"Nice room….I guess it's given, with dukes status he at least needs to reach this standard…".
"They should at least send someone by now..should I tell Mina to drag the Dukes here?…". (Elijah)
"There's no need, just let them take their time….let's just rest a bit….".
The guest room was quite luxurious, crystal chandelier, comfy leather sofas, it looks like a 5-star Presidential suite. I, Elijah, and Mina was sitting on the sofas, making ourselves comfortable while waiting for Duke to come. I was enjoying the bland warm tea that was prepared for us, since it was too bitter, even for me, I took out chocolates from my newly obtained platinum storage rings. The rings were quite fancy, it was quite a spectacle to see an empty space hovering before you, and as you plunge your hand in it chocolate or anything you want can be brought out from it, well that's magic. Mina was splurging on the chocolates as she tastes them, Elijah was restraining herself and enjoying it
Duke Merrica was surprisingly quite proficient in handling this covering-up stuff, by the time he got back to us, His wife and the dead body were already being removed from the room. Although he has a hard time processing in this matter, I had to step in and explain to him once again (without including the Principality of light schemes). Luckily, he agrees with me, saying that finally, his wife's changes make sense. "Your Excellency….thank you for, once again helping me..". (Duke Merrica) "Don't sweat it, I just like to keep things simple…just take care of your wife…..I guess it's time for us to leave..". As we leave the room, Duke also comes with us to send us off. He engages in a light talk with Elijah whilst we are on the way to the entrance. "Lady Elijah, I suggest that you should take this time to sightsee Merrina…although it doesn't compare to Hallerus capital, it was the biggest town in northern Hallerus..". (Duke Merrica) "Thank you, S
"Your Excellency, Here…". (Elijah)Coming to my side in Mina's arms, was Elijah she gives me the 3 gold coins that Old Grimm gave to her just before. "Hn?…No, Keep them…you're the one who translated the book for him just now not me…just keep it…don't forget to give 1 to Mina, she's, after all, have been carrying you the entire time you know…". I refused to take the money and put it back in her palm. making a big deal out of 3 coins wasn't my style, I'm not that petty. she tried to protest, I simply ignored her and tell her to use the coin for herself and buy anything she wants with it. "We're here...". (Baroness Lydia) Stopping right before a large store called 'Dragon Blood', Baroness Lydia turned to us and opened the door. The storefront was extravagant, big double door, golden decorations, for a potions store it was certainly over the top. We were greeted by 2 women wearing maid clothes (Like the cosplay) before Baroness Lydia immediately called
Leaving the Green Hive, The sun is already halfway down on the horizon, it is already 3 pm."Sire, Madam….You can expect the slave to arrive, 2 weeks from now…". (Madam Hive)
-Maidens POV- "Come have breakfast with us…Mina is His Excellency still asleep?..". (Elijah) Seeing Mina finally come down from the stairs, Elijah, Andrea, Bina, and Rafaela were already around the table enjoying their pleasing breakfast meal in the dining hall along with several other maidens. If this was before, at this time all of them were probably still be starving and naked, but ever since the new master saved them, their lives have changed completely. they probably have a far better lifestyle compared to any commoners and nobles in Fantasma. "Yes Sister Elijah, Although His excellency looks very occupied by something, he's been writing a lot for the last 2 days..also, Sister Andrea His Excellency wants his morning coffee..". Hearing Mina, Andrea Leaves her seat and starts making the instant coffee, she knows her master always drank coffee in the morning, that's why she already has the hot water on standby and ready. "By the way Sis, how
After waiting at my house for 30 minutes, Ken Finally showed up with his trucks. At this moment, both of us were on the way to the Old Terry store in downtown."Old Terry was still alive and kicking,..as usual, he's still working at his store…anyway you're looking good though…..". (Ken)"Thanks for the compliment Ken…but, stop it…it's Getting kinda creepy….".As soon as I step into his car, Ken doesn't stop saying how different I look. I'm sure that I look different, but I don't expect my visual would be this distracting."Hey, I'm just telling you what I saw...Hey, I got certain Villian Costume that suits your whole appearance..would you…". (Ken)"No…now Shut up and Drive..".Seeing that I already getting annoyed by his antics, Ken shrugs it off and turns back to focus on his drive.After 30 minutes of driving we finally arrived at Old Terry Shop, Located at the edge of
After waiting at my house for 30 minutes, Ken Finally showed up with his trucks. At this moment, both of us were on the way to the Old Terry store in downtown."Old Terry was still alive and kicking,..as usual, he's still working at his store…anyway you're looking good though…..". (Ken)"Thanks for the compliment Ken…but, stop it…it's Getting kinda creepy….".As soon as I step into his car, Ken doesn't stop saying how different I look. I'm sure that I look different, but I don't expect my visual would be this distracting."Hey, I'm just telling you what I saw...Hey, I got certain Villian Costume that suits your whole appearance..would you…". (Ken)"No…now Shut up and Drive..".Seeing that I already getting annoyed by his antics, Ken shrugs it off and turns back to focus on his drive.After 30 minutes of driving we finally arrived at Old Terry Shop, Located at the edge of
