The Enigmatic Return (Neera and Jean) novel Chapter 1268

"The Jagger family has had a presence in Phison for over a hundred years, maintaining a steady, albeit unremarkable, status. Initially, they were compliant with the guild, never having any conflicts. However, there was a time when the guild assigned the Jagger family a mission. The task was so significant that many members were mobilized, including the head of the Jagger family at that time. Unexpectedly, the mission proved to be extremely challenging. They encountered an accident, and even the head of the Jagger family was seriously injured. Although the mission was ultimately accomplished, the head of the Jagger family missed the best opportunity for treatment. After returning home, he passed away without receiving any medical attention. The guild, however, showed no concern for this matter. They didn't even offer a word of condolence. This indifference led to the Jagger family holding a grudge against the guild. Subsequently, without informing the guild, the Jagger family moved to an isolated island. There, they set up camp and began to govern themselves. From that point on, they no longer obeyed the guild's orders."

Neera exclaimed, "I never knew about this part of the past. Speaking of it, the guild really did act unscrupulously, disappointing the Jagger family."

"Indeed, the Jagger family had fought tooth and nail for the guild. Even the head of the family was sacrificed. But in the end, the guild doesn't care at all. The only thing they value is the immediate benefits. How could the Jagger family possibly tolerate this? Cutting ties with the guild was inevitable." Shane narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying a subtle nuance. "However, the Jagger family did some questionable things later on. The deceased head of the family, who was the father of the current head, Stanley, engaged in some questionable activities. After Stanley inherited his father's position, he proved to be quite shrewd. Despite his young age, he managed to elevate the Jagger family to a higher level. He even fortified the island so tightly that it was impervious to any attack. He often clashed with the guild and even arrested some of their members. It could be seen as a form of retaliation against the guild."

Neera felt that there was nothing wrong with the Jagger family acting this way. "It's not that the Jagger family's actions are commendable, of course. Hurting others is always wrong. However, it was the guild that betrayed them first. If the Jagger family were to retaliate, frankly, their actions could hardly be deemed as extreme."

Shane nodded. "That's true. However, dealing with the current Jagger family is extremely difficult. To reach the island, we must first pass through the sea. Whether there will be ambushes or unexpected incidents, no one can be certain. Moreover, whether we can successfully land on the island after approaching the coast is also an unknown factor. Considering the widespread rumors about this matter, the Jagger family must have received the news by now and will soon be prepared to respond. The security on the island will undoubtedly be tightened, making it even more difficult for the Cox family."

Neera's brows furrowed slightly. She was worried.

"Will this journey of the Cox family be dangerous? When it comes to strength, how does the Jagger family compare to the Cox family? Who is superior?"

Shane replied, "It's not as simple as comparing who's superior or inferior. If we talk about sheer power, the Cox family seems to have the upper hand at the moment. However, the difficulty lies in the fact that the Jagger family holds a geographical advantage. The island they occupy is easy to defend but hard to attack, and one has to cross a sea filled with dangers. It's hard to say who has the advantage. The guild has tried to reclaim the Jagger family before, but all attempts have been unsuccessful. Now, they've specifically sent the Cox family. Well, I must say, they're really cunning. They don't even want to try anymore and want to sit back and reap the benefits."

Neera vaguely felt a sense of familiarity.

"Isn't the current Cox family just like the Jagger family of the past? The Jagger family also accepted a difficult task from the guild, which led to the family head's misfortune. Now, the guild has assigned a challenging task to the Cox family. If something unexpected happens to the Cox family, won't they become the next Jagger family? Isn't this just the guild repeating their old tricks!"

Shane took a sip of coffee, then poured a cup for her, signaling her not to rush.

"Indeed, you can put it that way. The guild has planned this from the very beginning. They accurately predicted that the Cox family would support the Gordon family and that the Cox family would speak for you at the elder's meeting. They smoothly facilitated your ascension to the ninth elder seat, which then gave them an excuse to promote Avery. Now that Avery has become the second elder, the guild can naturally use this as a pretext, asking him to reciprocate the guild's attention, to set an example for the guild, and to make contributions."

Neera did not think that these maneuvers of the guild would have such deep implications.

"The Bartitsu Guild is really acting quite unfairly and unethically, don't you think? The forces under their command are all their helpers. It's clearly a mutually beneficial group, so why are they still so calculating?"

Upon hearing this, Shane let out a cold chuckle.

"The Bartitsu Guild has always been like this. Nothing matters more than their own interests. Any power that can bring prosperity and benefits to the guild becomes their pawn. As for those third-rate powers, they are merely disposable pieces to the guild, useless if they can't serve a purpose. Isn't the Jennings family a perfect example? Once they lost their value, the guild didn't care about their fate. Even when a large number of people from Lordsworth Estate stormed into the guild's territory and took away an entire family, the guild turned a blind eye. They ignored such a major incident. Is there anything the guild wouldn't do?"

Neera was growing more and more worried now, her face full of concern.

"Can't Mr. Cox refuse this task? This journey is too dangerous. Who knows what might happen."