Now, a little over a year since he received that sudden visit from Fate, Sokram stood at the center of the market district.

  In front of an empty lot of land, where he was raising a gigantic shopping center with his new and improved Matter Manipulation Spell.

  Unlike what one would expect from a demolition, there was no dust cloud, no rubble flying around.

  The air thrummed with a low, subsonic vibration.

  Where two abandoned buildings once stood, a rippling, small vortex of darkness had just devoured the final traces of matter final traces of matter to the last molecule.

  In the crowd of onlookers, soft gasps and whispers of awe exploded like waves as the building disappeared fiber by fiber, leaving a clean, perfectly flat expanse of disturbed earth.

  Inside the pocket black hole, every particle was broken apart to the molecular level and rearranged into concrete walls with the same moonstone-enchanted double cladding his estate possessed.

  The finished structure would span an area of 100 by 100 meters, but instead of Ivory, Sokram chose Onyx this time.

  The gigantic monolithic building appeared to have eight floors, but had only four.

  The fourth floor was a colossal auction house with four levels, multiple shared and private cabins, luxurious decoration, carmine leather and tapestry, and crimson steel-bark.

  On the first floor, Sokram built a huge restaurant, hangout areas, and three huge spaces for his stores.

  The first would be a pharmacy for potions, pills, and other medicines. The second store would be for Sokram's Magitech products. The third floor was built to be a showcasing store, a place for his future business partners to showcase and sell their joint products.

  There were no lifts in the mall.

  Between the first and third floors, there were communal teleportation platforms that activated instantly.

  As for the auction house, there were no doors.

  Only direct teleportation platforms that would take his guests to their designated seats or cabins according to the runic keys hidden inside their invitation cards.

  “I must confess, your control over that Matter Manipulation spell evolved at an astounding pace. It’s amazing as it’s scary, Sokram.” Cecille’s jaw felt tight, her throat dry.

  She had to swallow twice before she could speak, her eyes fixed on his back, glinting with longing, envy, and the sharp edge of ambition.

  She was there to oversee the demolition and rebuilding of the new building and was as impressed as every other onlooker around as Sokram's display of Magi became another public spectacle.

  The Building Sokram was forming was in the same location he had acquired from Snowhearts during the negotiations in the first family heads' meeting.

  Just as he promised, he transformed the two buildings in the central square into something else.

  But no one expected it to be something so… monumental.

  “I just don’t understand why you insist on not using the family’s funds even now that you’re already fully recognized as the Patriarch,” Margiory complained because Sokram had bought every material for the building out of his own pocket.

  “He has his own plans, Marg. And I believe that he fears that if it fails, it would reflect poorly on you. The same way it would reflect poorly on me if he used my reputation as publicity for his stores,” Hannah answered, making clear she also wanted to support his endeavors.

  “But what is this building that it needs to be in the central square of the market district?” Brunhild asked.

  Yet, that was a question they all wanted an answer to.

  “Can’t you all see I’m trying to focus?” Sokram snapped, out of breath. Despite his control over the spell, it didn’t mean it was easy.

  Not only had he dissolved two entire buildings, but reorganizing every molecule into a new and bigger building was taking so much mental power that, though he no longer needed to chant it to cast the spell, it still took most of his concentration.

  “Huff… We can talk after I finish, let me focus.” Sokram spoke, his tone a mix of commanding and complaining as a few slick beads of sweat traced a burning path from his temple to his jawline.

  His hands outstretched, his body trembling slightly as he guided the spell. They quivered once by the distraction, then stabilized.

  He didn't dare move to wipe the sweat away, not to risk losing control of the spell. Especially when he was so close to finishing the building's reformation.

  Still, no one could say that his control over the spell was anything but masterful.

  Lucy, who had been quietly watching, approached, moving with the silence of a fox stalking prey on the northern snow.

  She didn’t speak, merely summoned a pristine, cool cloth and began gently dabbing the sweat from his brow, her touch soft as a feather.

  Savannah, standing on his other side, doubled her focus as she continued siphoning mana from Hannah into his Core.

  “You should have hired a crew instead of forcing yourself to this extent. You would also create jobs for the city.” Astrid chimed in jokingly.

  “This is also training,” Amber explained.

  She opened a book and showed Astrid the new, improved version of the spell, “If all he wanted were to demolish the building, he would have already finished without even siphoning mana from Lady Hannah.”

  Miralyn sighed, the tension visibly easing from her shoulders as she melted back into Hilda’s steady embrace, her back resting against Hilda’s chest, “Why go through all of this in the first place?”

  “Because I can.” Sokram's voice came out sharper than intended, edging on impatience.

  At the sharp edge of his voice, the air around them seemed to crackle and then settle into a silence.

  The women exchanged quick, knowing glances, their arguments immediately abandoned, and Sokram was finally able to focus, speeding up the process.

  But he wasn’t satisfied, though the molecular level had been reached, the atomic one remained a distant dream.

