Chapter 168

Chapter 168
## Chapter 168

### Meanwhile, in the West (4)

The secondary interrogation reached its conclusion after a thorough questioning of the master instructor who had orchestrated the entire plot.

His underlying motivations for the wrongdoing stemmed from a deep-seated envy of Diana’s innate brilliance, coupled with a malicious desire to seize the substantial funds she provided.

Diana possessed an insatiable hunger for learning, absorbing every ounce of knowledge he offered with incredible speed. This rapid progress unfortunately triggered a profound sense of inadequacy within the instructor, an individual who had been forced to step away from active service precisely due to his own mediocre talents.

Furthermore, when she paid the exorbitant educational fees without a single complaint, he resolved to devise a deceptive scheme, specifically targeting her wealth.

“Hmph, despicable. Deal with them accordingly.”

“Understood, Lord!”

Heinz gave a careless wave of his hand, dismissing the vampire subordinate who had delivered the intelligence report.

These individuals were merely insignificant pests, no longer worthy of his attention.

From that point forward, the remaining matters progressed without a single hitch.

To ensure absolute certainty, he organized a premium gathering of medical experts to re-evaluate Rafi’s physical state. Additionally, he requested a sacred validation from a Church clergyman, facilitating the process with a substantial financial offering.

Simultaneously, he directed his administrative personnel to coordinate their relocation paperwork, ensuring the entire bureaucratic process moved at maximum speed.

It was entirely logical that the execution was flawless, given that there was virtually no obstacle he could not overcome within the borders of this nation.

“Come on now— just discard all of this junk. We have a massive journey ahead of us. Carrying all this is just pointless burden!”

“Oh, but throwing it all away feels like such a waste. Surely I can pass some of it along to Billy’s mom.”

“That sounds like a wonderful plan. Let us distribute everything we cannot carry to the neighbors who offered their support during our time of need.”

It appeared that Bolt’s family had completely severed their emotional ties to the settlement following the recent trauma, as they unhesitatingly resolved to accompany Diana.

Granted, a handful of compassionate residents had assisted them, but a far greater number had completely abandoned them the moment financial troubles arose.

He recognized that times were difficult for everyone, yet the betrayal stung deeply, particularly because their household had always shown immense generosity to the community in the past.

They ultimately chose to abandon their old lives and seek a fresh beginning alongside Diana, entering the employment of Heinz, their savior, rather than enduring an awkward and strained existence in their current neighborhood.

Thus, after several days of intense preparation,

The household managed to liquidate what little property they had left, settled their outstanding financial obligations, and at long last—

Gathered before the glowing teleportation magic circle housed within the central structure of the magic tower, holding nothing but a few basic sacks of luggage.

“…*Gulp*.”

“Goodness, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would set foot in a grand place like this…”

“Look, Daddy, look! It’s radiating light! It’s so pretty!”

“Watch out, Rafi! P-please do not touch anything in this room! It is highly dangerous!”

They had safely journeyed to Talaria, the grand capital, backed by the comprehensive assistance of state authorities, leading them directly to this moment according to the precise schedule.

They stood deep within the inner sanctuaries of the magic tower, a restricted zone they could never have dreamed of entering under normal circumstances.

While they had always suspected Heinz possessed immense authority, they were utterly paralyzed with astonishment to witness state departments moving at his whim, completely bypassing standard protocols to accommodate them.

Moreover, this was not a simple relocation to a neighboring province; they were migrating to an entirely different nation…

“Now then, if everyone could step onto the platform. The process is about to begin.”

Just then, a spellcaster belonging to the magic tower—a group notoriously renowned for their aloof and unpredictable temperaments—addressed the group with surprising gentleness.

This unexpected courtesy was yet another detail they found difficult to comprehend.

“There is absolutely no reason to feel anxious. Our Locapelli Magic Tower stands unrivaled across the entire continent regarding the mastery of spatial distortion. The odds of an anomaly occurring during transport are virtually nonexistent!”

The phrasing subtly hinted that the danger was not truly at absolute zero, which sent a shiver of fear through them, but their minds were far too overwhelmed with nervousness to analyze the nuance. They simply advanced onto the inscribed patterns with stiff, rigid strides.

