So we could only choose the former.
Noa truthfully explained the situation to Eris and said:
"If you must keep in touch, then please send someone to the Great Tree Village, and then let her go back and forth regularly."
"She?"
Eris was not surprised that this contact restriction existed. What caught her attention instead was Noa's wording. It was "she," not "he."
"Ahem."
Noa coughed slightly in mild embarrassment and explained, "It's like this. Currently, the Great Tree Village is still under construction, and it has only been built up to the inner city. It is not convenient for men to enter."
After Eris understood what he meant, she could not help but cast a slightly contemptuous look at Noa.
So that was it. As expected, he really was shameless in his own way, even managing to wrap such an arrangement in a seemingly reasonable excuse.
Noa, however, did not care about her reaction. He had long since become used to this kind of misunderstanding. Whether others interpreted it as convenience, indulgence, or personal preference was irrelevant to him. The system of the Great Tree Village itself dictated the current limitations, and he was merely operating within those constraints.
The brief embarrassment earlier stemmed more from practical concerns than anything else. The city was still in its early developmental stage. Infrastructure was incomplete, districts were still being expanded, and access zones had not been fully standardized. Allowing unrestricted entry at this stage would create unnecessary complications.
In Noa's mind, the priority was clear: once the inner city construction was fully completed, he would need to recruit a new batch of residents as soon as possible. Expansion required population, and stability required structure. Without both, the system would remain inefficient.
Eris, seeing that Noa was no longer engaging with her expression, quickly shifted her focus back to the main topic.
"In that case, I will arrange for someone to go there. However, selecting the right candidate will take some time."
"That's not a problem. I'll have someone come over in a few days and take them there."
"Well, if you're interested, you can come and visit together then."
After all, this had already happened twice. It could not always be the Great Tree Village taking the initiative unilaterally. At some point, both sides needed to establish a more balanced exchange, especially if long-term cooperation was intended.
Eris considered this for a moment before nodding. "It's settled then. I'll go over and pay a visit when the time comes."
When she heard that she would finally have an opportunity to personally see the Great Tree Village, she did not hesitate much.
As for whether she could actually spare the time, that was not something she worried about. In her position, priorities could be adjusted. With proper reporting to the higher authorities of heaven, arrangements could be made accordingly. The connection with the Great Tree Village had already become an important matter, and such a rare opportunity for direct observation would not be lightly dismissed.
Now that a formal visit was within reach, Eris was confident that any conflicting duties could be shifted or postponed if necessary.