After a long-awaited intimate exchange, the two women, now in better spirits, separated once again. The Queen gently placed Xiangxiang back into the cradle with its luxurious bedding, then they each took a seat facing one another.
Although Lilya’s pink and cute cheeks still had a rosy hue, tempting Violet to want to pinch them, she reminded herself that Lilya was now the queen, so she refrained from doing so.
Now it was time to discuss serious matters; after all, Violet hadn’t come just for a friendly chat.
She first mentioned that the delegation had already begun their journey back, but she wouldn’t be accompanying them to return to the Courage City. Lilya, though seemingly disappointed, didn’t show much surprise, probably anticipating it or having been informed by Felina.
Originally, Violet had intended to seek Lilya’s opinion on her journey. After all, the suggestion Lilya had provided earlier to visit the Azure Sky Kingdom had led to Violet experiencing many interesting things and gaining considerable benefits.
However, what Violet had seen on the desk earlier had changed her approach to the conversation.
“Lilya, you look quite weary. Has the influence of the Abyssal invasion not been properly dealt with yet?”
Upon hearing this, Her Majesty the Queen sighed, rubbing her eyes wearily and shaking her head gently.
“The Abyssal invasion has indeed brought great calamity to the lands within our reach and its vicinity. Our country’s army, especially the Southern Border Forces, has suffered significant losses during the resistance. However, ultimately, those monsters have not breached into the heart of the Human United Kingdom. The losses, though severe, are within acceptable limits, and I have already taken appropriate measures.”
“The most troubling matter for me right now is actually in the north...”
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The queen with blue hair glanced at Violet, seeming to hesitate whether to speak further.
She understood the character of the person before her very well. If there was anything interesting happening, she would definitely be the first to run over and join the excitement. Although knowing Violet possessed considerable power, according to the intelligence provided by Felina, it seemed that even during this Abyssal Tide, Violet was the one who actually resolved matters behind the scenes.
But even with the slightest risk, Lilya truly didn’t want her to get involved. Perhaps this was what they called caring causing chaos.
“What’s wrong? You’re being so evasive. Let me guess, the trouble you mentioned in the north should refer to the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains, right?”
“...So you already knew. Well, snooping around in the Queen room for intelligence is a capital offense, you know.”
With a light sigh, Lilya merely glanced over the scattered documents that had been flipped through earlier, deducing the source of the priestess’s information.
“Hehe, my apologies, my apologies. It was just so boring, you know. We’re practically inseparable, so what’s going on over there, really?”
With a lack of sincerity, Violet clasped her hands together, continuing her “intelligence gathering” with a natural expression on her face.
Since they had both come to this understanding, there was no point in concealing it further.
The blue-haired girl gestured towards the somewhat messy pile of documents on the table.
“You’ve seen it too, haven’t you? The ongoing conflicts between our country’s northern border and the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains... In fact, poaching groups have existed for a long time, but they have persisted despite multiple bans, and occasional incursions of monsters into the farmlands are not uncommon. The reason why these conflicts have suddenly escalated into a huge crisis lies mainly in another crucial matter.”
Violet didn’t interrupt, but urged the queen with her eyes to speak faster. Lilya didn’t keep her in suspense.
“About two or three months ago, Taylor Tulls, the Lord of the Demon Suppression City and the Marshal of the Northern Army, suddenly sent word that a large number of creatures from the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains breached our defenses without warning and entered our country’s territory. After some containment and negotiation, they were eventually expelled, but not without considerable effort.”
“These creatures were members of the Moon Shadow tribe, one of the three pillars of the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains. According to them, it seems that their newly born tribal chieftain’s offspring and a group of children were captured by poaching groups with premeditated intent. Although the Moon Shadow tribe immediately launched a pursuit and killed most of the poachers, there were still a few members who managed to escape back into the territory of the Human United Kingdom, carrying several Moon Shadow offsprings with them.”
“Among them was the only royal descendant of the Moon Shadow tribe, the newly born little Moon Shadow.”
“......”
Seeing Lilya pause after saying this, Violet couldn’t help but tilt her head in surprise.
“That’s it? Although it is indeed something worth paying attention to, it doesn’t seem to be enough to keep the entire northern border of the Human United Kingdom in such turmoil, right?”
Violet had read about the situation in the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains in books introducing the world situation before.
Although the word “Mountain” might carry some exaggeration, Ten Thousand Demons Mountains indeed housed various types of creatures, even demons.
The so-called demons referred to those who possessed powerful special bloodlines from birth and could transform into powerful humanoid creatures after reaching a certain level of strength. Among them, the three particularly powerful races, with the highest number and proportion of demons, were known as the Three Pillars.
Moon Shadow, Steel Claw, and Blazing Feather.
This constituted the present Ten Thousand Demons Mountains.
Ten Thousand Demons Mountains was a considerable stretch of narrow land, although not comparable to the Abyssal Zone, it still covered about one-third of the Human United Kingdom’s territory, stretching across the north and dividing nearly half of the world’s northern and southern regions.
The three major demon races each rule a territory in Ten Thousand Demons Mountains, somewhat resembling the flattened Three Kingdoms in the history of Earth. Blazing Feather in the north, Steel Claw in the east, and Moon Shadow in the west.
The territory ruled by the Moon Shadow tribe does indeed border the Human United Kingdom the most.
But... how should I put it? Just relying on the Moon Shadow tribe alone cannot truly threaten the Human United Kingdom, a behemoth in its own right. After all, the concept of rule among demons is different from that of humans. While the Moon Shadow tribe can command many demons to a certain extent, they cannot forcefully make them engage in warfare or sacrifice themselves against formidable enemies.
Unless the three major pillars join forces and mobilize the entire power of Ten Thousand Demons Mountains, it would be difficult for the Human United Kingdom to feel threatened.
Moreover, the fact that the Moon Shadow royal offspring was only abducted by poaching groups, not instigated by the Human United Kingdom, shouldn’t escalate matters to this extent, right?
Lilya naturally understood Violet’s implication. She sighed helplessly and rubbed her forehead with her hand.
“If it were just that, of course, it wouldn’t have escalated to the current level. Although demons are called demons, in reality, they sometimes have more reason than humans, they understand limits, and they are less likely to confront the powerful and prosperous United Kingdom head-on. But this Moon Shadow royal offspring... How should I put it? It’s different.”
“Oh? Please elaborate.”
After a moment of thought, Lilya asked with a thoughtful tone.
“Violet, do you know why the mythical species died or disappeared one after another three hundred years ago?”
“Of course not. Do you?”
The queen shook her head without hesitation.
“I naturally don’t know the exact reasons behind it, but it’s said that deep within Ten Thousand Demons Mountains, there are some secrets regarding the disappearance of the mythical species.”
“And that Moon Shadow royal offspring that was captured by the poaching group...”
As the queen said this, her brows furrowed even more.
“It’s said that there were extraordinary signs when it was born... It may have received the blessing of the Demon God, Olivia, and become a young mythical creature.”