They kept walking towards that group of lofty houses and the grand mansion. Anom could see some people standing at the entrance.
After walking for a while, they arrived in front of the entrance.
Around twenty people were standing in the middle, seeming as if they already knew about Crystal's return.
Anom was not surprised as he had already detected some spies, other than one he was chasing, leaving to report their arrival. But these spies went in the direction of Crystal's home. He had guessed that these spies must belong to Crystal's family.
The welcoming group included ten people dressed in similar uniforms while carrying swords and spears. They must be the guards who worked for Crystal's family as they surrounded the people in the middle in a protective formation.
It was absurd to act this vigilantly in their own home like this, but Anom understood that they were currently facing a lot of pressure from their enemies. So acting prudently was only natural.
In the middle of the guards stood twelve people. Nine men and three women.
As soon as Crystal removed her hood after arriving in front of the group, a mature lady ran forward and hugged Crystal as she sobbed slowly, "My little girl!! How are you? Do you know how worried I was after I heard about your disappearance? Your father even wanted to go and hire some mercenaries to go personally to find you." She was happy that her daughter had returned and began to check Crystal's body for any injuries.
Meanwhile, Anom looked at the mature woman who was hugging Crystal. She was middle-aged but still maintained her beauty. Her mature charm along with her beautiful appearance created an irresistible temptation. It was clear that Crystal's beautiful black hair was inherited from her mother, though her eyes were brown, unlike her daughter's sapphire blue eyes. And her curves were like the enhanced version of Crystal's. She had a gentle face and looked like a doting and kind mother. But there was also a hint of exhaustion and worry on her face which made one feel pity for her.
"What happened?!! You were injured so badly?" Suddenly, Loreana let out a startled shout as she saw the strips of cloth covering her daughter's body as bandages.
Before her mother could panic anymore, Crystal consoled her, "Don't worry mother, I'm fine. Those bastards wanted to kill me, but I'm not someone to back down easily. I even injured two of them before escaping." She excitedly described her feats as she didn't want her mother to worry too much.
Just as she thought about introducing Anom as the one who had saved her life, one of the middle-aged men came forward and smiled warmly at Crystal. "You don't know how much we were worried about you. I and all your uncles were trying our best to find you. We were planning to go and break into those bastardly Handler's house tomorrow morning. Fortunately, you have returned safe and sound." His happiness was showing clearly on his middle-aged and boorish face, as he stroked his niece's head lovingly.
The Handler he mentioned was the Handler family. They were the enemy who were responsible for the predicament Crystal and her family were in. Crystal had mentioned them briefly to Anom.
Crystal also smiled and greeted her uncle, "Don't worry, third Uncle. I'm fine now." Then she turned towards the other middle-aged men and greeted them one by one. They were the brothers and cousins of her father. All of them were younger than her father and doted on her a lot.
Anom could see the reason Crystal loved her family so much. The bond between them seemed genuine and strong. But Anom knew that such bonds could also blind a person and prevent them from making rational decisions.
Crystal finished greeting all the people present there and finally remembered she had forgotten about Anom.
She gestured him to come closer as she introduced him to everyone present.
"This is Anom. We met inside the forest as he was the one who saved me while I was being chased. And he also helped me cross the forest safely." Crystal said with a smile as she remembered how he had saved her and the time they had spent together inside the forest. She considered them as some of the most enjoyable moments of her life.
Her mother saw her daughter's expression and couldn't help but examine Anom from head to toe.
His face was not very handsome nor was it very bad looking, just average. His short hair was black, just like all of his clothes. His average build and slender physique didn't make him look like a strong fighter at all.
But that could be ignored as there are many kinds of people in this unpredictable world.
Loreana stopped her scrutiny as she smiled at Anom, "Hello Anom. I'm Crystal's mother, Loreana. I can't thank you for saving and taking care of my daughter." Now that she had stopped sobbing, her melodious voice sounded very pleasant.
She then asked Crystal, "Are you not going to invite your friend inside?" Her eyes shone with a mischievous light as she gave a wink to her daughter. She said as if she was sure of their friendship.
Crystal rolled her eyes at her mother as she wondered why her mother acted like she wanted to get rid of her so quickly. While Anom looked at this sexy, mature and playful creature who was Crystal's mother and couldn't help but praise Crystal's father for his luck, being able to marry such an amazing woman.
He walked forward and greeted her while he observed all the others present.
He had a hunch that the enemy of the Safaira family, the Handler family, would not let the matter rest and would try to harm Crystal. And the only place they do so now was here, the Safaira Family Mansion.
'But that will also be an opportunity.'
Soon, they were invited inside while Crystal's mother ordered the two maids following her to go and prepare a room for Anom.
In the group consisting of the Safaira family, someone else besides Crystal's mother was showing interest in Anom – her third Uncle.
