I steeled myself before making my way down to greet Chase. As much as I would have liked, sending him away wasn't exactly an option, even if he hadn't been an Awakened like myself.

Chase was not only a Daylan prince who, like all his siblings, could do as he liked without ever being denied. He also had a zealous and somewhat problematic following. He was surrounded by his priests, who were muttering prayers and blessings even now. What exactly they were praying for, however, I did not understand.

I entered the courtyard, and Chase greeted me with a boisterous grin, followed by a deep bow from the priests surrounding him.

"Luca, I have come to make amends for my behavior at the ball last night," he announced. "I apologize for using my ability on you. It was uncalled for and completely inappropriate."

I slanted my eyes at him.

So he admits it?

He then gestured toward the enormous cake the size of half a carriage. "I hope you can forgive me."

I frowned and inspected the cake.

[ Poison Identifier in effect. ]

[ The cake is not poisoned. ]

I reviewed the blue notifications that appeared.

[ However, given its sugar and fat content, it might be wise to avoid attempting to eat the entire thing yourself. ]

"I don't plan to eat the whole thing myself…." I muttered at the additional useless warning the System decided to tag on.

"I'd hope not," Chase said, somehow overhearing me, even though I stood a good twenty feet away from him. "Although if you did want to, you could. The crystal box has white mana stones, so it should remain cold and good to eat for at least another ten days."

Does he have another ability I don't know about that makes his hearing superhuman?

Chase gazed back at the cart with the cake.

"Even then… I'd be very impressed if you managed to eat it all by yourself," he said.

I forced a smile. My mind was preoccupied with what other abilities Chase had in his arsenal that I was unaware of, as well as the odd display of holy men that continued to chant and pray.

"What's with the priests?" I asked. "And what in the world are they praying for so intently?"

Chase's grin widened.

"Oh, them? They're just here to bless the cake, of course!" he replied.

Suspicious.

"If you're serious about apologizing, have your entourage leave," I said. "They're drawing too much attention."

"Hmmm. Are you going to invite me inside so we can chat?" Chase asked and walked over to me, closing the distance.

"No, I'm busy," I replied truthfully.

I still needed to hatch Leona and get going to see my grandmother.

I was curious to know if he pulled his skill on me again or not to obtain this answer. However, it was unlikely. If he were here to apologize, it would have certainly been bad manners to do so again.

"Ah, that's a shame," Chase replied, now standing right in front of me. "But, as am I—I have a service I must attend as part of my holy tour. I was simply dropping by to make amends and offer a few words of caution."

"Caution?" I frowned.

Chase leaned in and whispered into my ear.

I felt the hairs on my arms stand up.

He pulled away with a smile on his face. "If the cake wasn't enough, I hope that proves my sincerity to make amends."

"Fine, I can spare some time to talk," I said. "However, don't you dare use that ability of yours on me again."

"I won't," Chase replied

"And please have your holy followers leave the courtyard. They are disturbing the peace."

Chase whisked a balding priest to his side and whispered in his ear.

"Understood, Your Holiness."

***

"Very interesting choice of plants," Chase noted, sipping his tea.

He gazed out the window of the Rose Tea Room at the gnarly black thorns with giant roses growing out of them.

"And very interesting tea," Chase inhaled his drink. "This is Golden Canary Tea from the United Republic of Nalas? It's been quite a while since I've had it, with their soil infection having spread and destroyed all their fields. Ah, but that hasn’t happened yet."

I frowned and gazed at the portraits on the walls of the Rose Tea Room.

I realized that with every new round, the plants were always the same, although the decorations and fashion changed. Certainly, I was offered a different sort of tea on the morning of each round, but the types of plants grown in each region remained the same. Especially with the Humpton Forrest and other polluted lands, the infection was the same.

I'll need to ask the System about it another time. Time, which I was running low on, if I wished to hatch Leona and get to my grandmother's at the same time as in the previous round.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Looking at a nearby ornamental but still functioning clock, it was almost an acceptable lunch hour.

"You were saying Micah’s life was at threat again?" I urged Chase to get to the point.

"Yes, and not just his," Chase said, setting down his cup. "Given how you prioritized saving him and Princess Evelyn at the ball, I thought to share this information I came across out of goodwill. How much do you know about the Selvines?"

Tsk. Those pests again?

"They’re a merchant family guild, much like my family’s. They were originally friends of ours. However, they colluded with the Mentisun Family to have my brother and Princess Evelyn killed last night," I said.

"Oh good, you know of them," Chase said. "Well, they seem to have employed a few people to cause an accident at the Summer Festival of Lights that is taking place in just two weeks."

"What sort of accident?" I asked.

"One that involves twenty-two crates of heating mana stones," Chase said and took a sip of his tea.

A single heating mana stone was enough to hatch a phoenix.

"Twenty-two crates is enough to demolish a city block if activated simultaneously," I mused aloud.

“It’s enough to demolish one of the Kobar mountain peaks,” Chase said.

I blinked at the odd comparison.

"It was my thirtieth life. I was bored. What can I say," he replied with a laugh.

This guy was a lunatic through and through.

But perhaps there's some use to him yet.

"You don't mean they plan to blow up a portion of Genise, do you?" I asked.

"It's exactly what I mean," Chase replied. "At one of the seven grounds where the festival will take place, they plan to set them up to explode. It's specifically the one your brother and Princess Evelyn are going to be making an appearance at."

"But why? That would be insane. To what benefit?" I balked.

I stared into my own tea cup, still untouched.

