At that moment in the west (4)
The results of the second investigation into the mastermind behind the incidents, the educational instructor who had been in charge, revealed that his motives were jealousy towards Diana’s talent and greed over the money she paid.
Thirsty for knowledge, Diana absorbed every bit of information like a sponge, which was more than enough to trigger his inferiority complex from being sidelined due to his mediocre abilities.
In such a situation, when she willingly paid a significant amount for tuition, he plotted this crime with the intention to target her money.
“Tsk, pathetic. Handle them as you see fit.”
“Yes! Lord.”
Heinz waved his hand dismissively toward the vampire who had come to report.
It was merely an annoyance that he had brushed aside; from his perspective, they were no longer worth his attention, just mere pawns.
Afterward, things progressed quickly, as if sailing with the wind.
To prepare for any contingencies, the best medical staff was summoned to recheck Rafi’s condition, and they instructed the priests of the order to reconfirm along with a hefty donation.
He also urged the officials to make sure that the immigration procedures would be set up as soon as possible.
In truth, there wasn’t a single thing in this country that couldn’t be accomplished if he desired it, so it was only natural that everything was going smoothly.
“Hey— you should really get rid of all this. Look at how far you need to go. This is all just baggage!”
“Ugh, I still feel bad about throwing it away. I should probably give it to Billy’s mom over there.”
“That sounds good. Let’s just give everything that’s a pain to dispose of to everyone who has helped us this time.”
This was when the Bolt family, seemingly disillusioned with the city over this incident, decided to follow Diana without hesitation.
Of course, there were a few neighbors who had helped during difficult times, but those who had unceremoniously kicked them out over financial issues far outnumbered them.
Everyone was going through tough times, so they understood, but having shared so much with the community, the hurt was bound to be deeper.
Rather than continuing to stay here with strained relationships, they opted to start fresh, helping the benefactor Heinz along with Diana.
After a few bustling days of activity without rest.
Finally, having disposed of all their remaining assets and settled their minor debts, the family stood before the magic circle at the Magic Tower, carrying only a meager load.
“… gulp.”
“Wow, I’ve never seen a place like this in my life…”
“Big brother! Look at that shining thing! It’s beautiful!”
“Don’t touch, Rafi! You can’t just mess with these things! Seriously!”
Thanks to the full support of the civil servants, they quickly made their way to the capital Talia, and before they knew it, they had arrived at this place following a smoothly flowing schedule.
In a place they would have never encountered had they lived ordinary lives deep within the Magic Tower.
Though they had expected that Heinz was an extraordinary person, witnessing the seamless passage of everything they needed through governmental agencies left them completely dumbfounded.
Even more so considering they were not just traveling to another territory but to a foreign country…
“Alright, please step onto the magic circle. We will begin activation soon.”
At that moment, the mage of the Magic Tower, known for arrogance and eccentricity, spoke to them in a surprisingly kind voice.
This was just as hard to adjust to.
“There’s no need to be too nervous. Our Rokapeli Magic Tower is the best in the continent when it comes to spatial magic. The chances of a problem occurring during transport is nearly zero!”
While this statement held a terrifying implication that the probability was not actually zero, they were so anxious that they stepped onto the magic circle with stiff feet without having time to think deeply.
Voooom—!
And just as they were waiting, a magnificent light and loud vibrations erupted.
Zing—!
A typical family of five from Rapella City in the Talia Kingdom was transported to Tarak, Count of Aonia’s Territory in the northern part of the Tulque Kingdom.
*
Unlike the shrine gates that couldn’t be used by just anyone and couldn’t be influenced by power, spatial movement through the Magic Tower was an easily accessible means of transport as long as one had money.
However, there were two major downsides to this.
The first was the staggering amount required for a single use…
“Oh dear, are both of you alright?”
“…Hoo, I’m feeling better now.”
“…Me too…”
The second was that, unlike the gates, the experience was truly unpleasant.
It was so bad that the mages at the destination would typically have buckets ready to hand out right after transportation.
The three kids managed to cope due to their youth, but the two adults recuperated on benches, regaining their strength only after catching some fresh air, their faces pale.
“I didn’t properly greet you earlier due to the circumstances. Let me introduce myself again. I am Hubert, the head of the Hubert Association.”
Once their bodies settled down, the introductions they hadn’t managed before started in earnest.
“From now on, I intend to personally take care of you all to ensure you settle well in Tarak, so there’s no need to worry. Heinz and I have quite the close relationship.”
“Oh! You’re the head of the association? I apologize for displaying such an undesirable demeanor from the start. I am Bolt. Please feel free to speak comfortably.”
The pale-faced Bolt took Hubert’s outstretched hand, grasping it with both hands in a polite manner.
Hubert didn’t come off as particularly authoritative, yet the submissive gesture was an instinctive reaction he couldn’t help.
Dressed in luxurious, name-brand clothing adorned with sparkling, ostentatious jewelry, he initially appeared like a nouveau riche lacking refinement, but with a discerning eye honed from long experience as a merchant, Bolt realized that those items were far from ordinary.
‘Could all of that be magical equipment? Goodness, then how much is he wearing on his person?’
And what about the burly bodyguards subtly scanning the area nearby, all of whom exuded an intimidating presence?
Their sharp glares, filled with a fierce energy, sent a chill down his spine.
