After Eila left, many also stood up and decided to go silently. This was a declaration on whose side they were on. It was an easy way to make a statement without needing to get verbally involved, somewhat cowardly but convenient. Flor didn't say anything during this time. She just looked on as people stood up and recorded those who left.
After waiting for a while, the room finally turned silent again as everyone who stood up finally left. There were fewer people who stayed compared with those who left. However, that didn't matter much for Flor. Since the beginning, she has not counted on anyone to support them. The Rose Fairy Queen welcomed any extra help, as long as it was honest.
She looked around the table and surprisingly saw that Thalia and Kael had stayed, along with Delia, Taro, and five other people. Four of them were from families that had created a branch in Golden Sap Town almost since the beginning.
Seeing the enormous changes that the city had experienced during the relatively short amount of time that they had lived here, they chose to place their vote of confidence in this city's potential and future. The families were two human families, one Sylvan family and one beastkin family.
The last person was a tall man with a very muscular body and wearing metal armor. He had been silent all the time during the visit, observing everything. The Rose Fairy Queen already knew the four families, but she didn't know this person. She asked. "Thanks for staying, sir. May I know who you are?"
The man nodded faintly. His voice was deep, being quite in tune with his looks. "My name is Ryder Ironheart. I am an elder in the
Flor blinked, surprised. "Isn't that part of the
The man shook his head. "Why would we? These empires are so large that it is impossible to have everyone on the same side everywhere. The
Everyone looked at Cinderielle and saw the red-haired Sylvan looking at Ryder with a pondering expression. Then, she asked, her tone probing. "Are you related to Theodore by any chance?"
Ryder smiled faintly. "Well, I know him a little bit. He is my son, after all."
Cinderielle's face gained a strange expression, making Ryder speak amusedly. "Don't worry. That brat was in love with you, and because of it, he got in a bit of a fight with that brat, Eldric. Thankfully, it seems that this place took Eldric's attention before he decided to deal with my weak family's little man. So, Theodore is alive and well in the sect. He reached Level 13 not long ago, which I was proud of until I saw you." Ryden squinted. "Level 18 already. For a Sylvan, your growth speed is ridiculous."
Delia spoke, giving him a side-eye. "Peeking at a junior's Level is disrespectful, Ryder."
However, even when she was looking like that at him, there was a hint of respect in her voice. Clearly, Ryder was not an average person. Taro saw the confused expression on Verdantia's and Tempestria's perceptive faces and smiled. "You caught Delia's respectful tone. That's impressive." Then, he explained a bit about him. "Lord Ryder's family is situated near Lord Stormrider's domain. Lately, Lord Stormrider had become very active again, probably after discovering Lady Liu Shu's existence. However, he lost momentum not long after Golden Sap Town appeared."
Verdantia quickly connected the dots and tried to guess what happened. "Lord Stormrider gathered people using his knowledge of a World Tree through Eldric's reports. However, later, Liu Shu was revealed to be a Life Tree, and her disguise was good enough to fool everyone, resulting in his momentum fading…"
Taro clapped slowly. "That's a great guess, Miss Verdantia. Your mother taught you well. However, it is not the whole picture."
Tempestria looked at Ryder and added. "Did Lord Ryder manage to defend his territory and also manage to stop Lord Stormrider's quick expansion in some kind of way?"
Ryder and Taro looked at Tempestria with profound eyes, and then the muscular man answered. "Correct. That's impressive, little lady."
Tempestria hummed. "Lord Stormrider is quite an easygoing man, which surprised me greatly. Still, I had been observing him, and he gave Lord Ryder a few pondering gazes. I could guess that they were involved one way or another in that way."
The leaders of different powers looked at the Sylvans with thoughtful gazes. Delia smiled faintly. "The new generation is developing impressively."
Flor smiled faintly. "I am quite lucky they've decided to be part of this place in the future."
Delia laughed. "Marking territory?"
Flor shrugged. "Some habits don't change even after gaining intelligence."
The others laughed, and Delia pushed the conversation forward. "Eila won't be silent for long. Fortuna City has been a target many times. However, between Fortuna and Eila, they have always managed to defend the place with almost no losses. Lady Fortuna must be suppressed if you want to defeat Fortuna City."
Flor frowned for a few seconds, and then, she asked. "What happens when you attack other World Trees? Don't you get negative titles and status effects?"
Taro answered softly. "Usually, that's the case. However, it seems that while the System is quite against people harming innocent World Trees, if two World Trees are at war, those following the World Trees will be exempt from its judgment. There have even been positive titles awarded to creatures who have helped defeat World Trees for other World Trees."
