"Shouldn’t you introduce yourself first after everything you’ve done, woman?" Aphryne shot back without hesitation.

"Ah." Azara blinked before letting out a soft chuckle and nodding in agreement. "Indeed, I’ve been rather rude towards you young ladies. Allow me to apologize with a proper introduction." Her tone became noticeably friendlier compared to before. "I am Azara Blazeshade, a Senior Professor of the Resonant Trynium Academy. A direct student of one of the Thirteen Sentinels—The Slumbering Miasma, Morgana Venom-Tongue. A prodigy of House Blazeshade and the Patriarch’s direct daughter—though merely one amongst many."

She smiled proudly. "Material Ascension rank five and spiritual Ascension rank three, High Monarch."

"Blazeshade?" Auguszta repeated with visible curiosity. "As in one of the ruling powers from the human side? The Southern Region?"

Azara confirmed the fact with a smiling nod. Afterwards, the three sisters also introduced themselves.

"I am Clementine Ezodious," Clementine spoke calmly.

"Aphryne Norain Lyothoz Ezodious," Aphryne followed shortly after.

"And I’m Auguszta Pride Ezodious," Auguszta introduced herself with her usual cheerful smile.

"Ezodious?" Azara repeated the name, now becoming even more confused and intrigued by the three women before her. "I’ve never heard of any family with that name residing within the City of Varion. Yet the two of you possess such high spiritual Ascension ranks. With talent like that, it should’ve been an impossibility for your family to remain unknown to the major houses. There should have been some Information available regardless."

She gave the three another glance, her gaze sharpening. "Are you three, by any chance, from one of the other cities near Varion? Though we come from the same world, in the end, we are still competing for resources here, so if you are from there... I would suggest you leave immediately." Azara voiced her warning in a serious tone. From her expression, it was clear that she wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate them if they were truly from one of the other cities, coming to Varion and exploiting its resources.

"No, we are not from any other city," Clementine instantly shot down the suspicion. "In fact, in our family, aside from us three sisters, there is only one more member—our husband." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"H-Husband!" Azara stuttered, appearing genuinely shocked. Even in her wildest dreams, she could never imagine these three women to be married to someone, let alone be married to the same man. Suddenly, in their presence, she felt very self-conscious. Despite her age, she was still single and a virgin.

They smiled, finding amusement at the expressions of this awkward and flustered woman.

Clementine suddenly remembered something. "You just mentioned that you’re a Senior Professor at the Resonant Trynium Academy, correct?"

On hearing her question, Azara instantly composed herself, also picking up on where Clementine was going with her query. "Yes, indeed I am Senior Professor Azara. Therefore, I will try to do my best to grant you any one request as an apology for my earlier rudeness."

Clementine smiled. She really liked smart people; they were so easy to talk with. "It’s not anything difficult of a request, just that I want to know if it is possible for my little sister and husband to join the Academy at this odd time, when the admissions are already closed."

"That..." Azara went into a thoughtful state. Just as she said, it wasn’t anything hard for someone like her, but a situation where a student wanted to enroll in the academy mid-session had never happened before, so she still had to confirm it with her own teacher.

"How about a counter-offer instead?" She refocused on them. "Fulfilling your request is not difficult, but I still need to confirm it to not promise something I cannot do, so I’ll need some time. As for my offer..." She focused on Auguszta specifically. "How about you becoming a Junior Professor at the Resonant Trynium Academy, Auguszta? With such a strong spiritual ascendant like you joining our ranks, I think it won’t be any problem granting your big sister’s request afterwards."

Azara was recruiting them alright. Her thoughts were straightforward here; she could already see that the three would most definitely reach rank six. Considering all three had the same man as their husband, it was only natural for him to be even more talented too. In time, with their presence as prospective rank six ascendants, the academy’s influence in Varion would increase even more, and she would also get some good contribution points for bringing in such talents. Such a selfish woman she was, granting a favor in the name of an apology even, but the poor her just didn’t know the actual truth.

Meanwhile, Auguszta was in her own dilemma. What should I do, big sister? I don’t know what a junior professor is. Is it the same thing Anastasia spoke about, the one who teaches? But I don’t know who to teach either. Or is it a different thing altogether?

She was really confused here and didn’t know the correct response, but her confusion and questions only appeared adorable in Clementine’s eyes. With patience, she explained what a junior professor was to her uneducated little sister in detail.

So I should accept the job, yes?

Indeed, that way you will also get to spend some time with Aezaleon in the Academy too.

Auguszta nodded, accepting the job right away, making Azara elated at the positive response.

Their talk continued for some more time, with them also deciding to have a meeting first thing in the morning for Aezaleon to meet Azara and for Auguszta to be briefed on the major details about the test she had to take to become a Junior Professor of the Resonant Trynium Academy too.

In the end, the manager was finally here, and the second he came before the guests he bowed, apologizing for the delay as an urgent matter had gotten him busy. Afterwards followed the transfer of funds, with Azara doing her own transaction to get the serpent-type Calamity. After she was done, she bid her farewell, taking the Calamity with her.

Clementine also took a minute to go through the scroll. It was a skill she was going to gift her husband, so she decided to be thorough. She nodded towards the manager, who was already sweating buckets and smiling forcefully, just wanting these three women to leave the Auction House as soon as possible. Clementine also noticed this peculiarity but didn’t think much of it. She ended the transaction in under a minute and was already on her way out when the door of the hall was pushed open, with a young man walking inside with the arrogance of someone who owned the world.

"Sir, you can’t bargain like that!" the manager shouted immediately, his voice frustrated and angry. "Haven’t I told you many times already? The item has been sold, and you can’t get it no matter what you do!"