Nilly had taken Little Aileen and left the Dryad domain. Before leaving, she even said something about wanting to share the joy with her classmates.
In reality, she was plotting to hold a celebration party in the academy classroom. Only she could do something like that with such righteous confidence. Chen Yu muttered through his gel, too lazy to call her out.
But today was truly worth celebrating, both for Little Aileen and for the Slime United Empire.
All that was needed were some preparations, along with the right timing.
At some sufficiently grand elven celebration, publicly announcing the end of the Doctrine of Pure Blood's Sacredness would shake the Ancient Tree Council's rule over the elves.
Viola's view on this was simple.
"Next year. After the frenzy of the Supreme Hunt subsides, next year's autumn harvest will bring the Emerald Crown's most lively Harvest Festival. The common folk also call it the Autumn Brewing Festival."
"After the orchards are harvested, the elves will offer the Sacred Oak and the Goddess of Life newly brewed elven mead and freshly baked honey bread, as a return gift to nature."
"At that time, the elves will hold a grand celebration in Silverleaf City, the largest city-state of the Emerald Crown. Elves from all the affiliated city-states around the Sacred Oak's main root system will flood every street and alley of Silverleaf City, filling it with stalls, bards, and brewers."
Count Bran hopped down from Arthur's pauldron, paced a few steps along the edge of the stone table, and tilted his head in confusion. "Caw, you old fossil, is your memory failing? It's still summer now. After summer passes, autumn comes right away. Why are you making us wait until next year?"
Viola's lips curled upward. "Alright then, tell me, Count, what exactly does the Harvest Festival celebrate?"
"To celebrate the harvest, of course..." Count Bran answered with righteous confidence, but halfway through his sentence, his entire body froze.
His wings hung awkwardly in mid-air. He finally realized the problem.
He had been in the Shadow Mountains for far too long—so long that his perception of the seasons had been blurred by those unchanging shadow moss.
This year was Winter Year.
Although the blizzard disaster in the Emerald Crown wasn't as terrifying as the Northern Icefields, the temperatures there were much colder than in the Empire.
Except for a few hot spring orchards near the Sacred Oak's roots around Silverleaf City that could still maintain their harvest, most of the outer orchards couldn't even produce blossoms.
No harvest meant no Harvest Festival.
As for why he knew so much about the orchards of the Emerald Crown? Well, of course, it was from when he had "happened to" take a stroll through the orchards while accompanying Eserin into the city.
Just a stroll, absolutely no improper thoughts about any of the unpicked fruits, and definitely no being chased by a farmer's dog for several laps through the air.
Viola strolled slowly along the snow-covered path in the Dryad plaza.
"Exactly. Winter Year doesn't care about your Harvest Festival or Autumn Brewing Festival. No harvest means no fruits or mead for the Sacred Oak, and no ceremony."
"But from what I see, because of this year's Winter Year, next year's Autumn Brewing Festival will actually be much more grand than before."
"Thanks to Winter Year, the harvest has become a major annual affair for the Council."
"A long time ago, the Autumn Brewing Festival was just a moderately lively event, but as it developed, it has now become the largest gathering of elves."
"Every year, many elves come from all over the Emerald Crown, just to reach the foot of the Sacred Oak, pay homage to the Deity, and present their harvest tribute."
Chen Yu thought it over. This was indeed a good opportunity.
More importantly, after next year's Autumn Brewing Festival, we can use the year's time to lay out plans, reorganize scattered half-elf organizations like Leaf of No Distinction, and cultivate an assembly that can truly put pressure on the elven Council.
The Empire actually had quite a few elven citizens.
According to Silver Sparrow's household registration statistics from last month, there were over four thousand legally registered elven residents in just Slime City and a few new towns around the swamp.
But the vast majority of these elves still held longing for the Ancient Tree Council, with complex homeland sentiments. Not all of them were suitable to be recruited for secret operations capable of shaking the entire Council.
He thought of some more suitable candidates—the Sages of the Forest Sage Council.
Ever since the Empire entered a stable reconstruction period, Selene, that workaholic, couldn't sit still for a moment. She said if she didn't find something new to do soon, she planned to stay in the south and write observation diaries for the Ancient Tree.
Perfect timing to give her a new assignment.
