Chapter 3054: Checkmate

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Five Regions, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City, TSR Tower, Guild Meeting Hall

Every eye in the hall turned toward Aba. Unlike the Empire’s officials, Aba had no formal position within the New Empire. Other than being my guest, they knew her as the Demigod Windsor’s only beloved daughter.

Strictly speaking, she shouldn’t have been present at this assembly. The only reason she was here was because I had forced the issue.

After she repeatedly ignored my invitations, I had kicked her out of the VR Universe and warned her that I’d permanently revoke her access if she continued refusing to attend. Only then had she reluctantly shown up.

She wasn’t the only outsider present. Asong, Agatha, and Laura were seated nearby as well, quietly observing the proceedings from the sidelines. They too wondered the same thing as Aba. Why were they present in the New Empire’s assembly and why were they able to access the Spirit governing the VR-universe and now supposedly the New Empire.

I looked at Aba as she casually walked over and leaned against my desk, completely ignoring the formal atmosphere of the meeting hall. Acting as though this wasn’t the New Empire’s Second Assembly, but was more like a group of friends gathered around a table at a café.

Shaking my head, I remained seated and looked up to meet her gaze.

"How are you liking your new Frosling Corpse Puppet Card Spirit, Aba?" I asked.

"It’s amazing," Aba replied without a moment’s hesitation. "Thanks to her, I’ve been able to explore parts of the VR Universe that were previously inaccessible to me. I’m even learning Ruler-class sword arts now."

She answered so naturally that she completely missed the point I was trying to make. The other three, however, immediately understood.

"Wyatt," Asong said, staring at me in astonishment. "I thought you were giving those Card Spirits away because they hated you."

She had always found the whole situation suspicious. A genuine Card Spirit was priceless. Receiving one for free already sounded too good to be true. Yet they hadn’t been able to resist the temptation, especially after a Card Spirit had personally chosen them from among so many talented Card Apprentices gathered that day.

"Now you’re claiming otherwise?" Her expression became increasingly complicated realizing accepting my card spirit wasn’t merely accepting a gift. It meant becoming indebted to me in a way far deeper than she had initially imagined.

I looked at Asong and smiled. Beneath that smile, however, lingered a trace of irritation.

After I had left to rescue the Froslings, Asong had actually rejected Dalie’s offer. That was despite the understanding I believed we had reached.

As a result, Dalie had been left to shoulder the burden of managing Freedom City alone, trying to accommodate two races with completely opposing environmental needs.

I didn’t care what excuses Asong had. All I had wanted was for her to help Dalie govern Freedom City in the Lil’ Red Storm Realm.

"Yes," I replied calmly. "I was giving those Card Spirits away... to my citizens."

"Not to outsiders," I said as my gaze shifted from Asong to Aba, Laura, and Agatha. A faint smile remained on my face as I continued spreading my hands helplessly, "So, if you truly believe you aren’t part of my Empire or its government then I’m afraid I’ll have to ask all of you to return your Card Spirits."

The room fell silent. Aba’s carefree expression instantly froze. Laura’s face stiffened as well. Only Agatha seemed to recover from the initial shock. After all, she had never been chosen by a Card Spirit despite all the methods she and Aba had tried. She had nothing to lose. The other two, however, that was a different story.

There was no chance they would willingly return their Card Spirits. Nor could they ever hope to buy them from me. A genuine Card Spirit was priceless. No amount of wealth or influence could simply buy one. The choice before them couldn’t have been clearer.

Either acknowledge themselves as part of the New Empire. Or give up the greatest opportunity of their lives. In other words, it was a checkmate. That was I invited them to attend New Empire’s second assembly. They might not know it or acknowledge, but they were already mine. All I was doing was help them realize it.

"Frospirit was right about you," Aba snapped without missing a beat. "You really are a devil."

She folded her arms and glared at me. "To think, I’ve been defending you to her all this time."

I merely smiled. I knew exactly what was going through her mind. She was sentimental, impulsive, and quick to anger. Whenever her emotions got the better of her, she’d blurt out whatever came to mind. I knew she didn’t truly mean what she had just said.

If anything, I was more amused imagining the scene between her and Frospirit. Frospirit had probably complained endlessly about me to her chosen card apprentice, only to be interrupted by Aba defending me and lecturing her Card Spirit about what a good creator I supposedly was.

The thought alone was oddly satisfying. Shifting my gaze, I looked at Laura, saying, "You can continue doing what you’re doing,"

"What?!" Aba immediately protested. "Why does she get different treatment?"

"Because," I answered calmly, "She has already made it clear where she stands. She’s willing to lay down her life for me and for the New Empire—"

Before I could finish, Aba cut me off.

"It was my idea to escape the Royal Palace!" she exclaimed indignantly. "I was the one who brought her along to help you! And this is how you treat me?"

I ignored her outburst. Instead, I glanced at Asong with a faint, knowing smile. Making sure where I was going with this. And from the frown on her brows she need it. Then I turned my attention to everyone else in the meeting hall.

I had intentionally allowed this exchange to continue. The assembly wasn’t simply about announcing my departure. It was also about giving everyone enough time to process the existence of Hive Spirit and the true significance of the VR Slime Cards. If enduring Aba’s theatrics helped everyone settle their thoughts. Then it was time well spent.

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