with her [Guardian] and [Walker].

’Although participating in the war was hard and scary, becoming a true Professional is enough to make me puff out my chest with pride in front of Grandpa!’

’Now let’s see him call me a slacker!’

’The Esra of today is a true Mage!’

After watching her leave, Jon also turned, removed the cloak from his shoulders, and handed it to Rosalind.

"Let’s go. I need to see Uncle Sutton first."

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