Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 266. Conversation With Taro.

Taro stood on the walls of his city, looking down with interest. The distance from Golden Sap City to Sirol City was approximately twenty-five kilometers. It was such a long distance for a tree's roots to spread that Taro thought he wouldn't see Liu Shu in his city for a few more years. 

Yet, here she was, her roots creating a bridge on the moat and piercing into the ground of Sirol City without any kind of care. He couldn't help but feel a bit helpless about this. After all, he couldn't say no to a World Tree strong enough to spread until his city, no? Instead of complaining, he should think about how to take advantage of this situation. 

Taro tapped his chin and looked down to the roots. "Hm… Liu Shu, can you hear me?"

A gentle voice that covered the surroundings like a wave spread around. "I can hear you, Taro. What do you want?"

Everyone who heard couldn't help but tense up. As Liu Shu covered more distance with her roots, her voice added the tones of the forest to it, as if she spoke in a chorus instead of by herself. While she was able to speak by just herself, she reserved her personal voice for people she considered close and in more intimate situations.

Taro couldn't help but pause slightly when he heard her; the impact was truly incredible. 'Her voice is so much different from the past, but in essence, very similar. It's so intriguing.'

Crossing his arms, Taro asked. "While we are allies, and I won't really stop you from expanding your roots into my city, can you bend them underground so that you don't make our moat useless?"

"Moat? What's that?"

Liu Shu asked, as it was the first time she had heard that word. Taro smiled faintly. "A moat is a hole around a city where there is water at the bottom more often than not."

Liu Shu looked at it and realized that these holes were intentionally excavated. "Oh! I thought these holes were natural, and you just built the city around them!"

Taro chuckled, leaning forward a bit to look down. "Not at all. These moats are there to make sieging the city more difficult. While high-level people can jump the distance relatively easily, it leaves them somewhat vulnerable. It's a little obstacle that gives us a bit of time."

"I see, I see. Interesting!"

Curious about how Liu Shu looked at things, Taro asked. "How do you see the holes? Is it like a void in your perception or something?"

"Hm?" Liu Shu asked, confused. "What do you mean? I see them by looking at them! Can you explain how you see the holes yourself?"

Taro blinked twice, having been somewhat taken off-guard by such an answer. However, Liu Shu had a point. How could you explain your vision in a way that the other person would understand? 

So, instead, he changed the subject. Jumping down to the small piece of land between the wall and the moat, he asked. "So, can you do as I said? While not too important, they are something I value quite a lot." 

Liu Shu had no problem with that. To be fair, having her roots in the air felt a bit uncomfortable. So, Liu Shu started moving her roots back and slowly leaving the few-meter-wide hole that opened again. Instead, she went down and surrounded the moat, spreading from the bottom instead.

'It seems that discussing things with her will be much easier than I expected. She seems to be very receptive.' Taro smiled happily and made another petition. "Liu Shu, can you also avoid damaging our infrastructure? Our sewage system took a lot of time to build, and if it breaks, it will be quite a disaster. It might even pollute our clean water reservoirs."

Liu Shu chuckled softly. "Don't worry so much. I won't interfere with anything in your city. I just need to pass through to extend further! Moreover, if your city is good and it continues supporting us, I might even spread my passive influence to here!"

Taro's eyebrows rose with surprise, and his eyes gained a curious glint. "You can actually make your auras reach here?"

A system message popped up right after. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

[Congratualations! You've gained <World Tree Town> buff!]

"Oh!" Taro exclaimed in awe. "So you can actually share these effects wherever your roots reach!" 

"Hehehe. I see that you are impressed~. And yes, that's right! As long as I want, I can expand most of those passive buffs everywhere my roots reach. The thing that gives you this buff is my presence, after all."

[You've lost <World Tree Town>.]

Taro read the system message and internally clicked his tongue. 'Tsk, tsk. Lady World Tree seems to want to profit from this, eh?'

"So~..." Liu Shu trailed her words. "What can you give me to envelop your city in my aura?"

Taro sighed with a smile and climbed back onto the wall again with a few agile jumps. "What can I give you? I don't know what World Trees like you want, Liu Shu. How about you make an offer? I'll see what I can do about it after I hear it." 

Liu Shu was blunt with her request. "I want Sirol City to become a vassal city of the Golden Sap City!"

The people hearing the conversation almost slipped and fell off the wall after listening to Liu Shu's outrageous request. 'The appetite of this World Tree is not small!'

Even Taro raised his arms in surprise. "Woah there! Don't go so fast! Are you trying to swallow us entirely even though you just arrived?!"

Liu Shu spoke as a matter of course, snorting a bit even. "What? I am here, of course that this terrain is now mine! Since you are living in my domain, then you should naturally become my subordinate city, no? Hmph, hmph. Don't tell me you didn't expect this outcome!"

