Louis frowned as he looked at the bow of a strange flying ship, a familiar face.
"So even by cutting family ties, I can't escape the family," he said, sighing.
After leaving his residence, he decided to flee on his own. He exchanged a System Coin for Jens, the currency of humans in this world, and rented a long-distance aerial device.
Since he rented it from a large company that claimed to operate worldwide, he thought he could avoid his family's influence and thus avoid being monitored, but even that was a miscalculation.
The man beside him, Mr. Jack, who had helped him awaken, smiled kindly at him.
"Haha, I was just sent to monitor you leaving the Land of God, Young Master. I will monitor you until you reach your destination," replied Mr. Jack.
Louis shrugged. "But the destination seems to have changed. So, the ship did too." He glanced at him. "It was a world-renowned company with alliances with other powerful Clans. It seems that for the family, this is just child's play."
"Hahaha, to our Gods, the mundane will always be mundane, Young Lord. That's why your class was considered trash."
He turned to look at him.
"Money? We don't need that when we reign everywhere," he declared. "The family's companies and businesses aren't just in this world; there are still many worlds up there where we have total influence."
"What can a God of Money bring us, besides shame and misery?"
Louis looked back at him.
"Do you also think my class is useless? Do you also think it only brings shame to the family?" he asked. "Or are those the thoughts of the Gods imparted to you?"
His questions left Mr. Jack speechless. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
Then Louis spoke again. "You who have seen many people awaken, what do you think will happen to me and this class in the future?"
Mr. Jack considered his response for several minutes. Responding with flattery and siding with the Gods would always be the best option, but was that what he wanted?
Jack sighed long before gazing at the landscape in front of them.
"I think the family will regret their decision. The God London... I'm afraid he won't have a good time," he replied sincerely, according to his thoughts.
Louis was surprised by that answer; it wasn't something he expected to hear from him. But in the end, he smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Despite your name, you're really a good guy, Mr. Jack," he said, smiling and turning away.
Mr. Jack turned to watch him leave. "Do you think my name is bad, Young Master?"
Louis laughed a little. "Yes, it's bad. Terrible, possibly the worst name I've ever heard."
"So... So bad?" He even choked up.
Louis just smiled and went back to prepare his room.
In a few minutes, the ship departed, revealing one of the most wonderful scenes that would likely remain etched in his memory for a long time.
He had seen it before. The great tepui, above the clouds, in the middle of this civilization, was majestic, like a god sitting with 18 small thrones at his sides.
These thrones were represented by 18 large mountains that rose majestically with divinity, each with its own cities and mythical constructions. Dragons, wyverns, even flying elephants that breathed fire adorned this wonderful natural structure.
Huge suspension bridges connected each mountain to the main tepui, giving it a divine appearance.
Louis couldn't help but go out to take a look.
But soon everything was out of sight.
-
Several days passed in this manner.
During this time, Mr. Jack took the liberty of teaching Louis several things.
Among these...
One night, while they were having dinner.
Mr. Jack brought a hologram-like map to the table and opened it.
"Young sir, there are things you must know before you arrive," he said.
"What is it?" Louis approached, curious about this wonderful map.
Even on Earth, he had never seen such perfect technology.
"This is the Lower World. Everything below the Land of God," he said. When he saw that Louis was paying close attention, he continued.
"Each color represents a continent or region. Blue is the North. Red is the South. Green is the West, and Yellow is the East. Each region is easily distinguishable by special characteristics that define it." Mr. Jack pressed the region marked in blue, enlarging it.
Louis was immediately drawn to the distinctive whiteness of this place, but also to something else.
"Is that snow?" he asked, putting his hand into the hologram.
Somehow, the hologram filled his hand with snow. The cold was transmitted through his arm to his body, and he was shocked.
"Is it real?" he asked, quickly pulling his hand out.
"Of course, it is." Jack smiled. "This hologram is special and only available to the Lockward family. It's connected to every region of the world and can completely emulate it."
"Amazing." Louis's eyes sparkled with interest.
"Could you feel the snow there? It's colder than the snow that falls in our territory."
Louis nodded. "Several times colder."
"That's because in the Northern region, the snow never stops falling. Every day of the year, there have been snowstorms for hundreds of years. That's why it's the least populated region."
Louis shocked. 'It snows all year round? Not even in Antarctica does that happen.'
He was surprised. He couldn't imagine a world like that.
Jack then pressed the region marked in red.
"This is the south, another peculiar region."
He could almost understand why it was peculiar.
"Are those volcanoes?" he asked.
"Yes." He nodded. "The Southern Region may be a volcano itself. Many volcanoes have even destroyed entire cities or kingdoms with their sudden eruptions."
On this map, many of the volcanoes were marked so that they could be clearly seen. But on the ground, it was impossible to tell. It looks like a normal continent. With plains, valleys, forests, and mountains.
But the red color was there, and it wasn't for nothing: it meant that it was a continent with a lot of lava and fire.
Sometimes, shifting ground is actually lava covered by a layer of dust or special soil. Falling there would mean certain death for many people.
"It's the second least populated region. However, thanks to its abundant natural resources, companies continue to invest there."
"Humans will always put profit before life," said Louis.
Jack smiled helplessly. "That's how this world works," he said. "Although it's also because the entire region is ruled by the Royal Society of Mages, which attracts many mages to this place. There are gods there."
Louis nodded.
Then Jack marked the eastern and western regions.
"There's not much to say here; I'd rather you discover it for yourself. These two regions are the most populated, and nature is more peaceful in them."
Then he grabbed the hologram map and put it away.
"I can't show you the fifth region, but it's there," he said, pointing below. "We're passing right over it right now."
Louis looked at it and moved to go out and see it, but Jack stopped him. "It's no use. You won't be able to see it because it's too far away."
Louis showed a trace of frustration before sitting back down.
Jack continued. "But it's called the Unexplored Pit. It's as big as a large region; inside, there are all kinds of unknown situations. Dungeons, ancient ruins, and much more. It's the most dangerous area in the world."
"Why would it be a Pit?"
Jack simply shrugged and didn't answer.
He knew, but he wasn't going to say it.
Louis had to give up trying to find out anything else.
"Where are we going?"
"West. To the Empire of the Red Sun."
"Why?"
"The God London wanted it that way. There's a branch of the family there."
"Why did he send me to a branch of the family if he already expelled me?"
"No one can know what a god thinks."
"Sigh." Louis shrugged and looked at him. "Can't you take me there?"
"I can't," Jack replied firmly.
"Tsk." Louis complained.
"Hahaha, no way, young master. A god is a god."
He shrugged and got up to go to his room.
"We'll be there in two days, Young Master. Get ready. Also, when you're there, be careful of the Hallway."
Louis turned to look at him. "A family?" he asked.
"Yes." He nodded.
"I see."
"Also, be careful of the Asoist Church," Jack said again.
Louis frowned. "A church?" But he didn't ask any questions about it.
"Anything else?"
Jack nodded. "Since you've chosen the path of an Armamentalist, be careful of the Society of Mages. They hate firearms. And they have their fingers in everything."
He nodded slowly again. "I understand." Though thoughtful, he turned and left.
-