Lola left, leaving behind that massive stack of documents.
They clearly recorded the damage caused by previous dragon calamities, the extent of the affected areas, and other data.
The file Luo Li held now contained the records for the current incident.
It had been two months since the first wave of magic beasts influenced by the dragon calamity appeared.
Yet the dragon calamity itself had still not arrived.
On the contrary, the range of its influence was beginning to expand.
The girl picked up the records from the previous dragon calamity and began to compare them with the current one.
She skipped over some of the minor details.
"Is it not just the range of influence, but even the levels of the affected magic beasts that are starting to show a discrepancy?"
Previously, Luo Li had focused entirely on development and had not paid much attention to this aspect.
Now, however, the data was laid out right in front of her.
Magic beasts were creatures that had been passed down across this continent.
The classification of these creatures varied greatly.
The vast majority of magic beasts were descendants of ancient biological lineages.
Whether through a sudden awakening or a continuous bloodline, they formed groups or existed as powerful individuals.
These were collectively referred to as magic beasts.
The other category was known as demonized beasts.
These were creatures that appeared after the birth of the demon race a thousand years ago.
The blood and physical tissue of demons had a lasting effect on the earth, and the war a thousand years ago had spanned the entire continent.
Although the demon race was eventually repelled, their influence remained to this day.
Part of that demonic energy merged with mana elements to form certain substances.
Things like plants and water were affected.
If ordinary creatures consumed these things, they would transform into demonized beasts.
Unlike the demon race, these demonized beasts did not leave behind demonic energy that polluted the land.
However, they were still extremely threatening and highly aggressive.
The creatures affected by the previous few calamities were almost all magic beasts with dragon bloodlines.
Furthermore, those magic beasts were merely influenced to act destructively.
But the current situation presented a different problem.
The demonized beasts were also starting to exhibit abnormal behavior.
Moreover, in the past, only magic beasts below level three were affected.
Translated into human levels, that was roughly around level thirty, and it was rare for them to exceed level forty.
The early signs usually involved creatures only at level ten or twenty.
But according to the latest reports, the situation had worsened.
"Your Highness, please have some tea."
Luo Li had no idea how long she had been reading when a voice suddenly spoke up beside her, giving her a start.
"Oh, Nara?"
Snapping out of it, Luo Li turned to look at Nara and realized she had been completely absorbed in the documents.
The sun was already high in the sky.
She picked up the teacup from the silver tray Nara held out and took a small sip, letting the rich aroma linger in her mouth for a moment.
"Phew, how long have I been at this?"
As she set the cup down, Nara quickly took it, refilled it, and held it out to Luo Li again.
"Your Highness, it is already eleven in the morning. It will be time for lunch soon."
"Yes, no rush. Let me look a bit longer."
Luo Li waved her hand, in no hurry to eat, and lowered her head to continue reading.
Seeing her Saintess about to immerse herself in work again right before lunch, Nara worried.
If this workaholic kept going, she probably wouldn't eat lunch at all.
Nara hesitated for a moment, a smile appearing on her face.
No matter what, she had to create a distraction to pull her Saintess out of this work mode.
She stepped forward and asked softly, "Your Highness, you seem so fascinated. Is there something different this time?"
"Yes... it is indeed different."
Luo Li picked up the documents, placed them on the small tea table on her sacred bed, and pointed with a slender finger.
"Look, this records the last dragon calamity. The range of influence was limited to the area between the Holy Mountains and the Eastern Mountains. The hardest-hit areas were the northeast region, Brilliant City, and Moonrise City."
The Eastern Mountains were located directly above Moonrise City, to the east of Brilliant City, and below the northeast region.
In other words, it was the mountain range that stretched downward along the Four-Ring Mountains.
"The magic beasts involved were mostly around level ten, and the influence ended once it reached the vicinity of Twin River City."
The girl's silver brows furrowed slightly as she took another sip of tea to moisten her throat.
"If it were only like that, the current strength of the Kingdom of the Moon would be enough to significantly reduce the damage, even if we couldn't stop it entirely."
"For instance, we could station troops in populated areas. Most dragons in a dragon calamity just pass through. Even if we can't save the crops, we can at least save the people."
