That was why she had spoken up to threaten the entire Supreme Council.
Of course, beyond that, it was because as the Witch's Tea Party grew, the witches would need materials to improve themselves.
Only when the witches' understanding of alchemy improved would they be able to have meaningful exchanges, wouldn't they?
Was it because it was lonely at the top?
No.
It was because one cannot progress while working in a vacuum.
Furthermore, Lan Qingyou could not agree with the Supreme Council's practice of requiring the witches to spend thirty years to pay back the debt for their Witch potions.
She could understand a period of ten years or so, but thirty years was a bit excessive.
In her eyes, this was not an equivalent exchange at all.
It was just like those student loans back on Blue Star; you're in university for a few years but end up paying for decades, maybe not even finishing until your hair is white. If that happened, who would Old Lan find to discuss academic issues in alchemy with?
The most crucial point was that witches possessed the ageless attribute, meaning thirty years was essentially nothing to them.
No one knew if the witches would fall into depravity after becoming numb to the passage of time.
Therefore, as their Clan Leader, she simply decided to reclaim some interest for them from other sources and put it in the group for them to use for self-improvement.
Although ten tons was a small amount compared to the base of ten thousand witches under the Supreme Council...
It worked out to about one kilogram of materials per person per week.
But for these witches who were just beginning to learn alchemy, it was more than enough.
“The Tower usually seems so cold and distant, I didn't expect her to be so protective of her own,” Jiang Lan said with a light laugh from the side.
Pro... Protective!!?
Lan Qingyou turned her head, her mouth hanging slightly open as she stared at Jiang Lan in surprise.
“Is that not the case?”
“Surely not. Being protective doesn't fit my persona at all.”
Lan Qingyou immediately shook her head to deny those words.
Protective? How could that be!
Strictly speaking, she considered herself a selfish person. Protecting others? That was simply impossible.
“No, I also feel that you are indeed very protective, even biased,” the Hierophant, Nemo, chimed in, leaving Lan Qingyou feeling somewhat bewildered.
“Perhaps you haven't realized it in your subconscious yet... but essentially, you are a being who won't let anyone take advantage of you.” Seeing that Lan Qingyou seemed a bit slow on the uptake, Nemo gestured with his hands.
“While it could be interpreted as selfishness, your behavior is more accurately described as being autocratic.”
“This can be seen in your previous trades with The Moon, your trades with Justice, and even your dealings with the Supreme Council.”
“Your word is final, and you never give the other party a chance to object.”
“Just like just now, while demanding an increase of ten tons, you very naturally used the entire Witch race—or as it's now called, the Witch's Tea Party—as capital for your threat.”
“You certainly can't use over ten tons of materials a week by yourself, so you must intend for them to be used by those who joined the Witch's Tea Party.”
“While it looks like you're giving benefits to the witches under you, it's actually because, in your subconscious, you've already categorized those who used your Witch potions as your private property.”
“You won't allow the people of the Supreme Council to bully the witches because they are your people. So, even without this threat, you would have definitely caused some other stir to knock the Supreme Council down a peg next time.”
They say an elder in the house is like a treasure. The fifty-something-year-old Nemo talked on and on, completely failing to notice that Lan Qingyou was now a picture of shock and confusion.
No, in reality, he did notice.
But he didn't care.
Lan Qingyou had been 'cold on the outside but warm on the inside' enough to give him a world-class boat, so he felt an obligation to help her grow in certain areas.
As for Lan Qingyou, she stood frozen on the spot after being lectured by the old man Nemo.
Prompted by Nemo's words, she carefully re-examined her recent attitudes toward the witches.
Whether it was choosing random lucky winners on the world channel to send Witch potions to, or her actions and handling of Susie after meeting her, it seemed she really had been doing those things with a very relaxed and casual mindset.
While she didn't know if she truly considered those witches her 'private property,' there was indeed a lingering dissatisfaction in her heart regarding how the Supreme Council utilized them.
The old Hierophant was right.
She really did seem to be protective and biased; otherwise, she wouldn't have threatened the Supreme Council.
She never expected herself to have a 'protective' trait.
Life really was full of twists and turns, one surprise after another.
As for being autocratic... Lan Qingyou truly never thought that word could be associated with her.
But thinking back on the things she had done, it did seem to be the case...
Perhaps she should reflect on her consistently forceful way of doing things?
“What's wrong with that?”
Just as Lan Qingyou was about to engage in some serious self-reflection, Vivian, who was still being held by her, curled her lip.
“The vampires under me are my private property, there is no doubt about that. The original intention of distributing evolution items to them was so they could protect my safety.”
“They are my private property, beings I can throw out to block a blade for me at any time should I encounter danger.”
“Because without me, they would be just like everyone else—mediocre people of Blue Star, unable to obtain evolution or Attribute Correction, let alone talent skills and the like.”
“Though it sounds a bit dramatic, I am their Creator, the God in their eyes that requires no questioning.”
“That is why they all address me as ‘Your Eminence’ now; it is a title born of respect and awe for me.”
“By the same logic, the Origin Witch is the creator of the witches, and the Origin Forest Elf is the creator of the forest elves. Therefore, they are their gods. This seems only natural, doesn't it?”
Although Vivian looked a bit ridiculous in her current state, her words were deafening.
Many of those present were the founders of a particular race, so Vivian's 'Creator' theory shocked them to the core.
To be honest, if it weren't for Vivian's words, they wouldn't have even realized this issue.
Why call it an 'issue'?
Because it was truly serious.
It wasn't about the mystical, overly dramatic titles like 'God' or 'Creator.'
Nor was it about the potential worship their clansmen might have for them.
Rather, if this matter were exploited or sensationalized by someone with an agenda... what would it evolve into later?
Racial confrontation!
Without a doubt, it would lead down the path of racial confrontation.
How many new races were there now?
Witches, vampires, forest elves, merfolk, giants, and so on—they already knew of more than a dozen.
If a conflict broke out between these new races that had received Attribute Corrections and racial talents, it would absolutely be a bloodbath where everyone fought to the death.
Rate on N.U.
