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The guard ruined her mood, and Jasmine scowled at him. The food that this cafe served was the best she tasted in this kingdom, and it might be the greatest accomplishment of Runera. However, the man in front of her was too boring to appreciate.

"I get that it has a certain taste!" protested Yosef when she reprimanded him. However, she did not stop looking at Yosef as if he was a savage. "However, I thought you had more grave matters to do."

"What matters?" she said while gulping down the fried red rice in front of her. Yosef was speechless. After visiting his room, he thought more troubles were coming their way.

The princess had a cynical mindset because of how her father abandoned her. She tried to prove that people were selfish instead of her father leaving because of her. Her goal was to prove that everyone leaves in the end.

"The matter about the Seika," said Yosef with a frown. "You wanted to prove that he wanted to leave his city."

"Oh, right," she realized. "Well, this is also a part of the battle. I must endure the distractions he laid in front of me before I reach the truth."

"You are indulging in them," sighed Yosef as he lowered his head. Some people were wearing armor in his peripheral view, talking to the owner. "Knights?"

"What is that?" frowned Jasmine as she pointed at the device that looked like a mace but without spikes. "It looks like a lamp, but there is no glass."

"It seems these are handed to everyone in the city," muttered Yosef as he watched the knights walking through the alleys. "I wonder what the Seika is planning now..."

He did not get to finish his words before an explosion of mana came from the center of the city. Yosef and Jasmine frowned before rushing out of the cafe.

The sky above them was lit with a bright light coming from the area above the divine tree. From within the condensed mana came a pulse of mana that made the area around them buzz with it.

"Hello," came a voice from the metallic ball inside the cafe. Jasmine turned and saw that the citizens seemed at ease, only looking curiously out of the window. "This is the Seika speaking."

The words were met with cheers from the people, and Yosef did not believe this man was so popular. Furthermore, why was his voice coming from this metallic ball?

"This is the latest, and maybe the greatest, accomplishments of our city. We have successfully created an array that can transfer information using mana throughout the city in less than a second. Of course, special devices are needed to resonate with the waves, but we are happy to announce that any citizen with identification can purchase these devices."

"Why is he proud about announcements?" spat Jasmine with disdain. "We have Dragon's Horn which can do the same thing."

"We have called it the Mana Network," announced the Seika. "The devices connected to the networks can either receive, send, or do both. This means you can contact anyone with a similar device as long as they are in the city. This unlocks countless potential, improves our security, and allows for entertainment. But, this is not all."

"There is more?" muttered Jasmine with shock, feeling as if he slapped her face after the earlier words.

"We are announcing a network-based financial system. I will explain it briefly for everyone to have a general idea. First, we will introduce a treasury where the citizens can safely keep their currency. Then, they can exchange money with others for various goods using specialized devices. This will guarantee safety and ease of transactions."

"Foolishness," decreed Yosef with a shake of his head. "It might indeed be the best means of transaction, but no one will trust the kingdom with their money."

"I understand that you have your fears regarding this, but this is an optional method. You can keep using your money the way you want to, but we can offer you interest if you keep your money with us. More information will be announced later on."

After that, the broadcast ended. The controversy surrounding the intangible exchange was discussed at every inn, but no one dared to devalue the system that the Seika has created.

Jasmine witnessed the usage of the devices that the Seika mentioned on that very same day after he sold them to his citizens. They could use an identification number to contact each other, which was adopted by business partners straight away.

The fever was overwhelming, and it took two days for the whole city to lay hands on the devices. They were cheap but handy and offered specific entertainment like a news broadcast regarding the war against Alva.

"This is insane," muttered Jasmine as she started at the small plate in front of her. "There is nothing on this device that can be said to be mechanical. It is solely created using runes."

"How did you lay hands on that device?" frowned Yosef, doubting that the princess stole it. "The Seika announced that only citizens can buy it."

"That is indeed the case, but he gifted me one of them."

"Let me get this straight. You took a gift from the man you want to expose?"

"I can only expose him by getting to know him better," protested Jasmine as she tapped the plate. Then, lights appeared on it.

"Welcome to Mana Network," a feminine voice came out from it.

"Contact the Seika."

"Contact found. Please wait," said the device under Yosef's awed face. "The Seika has answered your request."

"Are you looking for another beating?" came the voice from the plate, and Jasmine struck her fist on the table.

"You are the one who is looking for a beating!" with that said, she waved her hand, and the communication was cut short.

"That is all you wanted to tell him?" blinked the guard at the fuming princess.

"I'm not an idiot," she spat. "However, he pisses me off every time I contact him. I thought that I was the most annoying noble, but this guy is unbelievable."

"The Seika is not a nobility," affirmed Yosef, and it made Jasmine surprised. "The king wanted to make him a duke, but he refused the title. So his sole status is being the Lord of Runera."

"That man is truly up to something!" she slammed her fist on the table again. "Contact the Seika!"

"You are annoying me with these calls," said the Seika on the other line, and the embarrassment Jasmine felt turned to rage, and she ended the communication straight away.

"No words are needed. I will kill him myself," she said with a twitching smile of rage. Yosef was afraid she would have a mental breakdown at this rate, but he enjoyed watching her taste her own medicine.

"However, why does the Seika treat you this way?" asked the general, and it defused the princess's rage. "I heard that he is a ruthless, calculating man to the nobles and a kind lord to the peasants. I wonder why he tries to make you angry."

"Maybe he likes me," she said with an apathetic expression. "That is what you do to those you like. You annoy them to death."

"What kind of logic is that?" blinked Yosef. "You made my life a living hell so far, so does that mean you like me?"

"I made it a living hell because, because," she did not say anything anymore. "Anyway," she changed the subject as if it was unnoticeable. "This system is going to shake this kingdom."

***

The Mana Network was talked about everywhere, with very few understanding what a revolutionary invention. Of course, it was not unheard of to use mana for communication, but a network that made commoners make seamless communication was full of potential.

The news brought further anticipation for the end of the three-month period, where the Seika will finally present his value to the kingdom. That day marked the new change for the kingdom, and the threat was to the surrounding kingdoms was equally pressuring.

This led to whispers between the various powers: houses that sold artifacts and Alvan nobles who knew that Freda could not rise under the Seika.

That was especially the case for a man whose daughter was taken away from him, and for him to find out that she fell in love with the man responsible.

The flames burned intensely atop Freya, and there were no signs of them stopping. The Duke of Fire sat inside his Hall of Hell, where everything and everyone who entered was burned to crisps.

"Seika of Living Beings," gritted the duke his teeth. "Soon, I will reclaim what is mine.. Diana is mine, mine alone, and I will never hand her to you."