Chương 306: Returning to the Golden Sap City.

After the fight, the group of leaders returned to the meeting room. Lord Caval was frowning when they sat, but he didn't speak up about his recent loss. He had wanted to knock these people down a peg due to the high interest all higher powers were placing on them. Over that, he wanted to have easy access to the <Golden Sap Province>'s resources. Moreover, he still remembered a few days ago the visit of the green-haired Sylvan.

'Alliance… Does it matter when we can be easily crushed?' He sighed and frowned.

'I acted like a braindead arrogant prick and gained nothing… Sigh. It was really not worth it.' He shook his head and looked at the three representatives. Madam Thalgryn took the lead once more, and she moved to speak about matters regarding other provinces. Flor listened closely and learned about a few conflicts that occurred all around. She also learned that Lord Stormrider had managed to take control of the grand part of the <Sunbound Shores Province>.

The <Golden Sap Forest> had the <Dark Aether Swamp> blocking their southern area and the <Wall Forest> the western region. Still, there were three provinces that shared a border with. These provinces were <Sunbound Shores Province>, <Deep Prairie Merchant Province>, and the <Ironwood Highland Province>. So, while the deal was that the <Glimmering Stone Peaks Province> would fall into a vassal state once Liu Shu's roots reached them, Flor knew that they would have no other choice even without the deal.

'With how far away they are, Liu Shu's strength will be egregious once her roots manage to reach that distance. Moreover, with the <Deep Prairie Merchant Province> in the way…' The Flower Fairy's intelligent mind managed to plan out the steps they needed to do. First, they needed to suppress the three provinces touching their border. Then, they needed to solidify their control. Finally, they would need to continue expanding and also start probing the <Wall Forest> and <Dark Aether Swamp>.

'Those two places act as natural barriers due to the large number of ridiculous monsters. I heard that there are even Level 50 and above creatures there, and if you go deeper, things might become even crazier.' Flor rubbed her forehead.

'Time. We can't rush things; we need time. Perhaps I can use their suggestions in my favor this way.' Madam Thalgryn's voice reached Flor.

"Now that these things are discussed. City Lord Flor, what would be your answer to our previous proposal?" Flor looked at the three leaders and showed a conflicted expression.

"Madam Thalgryn, I will be upfront. As I gained intelligence not long ago, my knowledge about your three powers is seriously lacking. I could make a decision, but there is also the problem that, in the end, I am not the one who makes those choices." Flor saw a few people looking confused, and she clarified, just in case.

"I am speaking about Lady Tianlian Liu Shu, Madam. She is the one who has the final say in everything." A person at the side from a relatively inconspicuous power shook their head.

"That's not good. How can a World Tree understand the nuanced vision and complicated nature of our politics? They are strong and wise, but that doesn't mean they have enough empathy or knowledge to know how to evaluate such a decision. Lady Flor should be the one taking such decisions instead of the World Tree." Flor didn't wait for anyone to respond and retorted right away.

"I fear that you have not interacted with a World Tree enough if that's your impression of them." The Flower Fairy didn't hide her disdain in her tone or facial expression. This triggered the other side, making them frown deeply.

"That's a deeply disrespectful thing to say, City Lord Flor." Flor returned.

"Your words are similarly disrespectful." Flor looked at Madam Thalgryn, ignoring that person.

"Regardless, I can't choose now. If I did, I would be betraying my oath, my consciousness, and my own self. Please, give me five years." The Count instantly shot down her offer.

"Five years is too much, City Lord Flor. We want an answer within months. Otherwise, you'll be considered an independent power. Your offenses will need to be paid in either large amounts of resources or other harsher ways." Flor frowned and spoke.

"I'll try my best. However, our World Tree currently can't respond. As long as I can't communicate with her, I can't answer you." Madam Thalgryn spoke at this time.

"Fair enough. We'll see what happens in the near future. However, Flor." Madam Thalgryn looked at Flor and warned her.

"If you try to attack my province after using that time to prepare an offensive, you'll fall into the category of hostile powers, and we will not be merciful. Once a power enters that list, very rarely do they survive or manage to make it back into the neutral power list." Flor nodded firmly.

"Understood." The rest of the meeting was not that important. It was more about the allocation of nearby ore mines, how the ownership was going to be divided depending on contributions, and also a few maps warning people of the location where they suspected the Nexus to focus during the following months. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Later that same day, Flor was looking out of the window of the carriage that was traveling back to Golden Sap City.

As Madam Thalgryn promised, she had been protected from the people trying to kidnap her. Flor sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"What do you think, Verena?" Verena smiled faintly and commented.

"I think that you've handled it very well. I see no problems in following your plans." Flor pouted.

"But my plan is delaying… Nothing more."

"Isn't that fine?" The melodic voice made Flor look over, her gaze landing on the new person returning with them.

