Chapter 133: Ch-133: Thornfield Family (1)

"Some of the researchers and scientists of my family said the same thing," Rachel said with a furrowed brow.

Olivia Thornfield furrowed her eyebrows and then said, "So the theory seems to be correct. It seems dungeons will appear after the game finishes the update."

"You are right. They did say the wormholes were growing larger and larger with time, but this is not the most concerning part..."

Andrew paused and then said in a grave tone, "Some of the researchers of my family are saying the game world might merge with Earth soon." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"What!!!" Rachel directly jumped out of her seat and looked at Andrew in disbelief and muttered, "If that is true..."

Gulp

She swallowed a mouthful of saliva at the terrifying implications and felt a chill run down her spine.

"Indeed, we should quickly level up. If any of those powerful noble NPCs arrive, they might just want to conquer our world and divide it among themselves. Even our families would be in grave danger," Andrew said, and Olivia just nodded her head in agreement.

Knock Knock

Olivia frowned and looked at the door and said in a cold tone, "Come in."

Creak

The door opened and a maid wearing a French maid uniform appeared and said with a bow, "Lady Olivia, the family has called everyone to the main estate. They have called for a family meeting."

"I understand, leave," Olivia raised an eyebrow and then said to the maid. She bowed once again and left the room.

"Hah, looks like this meeting is going to be about the dungeons," Andrew, who heard the words of the maid through the projection, said.

"Ugh, I hate these family gatherings. Everyone is a leech and a hyena waiting to strike at me," Olivia sighed as she rubbed her temples.

"Do you think we both have it any easier? We all are heirs, and there are always people trying to undermine us to usurp our positions. Give them one chance and they will not hesitate to tear us apart," Andrew said with a sneer as he pointed at Rachel’s projection, who nodded in agreement.

In truth, in top families like theirs, they could not even trust their own blood siblings without having leverage over them, otherwise they would get backstabbed. Some of the more extreme ones even tried to assassinate their rivals, which was a common occurrence even though there were strict rules that they could not harm a family member, and if caught, the consequences would be severe no matter who they were.

"I will go now. After the meeting, I will catch up with you two again," Olivia said as she closed the projection.

---------

Olivia, the one currently being advocated for, was in a car headed to the family mansion.

"Are my siblings also coming?" Olivia Thornfield asked in a cold voice at the driver, and he just nodded his head.

"Well, well..." she murmured as she leaned back on the leather seat and gave a slight smirk, "a sibling reunion after such a long time."

The driver tensed as he glanced in the rearview mirror and saw her smirking. Whenever any of the Thornfield siblings smiled like that, something bad was bound to happen.

"It sure will be a lovely interaction," Olivia murmured as she looked outside at the passing buildings.

The driver quickly averted his eyes and focused on the road ahead of them. His job was being a driver, nothing else. He could not start poking his nose where it did not belong.

Olivia rested her elbow against the door, her cheek against her knuckles, eyes half-lidded with satisfaction as the car rolled through the snowy outskirts of New York City.

The Thornfield family mansion, more of a fortress than a home, could be seen in the distance.

The place looked like some kind of ancient stone fortress, akin to a medieval castle or noble manor, but far, far larger.

But Olivia was not focused on a sight she had seen a thousand times before. She was lost in her thoughts and narrowed her eyes at a tablet she pulled out which read "12% Mana Density."

"Last time I saw it, it was only 5%. Looks like the update of the game will really have a huge impact on the world," Olivia said with a tired sigh. She rubbed her temples just thinking of meeting her annoying and backstabbing siblings and all the family politics she had to face.

Moreover, she had heard some rumors that her siblings were planning all kinds of underhanded methods to attack the businesses under her name. In fact, some of her subordinates were killed, which made her furious.

"Tsk, if only they left some evidence, I would have taught them a lesson," Olivia mumbled with a narrowed look, but then smiled coldly and thought, ’I heard they have created their own guilds and are trying to surpass mine. Maybe I should visit their guild bases in the game and give them a present.’

She smiled, and the driver felt a chill run down his spine when he saw that smile, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

They ran the checks before bowing deeply and waving her car through.

The massive wrought-iron gates creaked open, revealing the long stone driveway leading to the Thornfield estate, an architectural monstrosity of both wealth and old power.

Most people found the place intimidating, but Olivia just found it a whole lot annoying... I mean, can you imagine being a child and trying to find your way around?

Especially after getting lost without your maids.

"Same circus, different year," she muttered to herself as the car continued forward.

Her driver’s hands tightened on the wheel. He did not dare speak, but she could practically feel him praying he would not be pulled into whatever the annual Thornfield gathering entailed.

He had heard some rumors that some of the older drivers had heard things they should not have heard and ended up vanishing. He wished he was dead at the moment.

"Chill, I am not as petty as my siblings," Olivia rolled her eyes as she could feel the overwhelming fear radiating from her driver.

As the car finally came to a stop before the front entrance, Olivia sat up straight.

Her smile quickly faded and was replaced by a colder expression. This was the persona she needed to wear here.