"Yes, Chief…" Greta responded, "What I am trying to say is that the strange Vylkr vine that was killed yesterday might be, in other words, a four-star Vylkr vine, which is still developing."
Hearing Greta's response again, the Village Chief sealed his lips shut.
A four-star Vylkr vine! They were already having problems dealing with the one-star, two-star, and three-star Vylkr vines, which had mostly been solved by the presence of Aegis of the Arctic Deity.
But the sudden emergence of a four-star Vylkr vine… this was a sentence he thought he would never hear in his entire life!
"What do you think may have caused the emergence of the four-star Vylkr vine?" Stronghold Leader Zogar asked, his eyes staring at Greta intensely.
He had experienced many stranger things these past few years, which he was sure none of the previous Stronghold Leaders had encountered. So, though a four-star Vylkr vine was enough to astound him and leave him rooted in a spot for several minutes, he would instead get to the root of it and eliminate it with every method he could think of.
Seraphina sighed loudly, "You weren't listening to our explanation, Stronghold Leader Zogar. We have tried everything to see what could have caused such a development; however, all our trials have been fruitless, leaving us to conclude that it was only a natural occurrence," Seraphina explained.
"So what should we do now?" Queen Selene asked. The revelation she had just received was too much for her to remain quiet.
"Unfortunately, if this is a normal occurrence, then we wouldn't be able to do much because since there is already one, then that means that there are countless others that have already emerged the same way and are currently running around and hiding within the dead forest," Seraphina responded.
"Our only hope is that the explanation we have come up with is inaccurate, and this occurrence may have emerged from a reaction to something, which means that if we find what caused the development, we can stop such an occurrence from reemerging. However, until then, the problem remains the same, so we should start searching for more of these things within the dead forest before they become as dangerous as their counterparts," Seraphina added.
Greta nodded in agreement with Seraphina's words.
Hearing her words, Queen Selene and the others fell silent once again.
After a moment of contemplation, the Village Chief nodded in understanding and let out a heavy breath. "Very well, I will take your advice to heart and ensure that the warriors spread out and thoroughly search the sectors of the dead forest around us. We no longer need to worry about the intrusion of the Vylkr vines into our homes, so I'll make sure every warrior is on this task," the Village Chief said.
Stronghold Leader Zogar and Stronghold Leader Seth solemnly nodded in agreement. Even if the Village Chief hadn't mentioned it, they were already considering the same course of action.
"I'll also ensure that the Crystalforge elite warriors are dispatched. While they may not directly engage the Vylkr vines, their diverse skills could prove invaluable in locating them," Queen Selene added.
"As for me, I'll maintain orderliness in the Cities and ensure uninterrupted operations," Orion asserted.
Despite having numerous subordinates, however, with his wives still waiting to establish their offices and assume control over the Cities, Orion acknowledged the need to heighten his vigilance in the Cities. With the focus shifted to the dead forest in search of the four-star Vylkr vine, he understood the importance of safeguarding the Cities, especially with the recent integration of the four-eared elves settling in.
"That's a relief. With this, we can redirect our focus elsewhere," the Village Chief said, exhaling lightly.
He trusted his wife and the Thak to handle the village affairs efficiently in his absence, leaving him with one less concern.
"And what's the plan for the remains of the Vylkr vine?" Stronghold Leader Seth asked, eyeing the transparent crystalline cylinder on the table before them.
To him, that container held the most dangerous contents in the room—the potential remains of a four-star Vylkr vine.
"To study it, of course. I have the rest of the day to experiment with it and explore other methods," Seraphina replied.
She carefully lifted the cylinder from the table, ensuring its safeness as she placed it on a nearby shelf. She intended to take it to her main office by day's end.
Until they discovered other potential four-star Vylkr vines, this remnant was their only lead, so she needed to keep it safe. Also, she was merely borrowing this laboratory for her work, as the dead Vylkr vine had been brought to the Third Border City Headquarters Branch of the Healers' Association.
Stronghold Leader Seth frowned sceptically, about to voice his doubts, but he was promptly cut off.
"Don't worry, Madam Seraphina is the best in her field. I trust her to handle this matter with care," the Village Chief reassured, preempting his son's concerns.
"Okay. Though I was just trying to be careful; however, if you say so, then I have no worries," Stronghold Leader Seth responded, shaking his head with a tired sigh escaping his lips.
The Village Chief nodded. "With that settled, we'll take our leave to organize everything," he said, offering a solemn nod to Seraphina and Greta before leaving.
He had to inspect the two imprisoned attackers alongside Stronghold Leader Zogar and Seth and gather information about them while also probing to affirm his doubts about whether there were any traitors among the four-eared elves.
Stronghold Leader Zogar, Queen Selene, and Stronghold Leader Seth followed suit, each nodding before exiting. Only Orion remained after they left.
"Shouldn't you be busy with something?" Greta asked, arching a brow in curiosity.
"I do. I have to inspect the homes that the four-eared elves have occupied and determine if there's a need to build more structures or leave them as they are," Orion replied as he approached Greta.