She should be very interested in "shaking the rule of the Ancient Tree Council."
The Forest Sage Council itself was originally founded by that group of ancient sages who refused to bow to the Conservatives after the Council catastrophe.
Although only Grand Sage Ferendil remained from those old seniors, the teachings of the Natural Path had been passed down. Selene was Ferendil's most accomplished disciple.
She had lived in the forest since childhood, and her disdain for those Conservative bloodline-supremacists of the Ancient Tree Council was etched into her bones.
If she could meet Little Aileen and see for herself this half-elf girl possessing the Primordial Bloodline, her reaction would probably be stronger than anyone else's present.
Those elves who had been forced into exile and wandering for centuries had never forgotten their old scars for a single day. They had finally waited for an opportunity to strike back at the Ancient Tree Council.
Arthur and Count Bran also expressed that they didn't want to stay idle.
Count Bran stood on Arthur's left pauldron, flapping his wings forcefully to the side. "Caw! Those pointy-eared bastards dared to kidnap this Count's most loyal feeder—unforgivable!"
"If this Count doesn't show them a thing or two, they'll never know what's hiding in the shadows!"
The angrier he got, the more he clawed at Arthur's pauldron.
Arthur nodded. "Your Majesty, I wish to return to the Shadow Mountains to continue honing my skills until the Autumn Brewing Festival arrives. If possible, I want to personally fulfill the vow I made to you before departing, and bring Miss Eserin back."
"That's right." Count Bran, for once, didn't interrupt. He just lowered his head slightly, putting on a demeanor that was unusually deep and serious for him—at least in his own opinion.
"It seems this Count needs to show some real skills and recall the old allies from my Shadow Mountains days."
"You have subordinates?" Chen Yu's small eyes were filled with surprise.
Count Bran puffed out his chest, that smug expression immediately overpowering his earlier seriousness.
"This Count had territory in the Shadow Mountains back then! I don't even know how many retainers were under my command. As long as this Count returns to the Shadow Mountains and flaps his wings, they'll all come running at my call."
"But well, shadow creatures don't leave the Shadow Mountains easily. And after all these years, those guys might not even remember this Count's magnificent presence. So, this Count needs to borrow some people from Your Majesty—just a few, hehe."
Then he started listing names, each one popping out of his beak, sounding like a list he had prepared long ago.
"Little Ka, this Count hasn't eaten those flame-roasted bugs from him in ages—I have to bring him."
"Peachy has to come. That one has a great appetite and can eat anything. And Beet, and those Little Earth Elementals—their rock-moving skills are perfect for clearing paths in the Shadow Mountains. Then..." He basically listed every magical creature in Chen Yu's Magical Creature Legion.
Chen Yu thought deeply. He felt that this seemingly capricious mass recruitment of Bran's wasn't entirely without reason.
Many of the veteran magical creatures in the legion were increasingly unable to keep up with the pace of the Empire's regular army. The new Floating Fortress Legion only required high-quality professional soldiers who could operate artillery and understand Silver Sparrow's tactical commands.
As for those magical creature companions who had grown accustomed to traditional combat methods, rather than leaving them behind to haul lumber and do construction work every day, it was better to send them back to the battlefield, where they could contract shadow creatures and complete another transformation.
Besides, he had already set up a gel teleportation portal in the Shadow Mountains. With the portal, traveling back and forth wouldn't take too long. If they encountered danger, they could retreat directly to the Empire. The risks were within controllable limits.
So, with a grand wave of his gel hand, he approved Bran's request and even added an extra batch of Slime Knights to accompany the expedition.
"Take these Slime Knights with you. Let them train more in the Shadow Mountains."
"Caw haha! Thank you for Your Majesty's trust. This Count will definitely bring you back a powerful Shadow Legion from the Shadow Mountains. By the time of the Autumn Brewing Festival, this Count will show those pointy ears what a real Shadow Lord looks like!"
In his excitement, he forgot to ask about the territory. He flapped his wings vigorously, his beak chirping urgently. "Quick, quick, my retainer, don't keep this Count's old allies waiting too long. Let's set off immediately!"
Shouting and stomping on Arthur's helmet, he followed him to recruit personnel.
...
Three days later, Grand Sage Selene returned to the Empire from the south.
