[Location: Bell Federation - Duchy of Yibel - Border of Lancaster Territory]
Ning Ruyu felt a severe headache.
In a daze, he could still hear someone urgently shouting beside him.
"Young Master, wake up, we've arrived at the Lancaster Territory."
Ning Ruyu reluctantly opened his eyes, drowsily looking at the old man in front of him.
A crisp white shirt, black vest and bow tie, a neatly pressed tailcoat, straight black trousers, and shiny black leather shoes. His hair was meticulously combed, and his posture was always upright.
A strict and serious old housekeeper.
This was Ning Ruyu's first impression of the old man.
"Young Master Kael, we're almost at the Lancaster Territory. You can start preparing to get off the carriage."
Newly awakened, Ning Ruyu slowly rose from the carriage seat cushion, rubbed his temples, and the chaotic memories in his mind, which had been sorted out through the night, were finally thoroughly absorbed.
A jumble of thoughts and the stabbing pain in his brain intertwined...
I am Ning Ruyu—a professional player of the next-generation virtual online game "Gate of the Netherworld," under the guild "Strange Power Chaos God."
I am Kael.D.Helois—a Mixed Blood Incubus in the Human Kingdom's Bell Federation, Duchy of Yibel, who, due to insufficient legitimacy, was fleeing to his father's fief.
At this moment, two became one.
It felt like a damn dream!
He tightly clutched the corner of his clothes, his slender fingers showing a bit of unhealthiness, his face pale like cold jade.
He had to accept one thing: he... had transmigrated!
Transmigrated into the number one work of the Human Federation's virtual game leaderboard, "Gate of the Netherworld," back to before the game launched.
However, after a whole night of crammed memories, when he stood up, he felt his brain buzzing and terribly aching.
Before transmigrating, he had been leading the core members of the guild in an all-night battle against another nation. As a result, their allied guild had an unexpected incident, causing a massive group wipe that caught them off guard.
The pain from the death penalty mechanism and the frustration from their unreliable allies made his body suddenly grow cold. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself transmigrated.
Kael frowned, a memory of Old White surfacing in his mind.
Old White was the old housekeeper his father, Anthony.D.Charles, had taken from the family before leaving.
This old housekeeper had served Anthony since he was a child. Now that Anthony had a son, his service had extended to Kael.
The original body was naturally weak, and with Anthony's job in the strongest legion of the Duchy, the "Lion Heart Battle Group," he often had heavy tasks and seldom returned home.
Therefore, Old White, who had watched Kael grow up and cared deeply about him, handled most of Kael's daily needs.
Transmigrating into "Gate of the Netherworld," he didn't know whether it was fortunate or unfortunate.
It was fortunate in one way—his original body's status was neither too high nor too low. Although he was an illegitimate child and had Incubus blood, which was poorly regarded among humans, he had a loving baron father who ensured he had no worries about food and clothing and wasn't much bullied.
But the unfortunate things were numerous.
The grand background of "Gate of the Netherworld" was far from a peaceful era. Not to mention the natives, even the players faced countless hardships, living like ordinary NPCs re-spawning in a land of suffering every day.
Getting killed repeatedly by NPCs at the resurrection point over a chicken they had killed was normal.
Let alone seeking a haven of peace as chaos descended upon the world, which was incredibly difficult.
Of course, if it were just that, Kael might not have been so troubled.
His biggest issue now was that his father, who shielded him from the wind and rain, was probably gone.
Thinking of this, he looked up at Old White and asked in a low voice, "Grandpa White, what is the situation with Father now?"
Old White had hurriedly awakened Kael last night, brought the coachman and maids overnight, spent over 200 demon crystals, used the Mage Association's teleportation array to travel to the border city, bought horses, carriages, and led the group out of the city—surely something major had happened.
Until now, the loyal old housekeeper's expression only relaxed slightly.
Obviously, the problem was with his father, who had been missing for two nights.
Hearing his young master's question, Old White said, "We're already close to the Lancaster Territory. The problem shouldn't be too big. Are you confused about why we are rushing to Master Anthony's fiefdom overnight?"
"Yes... We've been hurrying along without a proper rest, it's impossible not to worry."
What kind of reason necessitated the immediate return of a noble's only heir to his father's fiefdom?
Kael had his suspicions.
Old White nodded, lowering his voice, "The other day, Master Anthony sent a secret letter through someone. It said that the Lion Heart Battle Group had received intelligence about traces of an Evil God ritual in a nearby town, so he led a team to investigate.
Before leaving, Master Anthony was worried about the danger of the mission and the possibility of not returning. Concerned that you might be bullied in the Royal Capital and couldn't take care of yourself, he asked me to bring you back to the fiefdom to wait for an opportunity."
Kael slightly frowned, then chuckled a moment later, "I suppose that's not all, is it?"
Old White didn't hide anything and nodded, "It is indeed also related to the Charles family. The Earl Rezhe has always harbored ill feelings towards you. If Master Anthony is alright, then all is well."
Thinking of some troubling matters, Old White's face became even more serious, "But if an accident happens, Master Anthony cannot trust your safety to the mercy of those family members."