Once they were all seated, Flor called a few Rose Fairies to serve beverages. Because many of the essential jobs were lacking, some professionals who felt their trade was too crammed in other cities arrived here and sold their merchandise. Pottery people, cookers, tailors, and many more allowed the town's basic necessities to be slowly fulfilled.
These basic-level workers that everyone took for granted were the ones that Flor always celebrated when they arrived. After all, while a society thrived with advanced technologies, without the basic jobs, a society would collapse.
When everyone got served their cup with a refreshing looking tea, they were impressed by the craftsmanship of the cups. Thalia asked, interested. "These cups look so elegant and pretty. How did you make them, Queen Flor?"
Flor laughed softly and said. "Well, an old gentleman from the Human race arrived a few months ago, and after he settled down with my help, he actually made them himself. He is an expert, and most of the pottery for us, Rose Fairies, has been made by him and his apprentices."
Flor showed her cup, which was a beautiful white with an elegant rose decoration that had a pretty flower crown. Flor grinned. "This one was specially made for me!"
She was actually quite fond of it, and her gently flapping wings told everyone in the room her mood. Eila took a sip and hummed. "Quality drinks. Quite unexpected… Hm?"
[You've drunk
Eila blinked twice, reading the message again. Everyone got it, giving them a surprise. A human woman who loved the taste, and loved the effect even more, asked. "This Phoer Berry Tea is magnificent! I love everything about it, the aroma, the taste, and the refreshing feeling that lasts even after you drink it. Queen Flor, are you selling it?"
Flor nodded with a smile. "We have a shop down the street where we sell products created from Liu Shu's berries."
"The World Tree?" The human woman asked, confused.
Verdantia confirmed it. "Yes. Liu'er is very generous with her berries. She just gives them to us without any condition other than for them not to be wasted. We sell a decent chunk of them to the public. You must've heard about the
The human woman exclaimed. "The
A male beastkin wondered, swirling the beverage with the wooden spoon. "I wonder, how many of these can you drink to recover Phoer?"
Tempestria spoke this time around. "The raw Phoer Berries give a maximum of 2500 Phoer Body Shards. However, thanks to the potion makers who have become very interested in them, we've discovered that with the correct concoctions and mixtures, we can double their daily limit up to 5000 shards per day. It is a significant amount, making the Phoer, Mana, and Energy berry beverages very popular among Explorers."
Kael commented. "I've heard about these products. I had a few young ones that came here before showing them to me and brag about it. At first, I thought it was something that you could only get for quite an expensive price. However, from the way you are describing it, I can't help but guess that it is not that expensive."
Tempestria laughed. "Expensive? They are basically a steal. Flor here doesn't really have a money-greedy mentality and sells things at a relatively affordable price for no reason."
Flor snorted. "There is a reason! I don't want to limit access to our town because the living cost is too high. There are many advantages, but they are all thanks to Liu Shu. I am here just to manage this place and slowly make the city grow in a regulated manner."
The rest looked at Flor, thoughtful. Eila commented. "While your feelings are surprisingly noble, they are also naive. What if someone with a few
Flor shook her head. "Impossible. We have laws regulating the ability to buy."
Lord Stormrider entered the conversation again, asking. "How so? Too much interference will limit the growth of all the businesses that come here, right?"
Flor shook her head. "You misunderstood. We are limiting the amount of buildings they can have in our town, not the profit they can make. I don't care if you sell items for ten
Lord Stormrider crossed his muscular arms, becoming thoughtful. A human man asked, his eyebrows similarly furrowed. "Queen Flor, what if, for example, I open three shops, and then my son comes and opens three shops? Your imposed limit is extremely vague."
Flor smiled and asked. "Are those shops really your 'Son's' shops? Or are they linked with your own shop franchise?" Flor commented. "The moment you begin questioning the boundaries of my rules is the moment you signal your intent to cross them. For example, if there is a free food post that only gives one meal per person, would you be allowed to approach, take your meal, and then tell your son to take his meal and instead give it to you?"
The man opened his mouth, but he then closed it, not knowing how to answer. Flor asked. "Are those rules also vague, sir? Or are they clear what 'One Meal Per Person' means?" Flor looked around and shrugged. "My town has a 'Three Shops Per Person' law. It is a self-explanatory and straightforward rule, and only people who want to abuse the system in their favor would start nitpicking at it."
Eila asked. "What kind of place do you want this town to be, Queen Flor?"
