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Chapter 495 Cake and Tea?
🕑 Added 2020-06-09 07:06:16 +0000 UTCAuthor's note: Hello there :). New chapters up and more hopefully on Thursday.
Author's note: Hey everyone :). New chapters up and more hopefully on Thursday.
I rewrote large parts of this one a few times. Do let me know what you think.
PDF/EPUB: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32241245
Chapter Index: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37813894
Chapter 495 Cake and Tea?
Ilea didnt respond, a little confused at the question.
The room was quite large, separated into what looked like an office or lounging area and a kitchen. The various ovens were only part of the picture, three large connected counters were covered in various exotic looking ingredients, dishes, tools, and most curiously, daggers.
The floors were different too, the kitchen tiled while the other part of the room was done in parquet. Everything looked rather impressive but hand made furniture generally did look like that. The high quality was obvious however.
Some of the storage units in the kitchen were enchanted, others were half open with visible potions, monster parts or just plain old flour.
Next to two couches facing each other stood a small round metal table and two garden chairs. On it were two plates and forks. At the very back of the room to the right stood a large office desk, an armchair behind it.
If you plan to kill me with fire, Id advise against it, Ilea said, answering the question and perhaps asking one in return.
The woman smiled and looked at her, her face kind and her smile warm, she looked to be in her early thirties. Her brown hair was bound in a messy bun, some flour visible on it. She wore no makeup, her skin a healthy tone. The woman wasnt strikingly beautiful but certainly had her charm, the freckles and deep brown eyes her most prominent features. She wore a black summer dress covered in a pink apron.
[Warrior lvl 322]
Instead of answering Ileas threat, the woman started singing. No bounds has her power, no bounds has her heart. Her armor stands unbroken, through fire and through steel.
If the songs are to be believed, killing you is quite the venture, the woman said. I had my doubts of course, every guard and soldier turning into bards of great renown after a won battle.
But seeing you in the flesh. I dont know if I could prevail. Perhaps if I had the benefit of surprise on my side, she mused without a hint of malice. Now! the woman suddenly called out and opened the oven.
Ilea hadnt perceived magic or an attack, the sudden call out only surprising her a little.
Your heat resistance is high thats good to hear. How about Poison? I would assume someone as influential as you has encountered one or the other assassin? the woman asked as she carefully took out the cake with her bare hands.
Ilea looked at the thing curiously, its color black as the night, veins of pulsing red moving through parts of the cake.
I have some experience in the matter, yes, she admitted.
The woman seemed delighted with that news. Wonderful! You might like this then. I have heard that you are quite fond of food. I bet that this is like nothing you have tasted before, she said and placed the cake onto the large plate sitting on the table. She sat down and motioned for Ilea to join her.
Welcome to Myrefield, Lilith. Or should I say Ilea? Im Helena. Come, sit with me and tell me what you think, Helena said with an excited look on her face.
Ilea was a little apprehensive but so far the woman seemed nice enough. The cake certainly looked interesting.
Either name is fine, Helena, she said and stored her leather armor, casually sitting down across from the woman. She wasnt surprised Helena knew her real name, if anything it led credibility to the people she represented.
Ilea then, it sounds a little more personal. Your real name too I presume. Now I must warn you. This poison is quite potent and the heat alone would burn through someones skull without Resistances in the second tier, she said as a blade appeared in her hand, a simple design, made for kitchen work. It shimmered with magic, runes etched into each side.
Helena looked entirely absorbed as she cut two pieces, steam rising from the cake.
Ilea wasnt sure if this was some horrible joke, a test to check her resistances, an actual attempt on her life or just plain craziness. She was too curious either way, and confident that whatever poison was in there didnt have the capacity to overwhelm her third tier resistance.
As soon as the woman placed the piece on her plate, she identified the poison within to be of medium danger.
Nothing to be concerned about then, she thought, quite aware of the special plates that seemed enchanted to handle the heat.
How did you even get it to be this hot? she murmured, unable to stop her curiosity.
Helena smirked in a self satisfied way. That is a trade secret, my dear.
The woman looked at her with expectant eyes.
Ilea felt a little uncomfortable. Shouldnt she take a bite too? If its poisoned eh, there would be an antidote anyway.
She smiled at her potentially stupidest move so far and ate a piece of the cake.
Her eyes opened wide as the poison took effect. She didnt fight it, instead letting it flow through her. The heat was barely noticeable, making her disable her Heat Resistance.
