Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 3060: Corporal Punishment

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

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

“Since you’re now a citizen of the New Empire rather than its guest, I can’t simply overlook your interruption of this assembly and your blatant disregard for the Empire’s budding customs…”

“Wait, hold on!” Aba hurriedly cut in. “I did all of that while I was still a guest of the New Empire, so it doesn’t count!”

Before I could respond, Aurelia finally lost what little restraint she had left.

“Shut up, you damn insolent woman!” she barked. “How dare you interrupt His Highness again? Speak only when you’re spoken to!”

The moment she heard where I was heading, Aba immediately realized she was about to be punished. She instinctively tried to argue her way out, desperately searching for a loophole before any sentence could be passed.

Aurelia, meanwhile, had been waiting for an opportunity like this ever since Aba had dragged a chair onto the stage. Now that Aba had officially become a citizen of the New Empire, Aurelia no longer had to hold herself back. She seized the opportunity without the slightest hesitation, determined to put the loudmouth admiral wannabe firmly in her place.

I couldn’t help but look around for Corey. Noticing my gaze, she tilted her head in confusion, silently asking, ‘What?’

I glared back at her, reminding her to do your damn job. Only then did it dawn on her that she was the head of the New Empire’s Disciplinary Department. Her eyes widened, and her lips slowly formed a big “O” as she realized she had completely forgotten her responsibility. Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to Aba and Aurelia. At least Corey wasn’t part of the problem this time. That alone was worth appreciating.

I had originally planned to deal with Aurelia later for attacking Asong, even if it had mostly been for show rather than genuine murderous intent. But this seemed as good a time as any.

“Will you two just shut up already?” Corey shouted, springing to her feet.

Aurelia and Aba immediately snapped their heads toward her.

Everyone in the hall knew about the rivalry between Corey and Aurelia. What few of them knew, however, was that Corey and Aba could also be considered acquaintances, connected through the same best friend. That unexpected relationship immediately piqued everyone’s curiosity as they wondered whose side the head of the New Empire’s Disciplinary Department would take.

“Your Highness,” Corey said, stepping forward and giving a respectful bow. “With your permission, I request to exercise my authority as the Head of the New Empire’s Disciplinary Department and place these two insubordinate fools under arrest on multiple charges of misconduct and insubordination.”

Unlike her usual carefree demeanor, Corey observed every protocol of a royal court flawlessly. The sudden change immediately won over the hearts of many in the meeting hall.

At last, this finally felt like the New Empire’s Second Assembly instead of a group study session between His Highness and his friends.

Seeing my approving nod, Corey straightened and slowly turned toward Aurelia and Aba. Her expression instantly became stern, as she warned, “Quietly come with me, you damn sinners. Or I’ll drag your bloody asses out of this hall myself.”

She folded her arms as a wicked grin spread across her face. “Your choice. Personally… I prefer the second option. I promise I’ll make it hurt.”

Aurelia immediately regretted it. She had always known there was a limit to His Highness’s blatant favoritism. She simply enjoyed his attention a little too much and had overplayed her hand.

Even Anna, Asong’s friend and one of His Highness’s fiancées, had remained quietly seated throughout the assembly, allowing it to proceed without interfering.

Yet Aurelia couldn’t resist the opportunity to score a few loyalty points, even if it meant inviting a little corporal punishment afterward. To her, it had seemed worth the risk.

What she hadn’t anticipated, however, was who would be deciding that punishment. Corey. The damned Head of the New Empire’s Disciplinary Department. The realization instantly drained the confidence from her face.

She knew Corey far too well. Had she known Corey would be the one handling the disciplinary action, she would’ve kept her mouth shut like everyone else in the assembly, treating Asong’s and Aba’s antics as the harmless behavior of His Highness’s guests rather than jumping into the fray herself.

Sitting beside Aurelia, Jaya caught the sadistic grin spreading across Corey’s face as her gaze repeatedly shifted between Aurelia and Aba. That look alone sent a chill down Jaya’s spine.

Without saying a word, she quietly shrank into her chair and lowered her head, doing her best to make herself invisible. Back in Aqualas’s Ocean World, Corey had merely been an acquaintance. Here, however, she was the Head of the New Empire’s Disciplinary Department.

The distinction mattered. Jaya had no choice but to respect the office, regardless of who occupied it. She wasn’t submitting to Corey as a person. She was submitting to her rank.

Meanwhile, panic finally set in for Aba. She immediately turned toward the young man seated beside her and blurted out, “Wyatt, I take it back! I’m not part of the New Empire anymore. Send me back to the Southern Royal Palace!”

Then she quickly turned to her bodyguard. “Agatha! Do something!”

Agatha merely looked at her young lady with her usual impassive expression. After a brief pause, she slowly shook her head before calmly returning to her seat.

She had already informed her master, Demigod Windsor, about everything happening across the Five Regions, including Aba rushing to the New Empire, despite it being branded an enemy state, simply to help her friend.

The only reason Agatha hadn’t dragged Aba back to the Southern Royal Palace was because Demigod Windsor had chosen to let his daughter make her own decisions. If her master wasn’t intervening, neither would she and would only limit her role to being her bodyguard.