Chapter 2853: Corey’s Treason

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Three Mischief Encampment

"This is bullshit. You’re recruiting devils now? As if the Masters and world leaders didn’t already have enough reasons to come after you," Corey complained to me, shooting Peyote a sour look.

Peyote didn’t spare her a glance. After skimming through the century-long employment contract Dredre shared with his devil codex, he signed it without hesitation. In truth, it was little more than a neatly dressed slave contract—but to him, it read like survival.

"With him on our side, the masters and world leaders aren’t that big of a threat anymore," Karl remarked, coming to this master’s defense. "What we should be worried about is Devil Maestro Matteo."

Hearing Karl say that even with Peyote on their side they still had to steer clear of the masters and the world powers, Corey couldn’t help but look at him skeptically. Sensing her doubt, he went on to explain.

"Peyote’s colleagues were just as strong as he is. There were nine of them, aided by a small army of powerful devils. Our ancestors defeated them and ended the first demon invasion. Individually, they might be weaker than us, but as an organization that has ruled this world for millennia, their resources and reach are not to be underestimated. Otherwise, we’ll end up like his colleagues."

"Karl is right. Don’t count the four royal families out just yet. Their accumulated heritage—even if much of it has been lost or gambled away—is still formidable," the Field Marshal added. As the princess of the Southern Royal Family, she knew exactly what she was talking about.

"What now, boss?" Peyote turned to me, ignoring the discussion of his new colleagues. If he kept undermining them like this, he’d have to complete the entire hundred years of his contract.

My promise to him wasn’t far-fetched or a lie. I might not have Zaltan Librarian Jr. on speed dial, but Dredre did. The moment he sent her with me, he’d told her to call him if she ever ran into something she couldn’t handle—or anything life-threatening.

Knowing Dredre, she wouldn’t make that call even if it cost her life... but she would if I asked her to. And when bluffed earlier. She’d been ready; the only thing holding her back before was that she didn’t want to lie to him.

Which meant I could introduce Peyote to Zaltan Librarian Jr. whenever I wanted, even put in a word for him. What happened after that, though, was out of my hands.

"Now we announce our victory to the world. As for Maestro, considering the time difference between this world and the Dark Realm, we have about a week to come up with something," I declared, cutting their discussion short.

Yes, the Masters, the royal families, and the world leaders had experience and resources accumulated over the span of a millennium—but so did I, perhaps even more in certain ways. What I actually lacked was their numbers and their legacy. Compared to me, an upstart, people would always trust established powers, no matter how much buzz I created with my innovations—my VR universe, silver milk powder, monster-meat soul energy digestion, and the rest.

I couldn’t simply replace the deep-rooted trust people had in their royal families and central governments. Not overnight, at least.

If I wanted to dominate the world with minimal bloodshed, I needed public opinion on my side—and I needed numbers. Because sometimes, enough hyenas start believing they can bring down a lion just by outnumbering it.

The Masters had to go, but the world leaders and the royal families couldn’t. People needed their leaders so they could carry on with their lives without being affected by my plans for world domination. At the same time, those very leaders couldn’t even entertain the idea of resisting my authority. I had to make it so that the entire card world governing system changes but its people don’t even realize it until their leaders announce it to them.

With my strength, I could easily sweep aside the old authorities and replace them with my own. But power came with responsibility—and, more importantly, the freedom to do things my way. This couldn’t be remembered as a dark Chapter in the Card World’s history. It had to stand as a turning point—a defining moment that marked the beginning of its rise into something greater.

"How do we announce our victory to the world?" Corey asked, puzzled. Then a thought struck her. "Is it through the VR universe? Use my good pictures when you make the announcement. My parents will be watching."

When she said things like that, it was hard not to feel a little sorry for her—and just as easy to forget whatever you were about to scold her for. More importantly, it got me thinking. Should I make the announcement in the VR universe as well?

Wait a minute—

"Corey, your parents are using VR-Slime cards? Then can’t you just meet them in the VR universe?"

"I do."

Listening to Corey’s nonchalant answer my brows narrowed as I asked, "For how long?"

"Since you announced your world domination plan. The Southern Princess reached out to me—said if I kept her updated about you and Anna, she’d return the favor with little things like this. Maybe even relieve my parents and send them home."

"When were you planning to tell me about this?"

"Did I need to? I never intended to act on it. I’m not stupid enough to fall for her tricks. If she could’ve sent my parents home, she would’ve done it the first time you asked her and not risk displeasuring you."

"Corey, sweetie, what you did amounts to treason," the Field Marshal said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Hey, hey, watch your words. Apart from talking to my parents, I didn’t even reply to her."

"And what exactly did you talk to your parents about?"

Hearing where the Field Marshal was going, Corey’s brows knit in anger—then abruptly shot up as the realization hit. Her expression faltered.

"No... they’re my parents. They wouldn’t do that to me."

I didn’t wait. I had Hive AI pull Corey’s VR-universe logs and traced the accounts she’d been speaking to—the ones she believed were her parents.

"Wyatt... they are my parents, right?"

"Well, the good news is—they’re your parents. The bad news is... they’re your parents."

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