The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 168. Avalon’s Great Guardian Ch 168. Avalon’s Great Guardian

“…Alright, I understand,” the middle-aged man with radiant golden hair said calmly, raising an eyebrow. “I’ll be there soon.”His chiseled, statue-like face held gem-green eyes. Perhaps due to his elven heritage, he stood over 1.9 meters, far from frail. His straight-backed, broad-shouldered frame exuded stability, like a mountain—reassuring to allies, oppressive to foes.

“What’s up, George?” his black-haired, black-eyed wife, Nadia, asked casually while polishing their badges. “Our Great Guardian has more duties?”

“There’s a lead on the Moriarty case,” George Barton replied. “Remember Bran Boca?”

“The White Queen judge or the Lloyd Society VP?” Nadia asked. “Sorry, darling, too many Brans—might’ve mixed them up.”

“You’re right; it’s the same guy. White Queen judge and Lloyd Society VP,” George said, squinting as he donned his coat. “He just turned himself in, saying Lloyd sent the attackers after Moriarty, and now Lloyd wants him silenced.”

His pure white double-breasted trench coat bore Avalon’s emblem—a silver triangle with an emerald gem. As he put it on, the triangle glowed.

He sheathed two slender elven curved blades at his sides and flipped out his necklace, another Avalon emblem with an emerald eye. Tapping it, the pupil shimmered silver.

His vision shifted, soaring over Avalon’s expanse.

Focusing, the view zoomed in: Avalon, Glass Island, White Queen District, 113 Greentree Avenue…

He saw Boca, phone down, face etched with anxiety and a hint of ruthless desperation. Lip-reading, George caught his muttering: “Better caught than killed. If I can save Aiwass, my plans aren’t a total loss…”

Tapping the gem again, his view ascended, then descended to Lloyd Society’s headquarters.

En route, he spotted something, adjusting to focus on Grand Arbiter Meg, eating fried chicken and drinking beer at a roadside tavern. The short, unassuming old woman, feet dangling from her chair, suddenly looked up, locking eyes with George across space and time.

She grinned brightly, raising her beer in a toast, then bit into her fresh chicken, mouthing silently: “This place’s chicken is great. Come by next time—my treat.”

George’s lips twitched upward, quickly suppressed.

He tapped the gem again, the view settling on Lloyd Society’s top-floor office.

The half-giant, Tommy, was red-faced with rage, color spreading to his shoulders. Heavy breaths steamed from his mouth and nose, veins bulging on his forehead and neck, pulsing visibly. His bloodshot eyes gleamed as his left hand dented the desk. Hunched, he gasped, trying to cool his endless fury, with little success.

Avalon’s Great Guardian inhaled deeply, the silver glow in his pupils fading.

“Well?” Nadia asked.

“About what I expected,” George replied. “That half-giant looks furious.”

“Giants are always angry,” she said with a laugh. “Normal for them.”

“Today’s worse. Probably tied to Lady Meg,” George said as Nadia slipped his pocket watch into his coat. “She’s in Lloyd District too.”

“Drinking?”

“Beer and fried chicken.”

“You should talk to her about that—it’s not healthy,” Nadia said.

“Who can tell her anything?” George said with a wry smile. “Maybe Her Majesty, but she’d just drink with her.”

“Sounds nice,” Nadia said, a touch envious. “I hope I’m that free when I’m old.”

“That’s up to David,” George said, stepping outside with Nadia following.

In the yard, their son played ball with his griffin, Emily. Seeing George, Emily flew over, purring like a cat.

George scratched her chin, then waved her off.

“Where’re you going, Dad?” the boy with peridot-green eyes and soft, shoulder-length golden hair asked. “Didn’t you just get back?”

“Official business,” George said curtly. “Protecting a witness.”

“Did they find who attacked Mr. Aiwass?” David Barton asked, chasing after him with the ball.

“Yes,” George nodded. “Alastair, a shadow demon-possessed. Avalon’s dangerous right now—stay home or take Emily if you go out, got it?”

“What?!” David’s reaction was unexpectedly intense, eyes wide. “Alastair attacked Mr. Aiwass?”

George and Nadia exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Instead, George added, “I’m protecting a witness to keep Alastair from killing them.”

“…Dad,” David hesitated, “can I come along?”

“Nonsense!” Nadia snapped, making David flinch. “That’s a fight between fourth-tier Transcendents—you’d get in the way! Go train—100 sword swings, 100 spear thrusts, then channel lightning. Finish before lunch. No school? Fine, but no slacking.”

“I’m second-tier, Mom!” David protested. “I can channel lightning fine!”

Sparks crackled along his arm. Knowing his father had the final say, he looked pleadingly at George. “I just want to see… Can I, Dad?”

“Not impossible,” George said, stroking his chin.

“George…” Nadia frowned.

“It’s fine. I’ll be there,” the Great Guardian said calmly. “If you’re worried, have Angelica follow him.”

Angelica, Nadia’s griffin, spoke gently, “I’m fine with that. I’ll watch David.”

“Awesome! Thanks, Aunt Angelica!” David said excitedly.

(Chapter End)