Chapter 145: A Tang of Jealousy

"But isn't Lady Kali helping you with the research on magic?"

"Lady Kali is only staying in the forest temporarily; she might return to the Emerald Court at any time. Besides, I'd feel bad about troubling her too often."

The witch Dimia opened her mouth, then said nothing.

She gave a wry smile and shook her head.

"You're surprisingly slow on the uptake, Mr. Rod."

Rod paid no particular attention to her words.

He began giving Pan Ni instructions on some important matters regarding the farm's construction.

The main point was that until a spell was developed to suppress the ghoul plague aura, they were not allowed to let them work just to save money.

Pan Ni herself, being a ghoul mage of some strength, had through recent effort already gained self-control.

At this stage, they could only hire people.

Faced with the lecture, Pan Ni was unusually anxious and uneasy.

Ever since the farm lost money, she had acted as if she had committed some mortal sin, almost dropping to her knees and kowtowing for mercy every time she saw Rod.

"How is Sharon doing?"

Rod had gone to help treat the dog-girl youth Sharon's illness.

After enduring the torment of the disease, in less than a month she had become skeletal, her face colorless.

Her muscles, spirituality, and magic power had all been considerably affected.

It was hard to imagine that just one lash from the spiritual dimension could produce such terrible consequences.

Fortunately.

The regeneration and essence enhancement of the 【Verdant Grass】 domain could play a fairly good role.

After assisting with several treatments, her illness had been cleared.

She could now eat on her own, without needing the healing spell 【Nectar of Life】.

"Thanks to you, Sharon will be able to get out of bed in a few days. It's just a shame the plague melted away more than half of her magic pathways; from now on her magic accumulation will probably only stay around the third tier."

The witch Dimia's face showed sorrow.

Sharon's talent in the past was, without exaggeration, top-tier; even at a place like the Bahadur Academy of Magic, she would have ranked among the best.

Later, due to certain matters, she withdrew from the academy and also abandoned the path of magic, which was a pity.

"Oh right, there's one more thing I want to discuss with you."

Dimia quickly pulled herself together; after all, as long as her life was preserved, everything was negotiable.

"Go ahead."

"I was thinking, could we promote that hedge maze as a new attraction to draw tourists here? If it goes well, maybe we can create a new festival."

Again?

Rod was instantly caught between laughter and tears.

The people of this continent really did love festivals too much.

"I don't mind, as long as the tourists don't disturb the residents inside. But aren't the land nagas about to settle in the Death Desert? Would they be willing?"

The witch gave a light laugh, tinged with disdain.

"The Death Desert is only a temporary residence borrowed by us Etheron; she has no say there. But for the sake of neighborly harmony, we'll give them a small cut."

"Of course, Mr. Rod, you'll get your share of the ticket commission too. And regarding the passage route, we'll construct a 【Long-Distance Teleportation】 road at that time."

Since she had arrangements.

Rod couldn't be bothered to ask further.

Returning to the ranger's cabin.

Tally naturally pulled down his pants.

She opened her mouth to bite, but was pushed away ruthlessly.

The succubus pouted, very displeased.

"Tally worked so hard last night, and you won't even give a reward!"

"Strictly keeping to the rule of one meal a day. Besides, there's an outsider present."

The zombie Selina stood to one side, motionless, expressionless.

"She's a zombie, you know, Master. Although she and ghouls are both undead creatures, ghouls at least have some residual senses—male ghouls can still squeeze something out—but zombies are different. They're almost completely dead, and on top of that she used a spell to block emotional transmission."

Selina nodded, expressionless.

"What Miss Tally says is correct. Apart from sight, I lack most senses, but the spell blocking emotional transmission was solidified in my youth, so its effect isn't great; every now and then a sliver leaks through."

Hearing this, Tally laughed and added:

"Vivian should feel a sense of crisis now; there's someone in this forest with the same setting as her."

She stepped forward and brazenly stripped Selina's clothes off.

"Well, okay, in the forest, her figure really doesn't pose a threat."

Withered.

Skinny as a rail.

Beneath the wide black robe was the underdeveloped body of a girl of eleven or twelve.

Clearly, ever since she had transformed herself into a zombie, her body had stopped growing.

Not to mention half her face was burned away.

Rod had originally wanted to try the taste of a zombie, but upon seeing her, he immediately lost interest.

Just as he was about to take her to wash her body,

the sound of 【Message Spell】 reached his ears.

It was the elf Lady Kaliste.

She wanted Rod to come over to the Willow District.

Most of the matters from the Dark Vortex Rift Barrier sand tornado ritual had already been resolved.

What could possibly still be going on in the Willow District?

Rod instructed Tally to take the zombies to wash their bodies, while he himself used Tree Strider to travel.

Very quickly.

Willow District.

The elf Lady Kaliste stood before a young sand willow sapling.

This sapling was slightly different from the others; its bark was mottled green and white, rising and falling gently as if breathing, and every now and then it let out a croak like a frog.

Rod understood immediately.

She had successfully developed a magically modified sand willow and had come specifically to show it off.

"You're here."

She pretended to look off into the distance, unconcerned.

"I heard from Dimia that the land naga will be moving into the Death Desert soon—it's nothing really, I just wanted to discuss with you how we should handle the forest edge when the time comes."

In reality, her hands kept casting spells on this sand willow, with dazzling magical particles falling onto the tree like snowflakes.

Rod was torn between laughter and tears inside, so he simply went along with her intentions.

"Yes, that's right. Wow, what's this? It looks completely different from the other sand willows."

Lady Kaliste gave a soft hum in her throat.

"Just a little trick."

She lifted her chin slightly. "A modified synthesis of the Mist Frog and the sand willow—not only can it store spiritual essence, it can also deploy a water-attribute barrier when facing threats."

"Truly remarkable!"

Rod's praise was sincere.

After all, this was the kind of thing he would need a cheat to accomplish, yet an elf could do it through her own ability.

"As expected of Lady Kaliste—to think you could single-handedly complete such a grueling mage's experiment!"

Faced with the flattery.

This elf showed no reaction on the surface; her expression was even a bit sullen.

But Rod, having spent a long time with her, saw at once the smugness and delight hidden in her expression.

Suddenly.

Her face stiffened.

"You brought another girl in again?"

Obviously, as a mage with many tricks up her sleeve, Lady Kaliste had also set up quite a few eyes and ears throughout the forest.

"Yes, a researcher. From now on she'll mainly be in charge of spell research. I do feel a bit bad always troubling you."

Hearing this, the elf's face went cold.

The smugness and delight from moments ago vanished instantly, returning to that aloof, keep-your-distance haughtiness.

"Oh, is that so."

(End of chapter)