Cauldron Division.
Stelle skipped past the scheming duo of Screwlloyd and Adrian, heading straight for the sidelined Nannan.
"Don't ask me... I'm just a [Mineral Water Guy], got nothing to do with those three release masters' food chain drama."
Nannan washed his hands of it. Stelle then approached Doniya.
"If you pass this trial, it'll prove your potential is extraordinary." As long as the release ideology wasn't too outlandish, Doniya was pretty tolerant.
"What's the [Beast Faction]'s standard for releasing?"
"You asked the right person. In my book, the whole [Releasers Inc.] should focus on releasing those powerful wild beasts, freeing them from human control! No hunting falcons or fighting dogs—let them thrive in nature, showing off their vitality!"
"After all, letting lives hunt freely in their proper hunting grounds? That's in line with the natural order—and the Xianzhou's [The Hunt] Path, isn't it?"
Stelle went on to quiz Bena about the [Conservation Faction]'s release standards.
"Our [Conservation Faction]'s stance is super straightforward: We use releasing to save and protect those little sheep from overhunting, the endangered species too few in number to sustain their populations."
"Sigh... I originally released the Faunus red-haired sheep with that intent—who'd have thought they'd go extinct in the Scale Abyss Realm! Damn that [Beast Faction]."
Before Stelle could even respond, Hissman eagerly strode over: "Our [Herb Faction]'s release standard is the simplest: Photosynthesis, easy to care for, no waste... That's the perfect release target!"
"Stelle, let's sum it up... See if we can find common ground in what these folks want..."
"First up, Doniya—she wants strong, fierce beasts free from human control. Next... Bena, she aims to save endangered species that can't reproduce."
"Finally, Hissman—his standard's the simplest and trickiest: He's only into plants."
"In other words, we need a rare and ferocious... uh, plant? Now that's a real head-scratcher~ Got any ideas?"
Zhongshan opted to blank her mind for now, handing the decision to Stelle.
"Strong and powerful, ferocious, critically endangered... And a plant? That's gotta be the [Ambrosial Arbor]!"
Stelle realized it a beat late. She really hadn't misjudged—these guys were [Drug Lord's Secret Teachings] hiding in plain sight among the masses!
She got it! This [Releasers Inc.] crew had been ousted by the orthodox [Drug Lord's Secret Teachings] for their overly obsessive, abstract ideals!
Were they... trying to revive the dead Abundance Xuanlu deer?
"Whoa, hold up hold up—that's not something to toss around lightly~ Pick another."
Stelle's idea was bold. If [Releasers Inc.] were really gunning to revive the [Ambrosial Arbor], Zhongshan wouldn't be meddling.
She'd end up like Sampo—chasing fun only to become the punchline.
"Man-eating flower?"
"You mean carnivorous plants? That'd qualify as [ferocious animals], sure, but most aren't endangered! If you've been to Ounwark, you'd know—their carnivorous crown flowers are everywhere."
"As for the Xianzhou, some ferocious, terrifying veggie-people covered in leaves have cropped up lately!"
Zhongshan was clearly referring to the Cloud Knights corrupted by mara-struck.
"But those things are hard to pin as human or plant, and no one wants to control them anyway..."
"Then, inorganic life?" Stelle glanced at Screwlloyd in the distance.
"Mechanical beings? Like the mechabirds or the Diligent or something? Let me think... Hey! You know, that sounds absurd at first, but dig deeper... It's even more absurd!"
"There's an Intelligencer right over there! And since when are the Xianzhou's mechs ferocious? Those mechabirds zipping down every street—endangered how?!"
"Of course, if some inorganic life form somewhere got hard to produce and maintain for whatever reason, that might fit... But I haven't heard of any such place..."
As Zhongshan spoke, Stelle's startled gaze made her trail off. Her heart skipped—belatedly realizing.
"Huh? I didn't say who the Intelligencer was, did I?"
Stelle had already drawn her bat in mimicry form. "Come clean, and maybe I'll make it quick."
...
Aurum Alley, a mocking voice drifted into Freesna and March 7th's ears.
"Hey, where'd this wild brat pop out from? What's it got to do with you?"
"As a Cloud Knight, how can I stand by when there's a conflict at the docks? And I don't answer to 'hey' or 'wild brat'—I'm Su Shang!"
"What's the difference?"
Freesna caught the spat and, ever the热闹-seeker, dragged March 7th straight to the docks for some prime-time gossip-munching.
"Miss, leave this to the Aurum Alley Merchants' Guild to handle." A guild secretary-looking type tried mediating, clearly hoping to avoid a brawl.
"Ha! You handle it? That's a riot!" The company-suited sales rep showed no mercy, dripping sarcasm.
"Everyone watching—count 'em up—who doesn't know the Aurum Alley Merchants' Guild runs a sloppy ship, total incompetence? Now the docks' rent's overdue—who's to blame?"
"It's all on you Aurum Alley Merchants' Guild!"
"This... I won't deny."
Even with a Cloud Knight backing the guild, they were still on the back foot.
"Then say it louder! Admit [The Aurum Alley Merchants' Guild screwed over the shops here, botched the whole dock mess—Aurum Alley folks are all useless!]"
"Then kowtow to me, Scott, the company rep, over those overdue rent dates—nice and loud!"
"Hey, that's way too harsh!"
March 7th's justice-o-meter was off the charts—she couldn't stomach it. After hanging with Stelle so long, she'd been fully converted, rolling up her sleeves for a scrap.
"My lord once said: When unrelated folks bicker, just watch and wait... Until the juicy bits hit, the [Eternity]'s holy judgment won't descend." Freesna held March 7th back. She actually kinda admired Scott.
Su Shang planted hands on hips: "Your attitude's way too arrogant. Can't we just talk out the overdue rent?"
"I'm not bullying anyone—this is a friendly nudge. Can the company recover the rent?"
"...Not right now."
Scott's face lit up with satisfaction the instant the words landed: "The company sublet this dock's operations to your guild, hoping Aurum Alley would hit the big time... Look at it now—this prime cargo dock, totally wasted!"
"Who says the guild can't pay up? What if... what if we can?" Su Shang fired back.
"Aiyo~ I can't even imagine~ Tell you what, let's bet: If the guild pays the company's rent, I'll bow my head in apology right here in front of Aurum Alley's elders and locals..."
"I'll shout loud [I'm a blind idiot! Arrogant fool, just yapping nonsense!], then learn to bark like a dog at your feet—how's that?"
Freesna, mid-reach for her milk tea, froze and switched to a whole new look in her eyes.
"I always stand for gender equality, so if you lose... You'll do the exact same to me in front of the elders and locals—bark like a dog at my feet!"
"The guild can't pay the rent—you should voluntarily forfeit the dock operations and cough up extra compensation!"
Thump!
A crisp parchment suddenly materialized before Scott.
"Hm?"
[Church Notice: Regarding Aurum Alley Dock Rent]
[As of today, the Eternity Church will fully fund Aurum Alley's reconstruction and revival efforts! All for [Eternity]!]
[Signed: Blake Hoyle]
[Subsidy Funds...]
"Ha? Eternity Church?"