Danse Forest, a vast ocean of green as far as the eye can see.

This is the home of the elves and the last place where the elves retreated. Thousands of years ago, the entire Bodi continent used to be the stage for these pointy ears to gallop, but it is a pity that the back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves, and no matter how rich and complete the feast is, there will be a day when it will disperse. The so-called full moon is full and the water is overflowing, the civil war of the elves and the rise of mankind, as soon as the two sides are superimposed, it has caused a devastating ending.

They have become conservative, cautious, and even a little timid. Both the Ancient Venne Empire and the current Tambolance Empire nominally rule over this group of elves. However, due to the damp and abnormal environment of the Danse Forest, which is very unsuitable for human exploration, migration, and habitation, the elven society was able to survive and retain some of its own special customs.

Their fertility is not strong enough, the population is relatively small, and the Danse Forest is so large, so it has formed a small tribe with little contact with each other, led by democratically elected lifelong elders, who gather every five years in Aprilia, the seat of the elven queen, to hold a general meeting of the entire elven race.

The position of Elven Queen should also be elected, but in the last few hundred years, it has quietly become hereditary. Elves originally had a lifespan a little longer than ordinary humans, and the current queen has broken through the theoretical limit, reigning for nearly 150 years.

When Emperor Deliot feasted his courtiers, it also coincided with the five-year grand gathering of elves.

......

It is said that Benedict took the guy who attempted to assassinate Diviot in the arena all the way south, one of them was shouldering the heavy responsibility of the Holy See, and the other was anxious to find his mother.

As they approached the town of Dulin on the edge of the Danse Forest, the two Imperial Guards, whom the Emperor had personally appointed to help Benedict, finally burst out, complaining and protesting against the old man and the prisoner's unkindness. In the past few days, not only have there been many blisters on my feet, but my eyes have never been closed for more than four hours.

Dulin Town is an inconspicuous small settlement, and if you stand anywhere and shout, the effect will be like shouting the whole audience with amplification equipment in the Imperial Capital Arena.

Coincidentally, among the crowd gathered to watch, there was an old acquaintance of Benedict, who was Thomas the fat businessman with a big belly.

The two Imperial Guards were like a stage play, complaining about the pain they had accumulated over the past few days. They drank and poured out their resentment and resentment in their hearts.

Thomas was about to pack his bags and prepare to continue north, but Benedict's baldness was so dazzling that he recognized him at a glance.

The two old friends were naturally very happy to see each other. Benedict had a good memory, and he asked half-jokingly, "What an adventure, did you make a fortune selling furs in the north, and now you want to expand your way to the south?"

"Where, where!" Thomas gasped as he spoke, "The situation in Roma City changes three times a day, although the emperor has taken it back from the northern infidels, but there are too many undercurrents hidden there, and all kinds of intriguing dark forces want to get a piece of the pie." You also know me, I am an ordinary businessman who is clear and safe, and I can't withstand those twists and turns. The fur business can still be done, but it's not as good as it used to be, and it's not even as good as it was when the Desetes ruled!"

"What do you mean by that?" said Benedict, puzzled.

"Hey!" the fat merchant sighed, and subconsciously straightened his belt by the way, "You also know, there is no duke or count to manage the head of Roma City, it is almost a free city in the empire, completely divided and ruled by several groups representing the interests of all parties in the city, although it is nominally under the direct jurisdiction of the empire, but the successive emperors are basically only in charge of collecting taxes, and all other idle affairs, regardless of it." Before the Dess arrived, the forces in the city were fairly balanced, but after two major fluctuations, it is now gradually deviating from the normal track. A wealthy merchant who appeared out of nowhere, with the seemingly never-ending gold coins in his hand, took control of the city of Roma in one fell swoop. Whether it was the Liberal Monks or the various guilds of the trade, even the organizations that were hidden in the shadows were completely subjugated to him almost overnight. Some say that he was secretly assigned by the emperor, others say that he was actually a strange person who practiced heretical magic, and some even rumored that he was a lackey of the northern Dessertes. And so on and so forth, and in my opinion, this definitely does not bode well. ”

Benedict was not really concerned with business matters, he was concerned about the future of Rôma City and the fate of the Boruists in it, and he asked a little hesitantly, "What do you think of that man?"

