Jona Velli nodded slightly.
"It seems those guys are quite patient, but I expect they'll make their move this year."
It's already May, and August isn't far off.
"So what should we do?"
Hearing Fanny's words, Jona Velli's lips curled into a menacingly 'kind' smile.
"Simple. We'll make sure they never return."
"Given the greedy and selfish nature of humans, that caravan definitely won't spread the news of this place any further, so there shouldn't be too many people coming."
"Fanny, tell me, how many monsters do we have in total now?"
"Uh... it seems, roughly, maybe, probably around ten thousand."
Hearing Fanny's uncertain tone, Jona Velli curled her lip and immediately spread out her perception.
She discovered that the number of Frost Kobolds in the city had reached over four hundred, while the White Phosphorus Goblins numbered over a thousand. Combined with the other various races that had submitted, the total reached a staggering ten thousand plus.
"Over twelve thousand? That's not a bad number."
Having a general idea, Jona Velli had already formed a plan.
"Little Shunzi."
"Here!"
"Go to the various villages that have submitted and gather all the monsters with firm wills and strong physiques. You have one day. They must arrive here before sunset tomorrow..."
Jona Velli paused and looked at Fanny.
"What is this City-state called?"
"I was just managing it on your behalf, so I haven't named it yet, hehe~"
Fanny awkwardly fiddled with her fingers.
"Then let's call it White Crystal City from now on."
Jona Velli said casually.
"Have them come to White Crystal City before sunset tomorrow."
"Yes! Great Master!"
With that, Little Shunzi spread his dragon wings and led a group of Frost Kobolds flying out of the city.
"Er Pizi."
"Present!"
"Go into the city and select some monsters with similar traits. Once you've organized them, hand them over to Little Shunzi."
"Yes!"
Er Pizi also left, leading some White Phosphorus Goblins.
After doing all this, Jona Velli looked at Gris and curled her lip.
'Eat up. You need to eat more to work well, jie jie jie~'
Sensing something was off, Gris paused his eating and looked at Jona Velli, tilting his head. He felt like her gaze was somewhat malicious.
His mouth, stuffed with a chicken leg, let out a muffled inquiry.
"Older Sister... what'sh wrong?"
Jona Velli shook her head slightly.
"It's nothing. Keep eating. And the rest of you, dismiss."
"Yes!" they chorused.
Three hours later, Jona Velli was finally full. Although she really wanted to just sleep, she still had business to attend to.
Glancing at Gris, who had fallen asleep in a pile of food scraps, Jona Velli flew out of the city.
She arrived at the banks of the Sam River. A dozen or so scattered Stone-Claw Demon Crocodiles saw Jona Velli landing on the distant riverbank, and for some reason, the urge to flee rose in their hearts.
They 'followed their hearts' and chose to flee.
Splash splash splash—
The sound of water splashing reached her, and Jona Velli shook her head helplessly.
"It seems I left quite a shadow on them."
However, Jona Velli hadn't come to cause them trouble this time; she had business to do. After all, she couldn't be called familiar with her time abilities; she only had a basic understanding.
She walked over to a small patch of grass and crouched down.
"I'll just use you for the experiment, then."
She reached out a fair hand.
"Weekend."
The mana in Jona Velli's body had recovered to fifty percent, and because she changed the target to a small blade of grass, the mana consumption was significantly reduced.
Visibly, the grass began to grow rapidly.
Under Jona Velli's control, the grass's growth speed fluctuated. Once it grew large, its leaves gradually began to age.
Jona Velli stopped; these few seconds had consumed twenty percent of her mana.
"Tsk, the consumption is way too high. But compared to other costs of using time—like memory loss, drastically reduced lifespan, or physical aging—a high mana cost seems quite insignificant."
Muttering, Jona Velli began to experiment with another ability.
"Looking Back."
Visibly, the grass began to revert to its original form. The speed fluctuated until, finally, it became just a sprout again.
This gave Jona Velli a new understanding of her power.
Er Pizi also found Jona Velli.
"Great Master, I have completed the task you assigned."
Jona Velli didn't even Looking Back.
"I see. Here is your reward."
Jona Velli took out a silver-White Dragon scale and tossed it casually to Er Pizi.
"This scale contains my power. If you want to become stronger, stick it on your forehead."
Hearing this, Er Pizi knelt on the ground in excitement.
"Thank you, Great Master!"
He dreamed of gaining more power. Although he had reached the Silver Rank, he had long been envious of Little Shunzi and the others who had been transformed by undiluted dragon blood.
Now, this scale also contained powerful energy; merging with it was no different from merging with another drop of dragon blood—it might even be slightly stronger.
Facing the extremely excited Er Pizi, Jona Velli transformed into her true form and flew away.
She was going to get a good night's sleep.
Arriving at the Dragons Lair, Jona Velli began expanding the cave. Before long, it was spacious enough.
"Ooh~ it's the most beautiful sleeping time, ow~~"
...One day, two days... ten days.
Ten days passed, and Jona Velli opened her eyes.
"Ang!—"
Letting out a howl, Jona Velli felt that she had slept wonderfully.
"Ten days?"
Jona Velli smacked her lips.
"Seems like I missed something."
"Whatever, I'm the boss. Would they even dare say anything?"
Jona Velli stood up and noticed Friel was also in the Dragons Lair.
"Oh ho, sleeping quite soundly, aren't you?"
Jona Velli's playful side took over as she walked up to Friel.
Her dragon head drew close as she began to observe carefully.
"Honestly, by the standards of Dragonkind, Friel is quite a beautiful dragon."
Her whip-like silver-White Dragon tail extended, aimed right at Friel's nostril.
Just as it was about to poke in, a pair of crimson dragon eyes snapped open.
Meeting Friel's murderous gaze, Jona Velli's movements froze.
"Oh? You dare glare at me? Fine, fine, you're rebelling now."
Jona Velli glared right back. Seeing Jona Velli's childish behavior, Friel felt speechless.
Suddenly, while Friel wasn't paying attention, Jona Velli poked her tail into Friel's nostril and gave it a little tickle.
"Achoo!"
Friel sneezed on the spot, sparks flying.
"Hahaha ahaha~"
Jona Velli laughed until she clutched her stomach, while Friel flew into a rage.
"Stupid White Dragon, how dare you..."
Before Friel could vent her anger, Jona Velli raised a claw and stroked Friel's face.
"Dame yo, if you get angry, your scales will lose their color~"
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