[Heh. I knew I raised you well] Lotus allowed a brief, subtle curve to form at the corners of her lips, a small but meaningful smile that reflected deep inner satisfaction and quiet pride as she observed Elara’s decisive leadership in the moment.

In the privacy of her own thoughts, she continued reflecting with a sense of warm approval. [If Elara had decided to go the cleaner and more cautious path, I would not have stopped her or interfered in any way. But I personally will never let Benjamin go so easily. I have not truly loved a man in almost an eternity of existence. So I will not lose hold of this one that I have now found. Hold on tightly, my love, wherever you are—we are coming to save you soon.]

"I will perform a great deal of sorcery and forbidden magic right here within the safety and seclusion of the Verdant Spire," Lotus added aloud, her voice carrying the weight of serious intent and long experience. "Therefore, I will constantly need strong security and protection from any heavenly beings or policing forces that might be aimed at quelling or investigating such dangerous endeavors."

"What do we do then?" Sara now asked her directly, leaning forward with focused determination as she sought clear guidance. "Should we stay here in the Spire and protect you while you carry out your rituals and preparations?"

"No dear, quite the opposite of that," Lotus regarded her with a measured gaze, her golden eyes steady and strategic. "I want all of you to go out and make a noticeable mess across the lands. It should already be known by now throughout Elyndor that the Amazons have lost their god-touched man. So we need to act exactly according to how we are perceived by the outside world. Violent and unpredictable... Enraged."

"I love the sound of that," Tamar cracked her knuckles loudly, a fierce grin spreading across her face as excitement built within her. "So... who are we offing first? Tell me the targets and I am ready."

"Please, calm down, Tamar dear," Lotus managed to feel a light cold sweat forming despite her efforts, but she kept a perfectly calm and composed expression on her face, betraying none of the mild concern.

She continued, "We can be as ruthless and intimidating as possible in our actions, but no killing. In fact, some nations will not receive the full brunt of our violence at all—we must choose our targets with wisdom."

"Hm? What do you mean by that exactly?" Sara asked, clearly puzzled by the idea of holding back from tearing down every single nation that might be suspected of involvement.

But Elara stepped in to explain with patient clarity, her voice steady despite the earlier emotional weight. "Fairylynch, Gihon... Shishi-no-su... You see these three powerful kingdoms? The Amazons of the Verdant Spire do not currently have the strength or resources to battle directly with them... And complete avoidance of open conflict with these powers is most strongly advised if we wish to survive."

Lotus nodded in firm agreement, elaborating further to ensure everyone understood the dangerous realities.

"Gihon has Izra and Ezra, Seraphina, and Renard among its key figures. These four alone possess the capability to cause major and potentially devastating damage to our own forces. Even if they turn out to be the ones holding Benjamin, we would need to outsmart them through clever strategy rather than rushing into a losing direct battle.

"Fairylynch has Titania, Tera, Tesa, the prodigy known as Isabelle, the titan called Valentine, and a rising power identified as Clay. Just Tera and Tesa together would already prove too much for even the elite warriors of the Spire to handle comfortably.

"But I personally suspect Titania most strongly of having a hand in the abduction. Even if she is not the direct culprit, she most definitely harbors strong intent to claim him for herself. She is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous individuals, second only to Chröma, currently active across all of Elyndor.

"Shishi-no-su has the Beast Queen and her numerous divine siblings, the abnormal god-touched Kurosawa Ren, Silver Shadow and her network of skilled agents. And if too many problems arise for them, the legendary wives of Leorin are still said to live in that realm.

"That combination is simply too much for us to confront head-on at this stage. We should just hope with all our hearts that Benjamin is not being held in Shishi-no-su. If he is, it will likely take decades of careful planning before we will be able to get him back safely. Princess Lily and Queen Sakura are mages of truly matchless class and power—I can only do as much as mildly annoy them myself even on my best day."

The Amazons gathered in the hall only paled visibly at Lotus’s sobering words, a wave of depression settling over many of them.

Some slumped forward onto the smooth surface of the oval table in visible discouragement, while many others let out heavy sighs that bordered on a sense of nigh-defeat, the weight of the odds pressing down upon the room.

"But Goliathens, the Elven Empire, and Steelwood are much closer to our own level of power," Lotus encouraged them, her tone shifting to one of renewed motivation and strategic hope. "We must begin harassing and pressuring them as soon as possible, so that the wider world comes to understand clearly that we are hysterical, furious, and completely enraged by the sudden disappearance of our precious man."

"Is this all to create a thick confusion of mist and misdirection with which you can quietly cook up something eerie and powerful in the background?" Tamar asked calmly, her earlier excitement tempered by understanding. "And when exactly do we get to crush skulls and rip out organs in the process?"

Lotus once again felt a cold sweat threatening to break out, but thanks to her vast experience and advanced age, she had long mastered the art of emotional control.

She betrayed absolutely no visible emotions on her face, maintaining the same serene and calculating expression as before.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com