Even in my original life, they had never taken such drastic action before that involved many others. But then again, Micah was already long dead by that point. Who knows what else has changed?

Chase shrugged.

"I'm just passing along what I overheard," he said. "I'm sure there's a bit more nuance to their plan. What appears insane to you and I might actually be very reasonable and thought out to them."

I wondered if any part of that logic applied to Chase.

He finished the last of his tea and stood up, adjusting his flowing robes of golden silk.

"I'd best be off," he said. "I have a service to attend and followers to bless. Assuming you don't restart the round prematurely, I need to get comfortable at this new point in time; I've gotten too used to the resets starting with 784 and barely recall much of 780."

"What are you planning on doing?" I asked.

Chase flashed a brilliant smile. "Why, obviously, I plan on fulfilling the prophecy I was born into. And let me tell you; it requires quite a bit of gold."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Your Holiness," Terrowin greeted Chase and entered the carriage with him. "I have sent out the letters as you requested this morning. A response from High Priestess Gardriel has already come back."

Chase grinned.

I expected as much from that shrewd woman. She was never one to waste time that could offer a profit.

Chase unsealed the letter and read through her response.

"How has she replied?" Terrowin asked.

"She has given her blessings for us to proceed," Chase answered.

Terrowin visibly grew excited at this news, as he had been overseeing the preparations for the upcoming sermon. Terrowin updated Chase on the final details as they rode towards the square.

"The local Holy Priest is just finishing the final sermon, and the crowd is eagerly awaiting your arrival," he relayed the news through the mana communication device in his ear.

"Excellent," Chase said. "And the stage?"

"It's perfect," Terrowin assured him. "It's floating magically above the fountain, just as you requested. The people will be able to see and hear you clearly."

It begins.

Chase gazed out the carriage windows at the city of Genise. On one side, the buildings seemed to bask in a golden glow, and on the other side, there appeared almost a layer of soot. Such was the disparity between the Western and Eastern citizens of Genise. It was a common divide across the continent, no matter where he went.

However, such unfair balances provided a lucrative opportunity. All that was needed was a little bit of inspiration.

The carriage turned right and into the darkness of the East.

"We have arrived, Your Holiness," Terrowin announced. He tapped his earring and, after a pause, updated Chase. "Father Andrei has just completed his sermon. He'll introduce you now."

"Good," Chase said.

He moved the carriage curtain and inspected the area. It was in the middle of the day, but his followers had taken the time to gather in this ample space. In the center, a fountain spewed water into the air, and buildings on either side looked down on the bustling activity below. A near-transparent stage floated magically above the fountain, atop which stood a yellow-robed priest decked out in jewels.

"My fellow citizens," spoke Father Andrei, his voice echoing through the square. "Today is a momentous day, for we have the honor of welcoming one of the most enlightened souls in all the realm. His wisdom and guidance have touched the hearts of many, and we are blessed to have him here with us today and have him speak words of wisdom directly to us for the first time ever."

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Chase smirked.

What wisdom and guidance?

The Temple kept him on a tight leash until he had awakened, being seen but rarely heard. He had speechwriters that controlled his every spoken word and priests that gave sermons in his name.

But now is a different matter.

The Paragons of Rahosm Temple had put him on such a high pedestal that it was child's play to take charge, especially with all the blackmail that Chase had in his arsenal against those that hesitated to get in line.

Father Andrei raised his hand to quiet down the cheering crowd.

"Without further ado, I give you His Holiness, the Golden Saint, Chase Daylan!"

With that, the priest stepped off the stage, and Chase emerged from his golden carriage. The crowd roared as he climbed the stairs to the floating stage above the fountain.

Chase waved to his followers below and the curious onlookers peeking out of the windows that overlooked the square. Their eyes twinkled with expectations, albeit that might have been due to the rumor the temple had spread that looking upon Chase Daylan brought good luck in and of itself.

He cleared his throat and began to speak, his voice magnified with magic and carrying over the din of the crowd.

"Good people of Genise," he began, his words ringing out with a clarity that silenced the onlookers. "I thank you for your faith in the Paragons of Rahosm Temple and in me for all this time. Your prayers and contributions have touched me. I come before you today with a message of prosperity and abundance, for I was blessed with a vision of how we can all grow rich together."

Chase paused and looked over the people. They gazed up at him with curiosity and reverence, eager to hear what their saint had to say.

"I have seen what the future holds, and I stand before you today not as a prince nor a saint but as a humble servant of the people. I am here to help, guide, and lead you toward a brighter future."

"As followers of the Paragons of Rahosm Temple, you will achieve greatness and grow plump with prosperity. All you need is faith and trust in me and the willingness to continue contributing your gold to the temple and our cause. And in return, I promise you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams."

"Our temple is not just a place of worship; it is a community of believers committed to helping each other achieve financial success and abundance. Thus does it not make sense that we ought to spread the word further and grow this thriving community?"

A murmur of agreement spread from below.

"Thus, I propose a new donations system, where the more you contribute and help spread the word of our temple, the more you will be able to earn, for you will gain a percentage of the contributions that the followers you bring in donate to our great cause."

"And if those followers bring more followers, you will earn a commission for them having spreading the good word as well. When you become a contributing member, you will not only be helping yourself, but you will also be helping your friends and family. You will contribute to our community, helping those in need and spreading the message of prosperity and abundance."

Chase waved his hands and made a diagram appear magically in the air. It was a bit of a waste of dark mana, but there was more where that came from.

"I call it the Golden Triangle of Prosperity."