The steam locomotive came to a halt in front of a cluster of dull white buildings.
"Mr. Colin, it's getting late. The receiving maid here will take you to your room. I won't disturb you any longer,"
Connie said from inside the vehicle, looking at Colin.
"Alright," Colin nodded.
"As for your request to purchase a vehicle to go to the Holy Flame Kingdom, it may have to wait until tomorrow..."
"No worries, I'm not in a hurry," Colin replied.
"Okay, then I will come to find you tomorrow." Connie smiled, watching as Colin got out of the car with the Renee sisters.
Colin stood beside the road and nodded to Connie as a sign of acknowledgment.
Then, with the steam engine roaring, the white locomotive quickly disappeared at the end of the road.
"My lord, please follow me," the nearby receiving maid said to him.
"Hmm." Colin withdrew his gaze and followed the receiving maid inside.
Passing through the main entrance, a winding outdoor corridor came into view, flanked by matte white columns, the bases of which were engraved with floral reliefs.
They pressed on along the corridor.
Colin frowned slightly; he felt that the maid walked a bit too fast, her steps hurried, as if she were pressed for time.
Before long,
under the guidance of the receiving maid, they arrived outside a standalone two-story western-style house.
"My lord, this is where you will be staying," the receiving maid said while skillfully unlocking the door with the key.
After opening the door, she took the corresponding key from her keychain and handed it over to Colin,
"This is the key. Please keep it safe, sir."
"Hmm... Renee." Colin turned his head to give a brief instruction before he walked into the house first.
Renee, understanding what was expected of her, stepped forward to receive the key.
After taking the key from the receiving maid, she didn't hurry to follow Colin but turned to the maid again and asked,
"Is there still dinner available?"
"If not, if there's a kitchen and ingredients available here, I can make something myself."
It was now probably around eight o'clock in the evening, and it had already grown completely dark. They would have had dinner earlier if they hadn't been on the road.
Before the receiving maid could reply,
creak.
The door of the neighboring western-style house connected by the outdoor corridor suddenly opened, and another maid came out carrying cleaning tools.
Seeming to realize she had interrupted their conversation, she gave Renee and the other a apologetic smile, then carried her cleaning tools along the corridor and left.
The receiving maid turned away from the sight, then hesitated before answering Renee,
"It's past dinner time, and I'm not sure if the kitchen still has food..."
"So, is there dinner, or isn't there?" Renee asked.
The receiving maid fell silent for a moment before answering,
"I think not..."
It was the truth; at this time, the kitchen likely didn't have any food prepared...
However, the chef was still there.
But if the chef were to start cooking from scratch, it would take at least half an hour, plus the time to go back and forth, it would consume close to an hour of her time.
"I see..." Renee frowned and asked again,
"Are there ingredients then?"
"The place you're staying doesn't have a kitchen... I can't authorize the use of other kitchens, I'm sorry," the maid paused before adding.
Renee wanted to ask more.
But at that moment,
"Renee."
Colin's voice called from inside the house.
The maid took the opportunity to say,
"If there's nothing else, then I will not intrude any further."
"..."
Renee hesitated for a moment but turned and entered the house.
After all, they weren't without food as Colin's Storage Ring contained plenty of provisions.
Her inquiry to the receiving maid was simply because she wanted Colin to have a hot meal.
creak.
The receiving maid straightened up, and once she watched Renee close the door, she quickly turned and briskly walked along the corridor.
She moved swiftly, and soon caught up to the maid who had been cleaning earlier.
"Qiong, has the Third Princess brought her friends back again?" the cleaning maid turned to ask her.
"Hmm, should be leaving tomorrow... seems like another wizard," replied the maid Qiong, slowing her pace slightly.
The time it took to receive Colin was a bit shorter than she had expected... Now, with a good half hour left before the appointment, there was plenty of time.
"Another wizard... Is this one reliable?" asked the maid cleaning.
Princess Connie's favorite thing to do was to make friends with wizards, and she often invited them to stay, but most of them were unreliable.
After considering for a moment, Qiong answered, "Should be a real wizard too."
The cleaning maid was a bit surprised and asked softly,
"Is it someone from Miracle City?"
"How could that be!" Qiong shook her head, "Still fall short compared to the two wizards serving the palace... Those two masters are indeed the genuine ones from Miracle City!"
After saying this, she seemed to think of something, stroked the hair beside her ear, and with some embarrassment, asked the maid next to her:
"Kathy, can you do me a favor?"
"Go ask the kitchen to send three dinners to the wizard from earlier... Please, I'll help you clean next time!"
Kathy smiled but didn't hurry to respond, instead suddenly asking with an ambiguous smile, "Going to meet John again?"
Qiong was startled and smiled shyly.
"You go on," Kathy generously said.
"About the dinners..."
"I'll take care of it, don't worry."
"Just remember to help me clean a few extra rooms next time."
"No problem!"
"Thank you, Kathy!" Qiong said, "I'll go ahead then."
"Hurry on," Kathy waved her off.
As she watched Qiong's departing figure, she shook her head and couldn't help but sigh,
"Being young is good..."
...
The King's Residence.
Inside the study.
Wild felt a headache coming on as he looked at his most beloved daughter... Indeed, even the palace guards couldn't stop her.
"You've brought another 'wizard' from outside?" Wild sighed as he spoke.
He deliberately emphasized the word wizard, with a hint of jest.
The Yili Kingdom was a small kingdom, and in the eyes of wizards, it lacked significant Magic Power, a barren land, hence very few wizards came here.
Among the friends invited by Connie in the past, although there were indeed some genuine wizards, the number was not many.
Typically, School wizards would usually wait to reach the status of Advanced Wizard Apprentice before traveling abroad.
In the past, those requested by Connie were mostly Basic Level Wizard Apprentices, and most of them were only capable of a few tricks...
Without even thinking, it was clear these were Wild Wizards who had accidentally come into their inheritance.
However, a Wild Wizard was still a wizard, and under his orders, the entire Yili Kingdom's attitude towards wizards was predominantly to form good relationships...
Usually, he turned a blind eye to Connie's actions.
"Daddy—" Connie, hearing his questioning words, feigned anger, "I made sure I understood properly before inviting him this time."
"And this wizard is the mayor of Anzokeka..."
"Alright, alright." Wild placated Connie with a smile, then asked, "So, what brings you to me?"
Connie glanced at Wild with puffed cheeks, then informed him about Colin's request.
"So... you're saying I should help him find a means of transport to Holy Flame Kingdom?" Wild repeated.
As he mentioned Holy Flame Kingdom, he unconsciously furrowed his brow slightly.
"Yes," Connie replied, not noticing Wild's subtlety.
"Very well, I understand," he said.
"Dad, you can't just brush me off. I came to you specifically so we can handle this matter properly!" Connie emphasized.
"Of course, Connie," Wild replied, his thoughts returning, smiling helplessly, "I will order someone to attend to this matter for you in a moment."
"I have other matters to attend to now, go back and rest early."
"Alright, goodnight, father."
Having received the answer she wanted, Connie didn't dwell any longer, her tone becoming more ladylike.
With that, she left the room with light steps.
Wild, seated behind the desk, smiled and a hint of fondness flashed across his face.
After Connie had left, his gaze shifted back and his expression gradually became more serious.
Connie's visit was simply a minor interlude; he had more important matters to deal with now.
Wild shifted his gaze towards the shadow in the corner of the wall and spoke calmly,
"Come out and continue, Hayden."