She kept her Poison Resistance up, just in case the stuff would paralyze her or something without it active.
Holy bakery, she thought, savoring the combined experience that came from not only her tongue but her whole body. The poison pulsated in a regular interval, faint black veins showing on her arms as the heat intensified the various flavors in the hellish chocolate creation. The pain was subdued, a slight itch to enhance the rest. It felt both confusing and heavenly.
Ilea sat there enjoying the cake, her eyes closed not to distract her from the sensation.
She was woken by Helenas joyous laughter, the woman holding a hand in front of her face as she looked at her.
What is it? Ilea asked.
You liked it? the woman asked, smiling wide.
Ilea leaned in and whispered. What the fuck is this thing? I need the recipe.
I would appreciate it if you didnt curse within my house, young woman, she said, her eyes turning cold before they warmed up again.
The change was so rapid, Ilea wondered if it was a skill.
As to the recipe, its a secret too. I hope you understand. But do help yourself, theres plenty left, she said and started eating too.
Helena summoned two cups and poured a bright blue liquid into it, the air above it cooling visibly.
Ilea took another bite, adding a sip of the blue liquid that felt colder than some ice magic she had been hit with before.
People of your power, tend to be focused on the bloodier aspects of life. The potential, enhanced bodies and resistances provide to the art of cooking and baking have always fascinated me. Few ever get past three hundred and even fewer are creators in nature, Helena said.
I appreciate you sharing this with me. I certainly havent experienced anything quite like it, Ilea said. She enjoyed Keylas dishes more generally speaking but the experience itself was certainly worth her trip here already.
Helena ate another piece of cake and leaned back, chewing softly before she swallowed. How do you like Myrefield?
Ilea leaned back too. Its peaceful. Im not the biggest fan of the people Ive seen. A little too rich, she said.
Helena smiled. It is. I like the quiet here. Its much calmer than the bustling cities.
Though am I wrong to assume that you are the wealthiest among them? the woman added.
I have no idea, Ilea said honestly. Its not the wealth that annoys me, its the disdain in their eyes.
I understand, the woman said, looking a little thoughtful for a moment before she focused on Ilea again, taking a sip of the blue liquid herself. So you are Lilith. The legend, the myth.
Ilea smirked. Are you disappointed?
Helena smiled. Oh no. Quite the contrary. Its refreshing. When one thinks about the most powerful humans, it may be easy to forget that in the end they are people too.
They looked at each other for a while, in silence.
You are an assassin, Ilea said.
I am many things, Lilith. Baker, administrator, lover, woman, and yes, I have worked as an assassin. Though that was a long time ago, Helena said, her eyes a little absent as she seemed to recall a memory.
She focused again and ate a piece of cake. You too are many things. Quite powerful. Dangerous, she said and smirked, taking a sip of the blue drink.
So are you, Ilea said.
And yet here we sit, enjoying a piece of poisonous cake, Helena said and paused. Your actions, have sent ripples through the human plains and surely beyond. I believe our cooperation could benefit all of humanity.
My cooperation with you? Or the Golden Lily? Ilea asked, trying to figure out more about the organization.
Both, perhaps. If you can stomach an assassin, Helena said.
I have killed many people myself. Not for gold or without reason but we are murderers both, Ilea said and smiled.
Your views and morality are your own, Helena said, entirely uncaring. Accepting this offer would allow you to draw on our extensive network of resources, information, and influence. While offering some of yours in return. All for a price of course.
And what would that price be? Ilea asked. Gold, blood, loyalty?
That depends entirely on what you wish to acquire and from whom. The only goal of the Lily is to provide a network of trade and cooperation, to keep up the fragile order present in the human kingdoms and empires. For the benefit of all.
That doesnt sound too bad. A rich people black market with contacts for most likely quite wild resources.
Doesnt look like your order is doing a very good job then, does it? Ilea said, happy to challenge the woman a little.
Helena laughed. Dont think yourself educated on history and politics just because you can punch level five hundred beings to death.
Fair enough.
Do you trade in slaves? Ilea asked.
Helena quirked up an eyebrow. No. Not officially. Humans have a right to freedom. Taking that from them or sacrificing them for whatever purpose is against the principles of our order.
However. As we are independent ourselves, nobody exactly investigates heavily. The benefits the Lily provides at least forces you to keep your business hidden.
