While Xakira was thrown off balance and became quite agitated, she was the Queen of a species. After the second tentative sip of the tea, the calming effect kicked in, and her thoughts quickly sorted out.
'Allying with her is worth it just to have these blessings. She is the tree that grows golden fruits, which most would choose to ally with instead of becoming enemies with.'
These thoughts, while accurate, were not totally true. Queen Xakira, after all, deeply understood that many would prefer to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon.
Wanting to return the conversation to the important parts, Queen Xakira began speaking. "From what I know about this location, it is currently at the edge of the war between the Covenant and the Nexus. Two Transitional Star System Empires, right?"
Ignatia pondered over her words while answering. "That's the case. Currently, we can be considered a branch of the Covenant. At least, that's how they see us. And unless they make it difficult for us, we won't cause them any trouble."
Queen Xakira asked. "How deep is your enmity with the Nexus?"
It wasn't Ignatia who answered, but Liu Shu. "Irreconcilable."
She had already clashed many times with them, and she knew that she and the Nexus were basically incompatible existences. For one to thrive, the other needs to either be suppressed until they can never again raise their heads or erased into the eternal river of time.
Ignatia stayed silent. Since Liu Shu wanted to take the lead, she would easily take a step back.
Meanwhile, Queen Xakira, who heard Liu Shu's cold voice for the first time, was somewhat surprised once more. After all, she had heard Liu Shu stern and powerful, but not cold like now. It truly caused chills on one's skin when Liu Shu's true animosity was brought to the surface.
"May I ask why?"
Liu Shu spoke indifferently. "Culture, ideals, education, technological development, morals, laws, bottom lines, and, above all the aforementioned, a personal vendetta for children who fell in the past."
Queen Xakira didn't react much, her thoughts deep. Then her wings buzzed, and her body released communication pheromones. She was quite sure that no one in the room could understand them that way.
She didn't know a certain someone had an SSS skill that allowed her to understand all communication as long as it had clear intentions.
"What do you think about this?"
Another hornetkin buzzed back. "Reckless. I do not know what kind of benefits they've shown you, Your Majesty. Nevertheless, this society is extremely ambitious. Their potential will either set them on a path to become the sun in the sky, or a firework in the depths of the night."
Another advisor spoke against his words. "In that case, becoming allies before she becomes either will be the best. We can guide the firework to become the Sun, and when it transforms into it, we will naturally bask in its light and profit."
"The problem is that there will always be enemies." Said someone who supported the first advisor. "This World Tree is someone who does not bend. She is not flexible."
Someone buzzed in derision. "How do you know that? We've known her for only a day. She has shown authentic motherly love, care for her population, and most importantly, vision."
Someone supported that hornetkin. "Plus, we have yet to dig into the secret of other living World Trees staying in her domain. That's not odd, it's unheard of. If she has an ability similar to a hive species but focused on World Trees, she would not be fearsome; she would probably eventually take over the galaxy."
"Bold words of a dreamer. Take over the galaxy? The galaxy's history is longer than the existence of our planet, yet there are no living records of a galaxy-spanning civilization. It's nothing but clouds in the sky and images on the lake." That honetkin added with a sneer. "Plus, she allows wars when she controls only a few planets. Were the galaxy to fall under her control, won't there be wars exploding in every corner of the galaxy?"
"What would change?" Pointedly asked another hornetkin. "The current state of things is anything but peaceful. How many times have we gone to war in the last 1,000 years? Were it not because of Queen Xakira's strength, we would've fallen in the clutches of many Star System civilizations."
Queen Xakira listened to their discussion calmly. These kinds of arguments back and forth are what made them good advisors. They gave perspectives from different angles, they made sure to highlight all positive and negative points, and most importantly, they didn't hold back.
Of course, the disagreement was not entirely unplanned. To make sure no one fell into the yes-man category, she always assigned four people different roles. One of them should be vehemently opposed to whatever is being suggested, another skeptical, another optimistic, and another a fierce supporter. The rest could speak their minds clearly.
Knowing that the hornetkin were discussing, no one moved. Xalis "heard" their words and didn't intervene. She had made it clear enough already, and moreover, Lady Heavenly Willow had taken the initiative. Therefore, her role was to give them teacups and hope to see them jump in surprise when the buffs jumped. 'Hehe, I hope you have a heart attack when one of the big buffs pops up.'
It was extremely rare, but there have been cases of someone resonating with the Eternal Energy so well that they gained literal years of lifespan, or even permanently slowed their aging by 1%.
Liu Shu also understood their words. She listened attentively, making her own ideas. She even made sure to translate it to Aionthra so that she would keep up with the conversation.
This child of hers has become somewhat of her right-hand "shadow" ruler. If Liu Shu were to rank people about knowledge of the Golden Sap Empire, she would actually push Flor down and place Aionthra firmly in the number two position, herself being the first.
