Author Note: Sorry for yesterday's delay dears. I failed to schedule it! >.<
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While walking down the street, Cinderielle asked Verdantia. "How are we going to investigate this?"
Verdantia explained. "There are various ways. However, it's not like they are a secret society or a hidden power. Void Witherwood Exarchs are a group that's extremist and has decent power for our area. Hence, they are still standing even when people know they are evil."
Cinderielle was confused. "But… Your mother, for example, could probably kill everybody there, right?"
Verdantia shook her head. "It's not that simple. You need to remember that everyone has connections. The Void Witherwood Exarchs are linked with more powerful people. If my mother went and destroyed them without reason, what would stop their top powers from coming to kill me? When you are in a high position, you always need to remember that what you can do to others, other people can do to you."
Cinderielle blinked and repeated. "What I can do to others, they can also do to me… That's a good sentence."
Verdantia smiled. "Therefore, if we are the ones causing trouble, people who can instantly kill us will most likely not bother. After all, there are plenty of small wars between weaker powers, and top powers do not involve themselves. Moreover, there are a few laws that prohibit fighting creatures that are much weaker. If anyone does that without any reason whatsoever, they become a global target."
Cinderielle asked. "What punishes those who punish those breaking the law? Like, there should be a group that's immune because they are the 'top,' right?"
Verdantia shook her head. "Those that you consider the 'top,' as you say, are far from being allied. All of them have different interests, and most importantly, they follow different World Trees."
Cinderielle muttered. "I see… I am honestly impressed that the entire underground area isn't covered by World Trees. They are more numerous than I've ever imagined."
Verdantia laughed. "Well, our planet is not small. Using a few calculations, deciphering the radius of Ceperet is easy. It is around 10,000km in radius."
Cinderielle blinked. "Is it?"
Verdantia snorted and looked at her. "Haven't you paid attention to applied mathematics lately? We've recently started calculating gravitational equations and also celestial geometry."
Cinderielle coughed. "I have yet to start studying."
Verdantia asked with a confused look. "What about listening in class?"
Cinderielle coughed again. "I am very attentive, but I sometimes become dazed and…"
Verdantia sighed. Looking forward, she noticed the building she was searching for was in sight. "Oh, we've arrived."
Following her gaze, Cinderielle saw a wooden building with a twisted shape but an elegant design. Above the entrance, a vine with white flowers spelled
Cinderielle asked with a stunned look. "Don't tell me that we will ask for information here?"
Verdantia nodded. "From what I've learned, this place is quite secretive about their clients. Although people will know you've entered and exited, researching what type of information we've received would take a really big effort that most don't consider it worth it."
Cinderielle rubbed her chin and shrugged. "Sure, I'll trust you."
Verdantia and Cinderielle entered through the petal-like doors and looked inside. An elegant hall with white decorations adorning the corners of the wood entered their eyes. There was a leafy chandelier that shone with a white-green light, giving the surroundings a mystical but natural aura.
Cinderielle walked one step behind Verdantia, following her as she looked at the several reception windows. There were around 4 of them, but Verdantia went toward the middle and bypassed them all.
The Fire Sylvan was confused about what Verdantia was doing until she saw that there were two additional corridors that bifurcated to the left and right at the end of the path. "Have you entered here in the past?"
Verdantia turned left and nodded. "A few times doing Explorer Requests."
"Miss Liferoot. I was expecting you."
A middle-aged man who looked in his forties appeared, wearing an elegant suit and welcoming smile.
Cinderielle blinked, confused. 'Did she send a letter?'
However, Verdantia's blunt question made this thought dissipate. "Why do you know me, and what do you want?"
The middle-aged man smiled. "No need to turn violent. We are all in a losing battle regardless of the outcome. After all, fights inside the city are not something that's allowed."
Verdantia crossed her arms under her chest. "It's not like I can fight you. You are not weak yourself."
The man motioned them toward a room at the side, and Verdantia and Cinderielle followed. Once inside, the man moved toward a large desk and sat on the chair behind, motioning them to sit on the prepared chair.
Following his gestures, they both sat and looked around. The room was spacious, with a few bookshelves filled with thick books. Both Sylvans blinked and thought similarly. 'Liu'er/Tiantian would probably salivate over that.'
The man saw how the Sylvans looked at his books and smiled. "Do you like my collection? While some of those books are real art and science books, there are some that were constructed from the lives of legendary individuals whose records were relatively complete."
