Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos

Chapter 129. Outside Situation.

Ariel sat on the carriage, looking at the forest on the side of the road. They were returning from a city to the east of Sirol City. In her hand, there was a letter with information difficult to swallow.

However, the signature below made it quite challenging to take it as false information.

"Hello, Miss Ariel.

I am Verena Liferoot, and I have written this letter so that you stop visiting the Golden Sap Forest for the foreseeable future. The situation is too complicated to involve more parties in.

Regards."

Ariel frowned and stored the simple yet clear letter. While she didn't know what had happened, she knew that a few people knew about the existence of the World Tree in the middle of the grove.

"What do I do with this...? Sigh." Ariel muttered. "Well, at least no one really managed to associate us with the World Tree. Lady Verena probably knew because she had been observing her daughter's movements."

The old explorer approached and asked. "Can we really do nothing for that young tree?"

Ariel looked at her companion with a complicated smile. After Liu Shu's berries helped him reach Level 10, the man's loyalty toward the World Tree was deep. Sadly for them, this time, Level 10 was not enough to help.

"We can't. Families in the world's canopy are getting involved. Those involved are influential enough even to force Lady Verena Liferoot to send someone like me a letter."

Robert hummed and scratched his beard. "Well, if in the future that young tree manages to overcome things, we should pay a visit."

Ariel laughed. "Agreed. Let's try to grow until then. We actually have a favor to pay out. Her fruits have made us very popular. Sunflower Caravan, forward!"

Robert smiled. "Order received, Caravan leader!"

Larte, the caravan's ex-leader, snorted in the distance. "Ariel, don't let success go to your head because I appointed you as the leader!"

Ariel laughed louder. "Aye, aye! Sir!"

***

Meanwhile, in the White Flower Forest to the northwest of Liu Shu's position, the remnants of the Void Witherwood Exarchs gathered in their operation base.

One of the highest-level ones who remained alive, a Level 17 Human, slammed the table and asked, "What do we do!? The leader is gone!"

Another Level 17 frowned. "Without our leader, we are done for as an organization. The people left are not enough to sustain our activities."

A Level 14 man screamed. "We should take revenge!"

"Take revenge?" A woman by his side snorted. "Are you stupid? We had 80% of our forces gathered in that town, and not one of them has returned! If we hadn't received news from Lord Eldric that everyone there has been annihilated, we would still be stupidly waiting for orders!"

The woman commented. "How about we join Lord Eldric? He said that he wouldn't let this slide since it was quite a significant investment on his part. Moreover, he lost around 10 Stormbird Riders and their mounts the first time. That has angered him quite a lot since it is the first time that wanting to get something has cost him so much. Moreover, he has yet to be successful."

"Become the lapdogs of a noble? You are dreaming!"

The woman lifted an eyebrow. "Do you have better ideas? We will gain a new, competent leader. Get the support of a powerful family. Moreover, we can slowly wash off our past identities and integrate again."