Time passed in a blink — and in just one week, everything had changed.
During that week, Hel had not only completed the C56 "goblin ruin" disguise project, but also begun constructing shallow subway tunnels branching out from C56 to other regions.
Unlike the original goblin tunnels that went hundreds of meters deep underground, these subways were only about ten meters below the surface, making them far easier to build.
For now, the lines only connected the towns within Heim Territory and extended toward Golden City.
That's right — the Golden City had become the only route linking the entire Mandrake Territory to the outside world. So naturally, the very moment Hel received her official title, she dispatched her forces to seize control of it.
As for the original Marquis of Gold, he had long since perished during the cataclysm, and his descendants were eliminated in Witt's plot against Brenda. Thus, when Hel reclaimed the Golden Marquisate, no one stood in her way.
Of her 22,000 Tier-2 Knight Puppets, five thousand were stationed across the major routes of the Golden Marquisate to secure the trade lines, while the remaining fifteen thousand spread across Mandrake Territory to establish defensive positions.
Her actions might've seemed heavy-handed — even aggressive — but Hel didn't intend to let her coming reforms be hindered by outside interference.
"Alright," she said at last, leaning back in her chair, "we've done everything we can. It's time we paid Mandrake City a visit."
"Will you be taking the subway, Master?" Niv asked gently. "The direct line to Mandrake City isn't finished yet, but the transfer line to Riverlink City is already operational."
"Riverlink City, huh…" Hel murmured.
Riverlink — once the seat of the Marquis of Riverside — had suffered the same fate as the Golden Marquisate. The marquis's direct bloodline had been wiped out during the cataclysm, and the current title was granted to a distant relative — the second son of an honorary marquis from the Kingdom of Selphis.
That man now lived comfortably within Mandrake City, enjoying luxury far from the frontlines. And truth be told, most of the new nobles across Mandrake Territory were the same — outsiders from the capital, political appointees with shared connections, and the influence of the royal court behind them.
If Hel wanted to truly control Mandrake Territory, she had only two choices: subjugate them all — or expel them entirely.
Of course, given her temperament, Hel would rather send those who stood in her way to meet their ancestors.
Still, she prided herself on being reasonable. Everything needed a righteous pretext — a reason to act. So this time, she would meet them face-to-face first.
For this mission, Hel didn't bring many troops — only two hundred cavalry. But every one of them was a Tier-3 Knight Puppet, refitted under her command. That much power was more than enough to handle the pampered, neglected younger sons of noble houses.
Departing from Riverlink City, Hel led her two hundred riders straight toward Mandrake City.
After a day and night of forced marching, they reached the city gates at dawn.
The guards stationed there froze at the sight of the armored cavalry — panic overtook them, and they quickly slammed the gates shut.
Hel didn't even slow down. With a flick of her wrist, she drew out a magitech hand-cannon and fired.
A blazing sphere of elemental energy burst forth and slammed into the city gates.The wooden doors exploded into fragments — splinters filled the air — and Hel charged through the breach with her puppet cavalry like a storm.
Without needing her orders, Niv, remotely controlling the knights from Heim City, commanded the puppet troops to seize all four city gates and take full control of the garrison.
Meanwhile, Hel herself led a dozen riders straight to Mandrake Keep, where she swiftly subdued every official in the city's administration.
There, she also caught sight of several Ember operatives who had infiltrated the city earlier. She didn't acknowledge them, simply riding past on her puppet steed until she stood before a cluster of trembling nobles.
Looking down on them from her saddle, Hel's cold voice rang through the hall:
"Inform everyone in the city — every household must send one representative to the central plaza in one hour. I, Hel heim, the newly appointed Duke of Mandrake, will announce my new policies there."
With that, she turned her horse and left without another word, leaving the nobles pale and speechless.
After she departed, panic spread among them like wildfire. They were merely figureheads, puppets chosen by others — the real power lay elsewhere.
And those true powers were not in this office — they were in the inner district, within the grand noble estates of Mandrake City.
In one particularly lavish manor, a young nobleman burst through the doors in a frenzy.
"Marquis Northhill! Marquis Northhill! Something terrible's happened!"
Ignoring the protests of the maids, he shoved open the door to a luxurious study — only to be greeted by a cloud of smoke and laughter.
Four nobles sat inside, all familiar faces, happily snacking on Moon Sugar candies, while Marquis Northhill lounged in his chair, puffing lazily on a cigar as the air turned hazy and sweet.
"For gods' sake!" the young noble shouted, slapping one of them on the back of the head. "Do you even know what's happening right now? Do you know who's here?"
He snatched the candy box from the startled man, popped one of the white sugar pellets into his own mouth, and as the sweet coating melted, the hallucinogenic drug within spread through his mind. A wave of euphoria rolled over him, and for a brief moment he forgot why he'd even come.
When the effect wore off, his expression turned grim again. He turned toward Marquis Northhill — the only one in the room who looked even remotely composed — and blurted out:
"The new Duke of Mandrake is here. Do you know who he is?"
"Oh?"
Northhill calmly flicked the ash from his cigar. A maid instantly cupped her hands beneath to catch it, bowed respectfully, and retreated.
"I heard something from the capital," he said lazily."The new Duke — Hel heim, wasn't it? A backwater count from some mountain province. Barely old enough to grow a beard.
What's wrong, Earl Rivervale? Don't tell me you're afraid of some little brat?"
Earl Rivervale swallowed hard, his face pale. "N-no, but… that brat just charged into the city with cavalry!"