Glory Oath Empire, Kude Province in the northwest.
Across the flat wilderness, a new-style Steam train sped along, spewing thick smoke. The animals along the way had not yet grown accustomed to this massive "beast," which had appeared only recently, and fled in panic at the train's blaring whistle.
As the Empire's most remote region, it still regarded many Steam technologies common along the eastern coast as rare curiosities.
Most passengers in the green-painted carriages were also riding this advanced means of transportation for the first time. Even after several days of travel, they gazed out the windows at the scenery with fresh curiosity.
Unlike the crowded ordinary carriages, which reeked of mixed odors, the train's middle section held luxury cars reserved for the wealthy. With enough money, a passenger could secure a private compartment.
Hailuot sat alone in his private compartment. A steaming cup of coffee rested on the table, and he held today's newspaper.
Flipping to the front page...
"Tomorrow Heavy Industries' newly developed heavy Steam passenger Airship has completed its final flight tests. Lady Irina, President of Tomorrow Group, announced that the new heavy Steam passenger Airship would be registered under the name 'Leviathan.'
Tomorrow Sky Transport has already ordered 40 Leviathan-class Airships. The Airship can carry 265 passengers on a single trip and is expected to strengthen Tomorrow Sky Transport's competitiveness in the industry.
Sources within the Imperial Court say that the Royal Military Commission is seeking to cooperate with Tomorrow Heavy Industries on a military version of the Leviathan-class heavy Steam Airship.
.."
Hailuot didn't finish reading the front-page story before flipping to the next page.
"The Tomorrow Technology Foundation invested in 239 new research projects last fiscal quarter, committing a total of 600 million Gold Pounds..."
Flipping again...
"Lady Irina has rejected Count Seacom's marriage proposal. She has once again declared publicly that she is married and deeply loves her husband and son.
But no one has ever seen Irina's husband or son. Is this a lie fabricated by Lady Irina to fend off those coveting the business empire she built...?"
Flipping again...
"Lady Irina has announced that she will run as an independent candidate in the next Imperial Parliament election.
.."
"Lady Irina..."
If Hailuot had not known that the Imperial Daily belonged to the Imperial Royal Family, he might have thought his investment-savvy mother had bought the newspaper herself.
Sigh...
To build momentum for her Imperial Parliament campaign, his mother had generated a flood of major headlines. She was also busy attending every kind of gathering and event, so much so that she had forgotten her own son's graduation.
Hailuot set down the newspaper and looked out the window.
The Empire's remote northwest had little modern development, but it possessed a rustic charm absent from cities filled with towering buildings. A great river flowed quietly through the endless grasslands. Herds of sheep and cattle grazed, while mounted herders looked up at the passing train.
On the distant horizon, a small town came into view.
That was Hailuot's destination for this trip... Hogg Town.
Hailuot remembered that he had last returned to Hogg Town at the age of ten. His mother's business had run into trouble then, forcing her to bring her young son here to seek his father's protection.
His father hadn't asked a single question. He'd simply taken in the mother who had once resolutely left this family, and given her every last bit of his savings.
For young Hailuot, it was a wondrous time. Claurend Manor contained too many things for outsiders to imagine.
Hailuot pulled a letter from his coat pocket.
This was the first letter his father had written to him. Hailuot did not receive it until four years later, meaning that his father had already been missing for four years.
After receiving the letter, Hailuot hesitated over whether to return. His mother had strictly forbidden him to contact his father.
She had not even allowed him to study Applied Magic, fearing that his Claurend Family Bloodline might awaken.
"The Undead don't belong to this era. It made your father lonely for an entire lifetime. You must never carry that curse again!"
But his mother's indifference during this period awakened a rebellious streak in Hailuot.
He decided to go back to Claurend Manor and see for himself, without telling his mother...
The train pulled into the Hogg Town station.
After getting off the train, Hailuot didn't tour the town. Instead, he hired a carriage straightaway and headed for Claurend Manor.
Claurend Manor lay within a dense forest to the west, outside the town.
Deep within the forest, a thin Mist hung over everything. The trees were black, their leaves included. A mournful wail echoed from every direction, giving the place an even more terrifying air.
Once they reached this point, the coachman refused to go any further, no matter what.
He refused Hailuot's offer of extra pay, dropped him off, then turned the carriage around and fled as if for his life.
Hailuot was left standing with his suitcase, staring in confusion at the Mist-shrouded forest around him.
There was no road, and no way to tell direction. Which way should he go?
Hailuot remembered arriving here with his mother to seek refuge. They had faced the same situation then.
So Hailuot called into the Mist, "I am Hailuot Bonecrusher, of the Old Dominator, of House Claurend."
The moment he announced his family name, the wailing sound in the forest stopped at once. The mist parted to either side, revealing a straight path.
Hailuot carried his suitcase and walked forward along the misty path.
After walking about a kilometer, he saw a massive Manor ahead.
A Granite wall surrounded the Manor, its top studded with bleached skulls. Black wisps of Mist coiled around the towering iron gate. Through its bars, Hailuot could glimpse the grim, forbidding Ancient Castle beyond.
As Hailuot approached the iron gate, it opened on its own.
A Skeleton dressed in a gentleman's suit, white shirt, and Bow Tie came out to greet him.
It bowed to Hailuot with respect. "Welcome home, my Young Master Hailuot."
"You are..." Hailuot had forgotten this Skeleton's name.
The Skeleton took the suitcase from Hailuot's hands and introduced itself. "I am the Butler of Claurend Manor. You may call me Kote. Please, come in. The manor's servants have all been eagerly awaiting our new master's arrival."
Hailuot followed the Skeleton Butler into the manor and said, "I haven't decided yet whether I'll inherit House Claurend."
The Skeleton Butler paused, then said with sorrow, "That is your right, Young Master Hailuot. The Undead have long since been rejected by this world. Visitors once lined up all the way to Hogg Town to see Claurend Manor. But now... Hogg Town has repeatedly proposed tearing this place down because the townsfolk believe that a Manor full of the Undead is hindering the town's development.
Perhaps it is time to bring this to an end..."
Hailuot watched the butler's straight spine slump a little.
He understood: if he did not inherit Claurend Manor, the Manor and surrounding woodland would become ownerless. Hogg Town could tear it down without opposition.
The Undead living there would be driven out or destroyed.