"But this time is different. Now, the influence isn't just in the Holy Mountains. Even the Beastmen Empire is being affected, and the Snow Country has been hit as well. And look... there is even influence near the East Forest and the almost deserted Seaview City."
According to the data, some magic beasts with dragon blood were even emerging from the seabed to attack coastal cities.
"No matter how I look at it, this situation is wrong."
The current military force of the Kingdom of the Moon could not possibly spread that far.
She didn't have millions of soldiers under her command. She only had the hundred thousand infantry and twenty thousand knights at the Great Wall.
Then there were the hundred thousand infantry and thirty thousand knights stationed in Brilliant City.
In other words, the Kingdom of the Moon currently had a total of only two hundred and fifty thousand troops.
For a nation with a population of hundreds of millions, this was a trivial force.
Luo Li lowered her head in deep thought for a moment.
It seemed there was no other choice but to send the troops out to defend the regions where those magic beasts lived.
But if she did that, Brilliant City would once again become a region with almost no defensive forces.
Yet... she could only grit her teeth and accept it.
If things continued like this, it would have a massive impact on the lives of ordinary people.
"Your Highness, I do not know if this matter is right or wrong, but... Mr. Egbert seems to have arrived. Will you not see him?"
"Egbert? Who?"
The girl's mind hadn't shifted gears yet.
Nara immediately reminded her, "The gnome merchant."
"Oh, right. I was the one who wanted to see him. Have him come in. And... prepare some food. I imagine he hasn't eaten before coming here, and I am getting a bit hungry myself."
After thinking all morning, she realized her stomach was already empty now that she had snapped out of it.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Hearing the girl say that, a sincere smile appeared on Nara's face, and she hurried off to give the orders.
In a short while, today's lunch was laid out on the table.
Egbert walked in from outside, that same cunning smile from before still on his face.
"Your subject, Egbert Bot, greets the Saintess. I pray for your sacred peace."
The gnome stepped inside and knelt on one knee, his etiquette flawless.
The elegance of his movements was so refined he could have been an instructor at the Temple.
Yet previously, he was just an ordinary traveling merchant selling raisins on the street!
Was he not even going to try and hide it this time?
"I am at peace. Please rise, Mr. Egbert. Someone, bring a seat and serve a meal."
Egbert stood up.
Although the gnome was short in stature, one could tell from his brown eyes that he was not at all intimidated.
"Thank you, Your Highness. It is my honor to be granted a meal by you."
"Heh, Mr. Egbert's response does not sound like that of an ordinary traveling merchant."
Luo Li asked playfully, testing him at the same time.
Egbert's reply was quite clever.
"Not at all, Your Highness overestimates me. I am but a merchant who meets people from all walks of life. When you have seen enough, there is nothing left to fear."
"That makes some sense. Please sit, Mr. Egbert."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Egbert sat down and very properly adjusted his sleeves. Once the temporary dining table was brought over, he even straightened his collar and tucked in his napkin.
The entire process was smooth and incredibly elegant.
Though he was just a gnome, Luo Li saw a demeanor in him that resembled an old-fashioned noble.
This fellow... was not simple!
"Mr. Egbert, these are foods I usually enjoy. Please, help yourself. I hope they are to your taste."
Luo Li looked at Egbert with a smile, and he responded with equal grace.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
As Egbert began to eat, Luo Li also used a fork to put a piece of steak into her mouth.
"Speaking of which, Mr. Egbert has 'happened' to run into me three times now. I imagine you must have your own ideas, which is why you wanted to meet me?"
"Haha, Your Highness thinks too highly of me. As you said, they were just chance encounters. How could I have any specific ideas?"
Egbert smiled, his response still perfectly appropriate and without any openings.
"Oh? Then I suppose you should already know why I asked you here today?"
"Hmm?"
That didn't seem to have any connection to what was just said.
"Your Highness, where is this coming from? How could I know why you sent for me?"
"Yes, exactly that."
Luo Li put a small piece of steak in her mouth, a satisfied smile on her face.
But these words were completely disconnected from the previous ones, as if two people from different worlds were talking.
"Uh..."
