The following weeks saw an increase in activity as the participants came for the international conference/banquet.

‘Whatever you want to call it.’

A large number of nobles came into the territory specifically for the banquet along with merchants who saw the opportunity for profit. Fortunately, I had built some hotels to cater to different price points, from the most expensive with all the bells and whistles, to the least expensive.

There was also a spike in the issuing of ids as the merchants and even surprisingly, a large number of nobles applied for them and the bank saw a large amount of new customers. Even more surprisingly, the Medici opened an account with my bank. 

‘Huh, that’s confusing.’ I was one of the only other competitors the Medici owned banks had, so I was a little confused. 

‘Maybe they just want to see how things work, or maybe I’m overthinking things. Ehh, whatever.’

I had to be present for when the other countries arrived to welcome them as the lord of the territory. I also had to assign masterkeys to each of those countries to make things easier for them and circumvent the need for ids, though all those cards had expiry dates of the day immediately after they were supposed to be gone. 

‘No need for any straggler cards to be floating around and if they want to stay, they’ll have to get proper identification.’ 

Today would be a...stressful day. I was welcoming my father and family along with my father’s mother, the person I had avoided as per my grandfather’s advice. I went to the main teleportation circle south-east of the inner garden and waited for their arrival with John at my side.

Suddenly, the main large portal lit up and an entourage of carriages filed through the arc.  The procession made a stop in front of me and my father came down from the carriage. He was followed down by a distinguished looking beautiful woman with greying black hair and blue eyes. No one else exited their carriages. 

‘I was hoping to continue avoiding her.’ 

“Father, welcome to Treehome, Heartree.” He looked around as I greeted them, taking in the scenic view and increased mana density. His mother, my grandmother, had her nose turned up at me from the get go, glaring at me. 

“You’ve done well. When I was told about your land, I thought there was some embellishment involved but....” He kept taking in the surroundings.  

“This place is very nice.” 

“Thank you father.” He then looked straight at me.

“Father informed me that when the lots were going, he made sure to buy some as an investment for the family wealth. I only bought one for the family estate so I’ll speak to you later concerning what will be built on those lots.” I raised my brows at that. 

‘I’m no longer a part of this family technically, but I’ll let this slide for now.’

“Let me lead you to the estate you built.” 

I entered my own carriage and led them through the city until we reached the area where individual estates seemed to sprawl across the land, separated by forests. We came to a stop before a large gate that soon opened to a large white castlesque estate that was the Whitefyre estate. As we came to a stop and exited our carriages, I took in the family as they also took me in. 

‘Did they really all have to come.’ No one seemed ready to initiate the conversation so I decided to just cut out all possibilities.

“John, here, will give you assistance in anything you might need. I still have some work to do so I’ll leave you now.” I walked over to my carriage and left before they could say anything.

‘Now, on to more important matters.’ 

I was to meet and give a tour of the inner garden to some of our visiting dignitaries. It was an open invitation type thing that the emperor made me offer to show off. The people that decided to come where Lolopika, who I’m finding out is like an ambassador for the witch nation, Mythanar the elven prince and Knox Leonidis, second son of the leader of the beastman coalition. 

I walked over to the northern entrance of the inner garden and waited for a while, before the first set of people arrived. 

‘Of course it had to be him.’ The elven prince along with a small entourage came forward to greet me. 

“Marquess Heartree. We haven’t seen each other in quite some time. I hope you don't mind me joining to see this….tree?” He asked with a stiff smile, his ‘green’ mana saturating the area around me as if trying to smother me. 

“It’s no problem at all.” I replied with a smile and let out my own mana, counteracting his .

‘I knew he still despised me.’ We stood in silence for a few seconds until we were interrupted.

“I’m not interrupting am I?” Lolopika, the pink hair blue eyed princess of the witch nation appeared with her own small group. I got the vague feeling of standing in front of a dragon when in her presence.

“Not at all, we are just waiting for one more now.” I smiled in her direction. 

“That should be me! Hahahahahaha!” I turned to the direction of the coming voice. 

Knox Leonidis, the thirty year old second son of the beastman coalition leader and powerhouse in his own right. A lion beastman who is an aura grandmaster in his own right. He had a mix of yellow and black hair on his head with yellow eyes and a feral appearance to him. I felt an intense heat coming off him in waves as he stepped in our direction. 

‘At least he didn’t bring along anyone else.’ 

“Nice to meet ya Heartree. You have a hell of a place here.” He smiled brightly in my direction as he also looked around, observing the entrance of the inner garden. He suddenly turned his head towards Lolopika.

“We meet again, beautiful.” He smirked in her direction. 

“Watch your tongue cat, lest I fry it off.” Faint scales formed on her cheek and her blue eyes formed slits as she projected hostile mana in his direction. 

“You know I’m not afraid of any heat you bring, right?” He leaned closer to her, his aura protecting him from the hostile mana. 

“Must you bring your sexual games wherever we go.” Mythanar asked.

“Silence elf!” Lolopika snapped.

“Am I talking to you, pansy?” Knox growled at the elf. 

‘Things are escalating a bit too much for my liking.’ I was about to act when-

“I hope you don’t mind me joining you.” The empress appeared.