The Glorious Evolution

That confirmed Na’thir’s involvement, leaving Levi silent for a few seconds... to think that the Bishop would attack dozens of regions just to pressure him into returning left him with a sick feeling in his stomach.

Taking advantage of his silence, Bishop Va’ren returned to the discussion they had left unfinished at the restaurant.

”I don’t know what you have done to make him this desperate... but it is in our favor. These developments have made our arrangement more practical. Your exposure would be much lower if we...”

”I have no interest in your plan right now.”

”You haven’t heard the changes.”

”Not interested.”

Levi disconnected.

He had no patience for another discussion about how much danger Va’ren considered acceptable on someone else’s behalf.

Whatever advantage the Bishop had found in today’s slaughter could wait... for now, Heliodor needed help, and Levi wasn’t going to sit by and do nothing, especially when innocent people had died because of his personal conflict.

”I have deep pockets, too.”

Levi uttered coldly as he opened the Main Hub’s market listings and brought up the Black Slime Syndicate’s network beside them.

Soon, purchase confirmations began replacing the offers on his screens.

...

One hour later...

”The northern road can reopen once the damaged bridge has been inspected. Until then, the supply vehicles will use the eastern route.”

High Chancellor Valemont listened to the governor’s report while a clearance team removed another slab from the street in front of him.

The Council’s dimensional screens remained open around him. Most of the nine surviving governors were still in their settlements, while Ysara and Hicham attended from different parts of the capital.

Naima had joined from an evacuation post.

Valemont was about to answer when Levi’s call appeared on his screen... he immediately connected him to the discussion, expecting more questions about the investigation.

”Chancellor, are you near an empty lot?”

Valemont glanced at the ruins around him. The clearance team had opened a broad space beside the street, where the remains of a building were being sorted into piles.

”There is one in front of me. Why?”

”I’ve sent some aid packages.”

Before Valemont could ask what he meant, an enormous portal opened above the cleared ground!

Officers reached for their weapons, only to stop when a delivery notice appeared on the Chancellor’s screen... at the same moment, two more portals opened in the spaces ahead of Ysara and Hicham.

Thud! Thud! Thud!...

The Council’s discussion broke off as large, reinforced wooden boxes emerged in orderly rows, settling onto the ground before another layer followed... the officers nearest Valemont hurried the workers back as the stacks rose above their heads.

The deliveries continued until nearly one thousand boxes occupied the three receiving sites.

Then the portals closed.

”...”

”...”

”...”

Whether they were governors, workers, or Daywalkers, everyone stared at the stacked crates and then at each other, dumbfounded.

Valemont opened the delivery record, double-checked the sender’s name, and returned his attention to Levi.

Some aid packages?

Behind him, an officer released the seals on the nearest box... its lid rose, exposing rows of Recovery Totems secured inside protective compartments.

”Chancellor...”

Valemont had already approached... he examined one of the totems while the officer opened the adjoining case.

Protection Totems, enough to supply several teams for months!

The next held Assault Totems, and another contained detection supplies.

Ysara inspected a different stack... along with the totems, she found sealed food packages, drinking water, medical supplies, and emergency lighting.

There was enough to last them five months or more if rationed properly.

There were Growth Totems as well... Levi had even thought about the defenders who would need to replenish their solar energy during fights.

At the evacuation post, Naima watched the contents appear through the other screens... she had spent the past hour dividing what remained of her agency’s supplies between teams that all needed more.

It wasn’t that they were too broke to afford such supplies, but unlike Levi, they had hundreds of Daywalkers to support... much of the money their agencies earned went toward replacing resources consumed every day.

They didn’t know exactly how much Levi had spent, but they were certain it exceeded half a million credits... which angered the High Chancellor more than it delighted him.

He didn’t want Levi spending the money he needed for his growth on them.

”Levi... where did you get this much money?” Valemont asked sternly.

”I’ve been investing what I earned from our raids into businesses in the Boundless Expanse. They’ve done well.”

Levi knew the Chancellor saw him as the region’s hope for future growth and survival... he had to reassure him that he hadn’t let his emotions get the better of him.

Still, the explanation did little to ease the Chancellor’s concern... Levi added before he could pursue it further.

”Shia, Jojo, Arthur, and Jasmine invested some of their money too.”

”Shia?” Naima raised a brow.

Levi nodded... mentioning the others finally drew some of the attention away from him.

He left Celestial’s winnings out of the explanation... There was no need to turn a delivery of supplies into an interrogation about everything he had been doing in the Expanse.

Valemont watched his officers begin separating the medical stock from the rest. Behind Hicham, a transport cart was already leaving with the first load for Naima’s position.

Whatever questions he had about Levi’s businesses, the people waiting for treatment couldn’t afford to wait for the answers.

”Thank you. All of you,” he said. ”These supplies will make a considerable difference.”

The governors added their thanks, several already requesting portions of the shipment for their settlements... Valemont had an officer record the requests before returning to Levi.

”But keep the rest of your money. Your evolutions will become more expensive, and you shouldn’t have to delay them because of this,” Valemont added with an elderly smile.

Naima and the others nodded in support... after Levi’s performance in the Faction War, everyone was putting their faith in him to help the region become a global powerhouse like Halamar’s Holy Region1 in eastern Asia.

For that to happen, Levi and his friends had to remain focused on their growth.

Levi remained silent for a moment and then coughed.

”Yes, yes... also, I hired some temporary help until the region gets back on its feet...”

”Huh? What do you mean?” The High Chancellor frowned in confusion.

Levi turned his head away from the screen, appearing as if someone had called him... then he muted the connection, leaving the Chancellor to watch his mouth move.

A moment later, his voice returned.

”Sorry, Chancellor... Arthur needs me. Let’s chat later.”

”Le...”

Before the High Chancellor could add anything, Levi left the dimensional channel and went offline at once.

Then... across the cleared lot in front of the Chancellor, thirteen more portals opened.