章節 208: Chapter 208. A Quick Tour Around the Golden Sap Town.
With that conversation sorted out, Flor did her best to continue her visit in a normal manner. First, they walked into the mercantile area. It was around a city plaza and with some resting spots where people sold beverages and other types of snacks.
The area was full of people, with some creating street counters around the shops because of the lack of space. To create this merchant district, Liu Shu grew five of her tree houses, and then Flor rented them out as buildings that could only be used as shops and not living areas.
It was a great success for the simple reason that "renovating" costs were basically null. After all, the Tree Houses had the ability to move their insides around, and while the actions were limited, it was more than enough for those who set up the shops. A potion shop could create dedicated shelves, an armory could similarly create hangers at will, and a food shop could change the layout whenever they wanted, depending on the products they had.
The residents were divided about it.
Some people were creatures of routine, and they liked a steady and constant lifestyle. Too much change could be disorienting, and this was the truth the older a person was.
Meanwhile, other people found this entertaining, as even when they didn't really change where they lived, everything around them felt fresh and different daily.
Flor didn't hold back the negatives and explained all of this to everyone following behind her. Eila asked, curious. "How are these tree houses created? Is it possible to buy their seeds and plant them?"
Flor shook her head. "I can't really answer that question because, being honest, I have no idea how they are created."
Eila blinked and asked, confused. "How so? Aren't these trees grown by the Rose Fairies?"
Flor laughed awkwardly. "That was a little lie from when we hid Liu Shu as a Life Tree, fearing a harsh retaliation. In truth, Liu Shu is the one who has created this entire town. Everything that you see growing, every large tree, is created by Liu Shu. I have absolutely no idea how she does it."
Lord Stormrider couldn't help himself and asked aloud. "Liu Shu, taking into account what Flor said, can you sell us some of these seeds?"
"No!" Liu Shu quickly denied his request, pushing Lord Stormrider to ask. "Huh? Why not?"
Liu Shu asked. "Lord Stormrider, would you sell your children so that another clan can breed them into whatever they think is right?"
Everyone that was listening couldn't help but flinch. Looking at it from the World Tree's perspective, that was probably the most accurate and also raw description they've heard. Lord Stormrider hummed. "It seems that I was shallow-minded. It was a boorish question."
Liu Shu softly laughed, her gorgeous and gentle voice calming the souls of everyone around her. "It doesn't matter. Asking questions is what makes us learn; it is what has allowed creatures to evolve from simple-minded beings. While I can't sell you their seeds or allow you to buy them, we can always make other deals. For example, I can create small neighborhoods that will be reserved for certain clan members. To be honest, as I grow, this city also grows in size. Therefore, currently, there is a lot of free space to use. I plan to create North, West, East, South, and Central districts entirely controlled by the town's main administration, meaning Flor and those who will succeed her when she retires. That will leave northeast, northwest, southwest, and southwest free for other projects."
Everyone following Flor were intelligent people. While some might be more emotional or stubborn, that didn't limit their guessing capabilities. Liu Shu's words were very clear about what they meant.
Eila asked, her eyes starting deeply. "If Fortuna City wanted a piece of land, would you allow it, World Tree Liu Shu?"
Liu Shu answered with a free and easy tone. "Why wouldn't I? Everyone is welcomed under my canopy as long as they behave!"
Thalia, the red-haired sylvan from the Water Lily Sect, asked. "What if someone doesn't behave? I have yet to hear how you punish people."
Flor looked at Thalia and asked, a bit confused. "Are you asking me or Liu Shu?"
Thalia laughed. "Well, both. How about Lady Liu Shu goes first?"
Flor raised her hand, but after a moment, she just sighed and looked toward Liu Shu. Many noticed her gesture, making them curious about her answer.
"Well~, if it were me, I would just eat everyone who misbehaves!"
Flor facepalmed while everyone else felt their eyelids twitching. 'That's quite a harsh punishment.'
A human woman snorted. "This is what happens when you don't teach World Trees well. That's excessive punishment, Lady Liu Shu!"
Liu Shu intently stared at the woman, making the pressure of her gaze descend upon her. The World Tree's tone of voice deepened, losing the previous easygoing tone. "Oh? Do you think so?"
The woman's arrogant and sneering expression quickly crumbled as her blood drained from her face. She was a Level 17 person, but even then, when Liu Shu looked at her, she felt like she could be swallowed in the next instant.
It was not just the human woman; the others also tensed slightly when Liu Shu's voice changed. Until now, she had sounded somewhat innocent and pure. Now, she felt like she was about to strike at them, giving a sense of threat.
The woman stuttered, her heart beating fast. "L-Lady Liu Shu, punishing creatures with death is a very serious matter."
