Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2672: The Counter-Decree

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

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

The other four regions issued their counter-decrees in direct response to the Southern Region’s declaration. They all asserted the same position: that the Southern Region’s excommunication was valid, that Sky Blossom City no longer existed within the lawful structure of the Five Regions, and that I stood outside all Regional and Central protection.

Each of them also rejected the Southern Region’s claim to exclusive authority over this matter. They reserved for themselves the unrestricted right to act against me and Sky Blossom City, directly opposing the Southern Region’s attempt to monopolize military, contractual, and all forms of enforcement in this matter.

Together, they severed all contracts and trade with the Sky blossom city and all organizations connected to me, authorized military action without restraint and lifted all limits on surveillance and intervention against us. Lastly, the Central Region sealed everything into an official record, confirming that any region could move against me and all organizations run by or connected to me at will.

From that moment on, it was no longer a regional matter. It was the world’s.

Basically, the Southern Princess acted first, trying to use the Regional Sanction Protocol to turn the situation in our favor. However, the other four regions and the Central Government responded by declaring me the enemy of the world, invoking the authority of world order to supersede the Regional Sanction Protocol.

That was to say, from that moment on, no region was bound to wait, negotiate, or defer. Anyone could come for me. Anytime. Anywhere.

How did it come to this?

The teleportation network was meant to be my third world-changing innovation, following Silver Milk Powder and the VR-Universe.

I had planned to connect every city across the Five Regions through my teleportation network, funded by the sales of Slime Fairy cards and other aides from the cities themselves and the five regions. From there, I would unveil the Freedom Megalopolises in Lil’ Red Storm to the entire world, leading to bigger things and projects.

I was supposed to leverage the undeniable results of my criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program to persuade all five regions to send me their most heinous and hard-core criminals. That would have allowed me to expand the Sinner Army steadily and strengthen my forces under lawful pretenses.

I was meant to make my true entrance when the Three Calamities overthrew the Masters, or when the second demon invasion descended, whichever came first. I would step in as the hero, and from there, ascend naturally to the ruler of the world.

Instead, I had become the most heinous existence in the Five Regions. A world terrorist. An enemy greater than Gideon Grim, greater than the Emissary of Light.

Where did it all go wrong?

I knew exactly who to blame for this. And yet, I couldn’t. All I could do was accept it as my punishment for being too greedy. Instead of choosing one, I chose all three of them, and in doing so, made my life three times harder.

I stood there on the terrace as, one by one, the culprits behind my current predicament gathered at my side with the no intent of apologizing for the good deed they did. Others followed soon after. I kept my emotions tightly in check. This wasn’t the time for an outburst. My people needed me now more than ever. I will deal with these three later.

”So, you all heard the decrees and counter-decrees,” I said, skipping any pretense of small talk or making any attempt to assure them. ”Anyone who wants to leave may do so now. You’ll receive your severance and compensation for the danger I’ve brought upon you and your families.”

I wasn’t giving them a generous free pass. I was weeding out the weak links.

”Boss, I think I can speak for everyone here,” Aurelia said as she stepped forward, sweeping her gaze across the group. ”If we wanted to leave, we wouldn’t have come looking for you.”

”Slow down, kid,” Kiren cut in calmly, speaking for her team before Aurelia could drag them into her confidence. ”We’re here for different reasons.”

”Who are you calling a kid?” Aurelia snapped, her voice dropping dangerously low. ”Old hag, do you have a death wish?” She looked ready to throw hands with a demigod.

I stepped between them at once. ”Aurelia, go contact your mother and tell her to proceed as planned. There’s no need to rush back over something this trivial. I’ll speak with her personally tomorrow morning.”

Aurelia shot Kiren and the Western Princess one last glare before finally turning to me. She nodded in agreement and moved off to the side to complete my instructions asap.

Then I turned to Kiren and the Western Princess and said evenly, ”I’ll deal with you two later. For now, observe all you want. But if you interrupt one more time, I’ll make an example out of you.”

Kiren nodded. Together with the Western Princess, she stepped back, deliberately separating themselves from my people. I ignored them and addressed the rest.

”Since none of you chose to leave, you have my thanks for placing your trust in me,” I began. ”First and foremost, the citizens are our priority. If anyone wishes to leave the city, buy their properties at a ten to twenty percent markup and assist them in relocating to cities that still remember my grace.”

I continued without pause. ”For those who intend to stay, instruct them to suspend all business and external operations for the next two days. The same applies to us. For anyone already en route, mobilize the Sinner Army to escort and protect them. Don’t hesitate to use force if necessary.”

”Aside from that, everything proceeds as usual. In two days, the Royal Families and the Central Government will be forced to reconsider their decrees and counter-decrees. And if anyone tries to stir trouble inside the city,” I added calmly, ”you already know what to do.”

I swept my gaze across them. ”If I missed anything, or if something wasn’t clear, now’s the time to ask.”