Ch.267Sacred Place of Countless Gold. Turianic Plains (1)

Three days later, we finally arrived at the Turianic Plains.

The formalities at the entry control bureau began, but we were completely exempted from the strict immigration procedures simply by mentioning that an Apostle was on board.

Bypassing numerous transport ships and vessels waiting for docking and entry clearance, we headed toward the mooring tower.

Whoosh…

Piercing through the gray sky, the Sky Warden was finally tethered to the mooring tower of the Turianic Plains.

It had been quite a while since we’d been moored to a tower rather than landing on the ground. I summoned the officers and granted the soldiers permission for free movement, provided they could be assembled within three hours.

“At last… we’ve arrived at the Turianic Plains.”

With overwhelming emotion, I watched the inspectors entering the ship.

When I revealed that I was an Apostle, they were momentarily flustered but responded calmly, saying they would arrange for me to meet their leader and CEO.

Except for my brief stint as a mercenary, this was truly exceptional treatment. I placed my hand on Simon’s shoulder as I watched the approaching diplomat.

“As I said, please take care of the upgrades.”

“Ah… understood. I’ll do my best. Don’t worry and enjoy your visit.”

I nodded and looked at the diplomat who was paying respects to me.

Judging by his attire, he seemed more like a salesman than a diplomat, but in this Turianic Plains—a curious compromise between state and corporation—sales personnel could easily serve as diplomats.

“It is an honor to escort such a noble personage. Our CEO has prepared a banquet, so please follow us.”

“Hmm. Lead the way.”

I followed them with my wife on my arm.

From now on, I needed to be Luminator, the Apostle of the Sun, not Viktor Walker.

*

“That person is the Apostle of the Sun? Is that his wife beside him?”

“Damn… I’ve never seen a woman with such large breasts and hips… As the wife of the Sun’s Apostle, has she received the Moon’s blessing?”

“Maybe. Anyway, look how tall he is. I guess that’s what makes an Apostle different…?”

Sorry, I had surgery to increase my height.

Though it wasn’t adding height out of nowhere—just expanding my growth plates, so let’s just say I unlocked my potential.

Perhaps because I was an Aura user, I could hear everything the people around us were muttering, despite their attempts to keep their voices down.

My wife was also an Aura user, so she could probably hear everything I could.

“Fuck, I’m so jealous. I’d love to bang her.”

“Idiot. Don’t you see that man’s back? You’d better pray your dick is only 3cm.”

“The world is so fucking unfair. Some people eat iron rations for ten years and still live in rented rooms, while others just believe in the right god and become Apostles…”

Sigh…

Thud.

“Luminator?”

With a displeased expression, I looked around at the soldiers and diplomats escorting me.

“Is this how you treat an Apostle?”

“…Pardon?”

“Or are you underestimating the Apostle’s abilities? Which is it?”

“…I apologize, Luminator. We will correct any mistakes we’ve made, but may I first ask what has displeased you?”

“Can you not hear? The greedy voices of these worthless humans spewing all manner of obscenities and slander about my wife and me. Must I listen to comments about my wife’s buttocks in these plains where I forge the Sun’s steel?”

Upon hearing my words, the diplomats’ faces turned pale.

Normally, it was customary to restrict public access when escorting diplomatic personnel, but the Turianic Plains couldn’t implement this due to production quota concerns.

Moreover, with rough, uncouth men who lived on oil and bread gathered in rows, this situation was inevitable.

“We… have no words to excuse such rudeness. These are merely the thoughtless remarks of lowly men who sell molten iron for a living. Please do not trouble yourself over them. We will deploy security to find those who uttered such nonsense and make an example of them.”

“As you should. If anyone who has insulted the Apostle’s wife remains alive, I will personally behead them.”

After delivering this sharp rebuke, I continued walking.

The crowd quickly zipped their lips, and those who had been cackling while wiping their mouths with sweat-soaked towels would soon face the iron hammer of the law (literally) and be silenced forever.

