Leon picked up the black metallic card with the name "Bellsford" engraved across its surface in delicate, golden script.
The moment Leonâs fingers brushed the surface, he felt it was unnaturally cold and rigid to the touchâtoo dense, too still, almost like forged stone rather than metal.
He was certain this metal wasnât from the Lower Domain. Brushing that thought aside, he turned to the black envelope and broke the seal with a gentle press. Inside was a sleek black sheet of paper with white lettering, its surface giving off a faint, distinct scentâone he couldnât quite place.
Leonâs eyes narrowed in focus as he began to read. The letter demanded his full attention, each line more surprising than the last. His expression shifted several timesâflickers of curiosity, calculation, and faint amusement crossing his face.
He hadnât expected this from an inn, but the information laid out before him made him feel oddly pleased. It was enough to make him shelve the idea of robbing the Bellfordsâat least for now.
He mentally recited the key points to himself.
So theyâre an establishment with their main branch in the Middle Domain,
he thought, pausing briefly.
They must have serious backing to maintain branches all across the Lower Domain. I remember seeing Bellâs Restaurant in Duskmoor, tooâalso under their name.
But what intrigued him most was a particular detailâone made accessible only through the VIP card.
Every year, the Bellfords hosted an auction in Hemsburg during the festival, drawing most of the Lower Domainâs richest elites. He kind of understood why Seraphine was not aware of thisâas she was undeniably strong but couldnât be considered rich in terms of the wealth nobles held.
What made it so sought after was the access to treasures from the Middle Domainâitems that were never seen elsewhere. And only those with a VIP card were allowed to attend.
Leon had decided to hold off on converting all the gold and platinum into cash for now. He would only do so if it didnât fit in his inventory. After all, he was going to attend the auctionâand he hoped to find something extraordinary there.
A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Your dinner is ready, my lord," came the maidâs voice from the other side, polite and even.
Leon gave a short nod to himself and stored the card and letter neatly in his inventory. Then, adjusting his collar with casual precision, he stepped out of the room.
The dining table had already been prepared. Silver covers shimmered under the gentle lighting, and the warm scent of roasted herbs and spices greeted him like an invitation.
He took his seat as the maids lifted the covers one by one, revealing a perfectly seared cut of meatâmedium rare, its juices glisteningâaccompanied by soft-baked root vegetables, a bowl of creamy mushroom soup, and freshly cut bread still steaming from the oven.
Leonâs eyes lingered on the meat first. Its charred edges hinted at fire mana cooking, locking flavor in with surgical precision. He picked up the fork, slicing through it easilyâtender, fragrant, and rich in energy.
Though the dinner wasnât as extravagant as the ones he had in his mansion, it was undeniably delicious. Each bite spoke of practiced skillâthe cook clearly knew their craft.
After finishing his meal, Leon dismissed the maids with a polite nod, giving them the same instructions as before: stand guard outside and ensure no one entered without his permission.
He opened the portal to his time dimension once again, stepping into the familiar expanse of endless green. There was no sun above, no breeze, no scentâjust an eternal stillness that hung in the air like suspended breath.
From his inventory, a mattress dropped to the grassy ground, rippling softly as it made contact. He pulled out a pillow next and laid down, the surface cushioning his weight with quiet ease.
Leon closed his eyes, letting his body sink into the comfort. Once well-rested, heâd start the hunt for treasure from nobles once again. For now, rest came first.
-----
Leonâs rest was complete. He stepped out of the time dimension and returned to his room; not even a minute had passed in the outside world, yet he felt completely refreshed. The utility of the Dimensional Hourglass truly lived up to its name.
He considered slipping out silently through the window, but the receptionist had offered him a dayâs free stayâand the food had genuinely impressed him. While he wouldnât bother giving a compliment in person, he felt it only right to leave a message.
He called for the maids.
Under normal circumstances, a nighttime summons after dinner would have implied something else entirely. But even in the brief time theyâd interacted with this young lord, both women understood no such thing would happen.
Still, it was a little disappointing. With most VIPs, it was just duty. But this young lord was young, striking, and possessed an undeniable... presence. Even limp, the size of his cock was monstrous. What theyâd glimpsed stirred curiosity. His restraint only added to the mystery.
Standing respectfully before him, they listened as he gave a short message to pass along to the receptionist.
They found it strange that he was leaving so soonâbarely an hour had passed since his arrival. But they asked no questions, simply bowed, and departed to carry out his request.
Once alone, Leon approached the window. The cold wind struck his face as he looked out over the city glowing beneath the moonlight.
Without hesitation, he stepped upâand jumped.
His form vanished into the night, unseen by any thanks to his cloak of mid-level invisibility. He was already headed northeast.
It was time to pay a visit to the first Marquessâs estate.
And rob them blind.
----
The two maids approached the reception desk, where the receptionist immediately rose from her seat, her posture sharp and attentive. These were the ones assigned to their mysterious new VIPâand she had been explicitly told to ensure everything went smoothly.
"What happened? Why are you two back so soon? Was the dinner not to his liking? If thatâs the case, just ask him what he prefersâweâll prepare it exactly to his taste," she said, her voice edged with tension.
It was the first time the maids had seen her anxious. Not even when a duke had stayed in the top-floor suite had she shown this much unease.
But this was different. The manager had given a strict warning: do not upset the young guest under any circumstances. She didnât understand whyâ but losing her job over a misstep wasnât an exaggeration.
Rumors had been circulating. The manager had begun drawing connections between their guest and the recent highly important event about to happen in the Lower Domainâevents that carried significant weight for all of Valeria.
Even if it was just speculation, no one in the inn could afford to be careless. The channels that fed them information were too precise to ignore, even when he only knew those things and couldnât share them with anyone else. He couldnât afford to be careless, he had shared enough to let everyone know of the severity of the situation.
Everyone had been told: do not unsettle the guest. No matter what. If they unsettled the guest, he knew he would lose control because of how sensitive the matter was.