"Knock ————!!!!"

In the silence of midnight, an earth-shattering roar exploded abruptly at the top of the cloud-canopy tree.

The entire Misty Moon Court was awakened by a sudden loud noise, and the elves from the entire Ancient Wood Forest got up from their sleep in fear from all directions, and then looked in panic at a wisp of black smoke not far away, rising faintly from the top of the cloud canopy tree.

Like a long knife erected, it splits the full moon in the night sky in two.

On the periphery of the cloud canopy tree, Luca, who had just arrived, raised his head in shock amid the loud noise before he could give an order to the war dancers behind him, completely shocked.

"This, this fell to the ground......"

Luka's voice trembled with a hint of trembling.

The surrounding Morning Star Forest Dancers were also stunned with their eyes wide open, shaking their heads and wiping their eyes one by one, looking incredulous.

"Luca, is it ......?"

A war dancer behind the middle-aged elf opened his mouth wide in astonishment, and suddenly pressed Luka's shoulder as if he remembered something.

Not far away, the warfighters who had already seen the alarmed in the Misty Moon Court began to gather one after another, rushing in the direction of the Cloud Canopy Tree from all directions;

"Calm down, don't panic!"

Lukka, who quickly regained his composure, stopped the elves behind him and shouted angrily at the surrounding war dancers: "All the war dancers are divided into two teams, block the top of the cloud canopy tree, and don't let anyone enter or leave - the rest follow me!"

"Yes——!"

Naturally, the War Dancers of the Morning Star Forest split into two teams and took action, while the others covered Lukka and rushed straight in the direction of the explosion of the Cloud Canopy Tree.

The closer I got, the thicker the smoke and dust became, and my vision blurred, and I could barely see the shape of the treehouse not far away, and nothing else.

There was no movement, no sound, no cries for help.

Luca's mood also became uneasy.

Although he guessed that Loren, this guy, would definitely not be honest in investigating and collecting intelligence like an honest scout, but it was indeed Luca's surprise to make such a big move.

Loren Torino, should he really ......

Well?

As he approached the treehouse, Lukka spotted a figure in the smoke.

He silently patted the shoulders of the dancers on his side, and the Morning Star Forest elves, who were happy to know, immediately dispersed and hid around the treehouse.

It wasn't until he entered the treehouse that Lukka really saw each other—Middel, kneeling on the bed, with his back to him, coughing in the smoke and looking up at the moon sky overhead, and the long Azorean knife as thin as a cicada's wings slung across his thigh, the scabbard missing for some reason.

Luca, who couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, scanned the room for another week, and made sure that there was indeed no second person other than this Azorean elf.

Well?

What about people?

The entire area around the Cloud Canopy Tree had been blocked by the War Dancers of the Morning Star Forest, and it was impossible for Loren to avoid his sight if he left, not to mention that the guards on the periphery had been alarmed, and the entire Misty Moon Court was impregnable, and he couldn't escape.

Could it be... He didn't leave at all, but hid somewhere?

"Oh... Ahem, ahem... You, you're Lord Luca, the former leader of the War Dancers of Morning Star Forest, right......"

While coughing violently, Middell turned his head to look at the middle-aged elf behind him, and asked with a smile, "I thought we would meet tomorrow, but I didn't expect it... Ahem, ahem... This can... Ahem... What a bonus!"

Luca, with a serious expression, ignored the choking smoke, and walked straight into the room, while looking around.

Indeed, there was no second figure in the room except for Middle, and there was nothing that seemed to be hiding.

"Your Excellency Middel, we haven't met before, how do you know it's me?"

"Just as you know me - when you came, someone had already told me about your prestige ahem......

Under Luca's gaze, Middel, who had a "I'm fine, don't worry about me" expression, waved his hand, his face flushed as if he was about to cough out the lobes of his lungs:

"Besides, I see the War Dancers under your command, and of the few closest places to the Cloud Canopy Tree, only the Morning Star Forest War Dancers, who arrived just yesterday, are the closest to the Cloud Canopy Tree. ”

Looking at the other party's calm appearance in the explosion and smoke, Lukka couldn't help but frown.

