After ensuring all plans to handle Gias City were agreed upon, Elara began to concentrate her mana. She prepared to return to the capital using teleportation magic.
As an Emperor, she had to immediately mobilize a special force to surround Gias City from all directions. Closing off the city's access points was the most crucial first step to prevent the syndicate members from escaping.
Moreover, she knew that her son and son-in-law were currently racing against time. They had to reach Wollen City as quickly as possible.
However, right before Elara cast her teleportation spell, Calian suddenly spoke up.
"Mother, may I ask one more favor of you?"
Hearing the rather serious tone of his question, Elara immediately set aside her intention to return to the capital and shifted her attention to her youngest son.
"Is there anything else you need from me, Calian?" Elara asked in a calm tone.
"Yes, there is one more thing!" Calian answered without hesitation. The purple-haired youth took a step closer. "When the three of us leave here for Wollen City, could I ask you to bring a woman named Milla, who is currently working as a receptionist at the Gias City Adventurer's Guild, and employ her as the empire's minister of finance?"
The sudden and highly specific request from her son naturally made Elara feel puzzled.
"What is your reason for wanting that woman to work for the empire in such a high position?"
"Because she possesses the [Economic Strategy] blessing, Mother." Calian answered straightforwardly, presenting an undeniable fact. "With her blessing, I am certain she is perfectly suited to be appointed as the Empire's Minister of Finance."
Hearing the name of the blessing, Elara's expression instantly changed. The yellow-haired woman did not expect that a possessor of a blessing related to macroeconomics, which would be highly useful to the empire, was hidden in Gias City.
Moreover, the position of the Empire's Minister of Finance was currently vacant after the previous official retired. Finding someone with a blessing that specifically supported the state's economic governance was a stroke of luck and coincidence that would not come twice.
"I see." Elara nodded slowly, a faint smile of satisfaction forming on her lips. "Very well, I will meet her and ask this woman named Milla directly. Our empire is indeed in need of a talent like hers."
Having settled the recruitment matter, Elara then turned her head. She looked at the host, who had been sitting quietly and maintaining his composure all this time.
"Mr. Eralio." Elara called out.
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty." Eralio responded quickly.
"If I heard correctly from our previous conversation, aren't you the possessor of the [Valuation] blessing?"
"You are correct, Your Majesty. That is my blessing." Eralio answered in a respectful tone.
"Then, prepare yourself immediately! Because you must go with them to Wollen City."
Hearing the direct order, Eralio was taken aback.
As a merchant who could not fight, Eralio was terrified that he would end up being a burden to Calian and Wolvin. He did not know how to answer. On one hand, he did not want to be a burden. On the other hand, he could not refuse an order from the Emperor.
"In Wollen City, Calian might come face to face with evidence or need to appraise the blessing of someone he wish to recruit. I am certain my son will greatly need the power of your blessing."
Hearing the strategic reasoning from the Emperor, Eralio lost any remaining courage to refuse. He also realized that his ability would indeed be highly useful in such a situation.
The middle-aged man stood up from his sofa, then bowed to pay his respects.
"As you command, Your Majesty." Eralio answered obediently. "I will prepare myself immediately and go with them to Wollen City."
Elara nodded in satisfaction after hearing the host's answer.
However, that satisfaction was not entirely shared by Calian. He thought about how their journey to Wollen City would undoubtedly become slightly more difficult than originally planned.
Now, it was not only Arlen he had to protect, but also Eralio. Bringing along two people who completely lacked combat abilities forced Calian to be extra vigilant to ensure both of their safety and security.
Nevertheless, Calian decided not to argue with his mother's words. He knew that bringing Eralio along indeed carried long-term tactical advantages that were worth the risk of escorting him.
"Alright." Elara said casually. Feeling her business was concluded, she needed to return to the capital immediately to prepare the troop deployment as quickly as possible. "I shall take my leave now!"
"Yes, Mother. Thank you so much for sparing your resting time and being willing to help us here." Wolvin replied in a cheerful tone, feeling relieved that the security issue in Gias City had been taken over by the most capable person. "But, before you go, may I ask you one more thing?"
For the second time, Elara cancelled her magic and had to slightly delay her plan to return to the capital.
"What is it, Wolvin?"
Wolvin raised his right hand and held the pendant of the silver necklace around his neck, the one that had comfortably stored eight large chests and a dozen corpses.
"Mother, just how vast is the capacity limit of this dimensional necklace, exactly?"
Hearing the innocent question from her son-in-law, Elara offered a wry smile. She did not expect to hear such a question right before she departed.
"If the necklace were completely empty..." she answered in an incredibly casual tone, as if discussing the size of a shopping bag, "you could store seven Imperial Palace buildings inside it."
Silence instantly enveloped the room.
It was not only Wolvin who fell silent. Calian, Eralio, and Arlen also froze after hearing the definitive answer regarding the dimensional storage necklace's capacity.
They stared at the silver necklace hanging around Wolvin's neck in disbelief. Not a single one of them had ever expected that the necklace possessed a storage space so massive it could accommodate the volume of seven imperial palaces.
Wolvin slowly released his grip on the necklace, realizing that he was carrying yet another terrifying item.
From where she stood, Elara turned toward the window. She saw the glints of sunlight climbing higher into the sky. Time was ticking, and she had to return to the capital immediately.
"Quickly prepare yourselves and head to Wollen City. Do not delay your departure any longer!" Elara ordered in a firm tone, redirecting their focus back to the main mission.
"Understood, Mother." Calian answered obediently.
Elara nodded in satisfaction. She then reactivated her teleportation magic.
"Iauna Teleport!"
A split second after the incantation was spoken, a magic circle glowing with a golden-yellow hue appeared right beneath the woman's feet. The bright light from the magic circle instantly filled Eralio's private room.
Amidst the gleam of light, Elara looked at her son-in-law.
"Wolvin, don't forget to summon me again using that ring once you have all successfully resolved the issue there and freed Arlen's younger brother!"
"I definitely will, Mother!" Wolvin answered without hesitation.
Zap!
The teleportation magic fully activated, and Elara's figure instantly vanished from the sight of everyone in the room.