Ilea looked at her. If nobody investigates, why would anybody care?
Because the principles must be upheld. I would prefer everyone to be as adamant about this as I am but reality is not exactly that simple, Helena said.
You might ask yourself why we havent interfered with Baralia decades ago, or perhaps even centuries. Slavery has been ingrained in their culture for longer than that, she said.
The suffering of a direct intervention would have outweighed the benefits? Ilea said.
Helena nodded. That was the consensus. Yet if our principles stood above our desires, the kingdom would have long fallen. The suffering their people has endured has long surpassed whatever an open war would have caused. It simply wasnt convenient.
Hmm, Ilea mused. She too hadnt joined the war, only defended Riverwatch, leaving the work to the empire and all the other states that were involved by now.
Im sure we both could benefit, not only to prevent potential future tensions between you and yours, and various organizations led by members of the Lily, Helena said.
Ilea wasnt disinclined to accept. The principles wouldnt be upheld by some if not all of the members, she was sure of it. The information and trade she and Claire could access through this would be quite beneficial to have however. Not only because it could let her find Eves killer.
Perhaps it was even the woman sitting right across from her. She hoped not.
What happens if I find out one of the members or one of their organizations is involved with human sacrifice or trafficking? Ilea asked. What if I find out and fight them? Kill them?
Helena smiled. You could cause a war. Large scale destruction and loss of human life. Your actions and their effect would be judged by all the members. Should your arguments and evidence speak for you, there will be no consequences. Should they be judged as rash, there might be reparations necessary. Only if your offense was unjustified entirely or judged to be a threat to humanity itself, would you be expelled.
Ilea wondered if and how many times this has happened before. Would they hunt her down or still trade with her in secret? A truce perhaps if she was deemed too powerful. She wondered if killing those responsible for Eves death would constitute as an unjustified offense. Or if personal reasons counted too.
Knowing more about Eve and her motivations, she knew that the Golden Lily wasnt quite as grand as Helena pretended. Ilea thought it improbable that Eve would mention the order without good reason and evidence in her hands.
The fact that Helena didnt judge her Assassins Guild to be against the principles either meant that their interpretation was rather free or that she had rules in place to prevent excessive killings.
How does your guild not violate the rules? Ilea couldnt help but ask.
Helena seemed slightly displeased with the question. You are not the first to argue this point and neither will you be the last. Assassinations are a tool for control. If I were not to offer it with rules and strict conditions, the murder rate would triple.
You deem this an assumption. It isnt. The more morally questionable services of the Heavenly Sweets were entirely suspended for a period of five years. After that, it was judged necessary to reopen our businesses, Helena said.
Ilea smirked. It would be easy for you to manipulate such an investigation. Just send out your assassins to kill random civilians.
Ilea. There was no investigation. I had my assumptions but wanted them proven. This process was instigated by me. I intended it to last ten years to allow for all our guild members to advance their baking skills. The Lily, judged it necessary to cut this experiment short after five years. Three actually but I assume the situation was highly beneficial for a few members and their associates, their votes and arguments preventing such an early continuation of my usual business, Helena explained.
Dont act like you are unaware of the reality we live in. I expected more of you, the woman added.
Ilea didnt quite agree. There were reasons people hired assassins or murdered each other. Large scale change was necessary to stop this but it wasnt impossible.
Apologies. I did not mean to snap at you, Helena said after a short pause.
Ilea didnt reply, thinking about it a little more. Helena believed her actions to be justified it seemed and if her words could be believed, she even tried to investigate her assumptions herself. Ilea admitted that she hardly understood the complexity of this issue, let alone the practical implications.
I admit that I know jack shit about the assassination field but I still disagree, Ilea said.
Helena seemed happy with her words. As you are entitled to do. I do have to ask you to stop swearing though.
Apologies, Ilea said and meant it. She didnt really get why swearing was a problem but it seemed to nearly physically hurt the woman. She could at least respect something like that in her own house. Allowing assassination but not swearing was another discussion she really did not want to start with the woman.
Helena nodded lightly. You came at an opportune time. Three members must vouch for you in order to make you a full fledged member of the Golden Lily. Now, if you are not entirely disinclined to cooperate with an assassin, I would like to talk to you about war.
Baralia? Ilea asked.