"Please Sign over here, please...Thank you sir..have a nice day..". (Delivery Man)"Thanks..you too have a nice day…".For the last 3 days, all I do was waiting for a delivery at my home. at this point the 20K I have, already dwindle down to 5K. All the items on my list already purchased, Be it Tampons or foods I already have them stock up for 6 months of use for 300++ people. It's surprising how cheap things are if you buy them In bulk on the web, Luckily I live near the forest far from anyone, if not people might be worried seeing countless lorries coming in and out, moving mountain of boxes. At this point, my garage and living room to the kitchen was already filled with boxes, I can't store them inside the storage rings, because it still filled with gold bars.That's right, I spend 3 days not only receiving delivery but also melting the gold coins into gold bars, using the small smelter I borrow from Ken, it took a while but I manage to sme
Before the situation turned worst Lee Ha Feng stood up and shoot a fierce glare towards her daughter."Han Na!!…control yourself!… I apologize for my daughter's unruly behavior, Mr. Mies..". (Lee Ha Feng)"Don't Mind me.....Anyway, Hello there Derek Krawoski…It's been a long time…"."Ah!...Yes, yes it is Mr. Mies…it's an honor to see you again..". (Derek)Looking at him, I can see fear mixed with excitement in his eyes which is a bit freaky for me. As for Lee Han Na, She seems to be embarrassed as her grandfather reprimand her in public.I stand up and change to Terry table, then sit next to Terry, Lee Ha Feng also follow the suit and sit down next to Lee Han Na and Derek. Instead of going straight into the conversations, I sit there silently sipping my coffee."I have to say, I've been waiting to see you Sir…Ever since the last time…Thanks to you I was able to claim th
Aeternum had taught her a valuable lesson—control is not about force, but manipulation. So, she would make them turn on each other.Helen began summoning the nobles one by one, speaking to them in private meetings. She whispered honeyed words into their ears.“Viscount Talis, I need a reliable man. Duke Rehn is plotting against me, and I require your loyalty.”“Countess Ferros, your influence is invaluable. I fear Duke Rehn is siphoning funds, and I need someone I trust to investigate.”“Duke Rehn, the other nobles are moving against you. You must act swiftly before they remove you from power.”With every meeting, seeds of distrust were sown.The nobles—drunk on greed—were too blind to see that they were being played.And so, one by one, they began to conspire against each other.As the nobles scrambled to destroy each other, Helen’s true loyalists made their move.Under the cover of darkness, handpicked assassins carried out eliminations with precision.Duke Rehn?Found dead in his s
“Then Mies will destroy Hallerus.”Helen turned sharply toward him. “You think he would go that far?”Merrica didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”Helen stared at him, searching for a lie. A hint of hesitation. But there was none.“He will not give you mercy a second time, Helen,” Merrica said. “If those nobles push for war, if they even dare to challenge Aeternum—you will lose.”He took another step forward, his voice heavy. “And I will not be able to protect you.”For the first time in their conversation, Helen looked away. Merrica saw it. The fear. The realization.She already knew everything he was saying was true. She had just been too proud—too trapped—to admit it.Silence hung between them. Then, at last, Helen spoke.“…What do you want me to do?”Merrica finally allowed himself a small sigh of relief.“You already know what must be done, Helen,” he said gently. “You must take back your court.”Helen slowly nodded, though her expression remained grim. “Those nobles will not leave peace
“Merrica understands that if Hallerus moves against Aeternum, we won’t hold back.”Kasuma gave a knowing smirk. “And you won’t hesitate to destroy them.”I met her gaze, unblinking.“No.”A heavy silence fell between us.Kasuma leaned forward, her voice softer but firm. “You don’t want war with Hallerus.”“No, I don’t,” I admitted. “The people of Hallerus don’t deserve to suffer for their queen’s mistakes. Merrica doesn’t deserve to be put in that position.”Kasuma studied me for a moment before sighing. “Then let’s hope Duke Merrica succeeds.”I ran a hand through my hair, my thoughts swirling. Visma was controlled. Chaos was their prison, and we held the keys. Hallerus, however, was different.It was once an ally, a friend, a brother. But betrayal had shattered that bond. Still… I didn’t want to be the one to crush it completely. I drummed my fingers on my desk. If Helen could be saved, then perhaps—A knock interrupted my thoughts.“Enter,” I called.An ACIA officer stepped in, bowi
