In a tavern in Sirol City, a man in luxury clothes was sitting cross-legged while looking at his informant. The woman sitting in front of him had long brown hair, a beautiful dress, and a stoic face.
"Sir Eldric, what do you think about giving us the information you've gathered? We've had a few accidents that we want to investigate."
Eldric smiled as he looked at the woman. "Quite flattering for someone like you to come and speak with me in person."
The woman nodded. "Thank you for the praise, but as someone from the Stormrider family, there is no need to feel inferior."
Eldric laughed. "Well, as one of the top executives of the
Aeliana agreed to his suggestion. "Lately, the Golden Sap Forest is seeing strange activity. There were a few explorer groups in the past that went to investigate, and those that returned usually had no new information or didn't spot anything unusual. However, our power has concrete proof that something is happening there. We are just unaware of what."
Eldric rubbed his beardless chin and asked. "And why do you want the information I've gathered on a Sylvan with no powerful family?"
Aeliana spoke eloquently. "Cinderielle, the Sylvan that Sir Eldric is interested in, is the one that reported around a year ago about the lack of threat on a suspected beast tide. After investigating for a few months, we finally managed to find information that made her suspicious. She seems to visit the Golden Sap Forest regularly, so we wanted to know why she does so or what she found in there to be so interesting."
Eldric leaned on the armrest with his elbow, supporting his head with his hand. A smile still hung on his lips as he asked. "Well, there is something interesting in the Golden Sap forest, that's for sure." He commented. "I am sincere when I say that I am still unaware of what. However, I can tell you that the Liferoot family is involved. I was about to hire a mercenary group to investigate the Golden Sap Forest. Sadly, that mercenary group disbanded not long ago. Which is honestly a bit of a shame."
Aeliana commented, remembering something. "You mean the Storm Mercenary group? It was led by a talented Level 9 Sylvan, right?"
Eldric nodded. "Quite a handful of a woman, a bit different from Cinderielle. Both have similar charms, but I prefer the fiery and passionate, but cold outwardly woman instead."
Aeliana blinked a few times and asked. "Is Sir Eldric interested in Cinderielle?"
Eldric wasn't abashed to confess. "I've been interested since a year ago! Impressive that, during all this time, I couldn't catch a chance to act because Verdantia is constantly around her." He sighed. "It's quite a shame, to be honest. If she went home once, I could've intercepted her. However, she's been down doing who knows what in the Golden Sap Forest."
Aeliana pondered for a few moments and asked. "If I am not too presumptuous, why is Sir Eldric interested in her when there are so many other better women around?"
Eldric paused for a few moments and then smiled. "Her gaze."
Aeliana tilted her head, not understanding. "Her gaze?"
Eldric laughed. "When she saw me, I could sense a complete lack of interest. Not only that, she didn't even register my appearance or outward luxuries. She didn't care who I was!"
Aeliana was confused, and Eldric smiled wider. "Never in my life have I ever been looked at without any desire by a woman close to my age! Of course, there were some madams that treated me like a child, but even they gave my body a look."
Aeliana admitted that Eldric was one of the better-looking males she had ever seen. However, was his life so easy in terms of relationships that just one woman ignoring him provoked this reaction?
Eldric looked at Aeliana and smiled. "I know what you are thinking, but sometimes love works like that."
Aeliana blinked and asked, incredulous. "Love? You are in love with her?"
Eldric chuckled. "What's wrong? Is it wrong? I just want to possess her and make those cold and indifferent orange eyes change to passionate, loving ones. If that isn't love, then I don't know what it is."
Aeliana had the word for it, but she didn't say it. Instead, she took advantage of this knowledge. "We are going to send a group to investigate the Golden Sap Forest. At first, we want to send around 50 Level 9s and below to map the area. Then, when we locate the source of the problem, we will mobilize a few Level 15s and above, myself included, to take out or control whatever it is there. Since Cinderielle visits that area often, how about we start the expedition the next time she visits and help you capture her?"
Eldric shook his head. "Who knows what barbaric things you will do to her when she resists? She is not a weak woman! She is a Level 9 talented Sylvan with the transformation skill unlocked. A few Level 9 humans will not be able to capture her unless they are ten against one or more."
Eldric snorted. "As much as I hate admitting it, Sylvans are almost unrivaled at the same level. Very few creatures can fight them, like World Trees, Life Trees, or other types of Elemental Trees. Us fauna-descendants… We've given up the gift of strength in exchange for the gift of fertility." Eldric blinked. "Speaking of which, what made the
Aeliana pondered for a few moments and decided to tell him. "Well, we've lost two groups of 5 in that forest. One of the groups was just a small group that didn't matter much. However, the other had a Level 13 Sylvan with transformation ability unlocked and a Level 15."
'Perhaps this knowledge will make him more agreeable to coordinating with us.'