Precisely. The High Kings recent decisions have left more than just me bewildered. It seems he really is nothing more than a power hungry barbarian. The siege of Virilya could mean many things but with all the information I have at my disposal, it really was just an entirely misplaced sense of superiority, Helena said and shook her head lightly, as if she still couldnt quite believe it.
The Empire would have dealt with it. Lys is ancient and whatever weakness had come to it, it now stands stronger than ever.
Baralia lost this war when they marched on Virilya. It just took a little longer than anticipated for their actions to warrant consequences. Whats your current knowledge of the war? Helena asked.
Most countries around are involved by now, each happy to get their piece of the wealth and land I assume will soon be up for grabs, Ilea said.
That applied until about two weeks ago, when Odiah, one of the larger cities in the eastern part of the kingdom, was made the stage of a large scale blood magic ritual that wiped out nearly all of its inhabitants and a high number of empire soldiers besieging it, she explained.
That does change things, Ilea remarked, not particularly shocked at the news.
Helena nodded. Affected people are turned to cursed monsters, much like the demons your order has foolishly released upon the world. Luckily they cannot infect others, making the problem much more contained. Other issues have cropped up however but my information isnt conclusive.
Rather than sheer lunacy, it seems the Order of Truth has a concrete goal in relation to these sacrifices. While Im sure the present forces can deal with the cursed beings, they cannot survive the rituals themselves nor effectively fight the creatures that have emerged from whatever depths of magic the order has conjured up, Helena explained.
You want me to help clean up? For your vote I assume? Ilea asked.
You enjoy battle, do you not? And killing monsters is a specialty of both you and the Shadows of the Hand. Three cities have already been sacrificed, each home to tens of thousands of people. The Lily has decided a more direct intervention is necessary. All members who are interested to join the conflict are asked to do so.
You already have my vote, Ilea. This, I would count as a personal favor, and not a small one, knowing of some of your exploits. Dealing with this would be seen favorably not just by me and Im sure the Empire will make it simpler for a war hero to acquire land and resources in the newly conquered lands. Perhaps it might even allow an allied Baralia general to keep power within his lands, his debts to Lilith only growing.
Ilea didnt have to think about it for very long. Helena must have thought her release of Harken a deliberate political play but she had really just thought it the wiser decision. A war amongst humans was one thing but with thousands getting sacrificed for nothing, she could spare a few days or weeks to help out.
Getting favors and an entry into the Lily would just be the cherry on top. Ilea was starting to think that it was perhaps wiser to clean up the order from within than to challenge them openly. She couldnt deny the benefits of such an alliance, if they really cared so much for the greater good of humanity.
It wasnt a surprise to hear that the Order of Truth was behind the sacrifices. It would mean that one healing order could already be dealt with. The Lily could surely reduce or entirely silence any opposition the other influential orders could have against the Sentinels.
Whats the level of the cursed and the new creatures? Ilea asked. It could give her an idea about her personal benefits but also about what kind of allies she would meet. So far it seemed to her that Helena was one of the higher ranked members but perhaps she was wrong.
The cursed have a similar level to that of whomever they had been before they died. Most everyone below two hundred. The new creatures? Three hundred and above. The highest reported so far was close to five hundred, Helena said.
Which means they have people who can kill those kinds of beasts, Ilea thought and smirked. She was very much interested in meeting them.
Ill help out, she said.
Comments
MacDB
ilea really needs to be more careful running head first into the viper's den; i think her prolonged position of power is making her rash.