Now Egbert didn't know how to respond.
Why was she not playing by the rules?
Shouldn't this conversation be a back-and-forth where they countered each other?
Why was this saintess speaking in non-sequiturs?
"This... Your Highness, I must ask you to speak plainly..."
"Yes, it is settled then."
The girl nodded with a serious expression and clapped her hands.
"Clear the table!"
Egbert watched in utter confusion as a young nun took away the steak and the table from in front of him.
He was completely stunned.
"Wait, wait, wait, Your Highness!! Wait a moment, please wait! What exactly is settled?"
Instead, Luo Li looked at Egbert with a look of surprise.
She answered very seriously, "Did we not just agree? You are going to provide me with fifty sets of automated machine tool blueprints for free. Are you trying to go back on your word?"
"Pfft! Cough, cough, cough! Fi—fifty sets? For free!? You might as well just kill me!!"
"Then... forty-nine sets?"
"How could you..."
"Is it settled?"
"No, no! I cannot afford forty-nine sets. I do not have that many, and I certainly do not have that much authority!!"
"Oh... then forty-eight sets. It is settled."
"Don't do this! Please, don't!!"
"Hmm, going back on your word?"
Luo Li's face instantly turned cold as she stared at Egbert with a solemn expression.
Egbert thought to himself that he hadn't even agreed, so how could he be going back on his word?
But in this current situation, if he didn't negotiate now, would he really have to give her forty-eight sets?
Maybe he should just run for it.
But could he even escape?
This was Brilliant City, and this Saintess practically ruled it with an iron fist. Want to run?
She would have your legs broken!
Egbert bit his lip and looked at the Saintess. He had known she would be difficult to deal with.
But he hadn't expected her to be this difficult!
"For free... at most five sets. But you must buy other things from me. The total value must be at least five million gold coins!!"
Luo Li narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at the gnome below the divine platform.
She had actually managed to bluff it out of him.
That was right—the entire previous conversation was intentional.
It was all to bait him.
She hadn't expected that this bluff would actually catch such a big fish.
It seemed that the small tactic of using one's position to pressure someone was still quite effective in times like these.
Luo Li nodded with a smile.
"Fine. But before that, I want to see what you are capable of."
"Hmm? Does Your Highness intend to test us gnomes?"
As the conversation returned to a normal pace, Egbert gradually recovered from his confusion.
Now that he had calmed down, he realized he had been played.
This saintess had intentionally used those non-sequiturs to disrupt his rhythm.
None of this had been in his original plan.
And the Saintess had succeeded.
Thinking of this, Egbert gave a bitter laugh.
"Heh, I never thought Your Highness would use such a rogue method to probe my bottom line."
The girl playfully stuck out her tongue.
"Whatever the method, as long as it works, it is a good method."
Egbert was slightly stunned. He lowered his head and thought for a moment before nodding seriously.
"Wise words, Your Highness. I have learned something today."
His expression turned solemn as he lowered his head and bowed.
"Alright, you may rise."
The girl gestured for him to stand.
"Egbert, you have contacted me repeatedly with no small purpose. Now, can you tell me about your organization? Lay your cards on the table. At the very least, I should know what kind of entity wants to do business with me, shouldn't I?"
"Your Highness is right."
Egbert nodded.
"Since things have come to this, there is no longer any need for me to hide anything. Yes... just as Your Highness suspected, the one behind me is the Gnome Kingdom."
Who suspected that?
Don't just say things like that.
But... it really was the Gnome Kingdom?
The girl was inwardly surprised, but her expression remained calm.
After all, as a saintess, she had to maintain a smile; she was already used to it.
Egbert gave an apologetic smile.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness. I was indeed testing you before."
"So, have you finished your testing?"
The girl looked at the gnome with a smile.
This was quite unexpected.
It seemed the initiative was now in her hands.
"Of course."
Egbert nodded, his expression serious.
"Your Highness, since you already know the country behind me, then the matters we discuss now are a transaction between nations. This environment... is not quite suitable, is it?"
He glanced around the room.
Luo Li did not look away; she simply waved her hand.
Nara immediately signaled for all unrelated personnel to leave.
Rate on N.U.
