[SIDE MISSION COMPLETION RATING: S]
[REWARDS: Pluto Mixed-Use Building, Verra S7 PlumeDrive (Bonus: Supreme-level driving skill), and an Inspiration Candy.]
[Note: The deed and candy have been placed in system space alongside your driving license and PlumeDrive documents. The PlumeDrive has been delivered to the mansion.]
"Mansion?"
The word reminded Lyria of the mansion at the Silverbloom Estate. She slapped her forehead.
"I can't believe I actually forgot about this." Before she could dwell on it, the system's neutral voice rang out.
[Would you like to accept the driving skill? Beware: the Host will be transferred to the System space for assimilation.]
"Yes."
[Transferring Host to System space...]
In the blink of an eye, Lyria vanished from the room and reappeared in a vast white space, seated inside a car.
Few minutes passed. Then, just as suddenly, she returned to reality. the first thing she did was check the time. Seeing that only ten minutes had passed, she sighed in relief. However, thinking of the months she had spent driving in the System space, she felt mentally exhausted.
She had driven everything capable of motion: land vehicles, sea vessels, even aircraft. Too tired to continue working, Lyria lay down for a short nap.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
She jolted awake, fumbling around before realizing the sound was coming from her ClawCom. When she picked up, Alex's voice came from the other end. "Good day, Miss Lyria. This is Alex calling from the agency. We were just informed of your acquisition of the Pluto mixed-use building."
"Yes…" Sleep still clung to her voice.
"I'm calling to confirm whether you'd like to continue leasing the residential apartments. We would also return the three years' advance payment you made for the previous building."
"As for the residential apartments, there's no need to lease them out for now. I'll inform your agency if that changes."
"Understood, ma'am. Thank you for your time."
The call ended.
Alex breathed a sigh of relief after the call, wondering why a big shot like Lyria seemed so low-key, even if her aura gave her away. Meanwhile, Lyria went to continue her work from where she stopped.
The next day, she checked out of the inn, packed her belongings, and headed for Silverbloom Estate in a pre-ordered ClawRider. At the estate gate, she was briefly stopped for identity verification before being granted entry. After a short drive, her mansion came into view.
She paid the driver, who bade her goodbye, then unlocked the gates using fingerprint and iris authentication.
The compound was enormous. A sweeping driveway curved toward the main building, wide enough to accommodate a convoy of luxury vehicles without feeling crowded. To one side lay a designated helicopter landing pad, its reinforced surface seamlessly integrated into the grounds, allowing aircraft to arrive and depart without disturbing the estate's elegance.
The main structure itself was grand; tall pillars, massive carved doors, and glowing floor-to-ceiling windows gave the building an imposing yet elegant presence. Around it stretched meticulously landscaped gardens with rolling lawns, fountains, and sculpted hedges. In a distance, she could see the staff quarters.
Lyria spent half an hour touring the grounds. After briefly inspecting her new PlumeDrive, she finally stepped inside the mansion. Lyria spent half a day indoors before deciding to take her PlumeDrive for a spin. She spent the rest of the day shopping for clothes for herself and her family, as well as kitchen appliances and groceries for her stay in the capital.
Two weeks later, Lyria's café officially opened for business. The opening of Moonpetal Coffee & Confections caused an immediate stir across the capital.
Once everything was settled, Lyria prepared to leave the city to continue opening branches in other regions. On the day before her departure, she stayed late into the afternoon to check the accounts and the revenue generated over the past two weeks. Finally finished, she got into her car and zoomed off.
Moments later, a black PlumeDrive parked slowly at the entrance of the café. A man wearing a black face mask which highlighted his dazzling emerald green eyes and a suit stepped out and entered the building. Fenric had been preoccupied since he left the inn that night. When he finally made time to visit the inn, he was told Lyria had already checked out. Through some connections , he found out she had moved to the Silverbloom Estate. This had led him to impulsively buy the mansion right next to hers; thinking back, he couldn't find a logical reason why he had bought it.
That morning, after hearing news of her presence at the café, he had decided to go there in the evening. Unknowingly, they had passed each other on the road without noticing.
Lyria continued to other regions in Felorin, following the same routine: Lyria getting a building in a suitable location, Tessa would send workers, and Lyria would arrange their accommodations and establish new branches. After half a year of traveling, Lyria finally returned home. The day of her return happened to be her mother's birthday, so Lyria planned a surprise with Tessa and the rest of the family—everyone except Selena.
Lyria arrived via Skyplane very early that morning and reached the house before Selena woke up. After arranging candles on a cake courtesy of Eron and decorating their small garden, Lyria was told to hide. Her fathers then went to wake Selena, who was blindfolded and led step-by-step to the sitting room.
Chuckling, Selena couldn't help asking, "What kind of surprise could you have possibly gotten me?"
Thorne, being the dramatic one, replied, "The best one out there!"
"Really? I can't wait."
"Wife, be careful not to fall," Rowan said, holding Selena's hand to steady her while Cryis cleared obstacles from their path.
"This way," Cryis led. Feeling impatient and excited, Selena asked, "Are we there yet?"
"Just one more step," Cryis informed her. "Okay, you can remove your blindfold."
When Selena took off the blindfold, she was stunned by the transformation of their small garden. Everyone shouted, "Surprise!"
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you..."
"Hip, hip, hip!" Thorne shouted.
"Hurray!" the rest chorused.
"Make a wish, sweetheart." After a moment of silence, Selena blew out the candles.
"Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate it," Selena said, feeling nostalgic. Her nose reddened slightly. "How I wish Lyria was here."
"Wife, shh—no tears on your big day. Because I knew this would happen, we prepared another surprise for you," Thorne started, gesturing for Milo and the other siblings to bring Lyria out from her hiding place.
Lyria shouted "Surprise!" from her spot, making Selena turn to see her cub who seem to have gotten more thin. She immediately pulled Lyria into a warm hug. The birthday celebration concluded after the opening of presents.