[Nightmare]

"It doesn't look like reason, proof, or display are going to work on these people." Helix whispered bitterly.

Four men of varying stages of drunkenness were staring Helix down.

He was considering how he would handle the situation without resorting to violence.

"Oui! What's happening here!?" A gruff man roared as he entered the scene.

"This is that Helix Margrave bastard." The first man chuckled.

"Yeah, I know." The gruff man replied.

"Then what's the problem? Step aside!" The second man sneered.

"The problem? Who the hell do you think you're talking to?

Answer my question, now!" The gruff man barked.

"Who are we? We're the people this fuck insulted." The drunk man yelled.

"Now we're gonna show him we don't take kindly to his Earthian kind."

The man unsheathed his sword, and the others began snickering.

Each grabbed the hilt of his own sword.

"He insulted you? You have three seconds to put away those toys before I break your limbs."

"Oui! Who in~the~fuck, do you think you are, pretty boy?" The drunk man taunted.

"Who am I? I'm the pretty boy that's about to break your limbs."

"Hah! We'd like to see you try!"

The three people with the drunk man unsheathed their swords.

"Fools!" The gruff man roared while grabbing his own.

Helix watched the scene with wide eyes.

He couldn't believe what he was watching.

—

"If that's true, then what are you going to do about it?" Maze asked as the remaining nobles took their seats.

Helix would announce the auction in ten minutes.

Then the nobles would bid to take part in the auction with limited participation rights.

Their participation was necessary and would provide many benefits.

However, the auction was to buy the support of the Earthians.

If nobles overtook the bidding, it wouldn't be fair, and people would go bankrupt.

If the Earthians sacrificed everything for a pair of cat ears, the nobles would resent them for bidding too high prices.

That was a win from a business perspective but a political loss for the Earthians.

Therefore, he created a system that addressed both of their needs without causing major issues.

In the main rows would be the super-otakus and power-weebs.

Each would be excited and oblivious to the gazes of the nobles in the skyboxes.

On Earth, the floor stands up front were more desirable in most concerts.

Since his peers were not high-class or wealthy, they didn't go to events with skyboxes, nor could they afford them.

Most had never left their house for a concert, anyway.

So they were excited to get seats in the front.

However, in Myriad, as in olden times, skyboxes were a prestigious form of seating for every event.

Tonight, they would house the nobles surrounding the super-otakus and weebs.

Helix sighed after he panned the room again.

The nobles' gazes would peer down upon the Earthians with disdainful eyes.

He knew that feeling, and it bothered him.

"Charlotte, Riley, please return to guard duty and designated positions.

Make your presence known to every Earthian present."

The two nodded.

"Charlotte, please glare at people as usual." He requested.

"With plea~sure." Charlotte sang.

"Riley, please offer them the snacks and remind each to keep composure regardless of the situation.

Good behavior means a reward." He requested.

Riley nodded, and the two walked away.

"Marie, please make contact with Tilo again, then come backstage for the announcement."

"Understood." Marie nodded.

Helix turned to Maze.

"Mass support is born through conflict." He argued with a calm tone.

Maze's eyes filled with shock.

"Helix, that isn't the ideal approach when you need as many allies as possible."

Helix shook his head with a serious expression.

"Conflict is the only root of support. There's no reason to support someone if there's no reason to support."

Maze's eyes glided to the left in thought.

His heart was pounding. The idea that Helix was putting resentful nobles in the same room as deadly, immature troublemakers were appalling.

Regardless of Helix's rhetoric, it felt like suicide.

Helix agreed and hated his life. He didn't have a choice, however.

"How so?" Maze asked for clarification.

"In a conflict, many will agree with someone.

Those that don't are the people that advertise the prevalence of the issue." Helix reasoned.

"Then those that support it will argue.

Soon, when things get difficult for me, people will naturally pick sides."

—

"You're going to break our limbs? Hah. You and what army?" A man sneered.

"There are 500 troops and a couple of dozen nobles that will back us up.

We don't even know who the hell you are."

The gruff man laughed in disdain.

"What army? The Royal Azerian army, you swine." He asserted with a cold voice.

"W-Wait… T-Tremon, look at… that…."

"Hmmm? What the fuck's so special about that flowery pict~chure, pretty boy?"

"No… that insignia. Tell me, whoever you are.

Is this an official decree you stand behind?"

"No. It's not. But when I snap your bones into dust, we'll see who has more support." The gruff man barked.

He unsheathed his dazzling sword.

"Mo~re support, eh? That sounds interesting."

Helix didn't know what to do.

Should he let the man risk his life for him or end it?

Or perhaps should he play a card?

He sighed, not knowing what to do in the situation.

So he attempted to make eye contact with his defender.

However, the man didn't look at him in the slightest.

He looked resentful or had another powerful emotion holding back his gaze.

"Right now, we have a lot more support, don'tcha think?" The drunk man asked his comrades with a snide smile.

"It's obvious this pretty boy doesn't know how to count."

The men roared with laughter, and their gazes became murderous.

—

"We have pressing needs that require me to act fast." Helix continued.

Maze gave him a conflicted gaze.

"So I've expedited the conflicts up front, so I have instant support.

Whether it be a dozen people, or a thousand, any amount of support will be critical.

In the meantime, I cannot wait a few weeks to set up meetings.

People need to come to me."

Maze sighed in defeat.

"It makes sense. However, if your plan backfires, you'll lose all support instantaneously." He reasoned.

"Yes. That's why we've taken precautions and made arrangements." Helix said with a slight smile.

"Don't worry, we're not going into this blind."

—

Queen Liliana frowned.

"That request makes sense, but it's rushed to the point of subversiveness." She asserted with narrowed eyes.

"It also requires blind trust and belief of your claims to justify speeding the process.

I cannot support you, as I do not have either."

Helix nodded and then bowed his head again.

"Please consider the requests during the auction." He requested.

"In the meantime, please accept this Circles of Remembrances.

There is one from myself, Master Tyrene, and a third one I'm certain that you'll find relevant.

It is also urgent, regardless of whether you accept my request.

I'll proceed with the auction as planned and await your decision.

If you decide to fulfill my request, I will take full responsibility for the outcome."

Liliana narrowed her eyes and studied Helix for a few seconds.

"Very well. I'll listen to your claims during the auction, and send a messenger to the stage with my decision."

"Thank you for hearing my request, your majesty." Helix said with a full bow.

Liliana motioned to the guards, and they opened the door.

Helix walked out of the room with a beating heart and a stoic expression.

"Close the door. Anyone that releases info on what you hear, whether intentionally or accidentally, will hang." Liliana warned with a cold voice.

"Yes, your majesty!" The guards yelled in unison.

She looked down at the magic circles and activated the first.

—

Maze studied Helix's confident expression.

His face didn't hide the seriousness of the situation.

However, it was stoic and resolved.

"Come now, Maze. It's time to enjoy the fun part of the action." Helix said with an evil grin.

—

Power stones and grammatical errors = more content. :)