Becoming a God Starts with Acting
Chapter 155: [Blizzard Manor] - Prophet’s part (2)

Chapter 155: [Blizzard Manor] - Prophet’s part (2)

The scene, previously buzzing with noise, fell into sudden silence. Bella pressed her lips together, glared at Fiona, then turned her gaze toward the grand gates of the manor.

It wasn’t just her—everyone present focused their attention on the estate.

The large gate slowly opened, letting in a wave of cold air—a chill that felt even more biting than the snowstorm outside.

An old man, looking to be around fifty, appeared. He had a slightly hunched back, snow-white hair and beard, wore a monocle, and was dressed in an elegant tailcoat vest.

He gave a faint smile upon seeing the group outside and spoke slowly, "Welcome, travelers from afar. I hope the snowstorm hasn’t caused you too much trouble. I am Alexander, the steward of this estate. Come, the storm outside is not safe!"

With that, he turned and led the way into the manor. The others glanced at each other before quickly following behind Alexander.

The sight inside the manor immediately caught everyone’s attention. The outer courtyard was spacious, paved with marble. At its center was a small pond with a little angel statue continuously spouting water.

Flower beds were evenly spaced around the courtyard.

Everything was dusted with a thin layer of snow, yet the raging storm outside seemed to have little to do with this tranquil scene within the manor grounds.

What drew even more attention, however, was the grand mansion ahead.

The mansion was built in a crescent shape, the middle slightly recessed. At a glance, it seemed to have five floors and countless rooms—this could be judged from its length and the many different windows.

Just then, Drake suddenly furrowed his brow, his sharp gaze snapping toward one side—at a floor-to-ceiling window.

He had sensed an intense gaze watching him from that spot!

But the moment Drake turned to look, the window was just an empty pane—dark, and even grimier than the others.

Drake’s brow creased as he swept his gaze across the aged architecture, where the paint was even peeling in places. He said nothing and stepped inside.

At that moment, someone suddenly spoke up: "Steward, why haven’t the manor gates been closed yet? We’re all inside now... Sorry, it’s just that the snowstorm out there really unsettles me."

The speaker was a girl with long blond hair braided over one shoulder. Her blue eyes carried just the right amount of respect and sincerity. Even when speaking to someone like the steward—clearly just an NPC—she seemed genuinely earnest.

Everyone here easily recognized her identity: Susan, the devout follower of the angel Gabriel!

The steward glanced at Susan, then replied gently, "The snowstorm is indeed dangerous... but one more guest has yet to arrive. It won’t affect us as long as we’re inside the mansion."

With that, the steward resumed walking, and the others quickly followed.

Susan walked on, brows slightly furrowed, a hint of worry in her eyes. She hadn’t expected someone else was still out there in the blizzard. She couldn’t help but wonder—could that person really make it through the storm and arrive in time?

But clearly, at this moment, all the worry was pointless.

In stark contrast to the eerie cold outside, the interior of the mansion felt warm and welcoming. A roaring fire in the hearth chased away the chill brought by the snowstorm.

The decorations inside the mansion unmistakably reflected the wealth of its owner. Although the mansion looked ancient and worn from the outside, inside, crystal chandeliers lit up every corner. Wooden and gemstone artifacts were displayed throughout. The floors were paved with marble, intricately engraved with various patterns, and even colorfully designed.

The gold-plated staircase, along with ornate golden reliefs, seemed to shine with a dazzling brilliance—so bright it could almost blind the eyes.

The steward suddenly turned to look at the new arrivals. Instinctively, the humans tensed up a little—even though the steward appeared perfectly normal, with no sign of being some kind of monster.

[You are graduating students who paid to vacation at this castle. It’s time to enjoy your holiday!]

A system pop-up appeared in front of everyone. At the same moment, the steward’s voice echoed, "I’ve arranged rooms for all of you. Please be patient for just a moment."

