Violetta’s warp opens in front of us. It’s not necessary for any of us but Fonfon, Violetta, and Ishtal to go but for some reasons, me, Alstroe, Topaz, and Mimi are tagging along. I have my own reasons for it but the other three are just sticking with me.

Mimosa, as the sovereign from The Rainforest of Healing, the Fairy Continent, will join us to meet up with Senya in the Center Continent where they have built the very first establishment, the very first place where every leader will hold a meeting regarding the land distribution.

This is no longer a fight of brawns but brains.

“Let’s go, to our new fight.”

Fonfon said as he marches through the warp with dignified steps. His demeanor immensely changes from the man I treated as my important brother to a man who carries the lives of hundreds of thousand people on his shoulders.

This is how it feels when you are in a presence of an absolute authority, a King.

“Asagao, everyone, go on.”

“Yes.”

I meekly answered as I get a little anxious about what will happen and who are the people present in that place. I lift my foot and start walking too. Alstroe, Topaz, and Mimi followed behind me as they also initiated their strides.

Once again, the warp’s side effect took a toll on me and I felt a little lightheaded from the feeling of jetlag.

However, my mind was immediately shaken as I stare at the place I was taken to.

A large building, or rather, a session hall with a grand entrance. The building has three floors and it is as large as a football field. There are a lot of decorative pillars that made it look like an Olympian building. From the entrance, a lot of people of so many races has gathered as they come and go, walk back and forth, and run everywhere.

It seems that this establishment is quite busy as it is newly built. The surrounding of the session hall is filled with greenery as tall trees and a grass bed covers the overall vicinity. This is not the same Center Continent that I know anymore.

The trees and plants must be grown using magic or planted as it is as soon as they completely purified the land. The air seems clearer now and the clouds are parted letting the sun rays to fall on this place.

“Are you surprised Asagao?”

“Violetta?!”

From behind me, Violetta suddenly spoke that it snaps me back to my own self. I didn’t notice that Alstroe is also staring at the scenery that was once a wasteland of corruption. All within a month, they were able to rehabilitate this land, even if it is just its portion.

Fonfon stood in front of us, waiting for me to get out of my daze and watches for us.

“Violetta, those people…”

“Ah, those are council workers.”

“Council workers?”

“Yeah. In the meantime, everyone decided that it would be wise to assign some people from all races to manage this Hall. They are the one who do the troublesome paperwork, proposal for residency, business expenditures, and many other more.”

“So…they are like civil servants then?”

“That’s right. We need to assign people here really quick. Ishtal was actually the one doing the paperwork here. Occasionally, Lily or Edel will drop by to assist in the work.”

“Why is that?”

“Our own representatives for civil servants are the proxy for people of our land to file their residency, business propers, and more. The first floor is the reception area where all requests are processed. There’s also the file room, stock room, restroom, and even employees lounge. The second floor is the conference room where the congregation will be held. The third floor is still reserved.”

“Eh? This is an incredible place…”

“I heard that Priscilla is collaborating with Gria Hellbeing for the establishment designs. Obviously, this is something from your own world.”

“But…wait…!”

“Asagao, the congregation is about to start now. I shall answer your questions later, okay?”

“Yes…”

Turns out she knows what I’m about to ask and quickly redirected the conversation.

.

.

.

My heart pounds as I stand in front of the meeting hall. I do expect something incredible but not to this degree, not this grand, and especially not this serious.

The whole room is as a large as a gymnasium. There are desks everywhere but the most noticeable is the large round table in the middle of the room. Throughout the room, there’s a lot of people holding notes of pad paper.

“Violetta, those people are, why are they holding materials for writing?”

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“They are the Recorders. Their responsibility is to oversee the whole meeting and records each and every moment that will happen here. The reason for a large number of employee is because each has their own spots to watch over.”

If that’s how Violetta explains it to me, then they are like the media or press in this scenario. They’ll record each and every movement made by anyone in this place and writes it. There are also other people gloating around but I can somehow figure out what their purposes are.

