Emery, taken aback by the accusation of hiding his real name, reiterated that he had never intended to conceal his identity. His calm response reflected his genuine belief that this accusation was fabricated to serve the council's ulterior motives.
"I have nothing to hide. I never thought my real name would create such a problem, and I will be happy to clear this matter right away," Emery asserted, maintaining his composed demeanor.
However, his attempt to address the issue was swiftly interrupted by an elderly council member who recalled Emery's past. "Mister Emery, you might not recognize me, but I was there as one of the judges during your trial in this city. You were defending the murder of the Harlight noble, so forgive me if I think that your name has a certain negativity to this city."
The Karat family elder intervened, defending Emery's merits. He cited Emery's contributions during the terrifying Magus Academy bloody incursion and his role in saving Tessa Karat from the pirates. The defense was an acknowledgment of Emery's positive actions in the city.
However, the Croft elder dismissed these merits, stating, "Huh, one good thing does not grant him the right to be above the law. Only three months ago, he dared to fight in the Golden City street like a common thug!"As the debate unfolded within the council chambers, Victoria Qin, with an air of wisdom, asserted that Emery's past misdeeds or merits were not the focal point. Instead, she emphasized the issue of Emery attempting to hide his identity, steering the narrative toward this perceived transgression.
Emery, growing increasingly impatient with the seemingly pretentious display, cut through the rhetoric. "Just tell me what I actually did wrong, and I will fix it,"
Surprisingly, it was Victoria Qin once again who was tasked with providing an explanation. With a composed demeanor, she addressed the council, stating, "We are just disappointed in how little you think of us... the council. We granted you a permit to set up a shop, and when it does pretty well, it took you only days to attempt on using your apothecary network for a tax deduction. ....That is not right."
Victoria Qin continued to present a compelling argument, emphasizing the lengthy contributions and efforts that each council member had invested over hundreds of years to build and maintain the prosperity of Golden City. She urged Emery to be more respectful, acknowledging the costs associated with the city's reliability, the bustling crowds, and the overall safety.
"All come with a cost, and we hope that you too—the new city genius—would contribute," she concluded, framing the council's expectations of Emery's role in the city's continued success.
The deliberations concluded with a verdict: a 20 million spirit stone fine as punishment. However, this financial penalty was accompanied by a more significant consequence. Emery's plan to align his shop solely with the Earth faction was rejected and resulted in the Qin faction being voted as Merlin shop's new guarantor. forcing an additional 5% tax to be given to the faction, akin to other new establishments in Golden City.
"This decision is final, with a 5 years duration, afterwards you may apply once again,"The elder of the council declared, laying down the terms of the agreement. The ultimatum was clear: Emery had to either accept the conditions or face the consequence of having to close his shop. With only the elder of the Karat family supporting him and recognizing the limited options before him, Emery could only accept the terms imposed by the council.
Exiting the imposing Golden City Council building, Emery couldn't help but reflect on the shifting dynamics within the city. The verdict underscored the reality that the once-dominant Karat family had lost some of its influence. Tessa expressed her apology for her helplessness toward the outcome.
"You don't need to apologize, Tessa. You have done plenty for me," Emery reassured her.
Despite the setback, Emery saw an opportunity to realign his priorities. He shared his decision with the group upon returning to the Merlin shop. Emery intended to focus more on his cultivation, taking a step back from the intensive role of an apothecary. He planned to dedicate only a few days each month to perfecting new recipes. As for the daily operations, he entrusted Cedric to take charge. This shift in responsibilities meant a larger share of profits for his friends, a decision they all accepted with gratitude.
Emery, undeterred by the setback, envisioned the next five years as a period of growth. When the shop gained more funds, he intended to open another branch in the Alpha quadrant, a place closer to Earth. This expansion aimed to further enhance his network and contribution to the Magus alliance and other factions. Emery was determined that, with time, circumstances would turn in his favor.
With the resolutions settled and plans in motion, Emery returned to Terra City and once again activated the Khaos gate, initiating his rigorous practice regimen. The primary focus of this phase was the restoration of his broken Primal core. Despite the unavailability of Divine beasts for purchase, Emery remained undeterred, investigating alternative solutions.
Entering the Khaos domain, he enlisted VIA to analyze all existing waypoints within it. Each waypoint had emerged due to the high concentration of darkness energy, and Emery was confident that amidst these, he would find a few sources capable of aiding the restoration of his core. Simultaneously, recognizing the importance of balancing both light and darkness on his path to becoming a grand magus, he dedicated time to delve further into the Celestial-
recommended scroll, the [Prism of Light Meditation Technique].
"Alright, let's start,"
