Chapter 3077: Unranked Grimoires

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

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

"Wyatt, what were you thinking?" Lorn found me in the penthouse office almost immediately after I announced the merit loan program in Susan, Jill, and Anna’s name stepping out of the Reality Isolation Seal.

Her expression was unusually stern, making her starry pupils domineering. "You clearly weren’t. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have announced something this important so carelessly."

"Relax—" I barely got the word out before Lorn cut me off.

"You do realize that the entire Card World is actively coming after you now, right?" she demanded. "And if they can’t find you, they’ll come after the people you left behind."

Her voice carried the weight of someone who had already begun calculating every possible consequence.

"Let them come," I replied nonchalantly. I wasn’t going to retract the announcement.

Before Lorn could argue further, I noticed Tess, Henricks, and several other leaders approaching the office, all wearing variations of the same expression, concern, suspicion, and, beneath both, anticipation.

They had clearly come looking for answers. I sighed before summoning my unranked Grimoire in its original form and took out a bunch of unranked grimoires. Each pulsing with energy spread through the room.

The crystal covers of the Unranked Grimoires in my hand shimmered with shifting rainbow hues as it caught the light. The mere sight of it silenced everyone. Their eyes locked onto the Grimoire. Some looked stunned. Others looked almost disbelieving. They had come expecting an explanation.

Instead, I had given them proof. I raised the Grimoires slightly and looked across the gathering.

"Do your work faithfully, and I will reward you unconditionally."

I didn’t bother with elaborate speech, clarification, or bargaining. Just a promise and the reaction was immediate.

Every leader bowed in unison. Not a single person asked another question. They turned and hurried away, their earlier concerns replaced by a single overwhelming objective. They were going to prove they deserved that Grimoire. The prize they came looking for was right there now all they had to grab it.

Within moments, the office was empty again. Only Lorn and I remained. She stared at the doorway through which they had disappeared, then slowly turned her starry eyes toward me.

"Where did you get so many Unranked Grimoires from?" Lorn asked, genuine bewilderment evident in her eyes.

"I created them," I replied, tossing one of the Unranked Grimoires toward her before storing the rest inside my Grimoire. Lorn caught it almost instinctively, but her gaze remained fixed on me.

Not long ago, I had Dredre summon a Breath of Erosion and fed it to every Diamond-grade Grimoire I had with me. Every one of them had successfully transformed into an Unranked Grimoire.

Originally, I had planned to distribute those Grimoires to Lorn and the other leaders who had contributed the most to turning the New Empire from an idea into a functioning power. They had earned them. But then my announcement of an indefinite absence had created an entirely different problem.

The Empire was entering its most vulnerable period, and I needed its people to take ownership of what they had helped build. So I changed my approach. Instead of simply handing out the Grimoires, I decided to dangle them as carrots. Not because I doubted that my people wouldn’t do their jobs properly without rewards.

I trusted them. But there was a difference between doing your duty because you were expected to and striving beyond your duty because you had something meaningful to prove. If the Grimoires became rewards for exceptional performance, they would carry far more value than if I simply distributed them.

They would become symbols. Something the leaders could earn through their actions rather than receive because of their positions. And more importantly, their example would give everyone else something to aspire toward.

Holding the Unranked Grimoire, Lorn’s starry eyes shone brightly as she gazed at it. She couldn’t be more obvious about how much she wanted it.

Then sensing a certain someone breaking out of her mystic dimension and materializing inside the office. Lorn immediately stored the Grimoire away and turned toward the newcomer.

"What did I tell you, Corey? Don’t use Lil’ Baem to exit my Mystic Dimension." Her tone instantly became that of a disciplinarian, her authority was untenable. "For refusing to obey a direct command and for repeated offenses, I’m increasing your punishment. You will break the Mystic Seal ten more times using nothing but your Martial Prowess. No shortcuts. No Card Spirits. No external assistance."

"Fine, but I need to talk to Wyatt first," Corey agreed after her figure completely materialized beside us. To my surprise, she accepted the increased punishment without even arguing.

Instead, she immediately turned toward me, and with a demanding tone she remarked, "My disciplinary department doesn’t even have any members. How am I supposed to use the Merit Loan Program to prove myself worthy of an Unranked Grimoire?"

I stared at her knowing that she just wanted me to hand an unranked grimoire to her. But that wasn’t happening. I indifferently began, "First, I never stopped you from recruiting members for your department. Second, you’re currently suspended, and Lorn is temporarily in charge of your department."

"As far as I’m concerned, allowing you to remain the official Head of the Disciplinary Department despite your current behavior is already a considerable act of generosity on my part. And frankly, it’s unfair to the other department heads."

"So if I were you, I’d hurry up and finish your sentence, reclaim your position, and then figure out how to actually develop your department. Build a proper team. Establish procedures. Recruit people capable of doing the job. Make the department useful enough that nobody can question why it deserves an Unranked Grimoire."

Corey’s eyes slowly brightened. "So you’re saying I can still earn one?"

"I’m saying you have to earn one." Hearing me, she grinned. "Got it."

Then she turned toward Lorn. "Ten more seals, right?"

Lorn’s starry eyes narrowed as she corrected, "Ten more than what I originally gave you."

"Right..." Corey’s grin faltered as she muttered something under her breath, clearly wondering why everyone seemed to be on her case today.

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