*Wooong—!*

And as if on cue,

*Ziiiing—!*

A humble household of five individuals hailing from Raffella City within the borders of the Talia Kingdom vanished amidst a blinding flash of radiance and a resonant shudder, bound for Tarak, situated within Aonia County in the northern territories of the Tulk Kingdom…

—

In contrast to the sacred portals maintained by the holy temples, which remained restricted from general public access and impervious to worldly authority, spatial transit utilizing a magic tower functioned as a commercial luxury available to anyone possessing sufficient coin.

However, this method suffered from two significant disadvantages.

The primary issue was the astronomically high financial toll required for even a single activation…

“Oh dear, are the two of you managing alright?”

“…*Pant*, I am beginning to steady myself now.”

“…As am I…”

The secondary drawback lay in the reality that the transit experience was incredibly jarring, bearing no resemblance to the smooth transition of a holy gate.

It was severe enough that the attendant mages waiting at the destination promptly offered them basins the moment they materialized, clearly accustomed to such reactions.

The two mature adults looked utterly drained of color, collapsing onto a nearby bench to draw in deep breaths of crisp air, whereas the three youngsters recovered almost instantly, seemingly protected by the resilience of youth.

“The chaos of our arrival prevented me from offering a proper welcome earlier. Allow me to introduce myself formally. My name is Hubert, and I oversee the operations of Hubert’s Trading Company.”

At last, once the parents had regained their composure, they were capable of exchanging proper formalities.

“I shall personally oversee your integration so you can establish yourselves comfortably here in Tarak. Heinz and I share an incredibly tight bond.”

“Ah! You are the distinguished merchant chief. Please forgive the embarrassing display we just put on. My name is Bolt. There is no need for such formalities with us.”

Bolt, whose face remained pale, eagerly clasped Hubert’s outstretched hand using both of his own.

While Hubert did not project an overly dominant air, Bolt’s reaction was entirely instinctual.

The man’s attire was woven with incredibly rare materials, and exquisite precious stones gleamed from various accessories across his frame.

To an untrained eye, it might have appeared as the gaudy overindulgence of an unrefined wealthy man, but Bolt, possessing the sharp instincts of a lifelong tradesman, instantly detected that these were far from ordinary decorations.

*Could it be that every single ornament is an enchanted artifact? Heavens, what is the collective value of his attire?*

Furthermore, his attention shifted to the muscular security personnel and the sharp-eyed administrative assistants quietly forming a protective perimeter around them.

A sudden chill traveled down his spine as he felt the intense, focused awareness vibrating from those guardians, whose lethal gazes remained subtly locked onto the surroundings.

“Ah, pray forgive the intensity. I recently endured an unfortunate security breach, which prompted me to elevate my personal protection detailing. I hope it does not cause you discomfort.”

“Oh, not at all! Maintaining safety is always the primary concern!”

Bolt’s demeanor naturally grew increasingly deferential beneath the invisible weight radiating from Hubert.

It was an aura of golden authority born from absolute material wealth, distinct from the terrifying, crimson pressure that typically accompanied Heinz.

Though Bolt had only managed a modest retail shop, he remained a businessman at heart.

To a man of commerce, the individual holding the capital was always supreme.

Hubert exchanged pleasantries with each family member in turn before casting a measured look toward Diana.

Precisely as anticipated, she appeared to recognize his underlying identity, her eyes widening slightly as her lips formed silent syllables.

*Yet she possesses the discretion to feign ignorance.*

He had thoroughly detailed the arrangement to her several days prior, given their upcoming professional partnership.

He had informed her that his true vampiric form could not accompany the family openly, meaning he would journey ahead to await their arrival under a clever cover identity.

Consequently, Hubert—acting seamlessly as the surrogate persona for Heinz—offered Diana a swift, covert wink.

“Very well, I shall place our trust in your guidance.”

Diana offered a somewhat stiff smile, keeping up the charade as she returned the greeting.

She was well aware that Heinz possessed the capability to alter his physical form and had previously witnessed his knack for masking his spiritual pressure.

The ambient aroma differed slightly because they were distinct biological entities, but it would have been far more suspicious had they smelled identical, considering the extreme measures he took to obscure his true nature.

She gave a small nod of understanding, silencing her inner doubts.

“Excellent. Now that everyone has sufficiently recovered, let us depart. A private carriage stands ready outside, so do not hesitate to inform the driver if the transit proves uncomfortable.”

“We are deeply indebted to your thoughtfulness, Master.”

Bolt’s household began filing into the transport vehicle.

Rafi was bouncing with joy, utterly thrilled by the sheer scale and opulence of the luxury coach, while Diana desperately attempted to moderate the child’s excitement.

