Chapter 164: New Home
Grace opened her mouth, then paused. To her own horror, her brain actually conjured the mental image and she couldn't help but understand where he was coming from. If she were a man, she wouldn't want it either.
'I truly am speaking with Vespera's son… Only they have the gall to say such insane lines in front of high-ranking officials… Though I can't help but notice that her son is much more of a lustful person… or perhaps a romantic? Vespera doesn't seem to care about fleeting things such as love…'
"…Understood," she finally said. "We may have alternative agents more suited to… this particular arrangement. I'll send them to your new home. Until then, please make do with Agent Hugh and Oren."
"Appreciate it and will do," Kaiden replied with a relaxed nod as if they'd just agreed on what pizza toppings to order.
Nyx, Aria, and Luna sighed in synchronized disbelief.
Bastet, on the other hand, purred with great pride while staring at Kaiden. The Ra-Blessed Felinid had felt how strong these three people were, and she knew perfectly well they would get murdered should conflict occur. Despite this, her master spoke to them as if they were his lowly servants. Just how amazing was he?!
The journey to their new home didn't take long, though the transport used was anything but ordinary. Grace had arranged for a mana-shrouded vehicle. It was smooth, silent, and virtually undetectable. No license plates, no visible branding, no emissions. It had a faint spatial distortion around it, blending subtly into the road like a ripple in reality.
Kaiden sat near the back with his girls beside him, arms casually draped behind Nyx and Aria. Luna sat across from them, and she was busy fiddling with the security terminal's interface, trying to crack how it jammed all incoming signals while keeping navigation online.
All these high-tier tech and artifacts made the gamer girl in her come out, letting the Moon and Space Valkyries enjoy their Paragon of Sin's company without having to listen to her huffs and puffs. Bastet, for her part, lounged like royalty across their laps. The tanned feline greatly enjoyed their current seating accommodations.
"Where exactly are we headed?" Kaiden asked, glancing at Grace, who'd opted to ride with them.
"A mountainside location just outside the city limits. It used to be an observation outpost back during the first dungeon outbreaks. We've since reinforced it and converted the interior into a living space fit for long-term habitation. Completely cut off from scrying and unauthorized communication."
The vehicle dipped into a concealed tunnel. Walls of rune-carved stone zipped past them as they went deeper beneath the forested outskirts. Eventually, the tunnel opened up, revealing a steel-bastioned entryway built directly into a cliff face. Automated turrets and sensor drones greeted them with scanning rays before the entrance slid open.
Inside, they stepped into what looked like a hidden military facility.
Concrete floors. Reinforced steel doors. The air was cool and clean, with just a hint of mana-processed filtration. The ceilings were high, and the layout was wide enough to accommodate both domestic living and tactical defense.
"It's not much to look at," Grace admitted, "but it's sturdy. Most awakened with ill intent wouldn't be able to find it, and those who do won't be able to breach it, especially not without alerting our network."
Kaiden's girls spread out, exploring the space. The layout reminded them more of a high-tech bunker than a luxurious home or a military outpost, but it was equipped with everything they needed:
Four private bedrooms with reinforced mana-blocking walls.
Next, a central living area with modern amenities, shielded from surveillance spells and enchanted with anti-eavesdropping fields.
There were also two bathrooms with reinforced mana-shield generators.
A utilitarian but properly equipped training chamber sealed tight with shock-absorbing enchantments occupied the basement.
Lastly, a small comm room that allowed filtered outbound communication, but only through verified encrypted lines.
Luna tapped on the wall with a raised brow. "This is some sort of reinforced alloy..."
Aria peeked into the armory corner. "Empty shelves, but… there's room for customization. Guess we'll be filling this ourselves."
Nyx silently ran her fingers along the edges of the rune-sealed windows, coyly noting how the outer camouflage would conceal both light and sound even if all girls moaned at full volume.
Kaiden whistled. "Honestly, it's way better than I expected. This is not at all a five-star luxury resort but a top-notch defensive residence. Exactly what Valhalla's Sinners need right now."
Grace gave a small nod. "I agree. Your careers may be unconventional, and I'm sure you were mocked or at least were treated condescendingly up until now, and that may continue in the future. But make no mistake: many eyes are watching you now. The eyes of both the common folk and the powerful. That comes with danger, but also opportunity. I sincerely hope you'll make the most of it."
"Thank you, Miss Grace," Aria chirped, appreciating the woman's honest words.
"You're welcome." The secretary smiled, but then her phone began ringing.
*Ring!* *Ring!*
"Ah, it must be them," she murmured while picking up a special artifact set to the designated communication channel that worked even inside this place. "You're here already? You two sure work fast… All right, I'll let you in."
She put the phone down and glanced at the squad of curious youngsters. "Your new bodyguards are here. I recommend you treat them with respect. They're very strong but also rather young and less… stone-faced. Agent Hugh and Oren were already trained government agents before the Mana Apocalypse hit; these ladies were in middle school back then."
Kaiden couldn't help but gulp, having an ominous feeling about this statement of the secretary woman. Well, he did ask for this, so he was getting what he reaped, the Paragon of Sin supposed. He glanced at his Valkyries, who returned his look with expressions ranging from curiosity to thinly veiled amusement.
With great curiosity, they walked to the front door to welcome the newcomers in.