The girls nodded, not looking interested, and turned to look at him. "So, Sir…" Verdantia paused, to give him the window to introduce himself. However, unlike what Verdantia expected, the man continued looking at them with a smile.
The unchanging nature of the smile made it quite perfect. Yet, at the same time, it also gave an odd and unnatural air. Verdantia and Cinderielle instantly realized that it was a mask and not his current real expression.
Of course, if the mask was physical, illusory, or just an ability to manipulate facial expressions, they couldn't guess.
Still, the knowledge of that increased their alertness. The man laughed. "Sharp. Not bad. It seems that the Liferoot Family heir is a bit better than the Stormrider Clan heir."
Verdantia frowned. "Eldric has appeared around here? What's his problem? He normally gathers in places where he can hunt for top-notch beauties, not in side towns where women are mostly average looking."
The middle-aged man laughed. "Well, that is naturally not free information. I am known for knowing the deep secrets of the
Cinderielle nodded. "Understood. How much for information about-."
Verdantia commented. "Wait." Verdantia squinted. "How can we confirm that you are indeed an information seller?"
Cinderielle was stumped. 'What is happening now?'
Usually, for security measures, information sellers were low-level while guards were very high-level, giving a perfect balance of comfort for the ones who remember that they are part of a society and much of a needed beating to those who had forgotten the laws
The man shook his head. "Well, I am Level 3. You can analyze me if you feel more comfortable. However, please try to decipher just my level and ternary essences."
Verdantia and Cinderielle naturally complied and made sure that they weren't deceived by him.
However, to their surprise, he wasn't lying. His stats were indeed those of a Level 3.
Verdantia commented. "To be so low-leveled when you are a human in his forties or so is rare. Solid proof has been provided. Now, can you tell us why you were waiting for us?"
The man nodded with the same smile he had maintained since the beginning. "The
Verdantia and Cinderielle weren't that shocked, but knowing that the information was in this building and accessible made them feel worried.
Verdantia asked. "So, how do you think we can tackle the new information you guys have gathered? I want to keep her existence as limited as possible to protect her."
The man shrugged. "Well, we've thought about it, and as I said, the only way to do so is to form a cooperative alliance. We want some shares of those fruits she is selling in exchange for keeping the information as tightly covered as possible."
Verdantia shook her head. "That doesn't work. While it is the truth that you have the upper hand in this negotiation, I don't want to be blackmailed. I can understand your objectives of wanting control over the new World Tree that has appeared. However, that's not possible. This World Tree is fundamentally different. I can tell you that if you start on the wrong root with her, you will regret it later than the line."
The man lifted his eyebrow. "You are overestimating her. However, even if we take that into account, can't we just safely get rid of her by informing some high-ranking power of her existence?"
Verdantia smiled. "You could. But I will want to see what my mother has to say about it."
The man laughed. "Your mother won't get involved in the conflict for a low-level World Tree. You actually know less than you think of her usual personality and way of doing things."
Verdantia looked at the man with an unchanged expression. "You think you know more about my mother than me? I can probably admit it if we speak about her work or usual activities. However, if we are speaking about personality…" The Life Sylvan leaned forward, looking at the man. "There is no way in the Sacred Roots to say that you know more than me. "
The man shrugged. "Suit yourself. I just told you the truth."
Cinderielle spoke. "Well, listen. If you accept our deal, which will benefit you greatly, we can think about letting you buy from a finite supply of goods at a discounted price."
The man laughed. This time, even his usual facade cracked as he released a genuine laugh of disbelief. "Do you think you are in a position to negotiate something like that with the
Verdantia shook her head. "You are the one downplaying her potential. If I showed you one of them, your little heart would probably not be able to take it."
While her tone stayed elegant, the several underhanded jabs almost made the man flinch. "Well, I will just tell my superiors that this deal has failed…" He looked at Cinderielle and Verdantia with disdain. "You have refused my offer, so now you will be forced to experience a forfeit."
Verdantia looked at the man who had just butchered the saying and sighed. "Regardless. Your faction is supposed to be neutral, so I should still be able to buy information.
The man returned to his neutral smiling expression and nodded. "Of course. What information would you like to find?"
Verdantia commented. "I want the location of the
The man raised both his eyebrows and answered. "Sure, give me a moment to process the documents. I will come with the cost in a few moments."