During the day of the assembly, happening simultaneously in Eli's cottage.
"Success!"
Eli excitedly declared as she triumphantly took a medical mask and gloves!
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the first manmade black hair!"
She declared as she displayed to the project team and the rest, the first testing of the blended indigo and henna sample hair strands.
She had been working through the proper proportion in mixing the two plants in order to make her samples dyed black.
Everyone commended Eli in amazement.
From the moment they knew her, she kept on working and studying to make her ideas come into reality. It was really a joy to see her succeed.
"Great Teacher, this is amazing!!! It's really so black!" Meredith exclaimed as she curiously inspected the hair samples.
"If I didn't see you work on this I would have thought that you used magic in transforming different colored hair into black!" Bramwell also marveled as he observed the samples.
"Hohoho! Dear Eli, you amazed me again with your ideas! With this, we can already set out to distribute it outside the borders!"
Grandpa Andi exclaimed as his eyes shined bright, as if he could already see the profits they would yield.
"Hehehe, have you seen the study I have given? What do you think of that proposal?" Eli replied with an evil looking smile as she glanced at Grandpa Andi.
"You, Old Andi! How could you teach our young Eli to be as schemeful as you!"
Grandpa Ben playfully commented as he saw the two almost drooling at the idea of Shinies flowing to their pockets.
"What can I do? Eli's plan is very brilliant! To think that she would start to do this in the Kingdom of Belizia? It would be so perfect!" Grandpa Andi proudly replied.
Belizia, a small kingdom in the far east. It doesn't have any political relations with the Seirende empire yet they were a kingdom known to have rich heritage of textile and fashion.
It was like Paris in the modern world.
Every trend happening in the Belizia Kingdom would definitely be a trend to the neighboring kingdoms, even to Seirende. What's more, the Belizia Kingdom is the home of the most famous fashion designer in Prasinos, - Madame Karilla.
Introducing black hair as a trend in this kingdom would be perfect. The Spectre would not even suspect that it was a scheme coming from the people of the Seirende Empire.
Eli's plan was simple.
She and Grandpa Andi would create a ghost merchant group traveling to Belizia. They will target Madame Karilla to partner in starting the trends. But the challenge is to convince the Madame that black hair is beautiful.
In order to do this, Grandpa Andi had commissioned the Forgerworn clan artists and designers to create a drawings according to Eli's description.
All to create a fashion book highlighting the black hair as a style. With this, they hope that it will be up to the taste of Madame Karilla and cooperate with them in supplying the blends of henna.
The second phase will be the distribution of the henna to the fashion houses in the neighboring town, all under the ghost merchant group. Up until it reached beyond Seirende Empire, only then that the merchant group will dissolve and the henna formula will be released in the public.
This will allow the Forgeworn Clan and the other merchant groups to legitimately engage in the henna business. By that time, the Spectre would have no way to trace back who created the henna blend and will just disperse their search troops for the Seirende Empire to slowly eliminate.
The group celebrated joyfully until lunch time, then they all proceeded in working with the water pressure and heating system. They were already at the stage of crafting the components, thus everyone in the house was busy.
While the project team was working, Eli had no choice but to stay in the lounge area to rest.
They begged Eli to take a break because everyone could already see that she was already at the late stage of pregnancy.
They were worried that all the work Eli has been doing would affect hers and Little Han's health.
Her break was gently interrupted when Olivier respectfully went inside to report. He had a shocked and awkward face while saying, "Milady, t-there was a man looking for you outside.."
"A man? Who might he be?" Eli was surprised, she didn't know any other man other than the Prince and the bunch that was currently with her.
"T-this.. I don't know but he seemed to be strong. He knew you very well and he.. He is half naked!" Olivier shyly exclaimed.
"Half naked?! Ahh! I know who that is!! Olivier, no matter what happens, tell everyone to be respectful to the guest! You all must be respectful.. We must avoid trouble!"
In shock, Eli abruptly stood in panic. She then immediately went out to meet the 'guest'.
Standing at the gate was a tanned, half naked man with midnight messy hair.
On his shoulders was a red vented cockatoo with snow white feathers, behind him was a beautiful deer. Hovering around its antlers was a glittering butterfly.
The half naked man alluringly crossed his arms while aloofly looked at Eli, "I was wondering what took you long enough... I see, the little baby is growing.."
"Greetings Lord Za---" Eli was about to greet him completely yet Zale interrupted her.
"Eherm eherm, Eli you must have forgotten my name after some time, it's Za.. Zaen, Zaen…" Zale replied in alarm as he awkwardly looked at the people around Eli.
Eli got Zale's message and went with the flow, "Pardon, it seemed like I had really forgotten. Greetings Lord Zaen! I welcome you to my humble home."
