Immortal Kingdoms

The Azure Estate was a renowned five-star estate in the 7th district.

Especially their Azure Lane, a commercial street with numerous business outlets contracted directly or indirectly to Lord Frederick.

It could be said that if the Vast Sky Avenue didn't exist, Frederick's Azure Lane would have become a mainstream economical center of the 7th district.

Including but not limited to products of daily necessities, as the shopfronts included products as tempting to cultivators as they were to non-cultivars across the district.

This was Leonardo's first time walking through the Azure Lane, quite obviously. His down-to-earth demeanor as he strode down the streets in his plain white clothes, sleek silver hair, and intrigued gaze that swept through not only the people but the shops in which they spent their time drew a bit of attention.

Some were good while some were bad, and some bordered the realms of ambiguity, others borderline nonchalant.

After all, this was a commercial street with all colors of people and personalities going back and forth on a daily basis.

If there was anything that Azure Lane had while the Vast Sky Avenue lacked, that would be entertainment establishments such as the black market auction houses and famous brothels.

There was nothing you couldn't buy in the black market, only things you couldn't afford, including various inhumane practices such as illegal prostitution, trading in human organs, and quite literally anything as long as you could put a price tag on it.

These are little episodes in the dark that not many people are privy about, as even the District Director Manor would turn a blind eye to these activities as long as you've met two criteria.

First, you need suitable connections.

Second, you can't get caught, at least not by the general public.

The moment you check-pass these two points, you're ready to go absolutely bananas with whatever you wish, desire, and aspire for.

"Lord Shi," while Leonardo was walking through these festive streets in preparation for the banquet, a familiar face stepped up to greet him with a faint smile.

"If it isn't Raymond," Leonardo smiled in response, having expected the eyes of the Frederick Estate to have spotted him long ago, he just hadn't anticipated to be intercepted so quickly while cruising the streets.

"My Lord sent me to be your tour guide, just in case you needed it, Lord Shi," Raymond smoothly withdrew to stand behind Leonardo as though it was natural.

Leonardo chuckled, more like a watchman than a guide, but he didn't feel like calling this out and instead said, "I'm here to meet Lord Frederick actually, I was aimlessly wandering around hoping for someone to come fetch me up as quickly as possible."

"Is that so?" Raymond was a bit surprised as he hadn't expected Leonardo to skip the banquet etiquette and directly request an audience with the Estate Landlord, but Lord Frederick said to comply with any of Leonardo's demands as long as they didn't infringe upon some forbidden secrets.

Thus, after being surprised for a brief moment, Raymond nodded his head and began to lead the way, "This way please."

As the two walked off, Raymond offered a cigar to Leonardo but the latter refused, he hadn't picked up on the habit of smoking while on Earth and he wouldn't pick it up now.

While walking silently, Leonardo was secretly utilizing his innate martial intent to continually stimulate the Ninth Inception Arrow technique and his personally created technique now dubbed the Stellar Compression technique periodically, as the principles behind both techniques were fundamentally similar.

It must be said that the polite and servile side to Raymond somewhat put Leonardo at a loss, as he was far more comfortable with the cold and somewhat arrogant Raymond from back then.

Very quickly the two arrived at a lavish manor at least thrice the size of Leonardo's, signs of renovations throughout the years apparent by the disproportionate tiles and paintings on the walls.

Rows of servants could be seen going about everywhere in a hurry as they prepared the garden, exterior courtyards, attached pavilions, and outdoor pools for the upcoming banquet.

Pretty young girls in revealing clothes and light footsteps were also spotted practicing a dance that seemed both elegant and erotically pleasing.

This is what one would call extravagance, Leonardo thought to himself as he compared the meeting on the summit of the Sylvian Kingdom back in Arcadia— the standards were too far apart.

"Would you like to watch a dance?" Raymond caught a glimpse of Leonardo staring at the dancers, dropping this question.

"Let us proceed, I'm a busy man— not to mention I arrived invited, otherwise I wouldn't possibly squeeze time in my schedule just to watch a few delicate maidens dancing," Leonardo responded with a smile, though his eyes kept on sweeping the place.

Suddenly, he saw two familiar figures leading a group of uniformed guards, the striking red coat of arms reminding Leonardo of a very deep impression.

In particular, the woman with a snake coiled around her neck, its tail plunging into the smooth ravine of a crevice below her cleavage.

Nonetheless, Leonardo's glance didn't pause whatsoever, and continued to roam about as though he saw nothing, not a hint of an emotional fluctuation registered on his face.

Internally, however, he scoffed with understanding. Many things could now be explained, and perhaps if he wasn't taken into custody and released on the same day, this trip to the Frederick Estate might have become a thorny one.

…

Lord Frederick was a callous middle-aged man who resembled an earnest hardworking farmer rather than a successful businessman.

From his heavy beard, silver-rimmed glasses, and hairy arms emphasized by his rolled-up cotton sleeves— anyone's first thought would be that this man was a very kind and approachable uncle.

He was currently stroking his beard while looking down at a detailed sand map of the Lush Skirt Plains Province, specifically the regions near Greenheart City.

Leonardo was standing on the other end of the table, a long stick in his hand as he marked the territory surrounding the Beast Claw mountain range.

Frederick said with a hum, "Are you saying that in three years' time, this will be Blackrain County— your personal county?"

"This is indeed the case and I have the credentials here," Leonardo brought up a few documents from his storage ring.

Of course, these documents weren't signed by name, but they were instead a seal of blood and a spiritual mark.

The trademark blue bird of the Luan Dynasty was stamped down on the documents, highlighting the script of terms and conditions, much more context than the simplified verbal summary provided by Leonardo.

Frederick's eyes sparkled as he picked up the documents, pacing back and forth while reading intensively, nodding his head repeatedly.

"Unbelievable, to think you've been granted a state— not a fiefdom under the Crown, but an independent state with constructive laws…"

Frederick sat back in his leather seat behind the desk, lightly knocking his fingers on the wooden surface as his thoughts shuffled. "I suppose this might be a confidential document, albeit the only party that could be affected negatively if this spreads is the dynasty, hence you're not concerned about secrecy… Hm, I'm listening, you said something about a business interaction?"

"Yup," Leonardo joined the table by taking a seat across from Frederick as he continued, "I want a direct supply chain to your black market clients."