The commercial nation of Chui-de, located at the crossroads of the three great empires, naturally possessed an unparalleled geographical advantage. Because of this, it was the wealthiest vassal state of the Ymir Empire, and the richest place on the southern continent. Even the per-capita GDP of its suzerain, the Ymir Empire, could not compare to it.
This was also the cradle of capitalism in this world.
The royal family and the major financial conglomerates were deeply intertwined, creating a kingdom ruled by capital.
Within the royal residential area of the palace stood a gigantic banyan tree over a hundred meters tall. Legend had it that the tree had already taken root here even before the founding of the Kingdom of Chui-de.
Since oak trees symbolized wealth and credit in the Ymir Empire, this ancient tree—known as the Sacred Oak—had become a symbol of the Chui-de royal family.
The surrounding garden was designated as a royal forbidden zone.
Yet within this forbidden area, two figures stood quietly beside the Sacred Oak.
They were Special Envoy York and the old King of Chui-de.
"Your Excellency, the entrance to Chui-de's Witch Underground Palace is right here."
As he spoke, the old king raised his staff and gently tapped the tree's bark.
With a specific spiritual frequency washing over the Sacred Oak, the bark began to writhe and shift. Eventually, an opening large enough for a person to pass through formed in front of them.
"Your Excellency, please."
The king led York into the hollow of the tree. After passing through a narrow passage, the two arrived at a spacious chamber of about ten square meters.
Before them stood an altar engraved with a seven-pointed star.
The king walked to the altar, drew a delicate dagger from his waist, and swiftly cut his palm. A crimson line of blood flowed down into the center of the altar.
The surrounding space then twisted and warped like glass melting under extreme heat, and in the center of the altar, a rotating spatial gateway gradually formed.
"Your Excellency, only members of the Chui-de royal family are permitted to enter the Witch Underground Palace. How about I go in first and bring out the Healing Witch for you?"
"No need."
York waved his hand and took out a crystal vial from his storage ring. Inside the vial was a tiny drop of golden liquid.
He also cut his own palm with a dagger and let his blood drip into the vial.
The moment the crimson blood touched the golden liquid, it boiled violently, as if it had been poured into scorching hot oil.
Before long, York's blood had turned completely gold.
"The Witch Sealing Grounds in your southern continent were originally established by the Holy See. Naturally, we have ways to pass through them freely."
As he spoke, York casually poured the liquid from the vial onto the formation.
With a sizzling sound, golden mist rose from the altar and quickly enveloped the spatial gateway. The originally dark purple-black portal now gained an air of noble splendor.
"If I remember correctly, this should be the mental world of Chui-de's first king—Jacob Chui-de, wasn't it? A destiny-type Wealth World. It's quite suitable for imprisoning a life-type Healing Witch. There won't be any adverse effects due to elemental incompatibility."
"Yes. Our ancestor was indeed one of the twenty-two knights who followed the Three Great Emperors to overthrow the old dynasty—Sir Jacob, the Golden Knight."
"I see."
A trace of mockery flashed across York's lips as he stepped into the spatial gateway.
The old king quickly followed after him.
Behind them, a tiny flying insect also rushed toward the portal.
However, the instant it touched the gateway, a terrifying twisting force crushed it into a lump of flesh.
The moment the insect died, Niv received the information.
At the same time, she clearly heard the conversation between York and the king before they entered.
Beside her, Hel also witnessed the scene through the soul network.
"If that's an independent space created from a mental world, then I might be able to trap those two inside."
Hel spoke calmly, but her hands were already moving quickly. She began transferring her Morrigan clone from the Garden Nation.
Just as she was about to deploy Morrigan, Niv stopped her.
"Wait, Master. Something's happening."
With a wave of her hand, several surveillance screens appeared before Hel.
A crow was cautiously hopping into the area.
In its beak, it held a magic scroll.
"Someone else has their eyes on them too?" Hel asked in surprise.
Niv nodded and replayed earlier footage, revealing that the crow had already been waiting on the oak tree long before the two men arrived.
Seeing this, Hel felt relieved instead.
"That's normal. With those two flying around so openly, the hidden players could easily guess their destination. It would be strange if no one was lying in wait.
But this crow looks oddly familiar… Doesn't it look exactly like one of Imshy's avatars? My ability to turn into a white dove was copied from her, after all.
The real question is—which faction is she representing this time? The Divine Welcome Society, or the Supreme Church?"
"Maybe neither," Niv smiled and projected more images in front of Hel.
"According to our trace, this crow flew here from Chui-de City's Merchant Guild three days ago. Her apparent identity is the vice president of the local merchants' association."
"…Seriously?"
Hel was speechless.
"So Imshi's avatars are literally everywhere now."
"She really is impressive," Hel muttered.
"I just don't know what kind of Witch she is—the Clone Witch, or the Trouble-Stirring Witch?"
"There's no such ridiculous Witch," Niv said with a helpless smile.
"Even Witches have to follow magical principles."
As they spoke, the crow hopped to the front of the spatial gateway, still holding the scroll in its beak.
Just as it was about to activate the scroll, terrifying golden flames suddenly erupted around its body.
The fire clung to it like a curse—no matter how the crow struggled, it couldn't extinguish the flames.
It could only be completely engulfed.
Yet unlike ordinary fire, the flames did not burn the crow to ash.
Instead, when the fire died down, a lifelike golden crow statue remained in its place.
Even the crow's stunned expression at the moment it released the scroll had been perfectly preserved.