He then shook his head with a hint of regret. "Our manor is well known for its scenic surroundings, but unfortunately, you’ve arrived right as the snowstorm hit. We certainly can’t go outside to explore now. Hopefully the storm will pass soon. I’ll try my best to contact the rescue team outside as quickly as possible, so please don’t worry!"

After hearing the steward’s reassurance, the expressions of the people present didn’t change much.

The steward, as if unaware of this indifference, continued, "I’ll go check how the room preparations are going. Everything should be ready by the time your final companion arrives!"

With that, he quickly headed upstairs. Though his posture was a bit hunched, his steps were surprisingly fast. It was hard to say whether that was because he was an experienced steward—or because this place was a dungeon.

The moment the group confirmed that the steward had left, the room grew noticeably more restless than before. Yet at the same time, everyone’s gaze subtly turned in the same direction—toward Drake, who was sitting on the sofa, frowning.

It was Susan who finally stepped forward and spoke up:

"Captain Drake, there’s no doubt you’re the strongest among us, and your authority is unquestionable. We’re ready to follow your lead."

At this point, even the dark espers kept quiet. In fact, they were behaving far more obediently than usual. After all, this dungeon extended across the entire continent—a clear sign of how terrifying it was. No matter how crazy dark espers were, they weren’t foolish enough to cause trouble in front of Drake—the esper currently hailed as the strongest on the continent.

Drake lifted his gaze and swept it across everyone in the room, then spoke in a deep voice:

"First, introduce yourselves."

Everyone quickly gave their names, and among them were quite a few familiar faces.

Fiona was part of Drake’s team. Alice belonged to Silas’s team. And aside from Team 3’s captain Cocona, the other three members—Bella, Harry, and Luis—were also present in this dungeon.

There was no shortage of angel followers either. Susan had six fellow believers of the angel Gabriel with her. There were seven followers of the angels Raphael and Michael. As for the followers of the angel Lucifer, there was only one—a girl with unmistakable fiery red hair. None other than Jessica!

The rest included three dark espers and one freelance esper currently under government supervision.

Twenty-five people had already gathered here, but according to the steward, they still had companions outside. No one knew how many would manage to make it through the snowstorm to the manor before nightfall arrived.

Drake spoke slowly:

"I will lead the espers affiliated with the Association of Espers. As for the believers of the angels—manage your own people."

Then he turned his gaze toward the three dark espers standing to the side and said in a deep voice:

"Of course, I will be the one maintaining order here. Aside from slaying monsters—if anyone dares to harm a companion, be prepared to die by my blade."

As he spoke, he raised his hand. A massive sword instantly appeared in his grip, and he slammed it into the floor with a sharp, screeching sound. The ground trembled slightly, and cracks spread across the marble tiles like a giant spiderweb.

The three dark espers instinctively flinched and said nothing. They might harbor resentment, but at the very least, they knew better than to cause trouble in this dungeon.

[As expected of Captain Drake... he’s not even bothering to control anyone else.]

[Come on, the fact that he’s even managing members from other teams is already generous enough!]

[That’s true. But has anyone noticed Drake seems calmer than in other dungeons? Has his rage disappeared? Does that mean his power has weakened?]

[Haha, don’t get your hopes up about Captain Drake losing his edge. It’s probably the Prophet’s blessing. The calmer Drake is, the more dangerous—and powerful—he becomes!]

[Exactly. He used to be just a brute who couldn’t even think straight. But now, he’s a powerhouse with a sharp mind. Even if this dungeon is bizarre, Captain Drake will definitely lead all of humanity through it!]

[Delusional power-worshipping fanatics...]

"So, what do we do next? Wait for the dungeon system’s instructions?" Alice asked, sounding somewhat doubtful.

"There hasn’t been any official mission announcement so far."

The others began murmuring among themselves, the sound buzzing like a swarm of mosquitoes. Drake frowned. The ever-burning rage within him—always ready to ignite—flared up again without reason. As usual, the smallest annoyances always triggered his fury.

Bang!

But just then, a thunderous sound rang out—not from Drake slamming the table or shattering anything—but from the great front gate outside beginning to close.

Their companion had made it—just in time before nightfall...