Liu Shu chuckled when she heard that answer, her laugh somewhat ridiculing. "I understand, that's why I said people who misbehave, didn't I? Should I be compassionate toward those who don't follow my law? Why?"
The human woman looked around, trying to find help from the others. However, to her surprise, everyone was just looking at her as if she were an experimental subject. Their eyes were clearly attentive to see how the World Tree responded to people like herself. 'Old wolves and witches! All of them are just hypocritical people!'
The woman looked at the massive World Tree in the distance and spoke. "Lady Liu Shu, some people might've certain circumstances, so you need to be empathetic."
The World Tree asked. "When those people committed a crime, were they considering the livelihood of others? Were they thinking about the people who work hard to get the things they get without committing crimes? Why should I care about the circumstances of those who don't make an effort and follow an easy path of theft and incivility?"
Everyone couldn't help but look at Liu Shu with a more profound gaze. At first, they thought this new World Tree was somewhat soft and adorable, being slightly ignorant about different matters. However, this sentence showed deep thought and development in the mental area.
Lord Stormrider's lips arched slightly. 'No wonder that brat got pummeled to death by wild monsters. A World Tree, even if young, is a World Tree at the end of the day.'
The woman couldn't answer Liu Shu's questions. Liu Shu added. "However, I didn't finish what I wanted to say." The World Tree's tone lightened again, sounding calm and gentle. "While I would love to punish people that way, Flor is in charge of punishment in this city. I will only personally intervene when the ones being hurt are those I consider close. For example, right now, there is a woman beating a man to death three streets to our right~."
Flor blinked twice and blurted. "Did that man commit a crime or something?"
Liu Shu answered. "Nop! She just wants his money, it seems."
"Please, help him." Flor sighed.
Liu Shu answered cheerfully. "Okay~! House, eat that woman!"
Everyone's eyebrows twitched, and right after, they saw one of the giant tree houses move and throw a few vines down, followed by a loud scream. "AHH! HELP!"
The woman got yanked into the canopy, and then, silence returned. Kael looked around at the several Tree Houses, and suddenly, he had a revelation that sent chills down his spine. "Wait, Lady Liu Shu. I have a question."
Liu Shu asked. "Hm? What question?"
His voice was filled with trepidation as if he didn't want to believe it. "Um… Do all the trees in this town have fighting capability?"
Everyone suddenly understood, and their eyes widened. Liu Shu's answer confirmed their fears.
"Hm? Isn't that obvious?" Liu Shu giggled. "They are their own beings! Fully capable of protecting themselves!"
Flor coughed and spoke, trying to smooth out their feelings. "Don't worry about that. They are extremely tame beings. I mean, some of them were abused recently to the point that I had to personally intervene because these big dummies wouldn't attack their residents."
Everyone gave Flor a look, and Flor smiled. The Rose Fairy Queen coughed. "Let's move on!"
Eila commented as they moved. "So this place is not a town but a heavily defended fortress. If everything can attack, then attacking this place would need several hundred Level 20 to Level 24 people or a few dozens of Level 25 people." Eila looked toward Liu Shu. "And that's not counting the World Tree's own strength and the strength of that massive snake she is using as clothes."
A human man who didn't have great vision looked at Liu Shu with surprise. "Huh? That massive thing covering her body is a snake!?"
Flor nodded. "It is an Arboreal Winged Serpent."
Lord Stromrider commented. "I heard there is more than one. Where are the rest?"
Flor commented with a smile. "They are hidden away, Lord Stormrider. We don't want our residents to feel like they are in a prison, constantly being watched. I think that's a priority in most World Tree cities, right?"
Lord Stormrider nodded. "Well, you are correct. Living in a World Tree City is not for everyone, especially if you are somewhat paranoid. After all, being inside a World Tree's domain is the same as standing by their side. They can basically hear anything you say if they have skills that help them do that. Liu Shu seems to be able to hear everything inside the town easily."
Liu Shu mumbled, somewhat annoyed. "Too many people speaking…"
After visiting the farm, stable, and neighborhood with the resident houses, Flor smiled and said. "Well, this would be it for the overall look of our current town. We are missing quite a bit of infrastructure, such as roads. However, I am quite proud of our little town. The waste management has also been superb since I have never really received a complaint because of smell or anything similar."
Eila nodded. "It is honestly much better than I expected. Moreover, we have yet to see that area."
They followed Eila's gaze and realized they had not visited the area beyond the flower garden. Flor laughed awkwardly. "Sadly, I can't really guide you there. The place beyond <Mother Of Thousand Flower Field> is a restricted area completely under Liu Shu's control. Even I don't have any authority to allow people there; only Liu Shu can."
Nobody insisted, and soon, they all arrived at the Town Hall and sat around the table Flor prepared beforehand, ready to start the discussion about the Golden Sap Town's future.
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