No matter how one denies it, it was a fact that even if one had no ties remaining to that place, the concept of home was not something they could easily brush off. The longing in their hearts would prevent them from fully integrating into the new world… They would always think of the inerasable past. It was the most painful kind of home-sickness.

But the question was, in novels… was it always that easy to return to where they came from?

No. Fate would not always be kind enough to let one travel back and forth as wished.

Yet without exception, transmigrators, time-travelers, reincarnators, unless truly dead and thrown into an impossible timeline, would strive to go back. In this regard, Sofony was no different.

'The difference between me and the transmigrated protagonists in novels is that I know how to return and know where exactly I am…' she whispered to herself. 

She was on her way to the capital of the Xia Empire, escorted by Governor Su himself, together with his best fighters. The girl's plan was to check whether the so-called royal family of the Xia Empire was Leader Mao's family, and whether the remnant core members of Catastrophe, that destroyed hidden organization of C Empire, were hiding in this place…

Home… The term played in her mind again, thinking of the penthouse where she and Gio now lived. She wanted to return and the desire for this was like an undying flame within her chest. Her lover, family, friends, and everything established were there. How could she not want to go back?

 'I am in a layer… And three years that 'King's layer could not entrap me.'

Conviction shot out like a glimmer from a dagger's blade from her eyes. 'I refuse to believe I won't be able to escape from this layer this time around!'

The road was filled with b.u.mps, but through points, nothing would be able to make her uncomfortable. Bandits died before getting into a ten-meter distance from her carriage as she had given the guards of the governor some buff, controlling them to coordinate. Only her heart that was never put at ease could make her become so melancholic.

Suddenly, when she was staring outside as the caravan marched towards a town, she heard an overdue notification in her head.

[Ding!]

******

[System Prompt: First Official, Level Six]

System Task: Ma.s.sacre a Royal Clan

System Introduction: Hehe, it's very funny how you made yourself regarded as an exalted deity at the same level as Mao through hypnotism. But aren't you too eager to pretend to be a G.o.ddess? What? You wanna say you're only forced and you only wish to gather your own force as soon as possible to arm you up against uncertain situations? Whatever! Anyways, your task is very obvious and you would be an extreme idiot if you can't understand it. Get rid of the old regime to replace it with yours, alright! You see, a dynasty can only be replaced through annihilation of the previous ruling family! So do your best and give me a good show. I'm looking forward to your performance host! Hahahaha!

Quest Reward:

-      Anonymity + 1 Level

-      A Cla.s.s 7 barrier or weapon

-      20 million pleasure points

-      One minute worth free QA session with the Great System AI, me

Failure Consequence:

-      How about your four limbs, apart from negative 100 million points? Hehe

Used to the system's cheap tactics, she ignored it and set her sight on the direction of the capital where her hopes for her return lies.

….

Alina City… Twelve hours after Sofony's disappearance.

The news about Sofony and Steffy finally reached the concerned parties.

Gio, as expected, did not like what he heard and almost frightened all his confidants to death with his fierce and murderous look.

"Disappear?"

Thinking of the three-year-long separation, the man's voice unconsciously lowered to a scary degree. Everyone around had the illusion that an ice age descended upon them.

"You're all telling me this city lost all tracks of Sofy? Search her! Use face recognition technology! Pair it with the satellites! There are countless ways to do this. Are you waiting for me to list them all down to you all?"

Old Gil and the other felt heavy but did not dare contradict him. "My apologies Sir, we will triple-check it now. Please give us some more time."

The man, of course, did not say a thing, letting his glare speak for himself.

He himself went through the footages in and outside the building, hoping his ability to sift through videos and see the things only people in contact with the system could see. However, he was met with disappointment when all he witnessed was Sofony's mysterious disappearance.

But he knew the place where she last appeared though. And he was sure it was not coincidentally at the same spot as her adoptive sister.

Gio's tone reached an all-time low when he confronted his uncle face to face.

Without going round about it, he asked with gritted teeth, "Uncle, be honest with me. In this country, who else can erase traces and make it appear like there was no transfer or s.p.a.ce-related kidnapping that happened? Who else can fulfill the condition above while also being related to Sofony? And why would he do this, huh?"

Conrad was in his villa, sipping tea and unwinding from the roller-coaster mess he got himself involved in the past years when his nephew made an unexpected visit while wearing a grave face. The man almost spits his tea upon hearing the question.

'What happened again?'

'Fred's daughter disappeared?'

'Gio is suspecting Fred?'

The Business King of Alina City really had no idea about the mad doctor's action this time so he was dumbfounded upon being stared at by his nephew as if he was a very hated enemy. Countless thoughts flashed across and when he realized the reason, a bitter smile hung on his lips. He waved a hand to make everyone else withdrew from the scene. "Leave us. My butler, make sure no one comes near within ten meters from here."

"Yes, Sir." The old driver slash a.s.sistant slash butler bowed and led everyone else out there.

Once they were the only ones remaining in the activity room of the opulent mansion, Conrad looked at Gio and hesitantly replied, "My dear nephew. Did something happen? Although, I can somewhat guess the answer in your mind, aren't you easily jumping into a conclusion? This is not so like you. I suggest you conduct thorough research this time. My good friend Fred has done several trips outside and I don't think his colleagues there will tolerate it. I think you should try to consider whether outsiders have come."

Gio strode forward with a momentum akin to a red-eyed tiger. "Uncle, I am being considerate of you when I came here to confirm this to you."

"Somebody took away my fiancée and it was someone who can erase traces of magic used in teleportation. There is no image whatsoever captured even through outside CCTVs and satellites. I can see through the system's interference so as long as there's a seemingly deleted part, I would be able to check the truth. Yet there is none this time. What do you think happened?"

Conrad frowned, placing down his cup that was still half-full.

Then he said with absolute calmness, "Giovan, I understand why you're acting like a tiger whose tail got stepped on. But you should still check if outsiders have sneaked in and caused this. You ought to remember that the broadcast your fiancée willfully started could have attracted many malicious eyes from the other countries. It's impossible that you're not aware of this fact."

Gio stared at his uncle for a long time. A minute later, he narrowed his eyes. The man was the famed Adonis and Devil of Alina City, but before his t.i.tles came into being, he was a rational special ops commander in the military. He immediately regained his reason and then calmed down.

Yet this did not mean that he never erased Fred, that annoying geezer, as the perpetrator who caused Sofony's disappearance. It was already a solidified fact in his mind.

The only thing that changed was him closing in on the truth, guessing that somebody tried to bring Sofony somewhere else, and this person must be stronger than her, but weaker than Fred.

'Level 7…' When he spun on his heels and left without saying goodbye, the man was preoccupied with the thought.

Although not truly sure of what happened in the process, he was quite certain that Fred either brought her in another ice-isolated region… or the Layers… His steps as he left there hinted that he now knew what to do next. 

…

Apart from Leo's AI, there would probably no other artificial system intelligence that would ever come close to 98's great naivety and kindness to its host.

Before Chris could even learn from Gio or the media people that Sofony Silver vanished, it was already reported to him by his system AI.

"Host! It's bad! Somebody attacked 237 and teleported her out of the surface world!"

The actor was with Alessa and checking on the kid from C-Empire's desert camp when the news reached his ear. The actress was just surprised upon noticing Chris' dumbfounded expression. When she saw that it turned into a grim one, Alessa asked him in a worried tone, "Is there something wrong?"

With a cold face, the young man exhaled. He chose not to answer the actress from the time-being as the matter was obviously very heavy and worrisome. After hesitating for a moment, he pulled the woman's hand and left the boy with her two a.s.sistants for Ever Victorious.