A month later, the Hutton Kingdom.
As the mana rail train drew to a steady halt, the scenery beyond the windows slowed to a standstill. When the doors slid open, they revealed a train station crowned with a roof of russet-red brick and stone.
"We're here!"
Antanas's cheerful voice and light footsteps echoed across the platform of Ikerite Central Station.
The towering spires flanking either side lent the central station an imposing grandeur. Marble pillars, murals, and stained-glass windows all radiated a rich weight of history—an architectural style quite unlike anything they had ever seen in the Protos Empire.
After a long journey spanning over a month, they had ridden the train through the Protos Empire all the way to its southern coast, reunited with Hyperion, crossed the sea by ship, and then traversed several nations across the Southern Continent before finally traveling from the northern frontier of the Hutton Kingdom to reach the royal capital of Ikerite.
She could hardly wait to see her dear friend Talia.
"All right, everyone worked hard on the road. Let's get you to where you'll be staying first."
Lanqi counted heads as he stood on the platform, speaking to the group before him.
"..."
Hyperion felt it hadn't been hard work at all. She had truly spent the past half-year just sightseeing on vacation, though she felt too embarrassed to say it aloud.
Besides, the journey back had been even more enjoyable.
When they first set off, it was just two people and a cat. Now, their party had grown to two people, three demons, a cat, and a fox.
Most of the time, Mr. Pranay would keep Lanqi company, while Antanas and Sinora spent their days having fun with her on the cruise ship. Even though the two great demons were technically a generation older than she was, there was no generational gap or sense of distance whatsoever. If anything, they treated her more like a close girlfriend than a niece.
"Meow, meow, meow! I missed home so much!"
Boss Cat rolled around in Antanas's arms.
He got along best with Antanas and spent most of his time being carried by her.
Looking at his three now-familiar friends from the Northern Continent, Boss Cat felt immense satisfaction and happiness.
Lanqi had brought back three elites from the Protos Empire: the enthusiastic, diligent Antanas; the dignified, gentle Sinora; and the steady, capable Pranay. Boss Cat liked every single one of them!
The best part was that they all treated him with great deference, as if revering him as some guardian beast of the realm. It was downright flattering!
Granted, he was indeed very formidable at Tier 7, but there was no need to go that far!
The more Boss Cat thought about it, the more delighted he felt.
"Phew."
Seeing Boss Cat so happy made Lanqi happy as well.
As long as everyone was pleased, his goal had been accomplished.
They passed through one checkpoint after another and departed the platform level.
Lanqi's luggage had already been checked through and would be delivered straight to the dormitory building at Ikerite Academy. Hyperion and the others, however, were returning to Boss Cat Restaurant, so their bags had to be loaded onto a vehicle to be driven back.
The group walked through the concourse of Ikerite Central Station as the din of the crowd receded into the distance. At the edge of the sprawling plaza, they found their reserved mana vehicle and embarked on their long-awaited travels through Ikerite.
The leisurely warmth of the spring afternoon bathed the city in a pleasant glow, making it look exceptionally beautiful.
Not long after they set off, they spotted brick-red walls, pitched eaves, and clusters of tulips and calla lilies in the Royal Botanical Garden coming into view in the distance. The flowers of various hues spread out like a misty veil, exuding the fragrance of an open sea of blossoms.
"So this is Ikerite? No wonder Talia loves this city so much. It really is wonderful."
Cradling Boss Cat, Antanas glanced left and right.
Compared to Herrom, the style here was far more refreshing and bright.
The Protos Empire favored dark, gray architecture, and its cities were imbued with a certain surreal gloom. Here, beige and white buildings predominated, blending antique charm and modern city planning in a harmonious, orderly fashion.
"Status really does matter. As people of the Protos Empire, coming to the Hutton Kingdom makes us international guests; otherwise, sneaking in would just make us undocumented aliens."
Sitting quietly on the other side, Sinora couldn't help but sigh in reflection as she recalled the tedious vetting process when registering their identities at the northern border of the Hutton Kingdom.
Fortunately, the Second Princess was a duke's daughter in this country, which saved them a world of trouble. Otherwise, even if the three of them were granted entry, they would have had to endure an observation period lasting several months at the border before being allowed to travel to key cities in the heartland.
