"What those two kids can do, we can do too; what they can't do, we can still do."
"If you grant them power, they may only cause trouble in Valley Town, but if you grant us power," "we can spread your faith to every corner of this continent!"
After speaking these words at breakneck speed, Dola tensed up, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.
They had just lost the initiative, and the golden ball, the god of the " Erdtree," had directly targeted the two little devils.
Now, she must regain the initiative.
Dola refused to believe that her forty years of experience, connections, and skills, accumulated over her years of navigating the skies, would be defeated by two mere children.
and----
Dola glanced at the snapped rope in Pazu's eye.
She wanted that extraordinary power too.
"Very well, I grant permission to become a child of the Erdtree."
Dola was overjoyed by Mu En's brief words. She suppressed the urge to grin and maintained a "sincere" expression, waiting for the blessing to arrive.
As for why she agreed to the request, Mu En had her own considerations.
The analysis given by that elderly woman with only one gun was not without merit.
Pazu and Sheeta certainly have their strengths, but in terms of initiative, scope of activity, experience in handling affairs, and especially the ability to navigate gray areas, the two children are far inferior to this seasoned veteran.
Even a blind man could see that Dola had her own ulterior motives.
But Mu En didn't care.
Becoming Blessed, with Golden Rune flowing through one's body, naturally means being controlled by the Erdtree.
Mu En doesn't use such methods to control the Blessed because he's unwilling, not unable.
He didn't want to be the kind of guy who treated his subordinates like puppets, using fear and coercive commands to control them.
This not only contradicts his values, but also—
Who knows, one day someone might come rushing in, shouting about bonds and friendship, and treat him like a boss to be defeated.
He prefers willing believers.
Of course, he would use any means necessary when the time came; he wasn't the kind of old-fashioned person bound by some Void "code of conduct."
The Blessed Dew fell once more, and golden light seeped into Dola's body.
She immediately experienced the wonder of the blessing.
The feeling was like parched earth suddenly being drenched by sweet rain; all the minor ailments left over from years of piloting aircraft and operating at high altitudes disappeared.
Not only that, she could also feel her skin tightening, her excess fat disappearing, her vision becoming much clearer, and even the tips of a few new teeth emerging from her gums.
From an outsider's perspective, Dola, bathed in golden light, looked at least ten years younger.
Actually, Dola, who looks like a woman in her sixties or seventies, is only in her early fifties.
The reason she looks so old is entirely due to the hardships she endured every day—working under the sun and wind, risking her life, and overworking herself to support her three sons.
Now, the enhancement brought by Blessed Dew has directly brought her appearance back to a whole new level.
( Dola's character design; her mother-in-law was a stunning beauty in her youth!)
Dola raised her head, her eyes gleaming with undisguised desire.
She wanted more blessings, the more the better!
Moreover, it must not be known to others, especially "outsiders".
"Lord Erdtree, I am deeply grateful for this favor. From this day forward, I will be your most loyal servant."
Then, she turned her gaze to Pazu and Sheeta.
"However—these two kids are too young, and lack experience and ability. What a pity if they make a mistake and ruin your plans?"
"In my opinion, it's enough for us to handle things for you. As for the others, leave them to me. What do you think?"
She was testing the waters.
To test whether this " Erdtree " has the ability to forcefully command itself.
If not—hehe, sorry.
Whether it's this magical power or the treasures of Laputa, she wants to possess them all!
Pazu and Sheeta's expressions changed, and they took a few steps back, watching Dola warily.
Mu En sighed inwardly.
Sure enough, this kind of strong person isn't so easy to manage.
Unlike the simple and friendly inhabitants of the Valley of the Wind, Dola is greedy, shrewd, and adept at maneuvering; profit is what drives her.
Despite her kindness towards Sheeta and Pazu in the original work, and her apparent role as a kind old lady, she may not be as adept as she appears in the story.
It was only after the two children demonstrated their character and abilities, and even saved her life, that Dola changed her attitude and began to regard the two children as "one of her own."
However, how could a gift from the gods come without a price?
Are you questioning my decision?
Dola froze.
Blood stopped flowing, muscles and joints locked up, as if her entire body had betrayed her.
That was caused by Mu directly manipulating the Rune her body.
Fear poured over her like ice water; Dola opened her eyes wide and tried to struggle, but to no avail.
Under the immense pressure, she uncontrollably collapsed to her knees, her forehead pressed against the rocky ground.
"Mom?!" Dola's three sons were terrified when they saw this.
(Although all the crew members are used to calling her "Mom," only these three are actually Dola's biological sons.)
But before Sheeta and Pazu, they dared not make a move, and could only kneel before the golden seed, "Great God! Mother is just... just senile, we are willing to obey, we are willing to do anything!"
"Yes, yes! Please, spare my mother!"
We really know we were wrong!
The air pirates all lay prostrate on the ground, trembling, pleading for their mothers' lives.
A few seconds later, the oppressive feeling suddenly disappeared, and control of the body was regained.
Dola lay on the ground, panting heavily, her back soaked in cold sweat.
"No, I wouldn't dare. I know I was wrong. I will obey your orders."
At that moment, she truly thought she was going to die.
This god truly has the power to control the life and death of mortals like them!
Mu En remained calm and composed, saying, "Get up. This is a one-time exception; don't let it happen again."
"Remember, the children of the Erdtree are equal."
Seeing the six sky pirates prostrate on the ground, emanating a faint power of faith, Mu En knew that his methods had worked.
When it comes to winning people's hearts, a combination of kindness and severity is always one of the simplest and most effective methods.
The air pirates scrambled to their feet, turned to Pazu and Sheeta, and forced smiles that looked more like grimaces.
"Hey you two—young men, please don't take what happened earlier to heart."
"From now on, we'll all be working for Erdtree; we're all family."
"Heh, heh heh, yes, we're family."
Pazu snorted but didn't reply.
But looking at these lowly air pirates, he felt a secret sense of satisfaction.
Who told you to bully Sheeta!
The immediate crisis has been temporarily averted, and in addition, several capable subordinates have been gained.
Mu En began to think about the next step; it was time to find a suitable place to settle down.
In his seed form, he seems to have difficulty receiving external energy, whether from faith or Rune.
Valley Town should be a good starting point.
There are thousands of miners and their families who suffer from resource scarcity and physical exhaustion.
This represents a high-quality group of potential believers.
Moreover, with Pazu, a local, guiding the way, infiltration will be much easier.
Then, Mu En slowly floated down towards Sheeta, and the girl subconsciously caught the Golden Seed and held it in her hands.
Flying continuously will also consume Rune.
Moreover, the young girl's hands are more comfortable than those of the old woman Dola.
"Then let's go back to town first. Pazu will lead the way. I need a place where I can connect with people and settle down."
"Clear!"
Pazu nodded immediately; this god who called himself the Erdtree was his and Sheeta's savior.
"Understood, we'll definitely get it done." Dola quickly replied, then turned and yelled at her sons, "Get up right now!"
"Yes, Mom!"
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