September 30th, Friday.

Inside a small house in the southern district of Backlund Bridge, Freya was humming an unknown little tune that Aitris had taught her while packing her luggage.

This eighteen-year-old girl, who in the original story should have died along with her mother in last year’s great smog, now had a gradually healthier complexion thanks to improved living conditions, blooming with a charm that belonged to her alone.

As she tried hard to press commonly used items into her suitcase, the door was suddenly pushed open. Her younger sister, Daisy, who had just turned fifteen, rushed in energetically from outside.

"Daisy, since you’re back, come help out!" Freya called.

"Okay!" Daisy dropped her schoolbag and quickly ran over to her sister, helping smooth out the clothes and close the suitcase lid.

"How was school?" Freya asked casually.

Since she had followed her mother in converting to the Earth Mother, she could no longer attend the Church of Evernight’s free school.

However, her learning progress wasn’t slower than her sister’s, because Priest Emlyn and Pastor Hazel of the Harvest Church—and even the newly arrived priest Onnes—would kindly guide her in their spare time. Not to mention the private lessons Aitris had given her before.

"The school received donations from the ’Film Charity Foundation,’ so the conditions are much better than before... but I didn’t apply for the special subsidy for poor students... Compared to our family, those classmates still living in the East Borough need that money more!" Daisy said, then added somewhat nervously, "Freya, don’t tell Mom."

"Daisy, you’re right... The ’Mother’ teaches us not to be overly greedy. After moving out of the East Borough and receiving the protection of Bishop Utravsky and Sheriff Fasin, we can safely use the inheritance Dad left behind that Aitris brought back...

"Even though our income isn’t high, compared to before when we washed clothes day and night, it’s already much better. We shouldn’t take that subsidy meant for poor students.

"And don’t worry, Mom is also a believer of the ’Mother.’ She listens to the bishop’s teachings often, so she won’t oppose your decision." Freya patted her sister’s head.

Daisy widened her eyes. "Freya, you sound so refined now... Did Brother Aitris teach you that?"

Freya’s face flushed slightly, but she forced herself to stay calm. "That’s because I’ve gained more experience! So on this trip to Beldan City, you have to observe and learn more—it’ll definitely broaden your horizons."

At the mention of traveling to Beldan, Daisy’s expression turned dreamy. "I heard Viscount Ebner Bryan rented many airships to take us ’winners’ to tour his territory...

"That’s an airship... I might only get to ride one once in my entire life..."

As she spoke, her eyes seemed to sparkle.

Freya smiled. "Our lives will definitely get better and better. We’ll ride them twice, three times, or even more!"

After sitting on either side of the luggage and chatting about their hopes for a while, Daisy suddenly came back to her senses. Rolling her eyes playfully, she asked, "I remember Viscount Ebner Bryan is Aitris’s friend... Do you think we won the ’survey questionnaire’ because of brother-in-law’s connections?"

"Maybe... After all, Aitris’s family also won, it’s just that he hasn’t come back yet..." Freya nodded, then immediately realized the trap in her sister’s words. She stopped herself and lightly smacked Daisy on the back. "Once we’re on the airship, don’t say nonsense like that in front of Mrs. Fasin."

"But I think Mrs. Fasin quite likes you?" Daisy asked in confusion.

"For some things, if they’re not confirmed yet, don’t say them out loud, or it’ll make you seem frivolous..."

While the sisters were talking, the door was pushed open again. Their mother, Mrs. Liv, who had gone to pray at the Harvest Church, returned.

This laundress no longer had the fierce and rough demeanor she had in the East Borough, though she was still capable and efficient. And thanks to improved living conditions, she looked much younger than before.

After all, being only in her thirties but looking like she was in her fifties had never been normal.

"Freya, is your luggage packed? If it is, hurry up and come out with Daisy!

"The kind Priest Onnes lent us a carriage to take us to the airship station.

"Also, bring some dry food... Even though Mrs. Fasin said the airship provides free meals, what if it doesn’t? Then we’ll eat our own..."