Hubert slowly ran a hand across his chin, monitoring their departure.

*Reflecting on it, Diana’s innate talent holds an equivalent utility to Hubert’s own “Appraisal” skill within this market.*

Word had reached him that her unique perception had been instrumental in securing premium, unblemished inventory even during her tenure at a simple retail store.

The potential applications for her gifts within an enterprise as vast as Hubert’s Trading Company were practically limitless.

*Under ordinary circumstances, her lack of practical exposure would make it difficult to harness that potential effectively…*

Yet, who exactly was guiding her?

He held the reins of Hubert’s Trading Company, an establishment rapidly ascending to become the premier commercial empire across the entire northern expanse of the Tulk Kingdom, far eclipsing the boundaries of Tarak itself!

With his absolute backing, no individual would dare try to exploit her.

She represented a rare, gifted asset who was both fiercely loyal and highly competent due to her personal allegiance to him.

The underlying mystery regarding her origin was not a puzzle he needed to unravel immediately, making it a non-issue for the time being.

*Ah… I can sense it.*

It was the undeniable, intoxicating scent of massive financial profit.

Hubert beamed benignly toward Diana, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

—

Governing a sovereign state was an incredibly intricate puzzle.

Monolithic authority naturally carried an equal measure of staggering accountability, and historical records were filled with accounts of monarchs meeting untimely demises due to the crushing weight of rule.

Legal systems, bureaucratic governance, financial stability, domestic peace, martial forces, foreign relations…

An infinite number of variables demanded scrutiny even when ratifying basic edicts, and the ripple effects of every single decree were entirely volatile and far-reaching.

A singular miscalculation would not merely result in personal ruin; it had the potential to destabilize the foundations of the entire realm, transforming leadership into a breeding ground for psychological strain and a guaranteed path to an early grave.

*However, that grim reality only applies if one attempts to shoulder every single burden personally.*

Heinz the Second, the undisputed sovereign controlling the fate of the Talia Kingdom, took a relaxed sip of his vintage vintage wine, lazily reviewing intelligence dossiers from the comfort of his high-backed study chair.

“

“

“

“

“Hmph, this shows noticeable improvement compared to the initial drafts.”

He murmured approval, turning through the stacks of parchment one after another.

It was always far more efficient to delegate responsibilities to qualified professionals.

If he, an individual whose sole background in statecraft originated from tactical simulation games, began aggressively dictating domestic policies, he would likely dismantle a perfectly functional society.

For this reason, he restricted his involvement to establishing broad strategic objectives, intentionally refraining from micromanaging the minutiae.

“…Tsk, this specific clause is unacceptable.”

Naturally, certain drafts invariably drifted away from his intended outcomes.

Yet, as previously established, he lacked the specific administrative expertise required to personally correct the technical oversights missed by the specialists…

Thus, he relied on the single effective tool at his disposal.

*—I find this particular section inadequate; restructure it entirely, keeping these parameters in mind.*

He simply compelled his administrative pool to labor endlessly until the output met his standards.

While this technically constituted a form of authoritarian governance, he was not forcing absurd, irrational doctrines upon the state.

He was merely motivating his highly intelligent subordinates to devise superior alternatives.

Life always presented a multitude of pathways, and the human intellect possessed an extraordinary capacity to innovate when backed into an absolute corner.

*They are exceptionally capable figures. They have enjoyed relative leisure for far too long, so it is high time they exert themselves.*

Inevitably, within a rigidly stratified civilization, the demographic capable of executing high-level state administration was incredibly small.

They comprised the elite minds and upper crust of society: the ruling house, the aristocratic lords, and the senior directors of the civil service.

They had previously languished in administrative stagnation, merely executing repetitive, uninspired edicts under the oppressive dominance of the Brokoslack Clan, but now they finally possessed the arena to demonstrate their true potential!

…Whether they actually desired this sudden opportunity was a different matter entirely.

*Not my problem.*

His role was merely providing the theater for their talents to unfold.

And so, the policy drafts—steeped in the literal sweat, tears, and exhaustion of the Talia Kingdom’s ruling class—underwent an endless cycle of revisions.

By the time their profound fatigue, quiet curses, and underlying frustration were permanently etched into the very ink of every page—.

At long last, within the borders of the Talia Kingdom, anchored at the furthest western frontier of the Ion Continent,

The united front of the night-born families, known to the world as ‘Hybrid’, took its historic first step into the global spotlight.