“Huh?”
Hearing this, Chris froze for a moment.
A family that had secluded itself here for over a century-it was no wonder the members of the Jefferson Family all seemed as if they belonged to another era.
Suddenly, two figures approached.
Chris looked up and saw the butler leading a beautiful woman.
When Chris saw the woman, he was momentarily stunned.
It was Lindsay Windson!
Chris hadn’t expected Lindsay Windson to show up at the Jefferson Family estate.
The last time he had seen Lindsay, she was in East Coast looking for him. She had asked him to accompany her to a certain place.
Could this place she spoke of be the Jefferson Family?
Soon, Lindsay Windson, led by the butler, disappeared into another courtyard.
At that moment, Esther walked over, curiosity evident on her face. “Darling, what are you looking at?”
Chris replied, “Esther, do you know who I just saw?”
“Who?” Esther asked.
“Lindsay Windson!” Chris said. “I just saw her arrive with the Jefferson Family’s butler. What could Lindsay Windson have to do with the Jefferson Family?”
“What? Lindsay is here too?”
Hearing this, Esther looked shocked.
She hadn’t expected Lindsay Windson to come to the Jefferson Family either.
Esther muttered to herself, “Could it be that what Lindsay told me before was true?”
“What did she say?” Chris asked, confused.
Esther’s expression turned serious. “Lindsay once told me that her mother’s last name was also Jefferson and that she came from a prominent family.”
“Huh?”
Chris was completely taken aback.
What kind of extraordinary family was the Jefferson Family? Why did they seem to be everywhere?
No wonder, he thought, that in the web novels he used to read, the protagonists were often named Jefferson.
It made Chris think the world had run out of other surnames to use.
“Sigh!” Chris sighed softly. “I never imagined that Lindsay Windson would also be part of the Jefferson Family.”
Esther explained, “Darling, the Jefferson Family has been around for over a thousand years. They have countless branches. From what I know, there are over three thousand Jefferson Family branches across Amerosia alone. Some have vanished into the mists of history, but many still remain.”
She continued, “Take Lindsay Windson’s mother, for example. Her family was said to be the most powerful in Riverton about a decade ago. But then, something happened. Overnight, they were wiped out, which allowed the Four Salt Merchant Families to rise to prominence.”
Chris was stunned.
He hadn’t heard about this before.
Esther went on, “Technically, even though Lindsay Windson has Jefferson Family blood, she doesn’t have the qualifications to attend the family gatherings. I can’t imagine why she would come here now.”
The Jefferson Family valued bloodlines above all else.
Though Lindsay Windson carried Jefferson blood, she was no longer considered part of the family in the strictest sense.
Her arrival at the Jefferson Family estate undoubtedly had an unknown purpose.
Eventually, Chris and Esther settled into a small courtyard.
However, throughout the entire day, aside from seeing the butler, they encountered no one else.
Chris tried to find Lindsay Windson, but the Jefferson Family guards stopped him.
The guards told Chris that he was not permitted to leave the courtyard without authorization.
This left Chris feeling frustrated, as though he wasn’t a guest but a prisoner.
That evening, the butler arrived at their courtyard.
The butler looked at Esther and said, “Miss Esther, the patriarch wishes to see you.”
“Alright!” Esther nodded. She turned to Chris and said, “Darling, come with me!”
Together, Chris and Esther followed the butler out of the courtyard.
Although the Jefferson Family estate lacked electric lighting, candles were everywhere, casting a warm glow.
After walking for about half an hour, the butler finally brought them to the Jefferson Family’s grand hall.
Stopping at the entrance, the butler said, “The patriarch is waiting for you inside.”
Chris and Esther stepped into the hall.
Chris’s curiosity peaked. What kind of person was the Jefferson Family patriarch?
Inside, seated on a long chair at the far end of the hall, was an elderly man.
He wore an ornate robe, and his presence radiated authority. His mere gaze demanded respect.
His eyes, especially, were extraordinary-they resembled the vastness of the stars and the ocean.
It felt as though a single glance could draw in a person’s soul.
Esther stepped forward, bowing respectfully. “Patriarch.”
Chris lifted his head, carefully observing the Jefferson Family patriarch.
The man’s strength was unfathomable. Even Chris couldn’t discern the extent of his abilities.
If this patriarch chose to attack, Chris doubted he could defend himself.
The patriarch nodded slightly and said in a calm tone, “Esther, I am Brian Jefferson, the patriarch of the Jefferson Family. I’ve heard of your East Coast Jefferson Family. Your branch has grown rapidly over the past two years, especially with Chester Group under its name becoming the leading corporation in Amerosia.”
Esther replied nervously, “Thank you for the praise.”
Brian Jefferson turned his gaze to Chris, his pupils narrowing slightly. “And who is this?”
Esther answered, “Patriarch, this is my husband, Chris. The East Coast Jefferson Family owes much of its success to him.”
Hearing this, Brian Jefferson looked surprised. “So, you are Esther’s husband, the renowned Amerosia Primus-Chris?”
“Yes!” Chris stepped forward, nodding. “Patriarch, it’s an honor to meet you.”
“I’ve heard your mentor is Archer Wintersong?”
“That’s correct,” Chris replied, frowning slightly. How did Brian Jefferson know his mentor’s name?
“You are Archer Wintersong’s disciple. Excellent!”
Suddenly, an overwhelming aura erupted from Brian Jefferson.
The pressure rolled toward Chris like an unstoppable tide.
In an instant, Chris felt the weight pressing down on him. Even breathing became difficult.
His face paled, but he clenched his teeth and endured.
Seeing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Brian Jefferson’s face.
Even a Transcendence-level expert might have collapsed under such pressure.
Yet Chris withstood it.
“Impressive,” Brian Jefferson said with a faint smile. “As expected of Archer Wintersong’s disciple. Your strength is remarkable.”
Chris cupped his hands respectfully. “Patriarch, I…”
“But that was just a small test,” Brian Jefferson interrupted. “Now, let’s see if you can handle this.”
Before Chris could finish his sentence, a far greater pressure descended upon him.
This time, the aura was like a mountain pressing directly onto Chris’s body.
Chris’s face filled with shock. He hadn’t expected Brian Jefferson’s power to be so terrifying.
Even this mere display of force was overwhelming.
Chris could only imagine how frightening Brian Jefferson’s true strength must be.
One thing was certain-Brian Jefferson’s power was on par with that of his mentor, Archer Wintersong.