Chapter 339: 114. Intentions and Changes (Merged)
Fisher and Emhart, who was on his shoulder, walked down the stairs and saw the snow lion tribe member, Felis, yawning with her arms crossed. The mechanic Selti generally didn’t make an appearance, as her job was to stay in her room making machines. The only one who maintained a working state was the scholar Balzak from Shivali.
“Good morning, awoo.”
Felis yawned and greeted Fisher behind her, who returned a “good morning” before taking in the lively scene of the first-floor hall. Not far away, several subhuman tribes with fox-like heads were following Valentina and Heidi Lin into the hotel.
The snow fox tribesmen had very few human traits, being all furry and standing out like a standing fox, lacking the soft touch of cloud cats or sheepkin. As Fisher glanced over, a white snow fox tribe member standing behind the lead brown snow fox, holding a wooden basket, turned to look at him as if sensing his gaze.
In Juna’s eyes, the gentleman standing at the stairs emitted a brilliant mix of pink and light green aura, filling the entire room with an overwhelming presence that made her eyes brighten and her face slightly flush. She gently tugged at Dar’s sleeve ahead of her and whispered, “Father.”
“Call me clan leader in public.”
“Okay, leader, look over there.”
Dar glanced towards Fisher before narrowing his eyes and pulling out a pair of delicate silver glasses from his sleeve. The moment he put them on, not only did his vision become extremely clear, but the oncoming pink and light green aura startled him a bit, making his glasses tilt slightly. His expression was somewhat strange since pink indicated “interest and affection,” while green suggested “friendliness.”
Dar subtly gestured towards Fisher in the distance, inquiring Valentina, “Who is this?”
Valentina looked at the distant Fisher with a barely perceptible look of reproach. After all, Fisher had been in the room for five days. Valentina was too apprehensive to go to his room alone and could only harbor grievances, suspecting he was doing something unsavory inside.
“Ah, this is the scholar I hired. He is quite interested in the history of the Northern Region and subhuman tribes. I think you will have common topics to discuss.”
A scholar studying subhuman tribes, huh?
Dar observed Valentina sitting in a wheelchair. He noticed her gaze towards Fisher, with a hint of “anger” in light red and “interest and affection” in soft pink. Meanwhile, Heidi Lin, hearing Valentina’s assessment of Fisher, silently rolled her eyes. Dar turned back and saw that Heidi Lin also exuded some aura.
One was a deep purple “unwelcome and disdain,” another was dark red “anger,” which also mixed in a hint of light pink.
Seeing the similar auras, Dar suddenly felt that things were quite complicated.
However, being the clan leader of the snow fox tribe, Dar was well-informed. Even though he sensed the complex auras and situation, he maintained a calm expression, while Juna kept glancing towards Fisher.
“Please come this way, Clan Leader Dar. We have prepared a quiet place for our discussion. By the way, you haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? I’ll send someone to prepare it right away.”
“No need, we already ate before coming to the city. Let’s get to the point quickly, Miss Valentina. After we finish discussing, regardless of the outcome, we must return to the tribe promptly.”
Valentina glanced at Clan Leader Dar. Her guess that the snow fox tribe had suddenly agreed to negotiate seemed correct. There must have been some urgent matter in their tribe that led to this usually reclusive snow fox tribe suddenly agreeing to the mark exchange request. She rubbed her ring and nodded, “That’s fine. Please follow us.”
At the edge of the stairs, Fisher pulled Emhart back into his embrace, leaving just one of Emhart’s eyes peeking through a little gap in his suit pocket to survey the surroundings. He and Felis did not join them in the elevator but took the stairs directly to the negotiation floor.
As they walked upstairs, Fisher suddenly realized that the scholar Balzak from Shivali was not there. He turned to Felis and asked, “Where’s Mr. Balzak? Didn’t he come down early?”
“I don’t know. He wasn’t here when I came down. You know, old Bal and I are both annoyed by each other, so why would I care whether he’s in the restroom or off slacking? But he seemed to have a cold that hasn’t gotten better. He looked unwell when I saw him yesterday.”
