The backyard had children playing amid laughter. There was a large playground for Whitelock children, but only Mark had used it lately. They were still well-maintained and well operational.
While the children played cheerfully, five young women watched them while seated around a round table. Their sweet voices overlapped the children's laughter and reached Isaac's ears.
Isaac noticed Luna, Alice, and three of her friends sitting while dressed in warm clothing. The weather was relatively tame compared to the rest of the winter, and the children didn't seem to mind the slight chill.
Luna's sparkling black hair flowed over her shoulders. She wore a brown a-line coat that tightly hugged her around the waistline. On her feet were long leather boots that reached her knees.
Alice wore quite similar clothes, and her black hair had grown longer. It looked like she was slightly trying to copy Luna's style of clothing.
Alice's three friends also wore expensive-looking coats, which complemented their youthful and beautiful faces.
Then, they heard soft footsteps coming behind them. In unison, they turned heads and saw Isaac walking toward them, dressed in a fur coat.
Alice's three friends blushed and averted their gazes with slightly pounding hearts.
"You are back!" Luna chirped with a bright smile.
Isaac stopped behind her and touched her shoulders gently, "Yeah, but what are you five doing?"
"Babysitting," Alice replied with a tiny smile. She crossed her arms and watched the children playing somewhat recklessly.
Luna touched Isaac's hand that was on her shoulder and said, "Waiting for that announcement."
"What could the announcement be?" Alice held her chin with a thoughtful look.
"Who knows…" Isaac shrugged his shoulders and looked toward the ice-blue sky with a thoughtful look.
As time slowly passed, the five young women chatted among themselves while Isaac stood silently observing the children.
Then, the door opened, and Rachel appeared with a radiant smile, "Everyone, the announcement is about to begin."
"Oh!" Alice sprung to her two feet and rushed inside, quickly followed by her three friends.
Luna and Isaac intertwined each other's hands and stepped inside slowly. Rachel went to pick up the children with a gentle smile, and soon the backyard was empty.
Soon, over two hundred people had gathered in the living room.
Isaac and Luna found their own place among the crowd of people and saw Isabella standing up with her right hand on her stomach.
"Thanks, everyone, for coming today." Isabella gently bowed and continued, "First reason was for our community to gather up for one last party before the year ends, and the second was because I have an announcement to make."
The crowd was silent, and even the children were waiting patiently.
Maxwell was sitting on the couch, surrounded by dozen other well-dressed gentlemen.
"I am pregnant." Isabella radiantly smiled while caressing her stomach, "So, there will be a new addition to the Whitelock Family."
The crowd's reaction was as expected. They were shocked, especially knowing what it meant.
The Whitelock's reputation had soared past year, and they were among the top 3 families in Snowstar, and it wasn't farfetched to say that they have grasped the number 1 spot.
Isaac's and his siblings' jaws dropped.
Clap… Clap… Clap…
Soon, the loud clapping filled the living room. Then, words of congratulations filled the air.
Luna continued clapping but sneakily looked at Isaac with an innocent smile. Her eyes glowed, and it was like she was trying to send him a signal with her eyes alone.
Isaac felt a chill running down his back but quickly shrugged it off.
After the announcement, Isabella and Maxwell chatted with the leading figures of other families, who were congratulating them.
Then, Alice pushed past the crowd and stopped next to her mother, "Mom, boy or girl?!"
"Not sure yet," Isabella replied with a gentle smile.
"So… that happened." Marvin left the living room alongside Isaac.
"Hmm…" Isaac tapped his chin with a tiny smile, "Honestly, I didn't expect to get another sibling."
"None of us did," Marvin said and opened the door to the kitchen. They saw Lionel, Derek, Ins, and Niko chatting while sitting next to the kitchen desk.
"Congratulations." Lionel raised a cup filled with water, "I guess."
"What the fuck are doing here?" Marvin snatched the cup and asked with mock anger, "Children aren't allowed here."
"Hahaha, funny." Lionel fake laughed and snatched the cup back, "I am thirsty."
"You have been like this since the dojo. What happened?" Ins asked while frowning.
"Ask from him," Lionel grunted in annoyance and pointed at Isaac.
Everyone turned toward the handsome white-haired man.
Isaac shrugged his shoulders and sat down, "He is overreacting."
"Oh, am I?!" Lionel held his face with an exhausted look, "Try fighting Isaac. I dare you… Oh my god, it's so tiring!"
Isaac rolled his eyes and said, "You were the one who challenged me."
Lionel gulped the water down and slammed the cup on the desk, "And I deeply regret it!"
"Heh." Isaac raised his hand and snapped his fingers with his thumb and middle finger.
A soft glow emerged from thin air, and his sniper rifle appeared. The short barrel shone dangerously while the silver-inlaid blade looked like it could slice the skies apart.
The kitchen was immediately shrouded in invisible pressure.
The delinquent group began sweating with faces changing shades.
"I-Isaac, fuck, stop!" Marvin gritted his teeth, and his knees bent, almost falling down.
"Hehe, sorry." Isaac again snapped his fingers, and the pressure disappeared alongside the sniper rifle.
"Ah, you goddamn monster." Lionel grunted in pain, "What level are you now?"
Isaac mysteriously smiled and said, "Guess."
Lionel looked at his friends and then began pondering, "Hmm… I am level 450, and Marvin is level 467… Apparently Lord Kalzer reached level 510 not long ago, so I think you are level 470!"
"Hehe." Isaac smiled.
"By the way, why did you hide your ranking?" Derek asked curiously, "It would increase your reputation, for sure. Even Marvin is in the top 200 and is recognized everywhere."
"Nah, Isaac likes to keep his mysteriousness!" Lionel grinned and pointed at Isaac with his index finger, "Lord Wraith… Mysterious Bookstore Owner, even respected by the Top Players… Why should he give up that mysterious role for popularity he already has?"
"Right…" His friends thoughtfully nodded.
"But damn, Lord Kalzer is amazing. I heard he almost passed the dungeon and reached the boss room." Niko said with an impressed look.
"Yeah… With Lord Kalzer in there, I am sure City Maidenhood is the first City to complete the Dungeon."
