Above Moxi Island, a blinding blue light suddenly appeared, so intense that even the people in Alcos City could see it.
As the light faded, a dark blue airship emerged. The vessel was enormous, stretching three hundred meters long, with an eagle's head sculpted at its front.
Eldric looked around anxiously and asked, "Is everyone okay?".
Aiden, having a little bit of unbalance, replied, "Yeah, I think we're okay."
Saya, brushing dust off her clothes, added with a small smile, "All good here."
Hu Zhao stretched, cracking his neck as he spoke with a relaxed grin, "Same here."
Relief washed over the group as they began to stand, looking down at Alcos City. A wave of happiness swept through them as they realized they had survived. Cheers erupted among them, and a few hugged each other, the weight of their ordeal lifting.
From the ship's bridge, a man appeared and began descending the stairs. He looked young, perhaps in his twenties, with light blonde hair and a yellow suit that resembled an astronaut's outfit. His blue eyes were as clear as the sky, and he was strikingly handsome, though the red arms of the suit he wore added an intriguing contrast.
Looking at Eldric, Edvard's expression changed and showed clear irritation. "You bastard!, We got out of the caves, returned to the ship, and then you disappeared without a word!"
Eldric with an almost sheepish smile answered, "Don't be like that, Edvard, I saw some suspicious people heading toward the formation, so I followed them. Next thing I knew, I was teleported to a flying island."
Edvard let out a frustrated sigh, "You... You know, I've lost count of how many times I've saved you since we met. It always starts with you causing chaos and me having to clean up your mess. People call you the Professor, but if they knew who you really are, they'd have called you something far less flattering a long time ago."
Eldric chuckled softly, "Come on, Edvard, we have guests right now", he immediately turned to Aiden and said, "Aiden, I'd like you to meet Edvard, He is one of my longtime friends"
Edvard who knew what his friend was trying to do immediately stopped him, "Don't try to change subject you bastard".
Eldric continued to ignore him as he walked away and said, "Okay then. Let's discuss this after we find Lora and return home."
Edvard's expression softened slightly, though he still seemed annoyed. "Yeah, you go adventuring, and I'll go find your precious girl," he muttered, shaking his head.
Eldric nodded, as a serious look crossed his face. and he said firmly.
"For now, let's head down to Alcos City."
The group that had overheard their conversation sighed in relief, glad that the heated exchange had ended and they were finally moving towards the city. Aiden took a moment to survey the survivors. Out of the original seven hundred thousand people, only about fifty remained.
He then noticed Dian Long, who had stayed with them throughout the ordeal. Aiden grew curious about him, but Dian Long seemed uninterested, letting out a long sigh as a look of annoyance settled on his face.
"It seems I'm going to be stuck with all of you for a very long time," Dian Long muttered, his tone filled with resignation.
Aiden turned to Dian Long, his curiosity piqued as he watched the dragon spirit inspect the ship. "Hey, little dragon, how come you didn't disappear like Charles? I thought you were also connected to the magic source, and without it, you wouldn't be able to maintain your spirit form."
Dian Long's eyes flared with indignation as he whipped around to face Aiden, his voice booming with fury. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING LITTLE?!" he roared.
"I am the greatest dragon spirit this world will ever know! And who said I was connected to the magic source? I was merely using mana to attack those who overstepped. My life source is inside that."
He pointed to the gold ring Charles had given Aiden earlier. Aiden raised an eyebrow, his interest deepening as he studied the ring.
"Don't open it here," Dian Long warned him, "Wait until there are only people you trust, and then I'll explain everything. I don't want anyone to see it."
"Hmm," Aiden murmured, nodding thoughtfully. "Okay. It better be interesting, or I'll be greatly disappointed."
Hu Zhao, who had been looking around with wide-eyed curiosity, stepped closer, his excitement bubbling over.
"I can't wait to see how the world has changed after all those years on the floating island," Hu Zhao said, his voice filled with eager anticipation.
Eldric approached Aiden, his expression thoughtful as he asked, "So, Aiden, where do you plan to go now?"
"Of course, back to my mansion," Aiden replied nonchalantly, glancing over at him.
Eldric shook his head, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "I don't mean that," he clarified, his tone more serious. "What's your next step after all this?"
Aiden paused, then smiled confidently, his eyes locking with Eldric's. "I'm going after that damn lizard and cooking him for dinner," he declared, his voice full of determination.
