It had been more than half a year.
Yuffie had returned once again to her loyal Augustus City.
As a Blood Ghost, Yuffie quickly used her blood to infuse every noble among the city's garrison with a little of her own.
This gave them a slight boost in strength while also allowing her to exert some control over them.
That way, she could ensure nothing went wrong.
There weren't many Blood Ghosts—just over a thousand.
But the garrison was much larger. Nearly a hundred thousand soldiers had been left behind here.
They hadn't taken many of the city's ordinary residents away, either.
However, they had taken everything from the high-end weapons shops and the pharmacists' potions, along with every blacksmith and Magic Rune master.
All the former teachers and professors from Holy Tower Academy had been taken away as well.
But the books had been left behind.
According to the interrogation of the remaining prisoners,
Lynn had been so terrifying, and Louis had fled so quickly, that he hadn't had time to take much with him.
He had only taken a few of the most important things.
The Imperial Capital's wealth, accumulated over a thousand years, and all its rare Magic Guidance Materials were gone, too.
Inside the library,
a petite, black-haired Lolita was waiting. She seemed to have expected this and greeted them with, "You're here."
"Did the Olesian boy come, or my icy niece, or perhaps my dear little brother?"
"Aunt," Yuffie said coolly. "Were you helping with the Blood Ghosts?"
"Hahaha, I only told that boy some of the family secrets." The black-haired Lolita's lips curled, her deep eyes seeming to brim with schemes and conspiracies, giving her a rather devious air. "I just didn't expect the Olesian boy to become so powerful after all this time."