The Cornflower Witch Chapter 256

“What to do with the remaining soldiers?” Sylphidya pondered, a hint of distress on her face.

She wasn’t a bloodthirsty person, and while these soldiers had committed wrongs, not all of them deserved to die. But if she simply let them all go, what would become of Scorched Stone City? Driven by a simple sentiment, she didn’t want the city’s residents to suffer such oppression and humiliation any longer.

“Perhaps I should find a leader among them and have him restrain them,” she mused. She and Lucas couldn’t stay here permanently, acting as local lords and fighting against Antium.

Sylphidya stood up, her gaze sweeping across the scene. There were about 600 Anti soldiers here, including seven Tier 2 officers. Initially, there were five Tier 3 combatants, but four of the knights had been killed by Sylphidya, leaving only the powerful “Tier 3 Blood Law” warrior.

“It can only be him,” she thought. “Hopefully, he isn’t a cruel and despicable person.”

Sylphidya raised her hand, and the wild grass on the ground spread and grew like waves. Many soldiers, unable to escape in time, were bound in layers. Other warrior officers with aspects, even if they struggled free, found it difficult to move and couldn’t escape the sea of green grass.

The seemingly powerful Anti army was completely overwhelmed when facing this single maiden. This was a mortal army without the restraint and defense of a ‘knight’, as fragile as a flock of chickens before a Transcendent of Tier 3 or above.

If there had still been a Tier 3 Knight among them, they could have unfurled a curtain and, with the aid of the surrounding soldiers’ aspects, coordinated to resist the endlessly rolling grass waves.

Panicked shouts spread among the Anti soldiers, all believing they were about to die in the terrifying emerald sea. Only Lucas could tell that the maiden had no intention of killing them.

After struggling for about several minutes, although many cried out, no one died, and the soldiers finally slowly quieted down.

At this point, Lucas ordered the two bone monsters to bring the warrior “A Lu,” who had fought him earlier, to Sylphidya.

A Lu gripped his great axe, his eyes full of vigilance. As he approached, he glanced at Somaelin, who was already lying on the ground.

“Hmph, you intend to make me surrender?” He stood there, planting his great axe into the ground. His tall, stout build cast a larger shadow than Lucas and Sylphidya.

“No such intention,” Sylphidya tilted her head, her eyes shimmering as she carefully observed the powerful warrior before her.

“I have some questions for you.”

“Oh? And after you’ve asked them, will you dispose of me too?” His chest rose and fell, his internal blood circulation accelerated, and his entire body radiated a scorching aura, making the soldiers not far behind him feel as if they were being burned. Their blood, influenced by this pull, constantly accelerated, and their heartbeats quickened.

“Probably,” the maiden replied, thinking for a moment without evasion.

Lucas heard this and had no time to intervene, regretting not speaking up earlier and taking over the conversation.

“I don’t really have a strong opinion on whether Regas or Antium rules,” Sylphidya began.

“But I once lived in Scorched Stone City, and I have people I know here. So, I hope this place can be relatively stable and peaceful.”

“Unfortunately, Mr. Somaelin couldn’t fulfill my wish. Many of his actions were intolerable to me.”

“Now, Somaelin is dead, and Scorched Stone City cannot be independent for the time being. I don’t want the next lord to be someone equally cruel and tyrannical.”

“So? Who do you want to be the lord? Or rather, why should anyone listen to you?” A Lu scoffed disdainfully.

“I despise hypocrites like you the most. You enjoy all the benefits, yet you care about your reputation, afraid of being gossiped about.”

“Isn’t it because you feel guilty that people here in Scorched Stone City are suffering, since you’re from here? Wouldn’t it be enough for you to take Somaelin’s place and rule this place?”

“You’re just afraid of trouble and don’t want to feel guilty, so you want to find someone to take your place, and then you’ll be at peace?”

“As for how that replacement person actually performs, you don’t care at all. If they don’t do what you expect, you can just come back and kill them, claiming it’s to avenge the residents.”

“I’ve seen too many hypocrites like you, you bastards!” A Lu grew more agitated as he spoke, his blood aura becoming increasingly crimson and scorching.

Lucas thought, “This fellow is unexpectedly clever for his size. What he’s saying is quite blunt. I wonder if Tiya can handle it.”

After listening to A Lu’s questions, Sylphidya didn’t rush to deny them but quietly thought for a while.