She had originally been in the south copying a new botanical encyclopedia, but the moment she received Silver Sparrow's message, she rushed back.
She first returned to Winterhold to visit Little Aileen, who was in class, and then, travel-worn, rode her snow eagle straight to Slime City.
She dismounted from the snow eagle's back, her long hair slightly disheveled from the high-altitude winds. But the fatigue from the journey couldn't hide her fighting spirit.
She crossed the main hall's corridor of the Royal Palace, quickly walked up to the steps of the Throne, raised her head to face Chen Yu, who was napping on the throne, and got straight to the point.
"Selene, representing the Forest Sage Council, greets Your Majesty. Are you still short on people for your operation?"
Chen Yu was crouched on the throne, his little belly still swollen from the snacks he'd just eaten.
"Of course, Miss Selene. You and your people are the perfect candidates for the infiltration operation."
"I have only one condition: remember not to expose yourselves while carrying out the mission."
"Oh, and one more thing. I encountered some interesting half-elves in the Shadow Mountains. They seem to be in trouble now and need our help."
"Half-elves?" Selene fell into deep thought.
...
At the bend of the Darkwater River, horse hooves crushed the thin ice, splashing water onto frost-covered ferns, quickly trampled by new hooves.
"Stop, and accept your deserved punishment."
The light of torches pursued from behind. The sound of arrows cutting through the air almost grazed Natalis's earlobe.
Without turning her head, she shouted behind her, "You say stop, so I'll stop? I don't think so."
Among the pursuers behind them, the leading Ranger nocked another arrow. When the bowstring was drawn fully, the Enchanted arrowhead glowed with a cold blue light in the night.
"This is your final warning. You have kidnapped a Council elf and disrupted city-state order. You have committed unforgivable crimes. If you stop now, you can still—"
"Not listening, not listening! If you're so capable, catch up!" After saying that, Natalis scattered another handful of shadow powder, summoning shadow creatures to block the pursuing Rangers.
Orion rode in front of her. He looked back, his voice low. "It's my fault. The entire plan was mine. The Sage's Son escaped, our kin weren't exchanged, and now even..."
"I'll smack you with my hammer." Natalis snorted. "You're the leader we chose. We chose your choices. A leader doesn't need to apologize."
"Salemir, am I right?"
Salemir didn't answer her. Instead, he pulled a flat tin box from his pocket and stuffed it into Orion's hand.
"Hypnotic dust. The wind is blowing east. Throw it into the gravel bend ahead—it'll stall them for a while."
He raised his head and glanced at the deep river bend ahead, covered by fern-like bushes. "I'll go find the contact person up ahead. If I whistle, don't follow."
With that, he dug his heels into his horse's flanks, and the gray-spotted horse charged toward the inside of the bend, disappearing behind the dark green fern thicket in an instant.
Orion wiped the tin box containing the hypnotic dust, wanting to say something, but in the end, he just nodded and spurred his horse to follow Salemir around the bend.
The sound of elven warhorses grew closer. The front-line Rangers released their bowstrings, and enchanted arrows drew several blue lines through the night sky, shooting toward them in a volley.
Natalis clamped her thighs against her horse's belly. As the old horse, pained, leaped forward, she swung her hammer horizontally from the side, smashing it against the riverbank's gravel. The gravel was lifted by the impact force and sprayed straight toward the pursuers.
The elven warhorses reared in fright, and all the arrows embedded themselves into the dust and gravel.
She didn't even check the results. Holding her hammer, she spurred her horse into the bend.
"Natalis, hurry!"
After the girl charged in, Orion scattered the hypnotic dust behind them, covering the entire path.
The dust possessed mysterious spreading properties, and soon turned into a purple mist that shrouded the trail.
But this could only obstruct those elven Rangers for a short while. A single spell would blow away all the dust, rendering it completely useless.
It was enough, though. Their goal was to meet up with the shadow Professional they had hired. As long as they could leave through Shadow Traversal, those elves would never catch them.
Orion caught up with Natalis ahead, catching his breath. He was about to say something when he saw Salemir sitting on his horse at a dock where waves lapped against the shore.
There was no one else around.
Orion's heart sank. The worst-case scenario had happened.
The shadow Professional contact hadn't shown up at the meeting point as agreed.