Chapter 213: I Can’t Pay It All Back Even If I Sold Myself

The private plane was already waiting for them on the backside of the bungalow by the time they arrived, sleek and white with the Stormwind family crest painted across its tail wing.

Raiden let out a low whistle just looking at it.

"This is a private plane? I thought only billionaires in movies owned these things." He muttered under his breath, already calculating in his head how many years of wool sales it would take to afford something like this.

As for the one he won from Silk?? That didn’t count. That was a hot potato he had already given away to Morgana.

"Come on, don’t just stand there gawking. Get in." Tobias grumbled, walking up the steps first without waiting for anyone.

The moment they stepped inside, Woolie’s eyes lit up like he had just discovered a whole new playground. The interior was spacious, filled with leather seats, polished wooden tables, and a soft carpet that looked way too expensive.

"Woolie Woo!!!" I declare that from now on, this is Emperor Woolie’s new throne room!!!

He immediately jumped onto one of the leather seats, bouncing on it a few times to test its bounciness, leaving small scorch marks from walking all over it using his fiery hooves.

"Woolie, no!! Get down from there!!" Raiden lunged forward, panic written all over his face as he pulled the sheep off the expensive furniture.

Neva, not wanting to be left out of the fun, jumped out of Raiden’s pocket and turned back to her normal size, sniffing around the cabin curiously before deciding the mini bar counter looked like an excellent place to test her claws.

"Sha Sha!!" This looks like a good scratching post!!

"Neva, absolutely not!!" Raiden scrambled over, catching her mid-swipe before she could leave a single mark on the polished wood.

Rose, meanwhile, had slithered off Raiden’s neck and found her way toward the plush white carpet, her tiny body wriggling with delight as she rolled around on it. The pure white carpet started to stain in a blood-red colour where Ruby rolled around, giving it an eiary feel.

"Hiss Hiss~" Rai Rai~ This carpet is so soft!! Come roll with me!!

"Rose, my dear, I will get to you an even softer bed when we get back, but can you please get off it for now?!" Raiden was practically sweating now, running between all three of his Terra Beasts like a single parent trying to control triplets at a wedding.

Maple watched the entire scene unfold with an amused smile, while Aria giggled softly behind her hand. Even Tobias, who had been in a sour mood the entire morning, found himself cracking a small smile at the chaos.

"They are quite lively, aren’t they?" Aria commented, trying her best to stifle her laughter.

"Lively is one word for it. I prefer the term ’walking disasters waiting to happen’." Raiden groaned, finally managing to control all three of them onto one seat, holding onto Woolie’s body, Neva’s collar, and Rose’s tail all at once like some kind of overworked zookeeper.

If they broke or scratched anything on this plane, there was no way he could ever pay it back, not even if he sold his farm, his shop, and his own kidney combined. Rich people problems were terrifying, and he hadn’t even signed up to have any.

Once everyone settled down, the plane took off smoothly, and the four of them, along with the chaos trio, made their way toward the main branch of the Stormwind family.

The flight took a few hours, filled mostly with Tobias sharing old stories about the family’s glory days, occasionally pausing to glare at nothing in particular whenever the topic of his son came up. Raiden mostly just nodded along, half listening, half keeping an eye on Woolie, who had somehow found the in-flight snack cabinet and was trying to convince Neva to help him break into it.

By the time they landed, the sun was already beginning to set, casting a golden hue across the horizon.

As soon as the plane doors opened, Raiden’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

A massive formation of people stood waiting outside, lined up in perfect rows, dressed in dark formal robes with the Stormwind emblem embroidered onto their chests. The moment Tobias stepped out, every single person bowed in unison, their heads dipping low in perfect synchronization.

"Welcome home, Grand Master Tobias." Their voices rang out together like a well-rehearsed choir, deep and respectful.

Raiden stood frozen for a moment, staring at the scene in front of him. This wasn’t the kind of welcome he was accustomed to receive. He had ever received something like this in his life, not even close.

