Chapter 210. Eila's True Self. Liu Shu's Reflection.

After welcoming and waiting for the two new guests to sit down, everyone stayed silent and looked at Flor, waiting for her to speak. Their gazes were now more probing. After all, Flor's position changed from someone who needed their support to someone who was already supported by relatively powerful allies. 

Flor was slightly nervous. From now on, the real conversation will start. Still, she didn't show her nervousness outward, and her petite size also made it quite difficult for her discomfort to show. She began. "Now that everyone is here, I will proceed to ask about what we want. First things first, I want our town to be publicly recognized and not slandered with bad faith just because of the existence of monster-kind inside the city. I won't stop any city from continuing to hunt wild monsters, as their intelligence is certainly not as developed as ours. Still, I ask your spokesperson to tell the public about the harmlessness of this place."

Flor finished by saying. "In return, we'll allow any kind of resident to be stationed here. Naturally, if their level is too high and we feel they are a threat, we reserve our right to act cautiously." 

Eila spoke first, her voice cold and cutting. "Fortuna City does not accept this. Since you are so cautious with other people, it is only right I am as cautious with you. Your town is hosted by a World Tree that no one has control over. This means that the World Tree will expand as it pleases and without taking anything into consideration." 

Eila stated. "If Golden Sap Town wants to remain, I will ask for either a taming of World Tree Liu Shu or a way to limit her growth."

Delia looked at her and snorted. "That's excessive. The Golden Sap Town and Fortuna City don't really need to fight because, while World Trees are very territorial, there are no others in the nearby area. The closest World Tree city is either beyond the <Wall Forest> to the west or south past the <Dark Aether Swamp>." Delia looked at Lord Stormrider and spoke. "To the east, there are several noble families, with Lord Stormrider's family being one of the top families." Looking back at Eila, she finished her statement. "Meanwhile, to the north, there is a large stretch of nothing before we find any kind of settlement." 

Eila answered with a snort. "And how do you plan to divide the current land? Fortuna City's position is terrible. All our cities were built with the Golden Sap Forest in the middle due to its low level and lack of threat. Now, that center has been completely taken over by a World Tree. This corners Fortuna City to the west, while north, east, and south are all within reach of Golden Sap Town."

Taro spoke after Delia. "Lady Delia and I have talked about this on our way here, and we thought that Lady Fortuna and Lady Liu Shu should create a root border and then expand west and south, taking over the Wall Forest and Dark Aether Swamp, respectively. This would be a great addition to both World Tree cities. There is an argument that the <Wall Forest> is much more lucrative than the dangerous <Dark Aether Swamp>, giving Fortuna City an edge over Golden Sap Town."

Eila spoke coldly. "That sounds good until you take into account that you two seem to have quite a close relationship with the World Tree. How can I trust that this city's World Tree won't swallow everything else while my Fortuna City is developing to the west?" 

Delia smiled and asked. "Eila Neoflora, are you the owner of this land? Why do we need to listen to your commands and take everything you think and feel into account? I admit that your connections are dangerous and imposing, and I admit that Fortuna City's presence has significantly helped the entire area's development. However, that doesn't make your city the de facto ruler of this place." 

"Ha!" Eila gave one loud and cold laugh, her face gaining a sneer. "Ungratefulness at its fines, Delia. Do you think the nexus people would've been contained and suppressed as much as they've had without me? Ridiculous! If World Tree Fortuna hadn't appeared in this area, whether this place would have belonged to the <Azure Rose Confederation> or the <Abyssal Void Nexus> would not be that clear!" 

Delia countered. "I can argue that the presence of Lady Fortuna in the first place is what made the <Abyssal Void Nexus> interested in this place! Without Lady Fortuna, there would've been no reason whatsoever for the Nexus to focus on this remote and relatively barred piece of land!"

The Lightning Sylvan's body flicked with powerful sparks, making everyone in the room feel the tension growing. Giving everyone around a cold look, Eila stated. "Golden Sap Town has committed several offenses that are not forgivable. Between them, and the one we've been ignoring, is hiding a World Tree's presence, consciously masking it as a Life Tree! This alone is enough to condemn and flatten this place into nothing! And while the fact that monsters dominate this place is not punishable by any law, the ethical and moral problems that come with it are enough to cause civil unrest!" 

Eila slammed the table, her tone rising imposingly. "Siding with Golden Sap Town means siding with a dangerous group that is threatening the balance that this world has tried so hard to maintain for millennia!"

Nobody could speak as Eila's statements were not a lie. She spoke through the lens of an international outcome, while Delia and Flor spoke through the lens of individuality. Both sides had great ideas, and their arguments were valid. However, even when both arguments were correct in their own way, they were conflicting in nature.

