Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 228. Prosperous Golden Sap City!

Liu Shu took two weeks to Level Up. In the meantime, although negative propaganda was roaming outside, not everyone was gullible enough to believe everything they heard. So, many people traveled to the Golden Sap Town to see the supposedly extensive destruction that happened. Between those, merchants were especially eager since going to places affected by war usually meant profit, as, even when it was not moral, taking advantage of the wartorn population was easy. 

However, after moving slowly and carefully through the forest, the people who arrived at the center of the Golden Sap Forest saw a massive and intact wall covering the place, with the massive World Tree surging with energies and looking, quite frankly, incredibly healthy and animated."

This created doubt and curiosity, and they all walked forward, trying to enter the place. They noticed one small change in the text at the entrance. Now, it read <Golden Sap City>. 

No one really thought much about it. The size of the city was honestly gigantic, and people hadn't really realized it, but the available living area had reached 820,200 square meters. The number of <Lignified House> had reached 130. Then, there were four <Lignified Town Hall> Level trees and six <Lignified Inns>. 

Considering their size and housing ability, that number of Tree Buildings would allow around 12,900 people to live comfortably in the city. 

Each building did not occupy much living space, as they specialized in height more than width. The <Lignified House> was 24 meters tall, the <Lignified Inn> was 38 meters tall, and the <Lignified Town Hall> reached around a third of Liu Shu's current height: 63 meters. 

Spotting the Town Halls beyond the enormous 32-meter-high wall was imposing and mystical, attracting the curiosity of all the people who arrived.

Due to this, the people who came didn't leave. Instead, they actually entered, paying the fees required, and basically got hooked on everything. The buffs, the benefits, the special housing, the variety of items, the berries that you could get with luck, and other benefits completely outweighed anything they had experienced beforehand.

To call this city a small paradise was not an exaggeration for many of them.

The families of the people who came were unsure about the messages coming from the Golden Sap City, but as time passed, many immigrated from surrounding cities and villages. 

If there was a complaint that people had, it was that the cost of living was somewhat high, at around 5 <Bren> monthly on average. Still, no one really complained besides saying some words; only an entitled and stupid person would fail to understand that this place was well worth the high cost of living.

"We should revolt and take over so that we can reduce the cost of living! The City Lord is just exploiting us!"

Of course, such people existed, and they were not that uncommon to come across. Thankfully, most of the population had a brain inside their skulls with enough neurons firing to not get swayed by them. Not to mention…

The man who spoke had his shoulder patted, and when he turned around, he saw a smiling Explorer. "Hey, listening to your stupid words, I can guess that you might have had some intelligence defect since birth, so I shouldn't be too harsh… Sadly, I can't really care about stupid people like you." 

The man became livid. "What did you just say!? I will let you know that I am Level 21! I dare you to place a hand on me, and I'll make sure this part of the city becomes burning wood!"

The Explorer looked at the man with pity and disdain pouring from his gaze. Before the Level 21 knew what that gaze meant, several roots shot toward him from the ground, tying all of his limbs. 

The Explorer shook his head and walked away. "You had to threaten these beautiful trees around you. I thought I knew the limits to stupid behavior, but today, you opened my eyes! Good luck becoming fertilizer."

The man tried to struggle. However, the buildings in Liu Shu's town were all Level 21. Not to mention, the trees were affected by Liu Shu's many strengthening auras, increasing their stats by over 50%. Even a Level 24 might have problems fighting one of the <Golden Sap City> buildings, let alone a Level 21.

"Wait! You are going to kill a citizen!?" The struggling Level 21 shouted, but the Explorer waved his hand. "Sorry, the City is killing you, not me. After a few disgraceful monsters did something bad to them, Lady Liu Shu, with reason, gave them permission to protect themselves if they were threatened." 

The people around saw the Level 21 try to struggle. However, the number of roots attacking him was just too many, and they eventually dragged him underground, muffling his cries for help.

This was the first time this happened, so the people walking around were stunned. A man called the Explorer who was patrolling the city with a cry filled with doubt and some fear. "W-Wait, mister! Wait a second, please!"

The Explorer paused and looked back with a smile. "Yes, sir? What may I help you with?"

The man looked between the spot where that man was swallowed and the Explorer and cleared his throat. "I don't want to sound rude, sir. However, what is considered threatening to, um…" Looking up at the towering tree, he blurted out flattery. "...these beautiful and gorgeous trees."

