The settlement of the Ancient Wood Forest is built around a cloud-canoped tree, an ancient tree that grows with the elves until it encompasses the entire settlement, and a wide platform of branches that forms a village, and thick branches that act like stairs connect these platforms.

Boasting the oldest cloud-canopy tree in the eastern forest, the fairy-tale elegance of the Morning Star Forest elves is like a fairytale-like life—treehouses perched on top of the cloud canopy, lush fruit trees and flowers surrounded by birds and butterflies, dark blue glow in the shadows under the trunks, and hunting beaches full of strange rocks and ancient trees, animals and birds......

For the Byrne knights who came with them, their luck was quite bad.

The last time Loren went on an envoy on behalf of Shenlimburg, although the elves of the Morning Star Forest were also hostile to humans, they were too demanding after all, but this time the situation was completely different, and the "Friendship" mission could become a "declaration of war" mission at any time because of the movements of the empire behind him.

For Loren, who entered the country alone, all he could count on was that the Eastern Forest still remembered the "comradeship" of the past, and His Majesty the Emperor of the Heavenly Dome Palace would not be too pitiful, and he would sell himself after changing hands......

"Loren, I'm sorry - I can only let you and Ain, and all of you who have come all the way here, be a little wronged here. ”

The former leader of the Morning Star Forest War Dancers, Luca, who had a tangled face, said helplessly: "We will convey the news of your visit as soon as possible, as well as the request, and we will have a reply in a day or two at the earliest." ”

"And Leah... She does that for her reasons - maybe the attitude is different from what she shows, but she really thinks about you. ”

Glancing at the elf who had long since walked away, but was still hiding in a helmet in a corner, Lukka tried to continue to argue, but it seemed that there was some unspeakable concealment that prevented him from revealing the truth he knew.

The black-haired wizard smiled slightly, but didn't say anything more.

Lukka sighed and turned to leave.

In the small room, there were only Loren and the small wizard, Lusen, and two accompanying wizards, while the Byrne knights were collectively "housed" in another large longhouse opposite.

Looking at the two young war dancers standing outside the door called guards, but actually watching, the smile on Loren's face faded.

Although Lukka finally persuaded the elf Lea and the elders of Morningstar Forest to let the envoy enter the settlement and wait, he confiscated all weapons and accompanying items, and left almost nothing behind except for his underwear.

They were placed under house arrest, just as Loren had promised.

The only exception was the small wizard - it was a wise decision to let Ain go with him, and the elves here clearly trusted the little wizard more than they did.

This shows that they have not really forgotten their past friendships, but that they have to do it as a last resort.

Very good, another breakthrough.

Loren looked calm.

At this point, he had almost done what he had to do, and the next thing he had to do was to see the attitude of the elves of the Ancient Wood Forest, and if they were willing to negotiate, he could go on and figure out the whole thing;

If you don't want to... Based on the "efficiency" shown by Eckhart II during the Centaur War, Loren believed that in three months at most, the Imperial legions would deploy troops against Lothair, nipping in the bud all possible hidden dangers.

Either we can compromise with each other and reach a consensus by means within the rules, or we can reason with an iron fist and eliminate them physically.

This was the way the Empire did things, and Eckhart II was probably the most thorough and efficient in all generations.

In the quiet room, there was not a single sound.

The nervous little wizard sat in the corner, the confusion in her eyes never going away—she still didn't know what had happened to make the elves of the Morning Star Forest what they were.

The gray-eyed boy with an indifferent face leaned against the wall, calculating how to take out the two heavily armed war dancers in the shortest possible time and with his bare hands.

The two wizards who accompanied them as clerks sat across from each other, their expressions indifferent as if they were unaware of the current situation.

"Loren, what's next?"

Ain raised his head, and did not forget to lower his voice - from Leah's attitude, it can be known that even the elves of the Morning Star Forest are very cold towards the imperial envoy at the moment.

At such times, you must be cautious.

