Overlord Empress - Chapter 100 WAITING IN ANTICIPATION

Monster World, Human Empire, Capital City Eden.

Its been 200 years since the start of the world event. Millions of cultivators from the world started to visit Eden to participate in this event, while majority of them are here to personally see the event.

Even with the additional increase of millions of foreigners, the capital city was still able to accomodate them all. Taking the huge traffic into account, various temporary lodgings were created around the Eden to house all these foreigners. There were even entertainment facilities and markets were created around these lodgings to keep the foreigners entertained and to also increase the revenue of the Empire, by selling various local products to the foreigners.

There are also 20 huge arenas built in the capital city Eden. Actually these arenas are used as training grounds for the soldiers of the imperial family. Even though there is no war on monster world at the moment, Ichika gave strong instructions to always train the soldiers to be battle ready at any moment. Since she already recruited soldiers, providing them with armaments and jobs, it will only be foolish of her to just keep feeding these soldiers and let them rot. So even during peace times, she ordered the generals to train the soldiers, as if they are making preparations for war. Since the pay was good and they were treated with respect and  honour by the Imperial family, generals and civilians these soldiers also worked hard. This is also the reason why the soldiers of the human Empire are the strongest forces on Monster world.

During the event time, of the 20 training grounds 10 of them are used as arenas. While the soldiers and all the training equipment will be temporarily moved to the other 10 training grounds. For the next 1000 years, these soldiers had to adjust themselves to the 10 training fields. But given the massive size of the training fields, each training field could easily accommodate all of these soldiers. But Ichika didn’t want to, because she want to give enough room for all of these soldiers to train properly.

While converted to arenas, each of these training field can easily host upto million spectators. While the important quarters and offices of the soldiers and generals are completely sealed away. There are 15 fights held daily in each of these arenas. While monitoring crystals are placed on all the corners of the arena, to allow spectators to watch these battles up close. During the fights the arenas will be covered by formations to avoid interference from the crowd using their soul sense to influence the result of the fight.Fights are strictly prohibited in the stands between the spectators, if they break the rule, then they will be barred from entering the arenas forever.

Since the development of technology, most of the media clans actively participated in broadcasting this events live to all corners of the world. But this system changed with the entry of Princess Astarte into the entertainment industry.

She used her company, Aira International Company to bid massively for the exclusive broadcasting rights of the event. This is the first of it’s kind on Monster world, so even though other media clans lost their right to host the event, they also felt Princess Astarte was foolish enough to spend a fortune on the broadcasting rights. They don’t know why she is wasting so much money and how is she going to recover her losses.

But what followed shocked the entire media clans and the world. For the first time she introduced glamour, presenter, advertisements and debate sessions on her channel. She used beautiful and famous reporters to act as news readers, while she trained a particular group of powerful cultivators, who are knowledgeable and good at description as presenters.

Even though most of the viewers are cultivators, there are 15 to 20 times mortal viewers. Because of the high level movements and techniques used during the fights, they have no idea on how the battles concluded. So these presenters are there to describe these fights live to all the viewers, as if picturing the entire fight before their very eyes. Astarte even ran a special highlight section of the battles in slow motion later for the viewers, confirming the presenter description. This helped her channel gain a lot of recognition.

She also collected the data of all the participants in the event and held a debate sessions inviting powerful cultivators who are familiar with the participants, before every match. This gave a proper idea to the audience on the strength and weakness of the 2 fighting contestants and helped them to place their bets.

With all this done, she invited various industries and organisations to ran advertisements during the break of every fights.

Every media clan was surprised by the innovations she introduced during the broadcast of the event. When everyone thought she was going to suffer a massive loss because of her extravaganza, Aira International Company officially announced that they earned close 120 times their initial investment.

The numbers almost caused the heads of the media clans to faint from shock. So they ordered a special investigation to learn how she earned such massive profits. The answer they received in return made them bash their heads in ignorance.

Since all the media clans members are cultivators, they ignored the happenings of the mortal world. Even though there are some rich clans among the mortals, they are only given attention during special occasions only. Compared to the cultivators, the population of mortals is easily 100 times higher.

Astarte leased vast lands to held special screenings of the fights during the event to the mortals. In the eyes of mortals, these cultivators are like gods. So they rushed towards these screening locations to view the fights among the so called gods. Astarte collected a single low grade spirit stone as entrance fee. Compared to high level spirit stones, low grade spirit stones are very common and can be exchanged at the banks for 100 gold.

