After Bexia left, the city of Gaia began to develop actively. After all, the threats on both sides had disappeared, leaving behind a whole forest and a river's worth of resources. It would be foolish not to utilize them for development, right?
The arrival of the Black Dragon initially caused some panic, but once Bexia appeared, that fear naturally vanished. Any issues that arose could easily be handled by the queen, Talisa.
"I thought you would have slimmed down a bit, but it seems like you've put on some weight!" Bexia looked at Talisa, whom he hadn't seen in a while, and said with a smile.
"Put on weight?! Where?" Talisa touched her belly, which was still flat, then pinched her face, finding no changes. In fact, she felt like she had lost some weight.
"Hahaha!" Bexia burst into laughter as he watched Talisa, who was so earnest. When he noticed where Bexia's gaze was focused, Talisa kicked his leg in annoyance.
"You've just been tied up before, that's all! I've always been like this!" Talisa retorted, proudly puffing out her chest. It was a woman's pride – the bigger, the better, even if it might affect her balance!
"By the way, who is this?" Talisa looked at Eileen standing behind Bexia, her first instinct as a woman triggering a sense of distrust towards Eileen.
"She... is kind of a fellow villager of mine! I've only seen her once before; I didn't expect to see her here!" Bexia explained.
"She can help me return to my hometown, so I'm temporarily following him!" Eileen calmly stated. She didn't consider Bexia a friend, but since he promised to take her back, she felt grateful towards him.
"Ah! Then welcome to Gaia City as our guest!" Talisa said cheerfully. Compared to the restless little girl from two months ago, she had made great progress in her demeanor.
"How long are you staying this time?" Talisa casually walked up to Bexia's side and asked.
"I'm not sure, it depends on the situation!" Bexia shook his head. When he leaves entirely depends on the speed of the Tower of Sage, and he has no idea where the remaining artifacts are.
Most importantly, he had no other place to go in the realm of Olosis, and he had no interest in exploring this world. He just wanted to leave here quickly, contact Christine and the others, and then go to the Abyss to retrieve the power he left there!
His steps were not in this realm, but in the future. When the attack from other universes comes, he needs to accumulate power to protect this universe!
"Do you mind if I stay here for a while?"
"You can stay as long as you want." Talisa's tone shifted as she playfully added, "But... you have to pay rent!"
"Rent?! But I have no money!" Bexia chuckled, wondering what antics Talisa was up to.
"If you have no money, then you'll have to pay in flesh! Hehe!" Talisa teased with a smile.
"Alright then! I'll come find you tonight!" Knowing that Talisa was teasing, Bexia played along, keeping a straight face.
"You wish! I mean, I'll have you work for me. Let's say... one gold coin per day!" Talisa smirked playfully.
"How much for my rent then?"
"Not much, just ten thousand gold coins for one night!"
"So, does that mean I'll have to work for you for thirty years if I stay for one night?"
"Close enough! If you stay for three days, I'll count it as a hundred years!" Talisa humorously offered a discounted deal.
"You can just dream on!"
"Thwack!" Bexia playfully smacked Talisa on the head, making her yelp in pain.
Settling down in Gaia City for the time being, Bexia spent his spare time guiding Eileen in mastering the life Divinity. He also strengthened the Black Dragon, who had taken the form of a dog, as well as the golden giant lion gifted by Talisa, and herself.
At the command of Lanorlas, the Tower of Sage began operating at full capacity. It was impossible to say that Lanorlas had no interest in the Cup of Authority of the Great Sage. In fact, he understood the power of the cup the best, hence he had the strongest desire for it. Despite appearing to uphold peace on the continent, he was, as Bexia had mentioned, an ambitious man through and through!
He had exerted all his power to find the remaining two artifacts, but among the followers who once followed the Great Sage, three were considered freelancers. After a long period of time, finding them again became difficult.
After spending half a year, Lanorlas finally located the whereabouts of the remaining three artifacts. By force, he took them and placed them on the slate.
Though all the vacancies were filled, the slate showed no reaction. Lanorlas frowned, recalling memories of following the Great Sage, until he focused on one specific item.
"If it's that one, I should know where it is." Lanorlas gazed into the distance, then controlled his body to fly quickly in that direction. If he remembered correctly, the disciple who had been expelled by the Great Sage was in that direction!