Zarik0
Totally agree, get infos, go for what she want, crush what she dislike, fuck them all, who care about this degenerate humanity in this little plaine part of the world with shit politic and what not corruption, just say this is my area (ravenfal and other city and what she considere her later) im the boss her, stay away warped mongol or i ping your bowl Who care about the destiny of humanity in this world (other plane have human aniway), im a deviant human and im am best multi raciale fluffy friend, if humans begin to be annoying let them rot Gonna be friend with rock golem blorg version or simple blog for the texture hug and the affinity when she hit lv 1000 or chocobo pink (super important the chocapic, priority one ilea, its the quest of your existence) no prob, easy peacy no pressure, i know you can do it zaza heal :PP
foldedcorners
Because of ilea's intervention at riverwatch, i think the natural progression of meeting the golden lily who are fighting again baralia makes sense. I agree, I would have liked to see the foundation of glass first, but there has been a string of events prior to her meeting the golden lily that led up to this that would have had to happen completely differently otherwise
Keifru
Honestly, most of my disappointment is that I just kinda was hoping the Foundation of Glass was going to be the next Big Plot Element to be explored rather than running down the Golden Lily spool. Its one of the earliest mentioned areas back when she was just starting out, and then there was the letter from the person running it when she got back from the North 2: Blood Plague Boogaloo regarding the Albert/Scipio mystery. But it seems we're angling to just be doing Healing Order stuff- I imagine a reunion with Felicia will happen too with Ilea going to muck with Barilia. Its definitely intriguing to see some group other than Corinth as far as the Major Healing Orgs but it also felt like the Sentinels was pretty established considering how the previous chapters have been doing some time-skipping and we've seen examples of the emerging classes from it. Plus, if Albert is still around, I totally would love to see an ancient Fremen Mage putzing around the desert :D (I can't remember if we got a name for the Sand Creator that was mentioned back in Rhyvor times by Maro/Elena)
MountainFox
Harthane just made a side chapter index and two new side chapters. It's a 7 chapters a week overdose for top tier patrons hohoho!
Zarik0
Eofad can you repost my previous comment in your previous comment too plz (i think i cant repost it cant remember precisely the word and i get a lot of fun and time to write it) You have it in your email my previous comment (replied) thx buddy
Eofad
Hmm... Previous comment disappeared. Trying again. It seems to me that we didn’t learn much about The Golden Lily in this chapter. Ilea learned a lot, but we already knew most of this from seeing Helena’s conversations in previous chapters. Until we find out exactly what the Lily is offering Ilea and what it wants in return, we really don’t know all that much more. We already knew Helena considered the Lily an organization for defending and elevating the human race. We knew that she felt humans should be making alliances with dwarves kings and fighting elves rather than warring with each other. We knew that she felt she was one of the few leaders left holding things together. That many of the other original leaders had gone away likely to mana dense locations to gain more power. And we knew Helena and the other members of the Lily were involved in things Ilea would consider questionable at best. It feels like our true introduction to the Lily got pushed back by whatever is going on with The Order of Truth. After reading the other comments, it appears some people aren’t happy with how Ilea is handling this. But to be fair to Ilea, she already grew disillusioned with revenge while helping Trian and Edwin each get their revenge. Then she met up with the organized crime guy in Riverwatch and decided to play the long game. Now she hasn’t exactly agreed to anything and she’s been asked to help out with a situation that she might of involved herself in anyway if Felicia had gotten word to her. To go against an organization that is a potential threat to her Sentinels. I think Ilea should continue playing the long game and wait to deal with questions of what her relationship to the Lily will be, who killed Eve and why, and what she’s going to do about it, until after she takes care of the monsters. Besides it sounds like a great opportunity to work 0n her Tier 3 Blood Magic Resistance.
Zarik0
yeah and with the previous chapter on helena and co view It reck of shit But she need to join them atleast temporary for get infos (they gonna treated some of her vision, like her medic corp or the new alliance of the city supported by lilith and some crap conspiration for the north, for sure later, its for certain we have some crap shit coming by them, its their modic operatis for millenium, all old senild fart power hungry with debauchery and corrupt) Well for helena its not i like her, its the character the author created, i like it, fiew chapter and so much deep and interesting character already Its gonna be fun boyz when shit begin to get hit by the fan, gogo ilea, author impresionne us more with the shit you gonna laid
tibbish
People in power tend to do that sort of thing unfortunately. It is possible (note I said possible not certain!) that she is testing Ilea by doing that to provoke her a bit and see if she is easily manipulated too.
Venalitor
Helena's a rude bitch, assuming Ilea's intentions and thoughts or saying she 'would have thought better' of her. She's basically parading her authoritative ignorance for all throughout the chapter.
Caanbo
I am really sad that she was going to go there and start beating up people. But I think it will be like she’s going to go with the flow or something and destroy the golden lily from inside
Venalitor
Yah, Fuck the fuckin' fuckers! If they can't operate under the light it's probably because they have some hideous skeletons in their closet.