“Make way! Make way! The Apostle of the Sun approaches!”

Ahead, the honor guard desperately tried to control the crowd to prevent “collateral damage.”

[You have done well. Punishing those who show lustful thoughts toward your wife is both the duty and right of a husband.]

Yes, I know. That’s why I dealt with it firmly, establishing dominance from the start.

I cannot tolerate insults directed at me, but I find insults to my wife even more intolerable.

How dare they insult my poor wife who can only tear apart trolls with her bare hands?

[Your words are true. Continue to uphold such honor.]

I felt my wife’s arm, linked with mine, tighten its grip.

What makes a good marriage? If you remember to take care of these small things, love doesn’t fade so easily.

*

After walking for about 20 minutes, we finally arrived at a peculiar space where the CEO and other officials resided… Palace…? Residence? Corporate headquarters? I wasn’t sure what to call it.

“What is this place?”

“Ah, this is the Central Control Center. It’s the heart and origin of the Turianic Plains. All steel manufacturing processes are audited and monitored here, and quality control and shipping processes can be supervised remotely.”

“…I see.”

It wasn’t uncommon for corporations or similar entities to acquire governing authority.

Even in places where public authority functioned properly, dominant companies within industrial complexes wielded absolute power, which made this situation easier to understand.

Moreover, if the company controlling the industrial complex could supply raw materials, labor, food, necessities, and even luxury goods within the complex, it was essentially a corporate state.

Yes, just like the modern Turianic Plains.

“I apologize again for the earlier rudeness. As we promised, those who uttered such nonsense will be severely punished.”

“I will trust in Turianic’s fair judicial process.”

“We will do our utmost to restore your trust.”

I nodded slightly and entered the building.

Inside, various mineral specimens were displayed—strange and bizarre rocks, or perhaps a hobby of collecting them. Apparently, these rare items occasionally emerged from the waste rock produced during metal extraction.

Thinking about it made my heart race a bit.

Isn’t seeing such rare things the true taste of adventure? Of course, I’m not in a position to appreciate that taste right now…

“Please wait a moment. The CEO is coming down.”

“Hmm.”

I released my wife’s arm and then stood with my hands behind my back, waiting for the CEO to descend in the elevator.

Shortly after, the elevator arrival sound chimed almost simultaneously with the doors opening, and the CEO stepped out and walked straight toward me.

“Welcome, Luminator. I’ve heard all about it. The incidents in Lorelai and Kairali… and the judgment at Long Legs… all seemed like fantasy novels to mere mortals like myself. It’s an honor to meet the protagonist in person.”

“Your submission pleases me. State your name.”

“My name is Karl Deim Beyrik. Please call me Karl.”

“Very well, CEO Karl. Do you know why I have come here?”

When I asked this, he shook his head.

A natural response, as I had deliberately given an ambiguous answer.

I detached the sword from my waist and handed the Purifier to my wife.

When I reached for the sword, they momentarily flinched, but calmed down upon seeing me pass it to my wife.

“I seek the support and loyalty of the Turianic Plains. This is the will of humanity’s Sun, and it will be the foundation upon which I build my empire.”

“…”

Upon hearing my words, Karl stood with his mouth agape, unable to speak.

Sun, Empire.

These were sacred and holy words that ordinary people dared not even utter, let alone should utter, so his reaction was natural.

However, I have come to this land to gain the support and loyalty of these ordinary people, and furthermore, to lay the groundwork for the empire. Such a formulaic response is not what I want or need.

“First, we need to talk, so we’ll need an appropriate place.”

“Ah. Yes. Please follow me. I’ll guide you.”

So I followed the CEO into a private conference room.

My wife moved elsewhere with the Purifier in hand, and after expanding my spiritual sense to confirm there was nothing suspicious in the conference room, I took a seat.

“Now then, shall we begin? The meeting regarding the control of the Turianic Plains.”