Black Online

The hover mobile flew between towering mountains, whose tops pierced through the clouds above like a knife.

The landscape below was a patchwork of vibrant greens and deep blues, dotted with shimmering lakes. It had a valley going between mountains.

There were some villagers moving about, with goats dragging behind some wagons and adults calling out to one another.

Then.

They saw the hover mobile flying over them, and they didn’t look surprised, as they had seen it many times before.

Inside the hover mobile.

"The fog... That damned fog."

Fang Raon wryly smiled.

He saw the fog coming from the other sides of the mountains, and knew that the Fang Village must be shrouded by it.

During this time of the year, the village was often shrouded in a fog so thick that it was really hard to see more than a few feet ahead.

"The fog is ahead."

The bodyguard, who was sitting next to the driver, said.

The driver nodded, and he pulled down a lever, and the hover mobile’s lights went on, which cleared the fog ahead.

It was special-made lights that could cut through even the thickest fog.

"We’re arriving."

The driver said.

In that moment.

The hover mobile flew over the first buildings of the village, and it was hard to see the village because of the fog, but it soon became clearer.

The village was small, yet charming with cobblestone streets and colorful buildings. The small rivers and streams that meandered through the village added to its picturesque quality.

There were a couple of wooden bridges that went over those rivers, and many couples could be seen strolling hand in hand.

’The Fang Village...’

Fang Raon thought to himself.

It was the first time that he’d seen this place with his own eyes, and he had to admit that it was really beautiful.

It was a place hidden from the world.

People knew that this place existed, but barely any pictures existed, and rarely any people ever visited.

Except those that Fang Family had invited personally.

The driver pulled down on the gear shift, and the hover mobile began to descend, and it was soon just a couple of meters above the ground.

It got a little lower... lower... until it finally touched down with a gentle bump.

"We will be taking your stuff to your room. Your room hasn’t been touched during all those years, so it should still feel the same."

One of the bodyguards said.

Fang Raon just nodded and stepped out of the hover mobile and came face-to-face with the beautiful mansion.

The rock ground under his feet was surprisingly smooth, as if these rocks were all the same size and shape.

"Young master!"

Walking over from the front door, Madam Furious smiled warmly and spread her arms wide for a hug.

"...Madam Furious?"

Fang Raon said in surprise as he recognized the voice and received a hug from the head maid of the mansion.

While his mother was absent in all of his childhood, it was Madam Furious who mostly took care of him.

Helping with homework, et cetera, every now and then when she wasn’t busy taking care of other hundred tasks in the mansion.

He’d always thought that she must be some kind of superwoman, as she was incredibly busy but always found time for him.

"Handsome boy!"

Madam Furious said as she ruffled his hair and then pulled back his bangs to take a good look at his eyes.

"...You can indeed see. How marvelous."

She said with a smile.

The bodyguards then retrieved his stuff from the trunk and carried them inside the luxurious mansion.

"Your father is waiting. He’d been preparing a magnificent party for you. He has invited a lot of guests for tonight, and they should also be arriving shortly."

She said with a smile and took Fang Raon’s hand and pulled him inside the mansion.

He took a good look at everything around him, and indeed, the mansion screamed "luxurious" from the top of the steps to the grand chandelier hanging in the entrance hall.

"Young master!"

The servants and butlers all quickly approached to greet him warmly. They bowed deeply in respect.

"...Bert... Lydia... Reginald..."

Fang Raon individually named the servants and butlers based on their voice alone, and they seemed surprised.

They didn’t expect him to remember their names, and they had to hide their smiles.

While the other children of Fang Family had trouble even remembering their faces, he was somehow able to memorize their voices.

"Young master, do you need the carrying device to take you up the stairs?"

Madam Furious asked.

When his condition started deteriorating, making it hard for him to even walk straight, they built a carrying device in every stair to help him get around the house.

"No. I am fine."

Fang Raon wryly smiled.

He walked normally up the stairs, as normally as any human would, and there was no struggle or pain on his face.

"...You’re fully healed?"

Madam Furious asked, just making sure.

"Yes, I am fully healed."

Fang Raon confirmed to the worrywart.

Madam Furious smiled.

She then led him down the corridor, and they were nearing the dining hall, but she didn’t want to show the decorations just yet.

Therefore.

She quickly led him another route, up several steps of stairs, until they arrived at the master of the house’s study room—Aizen’s study room.

Knock~ knock~

"Young master Raon has arrived!"

Madam Furious called out.

"...Son, come in. Madam Furious, you can leave now. The guests should be arriving shortly, and I need you there."

"Right away, master."

Madam Furious bowed, and she then touched Fang Raon’s shoulder gently and walked away with light steps.

With a slight "urgh," leaving Fang Raon’s lips, he pushed open the door and entered the study, where he found his father sitting behind his desk.

"Fath—"

Fang Raon was about to say.

In that moment, he paused as someone pushed through the doors behind him, and he turned around just in time to see Raikou storming inside.

"FATHER!"

Raikou screamed.

Aizen’s welcoming smile dropped from his face as he looked at his second-oldest son, and it even felt like the temperature dropped in the room.