After Erredis came back with a handful of tiny translucent wings, the sight of which made Sofia more than a bit sweaty, the group split up somewhat. Pareth went with Bookie and Saria to make a census of the ‘normal’ people wishing to settle down, while Sofia was alone in a soundproofed bone ‘audience room’, waiting for Erredis to send people in.

At least like this nobody is going to question the order in which I greet people…

She felt a bit nervous, knowing that most people coming would likely be much stronger and more knowledgeable than her, but Erredis vetting the people at the entrance was reassuring.

After some wait, a first person entered, walking through the bone curtains. It was an old-looking dwarf with white hair, he respectfully nodded to Sofia as he entered.

I can’t [Identify] until I’ve paid off my debt… But I can’t even feel his mana at all…

“Welcome in, please have a seat,” Sofia greeted, pointing at the chair on the other side of the table. Erredis had suggested she arrange the room like a throne room instead, but Sofia felt like that was a bit too much for now.

“So you’re the lass who brought that old hag out of retirement,” the dwarf said in a jovial tone, taking a seat and extending a hand toward Sofia, “Ruben,” he presented himself as Sofia hesitantly shook his hand, “one of her companions during the war,” he said pointing at the curtains behind him with his other hand’s extended thumb.

“Oh, I’ve heard her mention you. Nice to meet you… From how grandma spoke about you I assumed you were dead.”

“Bahahah! You truly have balls, calling that monster your grandma. Well, I don’t have much to tell you, girl, I was mostly here to see her. I’ll give you a little something for the trouble. Hmm… Give me a second… Ah, that’ll do,” he said, summoning a rectangular wooden slip and slapping it on the table.

“... That is?”

“A Grayhair token. You can exchange that against a favor to almost any respectable dwarf out there. And I mean, a true favor. Probably can get an old stone for it if you take that to a bank, to give you an idea.”

“Oh-o I- I don’t know if I can accept that,” Sofia said pulling back a bit.

The old dwarf raised an eyebrow, “Do you hate money or something? Take it, think of it as my apology to her for never visiting on the moon,” he said, looking back.

“Why not give it to her directly if that’s how you feel?”

“Heh, let an old man have his pride, will you?” Ruben said, jumping out of the chair, “You’ll make better use of it than she would,” he continued, “Nice meeting ya. Good luck,” he finished, walking out of the room without looking back.

Sofia looked with wide eyes at the wooden slip supposedly worth 100 million gold that she had just been given without doing anything.

The hell…

“Thank you, I guess?” Sofia mumbled, the wooden slip disappearing into her eye.

I’ve truly stepped into another world now…

Before she could even digest what just happened, someone else entered, some kind of sinister-looking black-furred goat person ith red eyes, a lot more animalistic than beastmen. If anything it was closer to how avians looked like birds.

“W- Welcome… Please have a seat,” Sofia greeted them nonetheless. This one she could feel the mana of, it was likely around level 400, if she had to guess.

“Greetings from the Arege Union, Lady of Sorrow,” the goat man said with a polite bow, before sitting down.

The title made Sofia smile but she was focused on trying to give a good ’first’ impression, however doomed the idea might be considering the events of the trial. How do I answer that properly…

“I’ve long heard of the prosperousness of the Union, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

“I am Azekar Maram, of the Union’s ministry of trade,” he explained, showing a mithrium-coated badge engraved with the words ‘AUMT foreign branch head - Azekar Maram’. “A number of businesses under our jurisdiction have expressed their will to invest or open a branch in your city,” he said, a neat stack of paper appearing in front of him, “If you would do us the honor of considering our offers.”

“May I?” Sofia asked, her hand extended toward the papers.

“Of course, please.”

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Grabbing the stack of papers, she quickly speed-read through the entire thing.

Interesting. The investments I can do without… I want this to stay my city. The businesses on the other hand… I’m not sure about all of those. A brothel might be a bit much, even if they say it’s all above-board… But the others seem fine. The magic stone trader will have business anywhere and we can definitely use the tailor and cobbler… The weapon enchanter would be great to have but will they actually get enough business here in the middle of the human continent? Not to mention they will all have to pay a 20% tax to the Arege Union in addition to whatever I decide to take.

“Is something troubling you, my lady?”

