Chapter 894: Alternate Timeline: A Busy Sunday
Originally, Kiara had already made up her mind to spend 25000 gold coins to purchase that five-acre land, and in her thoughts, it was nothing more than an unavoidable expense, a price to pay so that she could expand her plans without interference. But now, as she stood there holding the official document from the Imperial Palace, she slowly realized that the entire situation had shifted in a way she did not expect.
The land was given.
Not sold.
Not leased.
But granted for use.
For free.
Her fingers lightly tapped the edge of the parchment as she read the lines again, her eyes narrowing slightly as the meaning settled deeper, because while it sounded like a benefit on the surface, there was a condition hidden beneath it, subtle yet firm, like a chain wrapped in silk.
"The land belongs to the Empire…"
Her thoughts paused.
"I can use it…"
"But I do not own it."
That meant she could not sell it, could not rent it, and could not treat it as her own property, which in normal circumstances would have been a disadvantage, yet for her current plans, it barely mattered, because her purpose was simple; she only needed a place to test, demonstrate, and showcase the weapons to potential buyers without restrictions.
Still—
Something felt off.
What she did not know was that the decision had not been simple within the court, because the officials had originally intended to auction that land, to turn it into a refined district where wealthy commoners could establish businesses, slowly reshaping the Carlo District into a place reserved for those with influence and coin.
And beyond that—
A larger plan existed.
If the experiment succeeded, then the Imperial Palace intended to clear out poorer businesses across the district, replacing them with controlled development, tightening their hold over economic flow, turning the area into something polished, profitable, and easier to govern.
But Kiara had no interest in any of that.
Because she was not planning to stay.
Her fingers folded the document calmly.
"As long as I can use it… That is enough."
The noise, the impact, the disturbance it might cause to nearby shops or pedestrians, none of it mattered to her, because in her eyes, those were just background ripples, things that would pass and fade, while her goals moved forward without stopping.
With the land issue settled, her thoughts shifted again toward what remained: the arrival of Kaelan Phoenix, the response from Malric, and the uncertain movement of Icarus Veyne, whose presence was still a question, because coming personally would carry risk, yet not coming might carry even more.
Evening arrived quietly.
And then—
The storm began.
The moment the store opened on Sunday morning, the flow of customers did not stop, and instead of the usual steady pace, it turned into a continuous stream, one that filled the store from wall to wall, voices overlapping, footsteps echoing, curiosity and urgency mixing in the air like heat.
Kiara stood behind the counter, her expression calm but her eyes sharp, watching everything, calculating, adjusting, while beside her, Alucard moved like a shadow that had learned discipline, handling customers with increasing speed.
The reason was clear.
The Emperor's announcement.
It had spread across the Empire like wildfire, reaching every corner, every household, every ear that cared about safety, power, or opportunity, and now, those who had once hesitated were stepping forward.
More than half of the customers were commoners and minor nobles working as civil servants, people who carried responsibility but lacked strength, people who lived with the constant awareness that even a low-level adventurer could overpower them, rob them, or harm their families without much resistance.
They had wealth.
They had status.
But they had no protection.
Until now.
Their hands trembled slightly as they held the weapons, their eyes filled with a strange mix of fear and hope, imagining a future where they could defend themselves, or at the very least, fire a shot into the night and call attention when danger came.
Sunday gave them time.
And they used it.
The rest of the customers were merchants, traders, servants of noble houses, and even individuals who had traveled from distant places, drawn by rumors of these strange weapons that did not rely on ether energy, yet could still change the outcome of a fight.
Among them—
Spies.
From House Mist.
From House Vale.
Their eyes lingered longer than others, their questions sharper, their purchases more calculated, as they observed, tested, and carried information back to their masters.
Kiara noticed.
But she did not react.
Instead, she smiled.
Because every sale, every coin, every weapon leaving her store, all of it fed into something larger.
"P-365, twenty bullets, and ten R.I.P bullets… a total of thirty-nine gold coins, thank you."
Her voice remained steady, her movements efficient, passing the items without hesitation as the next customer stepped forward almost immediately.
"Three fragmentation grenades… a total of three hundred gold coins, thank you."
