Breakfast finished and after some polite goodbyes, I made my way outside. The inner city was off limits, except for Imperial Government business. But around the inner wall, there were a large number of shops and restaurants.

There was a commercial loop around the inner wall, and then several different sections of the city. Four main roads went North, South, East, and West from the plaza to the gates. In addition there was another large loop road done mid-way out between the inner city and the outer wall.

The celebrations were being held everywhere. But the space to the South of the inner city near the monster battle arena, also had a huge open aired plaza people could trade in with carts. It had to be cleared out at night. Several buildings rented space to cart peddlers.

But this was the place to be. This celebration meant it was packed. I planned to do a full loop through everything. There was shouting and pointing as I arrived with my guard in tow. Many of these people had never seen me up close.

My purpose here was to show support to the people working the carts and bring them more attention. I existed in a small bubble of peace as my protection detail made our way forward. There was shouting and I ignored it. I looked at the cart stands. One stand was selling pillows.

I walked over and the old woman at the cart was looking at me nervously. She bowed, then stopped, and then didn’t know what to do. “Relax. You make these?” I asked. She seemed to calm down at this thankfully.

“Yes. Feathers and cloth combined togeather. The trick is getting them big and poofy. They go from quite loose, to quite firm on this end. The covers can be easily changed out, but the stitching is solid,” she replied. I picked up a pillow and looked at it.

“It is solid. And I like the stiff ones.” The price said 500 points each. That was so cheap.

“Those are on discount, ah,” she began to say, but I shook my head.

“This should more than cover things. I want twelve of your stiff ones,” I said and pulled out a point crystal and set it down on her stand. “Have them delivered to the Imperial Palace. Dark blue covers and gold dragons on the pillow cases.”

Some of them would be going on the airship. I liked my pillows as stiff as possible. “I…yes. I will do that,” she said and took the crystal, giving it a look before putting it away.

“It is more than enough don’t worry,” I said and leaned in so the people looking from the crowd couldn’t easily overhear. “It’s a level 5 point crystal worth 25,200 points.”

“Yes! Thank you, Emperor Michael,” she quickly said. I nodded at this and continued on. I wasn’t going to give out level 6 crystals. The chance of a deranged summoning did exist. But level 5 crystals were fair game to put into circulation.

Many of them were used like that. Much easier than massive chests when needing to move points. I also put down a letter of invitation for delivery to the inner city of Purgatory. This would allow the woman to make the pillow delivery. It was a one-use letter, but it had my symbol on it. “Use this when making the delivery to gain entrance, keep up the hard work, and thank you,” I said with a smile and moved on.

There were several stands. I then stopped in front of a stand selling action figures. The detail work was quite impressive. “You hand paint these?” I asked the man who was standing next to his cart of goods.

“Yes,” he replied. I carefully picked up one of me and was amused. A very dramatic pose like a kubuki actor. My left hand was behind my head and my right hand thrust forward. The joints didn’t move unfortunately. I set it down, and mimed the pose. There was laughter from the crowd following along.

I looked at another one and picked it up. “You got the beard right,” I quietly said as I looked at it. “I will take this one,” I replied and pulled out a level 5 crystal and set it down on the cart. The price was only 200 per figure.

With that purchase done. I kept up my progression through the makeshift market. My next stop was at a stand selling tacos. This was more involved, with four carts pushed togeather, and a makeshift enchanted stove set up to cook the meat.

“Three tacos,” I said with a thick accent and set a crystal on the counter. He gave it a look before shaking his head.

“Price, 200 points per taco. One crystal not enough,” he said. “Need three smaller ones.” He clearly thought it a was a level 3 crystal and thought he was though for sounding firm against an important customer. I just smiled and looked at the crowd.

“You young man, will you pay for my meal in exchange for this?” I asked him. The entire crowd turned to look at the twenty something year old. I held up the level 5 crystal worth 25,200 points.

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“Um, yes. Of course, Emperor Michael.”

“Come eat with me,” I said, and he rushed over. I handed him the crystal and he paid for both of our meals with regular sized denominations. The taco vendor just shrugged, and I got three soft shelled tacos. The young man had the same order.

There was a bench in front of the food stand. I had my guards let other people through to fill it up if they actually ordered as other people left their seats. There was shouting as a woman manning the grill pointed at me and then slapped the man on the shoulder. He looked at me and then noticed the soldiers standing around.

“I think he finally realized,” I replied.

“What level is it?” the young man asked me.

“Level 5, so 25,200 points,” I said. He nodded at this.

“Thanks,” he replied with a grin.

“His loss, your gain,” I said as the man came back over.

“Sorry. Sorry. Emperor,” he said.