“No, no, I am seriously considering the offers, thank you for relaying them to me… I will have to declines the investment proposals for now, but the businesses willing to open shop here are more than welcome, except for this one,” Sofia said, giving back the brothel’s paper. “That being said, the 20% tax on all services provided by these shops seems a bit much…”

The goat man grabbed the paper, quickly looking at which one it is. “I understand, I will be sure to relay you intentions. As for the tax rate, that is the standard for our tradesmen conducting business abroad.”

Really? Why do they still have to pay them if the shops are here though? I should ask Cinthia to ask Taxes for me before I sign any of those…

“I shall discuss this with my advisors. How can I get back to you?” Sofia asked.

“Some of our people are already here, while I will return, you may contact any Union citizen and they will be able to relay the message to me so we may meet again,” he explained.

“That will do. Thank you for coming.”

“The pleasure is mine, my lady. Peace and prosperity,” he said with a bow before taking his leave.

Sofia slumped back into her chair, looking at the ceiling of the room. That was only the second person, and there were hundreds waiting outside.

The trial was a lot less stress…

The meetings succeeded one after the other, many of them bringing inaugural gifts or business proposals, and Sofia was starting to get used to the the rhythm, when someone she recognized walked past the curtains.

The pile of blankets!

“Hi!” a high pitched voice came from under the hundreds of layers of gray fabric hiding the person who had just entered. She disappeared and reappeared on top of the guests chair.

“H- hello? I remember seeing you in the public for the last few rounds.”

“Yes! A great show,” the person under the fabric commented, seemingly nodding, though it was hard to tell.

“Glad you enjoyed it… Soooo…”

“I’m Cecless!” the pile of fabric introduced itself, “But you can call me Cici.”

Oh. Cecless… So it must be a Dragon.

“Like the planet?” Sofia sked to be sure.

“Yes yes! It’s named after me,” she confirmed, “Do you mind if I inspect your soul for a second?” she innocently asked. Sofia had no real time to answer, feeling the person’s overwhelming mana engulfing her like a tidal wave.

Sofia fully expected something bad to happen, or for her blessing to activate, but there was nothing, the mana soon pulled back, while the dragon on the chair in front of her made satisfied noises.

Lost for words, Sofia watched a white-gloved hand stick out from under the fabric. “I’m glad to finally find one of my coworkers!” the veiled dragon happily exclaimed, reaching for Sofia’s hand and giving her a vigorous handshake. “Ah! Sorry I should have explained first… Wait… Can you read Draconic? Hmm…”

“I- I can…”

“Oh, really?! That’s perfect then! Here, look look! I’ve had the mark for a few thousand years but I was hiding it, so I just got my name change too!”

The mark???

A system window in draconic appeared in front of Sofia’s eyes.

Name : Cecless ‘The Hollow’ Edrazeketh

Age :

28488

Class : [Faceless Wanderer]

Level : 549

[Mark of Edrazeketh]

Aside from the class, every line hit Sofia like a glass of cold water in the face.

WHAT.

THE.

FUCK.

Five hundred and forty nine?!

“Eheh… Impressed? I’m your senior now!” the dragon under the veils exclaimed proudly.

“I- I’m… Yes… Does that mean you met Him, too?”

“Too?” the dragon repeated, “I’m going to need you to elaborate! But yes of course! Hmmhmm. I even found the ring you’re wearing right now, you know?!”

“This one?” Sofia asked, pointing at her finger wearing Gluttony.

“Yes. It looked a bit different but I’m sure it’s the same!”

She saw that through my armguard and Apehnoreth’s glove?!

“I thought the admins found it.”

“Hmmhmm. I used to explore a lot with Nexxy! But he’s too busy now… I’m curious! Can I know how you got your mark?!”

“Should we really be discussing that here?”

“I’ll make sure no one can hear us, so don’t worry!” Cecless affirmed.

“Alright… Just to be sure, first, can I hear His name out of your mouth?” Sofia asked, “Is that fine?”

“Edrazeketh! Edrazeketh Edrazeketh Edrazeketh! Entropy! The Annihilator! The end of existence personified! My beloved! You can’t escape meeeeee! Aaaah!” the dragon swooned on her chair.

She’s crazy.