The Dreamer's POV

"I have another mission for you," I told Black, smiling as I looked at his kneeling position.

With everything aligning this way, it was only natural to seek leverage in one way or the other. And at this point, there was only one I could think of.

"You'll head to the Gloria Region and investigate the Lord that governs the land, as well as all the important figures there. It's going to take a while, so I don't expect you to be done anytime soon."

While Black was busy undertaking his investigation, I would be handling things on my end.

"It's best not to be specific now, so just do a general investigation. Once you have substantive information, relay it to me through our connection. Once I analyze that, I'll be able to give you more detailed orders."

Rubbing my chin, I replayed the plan in my head and nodded slightly.

"Is everything understood?"

"Yes, master." It responded instantly, almost mechanically.

Having an intelligent and competent minion really paid off in terms of achieving complex missions like this. For that, I was genuinely grateful for my Skill's evolution.

"Alright. You may leave now."

~WHUUUUSH!~

Like an echo in the wind, Black vanished from my presence. I knew I could trust him to fulfil his task, and if anything detrimental happened to him in the process, it would only serve to inform me of the danger the Gloria Region posed to us.

… To me.

"Ah, well… I have achieved quite a bit today, haven't I?" I looked around me one final time to spot the chaos I had wrought.

My business here, and in Terrance was already concluded.

'And from the looks of it…' My smile broadened as I looked above me, spotting the move hanging above me, watching my very position like an eye from heaven.

It made my heart race for some reason, and I could not deny the wave of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

I reveled in it.

'... Things are about to get quite interesting.'

As soon as I concluded that fleeting thought, I activated my [Grand Teleportation] Skill, finally leaving the chaos behind.

~VWUUUUUSSSH!~

*******

[The Next Day]

The Lyma family's carriages approached the city with an air of anticipation that hung as thick as the morning mist.

Ten members of the esteemed noble clan were on their way, each nestled in their respective carriages, the wheels of their luxurious vehicles gliding smoothly along the well-paved road that led to the city gates.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the rolling countryside as the carriages neared their destination.

In the lead carriage, Sarah Lyma, the family matriarch, sat regally. Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her emerald eyes sparkled with a wisdom that came with age.

She was accompanied by her late son Eugene's young son, Henry. The boy, with his dark hair and curious eyes, looked up at his grandmother with a mixture of reverence and curiosity.

Fiona and Magarette, Sarah's two daughters, rode in the second and third carriages respectively.

Fiona, the elder of the two, was an elegant woman with chestnut hair and a penchant for the latest fashions. She sat with her children, twins Eleanor and William, who whispered excitedly about the wonders they hoped to see in the city.

Margarette, the younger sister, was more reserved, her auburn hair neatly tucked beneath a bonnet. Her three children, Grace, Thomas, and little Clara, were a quiet but inquisitive bunch.

None of them could resist talking about what to expect when they arrived in the supposedly ruined capital.

As the carriages drew closer to the bustling city, conversations within each compartment differed in tone and topic.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Fiona's children leaned over to their mother and spoke in hushed tones.

"Mother, do you think the city will be as damaged as they say?"

"Would it really be a sight for sore eyes?"

What more could the mother say or do to her inquisitive children but laugh and grin smugly.

Fiona nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Indeed. But remember not to say any of these out loud, okay? We all follow your grandmother's lead, so let's treat young Theo respectfully."

Even though she said this, it was clear from her expression that Fiona meant none of this. Her two kids, Eleanor and William, knew this well enough about their mother.

They were both thirteen years, and so they had seen enough of their mother to understand her twisted personality.

"Understood, mother!"

"Yes, mother!"

As they both responded, twisted grins played on their faces as well.

Magarette, in her own carriage, was silent as she listened to her three children chatter among one another.

"Hehe! I wonder how Theo has been all this time."

"He must miss his family… haha, poor guy!"

"When we take over, we shouldn't forget him. He's still our cousin, right?"

Her three children—Thomas, Grace, and Clara—were fifteen, twelve, and five respectively.

Even though they spoke brazen words, Magarette did not pay them any mind. She was more occupied with a certain thought that refused to leave her.

'Mother is seated with Henry in the carriage… why?'

Henry was the only child of Eugene, their older brother who had just passed away recently. Even though the young chap was only fourteen years of age—not even as old as her oldest child—he had the most attention from Sarah.

It bothered Magarette to no end.

'If mother favors Henry the most, does that mean…? No, that can't be.'

Her oldest son was already fifteen. One more year, and he would be an adult. Sure, he was only older than Henry by a couple of months, but those months counted a lot more than imaginable.

In all fairness, he was supposed to be the one most considered as the heir.

'Yet why is she riding with Henry? Is it because he has no father? Is it out of empathy? No… mother isn't like that.'

Magarette couldn't speak because of all these thoughts swirling in her mind.

Meanwhile, in the lead carriage, Henry's young voice was filled with innocence and excitement as he gazed at the distant city walls approaching.

"Grandmother, will the city truly be in shambles? It looks fine from this point."

In response to the young boy's inquisition, Sarah chuckled softly, patting Henry's head affectionately.

"That's what they want you to think, my dear. Of course, the interior is messed up."

There was no way a ruined capital could have gotten rebuilt in such a small amount of time. Plus, without a proper stream of income, work progress was meant to be slowed down.

'Still, I haven't had proper contact with the interiors in weeks. I have no idea what is going on inside.'

She still had her common sense, though, and that tol her all she needed to know.

As the Lyma family's carriages drew nearer to the city gates, with an entourage of guards behind, beside, and in front of them, the atmosphere was filled with a mix of tension, curiosity, and a palpable sense of suspense.

They were about to enter a world of possibilities, where their family's fate would be decided, and the mystery surrounding the heirship would be unraveled.

All would go according to the Matriach's plans.