Hearing Mrs. Liv’s loud voice, Freya and Daisy didn’t dare delay. One dragged the luggage while the other ran to the kitchen to grab dry food. Soon, they met their mother at the door and boarded a rather luxurious-looking carriage.

The three of them rode all the way to the square where the airships were docked, and there they saw the massive vessel—dozens of meters long, colored in deep blue and pure white.

Seeing an airship up close for the first time, Daisy and Mrs. Liv both stood there with their mouths wide open in astonishment. Only the "worldly" Freya calmly handed over her "ticket" to the staff and led her still-dazed mother and sister up the gangway into the cabin.

—Aitris had previously taken Freya on an outing where they rode an airship once.

The interior of the cabin resembled that of a ship, divided into three levels. The top level housed complex mechanical devices and cargo storage. The middle level had a hall where buffet banquets and dances could be held, surrounded by lounges and passageways leading to the upper and lower levels. As for the bottom level, it had originally been a machine gun room, ammunition storage, artillery positions, and quarters for soldiers.

But since Ebner rented the airships for commercial use and all routes were domestic, no soldiers or ammunition were carried, leaving space for more passengers.

The cabin assigned to Freya’s family corresponded to what used to be the soldiers’ quarters. They didn’t mind—after all, the lounges and ballroom on the second level were clearly meant for important figures. They would feel even more uncomfortable being placed there.

Since it was still early before departure, there weren’t many people inside the airship yet... Those important figures always liked to arrive at the last minute, unlike commoners like them who feared missing it and came early.

However, Freya soon ran into someone she knew in a small café converted from the ammunition storage.

"Melissa?" Freya called out in surprise.

They had both helped out during the premiere of "Bryan Film Company," so they recognized each other.

Melissa had come with her brother Benson. They had also "won" after filling out the survey questionnaire. However, when boarding, Benson seemed to have spotted someone on the upper level. After settling their luggage, he hurried off to the ballroom upstairs.

Melissa had just been about to pick up a book to study when she heard someone call her name. She looked up and saw Freya approaching with her sister.

Meeting an acquaintance unexpectedly naturally brought joy. The three girls quickly began chatting excitedly.

Of course, most of the time it was Melissa explaining the structure and principles of the airship, while Freya and Daisy listened attentively.

Daisy, in particular, seemed extremely interested in mechanical creations, which made Melissa even more enthusiastic in her explanations.

Only when the airship took off and the free dinner began did they reluctantly stop.

At that moment, Melissa noticed her brother Benson still hadn’t returned, so she planned to go upstairs to find him. Freya also wanted to greet Mrs. Fasin, so she decided to go along.

In the ballroom on the second level of the airship, Mrs. Fasin, pushing a baby carriage, was chatting with another lady who was also pushing a baby carriage. They seemed to be exchanging parenting experiences.

"Vilma, your son is so lively. Look at the way he’s staring at the ice cream tray—he’s absolutely adorable."

Vilma, Dr. Allen’s wife, looked lovingly at her young son and complimented the other’s daughter. "This must be Tolzna, right? She looks so quiet—she’ll definitely grow into a lady no less charming than the ’Most Beautiful Gem.’"

"You flatter her..."

While the two mothers exchanged compliments, the babies in their respective carriages subtly exchanged glances:

"You left Backlund too?"

"Of course. If I didn’t leave, Amon wouldn’t feel at ease making his little moves..."

"Isn’t that a bit too deliberate?"

"It is deliberate, but the more deliberate it is, the less Amon will suspect anything... After all, Amon is currently, on the surface, in an alliance with him.

"For him to actively withdraw all his forces is clearly meant to be shown to Amon."

"But I still think it’s useless... Amon won’t truly relax because of that."

"At least the priority will drop... And as he once taught me, this is mixing truth with falsehood, reality with illusion. Only when even you don’t fully understand the meaning behind your own actions can you truly deceive Amon."

"As expected, my student Reinette Tinekerr was right... You people who play with ’fate’ are all a bunch of—"

"Speak..."

"Half of it..."

"Leave half unsaid..."

"Charlatans..."

...

(End of Chapter)