"So, why are you returning with us in the same carriage?" The Sylvan blinked twice and smiled.

"Because I am here to accompany you and become allies!" Flor deadpanned.

"Be honest. Do I look stupid?" Harmonixia hummed, her vocal cords making quite a pleasant sound. After a while, Harmonixia confessed.

"Okay. I want to get to know Lady Tianlian Liu Shu and try to make our relationship close." Flor leaned on the side of the carriage, looking up at the tall Sylvan.

"... Why?" Flor tilted her head.

"Be it you, Cinderielle, Verdantia, and Tempestria. It's strange how all of you got so attracted and dedicated to her." In this carriage, there were only Verena, Eila, Flor, and Harmonixia. So Flor was not afraid that the other three Sylvans would interrupt the conversation. Harmonixia became pensive and rubbed her thigh up and down thoughtfully.

"In my case, it was her voice. When I listened to her the first time. When she made the province-wide announcement. At that moment, I felt my very soul resonate." Harmonixia's eyes became somewhat glazed as she remembered that moment.

"The harmony in her voice, the frequency, the touch of gentleness within such a powerful statement. The power behind the otherwise soothing voice. The chorus of the forest echoing her voice… A creature with a voice of that caliber is worthy of my, Harmonixia's, love." Verena, Eila, and Flor felt their lips twitch while looking at the Sylvan. Eila blurted, looking at Flor.

"Are the other three as crazy as this one?" Flor looked at Verena and sighed.

"Yes. The three of them." Verena cleared her throat and weakly protested.

"My baby is not…" Flor interrupted and basically spelled it out word for word.

"All. Three. Of. Them." Looking at the purple and blue-haired Sylvan, she corrected herself.

"Four of them from today onwards." Verena sighed, looking out of the window with a melancholic expression.

"Who knew my precious girl would become someone like that? Perhaps her knowing I kidnapped my husband has not really helped much in preventing it." Eila and Flor felt a droplet of sweat falling down their temple.

"Ah!" Harmonixia suddenly exclaimed, startling the other three. The Sylvan returned to an elegant and refined attitude and smiled.

"Lady Flor is truly exceptional. I thought that you would lack in some aspects due to your past identity as a monster. However, my expectations were blown out of the water! I will be quite comfortable working under you." Flor warned her, her tone unhappy.

"I do not take part in leading the city. So, you better not pile work my way. I just want to laze around and take care of Liu Shu as her mother." Verena chuckled and asked, curious.

"You've completely adopted her as your child, eh? That's quite adorable. What pushed you to this decision?"

"That's a good question…" Flor tilted her head and muttered, asking herself.

"How did I end up in this position?" The other three waited for a few moments before Flor nodded, her tone confident.

"Right. She was just too cute, so I ended up adopting her." This time, it was they who felt their eyebrows tremble.

'How is this not the same as what Harmonixia and the others are trying to do!?' Their carriage ride was fun and interesting, and Flor got to know Harmonixia a bit better. The woman was a Sylvan attuned to sound. Her main attribute was Anima. Of course, her Aether stat was not low either. Other than that, she revealed her current level, Level 32. This surprised Flor and the others. After all, unlike Verdantia and the others who had Liu Shu's Delicious Berry's aid, Harmonixia reached this level by pure effort.

Her base of operation, which was moving into the Golden Sap City, would be comprised of music saloons. They were a nice method to collect information and one that, with enough workers, could easily spread. Verena was interested in taking part on that.

"Do you want capital? I can make a small investment." Eila added.

"If your information chain and mine join hands, we can easily penetrate other provinces." Harmonixia's lips arched faintly and nodded.

"Sure. But I have conditions." Verena chuckled.

"Go ahead. I didn't expect anything less." Harmonixia looked at them seriously and stated.

"First, I want Lady Verena to not come in my way of courting Tianlian Liu Shu!" Verena's expression cracked.

"W-What?" Harmonixia sighed and crossed her arms.

"Your daughter, Verdantia, is quite attractive and I guess she has already cultivated a close relationship with Liu Shu. Therefore, when I start my courting, I'll need to squeeze myself in Liu Shu's vast and soft heart. You are very intelligent, and to make your daughter have an advantage, you might interrupt my attempts! I can't have that happen." Flor, Eila, and Verena didn't even know how to respond. Harmonixia didn't care, though. Her singlemindedness was unparalleled. She stared at Eila and blurted.

"My condition for you is to give me ALL the information you have on Liu Shu! I want to know everything about her!" Both women looked at Flor and saw the Flower Fairy rolling her eyes.

"What are you looking at me for? I said I wouldn't interfere as long as they had no bad intentions. It is up to both of you to accept or not." And so, both Verena and Eila turned to look in the direction of the Sylvan, whose eyes glowed in a severely unsettling manner.

'Liu Shu's pursuers are… extreme.'