Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 283. Tactics, Armies, Eila’s Deep Background.

The provinces that had gathered were part of the <Ironwood Highland Province> and a small part of <Deep Prairie Merchant Province> forces. Those coming from the mercantile province were part of the groups that had a large loss in the past when General Tharn’s, the bearkin’s army, decided to take revenge for those that Liu Shu killed in their initial visit.

Once they gathered, they were curious about each other since, at first, they weren’t informed, and only during their march toward <White Flower Province> had they met. Once the armies looked at each other, many of the common soldiers sought an explanation, but they heard a man’s voice spread on the prairie where they were currently standing. “In formation! Now!”

The deep, authoritative voice startled most. However, their army leaders repeated the order, pushing them into action. “What are you waiting for? Formation!”

“Gather up and pay attention!”

The soldiers scrambled, and after one minute, everyone was in formation. Looking forward, they saw a platform rising from the ground. The heavy steps of someone climbing the stairs were loud enough that everyone could hear them.

With those steps, the figure of a tall and noble man was revealed. The man looked like a high-born just from the clothes and attitude, which was very easy to distinguish from the average soldier. 

The man looked around, surrounded by several high-ranking people, and then he spoke loudly. “I am Baron Lorbase from the <Azure Rose Confederation>.”

Many felt their eyes widening with surprise. ‘An actual noble from the Confederation!? What is he doing here!?’

Baron Lorbase spoke, his voice accompanied by a strong will but also a touch of hurt. “We have gathered together to fight the new World Tree that’s rapidly enveloping the White Flower Province.” His deep and dark eyes gazed at everyone. “I am sure there is no one here who doesn’t know the creature I am referring to.”

Nobody answered, but their eyes told the Baron that he was indeed right. Every single person here had been fed lies and promises by Nexus people without Lorbase’s knowledge. Therefore, most had an irremediable hatred toward the World Tree named Tianlian Liu Shu.”

What Lorbase thought was the people he had been exchanging information with were actual powers from the provinces. Instead, the power that had been controlling the current flow of events was the <Abyssal Nexus Zealot Sect>. They were the main branch from where the <Echoing Abyss Harbingers>, the power Jolie controlled, had arrived.

It was mostly unknown, but the <Echoing Abyss Harbingers> were a side branch created just to train Jolie and other high-ranks of that sect in live situations. Still, the resources they invested were mostly used to nourish Jolie.

Lorbase, completely unaware that he was being manipulated by a powerful <Abyssal Void Nexus> branch, continued his inspiring speech. 

“World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu has caused large amounts of deaths, and between them, it is my daughter who was included. Hence, you can believe me when I say that this expedition is not a test.” Lorbase’s tone increased. “This expedition is not for proving the World Tree’s bottom line!” His tone increased once more, becoming loud and resounding. “Our expedition is one that will either suppress or uproot the World Tree to prevent it from causing more death and misery!”

The soldiers, separated at first because of their different origins, felt their blood boil, and many raised their weapons at Lorbase’s words. 

“KILL!”

“Down with the evil World Tree!”

“We shall cleanse this smear from the face of the world!”

The echoing shouts of the tens of thousands of people were something that made Lorbase feel a sense of gladness. ‘In the end, Kaedric was wrong. I knew that listening to Lady Evangeline was the correct move.’

Meanwhile, Lady Evangeline kept the handheld fan open, hiding her mockingly arching lips. ‘Quite a pathetic bunch. You’ll serve well for our cause and start an irreconcilable separation between the Confederation and that cutie in the Golden Sap Forest.’

Evangeline chuckled faintly, her mind already thinking of the far future. ‘When she is cornered and about to be defeated, the Nexus will extend its branches and give her salvation! How could she not notice our grand reasons then? How could such a creature, saved from certain death, be able to resist the allure of comradeship after being isolated for so long~.’

By her side, a younger but extremely gorgeous Sylvan looked at everything with thoughtful eyes. ‘Is this how Mother usually acts? No wonder she is so highly valued. We might reach our objective without sacrificing a single drop of blood from our soldiers.’

Looking at the side and to her daughter, Evangeline’s lips arched once more, but this time with love and satisfaction. “It seems that you have understood.”

Jolie muttered, rubbing her chin as her intelligent eyes shone like moonlit dewdrops. “I do. Our curse arts are used not as a brute method, but as a subtle and gentle stroke when we draw the grand picture we want to unfold.”

“Correct~.” Evangeline chuckled. “When everyone is thrown into the conflict and weakened, it will be our turn to come in and sweep everything in one fell swoop. The World Tree will fall then, and we’ll reign supreme above the wartorn <White Flower Province>.”

Jolie looked at her mother and asked, confused. “But Mother. Getting a wartorn province won’t be of much use, right? It will be nothing but a shell of its former shape.”

“A shell indeed, but how great of a shell it is~.” Evangeline laughed, folding her fan as she looked at Lorbase giving the speech. “A shell with a beautiful World Tree that can make miracles and push the entire place into an accelerated regrowth.”

“... A great shell.” Jolie blinked twice, her gorgeous eyes reflecting her mother’s smiling expression. 

