Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos

Chapter 79. Tangled Roots.

"Explain our general situation."

"Understood."

The place where the two voices spoke was a decorated hall with luxurious wooden furniture. Unlike other places, the furniture was perfectly crafted and clearly built from dead wood.

The general ambiance in the room was one of opulence and elegance.

"We have lost the eastern hideout to the <Azurebell Heather Sect>. An ambush coupled with a high-level Sylvan razed the place to the ground. Almost none of our people escaped. Those who did are non-important."

There were nine people listening, divided into groups of three based on their clothing.

The one who asked for the explanation, a middle-aged man, asked again. "Such a sudden move. Any idea why?"

The man doing the report shook his head. "We have no idea why they suddenly became so active. However, we managed to uncover the identity of the Sylvan."

The nine people looked over with curiosity, and the man said. "It was Verena Liferoot."

The nine people got silent, looking at the messenger with puzzled looks. "Why did she move? We didn't really touch any of her bottom lines, right?"

The messenger shook his head. "We don't know why she moved."

A woman between the six commented. "Well, with the help of that woman, no wonder the place got razed to the ground. Any other news?"

The messenger paused and looked at the reports he had carried with her.

"Is there anything wrong?"

The messenger nodded, confused. "There was this report from a minor branch. I was going to dismiss it, but the situation feels strange. Would your excellencies like to hear it? Or do I move on?"

One of them, who had been silent so far, spoke, his voice low and gruff. "Move on. Small branches should defend themselves or be cut."

The first man who spoke previously sighed. "Can you just stay silent all the time? Every time you open your mouth you spout nonsensical drivel."

The man snorted, but he didn't retort. "Anyways, since you have it, we lose nothing by listening to it. Go ahead."

The messenger nodded. "There was a group of two Level 9s and a Level 10 that died, or, at least, went missing in the Golden Sap Forest."

Another woman who had been looking at the sky out of boredom turned her head with a confused face. "Golden Sap Forest? Where is that? Also, a mere Level 9 and 10? Why in the withered hell does that matter?"

Another of the nine spoke. "That place is a below Level 10 area. Only chiefs have Level 10 strength, but from what I heard, those creatures are F rank, F+ Rank at most."

The confusion in the woman's face cleared, and her eyebrow went up. "Oh? One of our Level 10s died in a place like that? That's certainly not normal."

The messenger looked at the information about the humans that died and said, "They were relatively weak. Regardless, do we do anything about this?"

"It still is not something of great importance." The leading man started. "Just send a group of First Energy Cycle hunters to investigate what's going on. If something happens to them as well, then we can start worrying."

The messenger wrote something on a piece of paper and threw it upward. The paper folded itself and became a shadow, vanishing as if mixed into the ground.

"Continue the report."

Meanwhile, in Fortuna City, Verdantia and Cinderielle entered the Explorer Association and walked toward the counter where they could get missions. The receptionist was a human man with a sunny look. He looked at the next ones approaching and had to look up as the two stunning and tall women stopped in front of him. He smiled professionally and spoke. "Hello, what might I help you with?"