A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

In City A, Sector 18 housed the largest airport in the city. Due to Sector 18 being an economic hub, the airport was primarily used for private chartered planes of businessmen, VVIPs, and high-ranking politicians.

There were a total of three cities existing within a collection of land known as the Free Cities, where the central government operated in mutual collaboration with the royal family.

City A, City B, and City C each had their particular specialties while lacking any hierarchy among them. Each city possessed specific economic hubs and agricultural farmlands, with the land divided into sectors.

In a particular city, there could be up to 20 sectors, each known for its specialty. For instance, Sector 18 in city A was known for having the largest number of corporations and businesses related to IT and financial management, while Sector 17 contained the most reputed university in City A—Elite Academy.

The Arinphium Empire, spanning 13,686,097 square miles, was divided into three parts: the Kingdom of Thaloris, the Royal Kingdom, and the Free Cities.

Thaloris, home to the nobles, stretched across 7,000,000 square miles and was filled with farmlands and estates, covering 51% of the total landmass.

The Royal Kingdom, where the royal family reigned, covered 3,500,000 square miles of prestigious land, accounting for 25% of the landmass.

The Free Cities, each standing as a powerful entity, occupied 3,000,000 square miles, making up 22% of the total landmass.

In City A, its 20 sectors varied in size—Sector 18, the economic hub, covered 60,000 square miles, while Sector 17, housing the elite academy, spanned 40,000 square miles. This was the case in each city, where the sectors possessed sufficient landmass.

At the airport of Sector 18, there were fewer crowds today, as if the whole airport had been emptied out for some important guests' arrival, given that security was hardly dealing with more than dozens of reporters who were trying to enter at all costs once they got the news about the arrival of a private jet landing at the airport.

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Police forces were also engaged in keeping other people at a distance from the airport. All this made it evident that the person in question was a very important figure.

On the tarmac at the airport close to the runway, a convoy of black cars advanced towards a jet that had just touched down. When they halted, a number of figures in black coats emerged, accompanied by their secretaries who were toting briefcases.

The doors of the plane swung open, and the airstair began to lower. From inside, a man in a black suit stepped forward, his silver hair dancing in the breeze while his piercing sapphire eyes caught sight of several figures standing on the tarmac.

"Welcome, Sir Croceaus," the individuals approached, bowing towards the man who was stepping out of the jet, while they gathered around several cars that had come to collect Marquess Avendial. This sight left Aecilia feeling bewildered, as she noticed so many people were already informed of their arrival in City A.

'Pharma, IT, and construction,' as Avendial stepped off the plane, he unfastened his suit jacket and placed his hand casually in his pant's pocket. He glanced at the three figures at the front, aware that they were the prominent CEOs of the various factions within the Croceaus group. His attention then shifted to Aecilia, fully aware that she was likely feeling quite bewildered.

"Miss Aecilia, these are the chief executive officers of the leading businesses under the Croceaus Group in City A."

"I see..." Aecilia looked towards those people with a blank gaze, already aware of their identities, given the information network of the Sertsul family. Though the thing that mostly bewildered her was that she thought it was a secret date where Avendial wanted to spend some quality time alone with her without using his status.

But it appeared that he was again here on some business, not on a date with her.

Glancing at him, she sighed, understanding that he most likely just used her to visit the Free Cities to hide himself from the royal family.

Naturally, if someone like Avendial Croceaus left the Kingdom of Thaloris and entered the Free City, the royal family would likely start speculating about the reason for his arrival here, considering they already saw him as a threat due to his enormous wealth, which was enough to rival the royal family.

The threat that the royal family always assumed was that he would increase his grip on the central government, given that he could mold them into providing major projects and opportunities for businesses, thereby indirectly helping him increase his wealth.

So, the royal family was always wary of him on an external level, but not enough to feel threatened.

Aecilia, glancing at Avendial, felt it was really unfair after understanding why he had invested 13.5 billion imperial crowns in the Sertsul family—it was all for him to have an excuse to enter the Free Cities.

She couldn't help but feel that even while acting very approachable the previous night, while laughing, this man was indeed a business-minded individual.

Considering how he had invested such a large amount of money to fool the royal family into thinking that he had arrived in the Free City just to visit the sites or the projects where his money would be invested.

Aecilia would not have reached this conclusion if she had not realized after leaving last night that no money had been sent to the Sertsul family. Instead, it was sent this morning, proving that Avendial just wanted to let other noblemen know, so the news of his investment would reach the royal family sooner and cause them to turn a blind eye to his visit to the Free City.

The royal family's indifference likely stems from the limited financial flexibility of individuals whose wealth is predominantly tied up in land and property, rather than readily available liquid assets. This means that the royal family perceives that by investing 13.5 billion, Avendial would temporarily experience a significant loss, with any potential profits taking a long time to materialize.

Consequently, the situation is not seen as a threat but rather a favorable scenario.

"I see, so we are not going on a date today." Aecilia closed her eyes and leaned her head slightly to one side, one hand clasping the elbow of the other. She decided not to blame Avendial since he never referred to it as a date. Considering she had at least successfully obtained funds for her business, Aecilia opted for silence.

"Date? Miss Aecilia, I am engaged." Avendial drew a clear line between himself and Aecilia by bringing up his engagement, prompting her to gradually open her eyes as she turned to face him. He moved toward one of the cars—a stunning onyx black model—before opening the door and saying, "Though, of course, I would not mind going for a drive with you."

'He seems interested in her?' the men who held the positions of Chief Executives, currently just background characters in the presence of Avendial and Aecilia, couldn't help but think that the well-renowned business tycoon Avendial Croceaus had a romantic side to him.

"....sure." With a subtle press of her lips together, Aecilia lifted her head up and released a breath before heading toward the vehicle. She felt a sense of contentment knowing he intended to take her for a romantic drive (*her overactive imagination). However, just as she reached for the door on the opposite side from where Avendial was standing, he halted her progress.

"Oh, not there, Miss Aecilia. You are the one who's driving the car." Avendial arrived near her, pulled her aside, entered the car, and then shut the door.

"...." Aecilia stood still, processing everything.

'Ah, he seems interested in her being his driver.'