Night had completely enveloped the vast main highway, cutting through the northern border region and connecting the administrative city of Silvermist with the center of the great civilization of the Earth Human Empire. Up above, the night sky, clear of any sweeping clouds, put on a magical cosmic display: a pitch-black dome studded with billions of stars twinkling with sharp intensity, resembling a heap of diamonds intentionally scattered across a luxurious expanse of black velvet cloth. The night wind blew with a refreshing, almost chilly breeze, carrying the distinct scent of pine sap from the wild forest lined closely along the edges of the highway, as well as the chill of the dew that was starting to fall and cling to the tips of the wild grass.

Beneath that natural glow, Sylvia’s merchant carriage continued to speed forward at a highly stable and constant rhythm. The two pitch-black zombie horses in front of her stepped with high precision without showing the slightest sign of physical exhaustion. The large wooden wheels, reinforced by a magical iron structure, emitted a low creak and a rhythmic rumble as they rolled over the dirt surface of the road: clack... clack... clack.... The monotonous and constant sound echoed in the silence of the night, acting like a soothing lullaby for the passengers inside the carriage compartment.

Sylvia sat in a highly relaxed posture atop the high driver’s seat. Her back rested comfortably, and her hands, encased in thin leather gloves, held the reins loosely. She did not need to expend any mental energy to strictly control the pace of the two zombie horses at all ; through the remnants of the embedded necromancy soul bond, the two undead creatures already understood the strategic route to the imperial capital very clearly.

At the side of Sylvia’s feet, the golden cat curled up in a very spoiled manner. Its small, fluffy head rested comfortably on Sylvia’s thigh, while its body let out a constant, quiet purring sound. That sound carried a vibration of magical warmth that was incredibly soothing to anyone nearby. Its very thick golden fur, which gleamed softly reflecting the starlight, felt as smooth as the finest silk beneath Sylvia’s left palm, which occasionally moved slowly to stroke the back of the sacred beast.

From inside the passenger carriage, which was closed off by thick cloth curtains, the faint sounds of a conversation flowing between Stacia and Alicia could be heard. Stacia’s crisp, small laughter occasionally broke the silence of the night, which was then immediately followed by a chiming response from Alicia in a calmer and more measured tone. The two of them were discussing the depiction of their next destination city, the capital of the Earth Human Empire which, according to various literary documents and rumors, was described as an incredibly grand megacity. It was a place surrounded by fortress walls dozens of meters high, filled with massive transcontinental market complexes, the headquarters of the largest adventurer guilds, and a region surrounded by high-level dungeon labyrinths that human knights had not been able to fully conquer to this day. The atmosphere inside the carriage felt so warm, intimate, and full of the familiar aura of a small family, presenting a very sharp contrast to the darkness and silence of the quiet wilderness outside.

Sylvia listened to every word and laughed from her two companions while curling a very faint, subtle smile beneath her gray hoodie hood. A peaceful night journey like this always succeeded in giving her a rare and precious kind of soul tranquility. The dewy night wind brushed the strands of her black hair that framed her porcelain-white face, channeling a sensation of freshness that cleared her mind of the lingering emotional tension after days full of bloody action inside the dimensional rift. The golden cat beside her occasionally raised its small head, sniffing the night air with its pink nose as if it too were enjoying the freedom of the night wind, before finally curling back up to find the most comfortable position near Sylvia.

Meanwhile, at the exact same time, far behind their current position inside the grand residence complex belonging to Lord Harlan located in the elite district of downtown Silvermist the atmosphere created was on a completely opposite pole. The silence of the night in that place was shattered into pieces by a storm of emotion.

BRAAAKKK!

A very loud and high-powered slamming sound echoed brutally, bouncing between the high walls of Lord Harlan’s private study, which were lined with expensive oak panels. The main desk, carved from hundreds-of-years-old mahogany wood, vibrated violently after being struck by the armored fist of the regional ruler. Due to the force of the impact, several important military report documents, a stack of dimensional rift files, and a silver inkwell toppled over, spilling pitch-black liquid that flowed and stained the surface of the gleaming white marble floor.

