Chapter 411: Registering as a merchant The auction house in Flame City was a place of opulence, with walls carved from volcanic glass and floors inlaid with glowing embers. However, beneath the surface of professional courtesy, a dark current of greed was beginning to swirl. The appraiser had retreated into the back rooms to "verify" the collection of one million Chaos Grade artifacts. In reality, he was contacting the elders of the city’s ruling Fire Dragon clan. The news of a lone traveler, an outsider of unknown species, carrying a literal mountain of high-level treasures spread like wildfire through their telepathic network. To a dragon, a treasure was not just money; it was a divine right. The thought of an Axiom Dominion traveler walking away with ten billion Origin Coins made their blood boil with possessive lust. They didn’t care how he got the items. They only cared that soon, those items would be theirs. "Keep him there," the command came from the clan’s hidden chamber. "Let the auction proceed. Give him his coins. We will maintain our reputation as a fair trading hub while the world is watching. But once he leaves the city gates, erase him." The auction lasted for several hours. Ethan sat in a private booth, leaning back with Puffin snoring softly on his shoulder. He watched as his artifacts were sold off to various noble houses and merchant guilds. The "Chaos Grade" label was no joke; even the most basic items Ethan had created were superior to the local crafts. When the final gavel struck, the appraiser returned, bowing lower than before. He handed Ethan a high-level spatial card. "Ten billion Origin Coins, as agreed, Sir," the dragon said, his eyes flickering with a hidden light. "It has been a pleasure doing business with you." Ethan took the card, his expression was unreadable. "I’m sure it was." He turned and walked toward the city’s main teleportation plaza. He could feel the eyes on him. It wasn’t just one or two spies; it was a coordinated net. Six Axiom Dominion level dragons and one Origin Paragon, a powerhouse were trailing him from a distance. Ethan knew they wouldn’t strike inside Flame City. The city’s reputation as a neutral ground was too valuable. If they killed a major merchant in broad daylight, the Merchant Association would blackball the city for a millennium. Ethan stepped into the massive teleportation chamber. "Five jumps to the Ice Dragon Domain," he muttered to himself. He keyed in the coordinates for Laren City, a transit hub a few light-years away. The space around him blurred, and in an instant, he appeared in the bustling plaza of Laren. He didn’t wait. He stepped out of the portal, and immediately, seven ripples in space appeared behind him. The dragons had followed. Laren City was less prestigious than Flame City, a rougher place where "disappearances" were common. The seven dragons didn’t even bother with words. As soon as they were clear of the crowded portal area, they cornered Ethan in a desolate alleyway between towering obsidian structures. "Hand over the spatial card and your storage rings," the Origin Paragon said, his voice echoing with the power of his realm. He was a massive man with red scales tracing his jawline. "We might let you live as a slave if you’re quick about it." Ethan didn’t look scared. In fact, he looked bored. He was about to lift a finger to turn them into cosmic dust, but a small weight shifted on his shoulder. Puffin, the little furball that looked like a harmless pet, suddenly opened its eyes. The tiny creature felt the killing intent directed at its master, and its "Source Authority" instincts flared. Before the dragons could even blink, Puffin’s mouth unhinged. It didn’t just open; it became a black hole. A long, translucent tongue flicked out with the speed of light. Slurp. In a single motion, the six Axiom Dominions and the Origin Paragon vanished. There was no blood, no struggle, and no sound. They were simply gone. Puffin’s mouth snapped shut, returning to its cute, tiny size. The creature let out a long, satisfied burp that echoed in the quiet alley. "Master, those bugs were very tasty. Shall I eat some more?" it asked, looking up at Ethan with big, innocent eyes. Ethan stared at the empty space where seven powerful beings had stood a second ago. He was speechless for a moment, then he let out a dry laugh. "Sure, if they attack us again," Ethan replied, patting the creature’s head. "But try not to spoil your dinner." After four more teleportations, the air grew sharp and frigid. The horizon was dominated by massive, jagged mountains made of eternal ice that glowed with a pale blue light. This was the Ice Dragon Domain. They arrived at the Glacier City station. As Ethan stepped out, two guards clad in frost-covered plate armor blocked his path. "State your purpose, traveler. This is a restricted domain," the guard barked. Ethan didn’t feel like arguing. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out five Chaos Grade artifacts and one Axiom Grade sword that radiated a freezing aura. He handed them over like they were common trinkets. "I am here to do business," Ethan said. The guards’ eyes nearly popped out of their heads. The Axiom Grade sword alone was worth more than the entire guard outpost. Their attitudes flipped instantly. "Of course! My apologies, Great Merchant! Please, enter. Welcome to the Ice Dragon domain." As Ethan stepped onto the frozen streets of the city, a strange ripple occurred in the fate of the world. Deep within the "Saint House," the palace of the Ice Dragon royalty, a beautiful woman with hair like spun silver suddenly stood up from her meditation. Rose clutched her chest, her breath hitching. "What is this feeling?" she whispered. "It feels like the clouds over my destiny have vanished. Like the sun has finally risen." Ethan, walking miles away, sensed her soul’s reaction. A soft smile played on his lips. "I am here, my princess," he thought. He looked at the towering spires of the Ice Dragon capital. He had decided. These dragons had treated Rose like a political tool, making her sad and lonely. He wouldn’t just rescue her; he would dismantle their entire hierarchy. He would take their freedom and replace their rule with the Human Empire he was about to create. "First, we need a legal cover," Ethan told Puffin. He traveled to Flanoir City, the capital of the domain. To do business here without being harassed by the local lords, one needed to be a registered member of the Merchant Association, an organization run by the 100 Original Races. He entered the grand branch office, a building grown from giant white crystals. A young elf girl with long green ears sat behind a desk, filing papers. "Hello, I want to register as a merchant. What are the requirements?" Ethan asked. The elf looked up. She felt his Axiom Dominion aura, but she didn’t flinch. She saw powerful people every day. "You need at least five billion Origin Coins in liquid capital to start. And I need to verify your race for the records." Ethan didn’t say a word. He placed his spatial card on the desk. The display on her terminal flashed: 10.0 Billion Origin Coins. Then, he pulled out several Axiom Grade artifacts and laid them out. The elf’s jaw dropped. "Ten billion... and these treasures..." "And my race?" Ethan said. He shifted his form. He knew that revealing himself as a human would cause too much trouble, as humans weren’t supposed to be this powerful. Instead, he pulled from the genes of the Demon Race. Two massive, crimson bat wings erupted from his back. Two sleek, black horns protruded from his forehead, and his eyes turned a piercing, icy red. His face became sharp and cold, possessing a terrifying beauty. The elf girl blushed, her heart fluttering. This "Arch-Demon" was not only incredibly wealthy but also breathtakingly handsome. "Everything is in order, Sir," she said, her voice much softer now as she handed him a golden merchant badge. "Welcome to the Merchant Association. With this much capital, I have no doubt you will become a business tycoon in no time!" Ethan took the badge and shifted back to his more "civilized" appearance, though he kept the dark aura of the demon.