Venalitor
Yeah. Helena is the kind of arrogant that makes her incredibly annoying. I have greater distaste for her by the line. "The only goal of the Lily is to provide a network of trade and cooperation, to keep up the fragile order present in the human kingdoms and empires. For the benefit of all." - In theory perhaps, but realistically it's just used to benefit individuals and their 'hobbies.' ""“You might ask yourself why we haven’t interfered with Baralia decades ago, or perhaps even centuries. Slavery has been ingrained in their culture for longer than that,” she said. “The suffering of a direct intervention would have outweighed the benefits?” Ilea said." - More bullshit. There's plenty of ways such powerful individuals could have made Baralia bend for their institution without causing so much suffering. Political, economical, or martial. ""“How does your guild not violate the rules?” Ilea couldn’t help but ask. Helena seemed slightly displeased with the question. “You are not the first to argue this point and neither will you be the last."" - That sounded more like a curious question than an argument, especially alongside Ilea's previous thought. Helena dumb. "Ilea didn’t quite agree. There were reasons people hired assassins or murdered each other. Large scale change was necessary to stop this but it wasn’t impossible." - Yeah, the Lily isn't trying to effect overall change and is self-satisfied with minor accomplishments within the status quo. Helena thinks small time. Boo. Helena's also jumping to a lot of conclusions about Ilea without basis except prior implied occurences with others. The Lily is going to be the biggest barrier to actual reform isn't it? Yah, fuck it into a crater with a spiked fist. Being able to kill beings near three mark really sounds quite unimpressive by Ilea's standards. Lets hope that's not their limit, cause then they wouldn't be much of an antagonist and they sure aren't cut out for being good guys for more reasons that that would be equally boring. Then again, skim enough fat and the small portion left over could be good for keeping. Helena talks about repercussions of destroying human trafficking organizations resulting in net loss for humanity, but doesn't that mean not having a plan past sweeping in to save the day and fucking off? How much of a dismissive bitch can she be to think so lowly of Ilea, especially with the information she must have on her? With how misinformed Helena comes off, joining the Lily sounds like a crapshoot. They look incompetent.
Rip Woodham
I haven't seen anyone saying they wouldn't have 300's. Just that they wouldn't have a lot, and none that could challenge Ilea.
Alan McBrayer
I get the feet that Helena isn't the strongest member, just the strongest who care about leading the organization.
Zarik0
i like it, i want the "same" chapter (or her opinion of the reunion on elea) with the view of helena, they thinking is pretty dark with the fiew previous chapter we haved. They want connect in the hand/ravenfall and the North (they say it in previous chapter), and i guess "control" a rising power (shit politic) And with the multiple previous chapter they pretty fucked up, like a bunch of king of the shadown with a complex they "better" and with no tolerance to all defiance of their "autority" (kill all who know, if cant controle eliminate etc etc), yeah they pretty fucked up in my opinion (old fart powr hungry senile i guess :) Helena is like a fucking hold hag bitch spider manipulatrice with "distorted and fiew morality" (too old to many years manipulatric in politic and shit dark side, warped, i dont think most of them really considere other "normal" low level human good, like inferior paeon) in my opinion (but i like her character :) Power corrupt, and with so many years in the "dark shit side of humanity" wellllll Im sure a good part of the member before was for the "good" when the organisation was formed but now (i guess some fiew irreductible stand still in armoric) And realistic with how "their organisation" is organised and "lax" it just cant stand (they first concept when formed) in the history of the years (quasi no control its just lax business politic under the table) so corrupted in the years for sure, nothing can stand the time Its just a gang of mafia in the dark underground trade with i guess a lot of faction (some good/bad/evil/gray etc) Guess if you dig a little enoff in their cover and "propagande" and look around you get a lot lot lot full shit insane (like every society in history in humanity, human nature :)
lenkite
I want her to fight Level 300 Lily assassins using the Mecha Armor and laugh as their daggers just get caught in several tonnes of steel!
lenkite
She is probably speaking less to avoid cursing.
lenkite
Way too many folks here mocked readers who stated there were several people above Level 300 in Human lands and the Golden Lily would have those people just like the Elders of the Shadow's Hand. Well this Chapter just proved it. Ilea may be of the youngest Humans to reach 300, but others have done this journey too - and are amongst the living.
foldedcorners
I assumed the Golden Lily would be relegated as quest-givers. If their most powerful members are early 300's ilea is likely to leave them behind when she starts traveling again. I have to wonder at this point if Kyrian has surpassed ilea, as he's been at it this whole time
She should just charge right into the capitol of Baralia and see if anyone can stop her. She's an expert at surviving and escaping and getting tagged by a few spells would keep her mana up. Why bother playing war games and needlessly slaughtering conscripted peasants when cutting of the head solves the problem with much less bloodshed?
