"Oh, intruders," Spark muttered, lounging comfortably in his chair, his posture relaxed.
"Yes, Lord Renard dealt with them," Zhao Shi replied, standing at attention nearby, his eyes filled with curiosity and respect.
"I didn't know anyone had the guts to sneak inside the mansion," Spark said, shaking his head. "Well, considering we have no visible guards around here, it wasn't entirely unexpected to welcome a few unwelcome guests."
His eyes twinkled with a faint smile. "Anyhow, that was a foolish move on their part."
"Why is that, young master?" Zhao Shi asked, genuinely puzzled.
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"If you had seen how my old man dealt with them, you should understand," Spark replied, his tone tinged with amusement.
"I did," Zhao Shi nodded. "But I still couldn't understand how."
"It's simple," Spark said, gesturing at the ornate walls adorned with various weapons. Each weapon, from swords to spears, seemed to hum with latent energy, ready to spring to life at a moment's notice. "Once they decided to intrude, it was a dead end for them. You see, this isn't an ordinary mansion—it's an astral artifact."
Zhao Shi's eyes widened in realization. "This whole mansion?"
"Yes," Spark confirmed, a small playful grin curling his lips. "Once inside, without my father's permission, it's near impossible for anyone to exit."
The room was illuminated by the soft glow of early sunlight filtering through the windows, casting a warm glow on the polished marble floor. The walls, lined with an impressive array of weapons, gleamed menacingly. Each weapon, from swords to spears, seemed to hum with latent energy, ready to spring to life at a moment's notice.
Zhao Shi, absorbing Spark's explanation, glanced around the room, filled with books and scrolls, with newfound awe. He now realized the reason for the absence of guards inside the mansion. Those weapons on the wall weren't just for decoration. This whole mansion was a large astral artifact with its own defense mechanisms.
"A domain-type artifact..." Zhao Shi murmured, awe in his voice.
Zhao Shi's mind raced, understanding the implications. In this world, There were two classification of artifacts, normal artifacts, and domain-type artifacts. This mansion fell into the class of a domain-type artifact, exceedingly rare on the continent, with only a few such artifacts ever unearthed.
Once someone entered its domain, escaping was nearly impossible unless they could either overpower the artifact and destroy it or find and defeat the controller of the artifact. It is said that for such domain-type artifacts, the controller is invincible within its domain.
While Zhao Shi was dazed, observing the surroundings, Spark reached for his table's drawer and retrieved a tattered book, beginning to read.
"Speak," Spark commanded, his voice steady.
"Young Master, there's a lady outside who says she is close to Little Miss."
"Oh, she knows Alice?" Spark's curiosity was piqued. From what Alice had told him so far, she didn't have close relatives in the empire, so he hadn't bothered searching for her maternal family background. Thus, this sudden visit surprised him a little.
"Invite her to the garden," Spark instructed.
"As you wish, Young Master." The maid bowed and slowly backed out of the room, the door closing softly behind her.
Spark carefully placed the tattered book back in the drawer before leaving the reading room.
He headed toward the indoor garden, where he knew his parents would be. The soft sounds of laughter and the gentle rustle of leaves greeted him as he approached.
Upon reaching the garden, Spark saw little Alice playing with her grandparents. This had become their daily routine, a cherished time filled with joy and laughter. The garden, a lush haven of vibrant flowers and greenery, felt alive with their presence.
Not long after, a maid arrived at the garden's entrance, followed by a woman dressed in a similar maid outfit, holding a briefcase.
"I've brought her, Young Master," the maid said, bowing before stepping aside.
The woman, a fair-skinned beauty with a slightly stern face, stood at the edge of the garden, her eyes scanning the group in front of her. When her gaze landed on Alice, her expression softened, and her eyes lit up.
Alice, seeing the woman, widened her eyes in surprise and quickly ran toward her. The woman bent down, arms open.
"Grandma Poo, Alice missed you!" Alice hugged the woman tightly.
"I've missed you too, little miss," the woman replied, her voice soft and full of affection.
Spark and his parents, aware of Alice's past, knew she used to live with her Grandma Poo. However, the woman before them didn't look like a grandmother at all. She appeared more like a young maiden in her twenties, shattering their previous imagination of her.
Standing up straight, the woman gave a graceful curtsy and addressed Spark's parents. "Allow me to introduce myself, Lord, Lady. I am called Pooella. I have been sent here as Little Miss's personal nanny."