Chương 276: Judgment Above The Surface and Unity Beneath It.

In Fortuna City, the World Tree relaxedly looked at her surroundings, curious about what the people in her city were doing. Since her vision was different from Liu Shu's, she could see where the people went and hear what they were saying.

'It has been so long since I actually looked at the city. There are so many people now…' Before the recent events, Fortuna was either hibernating, meditating, or just letting the time go by while paying superficial attention to her domain. Now that the chance to survive for long and be let loose of her chains appeared, her illusion of life was at an all-time high again.

'Hm… These people here seem harmful; they are all surrounding another creature…' Looking around, she spotted a few high-level people and spoke to them.

"Hello, I think that someone is committing a crime a few streets away. Could you look out for me?" The high-level woman's eyes widened when the soft and elegant voice spread in her mind. It was quite clear that this voice came from the World Tree. The woman stuttered and said.

"R-Right away, Lady World Tree!" The woman went where Fortuna indicated and saw a group of people beating up a man, which made her frown.

"Hey! What is happening here?" The group looked over, and one of them sneered.

"Why don't you mind your own business, eh? Fuck off!" Fortuna asked the woman.

"Are they doing something evil?" The woman answered.

"Um… It seems so."

"I see." Then, a wave of pure soul energy descended from above, slamming into the heads of all of them. The woman saw with horror as the people's eyes rolled upward, blood dripping from all their orifices as they fell like puppets whose strings had been cut. Fortuna spoke once more to the woman before continuing to look around.

"Thank you." A few hours later, on her main office, Eila suddenly received several reports of people being killed, making her frown.

"What's happening?" The secretary spoke, confused.

"From what we've gathered, all those who died were part of a criminal band, so it seems that someone is going around and punishing evil? While some people are afraid, most of the population are actually feeling quite relieved." Eila looked at the reports again and rubbed her chin. After a little while, she smiled faintly and spoke aloud.

"Fortuna." The secretary felt the presence of the World Tree descending on the room, stiffening his body. Then, the voice of the World Tree spread in the room with a gorgeous echo.

"What's wrong, Eila?"

"Did you go on a killing spree today?" Fortuna answered, her tone a bit upset.

"Why haven't you cleaned the streets of criminals before? There are so many evil people roaming our streets… I am sure that if it were Liu Shu, she would've already killed everyone making trouble in the city." Eila almost laughed aloud while the secretary was scared shitless. The reports have gathered a few hundred deaths in less than an hour. The killing speed of the World Tree was terrifyingly swift. Fortuna, who specialized in Anima Energy, had low defenses for a World Tree.

In exchange, her ability to manipulate Anima Energy went to the extremes. Unless someone had a terrifyingly high Willpower and Anima stats to resist, they were defenseless in front of Fortuna. Of all the types of World Trees, those who manipulated Anima Energy were among the most feared worldwide. Eila answered, spinning her feathered pen with her fingers.

"It is difficult to clean the place without having someone who can look everywhere around the city at any moment." Fortuna flinched a bit, profoundly feeling the meaning behind Eila's words. She had been, with reason, having a temper tantrum for the last few decades, so of course, this would make it more difficult to have the same standards in Fortuna City as other World Trees Cities.

"... Well, now I am looking, okay? Cooperate with me." Eila smiled and stood up slowly.

"Gladly." Looking at the secretary, Eila spoke firmly.

"Gather the top-level people of our army. Today, we are cleaning Fortuna City." Then, the population suddenly saw the Fortuna City Army mobilizing and scouting the streets. Even City Lord Eila could be seen. Each time they entered a building, the place would be thoroughly cleaned off, capturing many of those who didn't commit serious crimes to end up in the Fortuna City prison. Saying that the operation was swift was an understatement.

In half a day, the army retreated to the barracks, leaving behind a startled Fortuna City. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Everyone was looking at each other, confused beyond belief. It wasn't until a few hours later that Fortuna spoke aloud for the first time in many years, spreading her voice across the entirety of the City.

"We've cleaned the city of criminals. I wasn't aware that so many evil people had gathered and were terrorizing all of you. Don't worry, though. They are now gone. Sorry for taking so long." The soft and nature-like elegant voice coming from the World Tree enveloped everyone like a warm embrace. Many of the older people couldn't help but tear up since it had been so long since something like this happened. A grandma sitting in her stall smiled gladly, her eyes tearing up.

"Ah… Lady World Tree seems to be doing better lately." Her young grandson looked at her and asked, curious.

"Was Lady World Tree feeling sick?"

"Sick…" The grandma nodded faintly, her tone full of emotion.

"Yes, dear. Lady World Tree was sick for many years, but now she seems much more alive. It's good to see her be like this again before my time arrives." Fortuna heard the many thanks of the people who lived under her gorgeous canopy, and she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction. Eila's voice reached her then.

