“Watch her,” I said and slowly pulled apart the chains holding the Avatar. She didn’t say a word as I dragged her to a pillar. “Get a restoration,” I told her and she did. Her gaunt form became healthier. I then dragged her back and secure the chain links once again.

“Consider that filling your belly. You wanted to speak to me. Speak,” I told her.

‘I…I was an idiot. Foolish. I am sorry,’ she spoke to me in my head.

“I already know that. If you don’t have anything useful to share, then I am leaving,” I told her.

‘Wait. You want information. I will trade. Food, water, and restorations for information,’ she said.

“What kind of information?” I hated myself for asking, but I had to.

‘The one who has the other vote. You want to know who they are, right?’

“Nope.” I could see the Avatar’s body lock up. I did want to know, but I wouldn’t trust this woman if we were the last people to exist. She was a scorpion and would sting no matter what. “Honestly, you can make up whatever amuses you and leave out critical information. I would rather not know anything.”

This was also a negotiation tactic and I wasn’t afraid to walk away. ‘It isn’t a person.’ I froze up at that. The Avatar knew just what to say to trigger my interest. Curse her! I should just throw her in the void and be done with it.

“You have my attention. State your deal,” I coldly said. Each word another dagger into my heart.

‘One year of food, water, comfort,’ she said.

“And let you tell this thing or person you are scheming. Half the reason for your punishment is to prevent you from scheming too much. No. I don’t think so. A restoration was more than enough. Next time it will be just a cup of water,” I countered.

‘A month,’ the Avatar countered. This time I really was tempted. Knowledge in exchange for scheming from someone I couldn’t kill. It just boiled my blood. It was a perfect trap too. My big weakness, knowledge. But I just hated this woman so much, that there wasn’t a word that could encapsulate my hate.

It was both hot and cold. It raged constantly and threatened to explode. If a meta-point had appeared in front of me, I would have been tempted wishing for her eternal suffering. Not to kill her but to make her suffer for all the scheming she had done against me.

While I had benefited from her schemes, I was just done, absolutely done with them. But she had knowledge. Very tempting knowledge. Knowledge that I wanted. “I am going to think on this. I will let you know what I decide,” I finally replied. I wouldn’t make a judgement right now.

‘Of course. I am not going anywhere. Now to get back to this paperwork,’ she replied. I turned and left before I did something stupid, and the Almighty System blasted me from existence.

Not a human. That had several implications. None of them good. Were there aliens? Beast people? Sentient slimes? I was going to sit on this for a while and let the Avatar stew. Eventually she would get desperate enough to share another tidbit.

I had only given her the restoration, to make sure she didn’t die. The fact she didn’t try to ask for points clearly showed she needed one. Otherwise, she would have said she didn’t have the points and asked for some. That, along with having to do the paperwork, confirmed she had to keep herself alive. She couldn’t commit suicide.

Most likely I was just going to let her wait and wait. Give it a year or ten. Then come back to see if she still wanted to deal. Time was on my side and there was absolutely no rush. If she asked for me again, I wouldn’t go. I wasn’t her dog; I was the Emperor. A couple years would settle her down.

Getting back to the Imperial Palace, I went to Clarissa’s office. There was a slim middle aged black woman there, with her hair in an afro. “Emperor Michael, this is Samantha. One of my personal assistants who will be handling any tasks you assign to her.”

She was in a blue dress with long sleeves and a gold dragon on the shoulder. She had a small satchel at her side. “Emperor Michael,” Samantha said and bowed. I gave her a head nod.

“Your English is quite good, Britain?” I asked.

“I studied at Oxford for my MBA,” she replied. “I have been handling logistics mostly, during the later half of the war once I was recruited and then managing the flow of goods for the grinding teams in the wilderness,” she jumped right into giving me a verbal reference sheet. I didn’t know if I should be amused or impressed, or both.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Have fun, and don’t wreck the city,” Clarissa said.

“I won’t, promise. Let’s hash out our strategy before I deal with this committee,” I replied.

“Of course. I have already gathered information on all five members if you want it?” she asked me.

“Maybe later. Right now, we need to figure out a structure for this tournament and long term for monster battles. What regulations has Clarissa imposed on monsters in cities?” I asked.

“Not allowed, unless wearing a red scarf. That shows they are under control and easily visible. Also, any with a summoned monster or a Rod of Taming must have a license issued by the Imperial Government. That is part of the trouble with the committee. Opening things up to other cities,” Samantha explained.

I nodded at this. “That makes sense. We don’t want another Ritualist on our hands.” She gave me a confused look. “Before you arrived, crazy summoner who almost killed everyone,” I replied.

