With a hand on his cheek, Lawrence sighs.
Serene Will frowns and asks: “What’s wrong?”
“It's been over a month, and Coldness Divine shows no signs of wanting to rebel or flee, unlike someone I know.”
“…”
He was preparing a countermeasure for such a scenario, what to say and what to do if it ever came to that. All his plans crumble as he realizes that Coldness Divine is slowly regaining her original mentality, yet she remains loyal to him.
She obeys every order, no matter how degrading, she remains his.
“When will you forget that? The important thing is that I'm here, by your side.”
Serene Will knows her actions were driven by her weakness, she needed something to hold on to stay standing. That was her disciples and the kingdom she fought so hard for, after recovering, she returned to him.
“I did it because I had someone to come back to, she has no one. She killed them before ascending to the Divine Plane, thinking she would never return.”
She knows more than one thing about Coldness Divine, but after confirming her loyalty to Lawrence, Serene Will has no intention of revealing what he will sooner or later discover for himself.
“That bitch only has me, huh, how laughable.”
Lawrence is pleased to know this, it will make things much easier.
After introducing her to Celestial Firmament, she often goes to that mountain to discuss the laws of the world. Celestial Firmament is a special dragon, his sacred magic makes him much more benign than any other, allowing him to impart his knowledge without any malice.
Despite knowing that the words from Lawrence came from him, Celestial Firmament, and that she is currently receiving his help, Coldness Divine remains unmoved. For her, only Lawrence matters, no one else is worthy of her regard.
“Keep an eye on her, Serene Will, we still have an unused Boundless Fruit. When the time comes, how much will it improve her innate ability?”
Everyone improved significantly after its consumption. Once Coldness Divine has regained the strength that made her ascend to the Divine Plane, it will be her turn.
As Serene Will leaves the room, Lawrence watches through the window as Initial Spark leaves the mansion toward Flourishing River City. She is only allowed out on weekends, and only for a few hours at that.
In a way, her work schedule is worse than Lawrence’s.
“Loyalty is indeed impressive, it forces you to do things you wouldn’t under other circumstances. Ha! What foolishness.”
Cheerfully, he creates a Dimensional Rift and returns to the Divine Plane.
The next day, Initial Spark comes back to work, bringing urgent news regarding the realm.
“The Dajhir Kingdom has made its move, war between the Sky Blue Mountain Kingdom and the Dajhir Kingdom is imminent. Thousands of lives will be lost in the process.”
While the Sky Blue Mountain Kingdom is favored by the many mountains in its territory, rich in mineral deposits, the Dajhir Kingdom has a long history of skilled hunters. They have carved out the kingdom's foundation through brute strength.
One gains riches from the soil, the other through effort.
Today, both have kick-started a brutal war.
“Princess Reminiscent Euphony asked me to tell you that the rankers need not worry, the war has been long anticipated. It will not interfere with the growth of the young noble.”
The one who responds is Coldness Divine. “Can they face such an enemy?”
She does not know the history of this part of the Inferior Plane, her origin kingdom is in a remote place, she herself doesn’t even know which direction to start looking, but she has witnessed more than one war.
She understands this kingdom relies on the advantage of the terrain, but the adversary is not simple.
“The main roads connecting both kingdoms will be destroyed in the next few hours, the other accesses have natural protections, inhabited by hundreds of different demonic beasts. No matter what kind of fortitude they possess, they still need water and food to subsist. The Sky Blue Mountain Kingdom has a diversity of resources, we are willing to sacrifice more than one to harm the enemy.”
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Initial Spark once was the captain of the royal knights, she has been in close contact with the kingdom’s confidential information. If asked whether they are prepared to wage a war, she knows the answer.
“We can win this war.”
The real question is how many will die in the process.
“Human, if I were on the enemy’s side, such things would merely delay me.”
The strength of an individual can hardly be stopped with mortal tactics. If the enemy has high-level hunters…
“You may have the victory, but underestimating the enemy is a fatal mistake. Times change, knowledge does not stop. If they have acquired large-scale magic, landslides and poisoned water will be nothing to worry about.”
Initial Spark wants to argue, say that her kingdom is not weak, that they have knowledge and hunters to rely on, but the pressure exerted by Coldness Divine’s gaze prevents her from uttering a single word.
This is the first time she witnesses the arrogance of a dragon.
Serene Will sees this from a distance and sighs. She approaches and places her hand on Coldness Divine's shoulder, immediately noticing her threatening eyes. Only when she removes her hand, Coldness Divine clicks her tongue and walks away without saying a word.