The center of attraction is none other than the leaders of each Kingdom or representative…

Thus, the moment we’ve been waiting for. Gria Hellbeing stands up from his seat which is directly opposite to Fonfon.

“Well then, everyone is here. Shall we begin?”

…Wha--!?

As if the stale atmosphere earlier wasn’t enough, a huge invisible boulder suddenly crushes me from behind… is how it feels…

The ambiance becomes comparable to a heated war, to a battle of wits than none will back down. I can’t believe that every single leader here can emit such presence…

A presence that depicts their worthiness of their position. Their state of mind that was honed by time, their wits that were fortified in a multitude of trials, and lastly, their heart that burns with desire and love for their people, for their subject, for their Kingdom.

I turn around and look at everyone else…

Alstroe seems like she is oblivious to such intimidation as she curiously looks around. However, Mimi and Topaz knew that the dense atmosphere is due to the big shots in this place, especially Mimi.

Violetta and Ishtal are veteran politicians in their own rights. Their faces seem to pass this as normal.

“I shall start introducing myself then. I am Gria Hellbeing, the current Demon Lord of the Continent of the Land of Magic Gathering. Together with me is my wife, Eno Hellbeing, my daughter, Diyu Hellbeing, and lastly, an old companion.”

Gria introduced his self and then proceeded to introduce people together with him. Eno Hellbeing is a woman of short stature and like Diyu, she has heterochomatic eyes. Their families don blond hair but knowingly, women of their family are all flat.

The other companion Gria mentions wear a hood so her…or his face is obscured. Among Gria’s companions, the hooded guy emits a bone-chilling presence but oddly, there’s no hostility in it.

“As the counterpart of the Demon Kingdom, I shall introduce myself next. I am Ashfon Astlan Lionheart, the King of the Land of Prosperity. My companions are Isthal, my councilor, and Violetta, one of my Royal Guards. I would like to ask that pay no heed to my little sister and her companions.”

He said.

Fonfon insisted with a bit of menacing glare at everyone in the place. His voice is clear and scary but he has to keep up with the intimidation game. If I remember correctly, he has met or fought every Kingdom Leaders once.

They seem to know him well too even without introducing his self.

“I am Hinoki Prasiolite, the Elven Queen of the Land of Greenwoods. I have little to say so I’ll introduce my companions. My twin daughters, Casablanca Prasiolite and Hibiscus Prasiolite. Another one is my Councilor, Sierra.”

I caught a glimpse of Casablanca and Hibiscus. They were standing next to a tall woman with long ashen hair with some crest in her forehead who wears a thick steel armor with a cape. The woman seems to be Sierra. As expected, she has one of the forebearings of an elf, pointy ears.

I tried waving at Casablanca and Hibiscus. They saw me and they returned a wave with a stiff smile. I guess they really can’t make any careless gestures in this situation, the same as me.

“I am Priscilla, the representative of the Dragon Kingdom, the Valley of the Ancients. I have no companions to speak of.”

“Wait! A human representing the Dragons?! Don’t mess with us!”

In hindsight, it sounds funny as well.

However, Priscilla isn’t someone who will joke about matters such as this. I’ve known her to a scary degree and she is someone who can do everything if she wants to. Such woman is also a summoned hero who is now representing the Dragon Kingdom.

A large dwarven man with hulking metal armor slams his palm on the table that it actually made a crack. I can already tell that this man is the King of the dwarves.

“Oho? But I am not messing with all of you. I am simply stating a fact. The very idea itself of claiming the throne designated for the dragon emperor hasn’t crossed my mind though.”

“Nay with the horns, scales, and tails and you call yourself their representative. Such tarnation. Do you smear dirt on their honorable name!?”

“Dirt you say?”

Oh no…

“The very fact that I am standing here and none of the dragon kins opposes is the very proof that I am eligible enough.”

“Ya can just scare the hell out of them with any threat!”

“What if that’s the case?”

“You bitch! Are you making a fool out of me?!”