Queen Xakira spoke up. "Alright, we've discussed it. We are somewhat divided in opinion. However, as long as you can show us something that can convince us of the risk and value of becoming an ally, then we will take this step willingly."
Liu Shu asked, her tone somewhat mysterious. "What if I show you something that will make you willingly submit to me as vassals?"
Queen Xakira's eyebrows jumped a little, and one advisor spoke up, unable to bear the insult. "Lady Heavenly Willow, we are respecting you, so please reciprocate."
Liu Shu didn't answer; instead, she chuckled and then allowed her blessings to flow freely into all of them.
In just a second, they all felt an impressively vast and profound essence drill into their beings, nourishing their bodies as the numbers in their System Page jumped up crazily.
[Congratulations! You've received
[Congratulations! You've received
[Congratulations! You've received…
[Congratulations! You've received…
[Congratulations! You've received…
[Congratulations! You've received…
…
Queen Xakira, who had previously managed to calm down, was struck by the second wave of buffs as if someone had sucker punched her in the face. Everything they had discussed and planned, wanting to leverage their own military prowess, industries, and resources, suddenly felt so insignificant and tiny in comparison to Liu Shu's casual gesture that they didn't even know how to react.
Taking a deep breath, Queen Xakira asked, somewhat hopeful. "Are these temporary?"
'Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say…'
"Permanent." Liu Shu answered simply. "As long as you are in my domain, my blessings are all permanent and reach out to all creatures, including newborns."
"We agree."
Xakira didn't even wait for her advisors. Who would be calm after they suddenly become smarter, stronger, younger, and even gain a lengthened lifespan, affinities, and insights over many other things?
Xakira was firm and proud, but she was not mentally challenged. Liu Shu was just a young True World Tree that had just poked her roots out of her home planet, and yet, the array of buffs that fell on her head was so many that it overshadowed anything she had heard in her entire life.
'Perhaps, what the fierce supporter had said when exaggerating that she could take over the galaxy was not too…out of turn.'
Noticing that her teacup had become empty at some point, Xakira turned to look at her daughter. Her eyebrows twitched when she noticed the smug smirk on her lips. "Brat. I am going to deal with you later, so don't show that expression."
Xalis's smile faltered a little. She cleared her throat while pouring tea for her mother. "Mother, don't be so stiff. Didn't I do well in urging them to come before Zerrek and Rhex's leaders come over? You have a head start thanks to me!"
Xakira might have many children, but she understood some of them quite clearly, and Xalis was among those few whom she had knowledge of. Therefore, she knew very well that Xalis's objective was not to help her, but to help herself! With her own power as a backing and gaining influence before the others, wouldn't the hornetkin become more influential than the other insectoids?
Moreover, Xalis would be at the center of it all, gaining endless praise. 'If I didn't know that she absolutely doesn't want my throne, I would've honestly become worried. This girl is really cunning when her head is not stuck in the clouds.'
Xalis added with a smile. "I forgot to tell you, Mother. Lady Heavenly Willow can understand all forms of speech. She is quite learned in that regard."
Xakira froze mid-drinking motion, her fingers tightening around the cup as an immediate urge to bend over and spank her daughter rushed into her head. Holding back the anger that was about to burst out, she smiled at Ignatia. "I now know why you and that fairy decided to follow her."
Ignatia, once more, shook her head. "I follow her because she is my child. Even if she becomes a flower in a pot, I would safeguard her in the deepest part of my empire and nourish her with the best treasures I can find. Liu Shu is my, Ignatia's, eldest and most precious daughter. Everything else is secondary. The same naturally goes for Flor."
Liu Shu giggled, her happy laughter sounding like pleasant bells in the wind. "I love you, Mommy!"
Seeing Liu Shu's roots coil around Ignatia and act all cute and cuddly, Xakira couldn't help but pause. 'Hm… Cute. She is like those little larvae when they crawl on my body with their soft, plump, and white bodies. Very adorable, very huggable, like bundles of clouds and softness.'
As she thought of that, she looked at one of the tall, handsome, and muscular male advisers and nodded. 'Ignatia made me jealous; time to have another batch of princes and princesses.'
The male hornetkin suddenly felt a strange chill of danger; it was as if his life was about to be sucked out by someone. 'Who did I provoke?'
After the more detailed discussions finished, Queen Xakira returned to her ship with her people to settle everything. On the journey back, she disappeared for about two hours, but no one asked why. They also didn't ask why one of their companions had disappeared.
The male hornetkin, looking as if his soul had been sucked out, could only twitch helplessly in bed. He, a dignified Level 189 powerhouse, had almost died! 'The Queen is so scary. (T_T)'