Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

His words were logical and weighty. He was not asking for much other than a safety net for the investment and risk that would imply placing an Explorer Association building in Golden Sap Town.

Wert waited for a few seconds, and seeing them frowning and not really knowing what to add for that particular security net, he spoke. "How about this? First, I need your town to work with the global currency of Lir, Tyn, Bren, Syl, and Arbor. Everything inside needs to be able to be bought with general currency." 

Flor's frown increased. She asked. "Doesn't that make it easier to be bought by some big shot? Without a developed economy, we are at risk of being bought."

Wert nodded and smiled. "That's true. Still, because something has a price, it doesn't mean that you need to agree to sell it. If you own it, would you sell the Golden Sap Forest for, let's say, 10 Arbor?" 

Flor blinked and realized. "I see. You have a point. And, no, I wouldn't sell it."

Wert rubbed his chin and continued. "With that deal reached, it makes it a bit easier. The second thing I asked from you is a 'local product' that has enough global interest to attract Explorers from around the World."

Flor hummed. "A local product? For example?"

Wert pointed outside the window. "Fortuna City has Fortuna; that's self-explanatory. Meanwhile, Sirol City has excellent energy purity. Rune Crafters and Array Masters love this place. Then, Mareful City is near the Small White Flower Forest, which has plenty of resources for high-quality wine-making. Towns that have an Explorer Association building usually have a combination of a strong economy, political standing, interesting local products, or environmental qualities."

Wert asked. "Knowing that, what does Golden Sap Forest have? What does your town have to attract people?" Wert added with a smile. "And don't tell me that the Golden Sap from those trees is one. It is not considered a sought-after commodity." 

Flor crossed her arms. There were plenty of resources in Golden Sap Town that could be recognized. The problem was deciding which ones to reveal that were not too crazy. Eventually, she looked at Verdantia and secretly raised three fingers. 

Verdantia nodded and took out three berries: a light blue, red, and yellow one. "I think these three are enough to attract your attention." 

Wert looked at the fruits with curiosity and suspicion. "Are you sure a few fruits will convince me?" 

Tempestria smiled and commented. "Analyze them first."

He shrugged and looked at them closely, eventually getting their effects. 

<Low-Rank Phoer Berry (E- Rank)>: +250 Phoer Body Shards. Level 9 and below can only ingest one of them a day, while those above can ingest 10 of them a day. 

<Low-Rank Mana Berry (E- Rank)>: +250 Aether Mana Shards. Level 9 and below can only ingest one of them a day, while those above can ingest 10 of them a day. 

<Low-Rank Energy Berry (E- Rank): +250 Anima Energy Shards. Level 9 and below can only ingest one of them a day, while those above can ingest 10 of them a day. 

"Wow." Wert looked at the berries with surprise. "These are really good ones. They would also be popular with low-level Explorers and any institution wanting to teach lower levels. Creating some sort of 'beginner' city is easy with these resources. Of course, I am taking into account that there are enough of them. What's your current supply?" 

Flor commented. "Don't worry about the supply for now. We can change it to a certain degree depending on the demand." Then, Flor asked. "Are these enough?"

Wert hummed. "It is extremely tempting, but I need something else. How is the housing situation in your city?"

Flor smiled. "Extremely good and innovative. We were praised by an influential person as well. The problem is that the town is new, so it needs to build a few more houses. However, this takes time because the houses are a bit different from usual." 

Wert raised his eyebrows. "A bit different? Are they done with a different material?"

Flor shook her head. "Not exactly. They are made out of living trees."

The man asked, puzzled. "Living trees?" He couldn't really wrap his head around it. "Why do you allow it as a Rose Fairy for people to carve out the insides of a tree and use it as housing?"

Flor frowned. "Why would we do something so barbaric? These trees were raised to become as such. They feel no pain. On the contrary, they are in a symbiotic relationship with the people living in them." 

Wert scratched his head. "I still can't really understand it. I'll need to visit it personally, it seems."

Flor nodded. "That was always an option as well."

Wert asked, "Would you mind if I took a small group to make sure that I am not ambushed?"

Flor shrugged. "As long as you don't try anything silly, you are welcome to. I tell you that we are stronger than we seem. So, I hope that you have no strange ideas." 

He clapped his hands with a big smile. "Perfect! That was a productive conversation. I finally want to ask, what is your objective for setting up this town?"

Flor explained briefly. "I want to stop living while fearing being constantly hunted down. I want people to understand that, in the center of the <Golden Sap Forest>, there is the <Golden Sap Town>, a place where people can rest, filled with friendly creatures and not brainless monsters."

Wert smiled. "Good enough reason, I guess." His smile widened. "However, don't expect peace. Setting up the place won't stop those covetous people from trying different things to infiltrate the town. You are somewhat insightful, but in terms of treachery, you are too naive. The lengths people go for the stupidest thing will surprise you." 

Flor blinked and commented. "Thanks for the warning."