"It's simple, we just have to do one thing. Turning around with an indifferent expression, Loren looked at the little wizard with a smile: "Wait." ”

"Wait?"

And so on. The black-haired wizard repeated.

The little wizard looked confused, and even Lusen behind the door showed a slightly surprised look.

When he was in the fortress of Broken Mountain, he was able to use his own life and the lives of his two people to force Conod to confront him;

On the glacial wasteland, he not only broke through the encirclement and suppression of the monster army head-on, but also counterattacked and killed the evil god apostle Faoda;

As for the Dragon King City after that, the Imperial Judgment, the Beasts of the Red Blood Castle, the Council of the Round Table, the Centaur War... In the impression of the gray-eyed boy, it seems that he has not seen a time when Loren is particularly patient, or sits still.

There is no opportunity to create opportunities, and when he is encircled, he will be encircled, and adversity is what he does best.

"We have done what we have to do, and then it depends on the attitude of the elves. Raising the corners of his mouth, Loren deliberately did not hide his voice: "So, now we can only wait." ”

The gray-eyed boy and Ain looked at each other, as if they couldn't find anything to refute.

Except that doing so was completely out of line with Loren's past habits.

"Of course, while we wait, we can do something else. Turning slightly, Loren continued: "For example, before the elves make a decision, we can take this opportunity to figure out a little more about the whole thing. ”

The little wizard and Lusen were even more stunned, weren't the cause and effect of the whole thing already clear?

The black-haired wizard raised his head expressionlessly, and looked at the two wizards sitting directly opposite him.

The two men had joined the mission the day before their departure, and had been temporarily transferred from the Byrne Wizards' Guild—yes, after the establishment of the Turin Wizarding Academy, the wizarding organizations from all over the Thirteen Territories had finally been brought together to form the Principality's Guild.

So even Ain didn't know anything about their identities, and the two kept a low profile along the way, avoiding dealing with other people.

I saw that the one sitting on the left slowly got up, and instead of raising the wand in his hand, he stretched out his left hand.

"Smack!" snapped his fingers.

The light flickered, and the room seemed to be covered in some blue, transparent liquid.

Silence is like water.

This time, even the little wizard opened his mouth in astonishment..."Silence as water" was not a particularly advanced spell, but Mentor Dalton had mentioned that it was usually only used by the Night Watch, that is......

"I've heard that Master Dalton Candle has recently improved 'Gritty as Ice', but I still think 'Silent as Water' is more comfortable. With a lazy smile, the light-looking wizard took off his hood and "changed" into a face that was very familiar to a small wizard, and even his voice became different.

"You're... Peter Fasha?!"

"The night watchman of Ebolden, the watchdog of the Nine-Pointed Star Wizard's Tower—I'm glad you remember me, Lord Ain Rand. Peter Fasa took the initiative to bow enthusiastically:

"I'm sorry, but I hid it from you for so long. ”

But the stunned little wizard did not look at him, but thought of something else, and turned his gaze sharply to another "wizard", and muttered in a low voice:

"Voice-changing potions, and disguise techniques that are fake and real - only ...... can do this"

"The premier adventurer, poet, alchemist of the entire empire. ”

With an old tone that was obviously completely different from what he looked like, the "young" wizard also squeezed out a very narrow smile on his face, as if he was still very proud:

"Forgive me for boasting about it, but it's a little exciting to be able to hide from my apprentice so smoothly - or the most 'proud' apprentice. ”

"Master Ashamai?!" Al Yin almost blurted out.

Loren, who was "shocked" by the screams of the little wizard, couldn't help but glance at the crack in the door behind him at the two elven war dancers outside, still unconsciously facing away from the door.

This "silent as water" effect is comparable to a soundproof wall, simple and convenient, it is really a very practical spell... With the right timing, there may be other uses......

The black-haired wizard shook his head, dispelling the crankiness in his head.