The Merchant Guild Leader, Darvio Vinn, who had profited the most from blocking Aeternum trade. His warehouses stored inferior goods at premium prices, keeping the economy strangled in his grip.The General of the Royal Army, Lionel Ferin, who had bled the treasury dry with excessive military spending, preaching about “independence” while weakening their forces with outdated tactics.They had to be removed. One by one, quietly, without causing suspicion. But how? Merrica could not simply accuse them—Helen trusted them. If he moved too boldly, she would see him as the enemy.No, he had to be careful. He had to play the game. Merrica stood, pouring himself another glass of wine. He would begin by exposing the corruption—turning the people against the parasites that fed on Hallerus.The merchants would learn how Darvio Vinn had been overpricing basic goods. The military officers would see how General Lionel Ferin had been wasting funds on obsolete strategies. The court would hear whisper
At a local tavern, I overheard a group of soldiers drunkenly complaining."Our weapons are old.""Our rations taste like pig slop.""Did you hear? Even Alemia is receiving Aeternum goods now.""We should have never broken ties."I smirked. They knew. Their queen had failed them, and their nation was falling behind while the rest of the world thrived under Aeternum’s soft power. The people of Hallerus were not fools. They saw the rising prosperity of the allied nations, the luxurious goods, the technological marvels, the entertainment, the food. They could only watch in envy.At sunset, I met with Duke Merrica Murrs at his estate. His once-proud posture had been replaced with exhaustion. His eyes, which once held confidence, now carried deep regret.We sat in his grand study, the silence stretching between us. Finally, he spoke."I should have stopped her."I said nothing."I vouched for her. I believed in her." He exhaled, shaking his head. "And now, my people suffer because of my mis
Meanwhile, in Yulga, Maria sat comfortably in her study, reading the latest reports.Lysander stood beside her, amused. "Another assassin failed. This is getting predictable."Maria smirked. "Vismal thinks he’s playing chess, but he’s only moving pawns."She set down her glass, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Let him keep trying. Let him think he has control.""And when he finally realizes he doesn’t?" Lysander asked.Maria leaned back, exhaling softly. "By then, he won’t be king anymore."While King Vismal wasted his energy plotting assassinations, he failed to see the true danger.His nobles squabbled over the black market. His people secretly craved Aeternum goods. His own soldiers whispered of defecting.Visma was rotting from the inside out. And Maria? She simply watched it happen. She wasn’t just controlling the black market. She was controlling Visma’s fate. One failed assassination at a time.King Vismal III believed he could eliminate Maria Yulga. He believed he could take
"Oi, you got the stuff?""Yeah, yeah, keep it down!"A merchant nervously looked around before handing over a carefully wrapped package."This is the good stuff—straight from Aeternum. Papa Pizza’s special cheese blend. Got it from a merchant who knows a guy who knows a guy."The buyer, a Visma noble in disguise, snatched it eagerly."Finally! I’ve been dying to try this! You have no idea how boring Visma’s food is compared to Aeternum’s cuisine!""Yeah, yeah, pay up first.""Fine, fine—how much?""Two hundred gold pieces."The noble nearly choked. "T-Two hundred?! That’s robbery!"The merchant smirked. "And yet, you’re still going to pay it, aren’t you?"The noble gritted his teeth, but handed over the money anyway. Aeternum’s products were so desirable that people were willing to spend fortunes just to get a taste.And that was exactly what ACIA wanted. By controlling the underground economy, Aeternum achieved multiple goals:Economic Control – Even though Visma banned Aeternum’s pr
The people were asking too many questions. The smugglers were getting bolder. Even their own guards and soldiers were caught listening to Aeternum’s broadcasts in secret. A revolution wasn’t just coming—it was being broadcast live.In an attempt to regain control, the non-allied nations did the only thing they knew how to do—They cracked down. Massive raids were conducted in the dead of night. Entire villages were searched. Merchants were arrested. Radios were smashed in public squares.But no matter how many products they confiscated, no matter how many smugglers they punished, it didn’t stop. Aeternum’s influence was already too deep. The people had tasted the forbidden fruit—and they weren’t about to let go of it.What made matters worse was that not everyone in power was loyal to the cause. Behind closed doors, even high-ranking nobles were secretly buying Aeternum’s products for themselves. Some were sneaking off to allied territories under the guise of “diplomatic visits” just s
Aeternum had always been known for its technological marvels and superior products, but with easy transportation, its goods became more accessible than ever before.From freshly preserved gourmet food to luxurious household items, Aeternum’s influence began to seep into every aspect of daily life across the continent. And the people? They loved it. Why eat old, stale bread when you could have Aeternum’s fresh-baked soft rolls that lasted for weeks without losing their taste?Why wear itchy, poorly-made foreign garments when you could buy Aeternum’s finely woven, stain-resistant fabrics? Even Aeternum’s entertainment industry was making waves. With their crystal-powered moving pictures, stories from Aeternum began flooding into neighboring lands, captivating audiences with rich tales of adventure, romance, and heroism.It wasn’t just about selling goods anymore. Aeternum was selling a way of life. And everyone wanted in.But not everyone was pleased. The non-allied nations watched in d