As Leyvi journeyed deeper into the vast shade, less and less natural light filtered through from the edge of the distant canopy. This deepening gloom was compensated for, however, by a greater abundance of creatures and plants that glowed softly in the dark, casting the landscape in an eerie, bioluminescent light.
Along the way, he passed through many abandoned towns and encountered more and more people moving in groups or alone, all wandering the empty streets in search of treasures. Even after such a long time, the buildings and structures within this part of the shade remained remarkably well preserved, unlike the crumbled ruins he had seen elsewhere in the Mystic Realm.
Leyvi continuously sent out his Spiritual Sense, scanning the towns as he passed. Sure enough, many antiques and relics were still hidden in nooks and crannies, but they could not escape his penetrating spiritual sight.
Very few of these items truly caught his interest, so he did not bother to collect them. Most tools and weapons were outdated, their only remaining value being historical. He only took anything that bore text related to alchemy. Whether they were usable formulas or mere historical records, Anda would be the one to judge their worth later.
Leyvi had also long wondered where the ancient people who lived this deep within the shade had sourced their water, given there was no rain here. This journey finally revealed the answer.
Near almost every settlement built within the Vast Shade, there was a large lake. These lakes were formed from the accumulation of dew that fell regularly from fixed regions of the colossal tree's canopy. Over time, the lakes would overflow, forming rivers that flowed toward other areas. This daily "dew rain" was part of a unique, self-sustaining ecosystem created by the colossal tree itself.
A week later, after stopping at various points of interest, the group led by the Pink Enchantress Rose finally arrived at the heart of her territory. There were many massive cities built around the tree's base in the ancient past, and this was one of them. Rose named hers the Pink Enchantress City.
From here, the trunk of the colossal tree loomed even larger, an impossible wall of bark that stretched up and vanished into the absolute darkness above.
When they passed through the city's main road, Leyvi saw hundreds of men gathered nearby, their eyes fixed on the Pink Enchantress with undisguised longing and fantasy. After several years of relative isolation, this was the first time he had seen such a large crowd again, and they were exactly the lustful, desperate bunch she had described. It was no surprise that her methods had attracted this particular kind of follower.
Among the crowd, Leyvi's sharp eyes spotted a few familiar faces from the Cloud Continent. He still remembered them.
At that moment, Rose's demeanor shifted seamlessly back to her usual public persona, the seductive and charming Holy Maiden, a far cry from the happy-go-lucky woman she became around Leyvi alone. She waved gracefully and blew a few playful flying kisses toward the crowd, a gesture that never failed to send them into a frenzy.
"Aw man, our goddess brought back a new competitor," one man groaned. "Are people still arriving out there? At least it is only one man this time. More people just means less chance to spend the night with her."
"What do you know? I saw many men arrive yesterday. We will have a lot more competitions!"
"Hehey! Look at that," another said, his gaze shifting to Ava. "Holy Maiden Rose brought a new lady this time, and she is quite cute. Maybe she will pick my treasure and spend the night with me. I can teach her many, many things."
"Alright, I am motivated now!" a third declared, puffing out his chest. "I am going to find the best treasure and make sure my dearest Pink Enchantress chooses mine this time! Goodbye, losers!"
"Heh," boasted a smug-looking fellow near the front. "I have already spent the most unforgettable night with her three times already. Nobody can beat my record. My treasure hunting skills are top-notch!"
Hearing their chatter, Leyvi could not help but feel a wave of disgust, especially for the three-time "winner." He knew the grim reality behind that so-called unforgettable night.
Beside him, Ava's temper began to boil as she listened to them talk about her in such a way.
"I am going to kill all of these sex fiends," she muttered under her breath, her teeth gritted.
Leyvi offered a wry smile. To you, am I the same as these guys? Come on, Ava, I am not that pathetic, right? Call them something else. My feelings are hurt.
A while later, they reached the secluded residential area where the women of Rose's faction lived, including herself. In her entire territory, only this district was protected by a comprehensive, active formation. It was a necessary precaution. The women here were top-tier beauties living in a sea of lustful men. Without such a barrier, who could predict what might happen?
