As the maglev sedan entered Rōran, the City of Miracles was bathed in the morning sunlight.
Towering buildings reflected golden light, trains glided silently along elevated tracks, and the streets were already bustling. Compared with the quiet languor of the Land of Hot Water's hot spring town, this place brimmed with vibrant energy and an efficient rhythm.
News of Sōkyū Hatake's return had not been widely publicized, but the moment he stepped into the top-floor office of Sōkū Tower, which stood in the city center as a symbol of supreme power, an intangible presence instantly changed the atmosphere. The brief vacation was over, and the ruler's will once again enveloped this hub of the world.
He stood before the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the city he had built single-handedly.
Sara, Ayame, and Anko returned to their respective posts. Sara headed to the Royal Palace to handle the backlog of government affairs, Ayame went straight to the Life Sciences Department's laboratories and dispatch center, and Anko plunged into the Intelligence Department's sea of information.
They quickly shifted back into work mode, as though their hot spring holiday had been nothing more than a brief, pleasant dream.
"Report." Sōkyū Hatake's voice was calm, without the slightest trace of travel fatigue.
A figure emerged soundlessly from the shadows of the office. It was the assistant responsible for compiling daily affairs, who was also one of Anko's capable subordinates.
"My lord, the operational data for the Five Great Nations and the major economies during your absence has all been compiled. Overall conditions remained stable, but there are some fluctuations and potential junctures worth noting."
An enormous light screen unfolded before Sōkyū Hatake. Countless complex streams of data, charts, and maps refreshed like a waterfall, clearly displaying the economic pulse of the entire