Everyone was speechless at her straightforwardness and audacity. Taro actually laughed, finding her bluntness and honesty refreshing. "Liu Shu, even if that were the truth, I can't really say. 'Oh, okay. I'll give my city to you now.' Right?"

The World Tree asked back. "Why not? Eventually, you will fall under my domain, no? Isn't it better to just give things and be done with it? It's not like I will interrupt whatever things you are doing here. It's more in name than anything else!"

Taro smiled faintly, his narrow eyes crinkling with laughter. "Things need to go through a process, Liu Shu. It is how we do things in the world. Imagine that a man steps into your city and says that they want the city because they are there. How would you react?"

Liu Shu snorted twice. "You are comparing fruits with rocks! How can my presence be comparable to a human's presence?" Liu Shu continued. "If you fall under my domain, you instantly gain many benefits like my auras. My presence is also very calming and will reduce your crime rate…" Liu Shu observed the area where she could see and quickly spotted something. "Heh. Look! A man over there is about to force themselves on a woman, and you don't even know about it! Could that man do that?"

Taro's and everyone else faces changed, and Taro asked quickly. "Where, Liu Shu? Fast!"

Liu Shu was somewhat startled and decided to tell them. "They are between the reddish and brownish buildings near you."

Taro and other guards rushed forward, arriving at the place, and indeed, there was a man with his pants down on top of a naked and crying beaten woman. Taro shouted. "HALT!"

The man looked back, confused, and then his eyes widened. However, the guards were swift and grabbed each of his shoulders, slamming him onto the ground. A female guard approached the woman and started calming her down.

Taro looked at the scene with a frown and asked. "Where are the guards of this area?"

The guard captain near him approached and said, his tone somewhat ashamed. "They seem to be drinking in a nearby tavern, Lord Taro…" 

Taro's face crumpled, his usually calm face looking as if a storm was about to tear the sky asunder. "Am I paying for security just to have them drink while my inhabitants are raped?"

His tone was not loud, but everyone present felt a wave of fear in them. Taro asked aloud, his face cold. "Liu Shu, is there any more criminal activity nearby?"

Liu Shu looked around and commented. "Well, nothing too important, a few thieves running around and some people moving below the sewers looking a bit suspicious~." 

Everyone couldn't help but feel a sense of weight on their shoulders. They thought that a World Tree was like a deity of a religious group, existing for spiritual support more than practical everyday actions.

Yet, in the first minutes of her arrival, it looked like she just unveiled a dangerous association working in their sewers. 

The World Tree humped. "But I won't tell you any more! I've done you a favor because you helped me in the war a lot. If you want more help, you need to accept my conditions."

Her words made many of the people present look at Taro with more serious eyes. Especially, the guards, who had a strong moral compass, couldn't ignore the utility they just saw. 

Taro tapped the floor with the tip of his boots, creating a rhythmic sound as he thought about what had just happened. 'No wonder World Tree cities are usually considered a paradise. If anyone wants to commit any crime beyond small thievery, they will need to do it and avoid the eye in the sky of the local World Tree…'

Taro passed his hand through his dark hair and said. "Liu Shu, while I can't give you what you want right away, we can work together toward a natural assimilation. What do you think?"

The World Tree asked, curious. "Natural Assimilation? That sounds great!" Liu Shu asked with a serious tone, but laughing in her mind. "Do you want to grow a forest in the city?"

Taro's eyebrow twitch. "Not that kind of nature... Anyway, what I mean is that we can make a vote. As the city residents, if they want your influence to be spread around. Then, those who agree will receive the benefits that you can give, while those who vote against you will receive nothing. We won't discriminate against them, continuing to provide the usual care, but what you can provide will remain off-limits."

Taro smiled cunningly. "With the terrifying benefits that you give, it will be a matter of time before everyone bends. After all, if they agree and are under your influence, they will be protected by your eyes. If not, they will be protected by just the guards."

Taro looked at the guards, patting them on the shoulder. "It's not that you are lacking. I know that the grand majority is trying to do their jobs. That's why we are considered one of the safest cities. It's just that…"

The guard captain nodded firmly, his gaze not bothered at all. "Don't worry, Lord Taro. We understand. Lady Liu Shu's presence is overwhelming in that regard. Like comparing a blind person with someone that can see."

Taro smiled, gratified. He looked around and said. "You've all seen what has happened. Lady World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu's presence is essential if Sirol City wants to prosper to the next stage. It's not about if we will, but when we will fall under her canopy. Am I clear?"

"Yes, City Lord!"

Liu Shu spoke softly. "Since you've agreed, I'll help you catch bad guys today! Although, my roots probably will need a month to cover your city entirely~."

Everyone present bowed. "Thank you for your aid, Lady World Tree."

"Also…" Liu Shu admonished softly. "Call me Liu Shu! I don't like to be revered! Lady this, Lady that, hmph! Annoying!"

Everyone present couldn't help but laugh softly, finding those words adorable.