A shadow suddenly appeared, breaking the trance Jolie entered. The shadow kneeled in front of Evangeline and extended its hand, presenting a scroll. Evangeline took it and opened it, reading it quickly. Then, she threw it up and released a powerful black flame that disintegrated the scroll. She muttered, her elegant brows gently moving closer together. “... Eila Neoflora is truly a problem.”

Jolie was surprised by her comment. “Even for Mother?” 

Evangeline sighed. “That girl’s background is a bit complicated. If Eila wasn’t set up by us all those years ago, she might’ve already become a Marquis of the Confederation…”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“M-Marquis!?” Jolie’s eyes were colored with pure shock for the first time in a lot of time. The ranks in the Confederation were as follows: Baron, Viscount, Count, Marquis, Duke, Prince/Princess, King/Queen, and finally the Emperor and Empress.

Jolie muttered. “A Marquis has control over several provinces that can rival some Duke-controlled states.” 

Evangeline nodded seriously. “Indeed. Her potential is not lower compared to yours, Jolie. Be careful when facing her, or you’ll end up swallowing a crippling loss.”

This information didn’t make sense to Jolie, though. “Wait. Then how is it that the young World Tree defeated her?”

Evangeline opened her fan again and muttered. “I think she wanted to lose… Who knows what that young Sylvan is thinking, though.”

Meanwhile, in Fortuna City, Eila Neoflora was looking at a set of documents on her table with a troubled expression. “The Nexus actually managed to manipulate Baron Lorbase to this extent? How? It doesn’t seem like any Curse was used…” Eila sighed, crossing her arms. “<Abyssal Nexus Zealot Sect>... What a headache. I would rather if any warrior Nexus branch arrived instead of these hidden threats…”

Dealing with brute force was often easier than dealing with treachery, in Eila’s opinion. Naturally, it depended on the situation, but in an even playing field, such was Eila’s evaluation. 

When she sighed once more, Eila paused and shook her head. “Why am I sighing so much? With Liu Shu’s new buffs, we are not completely helpless. Not to mention, if what Flor has told me is the truth, now that Liu Shu is acting based on her subconscious, she will be much more ruthless, which is quite beneficial for us.” Eila smirked. “You want to approach our cities? You’ll need to ask a hypersensitive World Tree if you can first~.”

Knock. Knock.

“Hm?” Looking at the late hour, Eila was somewhat surprised to receive a message. “Enter.”

The door opened, and an elegant and slender man appeared. “Flower Master, we have new information.” 

Eila’s eyebrow raised. “You dare call me that way when we are not in a restricted zone?” Her tone chilled slightly as she said. “When I am here, call me City Lord like every other person or you’ll be in trouble.”

The man felt a shiver spread around his body when Eila’s purple-colored eyes locked onto him. “I am sorry, Fl- Ahem. City Lord. Here is the report from the <Information Flower Garden> about the most recent events.”

The <Information Flower Garden> was the main information gathering and selling power in <White Flower Province>. They were also, secretly, a power that had been founded by Eila Neoflora many decades ago, spreading beyond the <White Flower Province> as an “independent” power controlled by no one. 

Nobody knew this hidden position except the top influences of the <Information Flower Garden> power and a set of very secretive messengers.  

Eila extended her hand as she was given a relatively heavy scroll. Feeling the weight, she sighed. “There seems to be quite a lot.” 

The man shook his head. “I am but a messenger, Lady Eila. I do not know what’s written on it.”

“I know.” Eila looked at him and motioned him toward the door with her chin. “Now go. I need to open this letter.”

The man bowed formally and turned around, gaining a faint frown. Still, she was his boss, so he didn’t want to complain about her attitude. ‘It would be great if she was a bit gentler.’

As he was about to leave the room, he heard Eila’s voice reach him from behind. “Good job.”

The man paused, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. ‘Well, it seems I was too harsh on her.’

Eila waited for the man to close the door and then opened the scroll. Inside, a detailed description of the enemy troops and also a few words told by Baron Lorbase were written. ‘Hm… A 75,000-strong army… While it is smaller than what I managed to gather in the past, this power has several more <Second Energy Cycle> powerhouses…’ 

After reading it for a while, Eila approached a tool at the side with several runes and inserted the circular scroll through an opening. The tool glowed as it absorbed the scroll. Then, Eila placed a few stacks of blank paper and waited. 

One hour later, four identical copies of the message were resting on Eila’s desk. Looking at the four copies, Eila approached the window and gently whistled three times at different pitches. 

Chirp~. 

Melodic sounds of three birds reached her before the three creatures landed in front of her window. Smiling faintly, Eila gave one scroll to each of them, and she spoke up. “You send it to Delia. You send it to Taro. You send it to Flor.” Eila took a single leaf out of her pocket and gave it to the one who was going to send the message to Flor. “Remember to take this leaf so that the grumpy World Tree doesn’t strike you down.”

The three birds listened, their eyes gleaming with hidden intelligence, and then they took flight. Their graceful flying figures made Eila sigh. “I don’t think I’ll be able to hide anything after this war from those five people… Flor, Wert, Ignatia, Delia, and Taro… Let’s hope that this time, I chose my allies correctly.”

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