Chapter 217. Unexpected Visit. Liu Shu’s Decision.

Chapter 217. Unexpected Visit. Liu Shu’s Decision.

Two weeks after the war declaration, Flor finally received a report of starting activity. It was not from Fortuna, though. Reading the information she had, Flor asked. "What is this from? Or, better said, where do these come from?"

The human woman who carried the document commented. "Queen Flor, this is a city to the north, beyond the prairie. As you might know, the sects and other powers do not really have cities but are usually part of nature, be it in the mountains, a lake, or underground. However, the first time some diplomats came, Lady Liu Shu killed a fox woman. That fox woman is part of a large merchant alliance."

Flor blinked. "That large merchant alliance is coming to attack?"

The human nodded. "They are. They will arrive in a week at most. They will stop by Fortuna City because they know about our recent war."

Flor tilted her head. "How do we know all of this?"

The human woman paused and looked up from the documents, noticing that Flor was staring straight at her. While the size difference was substantial, that didn't make Flor's gaze less pressuring. The human woman spoke, "We've spread some intelligence agents-."

"Huh?" Flor smiled and asked. "How come I don't know anything about these intelligence agents you are speaking about, supposedly roaming around on the outside?"

The human woman smiled and answered. "I don't know, Queen Flor. These are the origins of the documents that I got."

"From who?" Flor asked. "Who told you about these outside... agents?"

The human woman looked sideways for a second and commented. "I don't know the names of all my coworkers, Queen Flor."

Flor looked at the woman for a few seconds, making them feel uncomfortable. "Um. What's wrong, Queen Flor?"

Flor asked, her tone somewhat exaggerated. "Well, you know, do you think I am stupid? That I have brain damage? Or do you think that my brain is not as developed as yours and, therefore, I will have trouble understanding things?"

The human woman answered quickly. "Of course not, Queen Flor! I don't think that you are lacking in any way!"

Flor nodded a few times. "Right, right. Liu Shu!"

The human woman's face instantly tensed when Flor called for Liu Shu.

"Hm? What's wrong, Flor?"

Flor pointed at the woman and asked. "Do you know her? Like, does her face ring a bell for you? Because I feel like it is the first time I am seeing her."

Liu Shu looked at the woman and commented. "I don't have any recollection. Is she new? Do you want to present her to me?"

Flor shook her head. "Have you heard anything about intelligence agents that are patrolling the outside?"

Liu Shu asked, confused. "Huh? Wasn't that one of your main concerns not long ago?"

Flor laughed faintly. "Right, right... So." Flor blinked and asked. "Who are you? How did you come here? And what happened to the person who had your working post a few days ago?"

The human woman's polite smile disappeared, and she sighed. "To think that monsters would catch me. I'll need to report this when I am back."

"Going back?" Flor asked, pointing down. "What back are you talking about?"

"They didn't." Liu Shu said quite confidently. "They tried to struggle quite a bit, though. Still, it seems that they were somewhat average strength-wise. My roots completely overpowered them."

Flor laughed wryly and said exaggeratedly. "Well, you probably have around 2000 points of Physique or something."

Liu Shu giggled. "Wow! You are always able to guess so nicely! Anyway, try to look for that army! If someone strange enters the domain, I'll tell you!"

Flor stood still for a few seconds and then rubbed her temples. '2000... Does she really have 2000 in a single stat? Oh, branches above...' Then, she stood up, and her wings began flapping, lifting her into the air. "Now, that army thingy. I guess Fortuna will be delighted to send a bunch of people who want to throw their life away to test our strength. However, she will be mistaken in thinking this will weaken us."

Flor smirked. "Let's start preparing the armies."

Meanwhile, in Fortuna City, Eila was sitting in the City Lord chair, and in front of her, five people wearing luxurious armor stood with stern faces. "Lady Eila Neoflora, we want to ask for permission to move our armies through your land and attack the Golden Sap Forest at the orders of our Lord."

Eila looked at them coldly, her eyes moving from one to the other. She could feel that they were all Second Energy Cycle powerhouses. However, they had not reached the third sub-cycle yet. "Are you five the top strength in the army?"

The general frowned. He was a tall bear man whose looks resembled those of a bear more than a human. Therefore, his gesture was difficult to distinguish. To be assigned as the general, he was naturally not a stupid person. Therefore, he could hear some implications in Eila's tone. She was basically saying. "Is this all?"

The general nodded. "We each lead a 200-strong army. I personally will overlook this battle and participate in it. Does Lady Eila think it is not enough?"

Eila smiled faintly. "I never said so. I am just confused. Where does this entire army come from?"

The man spoke formally. "We are the Gold army from the <Deep Prairie Merchant Alliance> toward the north. We never bothered involving ourselves with this region due to Lady Fortuna's presence."

Eila asked. "Oh? Did the new World Tree change your opinion?"

The general shook his head. "Lady Eila, I am good at military strategy, not political speech. If you want me to answer questions, you should be more upfront and move the subject closer to my specialty."

Eila smiled coldly. "You have guts, but your morals are in the right place. You seem to want to go there for, I guess, revenge for that fox that was killed?"

The general smiled. "Sharp. It is like that. That fox woman was the future concubine of one of the Lords of the Merchant Alliance. We are here under his orders to take revenge and show that no one disrespects us."

Eila laughed, but her laugh sounded joyless. "You are here to take revenge after trying to buy a World Tree for a few dozen <Syl>? Your lord's face is thicker than a city wall."

The general and his aides didn't dare rebuke. While they were going to attack a World Tree, they didn't consider Fortuna and Liu Shu to be at the same level. They just heard that a new World Tree disrespected their Lord by killing his concubine. Therefore, they were sent to heavily damage that World Tree. Fortuna would do the rest after they manage enough damage without damaging their army.

The general asked. "Lady Eila, may I ask for information about the World Tree? The range of its domain, if there is a safe distance to settle or any other similar information."

Eila hummed. "No. Since you plan to use me, I will happily be used. However, you are also going to go test these things for me, alright?"

The general spoke with a low tone. "Lady Eila, no one here is-"

"Stupid." Eila cut his sentence with a cold smile. "Am I right? No one here is stupid, right? So, take your army through our territory if you want, and then go attack that new World Tree. I will be waiting for the good news that my competition is weakened, and I can start my own attack."

The general looked at Eila for a few seconds and then said. "We will depart now. Thanks for all the help; I am sure my Lord will love hearing about it."

Eila kept smiling coldly as those people exited the room, and then she snorted. "Cannon fodder is so arrogant nowadays."