Chapter 68: Assassination
Night draped the elite quarter of Geb in a silky veil of luxury.
Tucked away from the estate, in one of the most exclusive retreats in the Earth Domain, the Third Princess, Lady Merit, decided to spend her evening basking in opulence as she usually does.
She wasn’t alone.
Three of her closest friends lounged with her in the private sky garden of a luxury tower designed for nobility. Mana-powered chandelier floated overhead, glowing like soft stars. Gold-threaded cushions, mana-rich wines adjusted to one’s preferred taste, and trays of rare delicacy filled the terrace. Music played gently from speakers, tuned to perfection.
They laughed. They drank. They lived like only royalty could.
Everything here screamed privilege. Even if a normal citizen sold everything they owned, they wouldn’t be able to afford a single bottle on the table.
This was Lady Merit’s favorite place to unwind—her escape from the posturing and politics of the Estate.
Eventually, as the hour grew late, it was time to return.
A sleek, obsidian-black vehicle glided down from the tower’s docking platform—the latest Sickle-series mana cruiser. It hummed silently, floating inches above the ground, its hull trimmed in glowing emerald glyphs. No tires. No exhaust. Just a smooth, arcane pulse that shimmered across its surface.
Merit stepped into the vehicle with her Shwt, Anippe, beside her. The rest of her guard detail—ten Master-ranked warriors—followed in escort cruisers, keeping a tight formation as they departed.
The drive was smooth.