Chapter 59 - Practical

Venedette and Petunia followed after Halma outside of the dining room and now inside the throne room, where a lot of attendants were present to serve for the Queen.

And although Halma was able to bring the heavy atmosphere with her from the dining room, it was still undeniably awkward inside the dining room where Fily, Lei, Von, and Sir Grand were left.

No one dared to talk amongst them. They were still internalizing the words that were exchanged from Venedette and Halma and also from Von. And although it may sound absurd to accept what Halma did, they secretly couldn't deny the fact that she was right. Her method worked.

It was risky but it gave them more results about their research that they would have spent months on completing before arriving at the same conclusion otherwise.

Halma was a practical woman. She loves making progress the most no matter what kind of method she uses. She would even step on people willingly just to achieve her goals, and would likely sacrifice her family for the better of more people in her country. That was her ultimate purpose in this world.. To be her people's stronghold.

And what better way to be free of this burden than by making her country the best and leading one amongst the nine remaining countries of this world? The only thing stopping her now was the great flame borders that also served as their first line of defense against the outside world.

If only she knew how to configure or even expand this border to conquer more lands, she would be able to make more progress for her country just like what the current number one country, Heixilia, was able to do nowadays thanks to Yumeki.

So her team had to win the tournament. And research more about the Salamandite's connection to the borders. She had a strong hunch about the Salamandite's involvement with the borders and she was not backing out from it. Especially after confirming the gemstone's powers with her own eyes.

If only Venedette could activate her gemstone now just like how Gem was able to activate hers.

"Don't tell Gem about what actually happened. I don't want her to try killing herself just to go back to that place. What if she actually dies in the process? I really can't afford to lose another child, Ma. Please do understand." Venedette said while following after Halma in the throne room.

She didn't even notice Petunia following behind them. It seems like the cat also had inquiries to the Queen but she let Venedette go first.

"The girl will decide whether or not she's willing to kill herself to go back there or not, Vendette. And besides, didn't the events earlier just proved how effective that method was in bringing Gem to that dimension?" Halma raised an eyebrow at her while sitting comfortably on her throne.

"I will tell her at the right time. Just please… don't say or do anything to her anymore without my permission, mother. Or else you'll lose me too like how you lost my brothers' loyalty to that other country." Venedette said with a subtle shade being thrown at Halma about her dark past with her betrayers of a son.

"Fine," Halma said, finally getting to an agreement with Venedette despite all that argument that they just discussed at the dining table.

"Thank you," Venedette said before walking out of the throne room in a rush.

Petunia then stepped up before the Queen.

"The talking cat! Is that right? You're the talking cat, aren't you? Come here." Halma said, seemingly adoring her.

Petunia did what Halma said and sat on the Queen's lap while swirling around as if trying to find a good spot to sit on.

When Halma noticed Petunia was not talking, she tried to talk to her again. 

"Why aren't you talking? From what I can remember, Riveth told me you're that potions master who went missing during the 4010's tournament where your family was chosen to be the prize." Halma said insensitively yet again.

Petunia was trying so hard to keep her patience long while hearing everything that was coming out from Halma's foul mouth.

She just wanted to steal the flask from Halma's bracelet that she sensed was a very rare and expensive material for advanced potion-making. But of course, the Queen was not dumb.

She could read what Petunia was thinking based on her fidgeting movements around her lap and grasping actions to her wrists.

"Looking for this?" Halma said and raised her hand, flashing a small flask from her bracelet under the white robe.

The flask was holding a clear water-like elixir in it with a glowing yellow bead floating violently inside as if it was trying to escape the bottle.

"Is… Is it real?" Petunia said, seemingly being mesmerized by the poison.

What she was seeing right now, was the ever-rare ingredient next to Energy slimes, the Dandeloin spirit! It was a poison that could only be obtained from the soul of a Dandelion flower being born on the highest ground of the world. And since that place was not part of the safe zones, obtaining one was as hard as finding one needle in a haystack!

"Do you want it?" Halma offered it to her.

And of course, she wants it! What more would an alchemist nerd want the most in the world but a super rare toxic substance that was a hundred times more dangerous than the current poison in her Gummy Cloud's defense system?!

"H-How?" Petunia was stuttering real bad.

Her mind couldn't focus on the conversation because of the seductive stare she was getting from the shining Dandeloin spirit in Halma's hands!

"So you can really talk! That's so cool!" Halma said excitedly and hid the flask inside her thick fur scarf which called Petunia back to her senses after the seductive poison disappeared from her sight completely.

"Did you use that to kill Gem?" Petunia shot immediately which made Halma speechless... yet again.