A Goddess Lady is forever pure and clean?
Fina Nisi felt like laughing when she heard those words.
Back when they first arrived in Atester City, she had drugged Aililan and discovered a secret hidden deep within the girl’s heart. It seemed Aililan harbored unrealistic, romantic fantasies toward that Saint of Temperance back in the Holy Land.
Even now, Fina Nisi yearned for that night when she had failed to fully possess Aililan’s body.
As Aililan matured, Fina Nisi grew more impatient. She feared that if Aililan grew too powerful one day, she would never be able to taste this beautiful Lady.
Soaking in the spring water with her legs spread, Fina Nisi suddenly asked with deep meaning, “Saintess Aililan, I wonder what your thoughts are on the Saint of Temperance, Lizberu?”
Aililan narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled. “The Saint of Temperance is the best girl in the world.”
Fina Nisi pressed further. “You wouldn’t happen to be in love with her, would you?”
Silence.
A deathly stillness followed.
Milisanel lowered her head, wishing she could shove her entire brain under the water. Was this really something she was allowed to hear?
Renata gritted her teeth, stood up abruptly, and splashed the water heavily. She snapped, “Grandmaster Fina Nisi, please watch your words and conduct. This is not something you should be asking.”
Fina Nisi glanced at her and said gloomily, “Heh, Squad Leader Renata is right. I was just joking. Hahaha.”
Renata continued, “Your insolence is—”
Aililan stood up and walked over slowly. She gently patted Renata’s back, which was covered in old scars and wounds, and said, “Do not be rude. It was just a normal conversation.”
“Furthermore, I can answer Grandmaster Fina Nisi. Of course I love the Saint of Temperance. Sister Lizberu is the best in the world. Who wouldn’t love her?”
‘I’m even willing to work on my virtues…’
‘Just to show the Saint of Temperance.’
After a pause, Aililan added meaningfully, “And then, I crave to receive Sister’s affection. Hehe.”
Aililan had answered the question, but she did so in a playful, joking manner.
More importantly, she was subtly warning Fina Nisi. She was telling her that her heart had long since been tethered to the Saint of Temperance. Fina might be able to claim her body, but she would never claim her heart.
Aililan then walked to the shore to dress.
The others lost interest in continuing their soak. Fina Nisi was the last to leave the water.
As she slowly put on her clothes, her fist clenched involuntarily. She struck a rock beside her.
*Crack—*
Spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across the large stone.
Fina Nisi gritted her teeth and muttered, “How can you love the Saint of Temperance? You should have been my woman…”
‘Of the Seven Virtues Saints…’
‘Only Aililan is left.’
‘I must have her.’
As for the other Ladies, such as the Saint of Temperance, it wasn’t that she couldn’t fight them. Fina Nisi was confident she could defeat her, but the consequence was that they would likely kill each other in the process.
Away from the spring, Aililan spoke to Renata. “I know you care about me, but please forgive me. Sometimes I have my own difficulties.”
Renata nodded solemnly. “Actually, I was the one who was too impulsive just now. Also, I will always be your person, My Lady.”
Regarding Fina Nisi… Aililan was actually quite realistic.
[Two hundred words have been deleted here as per review requirements.]
So, regardless of the circumstances, she would definitely choose to keep Fina Nisi around. At the very least, as an enforcer, Fina Nisi was extremely useful.
The group was no longer in the mood for leisure, so they returned to Bitgel.
After waiting for a few days, Aililan gathered a batch of supplies and conducted the first trade with the Jackal Tribe.
At the same time, the messengers sent to the Wasteland Bovine Clan returned with news.
Three people from the diplomatic mission had been wounded.
The good news was that no one had died, but it provided the perfect excuse.
Aililan immediately got to work. She had people spread rumors in the Mutual Market, claiming that the Wasteland Bovine Clan’s threats to the market were too great. She claimed the Humans might temporarily close the market for the safety of the merchants.
The Humans could afford not to make money, but the War Pigs could not endure the hunger.
This directly caused the conflict between the War Pigs and the Wasteland Bovine Clan to become irreconcilable.
The Mutual Market had only been open for a short time, but the moment the rumors were leaked, the War Pigs could no longer sit still.
Economy is an invisible blade.
Economy is also an invisible shackle.
Naris brought her clansmen to seek reassurance, fearing that Aililan would actually close the market.
Naris, the prominent figure of the War Pigs, pounded her chest firmly and promised, “Miss Aililan, please believe us. We War Pigs can definitely flatten those Bovines!”
Aililan simply offered a faint smile and replied, “Of course I believe in the strength of the War Pigs. However, I must consider our human merchants. It doesn’t matter if the goods are lost, but if people die, I have no way to explain it to their families.”
“Give us one month. We guarantee we will absolutely wipe out the Wasteland Bovine Clan!”
“No, no, Miss Naris, you misunderstand. I am not forcing you to go to war. The Mutual Market is beneficial to both sides. How could I let the War Pigs face the flames of war alone? If you agree, I can send my army to assist you.”
Naris’s eyes lit up. “Is that really possible?”
Aililan said, “Of course.”
Naris replied, “Then I—”
Before she could finish, she was interrupted by a voice. Cyril, the Sage of the War Pigs, spoke up. “We appreciate Miss Aililan’s kindness, but this is our own matter. We War Pigs will handle it ourselves.”
“Teacher!” Naris exclaimed.
“Silence, Naris. Do not speak further,” Cyril commanded.
Seeing the atmosphere turn serious, Aililan smiled and said, “Since that’s the case, then handle it yourselves.”
Unfortunately, not all War Pigs were fools.
Otherwise, Aililan wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of sending a diplomatic mission just to find an excuse to deploy her troops.
As the War Pig group left Bitgel, Naris finally couldn’t help but ask, “Teacher, why did you refuse? If it weren’t for the Mutual Market expanding our strength, the Wasteland Bovine Clan would be just as powerful as us. If we had the human army’s help, we could easily defeat them.”
Cyril, the Sage of the War Pigs, shook his head and sighed. “Naris, have you considered the consequences? Once a human army intervenes, what kind of image will we have in the eyes of the other beastmen?”
“We War Pigs would be ostracized.”
“We would be seen as human puppets.”
By opening the Mutual Market with humans, they gained benefits and strengthened their tribe. They also wanted to maintain a good reputation. As the Sage of the War Pigs, Cyril wanted everything.
But looming over the War Pigs was the heavy hand of the human Saintess.
To want this and that at the same time?
Stop dreaming.
***
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