“Not much further now. Seven days had passed just like that, and the damn ‘abyss ritual’ was right around the corner…”
During this period, besides frantically hitting up the family logistics hall and wiring money to her sister, Annabell had done something that completely defied the original owner’s arrogant personality—recruiting underlings, or more precisely, hiring bodyguards.
Even when working, the former Villainess Young Lady always went solo. She thought ordinary passersby weren’t even fit to carry her shoes.
Because she knew that sooner or later, she would clash with the family and even that final boss of a mother of hers.
In case she had to flee or got placed under house arrest and her sister was unlucky enough to be assassinated by some other villain, she needed to leave her sister a reliable security team.
Within the Trandy Family, besides herself, the youngest member with the highest combat power and simultaneously the simplest mind was that little loli with the giant axe—Antonella.
This little girl was a complete outlier in the family.
Born with an Ancient Dragon Magic Heart, strong enough to tear apart high-tier magical beasts with her bare hands, and harboring a dormant ‘berserk war bone’ within her body.
Most importantly, she had a single-cell brain and clung to her convictions like a bulldog!
Yes, after Annabell made all sorts of promises—three cups of ‘high-calcium magic milk’ from the frigid northern lands every day plus a full set of equipment—this combat-obsessed little loli had shamelessly surrendered and signed the contract on the spot.
“So, from now on, you’re my number one direct subordinate, got it?”
Annabell crossed her right leg, clad in black stockings, over her left, staring straight at Antonella.
Antonella was so excited her face flushed crimson, her fluffy animal ears standing ramrod straight.
“Understood! Lady Big Sister! Whoever Lady Big Sister says to cut, I won’t ask why!”
“Even if it means smashing the entire East Tower, I guarantee I’ll do it with one swing!”
Her combat instincts were rock solid. The only drawback was she went through buildings too fast.
Annabell smiled in satisfaction, ruffling the white tuft of hair on her head that swayed with her emotions.
With this bodyguard, known as the “East District Little Destruction Maniac,” by her side, even if the Elder Council tried to ambush her good-for-nothing sister, they’d have to think twice about whether they could survive one of Antonella’s spinning axe attacks.
“System, check her affection level.”
Annabell called out silently in her mind.
[Current Antonella affection level: Soulmates from first meeting.]
Excellent. Well worth her staying up all night last night digging through the treasury to send this animal-eared loli a decent set of gear.
“You’re currently focused on physical enhancement and close-combat magic, right?”
Annabell flicked her wrist and tossed out a thick battle art tome radiating a faint dark-golden glow.
“Here. This is called the ‘berserker battle art.’ It suits your Ancient Dragon Heart perfectly. Don’t let me catch you going in for a basic attack with that old axe of yours. You’d embarrass me!”
Antonella caught the book with both hands, her hands actually trembling!
This was a legendary-tier combat art. Even her grandfather wouldn’t necessarily have the privilege to borrow it!
And the dragon scale armor she was wearing now, the purple weapon ‘scorching annihilator’ in her hands—all gifts from Annabell!
These pieces of equipment were things she, as a branch family member, wouldn’t have dared to dream of before. The Young Lady was just giving them to her outright?
She almost couldn’t stop herself from offering to warm the Young Lady’s bed!
Antonella was so moved she was bawling, clinging to Annabell’s leg.
“Wahhh, Lady Big Sister, you’re so good to me! From now on, I’m your most loyal hound! Antonella has drifted half a life without finding a worthy master. If Lady Big Sister doesn’t reject me, I swear to—”
A vigorous nuzzle.
“Enough, enough. Wipe those worthless tears away.”
Annabell peeled the little loli off with a look of disgust. At this rate, she was going to start calling her ‘adoptive mother’ next.
“Go practice hard. Don’t disappoint me.”
With all the perimeter security handled, Annabell let out a sigh of relief.
Next on the chopping block: those undying old coots on the Elder Council, and that ice-cold mother of hers who could smack her flying at any moment.
“About time for the meeting.”
Today was the day the Trandy Family’s Elder Council held their routine family assembly.
And Annabell, as the family’s Heir-in-waiting, had been specially invited to attend. The topic on the table was—
The abyss ritual!
Stepping into the Main castle conference hall, it was a dim, semi-circular Main Hall.
Seated in the stands were twelve shadows shrouded in dark cloaks.
They were the twelve elders of the Trandy Family—essentially, hired help managing this massive family enterprise on behalf of her mother.
At the center of the meeting, on the main seat, was the Grand Duke’s lineage’s Third Elder, a hag whose face was withered like orange peel.
Her murky yet venomous eyes fixed on Annabell, her tone dripping with the hypocritical warmth of an elder.
“Anna dear, now that you’ve been back from the magic academy for a few days, are you settling into the family environment? As the Heir, the burden on your shoulders is heavy for the future glory of the Trandy name.”
Indeed, heavy. Living in constant fear of getting backstabbed by a darkening sister.
Annabell nodded dismissively. “It’s fine. Eating and sleeping well.”
Yep, yep. Just waiting for her sister to darken, then off we go.
A hooked-nosed Fifth Elder from the dark magic faction sneered from the side: “Of course the Young Lady is living well.”
“First she crippled three promising branch family members, then she used borrowed authority to storm the Duke’s Treasury and loot it. In this Trandy Family, who else could be as brazen as you?”
The other elders chimed in, shaking their heads in exaggerated dismay.
“Exactly! Crippling their magic sources outright—that’s far too vicious!”
“With behavior like this, how can the branch families ever be convinced? You might as well spark a rebellion!”
Faced with these old monsters’ snide remarks, Annabell didn’t even raise an eyelid.
“Enough. Put away those self-righteous, sanctimonious faces of yours.”
She lazily propped her staff on the table, rudely cutting off their moral blackmail.
“Those who insult the blood of the Grand Duke’s line deserve death. By the Grand Duke’s code, I should have exterminated their entire families.”
“But I chose mercy—that is a blessing! If you’re so heartbroken, feel free to send them your advanced healing potions. As for the treasury business…”
Annabell leaned forward, staring at the Fifth Elder, her gaze turning cold and arrogant.
“If you’re unhappy, you can march right now to Mother’s chambers and stage a hunger strike. Let’s see if she’d discipline me for the sake of a crow like you.”
The Third Elder tapped her scepter.
“Enough! What is this squabbling?”
“You—!”
The hooked-nose elder’s face turned the color of pig liver.
“We’re here today, not to discuss a junior’s temper. Nana is the Trandy Family’s First Heir. Punishing a few branch members is merely establishing authority—reasonable and proper. This matter is closed!”
The Third Elder turned, sweeping her gaze across all the elders, her tone suddenly turning fanatical and grim:
“The focus—is the upcoming ‘abyss sacred artifact awakening ritual’!”