Chapter 2860: Play (Part-II)

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City, Headquarters

Diana from Fine Gold, Fred from the TSR Guild, Old Ben of the Silver Tiger Mercenary Guild, along with Vivian and Cindy from the newly established Card Crafter Association and the Array Master Association, remained composed. Unlike Aurelia’s outburst, their calm wasn’t born of fear—they simply didn’t feel the need to react.

Between them, they had already absorbed or allied with nearly every merchant guilds, adventurer guilds, mercenaries, card crafters, array masters, across the southern stretch of the Southern Region, much like how Aurelia had brought the gangs and the black market in these parts under her control.

In this world, a regular city could function without any one of these: the merchant guilds, the adventurers’ guilds, the mercenaries, card crafters, array masters, and the black market. If one were to control all of them, they would control the entire city.

Their individual realms might still be lacking, but together, all of them had already secured the southern part of the Southern Region under their lord’s dominion without a fight or bloodshed.

All that remained was to make it official—to declare it to the world.

They knew they deserved a seat at the oval table just as much as anyone else in the room, and felt no need to justify themselves to the newcomers—especially not to their lord. No one understood their roles and appreciated them better than he did.

"My Lord, I suggest you make an example of these old fools, so no one dares repeat this."

Aurelia didn’t miss the chance to strike back at the Border City officials and elders. Her words only fanned their anger, but with me watching, they couldn’t even glare at her. They averted their eyes instead, unwilling to give her any opening to make things worse.

"No need. Since this is their first offense, I’ll let them off with a warning."

"My Lord, don’t let those wrinkled faces deceive you. They knew exactly what they were doing and chose to do it anyway. They were clearly undermining your authority. You can’t let this slide. People like them don’t respond to words or courtesy—they only understand force and authority. Please, my lord, don’t go easy on them on my account."

The officials and elders of the Border City stared at Aurelia with wide eyes, their composure starting to crack. A few shifted in their seats, others kept their heads down, fingers tightening on their robes. To them, it felt like she wouldn’t stop until she got them killed—or worse, pushed them into a corner where they’d have to beg her to stop.

"Aurelia, how about you return to your seat?"

"Thank you, my lord, but I’d rather stay here and guard you in silence."

"Good." I shook my head, then looked at those before me. "Someone, go call the Empire’s officials and elders in. Continuing this discussion without them would be one-sided, even if Saintess Catherine is doing a fine job on her own."

Meanwhile, I signaled Karl to take the unconscious body of the Emissary of Light and leave the room. They had already served their purpose.

"Calm down," City Lord Tess growled at her subordinates, who nearly lost what little composure they had left upon seeing the lineup that had come to represent the Empire alongside Saintess Diana. Still, she couldn’t help but turn to her counterpart and ask, "These are your so-called officials and elders of the Empire? One of them massacred an entire settlement of mortal farmers—didn’t even spare the children."

Saintess Catherine seemed to know exactly who City Lord Tess was referring to. She called him out without hesitation. "Torquemada, step forward."

"The Empire needs your divinity. Are you willing to offer it to the Empire?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Torquemada didn’t hesitate. He drove his hand into his own chest, tore out his divinity, and held it out to her.

Catherine took it without even sparing him a glance. Then she flicked it to the center of the table.

"There. Do as you please with it."

Seeing this, Torquemada didn’t even flinch; he was still one knee before Catherine as if what was happening didn’t concern him. City Lord Tess frowned, her gaze hardening. "What is the meaning of this?"

"That’s our commitment to our lord’s vision. There’s more where that came from."

At Catherine’s answer, Tess’s eyes narrowed as she pieced it together. "There’s no point in killing him now. Instead, have him join our lord’s criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program."

Tess’s response made the light in Catherine’s eyes dim, just a touch.

"Fine. But what about the murderers on your side? They massacred an entire pilgrimage without any provocation. What do you propose we do about that? If we’re going to work together, your people can’t have one kind of justice while mine have another. Justice has to be the same for all of us."

Tess smirked, having already guessed where Catherine was steering the conversation. She played along. "Fine. Those found guilty of war crimes in the line of duty will join the Lord’s criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program—of course, with the Lord’s permission."

"Of course."

"Yes, you both have my blessing," I said, stepping in without hesitation. "I’m glad to see you recognize the value of the program."

I saw no reason to refuse a gift like this when it was being placed right in my hands.

"Thank you, my lord," City Lord Tess and Saintess Catherine said in unison.

Around them, their subordinates settled, easing their shoulders, lowering their gazes, convincing themselves this was the best outcome they could hope for.

Tess and Catherine swept their gaze across the room, fully aware they had everyone right where they wanted them, eating off their hands. Then, almost imperceptibly, they nodded at me and the Field Marshal, and it was time to move on to the real matter at hand: claiming the southern stretch of the Southern Region as ours.

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