Wert stood up, and the rest followed. He looked at Verdantia and asked. "What are your intentions with this town? Are you trying to expand the Liferoot territory? I could see it since Fortuna is quickly becoming the little overlord of this place."

Verdantia shook her head. "My objectives are much more direct. You will perhaps understand before your lifespan burns out."

Wert sighed. "That was a low blow."

Verdantia snorted. "And you assuming I am something like an invasive species was rude."

Wert laughed. "Touché." Then, he said to them. "I'll go visit you in 3 days time. I have free time at around that time. In the meantime, I'll do my best to keep Explorers off the Golden Sap Forest." 

When they exited the place, Verdantia heard Vera calling her. "Cousin! What did you do here? Are you finished? You promised that we could talk later!"

Verdantia rubbed her forehead and said. "You two can go and escort Flor away. I'll deal with Vera in the meantime." Then, she walked away, guiding Vera to a beverage shop at the side of the street.

Tempestria laughed. "Having cousins like that must be quite a hurdle, hahaha. I can't imagine myself entertaining such people." 

Cinderella asked. "What about your family, Tempestria? You've honestly never talked much about yourself."

Tempestria paused and sighed. "Well, my mother and father are dead. They were trapped in a fire a few years ago." 

Cinderielle blinked and asked, her eyes glittering with excitement. "Are you now on a vengeance trip to find the culprit and kill them, but you realized when you were younger that they were from a very influential family, therefore making you momentarily give up until you met Liu Shu, and now you are looking forward to the future again with a new determination to avenge your parents!?"

Tempestria looked at Cinderielle, flabbergasted. "What in the branches above are you talking about? They died in a natural fire."

Cinderielle blinked a few times and then clicked her tongue. "Tsk, boring. And here I thought I would've met someone with a novelesque background." 

Tempestria slapped the back of her head. "Don't be silly."

Cinderielle laughed and then asked. "But, being a bit serious, it is true that I almost know nothing about your general situation."

Tempestria commented. "Well, it's really not that complicated. I am not someone with a grand background or anything. I was born on a continent beyond the East Sea. My parents took a boat here when I was really young. We then settled down in a city beyond the <Wall Forest> called Lorferal City. My childhood was like any other, going to study in a school in the city, learning a few things, until eventually, that day arrived, and my parents died."

Cinderielle listened silently. Tempestria commented. "It was hard at first, but as years went by, I eventually got over it and decided to become someone who doesn't stay in a single place for long and lives freely." 

The Wind Sylvan laughed. "Those plans were canceled after I heard your and Verdantia's conversation in that bar by pure accident. Who knew that my bad habit of flying around and moving through the ceilings would let me hear about Liu Shu?"

"Then…" Tempestria paused and looked up. "I saw Liu Shu." Tempestria laughed. "I mean, I was in the sky, beyond the sight of any of you, including the Liu Shu of that time. Yet, when I saw her canopy, just her canopy, I couldn't stop looking." 

Cinderielle nodded, understanding the feeling. Tempestria continued. "The feeling was so primal and intense that I really didn't know what to do at that moment. So many thoughts, so many options, and yet, since I laid my eyes on Liu Shu, it felt like every future without her was nothing." 

Cinderielle blinked a few times and hummed. "I mean, by now, it feels pretty clear that all three of us are after the same thing, no?"

Tempestria snorted. "It was clear since the first moment." 

After thinking for a few seconds, the fire Sylvan asked. "So, what do we do? It's clear that none of us will give up on her, regardless of what happens." 

Tempestria had few thoughts on that matter. "Hm. I guess we just let nature take its course? While I really hate the thought of even sharing a single leaf of Liu Shu with anyone else, I somehow can feel that it is inevitable."

Tempestria frowned. "I don't know how you or Verdantia feel, to be honest. That's why I never really brought it up." She added. "Still, we fought to the death together a few times, so I can somewhat bear your presence."

Cinderielle gritted her teeth. "Hey, aren't you a bit too arrogant? I was with her first! I fought for her even before you knew her existence!"

Tempestria looked at Cinderielle and grinned. "And? This is not a place on a first-come, first-served basis. If you really want to be the 'First' as you were discovering her, then you'll need to put in the effort."

Looking at the grey-haired and grey-eyed Sylvan, Cinderielle's orange eyes gained a competitive flame. "You think I will allow myself to become a second? You wish!" 

Tempestria leaned forward, pressing their foreheads together. "Then, bring it on."

Cinderielle snorted, not stepping backwards. They were so close that people around looked at them with strange gazes.

"Are those big sisters going to kiss?"

A mother coughed. "Don't look, let's go."

When Cinderielle and Tempestria heard that, they almost choked on their own saliva and quickly separated. 

Cinderielle snorted. "What kind of eyes does that child have?"

Tempestria also snorted. "Really, we were showing dominance! Who thinks of kissing in that situation?"

Flor, who was flying behind them, sighed. "You two are really…"