"Uhn, your home is nice, and very lively…I am curious to see what's inside!" Zale awkwardly replied, obviously not used to these kinds of formalities.
It was his limit as a half naked man, so he immediately hinted to Eli that they go inside for a private talk.
"Alright, please come inside.." Eli replied, she didn't dare to answer the questioning gazes that Grandpas and the bunch gave her. What's in front of her now was a guardian!
Immediately, the two went inside along with the animal companions of the half naked man. The people outside could only ask Olivier about who the person was.
"The Lady only said that no matter what happens, we have to respect him." Olivier replied, he was also as baffled as the others.
Upon reaching the lounge room, Zale immediately snapped and created a barrier in the cottage.
"Bahh! That was nerve wracking! Why do you have so many people in the house!" Zale said as he acted like he was finally freed from his restraint.
"Who insisted on coming here with a human form?! We repeatedly reminded you to disguise yet you insisted!" A nonchalant voice came from the beautiful deer, glowing with green, he suddenly transformed to Sylvain.
"Bro! Why would I transform like you guys! What about my awesomeness!" Zale replied, confidently brandishing his tanned and ripped upper body.
"Then you brought that upon yourself and to your 'awesomeness'!" A stern female voice replied to Zale, it was from the butterfly who transformed as Celeste.
The red vented cockatoo didn't say anything but just quietly flew towards Eli's lap, brushing its fluffy head on her hands.
"Great Guardians, What may be the reason for your visit?" Eli politely asked with curiosity in her eyes.
"Oh Eli! It's just a short visit to see how you and the little one had been doing!" Sylvain affectionately said.
"Seeing you healthy and living well, I am really happy! I was actually worried to see you collapsed under the array that contained my blessing!" Celeste said while tapping Eli's shoulder with concern.
"Ah, at that time I was really confused. But now, thanks to your answers on my inquiry, I am well and alright!" Eli did not forget to thank the guardians for helping her come up with the decision about Leon.
"It's alright. Oh, by the way, we came here because Zale had something to give to you! We just tagged along with him!" Celeste replied, it was unusual to see her endorse Zale so proudly.
"Eherm!" Slightly blushing because he was dignifiedly introduced by Celeste who was usually strict with him, he snapped his fingers and a rainbow crystal shell appeared in his palms.
"It happened that in the jurisdiction that I was governing, the merpeople, gifted me a mermaid's cradle. It is used when a female of the merpeople finishes giving birth. The cradle will be the resting place of their offspring.
Once their offspring grow, the cradle is crushed to be a material for the mermaids' jewelry. But this cradle is special! This cradle is from the queen of the mermaids and she very willingly gave it to me!" Zale explained proudly.
He slowly handed it down to Eli and continued, "The interior of the cradle is warm and rich in protective mana spells . It is very conducive to infant development and protection.. The four of us had adjusted its properties to be usable for humans!"
"This! This is so precious! How could I take this?" Eli exclaimed in surprise as she heard of Zale's explanation.
"Zeh.. Don't you worry, the queen was happy to know that I have a godkid! She was so excited when she gave me this thing! So might as well take it!" Zale replied insistently.
"This.. I thank you.. Thank you so much!" Eli gave a grateful bow to the four of them.
She happily caressed the rainbow crystal shell. Actually, she really liked the item. If she understood it clearly, the cradle could be something that would help little Han grow more healthier than the other kids.
"Alright then! We will be on our way! We just quickly dropped by." The four immediately said with happy faces, seeing Eli liked the gift so much.
"Ahh so soon?" Awoken from her trance, Eli asked the guardians.
"Fufufu, I know you missed us but we have to really go or else, the Overseer would scold us from slacking off~~~" Sylvain playfully replied. The three immediately transformed into their initial disguises.
"Ah.. I see, if that's the case, I'll see you out.." Eli said in an awkward manner.
She respectfully led them out of the cottage for them to go to their respective domains.
Just when she was about to cheerfully wave Zale and the rest goodbye, a sound of a falling sword was heard.
Clang!
It was from Leon who was with another cloaked man. His expression was unsightly, a trace of panic and surprise could be seen in his crystal blue eyes.
'I just witnessed Eli see off a half naked man!'
"W-who might this gentleman be?" He said coldly. His stoic demeanor helped him mask the anxiety he was feeling right now.
Zale intesely gazed at Leon, inspecting his overall appearance.
As if he had finished his assessment, with arrogance he replied, "Are you asking who I am?"
He raised his well built tanned arms and charmingly pointed to himself while saying,
"I am just none other than Little Han's future Father!!!" He declared so boldly.
DUN DUN!!!!
The Third Prince, Leon felt a strong sense of calamity after hearing the half naked man's reply.