_____________________________________________________
Alcos City, a a big city with a large harbor in the eastern district, connected it to the rest of the world. The harbor could accommodate up to a hundred large airships.
People gathered to watch as the blue ship, which had appeared earlier in the sky, gently landed on the sea's surface. Passengers began to disembark, their presence drawing curious onlookers.
Aiden, accompanied by Dian Long, Hu Zhao, Edvard, Edvard, and the unconscious Seath, made his way to his mansion in the northern part of the city.
"So," Aiden said, his tone laced with frustration as he turned behind, "Why are you all following me? Don't you have somewhere better to go?"
Dian Long let out an exasperated sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I can't help it," he admitted, sounding resigned. "I'm stuck with you."
Hu Zhao grinned, clearly amused by Aiden's irritation. "I've been on that flying island for over two hundred years," he explained cheerfully. "I need someone to teach me the common sense of the current age. Also, I heard you have good snacks, and I want to try them."
Eldric chuckled, his gaze fixed on Aiden. "I'm interested in you, Aiden. That's why I'm following," he said, his tone light, though his eyes were serious.
Edvard sighed, rolling his eyes as he shrugged. "I'm following this guy," he said, pointing toward Eldric, "to make sure he doesn't cause any more problems."
Aiden didn't respond, his annoyance growing by the second. He decided it wasn't worth arguing and just continued walking towards his mansion.
Meanwhile, Alex, along with Lyssia, the other chairmen, Nolan, and Alexa, made their way towards the Adventurer's Guild HQ to stabilize Kathy's condition. Saya, Emelia, her father, the second prince, Saifon, and George also accompanied them, to discuss the situation.
As Aiden and his group walked through the bustling streets of the city, they finally reached his mansion.
Two guards stationed at the entrance straightened up as they saw Aiden approaching. "Young Master, you're back," they greeted him in unison, their voices filled with respect.
Aiden just nodded, his gaze focused as he asked, "Is Diss in the mansion?"
One of the guards hesitated, his expression faltering. "Err..."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, "Where is Diss?" he asked, his tone firm and commanding.
The guard swallowed nervously before replying, "Sir... Boss Di—I mean, butler Diss is in the mansion, but he has some guests."
"Guests?" Aiden repeated, his voice laced with suspicion.
"Yes... Some Who...young ladies came to visit butler Diss," the guard explained, his voice a bit shaky while trying to not look straight at Aiden.
Aiden started smiling but with a vein throbbed on his forehead. The others behind him burst out laughing as they overheard the exchange.
Dian Long chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "That's one interesting butler you have, Aiden. Hahahaha!"
Hu Zhao joined in, grinning widely. "Didn't know you hired people who like to play around in your house. Hahaha!"
Aiden's chose to ignore them, walking through the gates, past the lake, and heading directly toward the mansion.
"Diss!" Aiden called out, his voice echoing through the mansion's grand halls. "Where are you?"
For a moment, there was no response. Aiden knew that Diss had been a gangster in the past, so it wasn't entirely surprising that he would indulge in some "fun" when Aiden was away. But using Aiden's house for it? That was another story.
What made it worse was the laughter from the four behind him, who were struggling to contain their amusement as they eagerly awaited Diss's appearance.
Finally, Diss appeared at the top of the staircase, his butler uniform slightly disheveled, and dark circles under his eyes indicating a lack of sleep. He hurried down the stairs, trying to compose himself as he approached Aiden.
"Young Master Aiden," Diss began, a weary smile on his face as he bowed slightly. "You're finally back. My apologies for not greeting you sooner; I was busy...cleaning the house."
Aiden looked at Diss, his anger barely contained as he forced a smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "You must be tired, then," he said, his voice very calm. "How about this: I'll give you a big reward for all your hard work."
Diss's face brightened at the mention of a reward. Despite his exhaustion, he showed eagerness to hear what his reward would be.
"Thank you, Young Master,"
Aiden's smile grew wider, though it was more sinister than kind. "I've decided to take you on an adventure with me," he announced, his tone laced with irony. "As a reward for your loyalty and bravery. It'll be an adventure you'll remember for the rest of your life."
Diss's face fell, the color draining from his cheeks as the reality of Aiden's "reward" sank in. His lips trembled as he tried to force a smile, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Th-thank...you...young...master,".