Chương 304: Flor's Dilemma. Lord Of The Glimmering Stone Peak.

Lord Of The Glimmering Stone Peak.

Flor needed to think about this. Did she expect to be one of the subjects or themes in this meeting? Well, she would be lying if she denied that. However, she didn't expect this to happen. It was also not a good thing. First of all, joining one of those three powers would lead to her automatically becoming rivals with the others. Moreover, Liu Shu was quite clear that she didn't want to follow anyone's orders.

'However, what can I even do? Reject all three of them? That's the worst option.' Everyone looked at Flor, and seeing how the fairy didn't move or answer, their sights became slightly interested.

'What is this fairy thinking about so much?' The silence was long enough that the Count spoke up, his tone questioning and with a hint of pressure.

"What have you been thinking for so long? While I understand that you might have your considerations, in truth, any option is correct." The Count leaned sideways, resting his handsome face on his fist.

"It is not really good for me to speak up, but regardless of whose power you choose, the other two will avoid pressuring you right away. This will allow you a few years to develop." Flor looked at the Count but didn't answer, her gaze uncompromised. Everyone around couldn't help but whisper slightly. Madam Thalgryn exhaled air from her nose.

"While what the Count said is correct, they have focused their efforts on the south. This part is the northeast area, so the Empire, which controls the center, will give you the most options. Not to mention, I am nearby, am I not? Both of these guys are beyond the <Wall Forest> and <Dark Aether Swamp>. The choice is obvious." The people in the room thought about what she said and felt that it made sense. Still, Flor couldn't come to terms with it.

'Is it really that obvious? I feel that it isn't.' Of course, the Vicar of the Verdant from the Covenant wouldn't give up that easily.

"We are in control of the north. The place that is the most connected to this section of the continent." His tone was soft and soothing. His aura felt calm and welcoming.

"If you become part of the Covenant, the organization with the most respect toward World Trees, your World Tree will receive the most benefits." Those words were similarly tempting. From what Flor heard, the Covenant was truly the organization that respected World Trees the most. They had the most World Trees under their banner, and not only that, they were altruistic enough to help other wild World Trees and similar flora like Life Trees and other powerful beings.

Strangely, they were not the global power with the highest Sylvan population. That was the Celestial Lotus Empire, and not by a small margin. There were more Sylvans in the Celestial Lotus Empire than in the Verdant Sanctity Covenant, Azure Rose Confederation, and Abyssal Void Nexus combined. This made it so that while being the least populated force of the four, they were also the global power that people feared the most. Even the Abyssal Void Nexus had to step carefully around it.

Flor sighed and rubbed her forehead.

'To summarize, joining the Azure Rose Confederation would make it so that the pending grudges we have will disappear. Joining the Celestial Lotus Empire is the one that can protect us the best. Finally, the Verdant Sanctity Covenant is the power that will benefit Liu Shu the most.' Summarizing that way, it made the Covenant the most tempting. Flor really didn't care much under what influence she and the others fell as long as Liu Shu could survive and thrive.

'However, if something happens to us, I can imagine that big girl becoming much more… cold-blooded. There are times when Liu Shu always shows a part of herself that scares me slightly. It feels so cold, so full of thirst for power, so full of disregard for everything that doesn't concern her well-being…' Her moments of reflection were accompanied by a slightly oppressive silence around the room. Even the whispers between people could be heard as unintelligible murmurs.

Madam Thalgryn spoke at this moment, knowing that Flor couldn't make a decision.

"It seems that you are not willing to answer it yet. Well, no matter." Flor looked up and saw her smiling faintly.

"We can hear your opinion by the end of this meeting. We are going to talk about many things. Hence, you should eventually be able to come to a conclusion."

"Um." Flor blinked twice, confused.

"Is that really okay?" Madam Thalgryn chuckled.

"It is if I say it. I am the organizer this time around. Hence, these two must at least obey my planning." She added.

"To be honest, I planned to make the offer before they arrived, going to your residence." The other two glanced at the tall and muscular woman with a hint of scorn. Madam Thalgryn noticed, but she just gave them a grin.

"I didn't do it because of this. Look how grumpy they are! Don't let their appearance deceive you, City Lord Flor. They might look young, but both are over 80 years old!" Flor's eyes widened slightly. They were clearly humans, a species with an average lifespan of 80 years. Yet, these two looked in their late thirties or early forties. The Count laughed once.

"Here speaks the one-hundred-and-two-year-old bearkin." This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. Madam Thalgryn's smile cracked slightly, and she glared at the count.

"Hey. Do you want me to kick you through that wall?" The Count answered fearlessly.

"I would love to see you try." Flor's eyebrows twitched.

'Over one hundred… Also, bearkin? She looks like a human…' Madam Thalgryn saw many curious eyes trying to catch her bear-related parts. So, she clarified.

"You can't see. They are my clothes. I have a relatively thick fur layer on my arms and legs. I also have a tail hidden by my hair. Anyway, let's start with the rest of the matters that we need to discuss over land. We'll start with the <White Forest Province>." Madam Thalgryn extended her hand, and a man stepped forward from the side, giving her a white paper. Flor looked at it with a strange gaze.

