My attributes are increasing infinitely Chapter 411: Registering as a merchant

The Flame City auction house was a monument to extravagance, featuring volcanic glass carvings on the walls and floors sparkling with embedded glowing embers.

Deep beneath this facade of professional etiquette, however, a sinister tide of avarice was starting to stir.

The appraiser had pulled back into the inner chambers under the guise of "verifying" the massive collection of one million Chaos Grade artifacts.

In truth, he was reaching out to the elders of the Fire Dragon clan, the city's sovereign rulers.

Through their mental network, news traveled like a wildfire: a solitary wanderer of an unidentified race was in possession of a literal mountain of high-tier treasures.

To the dragons, such wealth was more than simple currency; it was a birthright granted by the divine.

The mere concept of an Axiom Dominion traveler departing with ten billion Origin Coins caused their blood to seethe with possessive greed.

The origin of these items was irrelevant to them.

Their only concern was that these treasures would soon belong to the clan.

From the clan’s secluded sanctum, the order was issued: "Keep him there."

"Allow the auction to continue. Pay him his coins. We must preserve our status as a reputable trade center while the eyes of the world are upon us. However, the moment he passes through the city gates, eliminate him."

The proceedings of the auction spanned several hours.

Ethan reclined in the comfort of a private booth, while Puffin snored gently upon his shoulder.

He observed as his various artifacts were auctioned off to noble families and various merchant syndicates.

The "Chaos Grade" designation proved its worth; even the simplest items Ethan had forged far surpassed the local craftsmanship.

Once the final gavel fell, the appraiser returned, offering a bow that was even deeper than his first.

He presented Ethan with a high-level spatial card.

"Ten billion Origin Coins, exactly as we negotiated, Sir," the dragon stated, a hidden light flickering within his pupils.

"It has been an absolute honor to conduct business with you."

Ethan accepted the card, his face remaining a mask of indifference.

"I'm certain it was."

He turned away, making his way toward the primary teleportation plaza of the city.

He was acutely aware of the gazes fixed upon him.

This wasn't merely a few scattered scouts; it was an organized net of surveillance.

Six experts at the Axiom Dominion level and a single Origin Paragon powerhouse were stalking him from the shadows.

Ethan understood that they wouldn't dare attack within the limits of Flame City.

The city's status as neutral territory was far too precious to risk.

Should they slaughter a prominent merchant in the light of day, the Merchant Association would shun the city for a thousand years.

Ethan entered the massive chamber housing the teleportation arrays.

"Five jumps to reach the Ice Dragon Domain," he whispered to himself.

He punched in the coordinates for Laren City, a transit station located several light-years away.

Space warped around him, and in a flash, he materialized in the vibrant plaza of Laren.

He wasted no time.

As he stepped away from the portal, seven distortions in space manifested immediately behind him.

The dragons had pursued him.

Laren City lacked the prestige of Flame City; it was a grittier place where "mysterious disappearances" were a common occurrence.

The seven dragons didn't bother with a dialogue.

The moment they were away from the crowded portal zone, they trapped Ethan in a desolate alley flanked by soaring obsidian towers.

"Surrender the spatial card and your storage rings," commanded the Origin Paragon, his voice vibrating with the sheer weight of his cultivation realm.

He was a hulking figure, with crimson scales lining his jaw.

"If you act quickly, we might allow you to serve us as a slave."

Ethan showed no signs of fear.

On the contrary, he appeared completely disinterested.

He was prepared to raise a hand and reduce them to stardust, but a slight movement occurred on his shoulder.

Puffin, the tiny furball that seemed like a harmless companion, suddenly snapped its eyes open.

The small creature sensed the murderous intent aimed at its master, triggering its "Source Authority" instincts.

Before the dragons could react, Puffin's jaw unhinged.

It didn't just open; it transformed into a literal black hole.

A translucent tongue darted out at the speed of light.

Slurp.

With one swift motion, the six Axiom Dominions and the Origin Paragon vanished entirely.

There was no spray of blood, no frantic struggle, and no noise.

They simply ceased to exist.

