Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 189. Flor’s Masterful Play!

Flor's announcement about the eventual change in policies came just at the right time.

"The new policies will continue to be favorable for all of you. However, with so many free benefits, as the ones controlling this city, we can't really continue being as lenient as we have been." 

The people listened with frowns, and Flor explained. "Until today, everyone has been nothing but ideal residents. The number of criminal activities has been negligible. I am incredibly grateful for the real chance that every resident is giving us, Rose Fairies, to integrate with the society you've all built." 

The people's frowns relaxed a bit, and they continued listening. "As the Rose Fairy Queen and the City Lord of the <Golden Sap Town>, I want to ask everyone to imagine how things would've developed if the administration was of any intelligent race." 

Some people took some offense at that statement. Regardless, the grand majority knew what Flor was pointing at. At the moment, the cost of living in the town was honestly very low compared to the advantages it offered.

Flor explained. "I am speaking with Lord Wert and other close people to create a fair system for the majority." She finished with a gentle bow and a smile. "Thank you for listening." 

A man walked out of the crowd and looked at Flor with a sneer. "Flor, right?"

Flor looked over and squinted when she heard Liu Shu's voice in her mind. 'Flor, that person just spoke with a person about making you look bad to reduce the trust. He will probably try to provoke you.'

Flor whispered. "Thank you, love."

'Hehehe~, no problem~.'

Then, she answered while flying down slightly. "Yes. That's my name, although I would appreciate it if you added the proper honorific."

"Honorific?" He scoffed. "A monster does not deserve honorifics!"

The people around looked at that man with a curious expression. Of course, no one really stepped out to protect Flor. 

Flor didn't care and smiled. "If I don't deserve honorifics, no one in this town does."

The man shouted. "Arrogant monster! You should be grateful we are even allowing your race to exist between us!"

Flor laughed mockingly. "If that is your attempt at provoking me, then I am wondering if calling you 'Intelligent' is proper. Are you an exception that shows incredible stupidity among the rest of the intelligent people I've seen in this town? How was that saying that you humans had… Ah! The exception that proves the rule."

The people around smiled and chuckled. One Sylvan stepped forward and said. "Rose Fairies have demonstrated more civility than some…" The Sylvan looked at the man, who had a furious but embarrassed face, and she sneered. "...People."

The man shouted. "Are you siding with monsters instead of humans, Sylvan!?"

The Sylvan snorted. "I am siding with the creature that allows me to do this!" The Sylvan waved her hand, summoning a large carnivorous plant that walked on six stalks. 

The man shut up and took a step back. In the first place, his aim was to make Flor look bad and try to hinder the changes that would make living in the <Golden Sap Town> more expensive. He was not someone who earned lots, so he would have trouble paying more than he currently did. 

Flor clapped once, using her Wind Aether to create a burst of wind that spread around. Everyone looked over with wide eyes, not expecting the Rose Fairy to have so much strength. While they knew that Flor was not weak, they still had her as a <Rose Fairy> in their minds, which usually were very weak.

"The last thing I want is for conflict to happen. The policies that I will create are all supervised by Lord Wert and other advisors. And I am speaking about human, beastkin, and Sylvan advisors."

Flor looked around and said with an imposing tone. "I have created this town not to rule over people but to help her." 

Flor pointed toward the middle of the town, and everyone looked over and saw the giant Life Tree that towered several dozen meters. "I am a Rose Fairy, even if I am their Queen. I just want to help nature grow and develop. That Life Tree has been our race's house, and under her canopy, we've grown. Now, in return, I want to create something that will help that <Life Tree>, and that can only be possible by creating a town."

Almost all Sylvans and many of the humans and beastkin that had a high level of respect toward nature looked at Flor with new eyes. Flor looked at the man and asked. "Why did you do this?"

"Why should I tell you anything, monster? As if you would understand! Just fuck off!"

The man who had been embarrassed acted defensively, naturally not wanting to reveal the ugly motivations behind his actions. His attitude was so bad that even the silent majority started murmuring, and their gaze toward the human male became increasingly disappointed.

He tried to turn around and leave, but he suddenly couldn't move his feet or body as enormous pressure fell on him. Liu Shu was looking straight at him, concentrating her pressure on him, and somehow, the man felt the source and looked toward the "Life Tree" behind Flor with a pale face. 

Flor's eyes flashed, understanding why his skin paled so much suddenly. 'Since my big darling wants to help, how can I not take advantage of this situation? 

Flor smiled and approached, always having Liu Shu behind her to make it appear as if the man was looking at her while his face paled. Then, she asked softly and gently. "I don't believe a human would lash out without a motive. Don't be afraid and tell me. I swear I can listen."

