Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 207. A Surprise Guest Between The Delegation.

Even after they received all of that, Flor needed to act without surprise. After all, she was supposedly someone who didn't know much about other things. Of course, acting ignorant and acting as if this was a normal occurrence was different. The final objective was to show that Liu Shu being able to do something like this was a common occurrence, which it was, and simultaneously place that seed of doubt in their minds when they compared Liu Shu with other World Trees. 

She was basically increasing the value of Liu Shu in the eyes of others.

This was a double-edged sword. The advantages were clear: if Liu Shu was special, she would be considered a valuable creature even when compared to other world trees. No one liked killing the flower with golden seeds. Therefore, she would be safe for the most part. 

The disadvantages were as clear as the advantages. When you see a treasure that belongs to no one, most creatures will have an urge to possess it. That's why beauty is so coveted; that's why some materials that are expensive but useless, like decoration, are so valuable. They are something hard to possess, something that the grand majority lack. Therefore, they are valuable. 

With such thoughts in mind, Flor acted on ideas that Ignatia taught her. "I hope those buffs are not too lacking compared to senior World Tree cities like Fortuna City or any other." Flor laughed slightly. "I am quite confident they are powerful. However, who knows if I am just being short-sighted? I have not been to another place with a World Tree."

Kael walked forward, even without Eila's motion, and laughed loudly. "Hey, Queen Flor! Stop joking with us! With these buffs, Golden Sap Town will flourish like no other! I am sure that once I go back and tell the sect master, he will immediately ask to settle down around here!" 

Flor smiled and looked at Eila. "Whenever your group is ready, we can walk inside." 

Eila was still looking at the buffs when Flor spoke to her. She moved her gaze away, and her purple eyes landed on Flor with quite a lot of depth and intensity. She had heard from reports about some of these skills. However, others were unknown to her. That was a problem; it meant that either her people were worse than she thought in gathering information, which would mean that the rest of her information might be incomplete, or… 'Did the World Tree gain a few of these recently? If so, the World Tree's rate of gaining new auras and buffs is too fast. Fortuna is truly not a match for her in terms of auras.'

Flor blinked twice when Eila just looked at her. Her body tensed, and the surrounding people slowly calmed down and observed the situation. Wert spoke, his arms crossed. "Eila Neoflora, I recommend you don't do something you will regret."

Eila spoke flatly. "I was not thinking of any such thing, Wert. Please, guide us in, Queen Flor."

Flor nodded and spoke. "Come with me. I'll give you a short tour around the town, explain a few of the peculiarities that I think are unique to us, and then we can move to the <Lignified Town Hall>'s room and have a discussion."

With Flor's words, the group walked toward the closed wall. They were confused for a second until Flor spoke aloud. "Liu Shu, open the wall."

'Open the wall?' They couldn't understand until the roots the wall was made of suddenly began moving and shifting around, opening wide enough for them to pass through. 

One person asked, surprised. "So, this wall is controlled by Lady Liu Shu?" 

Referring to World Trees as "lady" was a common practice. Flor answered. "Yes. As a World Tree, her ability to split her attention is superb. Therefore, we have a few guards to manage the town entrance. If they are suspicious of anyone, they can always call for Liu Shu, and if the World Tree deems you unfit to enter, then you can't enter." 

A man asked, confused. "Isn't that unfair? If you are not liked by the World Tree for any reason, then you just can't enter?"

Verdantia answered this time around, her tone formal. "If a World Tree doesn't like you, then you should be unfit to enter almost any city." 

The man who spoke looked over and spoke. "Miss Liferoot, not all World Trees carry a perfectly objective view of the world or even a correct one. As with all creatures, World Trees can become evil or unreasonable."

Verdantia agreed. "I never said they couldn't. However, that doesn't take away from the fact that compared to most other races, World Trees tend to be the most objective and impartial of all."

Eila added. "That's if no other World Trees are involved in the mix, right? Their savage way of expanding usually ends in a prolonged war between them and their followers, creating countless deaths and misery."

Verdantia argued back. "Another truth. But, again, you are twisting it. World Trees rarely, if ever, ask other beings to help them. We unilaterally want to live around them because living in their surroundings is incredibly profitable for our own development. Lady Fortuna has an aura that passively increases the Destiny stat and luck-related encounters and activities. That's why living around her is so helpful for most." 

Verdantia looked toward the city's center, where Liu Shu's figure could be seen with a soft gaze, and she added. "Lady Liu Shu's aura is a literal paradise for summoners, researchers, crafters, and other common professions. That's why we are so eager to live around her, even when other powers slander this place as a monster nest."

A woman spoke, looking around. "Well, it is not a lie, right? Look over there. A group of giant Fire Ants are walking the streets. That shopfront is owned by a Myconid. I can even see a Rose Fairy over there welcoming guests."