"Great job, Fortuna. Was this enough to gather Experience for Level 30?"

"Indeed… I've gained more than 50, 000 Experience Points."

"Oho~, not bad, not bad. Do you plan on using them now?"

"No…" Fortuna muttered.

"I'll wait for Liu Shu to start her assimilation process. If I reach Level 30 while someone like Liu Shu is assimilating me, I might be able to unite more tightly and give her less trouble." Eila was silent for a few seconds, and she asked, even if the answer was clear.

"You are sure about this, right? If you are not, you can always tell me." Fortuna looked at the Lightning Sylvan and smiled internally.

"I am sure, don't worry." Coincidentally, Liu Shu spoke to Fortuna the day after.

"Fortuna! Fortuna! Fortuna! Fortuna! Are you there? Fortunaaaaaa!" The older World Tree couldn't help but chuckle. This was not the first time Liu Shu called her in this manner and every time she did, she couldn't help but find her cute.

"I am here, Liu Shu. What's wrong?"

"Well~, I've decided to start the assimilation process!" This sent a shock through Fortuna's core. The news came too suddenly, and she couldn't help but stutter out an answer.

"W-What? Now?" Liu Shu giggled.

"Hehehe, indeed! Now!" Feeling Liu Shu's roots start advancing, Fortuna's mind was a bit in disarray.

"Wait, wait! Liu Shu, you are going too fast! What kind of root spreading speed do you have!?"

"Tsk, tsk. So what! Fast is good! Fast is best! You should just enjoy the ride and let me do everything~!" Fortuna felt a bit flustered as the roots of another World Tree pierced deeply into her domain, ignoring any resistance that she could put up. Liu Shu's voice reached her.

"Hey, why are you not moving at all? Spread into my domain as well! The more area of your roots I can touch, the better my influence should seep into you!" Fortuna asked Liu Shu as she observed the younger World Tree roots advancing through the dirt like water.

"How are you doing it so quickly? You are so good at this for being so young…" Liu Shu answered with a proud tone.

"Of course I am good! Would I be able to dominate you as I am if I were not this good? Hehe, I bet you like it~."

"What are you talking about!?" Fortuna's pitch became an octave higher as she complained.

"Also, I can't help but notice, but why are you speaking in this way!? It sounds strange!" Liu Shu felt a wave of confusion wash over her, and she asked.

"What way? I am speaking normally!" Fortuna was silent for a few seconds and then muttered.

"Branches above… I need to sunbathe my canopy a bit more and relax my thoughts…" Liu Shu giggled and commented.

"You are so strange sometimes, Fortuna." Fortuna sighed and curiously observed Liu Shu's roots. The strong and vigorous roots of the young World Tree were tireless, advancing without a single moment of pause and breaking through any obstacle that appeared in the way. Not only that, their accuracy was extremely precise as well, avoiding her root net without needing to touch and interlocking perfectly.

"Say, Liu Shu… How far have your roots reached?"

"Hm… I am unsure. Between 30 and 35 kilometers… I think."

"... Wow." Fortuna felt that her limits were around 20 kilometers, so those distances were incredibly far in her opinion. Wanting to make some more conversation, Fortuna asked.

"So… recently, I've cleaned up my city of criminals. Do you do the same?" Liu Shu hummed.

"I don't do it because every time I notice someone that I don't like, I kill them. This has resulted in a very safe environment. It is so safe to the point that some of my guards are starting to fall asleep during their turns…" Fortuna blurted.

"That's not good! What if something happens?" Liu Shu agreed.

"That's what I've told Flor and Wert! Still, I don't think it will matter because when I spoke about it to Flor and Wert, their faces showed shock and a trace of anger." Liu Shu giggled.

"It was quite fun seeing them spank the guards around and shout at them." Fortuna couldn't help but feel her mind throb.

'Her sense of what's fun is a bit sadistic… I guess she hasn't really interacted with people for too long, and therefore, her preferences are just pure… in a way?' Liu Shu's voice reached her.

"Fortuna, how long until I arrive at your city?" Fortuna refocused on Liu Shu's roots and muttered.

"At the pace you are advancing… Around a day or two?"

"A day or two… Hm. Okay! Then, I'll continue advancing towards you, and you do the same. Once I reach my length limit and pierce as deeply as I can into your domain, I'll start doing it." Fortuna's mind couldn't help but sense a bit of strangeness in those words. Still, she answered Liu Shu without delay.

"Great. I can Level Up to Level 30, by the way. So, I plan on doing that when you start your assimilation process. Perhaps that helps you since I'll be reconditioning my <Energy Cycle> paths."

"Oh! That's great!" Liu Shu then said with a giggle.

"Speak to you soon, Fortuna~! I had fun!" Fortuna answered softly.

"See you soon, Liu Shu."