Chapter 136

Chapter 136

#136. Level-Max Omnimaster’s Soft Power Cultivation (2)

In a street both rugged and beautiful, Violet could overhear a conversation between what appeared to be a mom and her trio of sons as they walked along.

“Kids, you’re really that happy?”

“Yeah! I love you, Mom!”

“For real! For real, I like it!”

“Hehehehehe.”

The mother chuckled softly while looking at the three boys who looked under ten years old, all clutching Mobile Knight Pluto toys preciously in their arms.

“Thank His Highness the Duke.”

“Why?”

“Because next month is His Highness’ birthday, so the Pluto toys were on half-price sale. That’s why I could buy one for each of you.”

“I knew it! So when I grow up, I’m gonna go to the Military Academy!”

At the mother’s words, the eldest son, who was the biggest in stature, shouted.

“Me too! Me too, Mom! I’ll become a Pluto Knight and fight for His Highness!”

“Me too! Me too! Me too!”

Immediately after, the second and third sons also chimed in with shining eyes.

‘Hmm… Come to think of it, Mobile Knight Pluto was also Meteor’s work, wasn’t it?’

While listening to their conversation, Violet suddenly remembered the cartoonist who created Pluto.

Meteor, the author, also wrote “The Youngest Daughter of the Duke,” the novel she held close to her chest.

‘What exactly is his true identity? No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t seem like the works are written by just one person… Could it be a married couple using the same pen name?’

Violet continued walking down the street, pondering over Meteor’s identity.

As she moved further through the streets, she noticed children carrying around popular cartoon toys or dolls.

Boys generally had Pluto toys, while girls…

“Dad! Tingkepang! Buy me Tingkepang!”

were pleading cutely for new dolls resembling adorable spirits and pretty fairies.

“You, what’s this? Didn’t we already get you Heartpang last time?”

Despite their pleas, most girls already held similar-looking dolls in one hand.

And in the other, there was an intricately designed, pink magic wand that seemed to match the doll set.

“Heartpang is a spirit, Tingkepang is a fairy! It’s newly released!”

“My goodness! There’s another one?!”

These Tingkepang dolls and toy staffs originated from a comic officially serialized in the newspaper called “Light of the High City,” which was especially loved by young girls.

“Tingkepang is freezing my wallet… Panicpang more like!”

“High City’s Light, you bastards… Do you feel good destroying our wallets like this?”

“Seriously ruthless! You might as well be loan sharks, you bastards!”

“Did they mistakenly call High City’s debt ‘High City’s Light’?!”

The issue was that even though they’d been out for only a short while, there were already ten different types of spirits and fairies.

This caused Lensretian parents with daughters to wear expressions of worry that didn’t fit the sacred festival atmosphere.

Still, they couldn’t just not buy them.

If they didn’t, despite having the means, they’d receive subtle glares from the church and workplace.

Everyone knew that bonuses were given according to the number of children to encourage buying gifts, and discounts had been applied for over a month in Lensretia.

‘This year’s Duke’s birthday feels different somehow. Last year, there wasn’t such a strong atmosphere of giving gifts to kids, right?’

Ariana’s birthday celebrations usually had a festive vibe, but this year, the scale and feeling were particularly distinct.

Especially during this festival period, there was a growing trend of needing to buy what the kids asked for.

Exactly when did this start? Around the time various comics and novels began being serialized in the newspapers?

‘Wait… What if all of this was meticulously planned business?’

Violet felt a chill run down her spine as she watched the sighing parents of High City.

She trembled anew at the thoroughness and ruthlessness of the company she worked for.

‘It’s rich people whining.’

But then, she shrugged her shoulders shortly afterward and brushed it off.

Compared to others elsewhere on the continent, this was heaven itself.

Even those northern parents grumbling surely knew this.

After all, just a few years ago, their own situation was far worse.

Though she wanted to hurry home and admire the illustrations exclusive to the collected volumes,

she turned her steps toward somewhere other than home.

Violet arrived instead at a two-story building located between the outskirts of High City and Arad Workshop.

On the entrance sign of this building, it read “Bishop Postal Lenslet Branch No. 1.”

“Lady Violet?”

“Yes, how have you been?”

“Yes, as you can see, I’ve been doing well. But isn’t Violet supposed to be working right now?”

“Today is a rare day off for me.”

“Ah! Envious.”

When she entered Bishop Company’s post office, an employee recognized her.

Bishop Post serves primarily imperial citizens working in High City, where no direct communication exists with the Northern Kingdom, yet it remains a commonly used postal service.

“Is there any mail addressed to me?”

“Just this morning, one arrived. We were planning to deliver it to your house later this afternoon.”

“Perfect. Can I have it now?”

“Of course. Would you mind waiting a moment?”

“Yes.”

While waiting, she felt frustrated seeing Bishop Post still exchanging information via letters rather than magical communication devices.

‘It would be great if places here could use both magical communication devices and regular mail like in the North.’

Of course, even the North uses postal services.

However, compared to Bishop Post, Lensretians enjoyed advanced methods of correspondence.

Being the ones who wield the most advanced magic in the world, Lensretians operated not only postal services but also video calls through magical communication devices in Arad Communications.

