The grove buzzed with activity as Selene finalized her plans for the day. The teleportation circles had been a monumental success, allowing her to oversee both her grove and the territories of her two vassals—SilverLily and IronFist. Their loyalty was fragile but genuine, secured by the Fae Lords she had sent to their lands. Now, she intended to leverage them to expand her influence even further.

  Selene opened the Trade Interface, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the chaotic listings. The demand for food was higher than ever, with more lords struggling to secure enough resources to survive.

  [HunterKing]: "Still no food! Someone trade meat, please!"

  [SilverClaw]: "Willing to trade all my energy stones for meat. Desperate here!"

  [GoldenDragon]: "You weaklings need to learn how to hunt. Stop begging."

  Selene rolled her eyes at the arrogance of GoldenDragon but focused on the opportunities. With the resources her grove produced, she could dominate the food market. But doing so openly would paint a target on her back. Instead, she would use her vassals to act as intermediaries.

  Selene accessed the private communication channel with SilverLily and IronFist.

  《QueenOfBalance: I have a task for you both.》

  《SilverLily: Anything. I’ll do whatever you need.》

  《IronFist: Let’s hear it.》

  《QueenOfBalance: You will each sell a portion of my meat stock in the Trade Interface. Set the price high enough to reflect the demand but low enough to sell quickly. You’ll use the profits to purchase additional resources for your territories and to send back to me. Make sure to list the meat under your names, not mine.》

  There was a pause before the responses came.

  《SilverLily: Got it. I’ll make sure it’s done right.》

  《IronFist: Understood. Consider it done.》

  Satisfied, Selene sent a portion of her meat stores to each vassal via the teleportation circles. The Fae Lords stationed in their territories—Mischief with SilverLily and Paths with IronFist—would oversee the operation, ensuring no mistakes were made.

  Within minutes, the listings appeared in the Trade Interface under their names:

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  [SilverLily]: "Selling fresh meat! High quality. Limited stock—act fast!"

  [IronFist]: "Meat for sale. Fair prices. Don’t miss out!"

  The listings sold out almost immediately, their prices undercutting the few other lords who dared to sell meat. The world chat exploded with activity:

  [HunterKing]: "SilverLily, thank you! Please list more!"

  [SilverClaw]: "IronFist, you’re a lifesaver. I’ll buy from you anytime."

  [GoldenDragon]: "Hah. So, someone figured out how to hunt. About time."

  Selene smirked as she watched the transactions unfold. Her plan was working perfectly. By selling through her vassals, she avoided drawing attention to herself while reaping the rewards of the food trade.

  Later that day, SilverLily and IronFist reported back.

  《SilverLily: I sold everything. The energy stones and cores are coming in. I’ve already started reinforcing my walls with the profits.》

  《IronFist: Same here. My defenses are finally shaping up. Thanks for trusting me with this, Queen.》

  Selene nodded to herself, pleased with their progress. The vassal system was proving more effective than she’d hoped. Not only did it protect her identity, but it also allowed her to strengthen her allies’ positions while expanding her own resources.

  Meanwhile, Selene turned her attention back to her grove. The Fae Lord of Magma approached, his molten form radiating heat.

  “My Queen,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “The fire serpents have discovered a rich vein of energy cores in the eastern quarry. It will require additional forces to secure it, as the area is heavily infested with beasts.”

  Selene considered his report. Energy cores were crucial for her continued growth, but sending too many forces to the quarry could leave the grove vulnerable.

  “Take a team of molten elementals and blink hounds,” Selene ordered. “Clear the beasts and secure the quarry. Ensure the resources are brought back safely.”

  “As you command,” Magma replied, bowing before heading off.

  As night fell, Selene opened the Trade Interface once more. The listings under her vassals’ names were still selling out as fast as they could post them, and the profits were steadily increasing. She used some of the energy stones and cores to upgrade her hunting lodge further, enhancing its efficiency and capacity.

  《System Alert: Hunting Lodge Upgraded!》

  《Your hunting lodge now attracts more creatures and improves food preservation.》

  Selene stepped outside, the glow of the teleportation circle illuminating the grove. Her Fae Lords gathered around her, their loyalty unwavering.

  “Today was a success,” Selene said, her voice calm but firm. “Our network grows stronger, and our influence spreads. Tomorrow, we expand again. The Boundless Continent will soon feel the power of the Queen of Balance.”

  The Fae Lords bowed deeply, their confidence in her leadership absolute. Selene turned her gaze to the horizon, her plans unfolding like a web. She would build, expand, and thrive—and no one would see her coming until it was too late.