Xao Feng hesitated for a moment, her fiery gaze lingering on Yumi. But she eventually nodded, stepping back. "Fine. But if there's even the slightest sign of trouble, we won't hold back."

The crowd murmured in agreement, their tension easing slightly but not completely. All eyes were on Yumi as she prepared to confront whoever was approaching. She could feel the weight of their trust and the pressure to handle the situation wisely.

Yumi took a deep breath and began to walk toward the outskirts, her heart steady but her mind racing. "I just hope my instincts are right," she thought, her steps firm as she moved closer to the unknown visitors.

As Yumi walked forward, the sound of footsteps and clinking armor grew louder. In the distance, she finally saw them—humans approaching her direction. A grand chariot pulled by three mighty earth wyverns led the group. The creatures moved with power, their scales shimmering faintly under the light. Surrounding the chariot were dozens of soldiers clad in shining armor, their movements disciplined and sharp. They looked highly skilled, their hands resting on their weapons, ready to act at any moment.

Yumi, barefoot and calm, stopped as the group came closer. Her sharp eyes scanned the chariot. Sitting inside, in all her elegance, was none other than the famous Merchant Queen, Liorra. The moment Liorra spotted Yumi, her eyes gleamed with recognition.

"So, it was you after all!" Liorra exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and satisfaction.

Yumi's lips curved into a smirk as she let out a small sigh of relief. "So, you finally came," she muttered under her breath, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Liorra leaned slightly out of the chariot and shouted to her soldiers, "Stand down! Relax! We're in friendly territory!" Her voice was firm, but there was a cautious edge to it. She had clearly prepared for the worst, ensuring a swift escape in case anything went wrong. But seeing Yumi in front of her put her at ease—though not entirely off guard.

After calming her soldiers, Liorra's sharp gaze turned to Yumi. "We're safe here, aren't we?" she asked, her tone almost challenging.

Yumi's smirk widened. She gave a slight bow of her head, her voice steady and authoritative. "Of course you're safe. But you did make me wait far too long. I was starting to think you were too afraid to come." Her demeanor had shifted completely. The usual casual and soft-spoken Yumi was gone, replaced by someone radiating strength and confidence.

---

---

With her unique abilities active, Yumi now carried an aura of authority that commanded attention. This wasn't just a casual meeting—it was business, and Yumi intended to take charge.

Liorra stepped down from her chariot, snorting softly. "Afraid? Me? Caution isn't fear, kid," she said with a smirk of her own, her voice brimming with confidence. The Merchant Queen carried herself with the same sharpness and determination that had earned her title.

Yumi chuckled, shaking her head. "Hehehe, as expected of the great Merchant Queen. You're not afraid of taking risks. Well, now that you're here, let's not waste time. Let's head inside and talk about the reason for your visit."

Liorra nodded, adjusting her cloak as she stepped forward. "Lead the way," she said, her voice steady, though her sharp eyes didn't miss a thing. She remained cautious, even in this supposed safe territory.

As Yumi turned to lead Liorra into Dreadhaven, her thoughts raced. "What a bad time for Scarlett to be away. In her absence, I'll have to handle everything myself. Let's see how this plays out…" she thought, her smirk lingering as she guided the Merchant Queen.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

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ROYAL PALACE OF KINGDOM OF GWARGA

"My Lady Scarlett, you finally came!" Leonidas exclaimed joyfully as he rushed toward her without hesitation. His excitement was evident in every step, and before anyone could react, he dropped to his knees in front of Scarlett. He bowed so low that his head touched her feet, as though he were a servant worshipping his queen. His hands gripped her feet tightly, his face filled with a mix of devotion and relief.

The grand hall of the royal palace fell silent. The nobles and attendants present exchanged uneasy glances. None of them could understand Leonidas's behavior—especially not the nobles, who looked on with thinly veiled disgust.

"Tch... human scum," one noblewoman muttered under her breath, her voice laced with disdain. But she dared not say it louder, for fear of Scarlett's wrath.

Scarlett, unfazed by the scene, allowed a wicked grin to spread across her face. Her smirk gleamed with amusement as she looked down at Leonidas. "So, are you enjoying being king?" she asked, her voice sharp yet playful.

"Of course, of course! My dream has finally come true," Leonidas said eagerly, his words tumbling out in excitement. "And I've done everything you asked me to do, my lady! Every single task!"

Scarlett let out a soft chuckle, shaking her foot free from his grip with a shrug. Then, with a light but deliberate kick, she pushed him back. "I know," she said coolly. "I'm quite pleased that you didn't back down on your word. Now, tell me—when is the council meeting?"

