"You suddenly became nervous after entering this room with me." Neil said while walking closer.

"I only thought hubby must still have many concerns remaining tonight." She replied softly.

"That part is true enough." Neil answered.

"Then perhaps you should rest early and preserve energy." She added respectfully.

Neil reached her and placed both hands at her waist before drawing her gently closer.

"What if resting early is not what I want tonight?" He asked quietly.

Her face warmed instantly, though she still met his eyes.

"Then this wife will naturally do as hubby wishes." She replied in a low voice.

Neil always found that kind of answer dangerous in its own way.

He lowered his head and kissed her slowly. Ileana responded with gentle softness at first, but tonight there was more feeling in the way she held him, more eagerness hidden beneath her usual modesty. The concern she had carried since evening seemed to be turning into affection now that they were alone together.

When the kiss ended, she remained close instead of stepping away.

"You truly worried that much about tomorrow?" Neil asked quietly.

"I did worry greatly, because whenever hubby walks toward danger calmly, this wife can only watch and wait helplessly." She replied honestly.

Neil’s expression softened after hearing those words.

"Then tonight you do not need to think about tomorrow anymore." He said.

He kissed her again, longer this time, while guiding her gently toward the bed. Ileana followed obediently, her hands resting on his shoulders, trusting and warm. The rest of the night passed in tenderness, laughter, whispered words, soft touches, and the kind of closeness that made time lose meaning.

She was noticeably more passionate than usual throughout the night, no longer hiding every feeling behind silence or embarrassment. Several times she clung to him tightly as if trying to keep him there through the next day as well.

Whenever Neil teased her for being bold tonight, she only buried her face against him shyly before returning to him moments later with the same affection.

The night stretched far later than either had intended when it first began.

By the time they finally rested, Ileana was asleep beside him with one hand lightly over his chest, while Neil remained awake briefly and thought about tomorrow’s unknown event.

Eventually sleep claimed him as well.

***

Morning arrived too quickly and with very poor manners.

Knocking sounds came from outside the bedroom door while sunlight had barely begun entering through the curtains.

"Lord Neil, the escort has arrived and requests your presence soon." A guard called respectfully from outside.

Neil opened his eyes slowly while Ileana stirred beside him.

"It is morning already somehow?" She asked quietly while sitting up.

"Unfortunately morning has no mercy today." Neil replied while rising from bed.

She helped prepare his clothes after he washed, her movements calm and practiced, though the concern in her eyes had already returned the moment she fully woke.

When they stepped outside, the domain was already active with movement. Guards were changing shifts, subjects carried supplies, and several people had gathered near the gate because Mob stood there like a victorious lunatic.

He looked terrible in every possible way.

His eyes were red, his hair resembled a nest, and his posture suggested one strong wind might end him permanently.

Yet in both hands he held a newly crafted device with immense pride.

"Lord, I have completed the improved bell exactly as commanded before sunrise." He announced.

Neil walked closer and examined it carefully. The object resembled a bell only in purpose, because its body was forged from layered metal rings engraved with symbols and fitted with crystal nodes at several points. Thin channels connected everything in intricate patterns.

"You truly did not sleep at all during the night." Neil said while studying him.

"Sleep would have delayed greatness and necessary progress." Mob replied proudly.

Leon approached from behind and snorted loudly.

"Greatness currently smells terrible and looks half dead." Leon remarked.

Mob ignored him completely and hurried toward the gate. With exaggerated care and dramatic seriousness, he removed the old bell and mounted the new one above the entrance frame.

The moment it settled properly, a faint pulse spread through the wall structure itself. Several crystal nodes lit softly and then stabilized.

Mob looked ready to collapse, yet still forced himself to explain proudly.

"It is now connected to boundary pressure, nearby movement, hostile intent fluctuations, sudden force emergence, stealth displacement, and unusual spatial disturbances around the domain." He declared rapidly.

Neil nodded with visible approval after hearing enough.

"You truly did well with this creation." He said sincerely.

Those words revived Mob more than sleep ever could.

"Continue improving it after resting properly today." Neil added.

Mob straightened instantly despite swaying slightly.

"I shall sleep only after drafting future designs." He declared.

"You shall sleep immediately after fainting in ten seconds." Leon replied.

Even Bob laughed loudly after hearing that exchange.

Neil then turned toward Ileana once more.