"I can't tell, they started fighting each other after the withdrawal of the Imperial army, and that man popped out out of nowhere, as if he was cleaning up the mess, and he leveled almost all the forces with three strokes and five divisions. Now if you want to pass through the city of Rûm, the merchants will be taxed an additional thirty percent. In this way, there is almost no profit at all. I thought that instead of waiting for the situation to change, I might as well find another way to survive. ”

"What's the good thing to do in the south?" asked Benedict politely, keeping an eye on the movements of the two ugly Imperial Guards, who were obviously about to get drunk.

"I have a buddy who contracts the timber business for the Empire, and this guy is bold enough to take on any job. Elves are known for their tree-hugging cubs, and if you cut down one of their trees, they might kill you in the blink of an eye. But to be honest, the scale of this Danse Forest is so grand, even if the entire Tamborance Empire were to get it together, it would take hundreds of years to see the bottom. The elves are a bit of a persecution paranoia, and they always regard themselves as the victims. ”

"So, dude is in the lumber business now?"

"I'm a little timid, I won't do the real felling, I'm only responsible for the turnover and transportation now, although it's a little tiring to run at both ends, but it's a little less dangerous, at least I don't have to face those grumpy pointed ears directly. My buddy is so ambitious that you can't believe it. Thomas slipped a little smoothly and couldn't help but lead the conversation to dangerous territory.

Benedict laughed: "In fact, in this world, it is normal to have ambitions, but if you exceed your ability and duty, you will incur a devastating blow." While existence is reasonable, everything needs to be done in moderation. ”

"Your Excellency, after all, is a man of reading, and that is clear. If Thomas had known that the bald old man in front of him had been promoted to the rank of cardinal, he would have to compliment him a little more, "To tell you the truth, my friend once fantasized about taking the title of Duke of Borot, but it backfired, and in the end it was over." ”

"What?Duchy Borot?" Benedict was a little surprised, but then returned to normal, "what does your friend think that the old duke has a legal heir under his knees?"

"To be honest, I was surprised and abrupt at the time, but he said he had the way of the Grand Duke of Loyle. Thomas, the fat merchant, said this, looked around, and lowered his voice, "The Grand Duke and Borot did not like each other, and even secretly sent someone to poison Borot when he was in the Northern Expedition to the Desert, but it seems that he did not succeed. ”

The more Benedict listened, the more he felt the fire rising in his chest, and he tried to restrain his emotions from being too out of place. After all, this kind of national event is a common topic in the market, and if you are too excited, it will make others feel a little confused. He wiped his smooth forehead with his hand, and then copied it to the top and brushed the top of the heart, which had few hairs at all: "Your friend is really powerful, and such a confidential matter is actually involved." His timber business is probably also a royal gift. ”

"Exactly!" Thomas was shocked at his friend's audacity when he hiccuped the Dragon Tavern, but now that time has passed, these things have become a good topic to talk about at the dinner table and between friends. He was not only happy, but also asked about the situation of his old friend and the destination of this trip, when he heard that the old man was going to Danse Forest, the fat man waved his hand again and again, "No, no, no!"

"Why not?" said Benedict.

"If it's normal, if you go into the woods, maybe there will be a tree cub that comes out of nowhere to remind you and warn you. Recently, it has been very different, and if anyone dares to go deeper, they will basically disappear without a trace. Occasionally, a few lucky ones escaped, and they also became crazy fools, and they could no longer get the slightest message. ”

"And such wonders?" said Benedict, inconceedly, "and then, isn't your lumber business going to a standstill?"

"Not really. Again, as a matter of course, there should be greater resistance to our deforestation, but in recent times, all the tourists who have stepped into the forest sporadically have been threatened, and none of the loggers who have gathered together and roared with machines have been threatened. Something special must have happened in the Danse Forest to make it so unusual. ”

Benedict shook his head as he listened, which was indeed not a good sign. He is tasked with fighting against possible Mind Flayers. Elven druids are the ones to be sought, but there's clearly something evil in the Danse Forest.

Find out what happens next, and listen to the next breakdown.