After the door closed, the harpies looked at each other and smiled.
One chuckled and commented wistfully. "If she weren't such an iceberg, Lady Cecile would be as attractive as our Matriarch."
"Right, her face is the definition of a peerless beauty. It's a shame she usually is expressionless."
"Well, Lady Cecile only has the Matriarch in her eyes."
"Right, whenever she looks at her, I can see the love practically dripping from her gaze."
Ghana sighed. "You girls have your minds in your lower half."
The harpies stopped and then laughed.
Ghana smiled helplessly. "Remember, they are our superiors. Don't try to seduce them."
One of the younger harpies commented. "But sister, Ghana. The Matriarch has a harem, so maybe she can choose some between us to join it, right?"
Ghana's face cooled down and warned. "Never say that again. I'll tell all of you this time, so listen closely."
"Our Matriarch may seem like an approachable person who would easily fall in love. But I can assure you that Lady Yasenia is warm on the outside but cold on the inside. Do not try to seriously flirt and fall in love with any of the seven Ladies. You'll regret it dearly."
They all stayed silent and took Ghana's words to heart.
Ghana saw that they took it seriously, and she relaxed her expression. "Our Matriarch will be someone important in the future. Her talent is unheard of even after her strength has reached her current height and appears to be still developing. She will skyrocket in the future and take over."
"If you don't want to be left behind, you should not be lazy with your cultivation besides your other responsibilities. Aim for the Epoch Core Body realm, or you'll only be regarded as secondary clan members in the future."
One of the oldest harpies, although she still looked like a well-groomed middle-aged woman, commented. "You have a lot of confidence in her."
Ghana didn't deny it but thought otherwise. 'More like confidence in Lady Yasenia; I have seen Lady Tatyana's prowess in person during the negotiation. Her alone can make any power reach for the stars. I couldn't read any action or thought with my level-two perception Intent. Not even the higher-ups from the Nine sects could escape scrutiny completely.'
Then she turned toward the others and ordered. "Create the registering model as fast as possible. Lady Tatyana is the most hidden between them, so you should be careful. Although the Matriarch is adept and has good concepts, they are sometimes too idealistic. Possible, but some things need to be streamlined and perfected. However, Tatyana's management method is beyond flawless. Her way of negotiating was like a devouring monster slowly swallowing her prey while the prey smiled and gave her gifts."
"Is it so exceptional?"
Ghana nodded solemnly. "The initial price for this mansion was five Heaven-grade and fifty Earth-rank items. In the end, they settled on two Heaven-grade items. However, if that was all, I wouldn't be that impressed. While negotiating, Lady Tatyana changed their perception of the situation and gave some hints to fight back, making them owe Lady Tatyana a favor. Furthermore, Lady Tatyana negotiated that future buys from them would have discounts, and whenever they didn't want a building in a city or were selling, they would contact us first."
They all were stunned. And the other six harpies that went with Ghana to accompany Tatyana confirmed her words.
One of them added with a wry smile. "By now, they should be regretting some of the deals. However, the liquidated damages make it so that it's not worth it to fight back for the benefits that regain."
Another one nodded. "They have been manipulated so thoroughly that they can't fight back after regaining their wits. If you see any person from the Lightning Squirrel Clan, you can almost consider them allies with certainty. Be careful, though."
Those in the management office that didn't go with Tatyana felt the pressure.
The others also gulped, changing the perception of their Ladies to someone much more profound.
Ghana warned one last thing. "I know some of you have dissatisfaction because your leaders are humans. However, their skill is certified as long as they have a tenth of Lady Tatyana's proficiency. Or, well, a tenth of what I've seen. Do not disrespect them. I can't save any of you if you do so."
Some harpies chuckled. "In any case, the humans are really a treat for the eyes."
"I know, right? Lady Andrea makes me want to ask her for head pats and praises! If she calls me a good girl, I may fall in love with her."
"On the contrary, I want to hug, cuddle, and pamper Lady Angel! Such a cutie big-breasted little girl."
"Lady Evelyn is very fun to talk to. Did you all know she has many albums filled with Lady Yasenia's photos? She has shown some of the photos, and they are fantastic."
Another Spirit Tailor nodded. "Not only that, she seems to be the general of a secret group called Yasenia's Super Lovable Ultimate Team. Or Yasenia's S.L.U.T for short."
Ghana and those who got the acronym choked and entered a coughing fit. 'Why isn't "Yasenia's" also in the acronym to form Y.S.L.U.T!? Is it on purpose!?'
Ghana turned toward the spy harpies and sighed. "You seven. I really didn't expect you to do something like this. Did you think that I would pit my sisters for any benefit? I haven't been fighting against Koran City's management to keep all of you safe for so long for nothing."
They all looked down, ashamed. "Sorry, sister Ghana."
