From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

"Please feel free to tag along this morning while I deal with some of my meetings. Just try to stay hidden until I finish all the meetings, okay?" Jedo suggested as they slowly began to walk down the stairs. "I could probably convince them that you're like a pet or something. It's not uncommon for weird creatures to exist; not saying you are one, of course," she added.

Blue looked around, only half paying attention, and exclaimed, "Oh my goodness, this place is so beautiful!

The granite floors are so shiny, and all this gold on the wall! What exactly did your parents and family do again?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you another day, okay?" Jedo replied as they continued their descent. Blue, a bit annoyed, acquiesced,

"Okay, I guess." But her attention quickly shifted as she hovered over a large painting. "Wow, you really have an amazing house, Jedo. So, is this your parents?"

Jedo nodded, looking up at the painted portrait of her parents. They had their arms around each other, both wearing matching outfits of black and red.

Jedo responded, her voice softening as she gazed at the portrait. "Yes, that's them. They always liked to coordinate their outfits; it was their little thing."

As they continued walking through the opulent hallway, Jedo could sense Blue's curiosity bubbling up again. Still, she hoped the fairy would respect her desire to focus on the upcoming meetings.

"They were quite the pair, involved in many ventures that helped build all this," she continued, gesturing broadly at the surrounding luxury. "I promise to share more about them and our family history when we have more time."

Blue, still floating near the painting, gave a small nod and replied, "I look forward to hearing all about it. But for now, I'll try to be the best 'invisible pet' you've ever had during your meetings."

With a playful chuckle, Jedo appreciated Blue's effort to lighten the mood.

As Blue nestled comfortably in Jedo's pocket, she drifted in and out of sleep, catching glimpses of Jedo handling various forms of paperwork and collaborating with a man dressed in a black suit and red bow tie.

"Hmmm, so weird," Blue thought to herself, somewhat puzzled by the mundane intricacies of human affairs.

Later in the day, Blue watched attentively as Jedo addressed a group seated around a large round table that resembled a dining table. The setting was formal, with papers and folders neatly arranged in front of each participant.

"Good evening, gentlemen and women," Jedo began, her voice steady and confident. "I have finished the quarterly project as my father used to do. Please let me know if you find any errors in them as I am still learning the process."

She handed out folders to each person at the table. Most smiled and offered nods of approval, though one man in a white suit and heavy beard voiced a more critical perspective.

"I see you have a good teacher, but you lack the ruthlessness your father had to build what he has," he stated, his tone both challenging and somewhat respectful.

"But for your first time, you've done well, all things considered," he continued. "We just need to dial in sending money, say to the water district. Do they really need a 2% increase in revenue allowance spending?"

Jedo, standing firm, addressed Senor Randolph directly, "The main reason for this is that the water district has dealt with a lot of storms this year, and they have reported significant damage to their housing."

Randolph countered, "That makes sense at first glance, but they spend over half their days fishing and providing sea life for the kingdom."

Jedo nodded. "Well, that is correct, but I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"You will with time, young lady," Randolph replied with a hint of condescension. "The coastline districts will require verification on all claims because they often withhold the food they find for the kingdom. The water districts haven't been given an increase in over 10 years because they simply don't need it; they are self-sufficient with the food they keep for themselves."

He continued, "Meanwhile, if you look at the inner district west that has a famine problem, they received a 1% revenue raise when they could have been given 3% if you weren't tricked by the Water Districts."

Jedo kept her head low as the room watched on, then Randolph spoke, his tone easing slightly, "It's okay though, you're still learning all of this and, all things considered, you didn't do anything terrible like give 5% to anyone."

Closing the folder, he continued, "But enough of that, I think we can finish the full report check another day. My initial grade for you, though, is a B+. What say all of you quiet campers?"

Jedo slightly glanced around as everyone took another look through their folders before nodding. They closed their folders with murmurs of "It's okay," and "I suppose."

Trying not to smile, Jedo listened as Randolph shifted the topic dramatically, "Now let's discuss the big piece in the room, something your father only did once—and that's be a lead sponsor in the Arena of Life!"

"Now that's an insane gamble, young lady, and if it doesn't work out, you could find yourself out of the house itself and being unable to carry the family crest anymore. You understand this, right?"

Jedo, gripping her hands tightly, nodded and responded with conviction, "That's right, I am fully aware that the 49% stake I put in would really turn heads. But after seeing the Demon fight and his display of power, I believe this is one of the times to make such a move. This could jump the family line to a top 3 house."

"Not could, it would," Randolph stated, his tone shifting from skepticism to a cautious endorsement. "It's never been done before, but if anyone could make it happen, we trust the daughter of your late great-father could figure it out."

He paused, his expression turning serious again. "Though I still have my concerns with this, as when your father made his largest bet, it came in his second year and it was an 8% bet on someone who finished top 5."

"With a 49% stake bet, anything other than this Demon winning the entire thing will leave everything in ruins. And the problem is, he's this big piece that everyone is eyeing. I hope you know what you were doing, Lady Jedo,"

Jedo gave a slight bow, her expression composed and determined. "I have faith in him. I believe he will be able to make some unlikely friends that no one here will see coming," she stated confidently before taking her seat.

"Oh, so you know something we don't about this Demon, huh? That does ease my mind a bit, knowing you aren't doing things off a whim," Randolph commented, his tone a mixture of intrigue and relief. "But even the best plans can become the worst if they don't work out."

He then concluded, "But I believe that is everything we have for today. We will coordinate another meeting on the third continent during the Arena games to watch. You being the leading sponsor nets you the best seats to the whole thing."

The meeting disbanded with a mixture of apprehension and anticipation, leaving Jedo to ponder the enormity of her decisions and the potential impact on her family's legacy. As the others left, she remained seated