  ‘Damn! Is it still too soon? I’ll have to start working to improve my bloodline soon. I need more mental power.’

  It took him another hour to completely rebuild the entire building without wasting a single molecule.

  Once he was done, he raised six-meter-tall walls that enclosed the enormous shopping center, leaving only a single gate for his staff to begin the preparations for the grand opening in a few months.

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  He also inscribed many runic wards to ward off curious intruders, leaving some Defensive Mets in place for vigilance.

  He ended the day’s work by placing a signboard with the words, ‘Work in Progress – Keep Out!’

  As his family watched Sokram's back, they still found it hard to believe how strong he had grown.

  His back was much broader, his body still lean thanks to his elven bloodline, and his muscles were so compressed that they seemed to be made of steel.

  And now Sokram stood 1.85 meters tall, and the only one he still had to look up to meet her eyes was Leona.

  “So, can you tell us why you got this building in the first place, son?” As soon as she was sure Sokram was done, Brunhild no longer held her curiosity back.

  “Yeah, I can,” Sokram grinned mischievously as he started leading the way back home while ignoring the crowd that had formed around.

  As Sokram and his family walked, the crowd parted, giving them passage. No one dared to stay in their path or even inquire about the building.

  “So?” Hannah, who was also curious, no longer found it easy to see through his move.

  “I said I can, I didn’t say I would, Nana. You guys will have to wait and see.” Sokram shot back, teasing them further.

  Then, turning to Amber, not giving his three grandmothers time to rebuke, he raised a brow, inquiring, “Did you see it?”

  “Yes, Master, I think I can understand now.” Amber nodded with a thoughtful expression.

  Sokram smiled and patted her head proudly, “Good, then keep training that new Mana Manipulation technique. It may be harder than the last one, but it’s a lot better and will push your mana control and cognitive capacity to the next level.”

  “But don’t force your mind to break its locks. Instead, force them loose, little by little, until they open naturally, alright?” As Sokram finished instructing her, Amber nodded and smiled broadly while enjoying her head pats.

  Savannah let out a small, wounded huff, her lips forming a perfect, stubborn pout. “Where are my head pats? I was working with you all this time!”

  Sokram chuckled and pulled her by the waist and kissed her lips, something he started doing regularly since he had turned fifteen and felt his coming of age was nearing.

  After breaking the kiss, he met her eyes, “Happy now?”

  Savannah’s cheeks blushed profusely, radiating the flush down her pale neck. She could only manage a quick, shy nod, her eyes closed, avoiding the onlookers as she rested her head against his chest.

  But the hint of a smile on her lips told that, despite her shyness, she loved his boldness toward her.

  “You truly aren’t going to tell us, baby?” Margiory hugged Sokram’s arm.

  Pressing herself against him, as if she were a young lady hugging her boyfriend, her sultry tone lacing every word, “Nana is dying with curiosity, baby.”

  That almost made Sokram laugh, and if she wasn’t so beautiful, he might have.

  Not because of the plain attempt to seduce him into sharing his plans, but because she was clearly jealous of the kiss Savannah gained.

  “It’s not time yet. Besides, I’m not entirely sure my plan will work. Still, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to own that spot on Eversnow's Central Square.” Sokram circled his arm around her waist after swiftly freeing it from her grasp and planted a kiss on her forehead.

  Then he added, “And I’m not using the family funds because of this uncertainty, like Nana Hannah said, it might fail.”

  “I don’t mind if it fails, your position as the patriarch is safe,” Margiory was certainly mentioning that without Adulwulf and Mikhail, no one would dare contest it now.

  Sokram nodded but smirked tiredly. “Yeah, but I don’t want to give anyone any justification to contest your choice in front of the Elders,”

  “Besides, although I can feel my coming of age approaching, I can tell there’s still time to do more before it.” A knowing smile formed on his lips.

  “Sigh, stubborn!” Margiory crossed her arms and freed herself from his grasp, rushing her steps ahead of him.

  But right at that moment, they heard someone calling, “Hey! Big Brother!”

  Looking at who was calling, Sokram saw a Night Elf with raven dark hair, standing at 1.75 meters, with a lean yet well-trained body, with a cultivation at the Tier 1 True Existence, running toward them.

  Sokram’s eyes lit up as he greeted him, “Why are you calling me big brother when we are the same age?”

  “Well, you’re dating my big sister. Besides, you’ve been teaching me a lot, so you earned the title, haha,” Luke replied, and, different from the first time they met, Luke had nothing but respect and a hint of admiration in his eyes.

  “Sigh… Whatever, it feels strange, though. Anyway, why are you rushing? Did something happen?” Sokram could tell it wasn’t something life-threatening, but it should be urgent.

  “Mom told me to tell you: It’s confirmed, they are in the third location. She said you would understand. And she also told me to inform you that the new Matron is coming back to visit the new Patron soon.” Luke watched Sokram with a mix of expectancy and curiosity.

