Bright sunlight pierced through the thick white clouds, spreading warmth across the land below.

  Outside the mansion, birds sang joyfully in the treetops while bees followed the sweet fragrance to land on flower petals.

  Viktor sat on a stone chair in the garden, breathing in the fresh air while intently reading a heavy tome of magic in his hands.

  Yesterday, the royal capital of the Kanter Kingdom had suffered an unprecedented attack.

  The beastfolk had breached the city walls, reducing the magnificent capital to ruins and ashes.

  This brought catastrophic losses to the entire Kanter Kingdom.

  Every household in the capital was looted, though the main losses were the imprisoned beastfolk slaves.

  Beyond that, most just had their homes destroyed.

  However, the Casidra Chamber of Commerce suffered the worst misfortune.

  The kingdom's commercial district took devastating damage during Viktor's battle with the beastfolk.

  That once prosperous commercial area had been completely leveled.

  Countless buildings and shops were reduced to dust, causing incalculable economic losses.

  Nearly half of the massive commercial district in the capital belonged to the Casidra Chamber of Commerce.

  Although this merchant organization was wealthy enough to rival nations, even they couldn't withstand such losses!

  Thus, the kingdom and the Casidra Chamber of Commerce would be discussing compensation for the destroyed commercial district today.

  As a duke, Grand Duke Balo had taken a carriage to the capital early in the morning.

  After all, he was the strongest person in the entire kingdom.

  He would likely need to travel frequently between the capital and his territory in the coming days.

  The Grand Duke's absence gave Aurelianne some free time.

  Otherwise, whenever the Grand Duke had time, Aurelianne had to study magic with him.

  Just then, Aurelianne walked slowly along the garden path.

  She was carrying two items in her hands.

  One was a piece of silvery-white steel that clearly seemed extraordinary.

  The other appeared to be some creature's spiked tail that had fallen off, looking particularly dangerous.

  "Teacher, the items you bid on at the auction yesterday have arrived."

  Hearing Aurelianne's voice, Viktor put down his book and looked at the two items in her hands.

  The names of the items silently appeared before Viktor.

  [Gaia's Fine Steel]

  [Mahazak's Tail Spike]

  A flash of white magical energy flickered in Viktor's eyes.

  Two gentle breezes swirled up from Aurelianne's hands, lifting the two items and floating them into his palm.

  Once in his hands, descriptions of the two materials appeared before Viktor's eyes:

  [Gaia's Fine Steel: Sourced from the deepest underground, said to be fragments of ore from mountains that fell from the ancient titan Gaia's back. Its toughness surpasses even adamantine and can withstand extremely powerful magical attacks]

  [Mahazak's Tail Spike: Taken from the deadly beast 'Mahazak' that roams the world. Its lethal tail spikes can pierce mountains and impale giant serpents]

  They were clearly genuine.

  Viktor weighed the shimmering steel in his hand, pondering.

  The amount of Gaia's Fine Steel wasn't enough to make a full suit of armor.

  Besides, Gwen already had a powerful armor that had been enhanced multiple times, so she didn't need another one.

  Perhaps it could be made into a weapon.

  Looking at the Mahazak's Tail Spike, Viktor thought of Erica.

  Because Aurelianne possessed the overpowered buff [Eternal Furnace],

  Viktor hadn't guided her purely as a mage during their lessons.

  Training in both close and ranged combat would maximize the potential of her [Eternal Furnace].

  But Erica was a pure mage.

  Having reached the third rank, she should have her own staff.

  Considering how bravely she had held off two Calamities during the battle in the Padalenbu Sea,

  Viktor felt he should craft a staff for her as thanks.

  But then Viktor looked back at Aurelianne.

  The young princess was looking down at the materials in Viktor's hands with slight confusion.

  Viktor sighed.

  Aurelianne's birthday was in two days.

  Well, he'd figure it out then.

  The two materials in his hands gradually emitted a faint light, dissipating like stardust in the night sky.

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  Then he looked back up at Aurelianne:

  "How's your studying going?"

