Chapter 2976: Alarmed Asong
Date: Unspecified
Time: Unspecified
Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City
Stepping up to teleportation array formation platform number one along with Karl and Sansa, I activated the coordinates. The teleportation hub flared with a crisp, localized spatial tear, swallowing the three of us whole. In a heartbeat, the cold of the empireâs hub vanished, replaced instantly by the sticky, unforgiving heat of the Lilâ Red Storm Realm.
No, I hadnât made a mistake with the coordinates.
Before heading straight to the Froslings, I planned to make a quick stop right here in the Lilâ Red Storm Realm. Moving an entire race was a massive undertaking, and if I wanted the Frosling immigration to the Winter Valley to go off without a hitch, the foundation had to be absolutely seamless.
Was I getting ahead of myself, considering the negotiations between me and the Frosling race hadnât even started yet, let alone their actual immigration?
No, I wasnât. Even though the talks had yet to officially begin, I was entirely confident that the Froslings would fall in line with my arrangements. What I planned to offer them was simply too good for a struggling race to reject.
But assuming they did agree to my terms, was all this aggressive, early preparation truly necessary?
Yes, extremely so. I was absolutely certain that the Snow Elves had already noticed the unusual hubbub on the Frosling side and learned everything there was to know about the situation. That much was to be expected of a Semi-Ruler class race established in the Dark Realm for several millennia now. If they werenât even capable of keeping a watchful eye on their own slaves, they wouldnât be worthy of their fearsome reputation.
The moment the Froslings prepared their mass immigration, it would trigger an immediate, violent response from their Snow Elven masters. There was near zero change of me and the Frosling surviving the attack of the Snow Elves, that too in their territory. So, if we wanted to survive and see the immigration through we would have to be smart about it.
Arriving at Freedom Cityâs teleportation hub, I was immediately greeted by my elder sister, Dalie. This time, she had a friend with herâAsong.
The moment Asongâs eyes locked onto the figures standing right behind me, the color drained completely from her face. She went utterly pale, staring at Karl and Sansa as if she were looking at a pair of walking guillotines.
Dalie, who had been stepping forward to greet me with a warm hug, paused. Sensing the sudden, sheer turmoil radiating off Asong, she followed her friendâs petrified line of sight, her own eyes widening slightly as she took in the two new Bloodkins.
"Relax, Asong. They wonât harm you," I remarked calmly.
Seeing that she didnât believe a single word out of my mouthâand actually appeared to be entertaining the absurd thought that I might be acting under duressâI shook my head and decided to fill her in.
"A lot has transpired since you left the Card World. The Emissary of Light is dead. These two lost to me, underwent my criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program, and now they are firmly on my side. So, you have absolutely nothing to worry about."
Despite my reassurance, Asong still looked at the duo behind me with deep skepticism. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "What about the things they plannedâ?"
Knowing exactly what she was referring to, I cut her off with a wave of my hand, assuring her once again. "Donât worry about that. They have already completely undone their grand plans for taking over the five regions. Itâs ancient history."
Asong struggled to process the information. It hadnât been long since she left the Card World for Freedom City, and the sheer weight of what she knew about Karl and his friends made my claims seem like a dangerous fantasy. No matter how much she wanted to trust me, the logic just wasnât clicking.
"Asong, relax," Dalie interjected, her voice soothing. "Theyâre one of us now. And even if they werenât, and they harbored ill intent, as long as Iâm around, theyâd never succeed."
I caught myself watching Dalie with a hint of surprise. It was rare to see her grow so close to someone, especially a mortal. When I had originally sent broken and lost Asong to Freedom City, spinning a story about showing her the future I was building for the Five Regions and helping her find her path. In reality, it was a tactical maneuver: I needed someone to act as a bridge for Dalie. Even with the Hive Spirit acting as her administrative assistant, the cityâs management was hitting a wall. Dalie needed someone with a human, empathetic touch to balance her outâand Asong was the perfect fit.
Seeing them together, it felt satisfying to watch the board pieces align exactly as I had intended.
I was just about to pivot to the real reason for my visitâasking Dalie for help with the logistical heavy lifting for the Frosling migrationâwhen she suddenly closed the distance and wrapped me in a tight embrace. The warmth didnât last long, though. She pulled back abruptly, her eyes narrowing as she glared at me.
"Why didnât you come back sooner?" she demanded. "You promised youâd visit regularly."
I opened my mouth to offer a diplomatic excuse, but the words died in my throat. I quickly realized her glare wasnât entirely focused on meâmost of the heat was directed at the small, camouflaged form of the Dredre currently nesting in my hair, who thankfully was fast asleep.
I was not prepared to watch Dredre and Dalie at each otherâs throats again. The last time they clashed, it had been a headache Iâd rather not repeat.
"I wanted to, but I had too much on my plate. Even now, I only found the time because I need your help with something," I confessed, opting for absolute honesty.
I knew that no matter how much she pouted or glared, Dalie would never truly be angry with me. She was the one person who would always forgive me, offering a safe harbor in a world full of calculated moves and political theater.
Hearing my blunt admission, the fierce edge in her eyes immediately softened, replaced by a look of fond exasperation. She sighed, "Fine, tell me. What kind of mess are we cleaning up this time?"