"Zhongshan makes a good point—let's test Stelle with the [Initiation Trial]."
"Please allow me to reiterate on Miss Stelle's behalf: As of now... she has shown no intent whatsoever to join us."
"Whoa, you're a real stand-up guy!"
She hadn't expected Screwlloyd to step in and bail her out like that—appreciated.
"But then, you killed my wolves. Whether you join or not, you still need to contribute equivalent merits and good deeds to make me drop it."
"Mm... Give us a little time."
Stelle pulled Adrian aside to a secluded spot to brainstorm countermeasures.
"Let's recap: I helped that woman named Bena find her sheep, but they'd all been eaten by wolves. The wolves weren't satisfied and tried to chow down on us next, so I took care of them."
"Then... Zhongshan dragged us to meet this bunch calling themselves [Releasers Inc.], and they're dead set on me joining. Kinda troublesome—should've shut it down from the start." Stelle shook her head.
The moment she'd set foot on the journey, the path home was severed. Backing out now wouldn't be her style.
"Join them. I believe you can handle it."
"The Alliance doesn't prohibit merchants faithful to the [Abundance] Medicine Master from docking at the Xianzhou for trade. This open and inclusive policy has caused no small headaches for the Ten-Lords Commission in maintaining order on the Luofu."
Adrian explained: "This [Releasers Inc.] is one such headache. The folks coming and going are all upstanding citizens, miles away from crime, but they believe in the so-called [Abundance] Path and are convinced their acts of releasing lives will rack up merits and bring blessings."
"Got it—time for the Galaxy's Top Undercover Hero to shine!"
Stelle caught on in a flash. Join [Releasers Inc.], dismantle it from within—maybe even snag an honorary medal from the Ten-Lords Commission...
Word must be spreading through the Luofu's Six Commissions about her legend of [infiltrating the enemy ranks to outsmart the Drug Lord's Secret Teachings]... Wait, dismantle from within? What was this Phantylia-level nonsense?
When it came to crumbling organizations, Stelle was the pro.
If she really couldn't take down [Releasers Inc.], then don't blame her for going ruthless—call in an Aeon to keep them from getting too outlandish and absurd.
Glancing at Screwlloyd in the distance... Yeah, [Releasers Inc.] already had one mole planted.
"I just hashed it out with the [Five Great Benefactors] about what kind of initiation trial to give you two." Zhongshan crossed her arms as Doniya stressed repeatedly:
"It's the [Three Great Benefactors] now! We've all agreed—you should help us solve our current dilemma."
"You've probably noticed... The lives the three of us released have formed a food chain. Hissman's plants get eaten by my Faunus red-haired sheep, and my little sheep get devoured by Doniya's beasts..."
A troubled expression crept onto Bena's face: "At this rate, how are we supposed to accumulate any merits? It's all just internal consumption!"
Sure, [Releasers Inc.] members weren't exactly buddy-buddy to begin with, but now this food chain setup felt like all-out internal war!
And the saddest of the bunch? Hissman, hands down.
"Plants can't fight back... They're always the biggest losers!"
"Sigh~ I don't have to worry about any of that. I'll never get dragged into your dumb messes—that's exactly why us [Microscopic Faction] folks feel so superior!" Nannan flashed a smug look.
"[Half-Ass Faction]—you don't get to chime in here."
Doniya eyed Screwlloyd. The milk tea releaser stayed mum, clearly the picture of propriety—this Nannan couldn't even compare.
"Alright, alright, no more fighting~" Zhongshan mediated again. "In any case, the initiation trial for you two apprentices is set! Figure out a way to resolve the [Three Great Benefactors]' [food chain conundrum]."
"Since when are we apprentices?" Stelle turned her head.
"Eh~ Far from it—nurturing the next generation of [Releasers Inc.] and guiding them through trials is my duty, so in a sense, we're absolutely master and apprentice."
"Finding a solution that satisfies all three of us is the core of this trial. No need to mind those two [Half-Ass Faction] wizards."
Doniya had already mentally slotted Screwlloyd with Nannan. By rights, it deserved its own faction: [Lunatic Faction] would do.
"This initiation trial's pretty intriguing. You all carry on—I'll discuss it solo with her."
As Stelle got dragged off by Zhongshan, Adrian approached Screwlloyd, who was amusing himself with some birds nearby.
"Getting the cold shoulder, huh? Not your usual style."
"By the grace of [Eternity], your arrival was truly unforeseen... Mm, or rather, that bat-wielding lady is the real wildcard."
"As you see, I'm not exactly welcome in this so-called [Releasers Inc.]. I've tried broaching the topic of [Eternity] with them multiple times, aiming to spread the Church's name on the Luofu—but without fail, they've all politely declined."
Screwlloyd lifted his gaze, locking onto the direction where Zhongshan had vanished. "Mm... One of the [Tavern]'s own, showing up in [Releasers Inc.] too. Question: What's her goal?"
Before Adrian could reply, Screwlloyd answered himself: "Chasing amusement, it seems... So, Miss Zhongshan's endgame aligns with mine."
The Church's MO: Kindly proselytize [Eternity], only to face cold shoulders. Never mind Screwlloyd himself—this was outright disrespect to ITE!
And now, the Aeon's own Emanator stood before them—didn't that prove the point?!
What? You ask what releasing milk tea has to do with [Eternity]? Didn't the [Eternity] Aeon make this milk tea? Answer me!
The instant Adrian's expression shifted, Screwlloyd scrapped his original plan. Since they were so fixated on [releasing], he'd flip the script—let these [Three Great Benefactors] taste what being released felt like!
...
"These three released little lives that formed a food chain, hunting each other and dealing a fatal blow to their friendships and faith..."
"But how do we ensure what they release won't form a food chain?" The question was thought-provoking but no match for Stelle.
Think she'd go lowbrow with [have them release in different worlds] or [everyone release the same species]? Big mistake!
"Just release them instead—problem solved." Stelle cut straight to the root.
Zhongshan's eyes lit up. She hadn't misjudged! Coming up with the same solution meant Stelle had what it took to join the [Tavern]!
But for now, Zhongshan had to mask her true thoughts—couldn't tip her hand too soon:
"Whoa! That's a solid idea... Only downside is it's a tad terrifying. I figure we could have the [Three Great Benefactors] try releasing the same kind of creature."
"Three different food types make a chain, but the same animal won't hunt its own, right? Still, the [Three Great Benefactors] are all stubborn—locked into their paths, not easy to sway."
"Here's a plan: Let's find common ground in what that loose cannon releases? There must be some life form out there that fits all their needs at once..."