Puffin's mouth clicked shut, and it reverted to its small, adorable form.

The creature let out a long, content burp that resonated through the silent alleyway.

"Master, those insects were quite delicious. Should I consume more?" it inquired, gazing up at Ethan with wide, innocent eyes.

Ethan stared at the void where seven mighty beings had stood only moments ago.

He was momentarily lost for words before letting out a dry chuckle.

"Sure, if we are attacked again," Ethan answered, stroking the creature’s head.

"But try not to ruin your appetite for dinner."

After four additional teleportations, the atmosphere turned biting and cold.

The horizon was dominated by titanic, jagged peaks of eternal ice that emitted a soft blue radiance.

This was the territory of the Ice Dragon Domain.

They arrived at the station in Glacier City.

As Ethan exited, his path was obstructed by two guards wearing frost-covered plate armor.

"State your business, traveler. This domain is restricted," the guard barked at him.

Ethan wasn't in the mood for a debate.

Reaching into his sleeve, he produced five Chaos Grade artifacts and a single Axiom Grade sword that pulsed with a freezing chill.

He offered them as if they were worthless baubles.

"I have come to conduct trade," Ethan declared.

The guards’ eyes bulged in shock.

That Axiom Grade sword alone was worth more than their entire outpost.

Their demeanor shifted instantly.

"Of course! My sincerest apologies, Great Merchant! Please, proceed. Welcome to the Ice Dragon domain."

As Ethan walked onto the icy streets of the city, a peculiar ripple disturbed the flow of fate.

Inside the "Saint House," the royal palace of the Ice Dragons, a stunning woman with silver hair suddenly broke her meditation.

Rose gripped her chest, her breathing becoming shallow.

"What is this sensation?" she murmured.

"It feels as though the shadows over my destiny have been swept away. As if the sun has finally breached the horizon."

Walking miles away, Ethan felt the resonance of her soul.

A faint smile touched his lips.

"I have arrived, my princess," he thought.

He gazed at the soaring towers of the Ice Dragon capital.

His mind was made up.

These dragons had used Rose as nothing more than a political pawn, leaving her in sorrow and isolation.

He wouldn't merely save her; he would tear down their entire social structure.

He would strip them of their freedom and replace their sovereignty with the Human Empire he intended to build.

"First, we require a legitimate front," Ethan informed Puffin.

He made his way to Flanoir City, the capital of the domain.

To operate here without harassment from local nobility, one had to be a certified member of the Merchant Association, an entity managed by the 100 Original Races.

He entered the grand regional office, a structure grown from massive white crystals.

A young elven girl with long green ears sat behind the counter, organizing documents.

"Hello, I wish to register as a merchant. What are the criteria?" Ethan asked.

The elf looked up.

She sensed his Axiom Dominion aura, yet she didn't waver.

She encountered powerful figures every day.

"You require a minimum of five billion Origin Coins in liquid assets to begin. Additionally, I must record your race for our files."

Ethan remained silent.

He set his spatial card down on the desk.

The terminal screen flashed: 10.0 Billion Origin Coins.

Next, he produced several Axiom Grade artifacts and displayed them.

The elf’s mouth hung open.

"Ten billion... and these treasures..."

"And my race?" Ethan prompted.

He shifted his appearance.

He knew that revealing himself as a human would invite chaos, as humans were not known to possess such power.

Instead, he tapped into the lineage of the Demon Race.

Two gargantuan, crimson bat wings tore from his back.

Two sleek, black horns emerged from his brow, and his eyes shifted to a piercing, icy red.

His features became sharp and frigid, radiating a terrifying sort of beauty.

The elf girl’s face flushed as her heart began to race.

This "Arch-Demon" was not only incredibly wealthy but also breathtakingly handsome.

"Everything is in order, Sir," she whispered, her tone much softer as she handed him a golden merchant token.

"Welcome to the Merchant Association. With this level of capital, I am certain you will become a business tycoon in no time!"

Ethan took the badge and returned to a more "civilized" look, though he maintained the dark, oppressive aura of the demon.