  Hearing Viktor's words, Aurelianne wasn't surprised.

  She knew he was asking about her progress with necromancy.

  Usually, whenever she finished learning a new spell, Viktor would patiently ask about what she had learned.

  Her teacher paid close attention to her study of new magic.

  And after she learned each spell, her teacher would demonstrate it perfectly himself.

  As if correcting her mistakes.

  This time was no different.

  Normally, Aurelianne would confidently tell Viktor that she had mastered it.

  But unlike before, there was a hint of gloom on Aurelianne's face this time.

  Like a child who had done something wrong, she had lost her usual confidence.

  "I'm sorry, teacher. I'm having trouble grasping it."

  Necromancy was strange and profound, very different from normal magic.

  It didn't require much magical power, but rather establishing connections with the realm of the dead and truly understanding the meaning of "death".

  Moreover, she was somewhat afraid of the spirits dwelling in the realm of the dead.

  This made it impossible for her to truly understand those spirits.

  Viktor remained calm, as if he had anticipated this.

  "I see."

  He slowly closed his eyes and set the book down on the chair.

  Aurelianne watched Viktor's actions with curiosity.

  Just then, a cold aura rose from the ground, gradually climbing up her legs.

  Feeling this familiar sensation, Aurelianne couldn't help but look down.

  The ground that had been bright with sunlight was now gradually being covered by a green mist.

  She looked around, her heart skipping a beat.

  This power, could it be...

  She already knew the answer.

  Because this was the sign of entering the realm of the dead that her grandfather had shown her many times before.

  Gradually, even the starlight-bright radiance was devoured by the thick fog, leaving only faint glowing dots scattered throughout.

  The surrounding space began to distort, causing even the ground beneath to slowly crack.

  A nauseating stench of decay rose from the soft soil, assaulting Aurelianne's nostrils.

  The sky obscured by green mist gradually became chaotic and extremely dark.

  Above, the gloomy sky seemed eternally darkened, perpetually shrouded by thick smoke clouds.

  But the ground before her eyes was completely different from what she had seen before.

  Originally, the realm of the dead should have been deathly still, with dark scorched earth constantly filled with damp and rotting smells.

  But here in this realm of the dead, the ground was covered by golden wheat fields.

  Though the scent of decay still lingered in the air, that endless vitality brought her a different kind of comfort.

  Like spring breezes blowing across winter soil.

  Though it was the realm of the dead, this vitality made it seem particularly out of place.

  She seemed to realize something and exclaimed.

  "This... these are the Fertility Goddess's wheat stalks?"

  "Correct."

  Suddenly, Viktor's voice sounded beside her ear.

  "The Fertility Goddess's divine power can grant life to any land."

  "Even in this realm of the dead."

  At some point, Viktor had come to stand beside Aurelianne:

  "Necromancy is magic that governs death."

  "But life and death are always intertwined."

  With Viktor's words, a breeze swept across the land.

  The endless golden wheat fields rippled.

  Shimmering golden light gently flowed, releasing an overflowing vitality.

  "Like this land - even in this most desolate space, life still persists."

  Aurelianne felt drawn by some force as she sensed this abundant vitality, her body resonating with it.

  The warmth flowing through her felt like being embraced by a mother.

  She gazed at the golden waves of wheat, seemingly lost in thought.

  Her body trembled slightly, yearning to become one with this land.

  But the gloomy green above sharply contrasted with the golden field below.

  Like day and night colliding, it seemed absurd.

  "What matters is what you see."

  Viktor's gaze turned forward as the golden color from the entire wheat field gradually rose up, illuminating the green sky.

  In an instant, the entire realm of the dead seemed to be purified.

  The heavy green mist was slowly dispersed by golden light, revealing a clear but dusky sky.

  "Is it ghosts? Restless spirits who cannot find peace even in death?"

  Along with Viktor's echoing words, the blazing orange sky seemed to catch fire.

  It was the perfect cloud flame just before the sky sank into darkness.

  "Or is it the final song of the living before their end?"