Most of these mortals exchanged 100 gold for 1 low grade spirit stone and paid it as entrance fees. Astarte also ran special booth to sell food, drinks, toys and other goods with the cooperation from merchants at these screening location. For that, she earned a part of their profits. Even though she earned in small quantities from these screening locations, when you combine with the number of locations, her profits reached high numbers. She exchanged these low grade spirit stones at the banks for high grade spirit stones. She also took large payments from the companies to play their adds.

When the answers were presented before the media clan heads, they created a specialist group to study the system of Astarte and improve it.

From them on there was massive bidding by various media clans for the broadcasting rights of the events.But every time Astarte won the bidding using her influence and money. But It all changed, when the events started to permanently be held in Eden.

Just like Astarte, Ichika was also a reincarnated individual. She knew Astarte was only doing this to earn profits. But in forcefully suppressing other media clans, she is earning their ire. Which may one day force her competitors to come after her life.

So she introduced territory system for the broadcasting rights. For example, Astarte can only bid for the rights to broadcast in Dragonoid race lands only. Similarly other media clans can only bid in their own respective races lands. This system, gave other media clans to also earn well during the events and neutralize the hatred they held towards Astarte.

But being the teacher of Astarte, Ichika allowed Astarte to setup a proxy media company in Human lands. Both Ichika and Astarte are partners in this company. When both of them combine, it is easy to win the bidding rights in human race lands. Even though Astarte lost global broadcasting  rights. she was able to get her hands on Dragonoid and human race lands. With the increase of profits, the various media clans also added colour to the competition.

Various representatives from other races also arrived in Eden. They are currently settled in special palaces prepared by Zetsu, to suit their status. Emperor Tianlong, his son Zhulong and their followers are staying in their allocated palace. While Astarte settled in the royal palace, as she is the disciple of Ichika, she has her own courtyard in the royal palace.

Emperor Luke Lionheart instead opted to settle outside Eden, creating his own encampment. He doesn’t like crowded places.

While the demon race emperor Lucien Morkath arrived in Eden with huge part of his harem and his children. The whole world knows about Lucien hobby of collecting beauties, so Zetsu prepared a bigger palace for him in Eden.

The Dwarven representatives preferred to spend most of their time in Osteria Gourmet kitchen drinking all the time than staying in their allocated palace.

The Gnome representatives preferred to stay inside their palace reading the books they brought about plants and machines in the capital bookstores.

The elves don’t have Emperor or Empress. But they are divided into Light and Dark races. Even though they are divided, there is no question about their unity. It is just they prefer to stay in places that suit their own race the most. Both the races have their own King and Queen. Each time one of the royal members of these 2 races will act as the representatives of the entire Elven race. The current representative is Queen Elmyra Morningglory of dark race. She is also the grandmother of Alvian, who is a co owner of Nightwing organisation.

The streets of Eden were extremely crowded for the last 200 years. But 4 days ago  there was an official decree issued from the royal palace, that the event competitions for the next 4 days are cancelled and will be held 4 days later.

The reason is, the Parents and Ancestors of Empress Ichika are arriving in Eden today. Just to reduce the traffic on the streets, they decided to cancel the events for 4 days. Zetsu and the officials expected there would be less crowd, but currently the entire path from the Eden city North entrance to the royal palace were completely filled by local citizens and foreigners, who are vying for best spot to look at the family members of Empress Ichika.

If it wasn’t for the soldiers effort to clear the way and forming human barricade, there would definitely be stampede when they arrive.

Even the various representatives and Emperors Tianlong, Luke Lionheart and Queen Elmyra are also observing the scenes at the entrance with their soul sense.

There is also a special group of visitors to Monster World, who are more eager to know the actual background of Empress Ichika. They are none other than the Boda family and representatives from other sovereign rulers.

Just as all of them were waiting, Empress Ichika, Prince Zetsu,Shisui, Itachi, Kin, the 12 clan heads and various ministers appeared outside the palace and started to take up positions according to their rank. While Kuro is personally leading the black armored imperial guards to make sure there are no accidents.

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Author’s Note: First chapter of the day. This chapter also marks the official 100 chapter of the story. Thanks for the support of all the readers. With this chapter, I also finished posting the 2 missing chapters of the last week. There will be another chapter at regular time. Enjoy the read and keep voting.