Date- 7 April 2321


    Time- 17:52


    Location- Southern Region, Southern Capital, Southern Card Creationist Association, Auction House


    Listening to Leo''s ''advice'' I took a long hard look at him before cing my half-eaten pizza slice back on the tray and staring right into his eyes I asked, "Master Leo, are you threatening me? If not what are you trying to achieve here."


    "Threatening you? Kid, stop ying dumb. You should have already gotten the gist of my advice," Leo said understanding that the boy was trying to use the royal family to do his dirty work for him. Threatening the esteemed guest of the royal family, even he, Leo Lorn, with his meritorious service to the southern region could not escape the me.


    Instead of saying a simple no to his face, the boy nned to use the royal family to deliver the message. However, Leo liked the boy''s ruthless way of handling things. A simple no from the boy to his face would offend him but hearing the same no from the royal family would not only offend him but also serve as a warning to not mess with the boy. The boy''s arrogant and rude demeanor was all an act to get him riled up and fall for his trap.


    "Why you?" I asked Leo. The moment Leo personally came to the VIP room to hand me my winnings instead of handing them to me on the auction hall stage I knew he wanted something for me. However, the old man was too sly to fall for my obvious trap.


    Leo wasn''t the only one who wanted my VR-City, though others were yet to approach me in person. My online store message section was overflowing with variouspanies asking how to reach out to me. If this was the case with the message section, I felt sorry for Susan whose contact info was mentioned in the online store. I did have the superbrain card take it down but I was a tad bitte.


    Not to mention Volunteer No.2 from the VR-Cocoon card demonstration and Jill Norley have been trying to reach out to me by call and text. So I had no choice but to block their contact. All I am trying to say was there were a lot of people interested in my VR-City, some more eager than others. So why would I partner up with Leo, when I did not even n on getting a partner to begin with?


    "Why me? Kid, I am not here on behalf of myself, I am here representing the southern royal family," Leo rified.


    "You say as if that should matter to me," I said with a straight face.


    "..." Listening to the boy, Leo was without words and then turned to look at Ann to see if he heard right, only to find her voiding his eyes. Seeing this Loe was confused and asked, "What do you mean? Aren''t you a Southerner? Aren''t you a guest of the Southern royal family? Aren''t you seeking asylum under their protection?"


    "Correction, I am not a guest of the Southern royal family. I am being held here against my will. I am not seeking asylum under their protection, I am strong enough to be responsible for my life," I corrected Leo


    "..." Leo once again speechlessly turned to look at Ann, and like the previous time she avoid meeting his eyes again.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Let us agree to disagree that you are speaking the truth, still aren''t you a Southerner? Where is your patriotism for your mothend?" Leo pulled out the age-old patriotism card.


    "I am speaking the truth. And what does the fact I was born in Southern Region have to do with whom I do business? Master Leo, if you do not have anything worthy to offer, then please do not waste our time," I indirectly asked Leo to leave.


    "Kid, you don''t understand. Say even if your VR-City is one of a kind. Where are you going to get materials for the VR-Cocoon card? You do know how costly the Nightmare and Dream Sandalwood is?


    Forget the huge amount of seed money you would require to buy these ingredients, considering their demand in the market, where are you going to find a reliable supplier for those ingredients? Even if you are willing to pay more than the premium price you will not get a reliable source of supply.


    Kid, face it, you can''t do all this by yourself, you need a reliable partner, someone like the Southern royal family," Leo pointed out the reason why the boy needed the Southern Royal family as his partner in his new business venture.


    "Hahaha, hahaha…" I burst out in wildughter hearing Leo, puzzling everyone in the VIP box.


    "Kid, what so funny?" Loe asked feeling his patience thinning.


    "Hearing the words ''Reliable Partners'' and ''Southern Royal family'' used together I couldn''t hold back myughter, that''s the best joke I have heard in a while. Oh, I am sorry, you were being serious," I apologized sarcastically.


    "Boy, you can be arrogant, condescending, even look down on me but I will not stand by and watch you mock the Southern royal family—" Seeing Leo was fuming and before he said or did something, Ann stepped in and interrupted him saying, "Wyatt, don''t you think you are going too far?"


    Being interrupted by Ann, Leo''s rage toward the boy only increased seeing how the royal family was being so amodating however, the boy did not show an ounce of gratitude towards the Royal family and instead dared to mock them. If not for the presence of Ann, Leo would have taken it upon himself to teach the boy some manners.


    "I am going too far? I gave you guys the secret to change the world as we see it and make the Southern region the wealthiest region of all five regions but all you did for me in return was turn me into the most hated fraudster in the world. Now, you me me for taking it too far, how dare you?"