Now, they were treated as guests of a ducal house. With Lady Hyperion vouching for them, they had been able to head straight to the royal capital of Ikerite.
"Hyperion, it's wonderful having you around," Sinora said to Hyperion beside her.
"Ah? It was nothing," Hyperion replied, scratching the back of her head bashfully.
It was the first time she had ever received such praise. Growing up in Ikerite, she had always been a half-demon who was secretly shunned...
"Hyperion, why don't you hurry up and become a duchess? When that time comes, even the Boss will have to hold tightly onto your thighs. Make him fall head over heels for you!"
Antanas slung an arm around Hyperion's shoulders, adopting the tone of an earnest mentor cheering her on.
"What are you talking about?" Hyperion asked in surprise, looking up at her.
"Didn't the Boss say his goal in the Southern Continent was to hold onto Duke Mikhail's thighs and retire in his hometown at age twenty? If you become the duchess, wouldn't the Boss have to hold onto your thighs instead?" Antanas asked with a sly grin.
The Hutton Kingdom was so peaceful and stable that Antanas felt their king had grown lazy the moment he set foot here. No wonder he had once told Hyperion that he would definitely help her rescue Duke Mikhail, and then rely on the ducal house to fund his retirement.
With that, she looked out the window again. Vehicles drove across bridges over winding canals where, beneath the gentle spring breeze, ripples washed across the water, mirroring the willow branches softly brushing the surface.
"..."
Hyperion lowered her head, leaving the demons beside her unable to tell what she was looking at or thinking.
When Lanqi had said those words in the past, she had mostly taken them as a joke. But thinking about it carefully now, he truly lacked any desire for power; he could leave behind his achievements in the Protos Empire without a backward glance.
If Lanqi wished to live a peaceful life, she wouldn't mind providing for him either. Still, she felt that for a friendship between noble souls like theirs to turn into something that sounded an awful lot like keeping a sugar baby didn't seem quite right.
Yet the more she recalled meeting Lanqi in the Northern Continent—seeing him led around by the nose by that wicked woman from the Domination branch—the more Hyperion felt she would rather support Lanqi herself than let him associate with women who might lead him astray.
Amid a few minutes of silence, the scenery outside gradually transitioned into a bustling commercial district. Passing by all manner of cafés, restaurants, bars, and shopping arcades, the wide thoroughfares brimmed with the vibrant energy of daily life.
"Is the public order in this 'Ikerite' truly so stable?"
Pranay had been observing quietly. He found the place remarkably civilized and friendly. Vehicles proactively yielded to pedestrians, everyone followed the rules with great discipline, and there was not a single police officer in sight along the streets.
By contrast, in the city of Herrom, humans and various hybrid races lived packed together in an environment fraught with unpredictability. One might run into runaway alchemical beasts crashing through the underground mana rail, and chaos, crime, and violence were frequent occurrences.
"Pranay, meow, do you know just how good the public order around Ikerite really is?"
Boss Cat raised a paw, quizzing him with the air of a seasoned veteran.
"What do you mean?"
Before Pranay could respond, Antanas, who was holding Boss Cat, looked down in curiosity.
"Take the wild wolves outside the city-state, for example. Many years ago, they lived from hand to mouth, never knowing when their next meal was coming, and they'd often ambush passing merchant caravans," Boss Cat explained.
"And now?"
Antanas remembered that from the mana rail train, she hadn't seen the farmers on the outskirts of Ikerite set up high-grade barrier fields—only ordinary wooden fences, showing none of the caution one would expect against ferocious wild wolves.
"Nowadays, residents from the royal capital go out all the time to feed them various gourmet foods. They've practically fed them into developing the three highs!"
Boss Cat shook his head, looking as though he were lamenting the state of the world.
"Naturally, meow, the moment those wolves see humans now, they don't have the slightest desire to attack. They'll even nuzzle up affectionately, begging for treats!"
"Pfft."
Lanqi burst out laughing at the side.
Pranay was the first to glance toward Lanqi, only to shift his gaze away an instant later, pretending he hadn't understood a thing.
Chapter 490