“Still hasn’t gotten better?”
Fisher raised an eyebrow. Five days ago, when Heidi Lin confronted him, Balzak mentioned he might have a bit of a cold. Heidi Lin should have found him some medicine, so why hadn’t he improved?
“Yeah, that guy is a lousy human. His health is terrible. He got seasick on the boat when we went to the Southern Ocean, which is normal. Now, he’s probably in the restroom sneezing like crazy. It’s better that he’s not here; if he starts sneezing while the boss is negotiating, it’ll be troublesome.”
Fisher silently glanced back at the bustling first floor, feeling that something was off. Ever since he had “Elizabeth Trauma Stress Disorder” and with Erwind lurking as a strong enemy, he felt like there were hidden dangers everywhere. He hesitated for a moment, then turned back to look at the first floor. He saw Jahl Uzz, sporting a Mediterranean hairstyle, secretly pointing towards the stairwell, as if reminding Fisher.
He hesitated for a second before patting Felis on the shoulder and said, “You go ahead. If Valentina or Heidi Lin asks, just tell them I went to check on Balzak.”
“Huh? Really? Heidi Lin specifically told me today to have you help the boss! You…”
Felis reached out to retain him, but Fisher dashed downstairs, leaving her stunned and scratching her head in worry.
With a series of mechanical gear whirring sounds, the elevator slowly stopped at the third floor. Heidi Lin pushed Valentina out of the elevator, and Valentina looked toward the stairwell, only to see a lone snow lion tribe member, Felis. She immediately shot Felis a glare, clearly indicating, “Where did Fisher go?”
Felis scratched her head in distress, first pretending to cough a couple of times with her hand over her mouth, then made running gestures with two fingers and pointed below. It was a simple matter, yet it nearly fried Felis’s brain trying to convey it to Valentina.
Fortunately, Valentina was clever. Even though Felis’s gestures were quite abstract, she quickly understood what the other was trying to express. She sighed, covering her head, and silently instructed Heidi Lin to move forward.
Juna, the white snow fox tribe member hiding behind Dar, immediately searched for the handsome gentleman the moment she stepped out of the elevator. However, much like Valentina, she was disappointed to find nothing.
Soon, they arrived at the conference room prepared by the Turan family. There were not many snow fox tribespeople who came, and with the guards, there were only six or seven. Only Clan Leader Dar and another elder were primarily involved in the discussions. After both sides took their seats, Dar made eye contact with the snow fox tribe elder beside him.
The elder nodded, taking out a small wooden box from his robe and placing it on the negotiation table. Gently opening the box revealed the snow fox tribe mark, shimmering with a faint light. Valentina, having recognized that it was a genuine mark as she had already found four, quickly shifted her gaze away from the box and smiled.
“The openness of the snow fox tribe is commendable to the Turan family. As we agreed before, in exchange for this mark, please feel free to put forth any requests.”
Dar did not rush to respond; instead, he took off his silver-framed glasses, sighed, and began to wipe them with a handkerchief he carried.
“I assume the extreme reclusiveness of our snow fox tribe has been well-known in the Northern Region for quite some time, especially due to our peculiar ability to perceive auras, which makes us seem difficult to get along with. However, the fact that we can see the thoughts of others does not mean we will express them. Just like you humans and other subhuman races, sometimes we know what the other thinks but still pretend to be deaf and mute.”
“This isn’t the reason we are closed off. The reason we have not left the tribe for so long and remain in the primitive stage, hidden from the world, lies purely in the guilt rooted in our bloodline.”
Valentina paused her hand that was rubbing her ring, puzzled as she furrowed her brow and asked, “Guilt? Clan Leader Dar means…”
“I believe the Turan family understands enough about the Frost Phoenix worship in the Northern Region. The phoenixes are real; otherwise, you wouldn’t go through great lengths to search for the long-lost Parasol Tree. Thus, you surely know that since ancient times, our snow fox tribe has been managed by the Moon Princess, the youngest daughter assigned to us by the Phoenix King.”
