"Jonathan!!" Marcus shouted the moment his eyes fell on his old friend's face.
"Marcus!!" Jonathan shouted back with a smile.
Without a moment's delay, Marcus tossed his helmet into Zhou Rui's hands and said, "Hold this for me."
Then, without hesitation, he unsheathed his sword and charged toward Jonathan.
The front wall of the wooden house had several weapons mounted, and Jonathan grabbed a massive black battle axe from behind the frame. With a grin forming across his face, he lunged toward Marcus. The distance between them was no more than a meter when suddenly—
"Stop, both of you!"
The commanding voice rang through the air like a sudden gust. Amanee had stepped between the two men, her arms crossed, eyes closed, and a deep frown shadowing her expression. The aura around her radiated fury, and even though she didn't open her eyes, the tension in her presence made both men freeze mid-strike.
Marcus and Jonathan halted immediately, both looking like scolded schoolboys.
Lisa sighed and said, "Uncle Jonathan and Father… they're done for now."
With surprising strength, she raised both fists and brought them down on their heads with a loud thump.
"Can't you idiots see you were about to destroy our house?! And what if Lisa or our guests got hurt in your clash?!" Amanee barked, her voice sharp.
Holding his head with one hand, Marcus mumbled, "I'm sorry."
Jonathan mirrored his action, rubbing the sore spot on his head. "I'm sorry too."
Julius chuckled lightly, unable to hide his amusement. "Marcus, aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?"
Marcus turned back to Julius and Zhou Rui, grinning sheepishly. "Yeah, of course."
He gestured toward Jonathan. "This is Jonathan Jozelle, a user of warp magic."
Then he pointed behind Jonathan. "And that's his son—Lance Jozelle."
Standing quietly near the door, Lance looked around ten years old. Just like his father, he had bright red, spiky hair. His complexion was fair, and his red eyes gleamed with youthful curiosity. Though not as muscular as his father, he had a lean, athletic build and looked surprisingly handsome for his age. He wore a gray T-shirt, matching pants, and polished leather boots.
Jonathan, in contrast, was a rugged warrior. His frame was broad and muscular, his spiky red hair messy but striking, and he wore the same style of clothing as his son—gray shirt and pants with sturdy boots—but over his shirt, he wore a warm, brown leather apron, the kind blacksmiths or woodworkers often wore. He looked strong, experienced, and battle-hardened.
"Why are you still standing there? Come inside," Jonathan offered, waving his arm casually.
"Yeah, of course," Marcus said with a grin.
They all stepped inside the cozy wooden house. The entrance opened to a short hallway that split into three directions. Directly ahead, a staircase led up to the second floor. To the right was a well-furnished living room, and to the left, the hall and an open kitchen that connected to the backdoor, which led to a fenced farm.
They entered the living room. Two pink sofas were positioned facing each other, with a clean glass table placed between them. Around the room were flower pots set neatly in every corner. A wooden cabinet stood beside a tall mirror, and a fan rotated lazily on the ceiling. The room was lit with natural sunlight filtering in through a wide window on the right, casting golden rays on the polished floor.
Julius, Zhou Rui, and Marcus sat on one sofa.
Jonathan and his son Lance sat on the other.
Amanee turned toward the kitchen and said, "I'll go make some tea and food for everyone."
Marcus smiled and called out, "Lisa, come sit on my lap!"
"No," Lisa replied quickly. "I want to help Auntie Amanee."
Marcus laughed. "Alright, go ahead then."
Lisa and Amanee disappeared into the kitchen.
The mood in the house was warm and peaceful. The moderate evening weather brought in a cool breeze through the open window. From outside, faint sounds of animals grazing on the farm could be heard—cows mooing, hens clucking, and the soft rustle of trees swaying gently in the breeze.
Jonathan's large battle axe, black as night and forged with elegant curves and brutal spikes, was now resting against the wall. The way the sunlight glinted off its surface made it almost look ceremonial—deadly, yet beautiful.
Jonathan looked at Zhou Rui and asked, "You must be the second-in-command of Lord Vermillion IV's army, right?"
Zhou Rui blinked in surprise. "Yes, but how do you know that, Mr. Jonathan?"
Jonathan smiled. "Marcus told me about you, so I put the pieces together."
Then his gaze shifted to Julius. "But I can't quite place you, friend. Who are you?"
Before Julius could answer, Marcus smirked and said, "The Programmer."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Jonathan froze, wide-eyed, completely stunned. Slowly, he turned to his son.
"Go help your mother and Lisa in the kitchen."
"Sure, Father," Lance said obediently, hopping off the sofa and exiting the room.
After confirming Lance was gone, Jonathan leaned forward and said seriously, "Are you sure, Marcus?"
Marcus nodded. "Yes. He even holds the Maiden Gacha. And… he has met Saint Aurora Vermillion."
Jonathan was completely awestruck. He looked at Julius with new eyes and said, "You're incredible… erm…?"
"My name is Julius Marcellus. But please call me Airu—Airu Koruto," Julius replied modestly.
Jonathan chuckled. "Alright then, Mr. Airu. You're truly extraordinary."
He continued, "We expected a Programmer to come someday… but we never imagined the first one to arrive would be the wielder of the Maiden Gacha."
Julius looked confused. "First? I thought some came before me?"
Marcus explained, "They did… but none of them ever made contact with us."
"Ah, understandable," Julius nodded.
Just then, Amanee returned with a large tray in her hands, carrying a beautiful teapot and several cups.
"Here comes the tea," she said cheerfully.
Behind her, Lisa and Lance walked in. Lisa held a plate of roasted crab, its aroma mouthwatering. Lance carried two trays—one with glasses and a dark bottle filled with some kind of mysterious juice, and the other with a variety of sweets and pastries.
They carefully placed the items on the table.
"There's more coming, but enjoy these for now," Amanee said.
"Why don't you three join us and eat too?" Marcus suggested.
"Of course. But first, let me bring the rest," Amanee replied with a smile.
Soon, everyone was eating together, laughing and chatting. The living room was filled with warmth, comfort, and the smell of home-cooked food.
After the meal, while Amanee, Lisa, and Lance began clearing the table, Jonathan leaned toward Marcus and asked, "So, brother, how can I help you?"
Marcus got serious. "Jonathan, I need you to use your warp magic to create a portal to the Beta region."
"The Beta region?" Julius asked curiously.
Zhou Rui responded, "Let me explain. The Beta region refers to the central part of any major region. It doesn't always mean the geographic center, but the core or heart of that area. We're currently in the Valley Region, and its central zone is known as Beta-Valley."
"Oh, I see," Julius said, intrigued.
Jonathan added, "I can do that… but the Beta region is dangerous. Are you sure these two can survive it?"
Marcus replied firmly, "Yes."
Jonathan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Alright. But even so… I want to test their strength first."