Tempestria smiled and asked. "Isn't that fascinating? The beings that, until today, you and I have hunted down because they were perceived as brainless creatures that are a sack of money and experience are more civilized than many of us." Tempestria sighed. "I've worked as a mercenary before joining here, and I have exterminated many beings of these three species. They are, after all, considered one of the creatures that rookie Explorers need to hunt to increase their expertise."

The group moved their gaze toward Flor, and Flor smiled. "It doesn't bother me. Humans kill other humans. Sylvans kill other Sylvans. Beastkin kill other beastkin. There is no reason why Rose Fairies won't have different tribes that also kill each other. To become the Rose Fairy chief I was before meeting Liu Shu, I killed Rose Fairies in cold blood. Perhaps more than Tempestria over here." 

A man with quite exotic clothes spoke, changing the subject quite abruptly. "I wonder, will you accept other types of monsters in the future?"

People looked over and suddenly realized that this man's aura was profound. Eila's eyebrow raised when he noticed him, and she spoke respectfully with a hint of curiosity and surprise. "Lord Stormrider? What are you doing here?"

Flor, Cinderielle, Verdantia, and the rest felt their hearts tightening when they heard Eila's words. 'What did she just call him!?'

When she looked at him, even Liu Shu couldn't help but feel her entire being shuddering. 'Huh? How did I not notice him until now?' 

The handsome and tall, muscular man felt Liu Shu's gaze descending on him and smiled faintly. "Hello, World Tree. And to answer you, City Lord Eila…" He asked, his voice deep. "Why shouldn't I be here? One of my sons perished, trying to get his hands on this exact World Tree. I wanted to visit the place and see how he could fail so miserably, even after all the aid I left him." 

Wert was almost freaking out. 'What in the burning branches is this person doing here!? Doesn't he have more urgent matters to deal with as a third sub-cycle powerhouse!?

Liu Shu decided to answer him. "Hello… Um, what's your name?" 

The man chuckled. "Well, everyone calls me Lord Stormrider. You can call me the same, Lady Liu Shu." 

Liu Shu hummed. "I see. Then, Lord Stormrider, are you here for revenge?" 

"Oh? Very direct! I don't dislike that." He smiled and asked. "What if I am? What if I am not?"

"Well… If you are, I will try my best to fight you off, although I feel that my chances are very slim…" 

The man smiled. "That would be right. After all, our levels are too far apart. I can feel that you have incredible strength. However, it isn't nearly enough to fight me off. What if I am not here for revenge?"

Liu Shu answered honestly. "Then, you can visit as you please, like another guest." 

"Oh? Aren't you afraid that I would be lying?" 

Everyone listened to the conversation with rapt attention. When he asked that question, they couldn't help but look at Liu Shu, feeling nervous for the World Tree. 

Liu Shu laughed faintly. "You are funny~. Like Verena and Branthis! They also tried to fake a question like that! Is this something strong people do?" 

Lord Stormrider was baffled, and everyone around started sweating coldly. 'This World Tree… Oh, branches above…' 

Lord Stormrider suddenly laughed. "Right, why would I do that? If I need to go around sneakily even after gaining my strength, wouldn't I be a failure? Also, I knew Verena came here in the past, but I didn't know about Branthis…" Lord Stormrider rubbed his chin. "Well, it doesn't matter much."

He spoke. "Lady Liu Shu, I will be honest with you. I am not here for revenge. I am annoyed that Eldric died. But I am not annoyed at you. I am annoyed at how useless he ended up being. You were not even Level 10 when he came to attack you, right? How can he mess up so badly? Sigh."

Liu Shu answered, sounding relaxed. "That's very nice. I honestly don't really like fighting creatures. It's annoying. Since you are here to look around, you are a guest! Have a fun time!"

Lord Stormrider blinked twice and laughed softly. "I will have fun, thank you, World Tree Liu Shu."

Liu Shu answered back. "Since you are very strong, calling me just Liu Shu is okay! I don't like to be revered either way."

Lord Stormrider nodded. "That's quite good to hear." Then, he looked at Eila and Flor with a faint smile. "Sorry that I interrupted. You can go on, and please, forget that I am here. As I told Liu Shu, I am here to visit, nothing more." Then, he remembered something. "Right! I asked a question! What do you say to that, Queen Flor?"

Flor cleared her throat, trying to calm down her nerves, and answered. "If we consider that the species is an intelligent one that can fit in our culture and city, we will. However, if we think that their addition will bring unrest, not only with monsters, but even different humans, Sylvan, and beastkin races won't be accepted to live in our town."

Lord Stormrider got thoughtful for a few seconds and then nodded. "That's a great view. The city's integrity and culture are important. Too much mixing can end in a catastrophic scenario. Now, you can go on." 

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