Clan Leader Dar closed his eyes, his fox head showing signs of human-like restraint and weariness.
“During the reign of the Moon Princess, our ancestors faithfully executed the duty of managing the territory and fairly resolving the disputes among the races, which instilled her with great trust in us. The Moon Princess is a very benevolent and kind phoenix, treating all beings equally. She even chose a partner outside the phoenix race, leading to her offspring not being purely phoenix-blooded.”
“From birth, her children suffered discrimination from her brothers and other phoenix tribes, and even the other five tribes that had sworn loyalty to the phoenix did not acknowledge her as one of their own. Consequently, even the Moon Princess had to hide her away, and our ancestors were responsible for caring for that unfortunate phoenix until all the phoenixes were called back to the Parasol Tree and disappeared without a trace. Yet the Moon Princess’s child still survived.”
“However, the bloodline of the Moon Princess we were responsible for guarding was stolen due to our negligence. Our ancestors searched the entire Northern Region but found nothing. When the phoenix race disappeared, chaos ensued in the Northern Region. The five tribes left secular matters and rushed to the snow mountains to track down the master, resulting in the rise of humanity and endless wars. The last remnants of that phoenix bloodline were lost as well.”
“Our ancestors felt guilt until death and mandated that future generations could not venture outside because we had no face to confront the other loyal five tribes. All these years, we have adhered to the teachings passed down by our ancestors, living simple and natural lives. I do not blame the outsider we saved; I only regret being powerless in the face of disease. We need the Turan family’s help to cure the disease ravaging our tribe. To this end, I would forsake the taboo and leave the tribe where we have existed for generations.”
Valentina nodded, realizing the situation, while Heidi Lin behind her closed her eyes at the mention of the “Moon Princess’s bloodline.” Had Dar noticed the maid standing in the corner of the room, he would have seen the faint yellow aura spreading from her, which represented “nervousness and unease.”
“I see, so it was the outsider who brought disease to your tribe. But don’t worry. According to Clan Leader Dar’s description, this disease is indeed troublesome. Historically, it has led to bloody slaughters.”
Clan Leader Dar, who had been somewhat anxious, looked up in disbelief upon hearing Valentina’s words. Earlier, their tribe had tried every possible method to cure the disease, not to mention that it rapidly incapacitated the infected snow fox tribe members, leaving them in constant pain within just a day or two.
Before leaving the tribe to seek the Turan family, they were hesitating. They were worried that the Turan family might not be able to solve such a dreadful problem. Some in the tribe even referred to the outsider they rescued as “the phoenix’s reckoning,” a metaphor for the invincibility of that disease. However, seeing the light golden aura on Valentina, Clan Leader Dar felt relieved because that aura signified “confidence and certainty.”
“Does the Turan family really have a solution?”
Valentina also hadn’t expected that the negotiations would be so simply resolved. Her fingers rubbing her ring couldn’t help but cheer with excitement, lightly drumming her thigh unconsciously. However, her smile remained decorous.
“To be precise, it isn’t that the Turan family has a solution. Based on Clan Leader Dar’s description, you’re afflicted with the ‘Dead Rot Disease,’ a disease that has troubled humanity for hundreds of years. It’s normal that you’re powerless against it; after all, in the distant Western Continent, this epidemic claimed millions of lives over decades.”
“However, for humans, due to the existence of the ‘Decay Antidote,’ very few lives today will get infected. Lives that have been vaccinated with the antidote will be immune to this epidemic, and it seems that only the indigenous humans and subhumans of the Southern Continent still suffer from it now. The snow fox tribe has not left their clan for a long time, so, in fact, this is no longer a difficult problem for the outside world.”
Clan Leader Dar exchanged surprised glances with the elder beside him, both slightly incredulous. They couldn’t believe that the epidemic sweeping the entire tribe could be easily resolved. If it weren’t for the bright, light golden glow on Valentina, they might have started to doubt the authenticity of this conclusion.
“So, Clan Leader Dar, you can feel free to change your request; after all, this is not something difficult for us to fulfill, but the snow fox tribe mark you brought is something we genuinely need.”
