Nameless King

"War? The city looks as calm as the inhabitants." Eva muttered.

"Yes, but it's an illusion and the calm before the storm. Though we'll try to make sure it doesn't affect other neighborhoods anyway. Two will be enough for the battlefield."

"Two?" Wain was puzzled, "Didn't you say that only the Rose District knows what's going on?"

"Huh, it's not that simple." Leon smiled, "If you were careful enough, you noticed how the districts are arranged in Virfal, it's a circular structure, but it doesn't affect the center. There is another one, zone zero, the Lotus District, deep underground. It's the core of the city, until recently, only special personnel lived there, but it all started there."

"What happened?"

"After merging worlds in the Lotus District, strange changes began to occur. The Lotus trees that supported our city slowly began to fade. We didn't understand the cause and put all our energies into fixing it, but we failed. However, when the last bud was left, it bloomed brightly and became bloody, and the same thing happened to the other lotuses."

"Did I devour one of those lotuses?"

"Yes, but it was only a small and weak bud. We don't know why, but the lotuses gained the essence of blood. At first, we thought it was a miracle and great luck, but everything has a downside."

"Any reason why you want to destroy the blood lotuses?"

Leon nodded, "The blood lotuses are growing rapidly and absorbing too much energy and life force. Other plants and the city are slowly dying, and we urgently need to fix it, but not everyone thinks so."

"We, the Scarlet Rose Family and a host of other powerful families, think it is necessary to destroy all but the main bud and purge it, returning the city to its former state. The Fallen Lotus Family and their minions think otherwise. They want to use blood lotuses and grow them, and they don't care that it will hurt everyone but the noble families."

"I wouldn't expect you to worry about the lives of ordinary people."

"That's not exactly true. I won't be hypocritical, I don't care about anyone but my family and friends, but I care about this city because it is my home. What's more, it's all too strange. I'm sure that if the blood lotuses keep growing, it will lead to the city's downfall one day. What's the point of the blood essence if there's no more energy in this place?" Leon uttered.

"I see. The situation is complicated." Wain muttered.

"Now that you know the situation, I want to ask you. Which side will you take?" Leon calmly said.

"What happens if you don't like our answer?"

Leon smiled weakly, "In that case, I'll just kill you, right here."

His aura intensified, and a powerful pressure came over Wain and Eva.

"Not weak, but are you sure you can handle the two of us?" Eva uttered.

"You are strong, and you know it, but in the territory of the Scarlet Rose Family, in my territory. I'd be interested in fighting two a humans."

"Ahahahaha, so you get it." Wain laughed.

"Of course, it wasn't hard. Honestly, I was even hoping it would happen after the worlds merged."

"In that case, I'll have to disappoint you. I'll side with you, but only on the condition that I can absorb as many blood lotuses as I can find."

Eva nodded in support of Wain.

"What a pity." Leon mouthed, and his aura subsided, "I agree to your terms. I have forbidden my people to consume blood lotuses, as we believe they may be dangerous. We do not yet know whether they should be purified or not."

"Can I be poisoned?"

"Maybe, I don't know for sure, but you are a human being. It's your business, do as you see fit."

"Brother!" Suddenly Nina ran into the room.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Carlos is here, and he's very aggressive! It's because of that girl Kuno brought."

"Ah, a real headache." Leon stood up and slowly headed into the hall.

...

"Leon! You're out of line! How could you order your men to take her!" The tall man exclaimed, pointing at the lotus girl beside him. She was unconscious.

It was Carlos, one of the elders of the Fallen Lotus Family. His skin was pale, and he had lotus petals growing on his arms.

"What are you talking about? She is safe and sound. I have told you many times before that you must stop your attempts to increase blood lotuses, or this will lead to the city's collapse. We must restore order."

"Leon! We have asked you many times to negotiate! Don't you understand that this is a unique and rare opportunity to obtain large quantities of blood essences! Blood Lotuses continue to grow and flourish. Dreams of 99% blood purity will no longer be so!" Carlos exclaimed.

They wanted to get stronger like everyone else, and increasing blood purity was one of the most effective options. High blood purity made a person stronger at any stage, unlike the energy that had to be constantly built up and absorbed.

The reasoning of the Fallen Lotus Family was logical and based not only on the lust for profit but also on the fact that one should not miss the chance. So many other families joined them and stood up against the Scarlet Rose Family.

"I'm not interested in that. You know my position, and I'm not going to sit down to negotiate. Either you agree to work with us and cure the city of this contagion, or we will destroy you. Take the girl and go. We won't be fighting today. You still have time to change your mind." Leon said calmly, but there was weight and influence in every word he said.

Carlos frowned and snorted, taking the girl and leaving the manor. The Fallen Lotus Family and the Scarlet Rose Family were rivals, but they both wanted Virfal and Plants to become stronger. Therefore, the Fallen Lotus Family and their allies do not want to allow war and work together to increase the number of Blood Lotuses.