"Excuse me, do you have anything to ask?"

Middel turned and looked at Lukka with a blushing face, as if the treehouse and smoke that had almost been blown down had nothing to do with him.

"Now that you've spoken, please tell me these ......" frowning slightly, Lukayan waved his hand in front of his mouth and nose, "What the hell is going on?"

"Ahh Well...... this."

Middell immediately smiled, and his eyes dodged a little embarrassedly: "Please be patient and listen to my explanation, this is how it is......"

..............................

About a quarter of an hour or two ago......

“... Of course, if you don't want to gamble, I have another way to ease our embarrassment at this moment......"

As the words fell, a crimson metal ball appeared in Loren's hand as if by magic.

The Azorean elves glanced at it, and an inexplicable foreboding welled up in their minds.

"It's an alchemy bomb, if you don't understand it, it's a magic that can be used at any time. Calming down, Loren curled the corners of his mouth slightly:

"Simply put, it can make a loud noise and smoke, and I can take advantage of the smoke to escape, and you'll be in charge of staying behind and dealing with the guards who come to inquire.

In this way, you can casually tell the elves who came what happened, and I have enough information to report to His Majesty of the Heavenly Dome Palace, and we will not suffer... It's called a win-win. ”

Midel shook his head, his expression still the same:

"No, it's not fair - I don't know what this 'alchemy bomb' is, what if you want to die with me with the mentality of being loyal to the emperor?"

"Do I seem so faithful that I see death as my home?"

"......" Middle.

In the quiet treehouse, both of them had gradually noticed the sound of the war dancers approaching and blocking the vicinity.

"You have to choose - it's up to the two of us to make our own decisions, or wait until the elves out rush in and let them decide whether we're going to live or die. ”

Loren said as he gently shook the alchemy bomb in his hand.

"What's the difference?" asked Middell rhetorically.

"One active voice, one passive voice. Loren smiled: "Of course, it's all in the ordinary future tense. ”

"Really?" Middell snorted, the long knife in his hand lightly forced, "But I can kill you now, so I don't have to think about being active and passive." ”

Loren raised an eyebrow and smiled even more happily: "That's right, but you only had time to stab you - maybe there's a small switch on this alchemy bomb that can turn smoke into flames, and we'll both really die together." ”

"Aren't you that loyal?"

"......" Loren Turin.

"I think there should be a third option. Midl said abruptly.

"The third?"

"That's right, it's a choice to turn enemies into friends. The Azorean elf smiled gently: "Your Excellency Edward, you are really capable, how can an excellent warrior like you be able to bend to a small guard......?

"Wait a minute!" Loren interrupted him with a strange expression:

"You want to woo me?"

"No, it's to help you get what really belongs to you. I saw Midl say solemnly: "Of course, it is not impossible for you to understand it this way, but what I said is sincere.

As you may have noticed, yes, I arrived in Sackland early and know a lot about the Empire - but if you're willing to give in to my deputy, everything will go much better!

If all goes well, you will get far more than the Emperor can give, and if you fail, you can put all the blame on me, and exchange my head for the Emperor's trust in you, how about it?!"

The black-haired wizard groaned for a moment... Though he didn't say anything, Middell believed he had already moved him.

Sure enough, the samurai who fights for a living by the sword is always proud and ambitious......

"I think we have a fourth option. Loren's voice abruptly interrupted Middel's musings.

"Please!"

"I think how can an excellent warrior like you, Your Excellency Middel, be able to condescend to a small Misty Moon Court? In our Sakland Empire, true warriors are the ......ones who can serve the Dragon King family under the Heavenly Dome Palace."

Loren, with a narrow face, repeated what the Azorean elf had just said in a different word.