Leyvi scanned the area with his spiritual sense and gave a slight, internal nod. They were indeed great beauties. He even recognized a few of them.
They were members of the same organization as Viola, the Eternal Beauty society. They were on the list of people his group had hoped to find, a request from Viola herself. She had only wanted to know if they had survived, with no need to recruit them if they were already settled in another group. Leyvi made a mental note to inform Viola of their safety later.
Soon, they arrived at Rose's grand mansion. A woman dressed entirely in black approached Rose with practiced grace.
"Welcome back, Holy Maiden," she said, offering a slight bow. Her sharp eyes took a quick, analytical scan of Leyvi before returning to her mistress.
"My lovely secretary, Olivia, did anything happen while I was away?" Rose asked, her tone shifting to one of businesslike authority.
"There is one matter, Holy Maiden," Olivia reported. "Captain Shino's faction has abandoned its territory. It appears he is not planning to return."
"Yes, I am already aware of this," Rose replied smoothly. "I went out this time intending to discuss it with him, but I was too late. Is there anything else?"
"I see. Then, does the Holy Maiden know that approximately half of his followers did not go with him? They chose to stay behind," Olivia continued.
"Half?" Rose's delicate eyebrows drew together in a frown. "Did Prince Charles take over the southwest region and absorb them into his faction?"
If that was what had happened, it would spell significant trouble for her. Prince Charles would become even more powerful and aggressive, likely beginning to harass the peace of her own territory even faster.
"Actually, what the Holy Maiden said... the first part did happen, but the second part did not," Olivia reported, pausing slightly as if waiting for a reaction. "He made a rather puzzling course of action instead."
"Oh? What could it be?" Rose asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Prince Charles did not take them into his faction. He chased them all away. Now they are scattered, trying to join any of the other factions that will have them," Olivia replied.
"Eh? He chased them away?" Rose's eyes widened slightly. "Based on his personality so far, that is indeed puzzling."
"Yes," Olivia confirmed. "In fact, some of them have already come to join our faction. They arrived a day ago. About seventy people."
"Seventy? Fufufu~ that is a good amount. More people to seek treasures for us ladies," Rose said, clearly amused.
"Holy Maiden!" Olivia exclaimed quickly, her eyes darting pointedly toward Leyvi. She was trying to subtly remind her mistress that an outsider, a man, was still standing right there.
"It is fine, Olivia. He is already aware of all this," Rose revealed, her smile turning knowing and amused.
Olivia was momentarily speechless. She had not paid much attention to the country bumpkin looking man before, dismissing him as some newly recruited nobody. Now, she turned and studied Leyvi carefully, her eyes filled with doubt and curiosity.
Who exactly was this man?
At that moment, Liyan spoke up. "Senior Sister Olivia, where are those seventy people now? You did not let them join already, right?"
"Junior Sister Liyan, I am not that careless, okay," Olivia replied, her tone carrying a hint of affronted pride. "They are still under observation in the surveillance building."
"Good," Liyan said with a nod. "Since Prince Charles didn't take them, there must be something wrong with them. We must screen them very carefully first."
"Is that so?" Rose sighed, a charmingly theatrical sound of disappointment. "Ah... I hope there is nothing wrong with them. That is seventy pairs of hands to search for our treasures, you know."
"Liyan, I will leave this matter to you," she instructed, her tone shifting back to authority. "Go with Olivia. And do not quarrel, okay? Fufufu~"
After Liyan and Olivia departed, Rose led the way into her opulent mansion, with Leyvi and the others following.
"Darling!" she exclaimed, immediately reverting to her bubbly, infatuated self the moment they were in private. "Why do you not live here with me? You can stay in my room. Fufufu~"
Hmph. Look at this seductress, Ava thought inwardly, her expression sour.
"No thanks," Leyvi replied flatly. "Arrange a place for Ava. I will pick an empty house somewhere else in the city. I will stay here for a few days, and then I need to go to the colossal tree's trunk."
"Okay~," Rose agreed instantly, her smile unwavering. "I will follow whatever Darling decides. You don't have to worry. I have prohibited robbing and killing among faction members. So, at least within this city, they won't do such things."
Leyvi blinked. Aren't you ladies the ones robbing them every single month?