Two more weeks went by.
Yasenia was spacing out, thinking of something that had recently happened. 'Did it have to end like that? But…'
Ghana came with a report, interrupting Yasenia's thoughts. "Yasenia, two months have already gone by since high-level humans stopped arriving. Should we keep buying female slaves?"
Yasenia nodded. "Why stop? However, only admit those who look to have a chance to recover. We don't have the capacity to accept all slaves that are presented to us. Use the tests Angel, Kali, and I prepared. They will tell you whether their mental health is in a recoverable spot."
Ghana nodded, and Yasenia turned to look at Ghana, her eyes flashing coldly. "Also, never accept male slaves. If they insist, put forth a standard price; if they accept, kill them before the slave trader. A flawless Parus should be enough to buy millions of them at a standard price. However, remember to be very firm in the rejection. That procedure I've just told you can only be used if the power is being too pushy. Also, blacklist every power that forces us to do that and say it to the public."
Ghana nodded with a strange face.
She still remembered that Yasenia was a bit distracted for a day or two some days ago after returning from the house where the humans lived.
Ghana pondered. 'Was it that hard to kill those humans? Maybe… She was fond of a few of them. Well, if she wants to tell me, she will.'
During the last year, Ghana felt that Yasenia's trust in her constantly increased. Instead of the instant liking like at the beginning, it was a very gradual progress. Moreover, the relationship had yet to achieve the intimate feeling it had at the beginning.
'A dragon's trust is easy to lose, it seems.'
Moreover, Yasenia never touched a harpy after that day Tengliu visited during the auction a year ago, becoming very alienated.
Punishment had also been applied equally, and their power had significantly lessened. Thankfully, Tengliu sent three Epoch Core harpies to compete with the seven Epoch Core lamias and two Epoch Core Lobster Clan seniors. Finnegan was one of them.
There were three mid-level Epoch Core cultivators, one of each clan, and the rest were low-level Epoch Core.
The brown harpy realized that Yasenia's respect toward low-level Epoch Core had slowly lessened. Even now, Yasenia asked for a spar from time to time. Although she always lost, the previous quick battles were continuously extending. 'Is she becoming already strong enough to challenge them? She is probably not using all of her strength during those spars. But… Something so abnormal should be impossible, right? She is in the middle level of the Ethereal Soul Body realm. Or so her energy signature says.
On one side, Ghana and the others also realized that the more secretive plans were completely hidden from all groups, and they occasionally saw millions of Parus disappearing from the treasury. Ghana was curious and had asked before, but Yasenia dismissed her questions.
'What is Yasenia building?'
While Ghana sorted the documents, Yasenia's thoughts went back to what happened a few days ago, still mulling over it. 'Sigh…'
This event with the slaves happened a few days prior.
What happened? You might ask.
Well, Yasenia had to kill all seven human males she had accepted, together with fifteen females.
What made Yasenia's head hurt was that between them, sadly, there were two of her previous fans.
It all started a few months ago when the number of males increased and began asking to do something for the clan.
They didn't want to stay at home and do nothing, trapped in a room all day.
Yasenia understood that since they didn't have cultivation to kill their time, it should be quite a dull experience. However, she really had no choice. Therefore, she denied their wishes.
By the way, the extra males were saved for similar reasons to the firsts. They had some relations with some of the women.
When pleading with Esther directly didn't work, a faint seed of resentment grew in their ignorant hearts. Therefore, the males asked their lovers to give them tasks, which was not inherently bad, but their agitation increased after Yasenia denied their wishes.
Moreover, the feeling of freedom was so good that they wished for more.
This wasn't enough for the death penalty. Not at all. At most, Yasenia would be annoyed if they did something a bit out of turn and punish them.
Which she eventually did.
The punishment was not physical because Yasenia didn't want to abuse people who had suffered all their lives. The sentence was to deprive them of what they wanted even more, isolating them for a week.
Thinking that this would work to calm them down, Yasenia stopped caring. There were many things she had to deal with, and taking care of seven humans between the hundreds in her power was not one of them.
Naturally, there wasn't anything like "wardens" between the slaves. This would create a power struggle between them and future conflicts. There was, however, a division between cultivators and non-cultivators.
Anyway, coming back to what happened.
What touched Yasenia's bottom line was that with the help of the two S.L.U.T.s that were lovers with them, they passed messages between each other, planning things like escaping or capturing a beast-human as a hostage to flee.
Those were idiotic ideas, a stupid idea that the two women from the Sky Continent should've corrected. However, a cultivator that has just fallen in love is extremely loyal. Sometimes to the point that their heads literally become love-addled.
Moreover, one year of care had turned into greed for more, and the desire had spread among a few. The good conditions, lack of abuse from beast-humans because of Yasenia's internal policies and rules, and everything else had instilled the idea that the outside was not that discriminatory.
There was no negligence, so Esther spotted it quickly and apprehended them. By that time, though, quite a few had joined the group.
A total of all seven human males and fifteen human females, including those two.
Not all of them were guilty, but the fact that they were this ungrateful made it clear to Yasenia what kind of potential threat they were.
It was also at this time when Yasenia created the test to accept slaves.
The conversation with them went like this.
It was nearing sunset when Yasenia arrived, and the sky had begun changing colors. Her face was cold, still unaware that two of her fans had participated.
On that day, Yasenia just thought that a few natives become too brave.
However, when Yasenia entered the place where they were retained, and her eyes swept the twenty-two people, her eyes involuntarily widened. 'Those two…'
Her eyes locked onto the two women as she ignored everything else. "W-why are you?"
The two women diverted their eyes and looked down, clearly indicating their guilt.
Yasenia was stunned for a second, but when Esther was about to step forward and console her, all the expressions on the dragoness's face disappeared as calmness returned to her.