“You are a cute filth you know that.”

“Wha--?!”

Priscilla’s eyes sharpen and I can feel a chill running down my spine downwards.

“I, Priscilla, presents my eligibility in this summit. Say, do you want me to pull out the eighty percent of the total gross capital of the Dragon Kingdom?”

“E-Eighty percent?! Are you crazy?!”

“You worry too much, Dwarven King. I shall concede the leadership if I find someone worthy of the title of the Dragon Emperor. I do have some candidate now but that can come later.”

“I remember you, that day!”

That day?

“If I may speak, the matter regarding that should be kept within ourselves, Drawven King. No more words from you that shall leak regarding the cold war that’s happening between our land.”

“Elven Queen, that’s not the matter right now. This woman is claiming to hold the top position in th--!”

“That’s none of your concern, Drawven King. Still, I am surprised that you showed your face in this summit.”

“Hmph, bah!”

Having been defeated in the argument, the dwarven king took his seat and glares at Priscilla.

Hinoki let out a smug and Priscilla sat down without minding it too much. The tension grows heavier.

“I am Osthorio Talon, the Dwarven King who rules over the Mountain Range of Metal. I have brought no companions too.”

Talon?

The Dwarven King, Osthorio, glances at Ishtal as he sat down.

If I remember correctly, Ishtal’s real name is Istaria Talon and he is a half human and half dwarf. He is also the half-brother of this dwarven king if I remember correctly.

Answering his gaze, Ishtal made a light bow with his head and returned his attention to the meeting.

“I am Senya, the representative of the Rainforest of Healing where the Fairy kin lives. The Fairy King personally entrusted me the job as they are those who conceal themselves deep inside the forest. My companions are Ardisia and Mimosa, my trusted allies.”

Senya introduces herself, albeit without standing up due to being bound to her wheelchair. Among all the leaders, Senya is the calmest and polite. Her smile didn’t break through the introduction.

However…

“Oh my, I’m sorry. There’s one more here. This man here is Fang, also one of my allies.”

So she said…

A man with striped hair of black and white stands side by side with Mimosa and Ardisia. He is a really really handsome man.

Thin but well-defined muscle can be discerned under his black uniform made for butler. His hair is a good combination of black and white that it made him looks like a tiger…

Wait…

That Fang?!

Eternity Lighting Fang?!

The humongous two-meter beast is that Fang?!

Fang’s eyes suddenly directed here. His gaze wasn’t directed at me but rather, to Mimi.

As soon as Mimi notices that Fang is staring at her, her whole body jerks from her sit like a jolt suddenly run throughout her body.

They are both guardian beasts of the forest. Mimi transforming into human form should also be accessible to Fang, right?

As Senya finishes her introduction, everyone’s eyes landed on the seat of the Beast King, however, no king was found.

“It seems that King Folga will be delayed, however, we shouldn’t let that further delay our own talk.”

Gria said as he comically sighs.

“Once again, I am Gria Hellbeing, the host of the very first summit between all of the Kingdom Leaders. Well then, shall we begin?”

Gria said with a wry smile.

Feeling that the atmosphere somehow becomes even worst, I felt that my head started becoming dizzy. I have never been a fan of political issues nor I have any prior knowledge of how things will go from here.

Suddenly, a new wave of change has come into that room…

BAM!

Before Gria could speak again to proceed that talk, the door was suddenly slammed.

At that very moment, I can feel my chest tightening as I behold the sight.

Everyone in the room must have the same question in their mind but they all just watch the scenario develops. Even Gria who is excited to talk stops for this very moment as he glued his eyes to the spectacle.

In the seat of the Beast King, it was not King Folga who sat but another person…

It was…

“I apologize for the delay of my arrival but nevertheless, I shall introduce myself. I am…”

I can feel my saliva getting stuck in my throat as I saw her…

“Higanbana, the new Beast Queen of the Beast Kingdom, the Islands of Thousand.”

What did Higan do for the past weeks that we haven’t seen each other…?