Flor blinked a few times, utterly confused, and asked. "Um. Does that mean that the System not only is NOT against World Trees fighting, but it promotes war between them?"
Delia nodded. "When the wars are significant enough, all citizens on both sides receive messages and different kinds of system alerts.
This made the Rose Fairy Queen's head spin. Until now, the system had been consistent with protecting nature and its beings, especially World Trees, which were creators and only pushed nature to the next level, nourishing it in a cycle of destruction and rejuvenation. However, a war between World Trees felt like the opposite of that.
Delia understood Flor's expression, and she asked. "Do you think it is contradicting? These are the consequences."
Flor rubbed her temples and commented. "Consequences? Thousands of deaths, forests burning down in the fires of war, plants dying, betrayals…"
Delia smiled faintly. "See further, Rose Fairy Queen. Look beyond the war. What happens after one of the World Trees is victorious."
Flor tilted her head. "They…" Flor's blinked and muttered, her face gaining a hint of realization. "The World Tree gains a lot of experience, grows, and its roots expand, covering the land the other World Tree owned… The new stronger World Tree fosters a stronger and better environment due to its presence…" Flor's eyes widened. "Eventually, the resources and everything else in the area become more abundant…"
Delia nodded. "That's the usual outcome. Of course, don't be blinded by an optimistic future. There are outcomes that end worse than how they started. For example, both World Trees die during the war. Or perhaps the weakened World Tree that was victorious gets suppressed by a third party and eventually enslaved… There are many routes that can lead to a horrible outcome. However, generally speaking, the case you visualized remains the most common outcome by a long stretch."
Flor rubbed her beautiful red hair, her face confused and conflicted. "Why not allow World Trees to live in harmony and create a way for them to nourish each other, not from destruction and conquest?"
Surprisingly, Liu Shu answered that question. "Flor, our race name has the answer to that."
Flor blinked and muttered. "World Tree…"
Delia nodded deeply. "Some speculate that once a World Tree manages to become a world-dominating being, something will happen that leads the world into a new era. Not many believe it, though. And yet, when it remains nothing but baseless speculation, the top powers have been trying their best to push their own World Trees to spread around all continents."
The Rose Fairy Queen suddenly sympathized much more with Eila. Eila probably thought that as Fortuna grew in power and occupied more land, all those war-hungry World Trees that were trying to swallow everything would turn their sights on the sprouting sapling and crush them.
Liu Shu spoke, her voice calm and accepting. "Being a World Tree, my future was decided long ago. My dream is to be at peace and grow my berries, feeding those close to me and creating a calm and soothing environment around me. One where no one bothers me and allows me to look at the World as an observer. However, that's not possible." Liu Shu chuckled, but Flor could tell that the chuckle was a bit empty and melancholic.
Flor asked, confused. "Liu Shu, what happened? Why are you thinking so much… deeper? You've been acting somewhat differently."
Liu Shu hummed and answered. "I've finally digested all the information from the pile of books you all left in the library."
Flor blinked and muttered. "While you were Leveling Up, we gathered those so that you could learn as much as possible. History books, story books, science books. Did you… absorb them all?"
Liu Shu laughed faintly. "Surprised? Even I am impressed at how fast I absorb information. I guess developing those cores was not for nothing. Oh! The Library is printing books much faster!"
The rest of the room paused, their eyes widening and looking at the World Tree through the window. Delia asked, stuttering. "What did you just say?"
Liu Shu looked at Delia, confused. "I said that I absorbed all the books. Is it that surprising?"
Kael blurted. "You have
Liu Shu was again confused and commented. "What are you talking about? I am not Level 25. Also, I developed
Thalia looked at Delia strangely. "You fought with her?"
The blue-haired Sylvan coughed. "It's complicated. Let's focus on the most important thing for now?"
Thalia glared at Delia suspiciously, but she decided to let it slip for now. Instead, she asked. "Since when did you have
Liu Shu humphed. "First of all, call me Liu Shu! Second of all, why should I tell you?"
They were about to agree when Liu Shu commented. "However, I want to brag! So, I developed them when I turned Level 19! Am I great? Aren't I the greatest!? Hmph, hmph. Fortuna is just a little sapling in front of me! Also, I didn't get scared the first time we met! I was… Planning my attack!"
Everyone in the room deadpanned, not knowing how to react. Too many revelations were thrown in a few sentences to form a coherent response.
Flor coughed and smiled at everyone. "How about a cup of calming tea? They are created from Liu Shu's leaves."
Delia spoke. "I'll have two, please."
Many others shared her feelings and only managed to relax after taking two cups… well, some more, of Liu Shu's calming tea.