On the other side, the stunned little wizard still had wide eyes, looking at Peter Fasa for a while, Master Ashamai for a while, and Loren, who had known all about it for a long time......

"W-What the hell is going on?!"

Why did the Night's Watch of Ebolden, as well as the Elder of the Wizarding Tower, Master Harlem Van Ashamai, hide in the ranks of the Mission in this way?

Lu Sien, who was also stunned, also moved his gaze to the black-haired wizard curiously.

"Why ......" Loren smiled, and tacitly glanced at Peter Fasa before turning his gaze to Ain: "Of course, it is to make His Majesty Eckhart II of the Heavenly Dome Palace believe in my loyalty." ”

Absolute decentralization, all negotiation matters with the elves are at the disposal of Duke Byrne, the power is monopolized, and the Tianqiong Palace does not ask questions......

What about the crooks?

Even to his second son, Brandon de Salion... Eckhart II still planted a Night's Watch Edward by his side as an eyeliner to monitor his every move during the Broken Mountain Fortress.

And Loren also believes that there must be similar people next to Crown Prince Conod, and even everyone who has been "entrusted with important tasks" by Eckhart II.

If you change it to yourself, what can be an exception?

Of course, if Loren knew that the eldest princess of the company, Fitlonai, was also the "downline" of Rute Infinit, he would not be surprised by this kind of thing.

As the head of the Ebotden Night's Watch, albeit temporary, Peter Fasa could certainly hear Loren's quirming.

"His Majesty Eckhart II is of course absolutely convinced of the loyalty of Duke Byrne, who returned triumphantly in the Centaur War. Peter smiled happily and stared meaningfully at Loren:

"After all, who would spy on a spy who has long been exposed?"

The black-haired wizard shrugged.

"In addition to this, I have information from Ebolden - the results of the investigation into the shipwreck of the ocean-going fleet three years ago, and the recent situation of the Wizard Tower. Peter changed the subject with great interest, drawing everyone's attention away from his identity:

"The main purpose of this trip is to use the information already in the hands of the Night's Watch to assist Loren in completing this mission. ”

"By the way, I also recorded all the actions of Lord Loren and presented them to His Majesty the Emperor of the Heavenly Dome Palace after the mission was over. Lusen, who was squinting, looked at the night watchman from behind, and said coldly:

"Is that so, Your Excellency Peter Fasha?"

Looking at Peter Fasha, whose expression was slightly embarrassed, Loren hesitated for a moment and decided that it was better not to interfere.

Peter, unlike Edward, was a friend, but he was absolutely loyal to the Night's Watch, and he needed someone by his side who could keep an eye on him at all times.

"Master Naharin Van Ashamai ......"

"Master Haringvan Ashamai, one of us... No;" Loren shook his head and looked at the little wizard with a serious expression: "It should be the only person in the whole empire who has actually visited the Azores and has a clear understanding of the water, people, and cultural features there." ”

"His knowledge of the Azorean elves is as important as what Ain means to the elves of the ancient woods!"

"But why do you have to hide your identity?" the little wizard with slightly frowning eyebrows still couldn't understand: "Is it to avoid letting His Majesty the Emperor... Alas?!"

Ain reacted immediately - who caused Peter Fasa's disguise to avoid being known by the emperor?

But if it weren't for avoiding the emperor's eyes, who would it be?

"Yes, the disguise is to avoid people's eyes, but not to avoid being known by His Majesty. Master Ashamai spoke slowly:

"It's for the Azorean elves... If they did arrive in the Ancient Wood Forest, they could not be prepared and wary of the Duke's arrival. ”

Azorean elves?

That's right, when he met Master Ashamai, he said that he had visited the Elven Kingdom of the Azores and was helped by an Elven Lord.

"I'm not sure if it's what I expected, but if it's true, then I'll have to do it that way. Just when the little wizard wanted to continue to ask, Ashamai slowly spoke:

"I have to hide my eyes... Because when I visited the Kingdom of the Azores, I probably made a big and irreparable mistake!"