After leaving the city hall, Kaito stepped out into the bright streets of Astralis City. The fresh air filled with mana entered his lungs as he composed himself. His next destination was clear the western region of the city, where the cloaked woman awaited him to complete his class change quest, according to the address provided in the letter he got from her previously.
He glanced around briefly, then chose a direction and began walking. Before long, the towering shape of a clock-like building came into view at the center of a large square. The building was grand, its surface engraved with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with light. Around it stood several guards, all in polished armor and bearing the city's insignia. This was the Teleportation Hall of Astralis City's central region.
And because Astralis wasn't just a town but a vast metropolis, it had multiple major squares, each serving a different function. This one was known as Teleportation Square, named after the massive teleportation hall that stood at its heart. The square was always bustling, with citizens, merchants, and travelers constantly coming and going, and just like it there were four other teleportation halls in all the four regions of the Astralis City.
The Teleportation Halls were managed directly by the City Lord's Office. Inside them were several mini teleportation arrays, each designed to instantly transport people between the various regions of the vast city. Astralis was far too large to traverse on foot moving from one region to another without teleportation would take hours, if not days. These arrays had therefore become a basic necessity for everyone in the city, from nobles to ordinary civilians.
However, these smaller arrays were different from the large teleportation formation Kaito had previously used to travel from South Glade Town to Astralis City. Compared to that grand formation, the ones here were far more limited. They could only teleport people within the city's boundaries and had restrictions on both distance and capacity. Each activation could only transport a small group at a time.
This difference existed for a reason. A large-scale teleportation array like the one linking towns and cities required immense resources to build and maintain. Even Duke Reynard, a Tier 6 mage, couldn't afford to deploy such large arrays everywhere. Using them consumed vast amounts of mana crystals and high-grade materials. The activation cost alone would be unbearable for ordinary people, and the fees for each teleportation would be extremely high.
To resolve this, the Duke had once worked together with several other high-ranking mages in an ambitious experiment. Their goal was to simplify the teleportation system so that it could be used widely without draining the city's treasury. After many trials and modifications, they succeeded. The result was these mini teleportation arrays smaller, cheaper, and much easier to maintain.
While their range and capacity were limited, their efficiency and low operating cost made them a perfect solution. Thanks to these arrays, even common civilians could afford to travel between regions for only a modest fee.
The area surrounding the Teleportation Square was one of the most developed in the entire Astralis city. Many influential organizations had built their offices here to take advantage of the convenience in transportation. Even one of the major chamber of commerce had its headquarters nearby. Kaito himself had bought several plots of land in this area earlier, knowing just how valuable they would become.
So as he stepped into the square, he could feel the faint hum of energy radiating from the Teleportation Hall. The marble tiles beneath his feet vibrated softly, and each pulse of light that shone from the building's runes hinted at the immense power contained within.
Without wasting time, Kaito made his way inside. The moment he entered the hall, he was greeted by a scene of constant motion. The teleportation arrays lined the center of the wide chamber, glowing in rhythmic intervals. Figures appeared and disappeared in flashes of light all NPCs traveling for business or government work. Every few seconds, one group would vanish while another would materialize in their place, the air rippling with residual energy.
He stood for a moment, watching as a group of NPCs stepped off one array, their outlines still shimmering faintly before fading back into solidity. Just as the last of them cleared the platform, a uniformed officer standing nearby stepped forward and raised his voice.
"The next batch going to the northern region, step forward!"
Immediately, five or six NPCs moved ahead, handed over their teleportation fees, and stood within the glowing circle. The array flared with white light, and in an instant, they were gone dispersed into thin air, their outlines swallowed by the brilliance of the teleportation glow.
The officer waited for a moment before speaking again. "Next! Those heading to the western region, step forward!"
Hearing this, Kaito began walking toward the array along with several NPCs. The officer noticed his approach almost immediately. His eyes widened slightly when he recognized the title on Kaito, and he straightened his posture before stepping forward briskly.
Stopping before Kaito, the officer bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Viscount."
Kaito gave a small nod and while handing over the teleportation fee of 1 gold he said, "I want to teleport to the western region."
The officer quickly took the fee and responded, "Understood, my lord. I'll disperse these people first, and then I'll prepare a direct teleportation for you."
Kaito understood what that meant. The officer intended to send away the others so that Kaito, as a noble, could travel alone. But Kaito wasn't someone who clung to status or privilege. Although he held a noble title, he had no interest in acting arrogantly.
"There's no need," Kaito said calmly. "I'll teleport with them."
The officer hesitated, clearly surprised. He looked unsure for a moment but then nodded. "As you wish, my lord." He stepped aside respectfully and gestured toward the platform. "This way, Viscount."
As Kaito walked toward the array, the surrounding NPCs noticed the exchange. One by one, they lowered their heads. Even the NPCs already waiting on the teleportation array bowed in greeting when they saw him approach.
"My lord, Viscount."
Their voices carried a tone of respect and caution. In Glory, nobles were figures both revered and feared. No one wanted to risk offending someone with such status. Everyone knew that angering a noble even unintentionally could have dire consequences. A single complaint from a noble could result in punishment, and at worst, confinement. For the noble, it might only mean paying a fine; for the commoner, it could mean ruin.
Because of this, the officers and civilians alike were extremely careful with their words and actions whenever a noble was present. Even though Kaito carried himself with an easygoing attitude, none of them dared to relax in his presence.
He stepped onto the array, and the other NPCs instinctively kept their heads bowed, avoiding even accidental eye contact. The atmosphere felt heavy, though Kaito paid it little mind.
The officer returned to the control console, his movements crisp and formal. "My lord, Viscount," he said respectfully, "I'll begin the teleportation now. Please bear with the brief discomfort you may feel during transmission."
Kaito nodded slightly and raised a hand, signaling for him to proceed.
The officer activated the console, and the runes around the array began to glow brighter and brighter. The air within the hall rippled as energy gathered. A deep humming sound filled the room, echoing softly against the high walls.
In the next instant, a brilliant white light enveloped the entire array. The world around Kaito blurred, the outlines of the hall stretching into streaks of light. A faint pressure settled over him, the familiar, fleeting sensation of being pulled through space.
The teleportation had begun.
The white light then expanded, swallowing Kaito and the group of NPCs beside him. Within moments, their figures completely disappeared from the Teleportation Hall, leaving only the fading shimmer of mana behind.