Chương 151: Chapter 150: Lady Valeria's Summons

The sunset sky over the Pacific Recovery Zone was suddenly torn open by a rift of pure black. A wave of dark mana, thick with the familiar scent of night-blooming jasmine, poured out of the crack. A dragon-hide envelope, dyed deep violet, drifted through the air and landed gently in Lucian's palm. Lucian, standing at the railing looking out at the sea, glanced at the envelope's black-flame blood seal - his mother's mark - and his eyebrows twitched twice.

He opened it, pulled out the vellum letter inside, and read it aloud in front of the whole group.

'My dear Lucian! How's business going over on Earth? Yesterday afternoon your father was out walking in the backyard, testing a new sword technique, and accidentally sliced the Bifrost Bridge connecting to the Divine Realm clean in half. The Divine Realm authorities are throwing a fit about it. They sent envoys demanding repair and compensation. Your father says the bill is ruinous, so I've locked him in the chicken coop out back as punishment.

See if you can bring home the receipts and a useful negotiating brain, would you? I've got beef hot pot ready and waiting for you. Love you so much! Mother Valeria.' Lucian stood frozen on the observation deck. He stared at the letter, then tilted his face up toward the Pacific sky, grabbed his own head with both hands, and let out a scream of total existential collapse.

"DAD! I JUST MADE A FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE PILOT INVESTMENT, AND YOU'RE OUT THERE VANDALIZING DIVINE PROPERTY?!" Snort! Ha ha ha! Behind him, Eleanor, holding a glass of sparkling grape juice, dissolved into helpless laughter. Evelyn collapsed onto the observation deck clutching her stomach; Astra nearly dropped her spoon mid-scoop of strawberry ice cream; and Sylvia raised her sleeve to hide her trembling mouth. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Lucian folded the letter, tucked it into his coat, and let out a long, hazy sigh.

"This family... not a single day goes by without some kind of debt." Eleanor stepped closer, smiling brightly in an age-appropriate, teasing way.

"Don't worry. When we get back to Solaris, I'll come help you negotiate the settlement. Your family really does collect debts across dimensions." Lucian exhaled and tucked the letter away.

"First we see the bill. Then we negotiate the bill." Eleanor giggled and walked beside him toward the gate. Ting! Ting! Ting! [UNIFIED SYSTEM V2. 0: EARTH ARC PART 1 SUMMARY] [Bounded Achievements Completed:] First Earth dungeon/concession pilot secured. Vance Earth Holdings established through a lawful provisional process. Extraction model tested with licensed supervision and documented handling. Major Pacific Calamity neutralized through a local legacy fail-safe.

Earth route verified; international recovery negotiations opened. Return route to Solaris available. [HOST STATUS ASSESSMENT:] Lucian's parent-induced headache rate: INFINITE (no forbidden art on record can cure it). [NEXT AVAILABLE: DIVINE REALM SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS] WHRRM! At the edge of the supervised platform, the spatial gateway connecting Earth and Solaris blazed to life with jade-blue light. A small accredited press pool and the recovery staff watched from behind the safety line.

"FAREWELL, YOUNG SAVIOR!" someone called, while another voice shouted, "Good luck with the paperwork!" Lucian picked up his black leather case, packed with documented pilot files and the Valeria message. He stepped up to the threshold of the spatial gate, Eleanor walking beside him, followed by Sylvia carrying records, Astra with her Holy Sword over her shoulder, and Evelyn with a backpack full of ordinary technical gear. On the other side of the gate, at the Solaris-side Bifrost border checkpoint.

An official of the Goddess of Law stood waiting with a stack of bridge-damage citations in hand, her expression murderous. Lucian stepped through the gateway's veil of light. The corner of the ten-year-old's mouth curved into a wry, calculating smile.

"The Divine Realm wants a repair bill for a bridge?" He tapped the magical abacus in his coat pocket.

"Get ready to welcome the Vance Commerce audit team, gods."