'That's paper crafted from the corpses of trees, right? Quite strange… Why not use the fallen leaves and shed bark as we do? There are plenty of tree species that shed often.'

"The <Ironwood Highland Province> attacked the <White Forest Province> together with Baron Lorbase. The army was nearly seventy-five thousand, and only ten thousand of those who didn't attack the Golden Sap Forest have returned alive. We discovered that two Sylvans from the Abyssal Void Nexus took part in this assault, Evangeline and Jolie. These two managed to escape. Their location is unknown." A man with a rather bloated belly asked from the side, curious.

"How many returned from the attack to the Golden Sap City?" Thalgryn looked at that person and smiled faintly.

"None." A few people couldn't contain a gasp. Thalgryn glanced at Flor's face and saw the fairy not showing gloating or success.

'Oh? She is not boastful of her success. This makes me want to be allied with her even more. Moreover, like Fortuna, Prarya might…' Thalgryn shook her head and continued.

"After this kind of achievement, not considering them as a Baron-level power would be ridiculous. Hence, from now on, the <White Forest Province> will fall under Golden Sap City's influence, changing its name to <Golden Sap Province>. Is there anyone who is against this motion?" Delia, Taro, and Eila stayed silent, giving Flor silent acknowledgment. Thalgryn was about to nod and move on when that same rather round person spoke up again.

"That easily? They are attacked by one person, they defend, and now they stand at this level? I don't want to be offensive, Lady Thalgryn. However, I find that ridiculous." Thalgryn's eyebrows furrowed for a second, her eyes flashing coldly for a moment.

'This person… Tsk. Annoying.' She looked over and asked, her tone mild and showing no emotions.

"What part of this is ridiculous, Lord Caval?" Lord Caval crossed his arms.

"You are giving them that title too easily. How much did I have to struggle until I was acknowledged as the Lord of the <Glimmering Stone Peaks Province>? I demand that you don't show favoritism because you've found something that interests you in there!" Thalgryn sighed and looked at Lord Caval.

"I want to ask you something, Lord Caval. Have you heard any complaints from the other City Lords of the now <Golden Sap Province>?" Lord Caval paused and looked over. By Flor's side, Eila, Delia, and Taro were staring straight at him with cold eyes. Their gazes were clearly oozing with disdain as if they were looking at a fool. Lord Caval didn't take a step back, though. Seeing those gazes, his pride was wounded, and he asked aloud.

"All of them are Level 30 weaklings. What right do they have to speak up?" Before Thalgryn spoke, a cold voice spread in the room.

"Weakling? Let's go fight, what do you think?" Everyone looked at the origin and saw the black-haired, purple-eyed, cold woman staring straight at Lord Caval. Eila's lips arched sneeringly and said.

"Or what? Are you afraid of a Level 30? Mister Level 40 is so strong. He should be able to stomp me to the ground, no?" Lord Caval laughed and looked at Eila with a pitiful gaze.

"You really think that you are something, eh? You do not qualify to fight against me, whoever you are." The Count suddenly spoke up.

"While Fortuna City has been absorbed by the Golden Sap City, on paper, they are still part of the Azure Rose Confederation…" His gaze chilled as he stared down at Lord Caval.

"Don't go over the line, Province Lord." Lord Caval's spine felt a chill climbing down his spine, goosebumps spreading around his body. Eila looked at the Count with a slightly surprised gaze, not expecting him to stand up for her. The Count gazed at Eila and sighed.

"While Lady Fortuna has not grown as we expected, and we basically gave up on your city, we never really planned to cast you aside completely. If you had asked for resources or reinforcements, we would've aided you." The Count muttered.

"You never were very receptive to outside aid, though. Even when I tried to be quite open with you… Still, the past can't be changed, so no need to speak about it anymore." Eila blinked a few times and looked down, thoughtful. She recalled that she and the previous City Lord had received a few letters from the Count. However, she never took them seriously and disregarded them as polite words to keep appearances.

'... Was I really too close-minded?' Lord Caval's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Since Lord Count has spoken up for you, I will be respectful and face you in combat." Eila blinked and looked at him. Seeing the sneer and mockery in his eyes, Eila immediately understood it.

'You want to humiliate me in front of everyone so that the Count's words have no effect… What's your objective with all of this?' Eila thought about the Glimmering Stone Peaks Province.

'A place with a rare lack of vegetation but full of minerals and other resources, like mines. Due to all the rare minerals, their wealth is at the top of this part of the continent. Their wealth is such that it can be compared with the previously undisputable number one economic influence, the Deep Prairie Merchant Province, which Madam Thalgryn controls. Sadly, since they lack flora, there is a lack of <Woodcrafting> related resources…' Eila's mind spun, and her eyes flashed.

'Does he want to use this chance to challenge us and control us? The <Golden Sap Province> is absolutely rich in such resources. But how…? Even if I lose, I can't see how he can spin the wool enough to reach that point…' Seeing Lord Caval standing up while looking at her with a shrewd gaze, Eila frowned slightly.

'I can't read him. Annoying.' She similarly stood up and snorted.

'Regardless, I won't lose.' The three main representatives didn't interrupt and allowed things to develop.