Esther felt her heart twitch at that reaction. It was the response of someone who had been betrayed before and could reach acceptance quickly, swallowing most of her feelings.
Yasenia sighed, pondering for a few seconds.
Nobody spoke, and Yasenia finally said. "Why did you agree to do this?"
Although she wasn't looking at anyone in particular, everybody here knew who she was asking it to.
Yasenia summoned an armchair and sat on it, crossing her legs as she turned a cold and indifferent face toward them. "I really don't understand. Well, I know that your lovers consoled you in your worst times. I understand I was a bit late since I can only act passively, so your rescue could only be done after disaster. Therefore, I understand your trust in them, deep love for them, and why you would listen to them…"
Yasenia leaned on her hand. "However, have I treated them wrongly? The only thing they have restrained is their freedom to act. I would not say anything as long as they are inside their rooms that have anti-spy formations to prevent curious people poking their noses where they shouldn't."
One of the native women shouted, feeling indignant. "What is the difference between you and the other slave traders? You keep them there as future breeders! They aren't any better than in any other place!"
Yasenia didn't even bother turning her head, as if that woman just blew air instead of words. However, she heard her clearly and asked the two Sky Continent Women. "Do you two think like her?"
They guilty lowered their heads as a form of acceptance.
Yasenia burst into laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation.
Esther was so angry that she snapped. "Did you have a cultivation deviation!? As Yasenia's followers, you should know from where we… Argh! Have you been brainwashed or something!? How could Yasenia do something like that!?"
Esther almost screamed the secret about where they came from but held back at the last second. Even then, all the people from the Sky Continent understood; her furious emerald eyes told more than a thousand words.
Esther's aura calmed down, and she took a deep breath, spouting coldly. "Yasenia is basically facing this world to give us a safe haven, and you ungrateful girls think that Yasenia is limiting their freedom!?"
"Enough, Esther."
Esther stopped speaking, but her face still had a furious glint.
Yasenia turned to look at them up and down. Then, she asked. "How old are you two?"
The two answered with a trembling voice.
"Thirty-seven."
"Forty-four."
Yasenia pondered and asked. "Were you both noble girls back there?"
They both shook their heads. They came from relatively humble backgrounds.
Yasenia sighed and caressed her forehead. "Do you know what would happen if word that I allow my slaves to be so free that they've begun thinking about rebellion goes out there?"
Yasenia said tiredly. "They would force me to kill all my human slaves or become their enemy. Not to mention, saving more humans in the future would be impossible."
The human female that was ignored spoke again out of turn. "It's not like you care. You are just another type of tyrant, feeding us to use us in the future!"
Yasenia snapped her fingers, and that woman fell to the ground, limp. She used pressure to burst her heart and shut her brain down. She was native, so it was as easy as it could get.
The native people who tried to rebel became pale-faced in an instant.
Yasenia looked at them coldly. "Anyone else? Or will you stay silent obediently until I say my verdict?"
Yasenia turned back toward the two women and spoke. "Do you know who the outside powers think my slaves are besides all of you?" Without allowing them to answer, Yasenia listed four names, clearly pronouncing them and lifting one finger with each name.
"Angel."
"Andrea."
"Evelyn."
"And Tatyana."
Coupled with her previous statement, each of those names was like describing a death sentence with four words.
Only now did the two fan girls realize their mistake was much more profound than they initially thought, and their bodies began trembling in fear.
Yasenia stood up and gave the native men and women a black pill. "These two who have supported this small uprising will be killed. You all are not guilty and don't need to die." Yasenia stated while pointing at the two fan members, making the hearts of those two sink to their stomachs. "They have fought for your freedom and placed everyone else in danger. Without them, all of this would not have happened."
Yasenia paused and continued, her gaze looking like a predator sizing up a prey. "However, if five of you eat that lethal pill, you can save one of them. This means ten of you need to die to save them. In short, half of you for their safety. Of course, either that or their lovers can also sacrifice themselves, making it only two lives for the price of two lives."
The dragoness's pupils shrank as a sneer appeared on her lips. "Now, choose. What will you do? Do you dare step forward?"
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Andrea: I didn't expect that…
Yasenia: Well, in a large group. No matter how you say things. There will always be people who think the opposite of what you meant.
Tatyana: That's a truth you can't escape. There will always be people trying to be stupid unless the punishments are harsh enough.
Yasenia: Agreed.
Evelyn: Wait, wait. Let's not go down the tyrant route?
Tatyana/Yasenia: Why not?
Author: Cough. Leaving aside what might happen… I summon you!
Fightnguru: Hello!
Andrea: Oh. It has been a while, fightnguru.
Fightnguru: Hehe, well, this question is for all of you, so… If everyone could have a clone like Tatyana, how would that affect your everyday life, and how would everyone interact with them?
Evelyn: That's a complex question.
Author: It is. Answer simply.
Evelyn: Hum, Tatyana, your two bodies are connected with one soul, right?
Tatyana: Yes, I feel and think for both bodies at the same time.
Evelyn: Perfect, I know what I would do. Having my four holes-
*BANG!*
Yasenia: I would use one to spend time with my dears all day while I use the second one to do day-to-day work.
Angel: I would always have one body reading formation books while the other trains them and is pampered by Yasenia!
Kali: Same. I would use one body to practice poisons and another to practice standard alchemy.
Andrea: Using one to create common treasures and spend time with Yasenia is good. The other can be used to create complex projects that need a lot of time.
Cecile: I would fight myself and correct errors.
Fightnguru: I see.
Author: Satisfied?
Fightnguru: Sure.
Author: Then, this is all for today. Bye-bye, little lurkers.
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Pa tr eon. com/posts/evelyn-lightning-89704746 (Evelyn Anime style! It looks fantastic~.)