Chapter 2601: The Big Picture

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Southern Capital, Fine Gold Capital Branch, Teleportation Hub

"We are not doing anything to him. He should have known better than to employ unfair and hostile practices when starting his business," the other voice retorted.

"You do you," came the reply, "but what business of his are you actually after? As far as I know, all of his operations are in the Southern Region. The central government has no jurisdiction here, and he has the Southern Royal Family’s unconditional support in everything. So what exactly are you planning?" The voice had convinced they saw through their intentions, now found themselves confused once again as the pieces refused to fit.

"We’ve already informed you. Our business here is done," the other voice said, turning to leave. His companion chuckled and followed. But before they could depart, another voice cut through the clouds. "I heard you were looking for me."

"You? What are you doing here?" One of them asked, startled to see the one they spoke of appear right before their eyes.

"Why does that matter?" I replied calmly. "You were coming to find me, and I found you first, saving you the trouble. So tell me, what business do you have with me?" I asked with a smile, giving a brief nod toward the mature form of the Aria Art. I guessed she was a member of the Art Family and was on duty today.

What truly surprised me was that the Southern Royal Family had not only refused to receive those demigods, who were clearly the Masters’ hounds, but had also barred them from entering the city altogether, delivering their response and ushering them away without delay.

It seemed they had taken my being ambushed at the Brothwork Family’s Morningstar Manor to heart. I appreciated the sentiment, but it also filled me with unease. Could the Southern Royal Family, and the Southern Region as a whole, truly withstand the Masters’ inevitable retaliation?

The Masters would not take direct action themselves, but they had countless ways to bypass open conflict and still inflict harm upon the Southern Region. Trade was one such avenue. Imports and exports flowing between the Southern Region and the other regions could be choked off or manipulated with ease.

Unlike me, whose roots were shallow and shielded from every conceivable angle, the Southern Royal Family and the Southern Region had roots that spread far and wide, leaving them exposed from too many directions. The Masters could not target me directly, but the same was not true for the Southern Royal Family or the Southern Region.

No. I didn’t have all my bases covered.

How could I have overlooked something so obvious?

The Southern Royal Family, and the Southern Region as a whole, which had once been my strength, were now my weakness.

These Masters’ dogs were never here for me. They were here to use me as a wedge, to antagonize the Southern Royal Family until they made a single reckless move. One mistake would give the Masters ample justification to retaliate, while simultaneously preventing the other royal families from coming to their aid.

Once the Southern Royal Family and the Southern Region were pushed into trouble, I would have no choice but to intervene. Yet as long as the core problem remained unresolved, no amount of support I provided would truly save them from the Masters choking them. At best, I would only be delaying the inevitable.

I had planned to wait for the three mischiefs to overthrow the Masters, granting them a few more days of borrowed life. But these people were intent on forcing my hand.

"It’s regarding the massacre at the Brothwork Manor, We have numerous witnesses claiming that you killed Brolock Brothwork, along with his kin and aides present in the manor, over a rivalry in the pleasure card market. Please surrender. You will be given the opportunity to defend yourself in court. But if you resist, you will only make matters worse for yourself," the demigod said, restraining his emotions as he presented the case against me with practiced ease.

Yes, these Masters’ dogs were scared shitless. They hadn’t expected to run into me here. How could they not be afraid? After all, I had killed nearly four dozen of their colleagues, each one stronger than the two of them combined. Now, forced to face me directly, it felt to them as though they were conversing with death itself.

I wanted to kill them as well, but I didn’t. If I did, the Masters would immediately tie their deaths to the Southern Royal Family but not me. These men were sacrificial pawns from the very beginning, and they knew it, which was despite their fear of me they dared to dictate the false case against me to me. They wanted me to kill them out of anger.

Killing them would hand the Masters exactly the justification they needed to openly target the Southern Royal Family and the Southern Region, and to sell that narrative to the other royal families restraining their hands from helping out the Southern Royal Family.

"Hey, the central government has no jurisdiction here, and Wyatt is under the custody of the Southern Royal Family. If you want to arrest him, follow proper protocol first," the mature Aria look-alike shot back immediately, playing straight into the Masters’ scheme. They were betting on the Southern Royal Family opposing them on my behalf.

"Madam Art, please stay out of this. This is a matter concerning the Central Government. The Southern Royal Family has no right to interfere," the demigod thundered, summoning all the courage he could muster. "If you continue to insist on intervening, we will have no choice but to assume that the Southern Royal Family is challenging the authority of the Central Government."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Madam Art snapped. "Didn’t you just hear me? He is under the custody of the Southern Royal Family. If you want to detain him for the crimes you’re alleging, then you must follow proper protocol. If anyone here is challenging authority, it’s the Central Government, for challenging the authority of the Southern Region within its own territory. Get the hell out of here, or I will detain you guys for blasphemy against the Royal Family."

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