“Some of what you said is not wrong. I do value my reputation and don’t want to be gossiped about.”

“If it weren’t for that, you probably wouldn’t be standing here alive,” she said, her eyes shimmering like starlight. The tall warrior’s aura slowly weakened, and his gaze and spirit slowly sank into the depths of her blue eyes.

“However, since you call me a hypocrite, what do you consider true? Is it to occupy this place and become king?”

“And then constantly fight with the Anti Kingdom, even if it implicates many residents and causes their deaths, even if my own safety is greatly affected, even if this is not the life I desire?”

“Not everyone craves the life of power and wealth you describe. There are also those who prefer other lives.”

“Furthermore, I’m not yet mentally prepared to bear this responsibility. For now, I can only slightly improve the living conditions of the local residents.”

At this point, Sylphidya let out a soft sigh, feeling that her performance might seem a bit weak to others.

If it were another more assertive person, they would probably directly deny and refute, making this warrior suffer, or even outright kill everyone here and disregard the consequences.

She was the kind of person who easily considered the future and potential developments of things. This thoughtfulness made her act with a certain caution and gentleness.

“Never mind,” she thought. “Explaining to this foreign warrior in front of me, he probably wouldn’t understand and would just think I’m making excuses.”

Her words were heard only by the warrior in front of her and Lucas beside her.

Lucas’s feeling was that this young woman still retained some innocence. She actually explained herself so frankly to an enemy. Generally, “mature” adults would simply achieve their goals, and even if they occasionally felt moved or their defenses were broken, they would only hide it, because it would expose their weaknesses and easily lead to being underestimated.

If it were him, he would directly poison this warrior named A Lu, tell him to follow his demands, otherwise, if the antidote wasn’t given after a period, the poison would take his life. As for what the other person thought, he wouldn’t care at all.

The scene was silent for a few seconds. Just as Lucas thought the negotiation had broken down and was about to intervene to mediate between the maiden and the warrior, the warrior spoke.

“You are a very interesting person.” A Lu’s voice was a bit muffled.

“Much more honest than many nobles and merchants I’ve met.”

“Since you need the city residents to live in peace, and I happen to be able to do that, then we can reach an agreement.”

“However, you must give me enough benefits, so much that I can suppress my greed, otherwise I am a person who can’t control my temper.”

This, Lucas was slightly surprised, feeling that the development of events suddenly became interesting. In that case, he would wait and see.

“What do you want?” Sylphidya raised her eyelids slightly, and the dreamlike eyes beneath her eyelashes caused the warrior to be momentarily lost in thought once again.

“What do I want, hehe, I want many things, such as inexhaustible wealth, beautiful women, good wine, and so on. But what I want most is powerful strength. With that, I can live a comfortable and happy life.”

“Is that so?” Sylphidya’s fingers lightly touched her chin, recalling what she had that could enhance strength. Her fair wrist, hidden beneath her long sleeve, rose. Under their curious and tense gazes, a tiny sprout germinated and grew before Sylphidya, then quickly shot up.

The plant quickly bloomed, then produced strings of blood-red berries, each emanating a burning “Blood Law” aura, like fruits of temptation from myths that lead living beings to corruption.

Plucking one of them, the maiden delicately placed it in her mouth to taste, feeling the “Blood Law” attribute power it contained. Her breathing technique circulated within her, rapidly digesting this energy.

“These are ‘Tier 2 Blood Law’ berries. Even for you, they have a good enhancing effect.” Sylphidya plucked another string and tossed it to the warrior opposite her.

After receiving it, the other party carefully observed and sniffed it, then slowly put it in his mouth to chew.

Soon, his eyes lit up, but he quickly restrained his expression.

“Not enough, this one string is definitely not enough!”

Sylphidya had anticipated this. With a gentle wave of her sleeve, evergreen shrubs sprouted and flourished beside her. These “Blood Currant” came from her Autumn Courtyard, naturally of very high quality, and quite numerous.

A faint fruity aroma, mixed with the alluring scent of the “Blood Law” aspect, filled A Lu’s eyes with desire. To him, these were not only incredibly delicious fruits but also a stepping stone to enhance his strength, achieve powerful status, and gain everything.

“Give them to me, I want them all!” he said, a little impatiently.

“Oh…” Sylphidya shook her head upon seeing this. The shrubs beside her, laden with blood-red berries, slowly vanished like phantoms.