Eldric paused when he heard that. He frowned for a few moments and asked. "Are you sure?"
Aeliana nodded. "Yes."
Eldric muttered. "Hm… Then, the group I sent might be in trouble."
Aeliana frowned. "Group?"
Eldric confirmed it. "I've sent a few people to track Cinderielle a few times. She always goes toward the same area of the forest. So, this time, I sent half of my personal guard to get her and carry her to me. They are ten Level 12 humans, each riding one E- Rank Level 10
Aeliana raised an eyebrow. "That's quite an army. If that gets destroyed or disappears as our groups have done, it will be quite a deal."
Eldric agreed. "How about you send those 50 people now? Perhaps they can act as reinforcements."
Back in Liu Shu's town, Verdantia was standing in front of Liu Shu with a pondering expression. Liu Shu looked at her and asked. 'Is there something wrong, Verdantia?'
Verdantia commented. "As things are, more and more people will start coming here. Your presence is dangerous because Fortuna is nearby. If she notices, there is a high chance that she will try to clear you out. So, I was thinking that we need to make this place public while hiding your identity as a World Tree. We can't continue being in the shadows."
Liu Shu asked, curious. 'Hide? How do I hide?'
Verdantia looked at the more than 17-meter-tall tree, which had increasingly evident signs of being a World Tree to those knowledgeable with a complicated look. "That's the problem, right? I don't know how to do it in a normal manner."
Flor's voice came from above. She was resting on Liu Shu's branches as usual. "Saying that you can't do it normally implies the ability to do it in a not normal manner."
Verdantia snorted. "Can you stop learning what we teach you so quickly? What are you, an information sponge?"
Flor laughed and asked. "Well, what is the option that is in your head but you are reluctant to use or share?"
Liu Shu asked as well. 'Right, right! Don't hide it! I am curious.'
Verdantia frowned. "But…"
Liu Shu protested cutely. 'I want to hear it! I want to hear it! Don't hide it from me~, please~, I want to hear it! Verdantia, pleaseeeeee."
Flor smirked when she saw Verdantia clutching her head as Liu Shu's mental barrage attacked her mind. "How does that feel?"
Verdantia quickly recovered and smiled. "Very adorable."
Flor was stunned and asked. "How did you do that?"
The Life Sylvan smiled wider. "Have you forgotten that I am a Sylvan with Willpower and Anima as my main stats? Mental attacks are quite ineffective against me. She just took me by surprise~, so to me, she is just the cutest tree~."
Liu Shu felt somewhat embarrassed and laughed happily to cover up those strange feelings. 'Thank you, Verdantia. You are also very pretty.'
Verdantia was not that good at covering up, so her entire face almost went up into flames, gaining a reddish color at Liu Shu's direct compliment. Her heart sped up, and her hair almost began growing flowers again. 'Ahhh! I've been complimented by Liu'er!!!'
She stuttered and answered quickly. "T-Thank you, Liu'er. You are also the most charming and adorable and pretty and fantastic creature around."
When Verdantia praised her so much, Liu Shu felt strangely calm instead of further being embarrassed. This confused the World Tree. 'Hm? So strange… Well, it doesn't matter. So, what will you do?'
Verdantia shook her head and slapped her cheeks, trying to calm the heat, and answered. "Well, We can do three things, to be honest. The first is quite crude, but it can work because of my presence here. Cover your entire trunk with vines and make you pass as a normal Life Tree instead of a World Tree."
Flor asked. "So, what is the difference between the two that make World Trees that much more sought after?"
Verdantia commented. "Specialties. World Trees can dominate many different elements innately. Meanwhile, Life Trees and Elemental Trees can only control one. Moreover, Life Trees and Elemental Trees are much less intelligent. They are sought after, but not extremely so. Fortuna City wouldn't even flinch if they had this information."
Flor hummed. "Hasn't this method been used before?"
Verdantia laughed and shook her head. "Usually, it is the opposite. Life Trees are being sighted as World Trees. Remember that most people don't care as much if the World Tree falls under the control of large powers because the grand majority of people believe that World Trees are sacred and inviolable creatures, that even kings and emperors bow to low-level World Trees."
Flor nodded. "I understand. What are the other options?"
Verdantia sighed. "One more brutish one is digging a hole and creating a large hole to lower Liu Shu into while creating a large building around her that would cover her existence. So, we would pass Liu Shu as a guardian tree, but nothing like a World Tree. Restricting access to that area could help as well."
Flor pondered and found that option quite inadequate. Liu Shu giggled. 'It would be fun to be lowered into the ground! My roots would be able to reach lower as well~.'
Flor ignored the World Tree and commented. "What is the third option?"
Verdantia smiled helplessly. "Find an expert rune crafter that is willing to create an aura concealing runefield for her."
Flor frowned. "Rune crafter… What are they?"
Verdantia pondered and decided to explain a few of the most popular professions.