Leonidas quickly scrambled to his feet, brushing himself off as though the small kick had never happened. His smile remained as wide as ever. "It's today, in the evening," he replied. "By then, all the kings—or their representatives—will have arrived."

He hesitated for a moment, his cheerful tone replaced by one of concern. "But, my lady... after that, there's not much I can do. During the council meeting, I will cast my vote in your favor, as promised. But one vote alone may not be enough to sway them."

Scarlett's grin softened into a confident smile. She stepped closer and patted Leonidas on the back. "Don't worry," she said calmly. "Your work here is done. It's up to me now to convince them. I'll handle the rest."

Leonidas nodded, though the concern in his eyes lingered. "That's true, my lady. But be cautious. No problems should arise during the council meeting. The Holy Knights will be present as well. Though they won't speak or intervene openly, they'll be watching everything from the shadows. If anything goes wrong, you might face a difficult situation."

Scarlett's expression grew serious as she absorbed his warning. "I understand," she said firmly, turning to leave. But just as she took a step, a thought struck her, and she turned back toward Leonidas.

"But now that we have to wait until evening," she said thoughtfully, "what are we supposed to do in the meantime?"

Leonidas blinked, as if realizing something. "Ah, of course! I've already prepared everything for you," he said quickly. "I've arranged rooms for you and your companions. You can rest or take a stroll through our capital city, Rem, to explore. I've even assigned a maid to guide you during your stay."

As he finished speaking, he clapped his hands. A moment later, a woman stepped forward from the side of the hall. She was dressed in a clean maid's uniform, her short black hair neatly styled. Her pale white skin gave her an almost porcelain-like appearance, and her face was expressionless, showing neither joy nor irritation. Despite her lack of emotion, her mature and composed demeanor suggested years of experience.

"This is your guide," Leonidas said with pride, gesturing toward the maid. "She'll ensure your stay here is comfortable and that you don't face any inconvenience."

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Scarlett walked gracefully behind the maid, her purple blindfold covering her vibrant blue eye, and crimson eye.

Beside her was Li Feng, his silver hair catching the faint light as they made their way to their rooms. A few steps behind them were the rest of her companions, walking quietly but observing their surroundings with curiosity.

Li Feng let out a frustrated snort, breaking the silence. "I still don't understand why we even need this council meeting. We don't need to trade with humans or call ourselves a kingdom or anything like that," he grumbled, his voice filled with disdain.

Scarlett sighed, her patience steady. "Of course we need it, Li Feng," she said calmly. "Do you realize that even though Dreadhaven is larger than a town now, we still lack many important things? Medicine for specific illness, Magic formulas, technology, and countless other necessities. We can't produce everything ourselves. We have no choice but to purchase these from human kingdoms or hire humans to work for us."

She paused briefly, letting her words sink in before continuing. "But tell me, do you think any human will come here to work or sell their goods for no reason? They'll need two things: money and a sense of safety. Both of which we can provide if we are recognized as a friendly kingdom."

Li Feng frowned but remained silent for a moment before asking, "And how exactly are we going to do that?"

Scarlett smiled faintly. "Let's start with money," she began. "Dreadhaven may have its own currency, but do you think humans or other kingdoms will accept it? They won't. Why would anyone come here to work if the money they earn can't be used to buy anything outside Dreadhaven?"

Li Feng's frown deepened. He hated dealing with such practicalities but couldn't deny the truth in her words.

Scarlett continued, her tone firm yet patient. "Right now, we can rely on gold and silver for transactions. But this process is slow, complicated, and causes losses. Humans are cautious—when they see gold, their first question is always, 'Where did it come from?' They assume it's stolen or fake. This suspicion makes it hard for us to attract workers or traders unless they are in desperate need."

Li Feng's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of understanding crossing his face. "I see..." he murmured.

"But there's more," Scarlett added, her voice steady. "The second problem is safety. No one will feel safe coming to the demon realm. The stories they've heard make them afraid. This council meeting can solve both issues. If we are recognized as an official kingdom, we can establish a system where Dreadhaven's currency is exchangeable with the currencies of the six human kingdoms. That means anyone who works here can use their earnings anywhere else without restrictions."

She smiled confidently, her crimson eye gleaming with determination. "And once we're recognized as a friendly kingdom, humans—and even other species like elves and dwarves—will feel safe coming here. They'll know we're not a threat but an opportunity."

Li Feng's usual arrogance softened as realization dawned on him. He nodded slowly, his silver hair shifting slightly as he spoke. "I get it now... For the first time, I feel like you're actually doing the right thing," he admitted, his tone carrying a hint of surprise.

Scarlett smirked at his rare compliment. "I always do the right thing," she replied confidently, her voice tinged with amusement. "You just don't see it right away."