One could send letters or documents via post and simultaneously hold face-to-face conversations through magical communication devices.

‘I hear that within a few years, these magical communication devices will be widely distributed to most households in the North. Truly another world, another world.’

Perhaps only when that time comes will Bishop begin adopting or independently developing magical communication technology for operation.

“Here you go.”

Violet, who had been contemplating Arad Communications and magical communication devices, heard the voice of the employee.

“Thank you.”

The mail handed to her was a thin envelope of documents.

But it was no ordinary envelope.

It was an enchanted envelope. If opened by anyone other than Violet, its contents would instantly burst into flames.

“Please feel free to read it in peace over there.”

The employee who handed her the mail subtly hinted with a glance.

Violet nodded slightly and headed towards a small private room inside the Bishop Post Office.

Needless to say, the employees here were not northerners but imperial citizens, specifically employees of Bishop Company.

Thus, even Frost Haven couldn’t arbitrarily open these mails.

[Dear beloved sister Violet]

Upon opening the letter, she realized it was from her older sister.

“…”

However, Violet’s eyes grew cold as ice.

Because her sister had died from a childhood epidemic.

Moreover, her family, abandoned by the royal family and wiped out by Sigma, used to affectionately call her “Bibi.”

In other words, this letter wasn’t from her sister.

It was a secret directive sent from headquarters to her.

“Had to stop by the post office on my day off. Such a rare day off, and it’s work…”

After finishing the letter, Violet clicked her tongue and quietly placed the enclosed banknote into her wallet.

Then she burned the letter.

“Farewell, Lady Violet.”

Behind her back, as she left, came the formal greeting of the post office employee.

After leaving the post office, Violet didn’t head home either this time.

“If I’m out, might as well get things done.”

Her destination was the massive stadium constructed on the outskirts of High City.

Waaaaaah!

Even though the stadium was quite far away, the roar of cheers reverberated powerfully, striking her heart.

[Number 3 horse! Number 3 horse! Overtaking Number 5 horse and taking the lead alone!]

As she approached closer, she could hear the amplified voice of the commentator narrating the horse race.

Kiaaaaahh!!

Simultaneously, the cries and screams filled with human madness enveloped Violet like waves.

It was the complete opposite of the calm and peaceful atmosphere she had experienced inside High City moments ago.

‘Sigh…’

Having no interest in such things, she shook her head and joined the line at the betting booth.

The long line disappeared faster than expected, and as soon as it was Violet’s turn, she took out her wallet.

From her wallet, she pulled out a single 200-lens bill worth the value of one gold coin.

“By the way, betting for the next race has just ended.”

Even though he received the highest denomination, the employee selling the tickets merely widened his eyes slightly and reacted indifferently.

It was a scene that clearly showed how much money changed hands here.

“I’ll bet on the race after next.”

“The race after next? Any other races?”

“I’m putting everything on one race. Win-only style.”

Wanting to quickly move on to her destination, Violet decided to keep things simple and bought a ticket.

“Let me confirm. Are you really going to bet 200 lenses on just one race?”

“Yes.”

“What horse?”

“Hmm… How about the number 7 horse?”

“Number 7 horse? Bold choice, aren’t you? Or maybe you’re just loaded?”

Instead, the random horse number she picked without much thought drew a bigger reaction from him.

“Neither.”

Violet casually replied, received her ticket, and entered the racetrack.

The 200-lens betting ticket sparkled with dazzling light, symbolizing anti-counterfeiting enchantments.

With just this golden coin equivalent ticket, she could access even the most expensive VIP Room in the racetrack freely.

“That’s one peculiar woman.”

The ticket seller watched Violet disappear and muttered softly before addressing the next group of customers.

“Excuse me! Three minutes! No, one minute! I need to fetch some betting slips. If you’re in a hurry, please go to the next counter.”

After apologizing to the customers who came after Violet, he closed the booth’s partition.

“Announcement. A subject marked Alpha level has just entered the arena. She purchased a Gold Class Betting Ticket.”

He then took out a magical communication device and briefly reported the situation inside.

* * *

Violet, entering the racetrack, had already realized she was being followed.

Ever since arriving at the racetrack? No, since she left home earlier to buy the collected edition.

But it didn’t bother her much.

Since Violet currently worked under Arad Capital, formerly Lenslet Bank, her objectives aligned with Lenslet’s.

The more progress she and her team made, the more beneficial it would be for Northern Lenslet—certainly not a disadvantage.

‘So, they’re letting us be.’

Under the intense surveillance of Lenslet’s intelligence agency, Frost Haven, and Arad’s Security Division and Intelligence Department, Violet calmly headed towards her destination within the racetrack.

Waaaaaahh!

A louder cheer erupted than before, indicating that a winner had just been decided.

[Number 3 horseeee! Number 3 horse has won first place!!!]

The commentator’s passionate cry intensified the excitement of the race, echoing loudly throughout the racetrack.

That voice managed to overpower the numerous shouts, screams, and cries. The amplification magic tool called a microphone was truly impressive.

‘Noisy.’

To Violet, who preferred quietness, it was nothing more than unwanted noise pollution.

Covering her ears with both hands, she hurried towards her destination.