The Explorer laughed. "Don't worry, sir. As you saw, that man threatened them quite clearly. These big girls are very intelligent because they share part of Lady Liu Shu's intelligence." He then lifted one hand and said. "I can swear, sir, that as long as you just live normally and never threaten them, they will never target you. Ignore them and live your day-to-day life; treat them like buildings, and nothing will happen."

A woman from the side questioned. "But, isn't this too dangerous? They may be intelligent enough, but, um, what if they make a mistake?"

The Explorer smiled and answered. "This order was, in fact, given a few months ago. And this is the first time one of them has moved. This should prove their patience and usual indifference toward our matters. Only when you directly threaten them will the trees attack you. Not to mention, madam, you are missing a very positive quality."

The woman tilted her head, thoughtful. "Which one?"

The people around listened as the Explorer smiled and explained. "These are your homes, the places you all live. Aren't you quite glad to have a guardian always caring and protecting you at all times of the day? If you ask for help, they will most likely help you." 

The listening public couldn't help but pause their previous line of thought after hearing what the Explorer said. One middle-aged man spoke. "Now that I think about it, I have rarely, if ever, seen people fall victim to criminals."

A woman with a child in her arms smiled and nodded. "I can even walk out at night without a problem. Once, there was a person who tried to rob me. I was very scared that my child would be hurt. Thankfully, even before I could scream for help, the ants came out of nowhere and dragged the thief away!" 

People around shared a few of their anecdotes, and the Explorer finished. "Therefore, sirs and madams, I recommend just going about your day and not worry. The Golden Sap City is one of the most secure places in our province."

After that day, what happened spread around, creating varied reactions. Most of the people were law-abiding and had a relatively strong moral compass, making this news sound like music to their ears. 

Some others didn't think alike. After all, like in almost any place, there were groups that were trying to create certain criminal groups and spread around to gain control in the shadows. 

After hearing about what happened in that restaurant, they could guess that some of their people might've found themselves in that position. Regardless, while these people's ambitions were high, their strength was seriously lacking. 

Flor had received reports about them, and each time, she would go personally with a few strong ants and clean the place with the help of the Golden Sap City trees. They were a good source of Experience Points for lower-level people, so she didn't pull them out by the roots. In her words: "Let them call more reinforcements; they are like sacks of Experience Points delivering themselves to our front door."

The combination of all these events was just too resounding to be snuffed out by neighboring powers, and by the time Liu Shu woke up, the news had spread around that the Golden Sap City was extremely secure and a place full of blessings.

"Good morning, me!" Feeling refreshed, Liu Shu wiggled her roots around, and she swept her surroundings with the <World Tree Eye> passive skill. "Huh? So many people!" 

She looked at the northern sector she had newly built, and she couldn't help but be surprised. "Wow~, where did all these people come from? Are there any evil ones?"

She communicated with the trees in the city and got an idea of what was happening. While communication between trees was slow when trying to tell specific information, sharing sensations and feelings about places was very easy and efficient. 

In a few hours, Liu Shu created a mental map of the places where most crimes had been committed and those free of it. "Hm… the inns seem to be the place where most people misbehave. Hm? Who are these people?"

Looking inside one of the inns' rooms, she saw three men and two women who had decently strong auras. 'Oh! They are all Level 24! What are you talking about?' 

"... I don't feel that's feasible. We've confirmed that the World Tree is in a strange hibernating state, and she is not actively checking the Golden Sap City. However, the second she wakes up, we will be in trouble."

One of the women, tall and muscular, spoke with a frown. "Even if we have the City Lord?"

The same man who spoke previously answered with a sigh. "Even then. Moreover, this place has <Second Energy Cycle> powerhouses. If they discover us, we are done for."

The other woman, a slender and average-looking beastkin of a reptilian family, spoke. "Then, we should just try to poison the water reservoirs. I heard that they are not that separated from the rest of the buildings; sneaking around and pouring the contents inside should be easy, right?"

An elegant man sitting by the window sighed. "Even if we are successful, the chances that we leave this place alive will be small. This entire place is very different from a normal city; everything is somehow connected."

Liu Shu exclaimed to herself. 'Oh! He has good senses! I wonder where these people come from. I should ask Flor.'