Chapter 187. A New Beginning
After the Labyrinth emerged, the old port city underwent a complete transformation. It became a thriving hub, filled with adventurers, merchants, and even pirates in disguise. The heart of this bustling activity was the White Crown Galleria, now the largest and most important castle in the city.
With the Royal Family and the entire capital mysteriously vanishing into the Labyrinth, there was no one left to manage the other four islands of the Rosefall Kingdom. In the absence of the monarchy, the governors of each city began monopolizing power, each seeking to control their territories for personal gain. The governor of the port city was no different. His eyes were firmly set on the White Crown Galleria, and he made various attempts to seize it.
However, his efforts were in vain. Mana, Tyler’s Ghost Spirit, had no intention of letting him succeed. Using her ethereal abilities, she simply possessed him and made him write an agreement that dictated his resignation. According to the agreement, the governor would step down, and a new head would be nominated for the city.
When the announcement was made, everyone was dumbfounded—the new head was none other than Silvia, a young elf. The idea of such a young girl ruling the city left many in shock, but no one dared to oppose it. Oddly enough, those who initially voiced their disapproval mysteriously changed their stance the following day, suddenly becoming Silvia’s strongest supporters. This strange phenomenon made everyone cautious, but no one dared question it openly. In reality, Mana had been behind it all, using her ability to possess key figures and manipulate events in Silvia’s favor.
Soon, the people of the city began to refer to Silvia as "Princess." Under her leadership, she gained control of more than half the businesses on the island. Through Mana’s influence, neighboring cities slowly began to merge with the port city, increasing Silvia’s power. All it took was for Mana to possess a few influential figures, and the rest followed suit. Before long, the entire island was under the control of the White Crown Galleria.
Silvia, under Mana’s guidance, renamed the island White Crown City. It became a bustling center of commerce and authority, with its own distinct leadership structure. Mana also took the initiative to recruit a private army, which soon became known as the White Crown Army. With this growing force, the island resembled a mini-kingdom, ruled under the banner of the White Crown Galleria.
Five years passed in the outside world, though to Tyler and his crew, only one month had passed while they were trapped inside the Labyrinth. Upon their return, they were shocked to discover the sweeping changes that had taken place. They could hardly believe that so much had happened in what felt like a mere month to them.
White Crown City was now a thriving metropolis, with a strong economy and a powerful army. Merchants and adventurers traveled from afar to do business there, while its strategic location made it a popular stop for both legitimate traders and pirates looking to avoid attention. The city had grown far beyond the port they had once known.
Tyler sat in the artificial hot spring, casually blowing bubbles as he listened to the story of everything that had happened while they were trapped in the Labyrinth. His body was mostly obscured by the mist, and despite the seriousness of the conversation, he seemed to be enjoying the warm waters without much care. Beside him, Lily, Mana, Mathilda, and Silvia also soaked in the spring, their bodies bare but mostly hidden by the steam.