  The vast clouds were completely ignited by the intense heat, spreading for thousands of miles.

  The golden wheat waves and crimson sky seemed to gradually merge in the distance, making it hard for Aurelianne to distinguish between earth and sky.

  She stared with wide eyes, her silver hair swept back by the breeze, trailing behind her.

  Under the golden light, that silver hair appeared noble and flawless.

  In this moment, Aurelianne's eyes reflected the crimson-gold scenery.

  A flash of understanding and hope seemed to quietly light up in her heart.

  ...

  Inside the towering steel castle, black iron towers rose from the ground, supporting the grand palace.

  The beautiful auctioneer sat calmly in the palace.

  Behind her stood four or five burly guards.

  One glance was enough to feel the terrifying pressure emanating from these guards, like giant beasts standing watch.

  Around them were rows of noble lords who had attended last night's auction, all wearing various swords at their waists.

  Sitting at the front of the nobles was King Augustus.

  Grand Duke Balo sat on a slightly lower step than the king.

  Augustus nodded at the Casidra Chamber of Commerce auctioneer with a smile:

  "We'll need to verify the specific compensation on our kingdom's side."

  "Please rest assured, we will give the Casidra Chamber of Commerce fair compensation that we can also accept."

  The female auctioneer returned his smile with a slight bow:

  "Our Chamber has always trusted in the kingdom's credibility. Since you say so, we are willing to wait for some time."

  "After all, no one wanted this 'natural disaster' to happen. We understand."

  After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the female auctioneer stood up and gave Augustus a deep bow:

  "Then Your Majesty, we shall take our leave."

  "We still need to carefully calculate the compensation regarding Mr. Viktor Kravina."

  Augustus nodded in understanding.

  The auctioneer then slowly withdrew with her guards.

  After she left, the king spoke:

  "The lords may return home as well. Wait for further news."

  Hearing Augustus speak thus, the lords all stood up, not saying a word to each other. Some even gave cold snorts.

  As the nobles walked out the door, several lords glanced back at Augustus, their eyes showing some dissatisfaction with him.

  After all the nobles had left, Augustus sighed and let his shoulders slump.

  He rubbed his brow, deeply troubled.

  "Ah."

  After yesterday's events, the various nobles and wealthy had suffered heavy losses.

  Basically anyone who had beastfolk slaves had their homes completely ransacked.

  Even the common people in the capital were terrified.

  Moreover, the compensation demanded by the Casidra Chamber of Commerce was now pressing.

  Naturally the kingdom couldn't cover all the compensation - the lords present would also have to share in paying it.

  This incident had greatly impacted Augustus's authority.

  If those two tiger beastfolk could have been captured and paraded through the streets, it might have offset some of the negative impact.

  But now those tiger beastfolk were Viktor's spoils of war, and he didn't dare personally ask Viktor for them.

  He urgently needed a way to consolidate his rule.

  Just then, Grand Duke Balo who had been resting with closed eyes beside him suddenly opened his eyes.

  Those clouded eyes looked at Augustus.

  A somewhat heavy voice suddenly sounded by the king's ear:

  "Your Majesty, I believe I need to give you some advice."

  Augustus started, looking at the Grand Duke and quickly asking:

  "Please speak, Grand Duke."

  "When seeking shortcuts, please think thrice before acting."

  "Whether savage beasts or paradise lies beyond the mountain, no one can know."

  Having said this, he closed his eyes again and tapped his staff on the floor.

  "Princess Aurelianne awaits me at home. Pardon me for not staying longer."

  A green mist appeared from nowhere, instantly wrapping around Grand Duke Balo.

  The next moment, that slightly hunched figure in a lead-colored robe disappeared along with the dissipating green mist.

  Augustus remained seated, pondering the Grand Duke's cryptic words in confusion.

  He couldn't understand, turning them over in his mind.

  Finally, he could only sigh helplessly:

  "In the end, marriage alliances are the only way forward?"

  "I'm sorry, Hilda."

  "I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my promise to you."

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