“Don’t worry. Even if we get the mask, we won’t use it regularly. It’s not something you’d use in public places unless you want to walk around in a strange appearance. It’s not for everyday use; it’s more for events like a masquerade ball.”
Therefore, the mask obtained as a reward was used to add entertainment value to the game. When used, it transformed people into various monster shapes, trees, birds, animals, or objects.

Tien and Hazen’s expressions brightened upon hearing the explanation.

“Really?”

“Then our disguise tools are still useful.”

“That’s right. So, stop worrying unnecessarily. To attend the masquerade ball right away, we need the skills of both of you for disguises.”

“Oh, right. To avoid being exposed at the masquerade ball, we need to disguise ourselves first.”

“Yes. And, in the meantime, we should go and set Ventria as the teleport destination, and also check where the king is and what his condition is.”

“But Ruela, it seems like there are no plans to hold the masquerade ball in Ventria for a while.”

Mitchell expressed his concern in response to Kite’s point.

“We heard that even the masquerade ball we attended recently was the first one in a long time. Moreover, Gart Marquis increased surveillance inside and outside the palace after discovering that Kite and Ruela disappeared from the Duke Kurant’s private quarters that day. Recently, they don’t even allow outsiders in.”

Raphael also chimed in to support Mitchell’s statement.

“Right, the last trade negotiation was also held at the Star Palace in the south, not at the royal palace.”

“That’s why I’m planning to ask Countess Laine for help. She’s said to be close friends with the queen since childhood.”
“Even if we’re close, would the Countess Laine consider helping us in the royal atmosphere?”

In response to Kite’s concern, Ruela nodded.

“Opening a ball in the royal palace was not my original idea. A few days ago, Countess Laine casually mentioned it, and it crossed my mind.”

“What did she say?”

“She mentioned that the queen wants to have a splendid ball in the royal palace for her 40th birthday, which is coming up soon. However, due to opposition from everyone because of the king’s health issues, she finds it very unpleasant.”

“If people are against it, wouldn’t it be useless?”

“This is where Kite comes in. I suggest proposing to celebrate the successful trade with Elab during the queen’s birthday party. Suggest having a special event like a masquerade ball on this special day.”

“Me?”

“Yes. In a few days, the first batch of goods will arrive from Elab. After that, the items sent from Kurant to Elab will also arrive. People in the royal palace might be anxious or curious about whether Elab likes what they sent. To gain more, we need to try to align with Duke Perimont’s preferences for a while. So, let’s use that.”

Kite raised objections.
“But if we have to attend the masquerade without revealing our identities. I demanded a congratulatory party, and I can’t ignore the organizers on the spot. If that happens, even if the masquerade opens and we attend, we won’t be able to complete the quest.”

After some contemplation, Ruela spoke.

“The participation of the Peroz Guild is uncertain.”

“If they don’t plan to attend, why would they ask for a party?”

“We should say that it’s Elab’s wish, not the Duke’s. From their perspective, they highly value trade with Kurant and want to celebrate it. The queen’s side will likely be willing. Because of the recent interactions between us and Count Laine, the queen might see this as a good opportunity.”

Kite nodded.

“Alright, I’ll try to persuade them. The delegation from there will come on the day the goods arrive, so let’s discuss it then.”

As the conversation seemed to be settling, Hazen cautiously interjected. He couldn’t bring himself to suggest driving, so he prodded Ruela, urging her.

“It seems like the meeting is over, can we move again? I want to try riding this silent carriage more.”

After checking the game screen for the time, Ruela responded.

“Then, we have about 10 minutes until teleportation. Shall we ride for that time?”
With her permission, Hazen shouted.

“Alright! I want to feel the same way as before. How it smoothly moves without shaking on this bumpy road! It’s really fascinating.”

As others looked at him with much anticipation, Ruela mentioned one more thing she hadn’t explained before.

“Now, on the side, you’ll see something like these straps. They’re seat belts, so everyone, fasten them to prevent injuries in case of an accident. We’ll be running even faster than before.”

Everyone followed suit, fastening their seat belts while watching Ruela buckle up. After confirming their readiness, she started the car with a mischievous grin.

As the car started moving, exclamations of awe erupted from the back.

Ruela, enjoying those sounds, began to speed up to 100 kilometers per hour.