Lord Harlan stood tall behind his messy desk. His face, which usually radiated the composure of a senior politician, was now flushed crimson, coursing with veins of anger bulging at his temples from a wrath that was on the verge of his rational control. His breath came in heavy gasps, his chest rising and falling in a rapid, irregular rhythm beneath his ermine-lined noble robes, which were usually arranged with perfectionist neatness.

Right in front of him, separated only by the messy desk, the figure of the old head butler stood with his body bowing incredibly deeply, almost forming a ninety-degree angle. Extreme fear had left the entire back of his expensive black suit drenched in cold sweat. The old man’s knees trembled violently, emitting a faint creaking joint sound as if his bones were no longer able to support his own body weight due to the massive mental pressure.

"Fool! You are truly a very foolish and useless old creature, Oldman!" barked Lord Harlan with a volume that thundered like a lightning strike in a storm season, making the window panes of the study vibrate lowly.

"I have repeatedly even before that exploration mission began emphasized to you to treat those three girls with the highest level of respect this city can offer! I told you very clearly that they are not just ordinary adventurers, but extraordinary Rank A hunters, or even Rank S legendary existences in disguise! And what did you do with that old brain of yours?! You treated them in front of my gates like a group of low-class traveling merchants begging for a handout of coins from noble charity?! You did not invite them into the hall, you spoke in a highly disgusting, condescending tone, and you didn’t even have the basic decency to offer them a chair to sit on after they saved the future of this city!"

The old head butler lowered his body even further until his forehead almost touched the wooden edge of the desk, his voice trembling with absolute panic as he tried to defend himself. "L... Lord... please forgive my insolence... I... I truly thought from their outward appearance and clothes that they were only..."

"Thought?! You dare use your foolish assumptions and think of something outside of the written orders I issued?!" Lord Harlan struck the surface of his mahogany desk once more with an equally hard slam, DUKKK!

"You have destroyed the entire strategic plan that I built with such painstaking effort, Oldman! I had envisioned and designed a future where this city of Silvermist would gain a powerful alliance and allies from three independent S-rank hunters. Their presence in this city could help us maintain security stability if a dimensional rift suddenly exploded, while simultaneously becoming a magical attraction for thousands of talented adventurers from all over the continent to come and settle here! But you... you with all your deep-seated and rotting noble-class arrogance, have shattered that golden opportunity to pieces in a matter of minutes!"

Following that emotion-filled tirade of insults, the spacious study suddenly fell into an eerie silence for a few moments. Only the rough and heavy sound of Lord Harlan’s panting could be heard as he tried to suppress the remnants of his anger. The old head butler still did not dare raise his face even a fraction from the floor. Tears of pure regret and fear began to flow from his old eyes, dripping one by one onto the cold, ink-stained marble.

Lord Harlan let out a very heavy, long sigh, trying to restore his logical clarity as a leader. He began to pace back and forth with heavy steps behind his desk, his hands clasped tightly behind his back.

"In the past... I intentionally never fired you or demoted your position even though you often made administrative mistakes, all because I deeply respected my late father," Lord Harlan said in a tone that had now softened, yet was laden with deep disappointment. "You have served this grand family since I was still wearing children’s clothes. You are of the same generation as my father. But this time... this time your actions and arrogance have truly crossed the limit of what I can tolerate, Oldman."

Hearing that implicit verdict, the old head butler’s mental defenses collapsed completely. He immediately dropped his body, kneeling with both knees directly on the cold marble floor. His voice broke into a pathetic sob. "L... Lord... I beg for the greatest forgiveness... I... I swear by the name of my ancestors, I truly did not know that the intensity of their power could reach such a terrifying level when they released their aura..."

Lord Harlan stopped his pacing, looking at the figure of his old servant who was now prostrating on the floor with highly mixed emotions. There was a lingering burning anger, deep disappointment, and a bit of pity that arose due to their past history.

"First thing tomorrow morning, you yourself must handle and write an official letter of apology stamped with the gold wax seal of this city," Lord Harlan ordered in a cold, firm tone. "Then, prepare an additional heirloom chest from the secret warehouse, fill it with high-level magical potions and elemental gems. Deliver it all directly to the Silver Moon Inn where they are staying. Give them whatever they want so that our good relations can be restored. And from this split second onward, never again do you dare act or speak outside of the absolute commands that come out of my mouth."

"Yes... understood with my entire soul, My Lord..." the head butler replied in a hoarse voice.

