Transcendent Gene
Chapter 145: Atmos Clan [3]

Chapter 145: Atmos Clan [3]

Most of Arcadia’s land was populated by human cities and civilization, but the Wild Zones weren’t small either. To a certain extent, beasts were just as necessary as animals were, so their existence had to be tolerated.

There were large parts of the world that had been properly designated as Wild Zones. These Wild Zones were then further divided so one could see exactly what level of beast lived where.

However, even through the Wild Zones, human infrastructure was present. Roads and trade lines existed even in beast-heavy environments.

That wasn’t to say these routes were safe. One absolutely still risked the chance of being attacked by crossing them. Still, it was only a matter of taking the right precautions. The more important fact was that humans could maintain such routes without being pushed back by beasts.

There was a lot to see. Ricky didn’t peel his face away from the window for the entirety of the several hours it took to get from Astria, the city where the Warp Gate was located, to Seraphys where the Atmos Clan was located.

’Seraphys is our city. It’s smaller and has around a hundred thousand residents. It’s its own jurisdiction, but it’s part of a metroplex that’s connected to Helix.’

Helix was the main city. It was surrounded by a plethora of smaller cities. The three largest were controlled by clans that had influence in Helix, including the Atmos Clan.

’But Seraphys hardly matters. People from Seraphys just say they’re from Helix if people ask.’

Helix was a big city as well, but it wasn’t known for anything in particular. People knew its name, but that was the end of it.

Even when they flew over it, Gio only felt that it looked plain.

Compared to the rest of Arcadia’s big cities, it didn’t have much to offer.

’But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s home.’

Gio felt a pang of nostalgia course through his body as the Atmos Clan Estate came into view.

The main mansion that he took years to get used to, the mansion he hardly was able to call home before it all came crashing down...

Seeing it before his eyes again filled him with a plethora of emotions.

Gio shook his head and stood up, approaching the window and watching the outside view change with Ricky.

They only had to wait a few minutes from there for the ship to touch land.

There was more than enough space for them to land in the fields around the mansion, but it naturally wasn’t their original place.

Only the main ship touched down, Gregor came to find them and led them to the same door they used to enter.

"I would lead you to the mansion and introduce you to the Master, but I must take this ship back to its proper place. There is already staff waiting below to guide you from here."

Gio nodded, expecting it.

"Thank you for bringing us this far."

"No, I should be the one thanking you. If I were in your position, I would not have been able to take the news so calmly. You are already living up to expectations people haven’t even had the chance to form yet."

Gio smiled lightly as he looked out the now-open door. As the ramp unfurled, several electric carts approached through the grass filled with people wearing common servant outfits.

They were dressed well and wore stern expressions on their faces, making them a bit intimidating, especially for someone like Ricky.

"As for your servant, if you would like, you can leave him with them. They will help him properly train to serve a member of an esteemed clan."

"Hmm..."

Gio didn’t bother correcting him. If they didn’t see Ricky as his servant, it wouldn’t have been so easy to convince them to let him join them for the journey. Ricky himself could slowly change their perception with time.

"We’ll get going, then. Thanks again for the ride."

Gregor only nodded back, watching them leave the ship.

The servants below were just as cordial as the crew of the ship. When Gio stopped in front of them, all of them bowed respectfully with their eyes to the ground.

"Welcome, Young Master."

They had been properly schooled on how to act during this moment.

’Father tried his best to make it all seem grander than it is.’

Gio almost chuckled, but he responded with a dignified nod instead.

"Will you be taking me to meet my father?" He asked, facing the oldest woman who stood at the front of the pack.

"That is the case, Young Master. However, there may be some others you will meet along the way."

"I see. Well, take me to the manor for now. Whatever happens, happens."

Ricky stayed silent. He had learned that the best thing to do in intimidating situations was shut his mouth and turn his presence into nothing. For a large guy like himself, he was surprisingly good at blending in with a crowd.

He and Gio got on the back of one of the carts. They were swiftly driven the few tens of meters separating them from the back of the mansion. They transitioned from grass to a paved path that went through a large gate and into the mansion’s grounds.

The "backyard" was a clean and beautiful garden filled with ferns and flowers of all kinds. The flowers created a gradient between red and purple, making the garden look like a mesmerizing haze in the sunset’s light.

It was split into pieces that formed a runic pattern surrounding the main gazebo in the center and bordering the walking paths all throughout. The cart followed those paths until they were at their destination.

"Sir, please come with us," a servant who approached Ricky said.

"We will take you to the guest quarters until the Young Master has specified where you will stay."

He wasn’t allowed in the mansion just yet. His identity was still unconfirmed, and from this point on, the meetings Gio would have were for him alone.

Ricky looked over at him, and he gave a subtle nod.

"I’ll come get you after I sort everything out."

Ricky made a sound of acknowledgement and left without a fuss. He also understood what was waiting for Gio behind those doors.

Left alone, Gio looked at the servants around him.

"Open the way, then."

Under his orders, they walked in front of him and pulled open the doors.

The ornate interior of the mansion was revealed, but Gio didn’t focus on it.

He walked into the large room beyond the doors and glanced at the servants behind him.

"Leave me. I’ll explore the manor on my own."

They had no complaints. If they didn’t have orders from the Family Head telling them otherwise, Gio’s words were absolute.

It was hard for him to get used to this kind of treatment the first time, but none of it meant much to him anymore.

’This is a library. It isn’t the main library, but one filled with random books that really only exists for aesthetic purposes. I remember feeling strange about how much of the mansion only existed for looks.’

There was a lot of space. It was only natural for some of it to be decorated purely so it didn’t look empty in comparison to everything else.

’Because of that, it took forever for me to stop getting lost.’

But these halls were now incredibly familiar to him. He walked them as if he’d been walking them since birth. His steps unconsciously took him into the main hall and up the winding staircase to the second floor.

He walked down several halls and past several doors until he found himself at the end of the west wing.

He found himself in front of his father’s office.

Gio looked at the door, struggling to raise his hand to knock.

In his mind, the final memory he had of this office was displayed in perfect detail.

His father, impaled to the hilt of a blade lodged in his desk. Behind him, a masked figure looking down into his eyes with contempt oozing from her gaze.

A chill passed through Gio’s heart. His body shook.

And as he stood there frozen, the door before him cracked open.

The face of a man appeared in his eyes; a man who looked strikingly similar to him.

Kyrian Atmos, alive and well...

...it was a sight Gio fought for a century just to see.