MrBookL lambert
Really? It finally felt like Ilea was getting back into the game to be honest. I liked the previous chapters, but this one felt right.
Blackmoon11
I love Ilea's progression as a character, she is much more guarded and coy around people now compared to start of the story, were she was a motor mouth with a short fuse. Also she is going to meet up with her old pal Felicia. The "General of wind" and the "Monster of Ravenhall "causing Mahem once again, Thursday cant come sooner.
Slicedtoad
She has mental resistance (or whatever it is called) in the third tier, nobody is influencing her with magic. And it's not like she's made an unbreakable pact with a devil; she just agreed to help out with a war.
Thorlol
As long as Ilea doesnt forget why she was looking for the golden lily I dont even mind her joining. Find out who killed Eve, do some punishing and then enjoy the company of people who are of morally flexible (questionable?) character like herself.
Chad Hagner
Very interesting chapter, and now we get to meet the movers and shakers of the world. With the way Ilea reacts I can't wait for these ppl to meet lmao!
David Frerich
Not everything is black and white. I like this Chapter and Ileas approach very much. Lets find out more about the Lily and its members and decide later if direct conflict is the solution or if there are other ways. Not every associate of Ilea has to be either a friend or an enemy. There could be more in the middle, even if i like the Idea of an all powerful ilea, she is in fact not very proficient in politics.
Alsia
I want moar cake! Very interesting chapter. I'm really looking forward to Ilea possibly meeting some other members during the cleanup operation. Also, cake. The cake was great. You can never have too much cake.
Thanks for the chapter !
Dominic French
I'm so freaking glad llea doesn't have the bloodthirsty Messiah paladin complex that leads her to go on rampages of all organizations that are evil or might be evil in her view,even if they did kill a friend im not sure murdering a whole organization helps her get resolution or anything she wants really. Sentients make bad enemies and not much xp for the trouble plus politics and Ilea doesn't care for that
“I am many things, Lilith. Baker, administrator, lover, woman, and yes, I have worked as an assassin‘
Thanks for the two chapters! Setting up a new love interest??
Chopper
Living cake armor @.@
Adam Roundfield
The cake is alive!
Andrew
Thank you!
And about the Lily, Illea knowing Jack shot about it, she can't actually see if what is said to her is truth or not, so she needs to guard to herself and look on it after she joins, there are no benefits in not taking the invitation, and by not taking the losses could be worse than ever. Why would the lily for after her if it's easy to destroy everything she built? Kill her friends to show that she isn't a God and can be there for everyone. If she openly says she is an enemy of the lily, she would need to keep guard on ravenhall 24/7 to keep her friends safe, and move everyone she has concern for, to riverwatch so that they can be safe too. Her organisation wouldnt be able to achieve nothing since they would probably be hunted by assassins from Helena guild. So one thing is clear, there is too much to loose to be their enemy!
People have invested too much on the react-Illea, where she does whatever she wants, but this time they're forgetting that even if she can't be killed there are other that can. Just think, illea asking about who killed Eve, and turns out it's Helena? She is the master of a assassins guild, even if her lvl is below illes, she probably have a way to at least flee from illea by whichever means possible, she is not 322 for nothing. Now, if Illea does kill Helena, she would have some backup plans for that, she actually have a few 200+ inside the bakery. Trian and Claire couldn't hold up against 3 or more with the same lvl for too long, so probably one of them could be killed before she gets to them if there are more than 3 200+ against them. Helena knows about Dale and the people of riverwatch. Those of you asking why is out of character, think about it first, if she does not cope with the lily she won't even know who her enemies are, she knows Jack shit about the lily, she didn't even know about Helena before the invitation, so any action made by her before actually knowing who are who, are meaningless that could cause far worse reactions than to actually enter the lily and try to exploit from inside if they are too bad, or try to help if there is actually few bad apples on it...
Acquiles Vitorino de Melo Graça
Because they are a handful of individuals that can help protect humanity, with some members needing a good beating to death. It's just easier to determine how to better help with their own intelligence.
Wasn't that the reason Adam released the demons, with that talk about "this will be for the benefit of the hand, one day they will understand"?
Johannes Sauer
It was medium.