Flor tilted her head. "Isn't it obvious? I want a town where Liu Shu is respected and where my species and many others can live without worrying about being hunted down. The reason for the shop limit is something I read about monopolies and how they can affect society."
Eila hummed. "What did you read?"
Flor didn't mind explaining. "I read that monopolies can eventually lead to dependency on that sector while similarly stunting its development, simultaneously giving it enough power that they will influence everything." Flor shrugged. "While I have never experienced anything like that, I don't really want to risk Liu Shu's town escaping out of her control. Even if I need to suppress a bit of progress and be hypocritical, I want the only monopoly in this town to be Liu Shu's monopoly over authority."
Thalia smiled. "So, you are creating a monopoly to suppress other monopolies. In short, this is something like an absolute monarchy with the Queen being Liu Shu and the advisors being you and those Liu Shu trusts."
Monarchies, dictatorships, mercantilism, and many other socio-econo-political systems existed. However, due to the tremendous weight of individual strength, most that were based on the "popular vote" or "democracy" ended very badly. After all, the thought of "Let's vote and agree on something!" when a person who can squash all those voices with a single palm strike exists is ridiculous.
Imagine the people in Liu Shu's town voting for a "No World Tree Town," Liu Shu would just awaken her town and swallow all the people who voted for that, making it not only useless but easy to foster war and corruption.
Therefore, sects, empires, monarchies, dictatorships, theocracies, or other systems in which a top group of people leads everyone through strength are the most common. The most common among them were those called Arborarchies, powers led by World Trees that were similarly the strongest being in that power.
Eila mentioned it right away. "So, you plan to create an Arborarchy."
Flor blinked twice and tilted her head. "What's that?"
Eila was about to explain when the doors to the room opened, and two people entered.
"I am so sorry for my late arrival. I had some important matters to attend to until recently."
The first person who entered was a beautiful and elegant Sylvan with long blue hair and a calming aura that felt like flowing water. Her clothes were luxurious, and her gaze had a natural power that made it difficult to underestimate her. She is Delia Mareful, the City Lord of Mareful City.
"I decided to wait for Lady Delia, so I have no excuses. I hope you can pardon me."
The second person was a human man with average facial features and a healthy body. He had an outward mild-mannered look and wore formal black-colored robes instead of clothes. His name is Taro Sirol, and he is the current City Lord of Sirol City, where Wert was initially stationed.
Everyone else in the room squinted, their gazes profound. Taro's words contained many hidden messages and intentions to ignore. The most obvious thing was that they were together, and depending on Delia's stance toward Liu Shu, they would understand on whose side Sirol and Mareful City stood. They were the two largest cities besides Fortuna City in this area, so their opinions mattered greatly.
Flor looked at them with surprise. While she had invited them, she didn't expect them to come. Because Delia was grateful to Liu Shu, the unexpected factor was much milder than Taro's appearance, which took Flor entirely by surprise.
She had learned from Wert that Sirol City had survived for so long because it always remained neutral. However, it seemed that this was going to change.
Lord Stormrider's bushy eyebrow raised, his gaze toward Delia quite analytical. Delia turned to look and instantly recognized the big shot, causing her expression to crack and show a hint of surprise and confusion. Still, she elegantly reacted and gently bowed. "Lord Stormrider! I am so sorry that I didn't see you when I entered, or I would've welcomed you. It is an honor to be in your esteemed presence."
Her tone made the otherwise presumptuous words sound clear and pleasant. The powerhouse nodded. "I am also glad to see the other two main governors of this area. Now that you two are here, we can dive into deeper conversation matters."
Delia smiled and said words that forced many eyebrows to rise. "I am also eager to speak about how to make Liu Shu feel more welcome in this area. She is a relatively new World Tree, so our guidance as seniors will be essential. Right, Liu Shu?"
Liu Shu harrumphed, still not having forgiven Delia for the doll situation. Still, she answered. "Hmph, hmph. I guess!"
Delia chuckled even when Liu Shu was disrespectful, showing a gentle expression of sincere affection. Eila's calm facade almost cracked when she saw that. 'When did the Golden Sap Town sway this woman to their side?'
Delia was a Level 27 Sylvan, so in terms of threat, her presence almost invalidated her own. While Eila was Level 31 and a sub-cycle above Delia, Delia's strength was not to be underestimated in a defensive battle.
It wasn't only Eila; everyone's mind started working when they realized that Delia had already chosen a side, and unexpectedly, it was Liu Shu's side.