She stepped closer and carefully adjusted his collar though it clearly needed no adjustment at all. Her fingers lingered slightly longer than necessary.

"Hubby should eat before leaving anywhere important." She said softly.

"I am attending an event, not marching into war." Neil replied.

"Even so, hubby should still eat properly first." She answered.

Fay had already prepared food, so Neil quickly ate while everyone watched like he was departing for battle.

Afterward, Ileana walked with him to the gate and stopped there beside him.

"You do not need to escort me this far." Neil said quietly.

"This wife wished to accompany hubby until the last step possible." She replied.

He looked at her for a moment before touching her cheek gently.

"I will return safely later today." He promised.

"I know hubby intends to return safely, but this wife still worries." She answered honestly.

"If something troublesome appears, I will simply break through it." Neil replied.

She nodded and lowered her head slightly.

"Then please come back soon and without injury." She said softly.

Neil gave a final glance toward everyone gathered there, then stepped beyond the domain and followed the waiting guard through Settlement Number 1.

***

The city looked even grander under morning light than it had the previous night. Towering buildings of alloy metal and glass rose in layered heights toward the sky, linked by suspended bridges and moving pathways between structures.

Vehicles without wheels glided along marked lanes smoothly while flying carriers crossed overhead in organized streams carrying cargo and passengers.

Robotic workers cleaned roads, delivered goods, repaired walls, and guided traffic with precise efficiency.

Humans, beastkin, scaled races, horned races, and stranger species walked openly through the streets. Expensive clothing mixed with armor, technology mixed with primitive weapons, wealth mixed with visible brutality.

The entire settlement felt like a place where civilization and danger had learned to cooperate profitably.

Neil was led once more into the grand central structure where Randy had previously received him.

The enormous hall was already active with movement and authority. Guards stood in polished ranks, servants moved quickly between groups, floating displays projected shifting information, and several richly dressed young lords waited near the center.

Randy himself was reclining sideways on a seat clearly meant for formal dignity, which he had somehow turned into mockery through posture alone.

He was eating fruit from a skewer while talking to nobody in particular.

"You are late again despite my generous scheduling." Randy said immediately upon seeing Neil.

"The escort came before sunrise and I arrived promptly." Neil replied calmly.

"That sounds suspiciously like late with excuses." Randy answered.

Neil ignored him and instead studied the others present nearby.

There were several young lords besides himself, each carrying strong auras and the practiced arrogance of privileged backgrounds. Some wore elegant combat suits, some ceremonial robes, while others displayed expensive armor polished beyond reason.

All of them glanced at Neil with curiosity because Randy had personally invited him.

One narrow-eyed youth looked Neil over dismissively.

"So this outsider is the special guest everyone mentioned earlier?" He asked.

Before Neil could answer, Randy flicked a fruit seed casually without turning.

The seed struck the young lord’s forehead hard enough to make him stagger backward painfully. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"No barking before travel time begins today." Randy said while continuing to eat fruit.

Silence followed immediately after that display.

Neil had once again learned that Randy’s playful manner meant absolutely nothing about his danger.

Soon everyone was directed toward a circular chamber deeper within the structure. Rings of metal surrounded the room, while the floor was covered in glowing patterns and embedded crystals.

"Try not to scream during transit because it ruins atmosphere." Randy said cheerfully.

The symbols ignited before anyone answered him.

Reality twisted strangely around them.

Neil felt his body become weightless and stretched, as if every cell had become threads of light rushing through an invisible tunnel. Then the sensation ended so abruptly that it felt like being dropped back into existence.

They emerged somewhere else entirely.

Settlement Number 50 waited beyond the chamber doors.

When Neil stepped outside, he understood immediately that this settlement differed greatly from Randy’s domain city. Settlement Number 1 had felt polished, advanced, and almost unreal in how futuristic it appeared. Settlement Number 50 felt more practical, more commercial, and far busier in every direction.

Its buildings were broader and sturdier rather than sleek. Dark alloy stone, reinforced metal, heavy glass, and industrial structures dominated the skyline.

Wide roads spread through the city like arteries packed with movement and noise.

Everywhere there was life.

Merchants shouted from elevated stalls, transport carts rolled past carrying goods and weapons, floating platforms served as taxis, guards marched in organized groups, and visitors from many races filled the streets in astonishing numbers.

❖❖❖

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