Wert, looking from the window, raised his eyebrows in praise. 'She is really clever.' While he didn't feel Liu Shu's aura, he knew that there was something wrong with the man's attitude. 

Of course, almost nobody other than those who knew Flor understood the discrepancy between her usual way of doing things and what was happening, allowing them to guess that something was happening. 

In the meantime, the rest of the people heard Flor's gentle tone and also realized that the man's complexion was turning for the worse as Flor approached. Many connected invisible dots and came to a realization. 'Is that man afraid of Rose Fairies?'

Agitated by what was happening to him, the man lashed out, not knowing that he not only stepped but threw himself face-first into the trap that Liu Shu and Flor set up for him. "Y-You monster! LET ME GO! I WILL HUNT DOWN YOUR ENTIRE RACE IF YOU DON'T!"

His heart was beating with terror, his body was shivering, and he was perspiring enough for it to be visible. All those symptoms, coupled with his crazy-like shouts, solidified a single thought in almost everyone. 'So, he is just a crazy person.'

Flor acted confused, as she didn't understand. "Hm? What's wrong? Why are you so angry suddenly? I really just want to talk." 

The Sylvan that had stepped forward to speak for Flor saw the man's body tense as he lunged forward. Scared for the little and fragile-looking Rose Fairy, she shouted. "Careful!"

Flor saw the attack coming, but she didn't dodge and got hit.

BANG!

Rose Fairies were very light creatures, so if they didn't resist, the strength of a Level 11 was enough to make even someone at Flor's level fly away several tens of meters. 

She flew so far back that her body smashed against the people on the opposite side of the circle they had created to listen to her announcement. 

Everyone was stunned, and many rushed forward to pin down the man. The Sylvan shouted as she arrived first and smashed the person into the ground. "ARE YOU INSANE!?" She quickly looked in Flor's direction and asked loudly. "How is she!?"

Even the man was stunned by his own actions. 'W-What did I do?' 

Before he could react to the situation, though, he saw the ants rushing over. "W-WAIT! I DIDN'T MEAN TO-ARGH!"

A soldier ant approached and used its jaws to pinch his body and lift him up. However, unlike the first times when people felt uncomfortable seeing ants punishing people, they all thought it was more than deserved this time around.

Some of them even cheered. "Stupid person! Become ant food!"

"Hitting Queen Flor is the lowest! She just wanted to understand you!"

"How can people this evil exist? Is the Rose Fairy Queen okay?"

"Right? She has been extremely fair and even came out personally to warn us about changes. How many City Lords bother doing that?" 

A few Sylvans and humans approached Flor and spoke. "We are Healers. How are you feeling, Queen Flor?"

Flor shook her head and flapped her wings drunkenly while flying upward. "I… I am fine. Thank you for caring. There is no need for them to do the effort." 

Some people felt their hearts soften at the figure of the dizzy, small, and cute fairy, and a few spoke. "If you need healing, we know a few spells."

Flor shook her arms as if she was being bothersome. "Don't need them! How can I ask you to heal me? Don't use your Aether Mana to heal me." 

A man smiled and spoke. "You are flying a bit twistedly, hahaha. Are you sure you are okay?"

Flor blinked and corrected her figure. Then, she cleared her throat and answered. "I am really okay!" Then, she flew away embarrassedly. "Anyway! I will go and do the things I promised!" 

People laughed when they saw the little Fairy fly into the Town Hall through the window. When they looked over toward the man being dragged away by ants, though, their smiles turned into sneers. 

Back in the Town Hall's room, Flor sat on her chair with a calm expression and looked at Wert. "How was it?"

Wert laughed and clapped. "Impressive. Masterful! Hahahaha." 

Flor sighed in relief and smiled. "That's good to hear." Then, she commented. "Although a lot of it was an act, I was serious when I wanted to make everything as affordable as possible. I am not greedy for money or profits. I just want people to live happily in Liu Shu's town. I want her canopy's shadow to be a synonym for prosperity and protection." 

Wert crossed his arms and looked at Flor for a few seconds. Then, he smiled and sighed. "Okay. We'll try to make this a little paradise. However, Queen Flor, I really hope that you keep that mindset when the offers start flying in. I've placed my faith in your character and love for Liu Shu; don't disappoint me." Wert looked around and spoke with a serious expression. "This goes for everyone here. If someone betrays this place in the future, there won't be a trial or forgiveness!"

"Yes, Sir!"

Flor smiled and looked around the room, only to be met with very different gazes. The humans and beastkin that previously looked a bit doubtful now looked at her respectfully. When she was about to relax, she heard Liu Shu's voice. 'Flor! I want to Level Up four or five times!'

Flor's relaxed smile almost collapsed as her eyes widened to the limits. 'W-What?!'