Demi-human Girls Completion Manual Chapter 1413 - 44: Frustration (2)

"I understand your doubts very well. After all, you weren’t here at the time, but regrettably, the marriage contract between Mr. Fisher and Miss Valentina is real. Our Six Clans follow the decree of the Moon Princess; only when Fisher and Valentina have performed the Holy Marriage and consummated it can we entrust them with the Seal. This is something that the clan leaders of our Six Clans can all attest to. So, Captain Alagina, their marriage cannot be questioned."

Valentina nodded and glanced at the stunned Isabella. Just then, the mocking voice of Master Tao suddenly echoed in her ear.

"What are you nodding at, trivial Phoenix fish? You’ve been played by this Slime and are still grinning foolishly."

"Ah, but isn’t the Baline Clan Leader helping me prove my marriage to Fisher?"

Valentina was startled by the voice of Tao in her mind and questioned in return.

Master Tao sneered and said,

"Young trivial thoughts are so simple... He is indeed helping you prove your marriage to Fisher, but he is also quietly revealing the truth and reasons for your marriage to them. They have every reason to believe that Fisher is forced to marry you because of your ancestor’s decree, rather than out of mutual affection and love..."

"!"

Yes, it was only now that Valentina realized this. After all, she was still too young; even before her slumber, she was only just coming of age. How could she understand the profound implications hidden in the words of the Slime Tribe Chief who has lived for thousands of years?

But even after realizing this, she did not voice it. Instead, she glanced at the smiling Baline, her mind quickly pondering.

"So, the Baline Clan Leader intends to keep Captain Alagina and them here, leaving some leeway?"

"...Unexpectedly, this trivial Phoenix fish isn’t too dumb. You’re right; it’s likely because that mixed-blood descendant of the Troll can provide something of interest to them. While emotions indeed influence many decisions, after all, it’s private matters between you, her, and your dead husband. These trivial demi-humans won’t and don’t want to manage that. But clearly, they don’t want your private matters to affect everyone’s interests, even if you are their nominal leader and the Phoenix they worship."

"..."

"Haha, if your power were strong enough, maybe you wouldn’t need them, and naturally, you could do whatever you want... But for now, your rank is low, the Chaos is strong, and my state is far from recovered. If coupled with being isolated, you would undoubtedly struggle."

"..."

Master Tao’s plain words taught the young Valentina something she had never learned before. She used to have only a few members in her previous team, and most of them had good relations with her; but now, under her command is a larger and more complex organizational structure. She can’t maintain the same close relationships as before with each existing group or interest group within it, meaning the way she manages it must be radically different from before.

Valentina didn’t respond to Master Tao in her heart anymore. She just looked up at Alagina not far away, and only a few seconds had passed in reality, allowing Valentina to catch her change of expression.

Sure enough, her originally thunderstruck stiff expression brightened a bit, as if she’d grasped a ray of hope. She clutched her bandage and looked at Valentina earnestly, saying,

"Fisher... married Miss Valentina to enter the Wutong Tree, right?"

Baline patted his belly, his expression appearing somewhat troubled. He glanced at Valentina, seemingly unable to let the Phoenix down too much, thus prepared to add some words, but unexpectedly, Valentina suddenly smiled and spoke up,

"That is indeed the case, Captain Alagina. Although I can’t currently prove how good my relationship with my husband is, since the marriage has been completed, please respect my status as Fisher’s wife... By the way, I must thank Captain Alagina; if it weren’t for your help, I might have fallen to my death among the roots of the World Tree. Allow me to express my sincere gratitude on behalf of the Wutong Tree."

Valentina merely reiterated her status as the "wife," saying nothing else and not pursuing matters between Alagina and Fisher, before or after.

It was as if she temporarily set aside this matter, then walked up with a smile, reaching out warmly to Alagina.

Baline, with a pacifier in his mouth, glanced at Valentina and exchanged a look with Dalilulu beside him, both smiled, tacitly not saying anything more, like the most devout guards under the Phoenix Constellation.

But Alagina, looking at the hand that Valentina extended, for a moment seemed somewhat caught between advance and retreat.

The Phoenix before her seemed to temporarily shelve the issue, returning to the main matter and even expressed gratitude for her aid.

Alagina wouldn’t doubt that with this connection, she and her sisters would definitely be able to stay within the Frost Snow Phoenix Tree, no longer having to face the fleeing from Nali’s pursuit...

But she might still feel uncomfortable because of Valentina’s posture as a "wife," that generous, unmindful attitude, as if wholly confident that nothing could shake her bond with Fisher, that it couldn’t stir any waves, so she didn’t care...