Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

"Let's go, Ximu," a black steel-colored large carriage stopped by the roadside, its occupants calling out to a companion still in the distance.

It had been a week since their arrival at the Withered Tree Garden, and it was time for them to leave.

"Wait a moment, I'll bring this over," Ximu responded from a distance, then quickly exchanged a few words with a masked tree artisan by his side, before hurrying over with a wooden box in his arms.

"Are you in love or something? You've been with that young tree artisan every day." His companions teased him from the carriage and inquired about the young tree artisan's identity.

"Her name is Hasna, she just became a tree artisan not long ago. She has beautiful black hair and bright deep purple eyes, just like gemstones." Ximu waved goodbye to the girl in the distance with a sense of reluctance.

"Have you seen what she looks like? The tree artisans here all wear veils and dress quite conservatively."

"Cough cough, I saw her once. It was one evening during a walk; a gust of wind gave me a glimpse," Ximu recalled with a mix of delight and nostalgia.

"Is she pretty?"

"Very pretty, at least in my eyes."

"Prettier than Chairman Tilan?" Someone else egged on the conversation.

"Now you're putting me in a difficult position. They have different styles. The chairman probably has this serene and dreamy beauty like an elegant orchid in an empty valley, occasionally quite adorable, but Hasna is more like a rich and passionate desert rose. Right, her laugh is also very pleasant to hear."

"Alright, alright, but it seems Ximu has fallen head over heels in just a few days. I guess she must be quite attractive then."

The group settled back into the carriage, and that's when Ximu opened the wooden box he was carrying. Inside, cushioned by tree leaves, were full, light yellow fruits that resembled lemons but were harder to the touch, with a rough, uneven surface.

"These are Dark Silver Level yellow citrons, aren't they? A whole box of them must cost a pretty penny, especially in such a desolate place," the person next to him said, feeling the fruits and estimating their value.

"Such a valuable token of affection; she must really like you," the others asked about how the two had met.

"At that time, I was somewhat lost in the Withered Tree Forest when I ran into a tree artisan on the road. After hearing her voice, I realized she was young, about my age, so I asked her for directions, and then we started talking," Ximu recounted the scene at that time.

"Sigh, you're just too lucky. The tree artisan who guided us was obviously an old man, and these days have been quite ordinary. However, the old man was quite knowledgeable, and I learned a lot from him," Guluo and Phyllis said enviously.

"That's not bad either, you've gained quite a bit." Laughter and playful banter filled the carriage once again.

The black steel-colored large carriage gradually left the forest behind and headed towards the edge of the wilderness. Unwittingly, they had grown accustomed to such travels.

However, Tilan and her group's time in the Northern Second District was running short, with only a few sampling points left to visit.

"The last destination is probably over by 'Sun Burning City,'" Yalian pointed to a spot on the projected map.

"The law and order situation there isn't good; it used to be a prison in the Northern Star District."

"Having come this far, we can't talk of giving up at the last few stops."

"Yeah, let's head out to our final destination!" The group cheered.

"Haha, this feels just like some game or animation," someone laughed.

"But it's fun, that's for sure."

...

Two days later, the black steel-colored big carriage entered a field of black bulwarks. These black, rocky ramparts were squarely placed upon the land, one after another, with high walls and towers, all carved with admonitory scriptures and penal codes, while statues of angels in chains adorned the tops of the towers.

Long ago, this was said to be the largest prison and reformation area in the Northern Star District. The black-robed priests here were responsible for guiding those who had strayed and enforcing strict rules, spreading their faith.

"So what happened after that? After the decay of the Northern Star District, what became of the prisoners here?"

"Most were moved away, but some who had completed their sentences grew accustomed to life here and chose to stay."
Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

"Most of the facilities here have independent operating systems, originally designed to prevent power and water cutoffs in case of an accident. However, as the environment worsened, they became suitable refuges, and the local priests took in many homeless people."

"At first, it went well, with the refugees following the guidance of the priests. But as numbers grew, the original population of priests became a minority, and the situation gradually changed."

"Law and order declined, crimes started to surface, and since this was a region abandoned by the federation, surveillance and Riot Control Units were scarce, with no police to maintain order or make arrests."

"Thus, the situation deteriorated, and some, tempted by the priests' wealth and assets, began to plot against others."

"The conflict between the two sides escalated, leading the remaining black-robed priests to unite and begin a purge. Despite the high number of refugees, the original inhabitants—most of whom were Transcendents with excellent education—were more united and disciplined than expected and quickly defeated the opposition."

"However, due to the strict ordinances of the priests, they couldn't kill indiscriminately, resulting in the refugees becoming the new prisoners, confined within the area."

"The work returned to its normal course, and as the priests became accustomed to their old roles, they also started to guide and admonish some of the refugees, slowly changing their mindset and integrating them into their own community."