He greeted Anom with a broad smile on his face, which looked weird on his boorish face.
"Hmm… you don't look like it, but you must be strong if you dealt with those damn killers so easily." Crystal's third Uncle spoke as he kept looking at Anom with an inquiring gaze. Anom wouldn't have minded if it was Crystal's mother who had done so.
Speaking of Loreana, she and her daughter were currently walking beside Anom as they kept whispering to each other. Anom saw Crystal lowering her head many times while blushing. Loreana also turned to look at him in between their conversation and smiled at him sweetly.
Anom couldn't take it anymore so he asked politely, "Sir, uh, do you have anything you want to ask?" He really didn't understand why this boorish looking man was looking at him so intently. Although Anom enjoyed the mature woman's smile, he was stuck with this boorish man who seemed to want to drill a hole in Anom's face.
Crystal's third Uncle kept staring for a few more moments before finally asking, "When did the two of you start dating?"
Anom almost choked on air when he heard what her third Uncle said. He looked at him with an exasperated expression and said, "I think you're misunderstanding something. I only helped your niece in passing. It was nothing much. Besides, you shouldn't slander your niece like that. You are really her Uncle, right?" Anom asked back as he gave the man a suspicious glance.
Now it was third Uncle's turn to get annoyed, "Hey kid! Are you trying to infuriate me on purpose? Of course, I'm her uncle. You can see, even our faces match so match."
"No they don't!!!"
As soon as the third Uncle finished speaking, a similar answer came from everyone present, with Crystal being the loudest.
Seeing even his niece disregarding him as such made him slump his shoulders as he made a pitiful expression and grumbled, "You people really don't consider me as family. What's wrong with me and my niece having some features in common?"
"Third Brother-in-law, if that was really the case, then I would have to worry about my daughter not being able to find a good husband." Loreana commented from the side as she found this interaction interesting.
Third Uncle felt like he had lost his final support, "Sister-in-law… you too?! What have I done to deserve this?" He was speaking in an exaggerated tone while looking at the sky, lamenting about how negligible his existence was in this family.
Suddenly, third Uncle's expression turned strange as he spoke with a strange smile, "I don't think you have to bother about finding a husband for her anymore, Sister-in-law. I think that she is capable enough to do so herself." He talked while his big round eyes darted between Anom and Crystal in a suggestive manner.
This time no one refused him, as even Loreana had a slight smile on her face. This situation made Anom wonder whether it was the right decision to stay among these strange people while Crystal lowered her head as her face looked as if it would drip blood any moment now.
Soon, they reached the place where Anom was supposed to stay.
The area where Crystal's room was located was left far behind as she insisted on seeing arrangements for Anom's room settled properly.
This made many in the group smile strangely before they left. Only Anom, Crystal, Loreana and the third Uncle were left.
They stopped in front of a small garden. It was currently night and the moonlight illuminated the small pond built inside the garden. Anom could see the water stirring slightly, indicating that there was aquatic life inside it.
A path led through the small garden, at the end of which was an exquisite two-storey building. There were two lamps on both sides of the door which made the various beautiful designs made from colourful tiles and wood carvings on the outer wall look captivating.
Loreana told Anom to use the bell inside the room to summon a servant if he needed anything. They all got ready to leave to let Anom rest but Anom suddenly spoke, "Mrs. Safaira, I wanted to talk to you about something. If you don't mind, can we talk for a moment?"
Everyone, including Crystal, was surprised at Anom's request, but after a short pause, Loreana agreed. But when Crystal wanted to join in, she was refused by Anom. Even Loreana refused her request for some reason.
Suddenly, the third Uncle began chuckling as he said, "Kid, you are quite something. You are already getting impatient just after entering our family to ask for her hand? But shouldn't you do that in my Elder Brother's presence? Oh no, he must be resting right now. Then you go to him tomorrow…"
He wanted to continue but a stern glance from Loreana shut him up. He shrugged and started dragging the unwilling Crystal with him.
But before he left, he whispered to Anom, "But I have to say, you are not bad, kid. You even managed to follow the spies sent by those bastards. Really brave. Looks like things will get interesting with your presence." He laughed as he left the place.
Anom was not surprised as he never intended to hide that he was chasing after those spies.
He shook his head as he turned towards the place he would stay at tonight. And maybe for many more days to come?
He saw the mature beauty bathing in the moonlight as she glanced at him and asked, "So, what do you want to talk about? But let me warn you, I wouldn't agree so easily if it's about my daughter's marriage." She spoke in a playful tone which mismatched with her motherly image. But she still could not hide the anxiety and fear hidden behind her mischievous demeanour.
Anom knew that she was trying to treat him politely as he had saved her daughter's life. But she was caught up in many problems as her family was currently facing a crisis.
"Can we talk inside?" he asked while pointing at the house he was allotted.
But he soon regretted it.