Date- 7 April 2321

Time- 10:22

Location- Southern Region, Southern Capital, Southern Royal Palace

“Card Auction?” I asked Aba while eyeing the trophies collected by the Southern Royal family wondering how much they will fetch me in the Devil Merchant Code. This was just a tiny part of the wealth accumulated over millennia by the Southern royal family, I bet the good stuff must be stored away safely in some big vault. 

“Yes, Card Auction. If we leave now we can make it in time,” Aba said eagerly. She wanted to attend the card auction but out of her loyalty to Susan, she did not want to leave the boy alone with Ann so as a compromise she decided to bring the boy to the Auction with her. 

“Let’s go to the card auction, it is better than staring at fancy wall murals and paintings,” I agreed with Aba’s proposal feeling that visiting the card auction would help me understand the card market and also see if something catches my attention. 

“Well, I will arrange for the royal chariot to take us to the auction house,” offered Ann hearing the boy agree with Aba’s proposal to visit the auction house. 

“Royal Chariot? Won’t that attract too much attention?” Aba asked

“No, that’s better. It will keep unnecessary trouble away,” Since I was a royal guest I planned to make use of that status to the most. 

I was not new to this kind of treatment, back on earth when I visited the Gulf countries to help them upgrade their mining technology the royal families and dictators of those countries treat me with the highest possible treatment. One of the dictators even went as far as to send a dozen of beautiful virgins to my guest house. The wasn’t a one-time thing, and every night there would fresh set of virgins, each more beautiful than the other. They even went as far as to gift me islands and Masions with all the required amenities and regular upkeep for free in hopes that I would visit their countries regularly. That was the power of the technological innovations I held in my hands. 

I don’t speak of this part of my past life much because I am ashamed of what I had to do to get the funding for my new projects and keep my existing wealth and innovations. It might sound like me making excuses for what I did but it gets really hard to stay upright when the country you call motherland tries to swallow you and everything you built. 

ραndαsΝοvεl ƈοm It gets easier when you learn that there were no good and bad in the world but just interest but then you can no longer enjoy life as you start to quantify everything calculating the risk and returns, now that wasn’t a life. However, it’s the eternal truth that as long as you live there exists interest that only grows with the passage of time. Look at me now, I was lucky enough to get a second lease on life but I am back to building my empire for my interest to live a chill life. 

…

As the royal family’s chariot descends in front of the auction house crowd gathered around to see the royal family, however, they were in for a disappointment. Dropping us in front of the auction house, the majestic chariot flew away, and soon attendants of the auction house rushed to receive us with proper etiquette while managing the crowd that got rowdy seeing the Southern Emperor and her friends. 

Yes, the crowd had mistaken Ann for Anna. Ann’s existence was not known to many so it was not a surprise that she was mistaken for Anna. No matter Anna’s lifestyle, the citizens of the Southern region loved her. She had a large fanbase, especially in the southern capital regardless of her reputation and rumors about her.

“See, this was what I was talking about,” Aba complained as be made it throught the crowd into the auction house under the lead of the auction house staff. 

“…” I rolled my eyes at Aba’s complaint because I did not have the habit of being belittled by some rando for no reason. 

Aba keeps saying that she was bullied in her school, considering the reputation of Demigod Windsor, I really find it hard to believe that some rando would have the guts to bully his only daughter. I have a feeling that Aba might have kept her background on the down low which might have led to her getting bullied than her reputation that she was a pushover. Once you get the reputation of a pushover then every rando will make you the target of their insecurities and project them onto you. Except for prowess, Aba showcased every characteristic of the protagonist. 

“Your Highness, Ann. I am sorry for the trouble at the gate,” the auction house’s director came to receive Ann. It seems they knew each other. Anybody who knew Ann’s existence was capable in some or the other way. Therefore, I took a second look at the director. 

“No problem, it is not your fault I should have informed you of my arrival,” Ann replied politely and then asked, “I’m here to attend the auction, has it started already?” 

“No, your highness,” the director hurriedly answered. 

“Great, which hall is the auction being held in?” Ann asked planning to lead us to the VIP box reserved especially for the royal family.

“Your Highness, the auction has been delayed” The director answered with great difficulty because as a citizen of the southern region, he hated to be put in the position where he had to say no to the royal family. 

It was a popular view that the citizens cannot say no to the royal family but that’s not the truth. The citizens were more than happy and willing to make any sacrifice for the royal family, as they believed the only thing protecting their current lifestyle and the predators across the borders was the royal family. 

So according to them if the royal family were to ask for a hand or a foot from them, they will not hesitate to sacrifice it, let alone assist them to attend an auction. This practice had turned into a social norm ingrained into the current society. And if one were to fail to do so they feel like they had brought shame upon their family and ancestors. 

This sentiment was shared by every citizen. Despite the current peace the havoc of monster war, demon worshippers, the lunatics of the empire, supreme beings at the way beyond, the governments, cults, sects, etc were still fresh in the minds of citizens so they were very grateful for the royal family who were responsible for the current peace. 

Such sentiments did not exist among the citizens for no reason, the Southern Royal family’s work in the Southern Region was warranted it. They had turned a barren monster infest land into a stable foundation for a civilization to grow on. The only reason Northern and Southern regions were at the bottom of the region ranking was that they did not have rich resources at their disposal like the other regions did. 

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