“Oh, excuse me. I raised the security a bit due to some recent unfortunate events, so please bear with it if you feel uncomfortable.”
“Oh no, not at all! Safety is the most important thing, after all!”
His naturally exuding aura of intimidation made Bolt involuntarily adopt a more respectful demeanor.
This was a golden charisma that emanated from wealth, distinct from Heinz’s blood-red charisma of dread.
Though he only operated a small grocery store, to a merchant, even that meant standing as a top dog.
Hubert also exchanged greetings with the rest of the family and turned his gaze toward Diana.
As expected, her eyes widened in recognition, and she stood there, mumbling.
‘But she’s catching on without directly acknowledging it.’
After all, their relationship would require cooperation going forward, and Heinz had previously given a vague explanation a few days prior.
He had declared that he was a vampire and would find another way to disguise himself and wait for them.
Thus, in the guise of “Heinz’s other identity,” Hubert winked at Diana as a signal.
“Alright, I look forward to working with you.”
Diana, having read the signal, awkwardly smiled and pretended not to know him as they exchanged pleasantries.
She had witnessed Heinz change his appearance and conceal his presence herself, so while there was a slight difference in scent due to being different individuals, it would be odd for her to expect his disguise to be identical.
Having come to her own understanding, she nodded faintly.
“Well, now that everyone seems to be alright, let’s start moving. I’ve prepared a carriage, so if you feel tired along the way, do feel free to tell the driver at any time.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Head of the Association.”
The Bolt family began to pile into a single carriage, huddled together.
Rafi, bouncing with excitement at the large and extravagant carriage, was calmed down by Diana.
Observing this scene, Hubert slowly stroked his chin.
‘Thinking about it, Diana’s ability is quite effective in the trade just like Hubert’s Appraisal.’
She was known to have greatly assisted in bringing fresh goods to the small grocery store, and in a much larger establishment like the Hubert Association, the opportunities to utilize that skill were indeed limitless.
‘Under normal circumstances, she would have difficulty utilizing that ability due to her lack of experience…’
But who was he?
Wasn’t he now the owner of the Hubert Association, which was on the verge of becoming the largest trading company in the northern region of the Tulque Kingdom beyond Tarak?
With his unwavering support, no one would dare to lay a finger on her.
Having established a trust with her and given her potential, there was no need to worry about her secrets for the moment.
Sniff sniff— there was a heavy scent of money in the air.
With a twinkle in his eye, Hubert looked warmly at Diana.
*
Running a country was no simple matter.
With power came heavy responsibility, and it wasn’t uncommon for historical kings to pass away young.
Judiciary, administration, economy, law enforcement, military, diplomacy, etc.
Even deciding something simple came with endless considerations, and the outcomes derived from any choice were unpredictably myriad.
On the day of a wrong decision, it wouldn’t just be a personal problem but could lead the entire nation into turmoil; truly a hotbed of stress and a shortcut to shortening one’s lifespan.
‘But that only applies when one tries to manage everything personally.’
Sitting in the office chair was Heinz II, the de facto ruler of the Talia Kingdom, leisurely sipping wine while casually skimming through reports.
[National Blood Donation Center Establishment Proposal (Supplemental Content 2)]
[Criminal Punishment Standards Draft (Fourth Revision)]
[Plans to Minimize Confusion from Changes (Third Revision)]
[Hybrid based on International Circumstances’…]
“Hmmm, this is definitely better than before.”
He nodded as he read through each document.
It was well-known that delegating tasks to experts was the most reliable method.
Having only played at nation management in games, he would have ruined a perfectly good country if he started meddling deeply into actual governance.
Therefore, he merely provided overall guidance, never interferring in detailed aspects.
“…Tsk, this one is a bit off though.”
Of course, while doing that, there were bound to be planned proposals that diverged from the direction he had envisioned for various reasons.
But as mentioned earlier, he had no capability to resolve problems that even the experts missed…
In such instances, there was only one thing he could do.
– I don’t like this part, so please reconsider it and bring it back to me once you’ve thought it over thoroughly.
In essence, it boiled down to the process of having subordinates revisit things until perfection was achieved.
This was, in itself, a form of intervention in national issues, but he wasn’t forcing any impractical policies onto them.
He was simply encouraging his intelligent friends to come up with better options.
In every situation in life, there were always multiple paths to take, and people possessed a potential to find solutions when faced with extreme circumstances.
‘They’re capable folks after all. They’ve probably enjoyed a leisurely life up until now, so they must do their best even at this time, right?’
Of course, in this class-based society, those capable of managing national affairs were bound to be limited.
Namely, the high-ranking officials of the state, including royalty, nobility, and top bureaucrats.
Under the dominion of the Brokoslac Clan, those who had been repeating the same policies out of inertia finally had a chance to showcase their abilities!
…Though it was uncertain whether they truly wished for it.
‘That’s not my concern.’
He was merely setting the stage for them to flourish.
Thus began the slowly emerging drafts of plans soaked in the blood, sweat, and tears of the noble elite of the Talia Kingdom.
Only when their pains and grievances seeped into every written word did it finally result in…
The vampire clan alliance, ‘Hybrid’, stepping out onto the front stage of history in the far western kingdom of Talia on the Ion Continent.