When everyone was silent and feeling the tensions rise, Liu Shu intervened. "Eila Neoflora." Her voice sounded different from usual, deeper and with a trace of grace and elegance. "It is you, intelligent creatures, who insist on living with World Trees. It is you, intelligent beings, who insist that World Trees' nature is aggressive and dangerous. It is you, intelligent races, who condemn our battle for dominance as tyrannical. However, I want to ask you this. Who else is also fighting for supremacy?"

Liu Shu asked softly, but her words echoed in their minds. "Aren't there several superpowers that are at a constant war to expand their borders and get complete monopoly over this world? Aren't there several independent groups that have developed in our limited world, wanting to swallow more and more and take from those stronger and weaker? Why not condemn them? Why not condemn the basic warmonger nature of intelligent beings?"

Liu Shu spoke. "I will tell you why. It is because you, intelligent creatures, depend on us, World Trees. Without a powerful World Tree supporting your cause, supporting your views, you are nothing. The Nexus exploits World Trees for their benefit, and the other three top empires have incredibly powerful World Trees in their main continents that support their hegemony." 

The World Tree laughed softly. "I am nothing but a new and young World Tree that's trying to expand like any other creature with a wish for greatness. My roots will cross rivers and mountains; they will cross oceans and seas. My roots will expand and reach everywhere and beyond, and everything that comes my way should know that I will fight for it."

Eila spoke, agitated. "That's suicide! You CAN'T fight those powers! You are as stupid as Fortuna! If it were not for me volunteering to hold her down, gaining this damned title in the process, Fortuna would have become furniture for someone's house by now!"

Eila shouted, distressed, while also looking toward Liu Shu through one of the expansive windows. "YOU ARE IGNORANT AND NAIVE! THINKING THAT YOU CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD, BUT YOU WILL END UP WORSE THAN FORTUNA BECAUSE YOUR VALUE IS SEVERAL TIMES HIGHER THAN HER!"

Everyone looked at Eila with widening eyes. Her sentence blurted out from the heart, revealed so many things that they didn't know what to think of her anymore. 

Liu Shu couldn't help but look at her, feeling that Fortuna's words when they met were very similar to Eila's first honest outburst. 'Ah… They do think the same thing.

Liu Shu laughed softly. "Eila, the titles you have don't really reflect who you really are. The fate between Fortuna and I is probably set. The fate between Fortuna City and Golden Sap Town is one between victor and defeated. This talk was nothing but a chat for the powers to take a side. You don't want to see Fortuna die. You also don't want to see me die. Your attempts at what you are doing is your honest effort to protect the creatures you admire, thinking that if it is in captivity, at least you will be able to protect one of them." 

Eila's hands clenched into a fist and trembled, her eyes watering but not spilling a single tear. Everyone else remained silent while Liu Shu continued. "However, Eila. The only way a World Tree can truly be free is by allowing them to expand their roots."

Eila asked, trying to keep her voice from choking. "Even if it means their death?"

"Death comes to all, Eila." Liu Shu laughed. "And if death is the end of the path we've chosen, that's at least the final outcome of our own decisions. Life is about choices; some live in conformity and are happy. Others live in search of something more, and the thrill of that search brings them happiness. Big or small, values are our own."

Eila bit her lips and turned around while walking away. "If that's your thinking, then there is not much more to talk about. This is war."

Liu Shu's voice echoed in the room again, gentle and soothing. "Indeed. As it should've been from the start. Only Fortuna can choose her fate, Eila. And only I can choose mine." 

Flor and Eila listened to that sentence, feeling it deeply in themselves. Deep inside, both wished to protect the being they considered someone very close. However, they knew, deep inside, that they couldn't. What they were doing was prolonging the inevitable. 

Meanwhile, Cinderielle, Verdantia, and Tempestria were not surprised, as they had been thinking this way since the start. They would take care of Liu Shu as she spread, fighting for her and for their love. They just wanted to be there for the gorgeous World Tree and teach her how to love as she expanded and became stronger.

Delia couldn't help but look at Liu Shu, her eyes filled with wonder and respect. She asked aloud. "Liu Shu, these thoughts… How? You are so young, basically a seedling."

Liu Shu answered softly. "I just feel them deep inside. I follow what I think is right while not forgetting to learn and adjust. True independent thoughts are not static; they are ever changing, absorbing the ideas around them, even those that challenge your core beliefs, reflecting on which ones you feel are correct, and then following those but never blinded to other views. Gently, slowly, like tree branches and roots, thoughts grow and become a giant tree." 

Hearing the World Tree's words, everyone in the room couldn't help but reflect. Lord Stormrider spoke. "Liu Shu, I will not participate in this war. Regardless if you win or lose, I will be watching." 

Liu Shu giggled. "Sure~. You can come to talk whenever you want."

Lord Stormrider smiled and nodded. "I will." He glanced at Verdantia and laughed. "I should also pay a visit to your mother."

Verdantia bowed elegantly. "I am sure she will be pleased."