Chapter 1266

Caleb had been holding his breath for quite a while. Upon hearing these words, he almost choked on his own spit. He clenched his fist and held it to his lips, coughing lightly twice before he managed to suppress the tickle in his throat.

“Well, Darcel is not from the Medicina family. After leaving Mount Cloud, he returned.”

“I see…” Neera expressed a hint of regret. “I was hoping to properly thank him. I owe him a lot for taking care of me and saving my life. It’s because of him that I’m able to stand here safe and sound.”

“Actually, you don’t have to worry so much. But if you really want to thank him, then… then say it the next time you see him. If I run into him, I’ll pass on your message.”

As he spoke, his gaze darted toward Jean.

Neera did not notice that. She smiled and nodded. “All right. Thank you very much, then.”

Jean stood at the side with an unchanged expression, revealing nothing. He was so composed as if it had nothing to do with him at all.

At the same time, an unexpected guest had arrived at the Cox residence.

Avery sat on the grand sofa, looking at the man across from him with a calm expression, and asked in a steady voice, “Did you make a special trip here for something, Mr. Torres?”

The several elders of the Cox family were also present, all of them attentively waiting for what was to come, their expressions inexplicably tense.

The visitor was Matthew’s assistant, a person of great importance.

The atmosphere was somewhat solemn.

Darren Torres put on a very professional demeanor, his face stern, his expression extremely indifferent, much like a robot.

“I’m here to deliver a directive from the guild, to assign a task to you, Mr. Cox. It involves the Jagger family, and we need you to reclaim them.”

Avery’s pupils slightly contracted, while the expressions of the others changed.

The Jagger family of Phison was a unique entity.

Unlike families that divide districts, this family exclusively occupies an isolated island.

Despite being formally affiliated with the Bartitsu Guild, the Jagger family’s advantageous geographical position often led them to behave as if they were beyond the reach of the law.

Repeatedly clashing with the guild was one thing, but they also refused to participate in any guild activities. They didn’t attend any meetings, big or small, almost indicating their intention to sever ties with the guild.

The guild had been angered time and again, and now, they could no longer tolerate them.

“Mr. Torres, isn’t it somewhat unfair to assign this task solely to the Cox family?”

Darren didn’t even bat an eyelid. “This task was agreed upon by the president and the vice president. I am merely responsible for conveying the intentions of my superiors. As for whether it’s fair or not, it’s not within my job scope. Mr. Cox, upon receiving the task, you only need to consider how to solve it.

Whether it’s fair or not is also not something you need to worry about.” With that, he stood up. “Your promotion as the second elder is authorized by the guild. Therefore, you should also lead the Cox family and set an example for the other families within the guild. I have conveyed the task, so I will take my leave now. Goodbye, Mr. Cox.”

Avery didn’t get up. He had his servant show the visitor out.

Once Darren left the Cox residence, several elders of the Cox family could no longer sit still, each having something to say.

“Mr. Cox, isn’t it obvious that the guild is trying to make things difficult for the Cox family by assigning such a task?”

“Exactly! The Jagger family has been on the island for so many years, how can it be resolved just by saying so? The guild couldn’t even reclaim them, yet they insist on us, the Cox family, to do it. What kind of game are they playing!”

“Just as I thought, there’s no such thing as a free lunch! That cunning Matthew, abruptly altering the seating. arrangement of the elders and elevating the Cox family’s status, surely harbors ulterior motives!”

Rio, the first elder, was deeply worried. “Mr. Cox, how should we handle this matter? How about we find an excuse to decline?”

Ronald, the second elder, had the same thought.

“Yeah, this mission is quite tricky. After all, the Jagger family, residing on Adieu Island, is recognized as a leading power in Phison. Although they haven’t been involved in any conflicts over the years, they’ve been quietly accumulating-strength. Their power has grown even stronger than before, making them a tough nut to crack.”

“The Jagger family has long been fortifying their defenses on the isolated island. It’s a place that’s easy to defend but hard to attack. The guild has been thinking of countless strategies over the years, but none have succeeded in capturing it. Depending solely on the Cox family’s power is increasingly challenging and fraught with peril…”

The other elders also felt the same way. They didn’t want to take any risks.

After a long silence, Avery finally began to speak slowly.

“But right now, aside from accepting this task, there’s no other choice.” His face was cold and stern.

“Do you really think there’s a chance to evade this? Such a significant matter, yet Matthew only sent his assistant instead of showing up himself. It’s his way of telling me there’s no room for refusal. The Cox family can’t avoid this.”

Rio furrowed his brows, his complexion not looking too good.

“What on earth is Matthew up to? Does he really trust the Cox family that much, thinking we can definitely take down the Jagger family? Isn’t he worried about the fall of the Cox family? After all, the Cox family is a top-tier family in the guild!”