The faint clink of coins, the rustle of cloth, the metallic weight of weapons changing hands, all blended into a constant rhythm that did not slow.
"One tear gas grenade, one contender, and ten bullets… a total of one hundred twelve gold coins, thank you."
She did not pause.
She did not rest.
Even when hunger crept in slowly, tightening her stomach, she ignored it, because the line did not end, and the moment she slowed down, everything would pile up.
"Pzf3-IT600 rocket launcher and ten 110mm warheads… a total of one thousand fifty gold coins, thank you."
She leaned forward slightly, her tone lowering just a fraction.
"Be careful while operating it; it is highly destructive, and once our testing ground is completed, we will provide training for advanced weapons like this, so please return."
The man nodded quickly, clutching the weapon with both hands, his grip tight, his breath uneven as if he could already feel the power he had just purchased.
Time blurred.
Hours passed.
The sun moved across the sky.
Still, the flow continued.
Neither Kiara nor Alucard managed to eat, not breakfast, not lunch, not even a short break, their bodies pushed forward by the sheer volume of customers, their movements becoming mechanical, efficient, almost instinctive.
By the time night approached, the total transactions had reached nearly fifteen thousand gold coins, and Kiara's share alone stood at around sixty percent, a number that would have shocked most merchants into disbelief.
Yet—
She only felt tired.
Her shoulders felt heavy, her breath slightly slower, her body reminding her that she still lacked physical strength, that no matter how sharp her mind was, stamina still had its limits.
At last, she checked her pocket watch.
Nine.
Her voice rose, cutting through the noise.
"Everyone, the store will close in five minutes. Please complete your purchases quickly or return tomorrow. The rules must be followed strictly. Otherwise, you will be removed and blacklisted."
The words carried weight.
The customers reacted immediately.
Inside, only a handful remained, some still examining the assistant robot, asking it questions out of curiosity, only to receive limited answers in its flat, mechanical tone, while others hurried toward the counter.
A young couple exchanged glances.
The woman spoke softly, "Let's come back tomorrow, this place feels different."
Her husband shook his head, his brows tightening.
"I will be busy tomorrow."
He turned quickly.
"I will buy it now."
"The contender," she reminded him.
He nodded and rushed forward, completing the purchase with haste, not daring to delay under Kiara's gaze.
One by one, the remaining customers left, their footsteps quick, their voices low, until the store finally emptied, the sudden silence almost echoing after the long hours of noise.
Kiara exhaled slowly.
Then she turned to Alucard.
"Stay tonight."
Her tone softened slightly.
"I will treat you to dinner."
At first, she considered taking him to a luxurious restaurant, but the thought faded quickly as she realized the inconvenience of arranging transport, and the alternative, using the massive Shimmerwood turtle, was even worse, as it would draw attention, block streets, and possibly damage structures along the way.
So she chose the simpler path.
"Prepare dinner here."
She gave the task to Noah and Allen, both of whom reacted immediately, their expressions lighting up as they hurried upstairs, eager to be useful, their movements quick and almost excited.
Meanwhile, as Alucard thanked her, Kiara nodded slightly and gestured toward the entrance.
"Close the shutter."
The boy moved quickly, pulling it down, the metal scraping softly as it descended, the sound steady and familiar.
Halfway...
A hand stopped it.
Firm.
Unyielding.
The shutter jerked slightly before being pushed upward again with force, the metal rattling as resistance met strength.
Alucard froze for a moment.
Then he stepped back.
Before him stood a figure dressed entirely in black, a hood covering the head, a clown mask hiding the face, the presence strange, unsettling, and deliberate.
"Customer, the store is closed," Alucard said, trying to keep his voice steady.
The response came out muffled, distorted behind the mask.
"I came from far away. I will not take long."
The voice—
Familiar.
Kiara's eyes narrowed slightly.
A faint shift in her gaze.
Without hesitation, she activated her Sage Eyes, the world sharpening as layers peeled back, revealing more than what ordinary sight could capture.
"Let him in," she said calmly.
Then, after a brief pause, her tone lowered just a fraction.
"And close the store."