"Toot, toot!"

The piercing sound of the horn echoed.

This loud noise shattered the morning's tranquility, marking the start of a new day.

With the shrill sound of the horn.

The entire port city began to operate.

As if it were the morning alarm clock, the crowing of a rooster at dawn.

Kane and Kreya stepped onto the balcony outside the cruise ship's room.

Due to the cruise ship's height, from their vantage point on the balcony, they could perfectly overlook the entire port city.

After more than ten days of sailing.

They had finally reached the port city of Lantern Territory.

It's said that now it's called Rescue Harbor.

When Kane and others left, the city was just starting to rejuvenate from a desolate place.

At that time, construction was ongoing everywhere, and abandoned houses were being reused.

Public facilities were being renovated.

Unsuitable buildings were being demolished.

Even the completely ruined port had just been rebuilt.

After all, if it weren't for the port, this city wouldn't have been revitalized.

And now?

The port has become extremely vast, the area of the port alone seems to have reached a quarter of the city.

Various large mechanical buildings are installed here.

Not far from the port, there is a massive construction.

Arched by the seaside, it's the only shipyard in Lantern Territory, naturally the best shipyard.

It's said that a self-developed new generation of ocean-going ships will soon be launched.

Kane hasn't really looked into it, he just occasionally hears news while resting and drinking in the Guild Hall.

It's undeniable that as a King and a lord, he doesn't know much about his own power.

Similarly, he doesn't pay much attention to various detailed policies.

He really acts like a hands-off manager.

It's because of the Guild system and his identity as the Controller of the Platinum Country.

Otherwise, his power might have long been undermined.

But thinking about it, this is after all a transcendent world where strength is supreme.

At this time, the large cruise ship carrying Kane and others docked.

Making the whole port start operating.

First, various staff began to receive the refugees from the ship.

Outside, many vehicles were already prepared.

These vehicles would transport the refugees to surrounding cities.

Many of the once Kingdom cities around are now empty.

They are ideal places to settle these refugees.

Every previously abandoned city now exudes a thriving atmosphere.

Working for themselves allows these refugees to settle more stably and develop a sense of belonging.

Of course, necessary patrols can't be omitted.

And the somewhat familiar refugees who have been here earlier also participate.

As fellow refugees, they can better calm the emotions of those who have just arrived in the new land.

In just a month, Lantern Territory has cultivated enough personnel and developed a complete procedure for refugees.

Once all the refugees disembarked.

Kane and the others then disembarked the ship.

Kane made the officials who wanted to greet them leave, as he disliked these pointless gestures.

Unpleasant and also a waste of time.

With the entire ship emptied.

Many porters and various large machines began loading all sorts of goods into the ship's hold.

By the next morning.

The cargo-laden cruise ship would set sail again.

Currently, ocean-going ships are limited, almost all manufactured by Kane some time ago.

So, they need to be fully utilized.

Perhaps when the ships from the shipyard hit the sea, this process will be eased.

"Ding ding ding ding!"

"Lilulu is here! Did you miss the lovely Lilulu?"

Kane and the others had not yet left the port when a burst of colorful fireworks suddenly flashed before them.

Emerging from the fireworks was none other than the already returned Lilulu.

"Sister Kreya, did you miss me?"

Lilulu directly hugged Kreya's neck, rubbing her cheek against Kreya's face as she asked.

"? Didn't we just meet yesterday?"

Longbei said inappropriately from the side.

"And… hmm hmm hmm?"

Longbei, intending to continue speaking, suddenly found himself unable to. Looking down, he saw his mouth was glued shut.

Covering his mouth with his hands, he could only make sounds through his nose.

"Hmph ╭(╯^╰)╮!"

The culprit, Lilulu, snorted, stopping Longbei from speaking.

And Kane could only helplessly pat Longbei on the shoulder.

"Why are you saying anything? Don't worry, usually, it should come off by itself in about half an hour."

As for helping Longbei, it's not that Kane didn't want to, it's just that no one present could do it.

There's no choice, Lilulu is already tri-color.

She's in her powerful stage now.

This was the wrong time for Longbei to provoke her, just running into the line of fire.

"Sigh, work on improving your strength, or you'll never stand tall before Lilulu."

Kane told Longbei again.

The two of them bicker all the time — now that Lilulu has leveled up in strength, Longbei will have to avoid provoking her until he catches up.

To Kane's words, Longbei merely clenched his fists in anger and made a frustrated nasal sound.

As Meizike passed by him, hearing Longbei's nasal sound, he simply nodded.

"Hmm, then work hard to improve."

With that, he followed Kreya, heading out of the port.

Meanwhile, the four undead trailing at the very end.

Didn't dare to even breathe loudly.

They distinctly felt the very same aura from Lilulu that was present on Facundo.

That was an Ascendant.

Looking at Kane, pointing and poking the forehead of this Ascendant.

Couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Fortunately, they have always been respectful to Kane and his group.

Feeling a sense of relief.

The group arrived at the train station, and Kane conjured a carriage to attach to the end of the train.

Following the departure of this train, the group began their return journey to the City of Two Realms.

The City of Two Realms is essentially the center of all forces under Kane's command.

Various important facilities and the central government are all located here.

The political core of the entire force.

Also the most advanced city.

"I wonder, after being away for so long, if there have been any changes in the City of Two Realms."

Kane sat by his seat, gazing out the window beside him.

They could have returned directly to the City of Two Realms through Lilu's Teleportation Gate.

But everyone wanted to see if there had been any changes in the territory after being away for so long.

After all, this was an emerging force, constantly changing almost all the time.

Even when the population was sparse, it kept developing.

Now, with more fresh blood joining, the entire force was brimming with vitality.

Being absent for several months, the changes during this time were enough to pique their curiosity.

Lilu, lying flat in Kreya's embrace, raised her head upon hearing Kane's words.

"Changes, what changes? Lilu has been back for so long and hasn't noticed anything."

Upon hearing Lilu's words, Kane gave her a sidelong glance.

You could only see changes if ghosts were involved.

Lilu always cared only about matters that interested her.

For things she didn't care about, she might even forget and only recall them when necessary.

With such a personality, how could you expect her to notice any changes?

"Annoying Kane, what kind of look is that? You seem to greatly underestimate Lilu."

Lilu flew in front of Kane, bumping her head against Kane's forehead.

Then, with her hands on her hips and a proud expression, she said, "Lilu is now the Fairy Tale Queen, the owner of the Fairy Tale World, and a tri-color level powerhouse. You should show more respect to Lady Lilu."

Lilu's arrogant words made the veins in Kane and the others' foreheads bulge.

Indeed.

Letting Lilu become the strongest in the team would surely drag everyone along.

She would keep flaunting until you caught up with her.

Even Kreya couldn't help but extend her hand, lift Lilu, and flick her hard on the forehead.

The group continued bickering until the train stopped at the station.

Upon disembarking, Kane waved his hand, and a floating disc appeared beneath his feet, lifting him into the sky.

However, they had just floated into the sky and hadn't had the chance to observe the changes in the City of Two Realms when three spheres flew up.

Saying spheres, they're more like cone-shaped objects.

With very pronounced muzzles on either side, a blue monocular eye moving side to side.

"The airspace over the City of Two Realms is a no-fly zone. Please immediately stop flying and land in place, presenting valid identification!"

A mechanical electronic synthesized voice emanated from within the sphere.

Then, blue rays were projected from their eyes, scanning the people on the disc.

"Beep! Identity confirmed! Highest clearance. Your Majesty! Welcome back!"

The rays' scan instantly compared and verified everyone's information against the robotic spheres.

Then the spheres flew downwards, no longer disturbing them.

There was curiosity in Kane's eyes.

These surveillance drones were once a casual idea of his, a simple construction whose blueprints were recorded later.

He remembered it should be kept in the laboratory.

How come it's now being used?

Could it be the work of Koboko?

No, the practical research difficulty of this thing isn't significant, especially with the presence of an Intelligent Core, it's even less so.

Koboko typically doesn't focus on such undemanding tasks.

Kane withdrew his thoughts and looked downward with everyone.

The City of Two Realms hasn't changed much compared to before.

The only change, perhaps, is that there's another track leading to the Platinum Country through the Cross Realm Gate.

Facilitating faster transportation of goods between the two sides.

Also, everywhere in the City of Two Realms, mechanical spheres hover. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

These cone-shaped mechanical Sentinels likely serve the function of soldier patrols.

You can also see patrol teams in the city wearing thin armor.

However, they are mostly in pairs now.

No need to detail more minor changes, as they don't significantly impact the broader environment.

At this moment, Kane seemed to sense something.

Even the four Undead behind them on the platform suddenly stirred.

Because they sensed it.

They sensed Facundo's presence.

Facundo felt Kane's return.

This signified that Kane had successfully completed the mission and brought back the target.

Facundo, who had long been anticipating, couldn't contain his excitement.

"It seems our employer is getting impatient, let's complete the mission first then."

Kane said, smiling, to Kreya and the others.

Then he controlled the disc beneath his feet, flying toward the cliff top of the City of Two Realms.

That is Kane's personal laboratory.

And Facundo's presence was emanating from there, waiting for them.

As the disc flew.

Above the Gate of Two Realms, on the cliff platform.

A figure dressed in a gray cloak, holding a gigantic skeletal Scepter, was standing there.

Scarlet eyes under the Cloak, staring straight at the group.

Kane controlled the disc to land in front of him.

Smiling, he stepped down.

A jade-like dark green skull appeared in his hand.

"Not failing to meet expectations, your body has been acquired, mission accomplished."

"Hahaha, worthy of you all, achieving the target in such a short time."