A transport ship from one of the neutral merchant clans in the Higher Realm hovered a few thousand kilometers from the Blade Dancer Clan's Immigration Office.
The clan it belonged to owned a plane a few hundred million miles from the Blade Dancer Clan, which was why they could easily travel there without using the portals from a Junction Port. Besides, they carried large crates full of merchandise that could not be quickly cleared in the ports. Thus, it was best to go to the Blade Dancer plane directly.
With a trade history spanning hundreds of years, the merchant clan had established not just a relationship with the Blade Dancer Clan but a deep and enduring bond of trust and mutual benefit. This history of stability and reliability meant that their documents were usually approved faster than those of newcomers or those yet to establish a good relationship.
Nevertheless, their entry took time to approve because the Immigration Office's port needed to be prepared so the merchant clan's merchandise could be checked properly.
"Is there still no response?"
A middle-aged man with light brown hair dressed in a dark red coat over a golden breastplate sat on the captain's seat inside the merchant clan's transport ship. His light blue eyes were fixed on the monitor that displayed the closed port of the Immigration Office.
Even without knowing who the man was, it was easy to guess that he had a high status in the merchant clan from the air of nobility he exuded.
A thin young male mage in light gray robes holding a tablet stood beside the middle-aged man and scratched his head anxiously upon hearing the latter's question.
"Err... we have not heard anything from the officer yet. The status of our submitted documents is still showing as under review."
"We sent those d*mn documents four hours ago! Usually, they approve them after half an hour!"
"Y-Yes. However, because of what happened at one of the Junction Ports—."
"Ugh! That annoying b*stard! Why did he have to pick today to make a scene?"
The news of what happened at one of the Junction Ports was already known to every clan in the Higher Realm. Because of this, every clan that agreed to connect their portal in the Junction Ports decided to either close their immigration office for the day or tighten their security.
Apparently, the Blade Dancer Clan opted to close entry to their plane through the Junction Port route. However, because they could not close off their plane completely, especially to those merchants, because it would significantly affect their relationships and the economy of their plane, they decided to continue accepting transport ships.
The approval of their entry took longer because of the tightened security, but at least they would not suffer such significant losses.
"Uhmm... according to the Junction Port management's statement, the intruder was a female mage..."
The middle-aged man paused momentarily upon hearing the young mage's response. He initially thought the latter's response did not make sense, but as he finally understood the connotation behind the young mage's response, he looked at him with a deadpan expression.
The young mage immediately sensed the drop in the cabin's temperature and hastily said, "O-Of course, the intruder's gender is unimportant. Y-You may call that mage a b*stard as you please, V-Vice Deputy..."
"...If I remember correctly, you submitted a request for a month-long leave, right?"
The young mage started to sweat profusely at the sudden shift in their conversation. Obviously, the vice deputy head disliked his cheeky response and contemplated not granting his leave request.
"D-Deputy head, I deserve that month-long leave—."
BOOOOM!
The aftershock that followed that unexpected explosion shook the whole transport ship and triggered its defensive array formation.
Everyone inside the cabin held on to their seats or safety handrails as they braced themselves from the still ongoing aftershock.
The middle-aged man was the first to regain his composure. His light blue eyes trembled in shock as he gaped at the ship's monitor that continued to show the Blade Dancer plane.
"W-What in the world has happened—?"
A quarter of the Blade Dancer plane was destroyed, and its barrier shattered. Fragments from the Immigration Office that failed to withstand the aftershock after the massive explosion drifted into space.
"From this day forth, I'm in charge of your lives."
*
Half a day after Kyran left the transport ship and entered the Junction Port, Oceanus, and Leif received news of the commotion that had occurred. They knew at once that it was Kyran's doing and were torn between landing there to check the situation or not.
In the end, they decided to heed Kyran's advice to stay put and wait for his return after a few days.
A day later, they still hadn't heard from Kyran. This was still well within their expectations since he had said he would return after a few days.
A few days could mean two, three, or more. But it would not take longer than five days or a week.
However, by the evening of the second day, a piece of news shook the whole Higher Realm.
A quarter of the Blade Dancer plane was destroyed. The fates of its inhabitants, visitors, and even the Blade Dancer Clan were unknown.
The news did not sound good, and Oceanus contemplated his next moves in case Kyran was behind that incident, and he was caught.
If Kyran revealed the Ogen Clan's involvement, Oceanus would have to choose whether to feign innocence or stubbornly stand by his side and rescue him.
Rescuing Kyran would not bid well for the Ogen Clan. It might even spell their doom. But feigning innocence would leave a bitter taste in Oceanus as well.
Before Oceanus could delve into the situation, another piece of news spread.
The Emperor made a declaration.
About Azazel and the Void Master.
Few knew who Azazel was. Most who did were those who fought in the war during The Fall. Thus, the mention of Azazel's name did not elicit much reaction. But it was the opposite at the mention of the Void Master.
Only one mage could possess that title, and it was not because a mage's title could only be used by one.
Void Master. A mage who possessed the Void.
Following The Emperor's declaration, information about where and why he was missing during the Solis Clan's attack on the Dragon Clan surfaced.
Apparently, The Emperor went to the Lower Realm after discovering a human who possessed the Draconic Core. After that, he also found another human with the Void Core. Unfortunately, he lost the latter after he miraculously entered the Higher Realm.
This information caused an uproar.
No one knew whether this information had been uncovered by factions opposed to The Emperor or if he, The Emperor, had leaked it himself.
Nonetheless, it achieved the desired effect, and those clans who wanted to receive The Emperor's favor began to gather their elites to search for Azazel and the Void Master.
Similarly, the rebels frantically contacted all the clans and tribes under them to search for them. Their reason was different from those wanting to receive the Emperor's favor.
The rebels wanted to shelter Azazel and the Void Master and support them in overthrowing The Emperor.
This news and information spread in a matter of a single day in the Higher Realm.
Oceanus became more anxious about his clan's fate with each passing moment.
Leif, on the other hand, appeared calm. She could not put it into words, but she was not worried about Kyran.
Finally, on the third day, after what happened to the Blade Dancer plane, she received a coded message from Kyran.