My physics masters couldn't possibly be grand mages.

That was the largest airship Char had ever seen.

The shadows climbed up from the edge of the harbor, like the rising tide, inch by inch swallowing up the ground, buildings, and people.

The entire exterior of the boat is covered in smooth metal that gleams coldly in the sunlight, and the brass-carved observation cabin resembles a pocket watch embedded in the hull.

Milky white steam was gushing from the copper valves on both sides of the ship.

Although ether is theoretically a clean energy source, Char always felt he could smell a faint coal smoke in the air...

Einstein squinted slightly, as if visually assessing its size—this iron contraption was larger than any Zeppelin he had ever seen.

He looked at the metal shell that even included the airbags; logically, this kind of airship should never be able to fly.

But it not only took flight, it even flew smoothly.

If this were in another world, people would believe it was a spaceship.

His lips moved, but Xia couldn't hear what he said—the whistle sounded.

Char's ears began to feel muffled.

The sound pressed down from above, causing the stone slabs beneath his feet to tremble slightly, and Xia's teeth chattered along with it.

The anchor rope hangs down from the hull of the boat, twisting in the air as it searches for the anchor point.

A man in a dark blue uniform poked his head out of the pod and tapped the bronze bell outside the pod with a long pole.

"Pullman Harbor! Pullman Harbor! Prepare for boarding! Children, keep an eye on your pets! Last month, a ferret ran into the ether furnace, and the whole ship almost fell overboard!"

Ether is actually another name for magic, so even the magical world needs a lot of ether.

The airship lowered its gangway and landed steadily on the rocky platform.

The gangway was narrow, so the crowd lined up spontaneously and, under the guidance of the uniformed men, slowly entered the airship.

Even Allen and the others were placed at the back of the line.

But the airship's movements did not stop as a result.

The belly of the pod began to move.

A metal plate there split in the middle, and a section of brass steps flipped out.

The steps stopped halfway down, more than two meters from the ground. Then the handrail extended outwards section by section until it touched the ground. The whole process was almost silent, except for the very slight "click" of gears meshing.

This passageway was much more refined than the narrow gangway next to it—the brass railings gleamed, and the steps were covered with dark red anti-slip mats.

Some people in the crowd whispered among themselves. This passage was clearly reserved for distinguished guests. They looked around, seemingly trying to find this "distinguished guest," their gazes lingering on the faces of the nobles.

Two uniformed personnel came down the passage and stood on either side.

Howard walked down the corridor.

He changed his clothes—a gray robe with a silver badge pinned to the collar and a thin chain hanging from his chest, the other end of which was attached to a pocket watch.

...

"Alan," Pete patted Alan on the shoulder, "it looks like Mr. Howard from the Ministry of Magic."

"Are they here to pick us up?" Lia asked.

Allen didn't speak. He took two steps forward, about to open his mouth—

Howard walked past him.

Straight to the point. As if he didn't exist at all.

Allen's raised hand remained suspended in mid-air, forgetting to put it down.

His face froze.

He turned and watched Howard's retreating figure. The Minister of Magic was hurrying towards a corner at the back of the line.

I walked towards the old man.

The old man standing next to Char. Eren had only glanced at him before, assuming he was Char's relative or servant—the kind of poor, downtrodden look often seen in people from the lower city, with their families in tow.

But now, Howard walked up to the old man and bowed slightly.

"Your Excellency, the cabin is ready. Please follow me with your students."

There was a moment of silence.

Allen saw the old man glance at Howard, then at the brass steps covered with red padding.

"Thank you," he said.

The two of them followed Howard up the stairs, one after the other.

The brass-edged steps sank slightly under their feet and bounced back up, making a very faint "click" sound.

Allen stood there, watching the old man's figure disappear into the shadows of the submarine.

"Let's go," he said.

Pete and Leah followed him toward the brass steps.

Two uniformed men stopped them.

"Wait, this is the VIP lane, you guys line up."

"We are students of the Tower of Truth!" Pete said.

The uniformed officer glanced at him, then at Allen and Leah.

"There are hundreds of Truth Tower students on the Orloren, and they all use the regular passageways. Even the Golden Family is no exception, so why are you an exception?"

"But..." Pete glanced in the direction of the airship and said indignantly, "Why did those two get in there?"

The uniformed officer glanced back at the direction of the hull of the boat, then turned back and looked at Pete with an expression that said, "How dare you ask that?"

"Can you compare yourself to that gentleman and his students?"

That gentleman? His student?

Allen felt like he was being choked.

He wanted to say something—that there must be some misunderstanding. He wanted to say that Char hadn't even gotten a spot at the Imperial University of Science and Technology. He wanted to say that he was just a commoner from the lower city.

But he didn't say anything.

Because the brass steps had begun to retract. Step by step, they folded upwards from the bottom. Two uniformed men followed the steps upwards, eventually disappearing into the hull of the boat.

The metal plates closed. A perfect fit.

It was as if nothing had happened.

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go up!"

Leah's shout brought Allen back to his senses. He turned around and saw that the gangway in the ordinary passageway had begun to sway, and the anchor ropes were automatically untying one by one.

The three of them ran over.

Pete ran ahead, stepping onto the metal step with a loud clang. Allen followed behind, walking quickly, but his eyes remained fixed on the closed metal plate above the gangway.

They rushed into the pod at the last minute.

As soon as I stepped into the cabin, the gangway behind me began to retract, the chains rattling loudly.

The three people leaned against the wall in the corridor, panting heavily.

Pete bent over, his hands resting on his knees. "Holy crap... I almost didn't make it up."

Lia rolled her eyes at him. "Serves you right for dawdling."

"Am I dawdling?" Pete muttered to himself.

Allen didn't say anything.

He leaned against the wall, looking at the VIP passage leading to the end of the corridor.

There is an elevator there.

Howard, Char, and the old man stood at the door waiting for the elevator.

"Ding!"

The elevator doors slowly opened to both sides.

The group of people entered the elevator together.

Allen watched as the elevator doors closed, the numbers representing the floors rising steadily.

First floor, second floor, third floor, fourth floor.

He had flown on the Orloran before and knew what the fourth floor meant—it was the VIP lounge accessible only to guests of the Tower of Truth.

His father, as governor, had tried to reserve this floor, but was told that it was "not open to the public for the time being."

Even royalty might not be able to use it.

And now, they are heading to that lounge.

He recalled the way Howard bowed.

I recall that phrase, "Your Excellency."

I think of that old man.

How did an ordinary citizen from the lower city suddenly become involved with a VIP at the Tower of Truth?