Ghana patted their shoulders and encouraged them. "Well, work hard to make amends. You were clever enough to surrender yourselves at the end. Also, don't worry about the oath. Lady Yasenia doesn't seem like someone who would mistreat those that are loyal to her."
They all nodded solemnly. "We'll do our best, sister Ghana."
Ghana turned toward Florrie and smiled. "You'll probably be assigned as their leader. Work hard."
Florrie's eyes flashed with determination. "I will."
Ghana laughed and commented. "Speaking of Lady Yasenia, she told all of you to go to her office. I recommend going immediately if you don't have anything to do right now. As long as you did nothing wrong, nothing will happen. I hope to see seven sisters coming back, and not less."
"Thank you, sister Ghana!"
They all were regretful, but they could only make up for it by being honest and turning their backs on their previous employers.
Without any delay, they all walked across the mansion and arrived before Yasenia's office.
"You've come quite fast. Enter."
The dragoness's voice came from the inside. Florrie stepped forward and opened the door.
Yasenia's office room was huge, but the decoration differed from what the harpies used to.
The style was more elegant and restrained. The colors were darker, and there was no golden or red. However, the wide window at the side pouring light inside and the flower pots on crucial parts of the study avoided the depressing ambiance it could have.
The whole room was solemn but didn't make you feel unwelcomed. Although, it gave a strange pressure that made you aware that you were before a superior.
In the middle back of the room, Yasenia was sitting on a black cushioned chair with a hole in the back for her tail. She was leaning on her hand, smiling as her other hand played fight with Kaleina.
The young dragon attacked Yasenia's fingers and tried to defeat them, only to be pushed around and growl in annoyance.
Besides the dragoness, the other six sat around her and spoke between them occasionally while observing Mama Dragon play with her child.
The big brown desk was luxurious looking without looking tacky.
Yasenia motioned them to a stylish white couch and ordered. "Sit."
The seven of them moved and sat on the couch. One of them couldn't help but ask. "Lady Yasenia, our nakedness…."
Yasenia chuckled. "Don't worry. It is self-cleaning. After just five seconds, even licking the spot where you sat wouldn't be a problem."
They nodded and relaxedly planted their butts on the comfortable sofa.
Yasenia continued playing with Kaleina and commented. "Don't worry too much. You don't have to fear me now if you didn't go against our previous agreement. Please explain to me in detail about your encounters with the powers. Florrie, you begin."
Florrie nodded and explained the conversation and situation word by word. She described how they were suspicious, how she managed to deceive them, and how she gained a few chips for negotiation and information gathering.
They didn't hide anything and related their encounter as it happened.
Yasenia was honestly impressed as Florrie did more than she expected. "Very nice. You've exceeded my expectations."
Florrie's cold face gained a smile, and she thanked her. Yasenia then asked the others individually, even if they were to the same power and were in the same place.
The rest of them weren't as proficient as Florrie, but none of the powers suspected they were double agents on the surface.
Yasenia stayed silent after hearing their tales and thought of many situations. Then, she asked aloud to no one. "Do you think the Five Shadow Fang group is related to some of those powers? What should we do about them?"
No one answered for a while. Then, Florrie clenched her hands and took the initiative. "My Lady, I think you don't have to worry about them. Those twenty we met were relatively high-ranking people. After the scare they received, they won't mess with us as long as we don't fight them. Being on guard is good, but you shouldn't overthink it too much."
Yasenia looked at Florrie and smiled. "Good. Keep up the good work. Here is a false layout of the house. You'll eventually be asked to give something like this if they have bad intentions. I've created a few false weak passages that we'll fill with lethal formations in the future. As long as they don't ask for it, do not give it."
The seven harpies took the false layout of the house and kept it in their rings.
"After they ask for it, report to me. I'll leave it to your discretion whether to give it before reporting to me or after. However, if they ask for it before a month from now goes by, try to delay it until then."
"Yes, Matriarch!"
Yasenia threw them a jade slip with false information about their following steps. If they moved by following that information, Yasenia would be able to catch them off-guard and make her momentum practically unstoppable.
"That's the outline of a false course of development. The same with the map, do not give it yet. Discuss with the top of the management group and see if it is feasible. Do not fear looking for Ghana, Tatyana, or me if you have any doubts."
Finally, Yasenia commented. "If they want just to observe our Astral Sky Clan, we won't do anything. Yet, we won't show mercy as long as they have malicious intentions. If you have family, friends, or loved ones in those powers, I recommend asking them to move out. Do it gradually to not attract their attention."
They nodded obediently. Yasenia smiled. "You can leave. Good job. I'm relieved I don't have to hurt more of you."
They all felt a pang in their hearts and exclaimed. "We'll work hard for the Matriarch!"
With that, they all left, leaving Yasenia and the girls in the study room.