Clan Leader Dar opened his mouth, and after a long pause, he looked down at the snow fox tribe mark in the wooden box. The mark, depicting a strange subhuman with a fox face, was granted precious honor. Then Dar shook his head and said to Valentina, “I thought it would take a long time to resolve this matter, yet it seems we have been narrow-minded. I suppose we will need to think carefully about the necessity of adhering to our ancestors’ teachings after we return. Thank you for your help. Given Miss Valentina’s sincerity, I am willing to give you the mark first and then ask for your assistance in obtaining that ‘Decay Antidote’ for my tribesmen; their situation is dire.”
Valentina smiled, nodding and making proper arrangements.
“Thank you for your trust. After this, I will send members of the Turan family to accompany you back to the tribe with the Decay Antidote. If confirmed to be the Dead Rot Disease, they will immediately help your tribesmen get vaccinated; and if it’s another disease, we will continue to assist you until you get rid of the disease. However, I remain curious as to who this human appearing in the snow fox tribe would be, considering they have ventured into the Sema Snow Mountain.”
Dar raised his head and shook it. “That person didn’t come from outside the snow mountain but descended from it. They should not be a human from the Northern Region; I have never heard of a black-haired, black-eyed man.”
“The Cardu people?”
Valentina furrowed her brows. Black hair and black eyes are the most iconic features of the Cardu people, which suggests that the person coming down from the mountain is a pure Cardu person. But what would a Cardu person from the Western Continent be doing in the snow mountains?
Although different forces from the Western Continent trek up every year to explore the mountains, the Turan family has records of those who have gone up in recent years, and there hasn’t been a single Cardu person among them—though there was a team about six or seven years ago.
It seemed to be an organization called the “Sorceress Research Society,” and many people came at that time, equipped quite luxuriously. The entire crew shimmered with the glow of magic and relics, making one think they were blasting the mountains. The Turan family tracked them for some time until they finally ventured into the depths of the Sema Snow Mountain, where they could no longer be followed.
They only returned several months later, and the number of people left in the group was just about one-fifth of what it had been when they came. It’s been said they suffered heavy losses, and it’s unclear what they obtained inside. Now, another Cardu person is coming down the mountain. Does that mean those Cardu people didn’t fully leave the mountain back then?
While Valentina was pondering, the bright magical lights above the room suddenly flickered, attracting everyone’s attention in an instant.
“Zzzz!”
Intense sounds of electricity kept coming, and just as Valentina frowned, wanting Heidi Lin to inquire with the hotel staff about what was happening, the entire building began to shake like an earthquake.
“Boom!”
“Miss!”
Feeling the tremors, Heidi Lin, who had been quietly waiting behind, rushed to grasp the handles of Valentina’s wheelchair tightly. The shaking paused momentarily without further movement. Valentina, panicked, gripped the wheelchair’s handles and turned pale as she looked out the window.
“Is it an earthquake? But why… Clan Leader Dar, are you all right?”
“We’re fine.”
After confirming that the snow fox tribe members were safe, she finally sighed in relief. With the situation still unclear, the snow fox tribe elder hurriedly closed the wooden box containing the mark on the table, and Juna, Dar’s daughter, tightly hugged the wooden basket to her chest.
While Valentina was still trying to ascertain what had happened in the hotel, the servants and staff of the Turan family began exclaiming in alarm, “Wait, what is that?”
Valentina looked out the window in confusion and saw the outer wall of the hotel breaking with the ear-piercing sound of shattering bricks and exploding windows. The chilling, eerie noises spread from the first floor, and when a heavy shadow fully covered the windows of the conference room, Valentina held her breath in fear.
If anyone were still outside at this moment, they would see massive vines resembling flesh and branches bursting from the ground outside the hotel, climbing the walls, wrapping the entire hotel in its grip. As the branch-like flesh quivered slightly, a number of large eyeballs, covered in blood, suddenly opened wide, all locking onto Valentina in the conference room.
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(End of chapter)