Johannes Sauer
Sugar is poison
Tyler Babcock
Shouldn't Ilea know how strong the poison in the cake is with her 3rd tier poison resistance? Didnt that skill add a prompt that lets her know how dangerous something is?
Great chapter!
HereComesTheBoom
Way too early in the relationship for that kind of stuff. Helena probably doesn’t even know anything about Eve. It was probably one of their members clearing up a thorn in their side more than an issue for the entire Golden Lily.
Silk Soda
something about this chapter doesnt sit well with me.. it feels.. uncharacteristic...
sharkattack
Re-read chapter 114 for a blast from the past. Elder Urn in a meeting with the Lily to take over the Hand.
L Pedersen
I have mixed feelings. I felt like Ilea was a bit too passive in this chapter. But maybe that's just her reserving judgement and playing it close to the vest? Much like Ilea I want to know more but ultimately it seems like The Lily is just politics and intrigue and I don't see why Ilea would be interested in that.
awesome.awesome! I'm hyped for this arc!!!
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Yshua
I had a little harder time getting inside Ilea’s head this chapter fwiw. Still, good developments.
Deinos
Thanks for da chappies! Just wondering why she wouldn't let someone check on her for influencing abilities or to get a second opinion for hidden pitfalls
Augustus
I dont think so, she is certainty taking everything with a grain of salt.... and a mouthful of cake.
MountainFox
So high level cooks do consider poisons as proper ingredients!
Zachary Smith
Lit 🔥
Bobtur
I want that cake recipe. To make a ... congratulatory gift ... for a few ... friends.
Hayden Pech
That seems to be the case.
Atlas Dwarf
Helena did say she didn't think she could beat Ilea and even an ambush was a gamble. And yeah Ilea only found out about the 3rd Class from the Fae so I doubt Helena or even the majority of the Lily have that tier of level knowledge.
Atlas Dwarf
I thought the same but Helena did mention she'd owe Ilea a big personal favour for helping out meaning a great route to find Eve's killer just opened up. If you mean why Ilea didn't ask earlier it's cause she was still finding out about Helena and the Lily itself when she dropped that offer.
Sebastian Prue
Thanks for the chapters, I understand the confusion about not asking about Eve but I think it's just that she didn't want to just come out of the gate with that and rather wants to do some investigating of her own as a member instead to get better info
Anon
I see your point about damaging her LIlith image. But I don't think people being terrified at the mention of the name Golden Lily should be indicative of their bad reputation. After all, the Shadow Hand has a similar reaction when mentioned by regular people. Additionally, people can just straight up be afraid of high level people all. Like Ilea.
Alexander Dupree
Ilea is falling for honeyed words mixing truth and fiction.
Narogah
A bit confused why she didn't ask about Eve
ArturScott
Love it!! Thanks for the early chapters.
I rather disagree with the idea of her joining the Golden Lily, personally. The line about them wanting access to her influence, information, and resources sounds like a terrible idea. The name Lilith carries a great deal of weight in her principles and business practices. Merely joining this organization spits on that, not to mention what the consequences of them having access would be. And Ilea seems to be forgetting that even speaking the name Golden Lily is seemingly forbidden and has people terrified. She is talking about how maybe it's just a few bad eggs and so on, when she doesn't have direct evidence of any good deeds done whatsoever, only immoral actions.
Michael scott
Helena is awfully confident considering she is 30 levels below Ilea. Then again maybe she doesn't know anything about gaining a third class at 350.
Connor Bruha
I'm excited for when Ilea smashes the Order of Truth.
Connor Bruha
Thanks for putting out these chapters earlier than usual. They were very well written.
Michael scott
Thanks. I kinda thought Ilea would decide to work with them. I just hope she doesn't loose site of smashing Eve's killer face in.
PatronTurtle
Helena has already found Ilea's fatal flaw: food. She's probably gonna be visiting often to try out more of the recipes.
Worldknower
Im not sure i like this development. Ilea is meeting with someone who potentially could tell her who killed Eve, and who seems to be less of threat than assumed (atleast lvl wise). Yet she has not asked about Eve's killer? Not even hinted at it? Seems out of character for Ilea to play the long game...
Loved the cake, I mean chapter. :)
Chase Clawson
I liked this chapter :) it was a good meeting, and I am looking forward to seeing how this develops! They are gonna have to bring in some bigger enemies to fight if they really want to see her in action though ;)
Erriballon
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