  “Good, thank her on my behalf, I may not be able to visit her anytime soon.” Sokram then summoned a ring from his Void Glove and handed it to Luke, “And give this to her, tell her it’s a gift from me for the help.”

  “A gift? Not payment?” As soon as these words left his mouth, Luke instantly regretted them.

  Especially knowing that the Purple Pavilion was very indebted to Sokram.

  Because not only had he been elevating their level of power since the start and without asking a single copper, but also because thanks to him, not only Sayuri, Lucille, and Ayame had evolved into Tier 10 Perfect Existences, but all ten Great Elders and the new Matron too.

  Their forces were now composed of a majority of Flawless and Exalted Existences. Most Mistresses of the Pavilion were all at the level of Tier 10 Semi-Perfect Existences.

  Now, not even the Elven Empire could get in their way, but they were still lying low under Sokram’s request.

  This also increased Lucille’s influence inside the Purple Pavilion and marked Eversnow as the seat of two Great Elders.

  Lucille and Ancestor Sayuri, marking the city as the central hub of their organization, and all because of Sokram.

  So he began being referred to as the Patron, which was a big deal for every member of the Purple Pavilion.

  “Sorry, I spoke too much,” Luke lowered his head, embarrassed.

  But Sokram just tapped his shoulder. “Heh, don’t worry, brother.”

  “But remember this, family holds no debt to each other. Yet... I wouldn’t use your mom’s help while offering nothing in return.” Sokram winked, pointing at the ring, “Now go, and be careful with that ring, hm?”

  “Yes, big brother!” Luke saluted Sokram formally and ran.

  The formal salute was an inside joke that Sokram reintroduced between them from his previous timeline.

  “You spoil that brat too much,” Lucy complained.

  “Well, he is bound to be my brother-in-law one day,” Sokram smirked at her.

  “Even if all I’m going to be is a concubine? Does that still make him a brother-in-law?” Lucy teased, but that only made Sokram pull her by her ear.

  “Ouch!” she complained, her fox-like ears twitching slightly.

  Yet, his gaze didn’t waver, sharp and severe, holding her own gaze in a serious stare.

  “How many times will I have to tell you? There won’t be any concubines in my harem. You’re all going to be equals. You may not be titled as a Pillar, but you’re going to be my wife, woman.” Sokram released her ear but held her by the waist, already towering over her.

  She bit her lips, looking up to him meekly and submissively.

  The desire in her eyes was unmistakable, which made his blood boil.

  “Sorry,” Lucy whispered, lowering her head and resting it on his broad chest, but to tease her further, Sokram bit the tip of her ear at the same time he caressed her tail, “Aah~”

  “Sokram! Stop teasing her like that, we’re in the middle of the street!” Miralyn reprimanded him.

  “Sorry, not sorry.” Sokram poked his tongue back at her.

  “You used to be cuter when you were younger. Now you’re just becoming a bully,” Brunhild complained, and the others nodded in agreement.

  Sokram released Lucy and rushed his steps to reach Brunhild, hugging her from behind, and kissing her cheek, “No need to be jealous, Nana. Besides, I may not be cute, but I’m the most handsome dragon around, so being a bully is just nature taking its course.”

  The women following could only chuckle at his shamelessness.

  Joking around with his women like that, they finally reached their home.

  Sokram sat on his triplex’s living room couch with Savannah sitting beside him and his family seated on the sofas around.

  His room had become the most-used hangout area of the enormous estate he built.

  It felt like a joke, but at the same time, he enjoyed their ever-present company.

  “The Dismissal Ceremony is tomorrow. Are you sure you won’t join another team? Why do you insist on joining the Extermination Hall?” Savannah frowned slightly.

  Sokram sighed, truly tired of justifying himself on the same subject for the hundredth time.

  He raised his hand, raising one finger, counting, “Because I want to freely explore our land, instead of just hunting monsters in the safe areas as we’ve been doing.”

  Raising another finger, he added, “I can also act freely, exterminating the bandits and orcs that have been infesting our lands lately. I’m pretty sure Frostaxe and Whiteland are supporting them. Just like those Necromancers.”

  Finally, raising a third finger, he concluded, “But I also want to test my fate and see if I can find any hidden treasures in our land, as there are many legends about lost relics and many other things around.”

  “I still don’t like it. I’m fine with you developing your power and evolving, but you’re still only a True Existence. Even with the Runic Blood Marks, you can at most beat a few Exalted-level warriors.” Hilda chimed in with a frown.

  “I agree,” Miralyn added, also frowning.

  “Sigh…” Sokram stood up from his seat, approached them, and hugged both, each with an arm,

  “You’re going to have to deal with it, sorry.” He kissed both on their foreheads and went for a bath.

  Hannah and the other two grandmothers could only chuckle.

  They could see that, whenever he exerted his will despite how caring he was with them, his careful, charming fa?ade of the son thinned by his growing power.

  The ancient existence inside the body of a young dragon, his real, domineering, draconic nature, found more room to grow. Blooming to maturity with each passing day.