It looked like something straight out of those old Yakuza game he used to watch back on Earth, the kind where the head of some ancient crime family walked through rows of loyal subordinates who would gladly die on command.

He was worried that the next moment a crazy guy with one eye patch and a dagger would jump on him screaming: "Kiryuuuuu-chaaannnnn!!!"

"Is this normal for you people?" Raiden whispered to Aria, completely bewildered.

"Unfortunately, yes. The main branch is very... Traditional." Aria replied with an awkward smile, clearly used to this by now.

Tobias walked forward without paying much attention to the bowing crowd, his pace calm and steady, clearly a man who had grown used to this kind of grand welcome over the decades.

Raiden quickly followed behind him, trying his best to look composed despite his racing heart, while Aria and Maple walked a step behind.

The path leading up to the main estate was lined with tall stone lanterns, each one carved with intricate patterns representing swirling winds, the family’s signature bloodline.

Ancient pine trees stood on either side, perfectly trimmed, their branches stretching outward like silent guardians watching over the grounds.

As they walked further, the main household finally came into view, and Raiden felt his breath catch in his throat.

It was massive, easily the size of an entire palace, built with dark wooden beams and sloping tiled roofs that curled upward at the edges.

Red lanterns hung from the eaves, swaying gently in the evening breeze, casting a warm glow across the courtyard. Stone dragons and phoenixes were carved into the pillars supporting the entrance, their eyes seemingly following anyone who dared to walk past.

The main gate itself was a massive structure, easily three stories tall, reinforced with thick iron bindings that looked like they could withstand a siege.

Guards stood on either side, dressed in the same formal robes, their expressions carved from stone, unmoving even as the group approached.

"This feels less like a family house and more like a criminal syndicate base to be honest." Raiden muttered under his breath, unable to hide his amazement.

"You are not wrong to think that." Tobias replied without turning around, his tone laced with bitterness. "This family runs on tradition, hierarchy, and fear. It has always been this way, long before I was even born. And with the decisions they take, they are not much different from a criminal family."

The guards at the gate twisted as they heard Tobias’ words, but didn’t move from their position, keeping a watch straight ahead.

It was clear from his words that whatever love he felt for the family was long gone when they did what they did to Aria.

As they stepped through the main gate, the courtyard opened up into an enormous garden, filled with carefully maintained bonsai trees, koi ponds, and stone pathways leading in every direction.

Servants moved briskly along the edges, careful not to draw too much attention to themselves, while more guards stood stationed at every corner like silent statues.

Raiden couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy looking at all this wealth. He had spent months struggling just to keep his farm from collapsing under debt, and here was a family that had lanterns worth more than his entire house lining their driveway.

"If I ever get this rich, I’m buying a mansion twice this size, just to spite the universe." He muttered to himself, already dreaming of the day his wool empire would rival something like this.

Woolie, sensing his owner’s growing fiery gaze, let out an excited sound from his arms.

"Woolie Woo!!!" Do you like this place, human? Do you want Emperor Woolie to conquer it for you?

"Sure buddy, right after I get my own harem of maids to fan me while I eat grapes." Raiden replied absentmindedly, still staring at the grandeur around him.

Just as Raiden realised what he had just said, he face turned pale incredibly fast, and he started to feel bolts of crimson electricity go through all his body.

"Wait, Woolie, NO!!" Raiden screamed, making Woolie pause in his tracks and turn towards him with a confused face.

"I was just joking about before okay, don’t take it to seriously. Please. No conquering this place." Raiden folded his hands before the sheep god, hoping he’ll listen.

Seeing Woolie retract his thunder and nod, Raiden let out a big sigh of relief.

Aria walked closer to him, her expression turning slightly serious now that they had entered the main estate.

"Raiden, from this point onward, please be careful with what you say. This place isn’t like the outside world. Every word, every action here will be watched." She warned him quietly.

Raiden nodded, finally shaking himself out of his daydream and refocusing on the situation at hand. Whatever waited for them inside this grand estate, one thing was certain.

This was not going to be a peaceful trip.