Even if Middel's temper was good, it was inevitable that he would feel a chill in his heart, and the blade in his hand almost couldn't control his strength and pierced Loren's throat

"You! good... I almost fell for your agitation, Lord Edward. ”

However, when he raised his gaze, he found that Loren's expression froze.

"Jingle ——!"

A light sound broke the Assassin's dead silence.

Stunned, Middell lowered his head and saw that Loren's hand was empty, and the small metal ball had fallen to the ground.

Only then did he recall that when he had just shaken, he seemed to have inadvertently "touched" the arm of the black-haired wizard.

I see, Edward... He's lost the bargaining chips he used to blackmail me, so I can ......

Before Middell could laugh, he saw the metal ball on the ground suddenly start to vibrate and buzz.

Middel raised an eyebrow, a look of confusion, while Loren vaguely remembered what Lusen had said.

“...... Why is it called the 'Alchemy Bomb', because it is extremely unstable! Not only can it be exploded when it is lit, but it can be exploded when it is thrown out, and even if it is too late to throw it, it will be blown up as if it were destroyed with the enemy!"

"This thing, it shouldn't ......"

Middel, frowning slightly, raised his head, and just wanted to ask Loren a few questions, but found that his eyes were empty, and when he turned back, he saw the back of the black-haired wizard scrambling and jumping out of the window......

In the next second, Midl only felt a violent heat wave with terrible wind pressure rushing towards him!

....................................

"Hand slipped?"

Luca's expression was inexplicable... What is this called?

"Believe it or not, that's the way it is. Midl replied with a wry smile and sighed softly: "In the Kingdom of the Azores, my homeland, the magic and alchemy of wizards are still very novel, so it is inevitable that some curiosity will arise. ”

"The explosion and smoke just now were caused by my experimental mistakes and slippery hands - if you have disturbed you, please accept your sincere apologies. ”

"I see, I'll let you know in a minute. Lukka nodded, and said in a deep voice, word by word, "So... There weren't any assassins, it was just a mistake in your experiment that led to the explosion. ”

"Yes, that's it. With a slight bow, Middlel calmly looked at Luka:

"It's just a slippery hand. ”

Lukka nodded, indicating that I believed it.

Faith is a ghost.

He's a war dancer in the Morning Star Forest, he's seen how herbs are made, he's dealt with small wizards in the Ogre Wars, and he's learned a thing or two about alchemy.

But Lukka deliberately didn't say anything.

"Since there are no assassins, or foreigners who have infiltrated the settlement, there is no need for a blockade. Lukka nodded, pondered for a moment and made a decision: "But I'll still keep a few War Dancers, just in case."

In addition, because of the movement here, the entire Fog Moon Court was alarmed, and there were patrolling guards everywhere outside... So if there is nothing special, please do not leave to avoid misunderstanding. ”

"Naturally, your arrangements are very good and cautious, I will stay honestly... cough cough cough cough ......"

Nodding, Lukka, who felt that he didn't need to stay any longer, looked at the intensifying movement outside, and chose to turn away.

Just as he was about to leave, the Azorean elf suddenly called out to him.

"Lord Luca, you are the former leader of the War Dancers of the Morning Star Forest Settlement, and the Morning Star Forest should be the only settlement that has dealt with the Empire. ”

Raising his gaze, Middel calmly stared at the back in front of him: "Excuse me... Do you know of an Imperial man named 'Edward'?"

"Edward?"

Stunned for a moment, Luca turned his head and looked inexplicable: "What's wrong?"

The middle-aged elf's face couldn't be more natural.

"Oh, nothing. After confirming Luka's expression, Middle, who seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, smiled: "It's just curious, just ask." ”

After speaking, he raised his head again, solemnly straightened up in front of Luca, and bowed:

"The war dancers of the Morning Star Forest are indeed the most warrior-style clansmen in the entire Ancient Wood Forest that are related to our Azorean elves. ”

At this moment, the Azorean elves breathed a sigh of relief as if they had received an answer.