“That would be a concern. Then there is the issue of managing an arena. Will we allow other arenas in other cities? Who will control them? There are a lot of questions that are still up in the air,” Samantha explained.

“Well, let’s focus on getting this tournament going first and see what works and what doesn’t before expanding. One problem at a time. The first thing are the rules. Everything else will come from that,” I explained as we reached my private office. Several soldiers followed us in since Samantha was with me. She gave them a look, but then ignored them.

I sat behind my desk, and I gestured at a chair. She pulled it up to my desk across from me and pulled out a notebook from her satchel and began to take notes. “Let’s start with summoning versus the Rods of Taming. The later cost a million points. Both types of monsters can’t heal either. So any monsters in the tournament will be killed off,” speaking my thoughts out loud to get them in order.

“Rods of Taming need the monster on hand to tame. While summoning can summon a monster right there. Has a Rod of Taming been used on a summoned monster?” Samantha asked. I tried to think back on various research papers that had been sent to me while I was in Purgatory.

“Yes. They don’t work,” I replied.

“Most people can’t afford a million points. So, summoning it is. That will also allow for level 3 summons, but not many have enough Regeneration stat to do so,” Samantha added.

“Hmm, well three tiers of competition, based on the level of monsters,” I said.

“That makes sense, but level 3 monsters can be highly destructive at range. More so than level 2 and level 1 monsters,” Samantha added.

“Also we need to consider how we will build an arena. We can modify buildings. Perhaps make them three stories tall, with seats only at the top level. Have an extra thick wall at the bottom of the buildings, with various food stalls and stores around the base,” I suggested.

“That could work. But there would still be danger,” she replied.

“We can’t put a shield up or anything like that. Hmm, what about panes of enchanted glass to resist attacks? We can place them in as large viewing windows. The top stands could be cleared out or warned that they may die in level 3 battles. Add some spice to the matches,” I replied.

“Spice…people dying from entertainment?” Samantha asked with a slight tremor in her voice.

“Yes. It would be great! Also, if a monster attacks the stands, the person in charge of it can be put to death as a punishment. That will be enough to keep the risk manageable,” I replied. I could see her eyes going a bit wide. It was amusing that she was still so innocent.

“Yes, that could work Emperor Michael. It would be motivation to handle monsters properly,” she added.

“Perfect. So, we can make the bottom two levels of the arena extra thick and a third floor viewing level. That is more than enough room to manage attacks. Two floors, hmm. The issue is flying monsters. How high can they go? Let’s cap the height at the second floor mark. As we get more money the arena can be built up.”

“That would be expensive,” Samantha added as she was wilting slightly under my enthusiasm and bloodlust.

“Of course. But that can come in time. Imagine a level 4 monster. I could whip out the Skittering Bladed Horror, or the Rainbow Carpet. We definitely want to super size this arena, even if it is expensive, since we are going to need some team battles.”

“Yes, team battles,” Samantha said while taking notes.

“I am thinking twelve on twelve for level 1 monsters. Then six on six for level two monsters. That should be exciting enough and allow for some interesting tactics. No equipment or enchanted gear. That is too hard to regulate.”

“Oh, the risk of annihilation attacks will be high, but the death rule for trainers should manage that. It will be interesting to see the combinations and teach people about energy types. Good way to punch up. Might give people ideas for higher level grinding.”

“Individual competitions. Six monsters, one each, until the other dies. No recalls. Hmm, wait. That won’t work for level three trainers. No it would. A thousand energy to summon and a hundred upkeep. So yes, six on six format is fine. The trainers can prep beforehand. That is what some of the buildings could be used for. Preparation space.”

“We need to have a good design and flow to the arena. And a space for myself and the governors. Also the flag of our empire should be everywhere. Patriotic spirit and all that. And a national anthem. Find someone to compose that as well as a building designer, architect, that is the name.”

“We can set the arena standards with the design and cities have to build the arena to have matches. No matches outside the arena. Governors can keep the crystals, but there will be a fee to be in the league to help fund the grand prize.”

“Also, something special. Come up with some ideas besides points. Oh, perhaps a Rod of Taming to the winners. That would be tempting since they are a million points each and show they can handle monsters. Maybe licenses that allow them to train others as well or something.”

“Well, that can be worked out in time. We also need music. With animal products, we need music to go with our national anthem. So, find a composer and let’s get a band together. Also, I want to fight as well. Otherwise, it would be boring. The last day the winners can all team up against one level 4 monster under my control. That should be amusing as I crush them all.”

Samantha was scribbling furiously as sweat rushed down her face. Her afro seemed to be sagging as well. I am sure she could make all my ideas work. Clarissa said she had talent and she did go to Oxford.