Lord Harlan waved his right hand with a very tired and powerless motion. "Now, get out of my sight. I want to be alone."

The old head butler stood up with great difficulty, his bones clicking quietly as he forced his frail body upright. He stepped backward slowly toward the exit while repeatedly bowing his body as a final sign of respect.

Once the large wooden door of the study closed tightly with a soft click, Lord Harlan instantly slumped his entire body weight into his plush leather office chair. He rested his aching head against the back of the chair, then covered his entire face with his hands, which were trembling with frustration.

"A golden opportunity to bring this city toward an era of glory... lost just like that into the darkness," Lord Harlan muttered in a tone filled with deep bitterness. "Three hunters with independent S-rank potential... and I had to lose the chance to forge good diplomatic relations with them just because of the foolishness of an arrogant old servant."

However, behind all the recovery plans and gift preparations being designed inside his head, Lord Harlan was completely unaware of one crucial fact that had already occurred: that the luxurious room at the Silver Moon Inn was currently completely empty without a single occupant. Any form of official apology letter or valuable gifts he prepared tomorrow morning would never reach their target, because the three girls he feared had severed their ties with Silvermist city forever.

Meanwhile, at the same time, on the main highway whose position was already miles away from the outermost borders of the Silvermist territory, Sylvia’s merchant carriage continued to speed through the silence of the night with absolute tranquility.

Stacia parted the silk curtain of the carriage window, letting the cold night breeze blow a few strands of her beautiful gray hair. She stared back at the dark silhouette of the mountains receding behind them.

"If we calculate from the constant speed of our horses, our current position is already quite far from Silvermist’s jurisdiction," Stacia said with a noticeable tone of amusement. "The city and guild higher-ups there must be staying up late tonight, busy holding emergency meetings to discuss who our identities actually are."

Alicia, who sat across from her, smiled softly. She shifted her seating position closer, then with a spoiled movement, rested her silver-haired head on Stacia’s shoulder, enjoying the warmth of her companion’s body.

"Just let them drown in their own foolish speculations," Alicia said while playing with the tip of her finger in the air. "The most important thing is that we have successfully obtained what we wanted from this journey. The Mithril metal given by that old servant earlier, even though structurally its purity quality is highly ordinary in our eyes, at least still has a fairly good utility value if used as a base material for experiments in making golem structures or backup weaponry."

Sylvia, who was on the front driver’s seat, merely listened to every detail of her two companions’ conversation through the small connecting window without any intention to interrupt. Her right hand continued to move regularly, stroking the soft fur of the golden cat who was now fast asleep on her lap. She could feel the stable, constant vibration of the turning carriage wheels, the caress of the cool night wind on her face, and a feeling of pure freedom that once again seeped into her chest after successfully escaping a city whose environment was starting to feel too suffocating due to being filled with public attention and surveillance.

To a Nocture Queen, being under the spotlight was an inefficient thing.

"If we continue to maintain a constant speed without making unnecessary stops in small transit towns, we will arrive at the outer gates of the Earth Human Empire’s capital in about three to four days," Sylvia said quietly, her cold voice cutting through the whistling night wind with perfect clarity. "Upon arrival there, we can begin to build everything back from scratch with new identities if necessary. We can continue our vending activities in a larger market, explore actual high-level dungeon labyrinths to trigger our system level-ups, while simultaneously gathering more valid intelligence information regarding the existence of ancient seals and other primordial sacred beasts that might be hidden within the human emperor’s domain."

Hearing the words ’sacred beast’, the golden cat who had been fast asleep suddenly opened its round amber eyes. It looked up, staring directly at Sylvia’s face as if it understood the entire contents of that complex conversation line. The creature then let out a short, spoiled purr, then rubbed the side of its head against Sylvia’s right arm with a very possessive movement, as if emphasizing that it was the best sacred beast to ever exist.

The night moved even deeper toward its peak. The glow of the stars in the black sky seemed to burn even brighter and clearer, as if the entire universe were giving its blessing and welcoming the new Chapter of the journey that the three girls would undertake. The mysterious merchant carriage continued to speed at high velocity, cutting through the darkness, leaving two deep tracks of wheel prints on the wide dirt surface of the road, moving without hesitation toward the new destiny awaiting them in the imperial capital.