Inanna turned around to see, as always, the impeccably dressed butler Erik.
Although he maintained his professional smile, Inanna could still sense that this butler who had held her since childhood was unusually tense right now.
Was there… some secret here?
A jumble of wild speculations flashed through Inanna’s little head.
Like Uncle Erik secretly selling off things from the treasury, afraid of being caught by her?
Or perhaps… these Dream Flowers were incredibly precious, not even one could be touched carelessly, afraid she might waste them?
But these thoughts popped like soap bubbles as soon as they formed.
Erik’s loyalty to the Saint Clair family was beyond question—otherwise, Father wouldn’t trust him so much.
If she really had to think about it, if among the three people in the Duke’s mansion—the Duke, herself, and Erik—one would betray them… though it was embarrassing to admit, Inanna felt she might be more suspicious than Erik!
Setting aside these wild thoughts, Inanna brought out the excuse she had prepared long ago: “Adin said he wanted to try using this kind of flower to make a new tool, but he couldn’t buy it anywhere. I remembered we might have some at home, so I came to look… Uncle Erik, can’t I use these flowers?”
She blinked her big eyes, looking at Erik with anticipation.
“Just a few materials—of course the young miss can take them as she pleases.” Erik’s gaze swept over the two boxes of flowers, his tone sounding unconcerned.
Inanna’s heart relaxed, almost exclaiming “hooray!” out loud.
Just then—
Erik suddenly fixed his gaze on Inanna’s eyes, his voice dropping a few tones: “Miss, you… have you been having nightmares lately?”
“Hm? Nightmares?” Inanna was startled, looking completely puzzled, then instinctively began to recall following his words.
She’d been sleeping so well in Mushroom Garden recently!
The comfortable mycelial network, the soft other Puffshrooms—forget nightmares, her biggest daily struggle was not wanting to get out of bed!
The only night she’d slept poorly was before traveling, but even then it was just restless sleep, not nightmares.
Inanna shook her head: “No, I’ve been sleeping great! Uncle Erik, are you worried about me having nightmares? If I really had nightmares, I should drink prepared magic potions, right? Why would I come directly for raw materials…”
Erik stared at Inanna for a long while, until Inanna felt a bit guilty, before finally nodding.
“Good that you haven’t. If you do have nightmares, you must tell me immediately.” Erik’s voice was steady. “Having frequent nightmares will ruin your health.”
“Mm-hmm! Got it!” Inanna nodded quickly.
But Erik wasn’t finished—he reached out and took another box of Dream Flowers from the shelf, placing it in Inanna’s hands.
“Also, Miss. Next time your friend Adin needs any special materials… it would be best if he came personally. Our Saint Clair family has extensive wealth—we can let him choose directly from the treasury.”
Inanna instinctively lowered her head, pressing her lips together tightly, not daring to respond.
Although Erik’s tone was gentler, Inanna could tell he seemed somewhat displeased with Adin.
But the flowers were already in hand, so it should be fine…
…
On the other side, Adin suddenly sneezed.
Not caring much as he rubbed his nose, his attention was completely captured by the S-rank magic crystal that the boss had just rewarded him with.
Though it was only the size of half a fingernail, this was an S-rank magic crystal!
He never expected he’d get to have one of these.
His head was already filled with fantasies about what he should make with this S-rank magic crystal.
Making a magic staff would definitely be too small, maybe he should craft some accessory equipment?
Or make it into a high-grade one-time illusion tool?
The idea was extravagant, but he was eager to try.
After all, judging by the current situation, as long as he continued working hard under the boss, he might even have a chance to create a legendary S-rank magic staff!
Adin was full of anticipation for the future!
—
Divine Tree Dungeon.
Rumble rumble—the thunder-like roar gradually faded as Airaven crouched on a thick branch, watching the last group of Migrating Trees’ massive forms completely disappear beyond the horizon.
They had left, and the green barrier blocking the path out of the dungeon finally vanished.
Or rather, leaving the dungeon was now easier than ever before.
No need to troublingly detour around territories occupied by high-level monsters—a new, crude but straight passage had been forcibly “plowed” through the forest by the migrating tree herd.
On this violently cleared massive thoroughfare, the originally intertwined primitive forest floor was completely torn apart and pulverized. On both sides rose earthen cliffs several meters high, still bearing the savage marks left by massive roots dragging through.
On this road, forget about entrenched monsters—even the corpses of those unlucky monsters had long been buried deep underground, not a trace to be found.
Airaven whistled a clear, melodious note, signaling her two companions that it was time to depart.
A high-pitched bird cry responded, and a dazzling blue streak shot through the forest branches like lightning, landing with a soft “plop” precisely on Airaven’s head.
The parrot Feifei ruffled its feathers, and the first thing it did after settling was to peck at Airaven’s hair with its curved beak—not too hard, not too soft—urging her to hurry up and leave.
After all, “that thing” was coming!
Unfortunately, Airaven was clearly bewitched by “evil forces” and not only didn’t move, but actually smiled and soothed it: “Alright, Feifei, wait a bit longer.”
Flutter—flutter—
Sure enough, within seconds, that pale-green demon that Feifei deeply despised came flapping its somewhat uncoordinated little wings, clumsily flying down from the high treetops.
As if not seeing the parrot at all, the Scout Puffshroom headed straight for Airaven’s head.
Feifei’s feathers instantly bristled as it stubbornly craned its neck, raising its not-very-sharp beak high like a knight defending territory, vowing to fight the evil mushroom to the bitter end!
Never retreat!
…
Amid pitiful bird cries, Airaven sighed and skillfully reached out, carefully rescuing the blue parrot with disheveled feathers and panicked eyes from under the Scout Puffshroom’s round bottom.
“Sigh… Feifei,” Airaven said while smoothing its messy feathers, “why do you insist on competing with Little Ji for the head spot? It’s big, so it can only stay there! Look, isn’t my shoulder nice too?”
As she spoke, she gently placed the still-indignant Feifei on her shoulder.
Feifei protested with dissatisfied “chirp chirps” but ultimately didn’t dare peck at the mycelial foot so close at hand.
After several days of fighting, hadn’t it been the unlucky one every time? Even its own elf had “betrayed” it, always smiling and mediating. No hope there!
Fortunately, it still had other allies—once this Puffshroom followed them back, it would unite with Furball, Bubble, Little Bean and the others to properly teach this bad mushroom a lesson!
Thinking of that Puffshroom covered in wounds, prostrating at its feet, it couldn’t help but chirp softly.
Lin Jun had no idea what this silly bird was thinking.
The Scout Puffshroom just steadily gripped the elf’s head. With someone as a mount, Lin Jun didn’t even need to pay much attention to this side—quite relaxing.
After smoothly exiting the dungeon and traveling through the forest for a full day, the Scout Puffshroom finally caught sight of the legendary elf city in the distance!