“It is fine. The tacos were delicious,” I replied and got up and set off once more into the marketplace.

There was a stand with three cups. I knew this scam, but it was amusing. And with my Perception, I should be able to keep up. “Step up, try your luck. Is your Perception stat high enough to see the ball, or is my Body stat superior!” a man called out.

People made room for me as I went up. The man looked nervous at my approach. “I always enjoy a challenge. If you fool me, this is yours,” I said and put the crystal down on the table.

“You want a challenge?” he asked me.

“Go all out,” I told him.

“Alright, Emperor Michael. Will I triumph against the protector of us all!” he shouted out to jeers and cheers of the crowd. He showed me the small ball. I was already shaking my hand rapidly as he quickly began to move the cups around. Even adding in a second ball to confuse me. Then removing the current ball.

I noted the second ball had a dot painted on it, probably to really get me. The original ball went up his left sleeve and he made a strong effort to hide where the second ball was. After thirty seconds of moving the cups and balls around he stopped.

“Your left sleeve. And the second ball under this cup,” I tapped it with a smile. He let out an exaggerated sigh.

“I stood no chance,” he said with a grin.

“The trick with the second ball almost got me. Keep the crystal,” I said. He bowed at that.

“Thank you, Emperor Michael,” he replied as everyone clapped. I set off again. The next stand I stopped at was for enchanted designer weapons.

“Best designs in the Emperor. Even the Emperor himself would marvel and my designs,” a man said.

“Really, let me be the judge of that,” I approached the stand from the opposite direction and he had missed my approach. He spun and opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. I walked over and picked up a dagger. Only a level 2 passive enchantment. It was complete and utter garbage.

However, the hilt was quite intricate. Lots of precise geometric shapes. No animal symbols could be used except by me and anyone I had given permission to. The handle was well designed and the dagger balanced. I set it back down and checked out a sword.

I noticed the handles were wrapped with mystery leather. That wasn’t a direct animal product. So, he had to have purchased it or something. “I would like to see your best sword. Don’t enchant it. Beat stick sized, no handle wrap.” I gestured behind me, and he nodded at that. I set a crystal and a letter down on the table.

“I will get it to you right away,” he said with a smile. I just nodded and kept moving along. It would be nice to have a distinctive weapon in hand. That way I didn’t have to punch people to death or use my skills while poking another nation. A beat stick in hand, was worth two spoken threats in my opinion.

I made my way in front of the large statue overlooking the Hero’s Plaza. The statue was massive. More massive than any other statue. Only those who had done a great service and died in the line of duty would get a statue. Joyo wasn’t getting one, since he failed in my opinion and hadn’t fought against a serious theat.

Looking up at the bearded face, a massive beat stick on his shoulder, the statue was over 30 feet tall, or 15 meters. That was not counting the base that was a third of that height. There were no carts at the base of the statue, so anyone could come up to it.

There were also two soldiers stationed here at all times. It was a public memorial to those fallen as well. There had been a lot of discussion on where to build something like this. I insisted on the plaza, so everyone would see it and the words etched beneath it.

The soldiers saluted me as I went to the front of the statue and looked at the inscription.

Here stands Naran. The man who saved Emperor Michael three times but perished in the end. Saving Emperor Michael from Death. Saving Emperor Michael from the Ritualist. Saving Emperor Michael from Foolishness.

A man who stood against the darkness of the Dragon Empire. He perished when the Divine Empress killed him during her invasion on day 676. His fate was shared by many that day and during the course of the war. His beat stick stands as a testament for all those who would embark on the martial path. Let his courage and conviction carry the way forward for this plaza is named after him.

Heroes’ Plaza

It was a bit much, but I felt it was important. For the debts left unpaid. He had been avenged. While I didn’t think of him often, he had saved my life. A statue seemed a poor form of compensation. But it was something I had come to terms with.

If someone else did as much as he did, then they would get a massive statue as well. I looked at the action figure. The man had missed one important detail. It wasn’t easy to see. But on the statue’s blade there were indented words. For those people with enough Perception to spot it, it would be an inside joke.

Left on the bed of the Divine Empress by Emperor Michael, during the Dragon War: For the old hag who lives here. I stole all your points and other things under orders from the Astrologer. Consider it payback for being such an ugly old hag. Pro tip, get skin cream and kindness. It will make you look younger. Also, Naran sends his regards.

It was quite amusing and something that made me smile. I looked at the action figure again. It would get a spot in my office. I had shelves for stuff like this. I didn’t accept gifts. Otherwise, I would have no space left. I also considered it tacky to accept gifts as Emperor. If people wanted to show their appreciation, they could work hard and not try and send me useless bribes.