“You’re not very cute. I thought you could control your greed.”

Seeing the maiden questioning his will and self-control, A Lu retorted impatiently.

“I just spoke too quickly! Besides, who wouldn’t be tempted by such good things? You’re quite evil and unreasonable to test me with this!”

“Yes, yes, I am very wicked. So, can we discuss the tasks to be completed in detail?”

Sylphidya felt an unfamiliar and fresh sensation. This was probably the first time she had been called wicked.

Afterward, the two haggled, and Lucas also participated in setting some detailed rules.

About two hours later, the two sides reached an agreement and signed the contract. Sylphidya would then provide him with 20 strings of “Blood Currant” at once, and an additional 10 strings each year thereafter.

During the agreed period, A Lu had to ensure the law and order of Scorched Stone City, ensure justice in the laws, not arbitrarily raise taxes, and not persecute local residents, otherwise the agreement would be void, and the two would return to mete out justice.

“I’m not interested in oppressing the residents of Scorched Stone City, but as for the peace and justice you mentioned, I think it will be rather difficult. You can’t expect a warrior who only knows how to chop people to understand so much about administration.” A Lu said after signing, rubbing his head. He felt he had gained many benefits, but also that it would be difficult to fulfill his part.

“It will be a bit difficult. I will recommend some people to you later.” Sylphidya thought of some of Scholar Hyde’s students, including established elders and younger generations like Yarrow.

They were all local people from Scorched Stone City. With their assistance, she believed solving problems would become much easier.

“What you should be considering now is how to prevent the Anti Kingdom from sending new lords and how to firmly establish yourself as the local lord.”

“If you cannot guarantee the terms of the agreement, we will no longer provide you with any further benefits.”

At this point, the two sides had largely settled. They then watched A Lu walk back into the Anti soldiers’ ranks, standing in a hidden spot in the distance, observing how he would appease and rally these soldiers.

The tall and stout warrior waved his hand, tearing off the weeds and roots that bound the crowd, then shouted at the top of his lungs.

“The lord is dead now. He was killed by old enemies, who said they have no grudge against us and wouldn’t kill us.” These words made the soldiers present inwardly sigh with relief.

“However, they are Regas people after all, so they want us to get out of Scorched Stone City, otherwise they will come back to kill us in another month.” Hearing this, everyone’s throats tightened again.

They had just seen several knight lords die in mysterious ways, now impaled by spears and pinned to the ground.

“However, I, the great master, persuaded them, and they also fear the mighty military strength of us Anti people. They promised that as long as we don’t go too far in the future, they won’t bother us ruling this territory anymore.”

“Lord A Lu is amazing!” A nearby soldier admired, “He even convinced them.”

“Hehe, of course.” A Lu patted his broad belly.

“However, this matter still needs to be handled. If we report it directly, and a new lord is sent later, we might not have it easy.”

“The new lord will definitely have his own personal guards and faction and won’t trust or promote us.”

“So, we need to continue thinking of a way to stay here and enjoy ourselves.”

“Listen up, from now on, you’ll say that Lord Somaelin fell ill after coming to the mines, and that from now on, all matters big and small in Scorched Stone City will be decided by us.”

“This…” The crowd was surprised by this bold proposal, a little uneasy.

“What’s there to be afraid of? I’m the strongest person in the city now. Who would dare stop us when we go back?”

“When we return to Scorched Stone City, we’ll divide Somaelin’s looted wealth among ourselves. If you don’t want it, then give it to the next lord.”

Hearing this, the remaining soldiers naturally didn’t object, and were even quite tempted.

“Hehe, isn’t that right? Keep it tightly under wraps for me. Keep your mouths shut. From now on, I’m still the patrol officer of the city, and you’re all good soldiers of the Anti Kingdom.”

“If things really get to a point where we can’t hold on, we’ll just say that Lord Somaelin died of illness, and then we’ll all take our money and go home.”

“Did you remember?”

“We remembered, Lord A Lu.”

“Did you understand?”

“We understand, Lord A Lu.”

“So, humans are truly interesting,” Lucas thought, watching the scene from a distance, then his gaze turned to the maiden in the shade of the trees beside him.

Sylphidya had now removed her hood, revealing her captivating beauty and gentle eyes that could tell a thousand stories.

Though her character and temperament were flawless and pure, the impact she brought was like that of a legendary witch, enchanting and terrifying.