A New Day’s Disturbances

Reyn slowly opened his eyes.

He dragged his heavy body, his steps faltering, to the washroom.

After a quick wash, he braced himself with both hands, silently staring at his reflection in the mirror.

‘Heretic.’

A being from beyond the world, its authority clashing with the very laws governing this realm.

Last night, he had merely been fortunate to escape, though it was possible even that was part of the other party’s scheme.

Even if the opponent had appeared quite furious before leaving, it could have simply been a deliberate act.

Reyn silently mocked himself. Before a heretic, human strength always felt too insignificant.

He averted his gaze, exited the washroom, and prepared to begin his new day’s work.

All significant events that had occurred in the territory yesterday had been compiled into documents by Steward Ark and placed on Reyn’s desk.

Upon arriving in his quiet study, Reyn, as always, began to peruse the documents.

Minor skirmishes were constant in the Lower City… a riot had broken out in the mining prison… and then there was…

Karl Rogers’ casino.

Reyn’s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the black-and-white photograph attached to the document.

‘Was it that fellow with the gold-rimmed glasses?’

He continued flipping through the pages, but as he turned to the next, his movements suddenly froze.

‘Ace Tim, sentenced to life imprisonment at twelve years old for patricide after years of abuse from his gambling-addicted father. To survive, he later committed several acts of theft and armed assault. However, two months ago, the then-acting Security Chief George Andrew inexplicably released him. Since then, Tim had vanished without a trace, though he was reportedly sighted a few days ago on East Street in the Upper City.’

Reyn focused on the young man in the photograph, his eyes narrowing further.

For the Rheinhebo family, a mere Security Chief was naturally nothing noteworthy. However, this was only because of the Rheinhebo family’s transcendent status.

As a Security Chief, George Andrew would face no trouble at all, not even if he released a petty criminal from the Lower City or kept a military-grade magic firearm in his carriage.

‘Did he become a heretic’s host *after* George Andrew released him, or was he released *because* George Andrew knew he would become a heretic’s host?’

‘If it was the latter… George Andrew… or rather, the person behind him, had already foreseen that Ace Tim would become a heretic’s host?’

‘Or, was all of this artificially orchestrated?’

Reyn gently tapped the desk, reviewing all the clues he had gathered so far in his mind.

‘Former Security Chief George Andrew colluded with the Dream Weaver and has fled to the Dream World. Yet, the heretic at the casino exhibited powers completely unrelated to the SSS-rank heretic Utopia. So, what role does the Dream Weaver play in this incident?’

‘Someone tried to prevent me from meeting Victoria Michelle at the hotel. That person must be hostile towards Victoria Michelle and holds a certain position within the Magic Tower’s circles, even collaborating with the Dream Weaver.’

‘Could the person who meets all these conditions be involved in an internal struggle within the Michelle family?’

Reyn’s eyes narrowed slightly. If his enemy truly hailed from the Michelle family, he would have almost no hope of resistance.

“Ark.”

Reyn looked up, calling for his Steward, but did not see him. He frowned. Ark Ham was always punctual; had something delayed him again?

‘How long had he been in office? Problems in the territory kept emerging, each more troublesome than the last. What was so coveted about this land?’

Ark’s voice suddenly came from outside the door: “My Lord, the esteemed Miss Victoria Michelle has come to visit.”

Victoria Michelle!

Reyn’s expression shifted slightly. He took a deep breath, ensuring he was calm. “Show her in.”

The study door slowly opened. Victoria Michelle was wearing a sea-green gown today, her eyes, as blue as the ocean, softly regarding Reyn. “Good morning, Count Reyn Rheinhebo.”

“Good morning, Miss Victoria Michelle.”

Reyn left his desk. The maid, Leila, swiftly brought two cups of coffee and a plate of exquisite pastries, placing them on the table reserved for guests.

Victoria elegantly picked up her cup, gently blowing on the surface to create ripples, then smiled as she looked at Reyn. “Count Reyn, have you considered what I spoke to you about last time?”

Reyn held his coffee. After a brief moment of thought, he offered a gentle smile. “To be honest, Miss Victoria, your conditions are quite enticing. However, is time truly all I have to give?”

Victoria smiled faintly, her gaze upon Reyn growing somewhat fervent. “You agree?”

Reyn felt a chill run down his spine from Victoria’s intense gaze. He quickly took a sip of coffee and continued, “I very much want to agree, but my territory has been plagued by many disturbances recently. I can’t spare the time.”

Victoria seemed prepared for this. “It’s Karl Rogers’ casino, isn’t it?”

Reyn’s gaze flickered, and he sighed softly. “Currently, there’s no Church presence in my territory, and I don’t know how to resolve this matter. I may be overwhelmed with this for quite some time.”

Victoria suddenly blinked, speaking softly. “Then, if that casino were to simply disappear, that would suffice, wouldn’t it?”

Reyn was momentarily stunned, then sighed again. “If only things were that easy to solve. Once you enter that casino, your life is no longer your own.”

“If it’s just about demolishing the casino, there’s no need to go inside, is there?”

“Are you saying?”

“How about destroying it directly with large-scale, high-level magic?”

“If that works, it would certainly be for the best. But I worry things won’t be so simple, as this matter involves a heretic. That casino might not be destructible on a physical level right now.”

Victoria’s eyes blazed as she stared at Reyn. “You needn’t worry. Plunder is precisely what I excel at. No matter whose casino it is, it will inevitably become mine in the end!”

Reyn silently took a sip of coffee. ‘Was Victoria only talking about the casino? Or did she include this territory as well?’

He swallowed his coffee, offering a slight smile. “Then I look forward to hearing your good news, Miss.”

Victoria’s eyes instantly crinkled into crescent moons of laughter. “A single match burns for fifteen minutes. One match for one hundred million, so four hundred million for an hour, is that right?”

“Ah… yes, that’s correct.”

“Then, I shall visit again tonight.”