As this happens, Initial Spark apologizes. “I apologize, unknowingly I caused discord among the ladies.”
“No need, our values are different.”
After gathering more information regarding the war, she asks to be left alone.
Serene Will smiles subtly, remembering the incident.
“
Reading minds is exhausting, it makes life black and white.
From today on, she will be surprised by the actions of the third wife.
After Lawrence heard the news, he waited patiently, war is a lengthy process, especially between kingdoms of similar power. Variables exist, it will depend on them the course of action, until then he will observe from afar.
Waiting for the opportunity to benefit from others' suffering.
+++
While in the underground city of Agares rumors swirl about the fall of a high-ranking person, he feels the decrease in the priority of his surveillance. After repeated attempts, he faintly perceives the traces of his pursuers, but gradually this line thinned.
Those watching him, decreased in number.
It won’t be long before their numbers drop to zero.
During this time, Sky Petal expanded the garden. Every spiritual herb that Lawrence gave her is part of her experiment, crossing one with another until she finds the formula that gave birth to the Mediterranean Sap herb.
He lost interest upon realizing that it would take a long record of trials and errors.
The herbs in the garden slowly multiplied, of different colors and forms. Until one day a miniature tree grew from the crossing of the four herbs.
Its color is wrong, so are its flowers. It’s different from the Mediterranean Sap herb, but at last, Sky Petal understands which generations to cross with whom. So, that very day she disposed of the Mediterranean Sap herb, she no longer needs its advice. The time has come to refine the fertility pill.
In front of the pill furnace, Sky Petal ignites the flame.
As soon as the temperature reaches a certain level, she immediately throws a spiritual herb in and then covers the furnace. Nothing incredible happens yet, only the preparations for what will be a long refinement. A process that will take two days.
During which no one can interrupt her.
“Ruk?”
Lawrence is surprised to hear an unexpected request.
“Why do you want him back?”
Wives one and three stand before him in a rare combination. Wife two is nowhere to be found, it’s Initial Spark who is taking care of their son.
“Ruk has been at level 100 for a long time, I think that's why he accepted my call... He wants to die with honor, not as a beast.”
Level 100 grants him the life expectancy of a human. Serene Will remembers that eagle and smiles.
“But Coldness Divine knows the method to break through his limitation. You’ll be interested to know that, if successful, Ruk can serve by your side for much longer.”
Lawrence narrows his eyes and thinks: ‘How does this benefit her? Coldness Divine is not that type of person…’
He observes Coldness Divine with interest. She doesn't seem to be coerced, on the contrary, she willingly wants to do it. Could it be because Ruk helped her that she wishes to return the favor? As much as he thinks about it, it's unlikely to be the case.
“I’ll make a gap in my surveillance to bring him to the Inferior Plane. Now I must return, you’ll have news from me in a few hours.”
Whatever it is, it benefits him.
After crossing through the Dimensional Rift, he went about his work as usual, except that, for a moment, he lost sight of his watchers.
They were alarmed, followed him in haste only to find him a minute later watching them with arrogance.
“Are you still watching me? Don’t you have lives?”
Menacingly, the watchers move away and conceal their presence, they didn't find this guy's joke amusing. They leave without knowing that this man has just used the same method with which he helped Coldness Divine disappear without a trace.
In the Inferior Plane.
A Dimensional Rift appears, from which a bird spreads its wings and lands smoothly on the ground. It looks around and spots a certain woman.
“Ruk.”
His mistress.
Joyfully, he flies toward her and perches on her hand. Unlike his two new masters, with Serene Will he clearly expresses his joy at being petted.
“Today you’ll break through level 100, it will be a painful process. I won’t force you if you don’t want to.”
Ruk remains still, demonstrating his attitude of fearing nothing.
“I see… Coldness Divine…”
Serene Will looks into her eyes and in response, Coldness Divine raises her arm. The next moment Ruk perches on it.
“My other pets gained great strength after their Draconization, but you don’t need it. You don’t have attack strength, your role is different.”
Coldness Divine strokes Ruk’s head, but he maintains his serious demeanor, signaling that he is someone worthy and not to be despised.
She clicks her tongue, never again will she pet this worthless bird.
“Come on, I’ll make this bird a dragon eagle.”
While Sky Petal continues refining the fertility pill, Ruk undergoes radical changes in his body. From him begins to emanate the aura of a level 101 beast.