Chapter 217 Radiant Forest (IV)
Klaus and the others had lunch in the middle of the forest, and the elf they had caught earlier also joined them. Gavin and Michael shook their heads as they watched the elf devouring his food greedily, as if he hadn't eaten in a long time.
"Is the food good?" Olivia asked curiously.
"No, it's not!" the elf replied, devouring shawarma and sweet and sour chicken simultaneously.
"Yeah, seems not good," Olivia quipped, giving him a sarcastic look.
After finishing their lunch, the elf seemed stuffed. His stomach had expanded as if there was no more room for food.
"Human cuisine seems better than elves', huh?" Klaus teased.
The elf stuck out his tongue in response. "I have to admit, I've never eaten something so complex before. I didn't expect humans to have better taste than elves."
"Yeah, it can even make you drop your guard. Didn't you realize I put poison in that food?"
Hearing that, the elf jumped away from them and took a fighting stance. His eyes radiated anger. Klaus laughed as he watched the elf's reaction.
"You humans are despicable! How dare you try to deceive me!" the elf exclaimed.
"Don't worry. There's no poison in your food. It's safe. Didn't you see we were sharing the same meal?" Klaus continued to laugh, holding his stomach. He was even tearing up from laughter.
Olivia and Michael tried to hold back their laughter too. Eventually, the elf realized he was being played. He turned his reddened face away in embarrassment.
Satisfied with his laughter, Klaus put on a friendly expression. He tried to convince the elf that they were not a threat to his kind. Of course, the elf didn't immediately believe him, but after recalling how Klaus and his friends had treated him, he thought they might not be as bad as he thought.
"You can choose not to believe us, but at least tell me your name so I can easily talk to you," Klaus said gently.
"Arden."
Finally, the elf gave his name, although his face still showed suspicion, but Klaus spread a smile on his face. He then introduced himself and his three companions.
"I'm glad you can open up to us," Klaus said. "I need to clear up the misunderstanding first."
Arden raised one eyebrow in response.
Klaus then told Arden that he and his team were not beings from this world. He explained that they had actually come here to establish diplomatic relations with the elves, not to wage war. However, during their journey, they had been constantly intercepted and attacked by elf forces, so they had to plan a way to infiltrate the elf base in order to meet and speak directly with the elves' leader.
While Klaus spoke, Olivia and Michael couldn't help but furrow their brows. They didn't expect how smooth Klaus was at bullshitting. However, they remained silent and let Klaus carry out his plan.
Arden, who had initially been skeptical, saw the genuine expression on Klaus's face and listened carefully to his explanation. He squinted for a moment, pondering seriously. And then, he smiled.
"Sorry for the misunderstanding," Arden said in a friendlier tone. His smile turned into a light laugh.
The elf believed Klaus's bullshit.
"Oh, so you want to meet the High Queen," Arden continued. "In the past few decades, we've gone through many wars. So, we're always wary when foreign creatures enter our forest, especially if they're armed."
"Ha ha ha, it's okay. We might do the same. We don't know what's in the other world, so we bring our troops in case there are monsters attacking us."
Arden did a complete 180 from before. There were no more skeptical looks or harsh words coming from him. He became softer and friendlier. He even apologized to Olivia for calling her food bad.
Klaus and his friends listened attentively as Arden recounted the conflicts they had faced. Arden explained that in recent decades, his village had been at war with orcs and ogres who sought to take over this forest. Due to the elves' desire to maintain peace and the survival of the elf race, they often launched preemptive attacks before large-scale wars could occur.
Arden added, "Unfortunately, as elves, we struggle with reproduction. Our numbers are dwindling each year, and we're fighting to keep our land safe. That's why we feel the need to act decisively against any external threats."
Klaus nodded. "We understand. We came here to seek a peaceful solution and cooperation, not to cause more problems."
"If there's anything you want to know about us, just ask. Maybe I can be a bridge between you and my kind," said Arden.
Hearing that, a smile spread across Klaus's face.
Arden told Klaus about the daily life in the elf village, with houses towering above the giant trees and wooden bridges connecting different places. He described the natural beauty around, with serene forests and lakes surrounding the Tree of Life.
When Klaus inquired about the elf's military forces and how they protected their village, Arden proudly explained the skills of the elf warriors in utilizing nature and their natural abilities. They were exceptional marksmen, using arrows with incredible precision. Arden also showed how the elf warriors relied on natural elements like woods, earth, and water.
Without him knowing it, Arden leaked important information about his people.
"Among our warriors, Lord Aymon is the strongest!" Arden exclaimed with pride.
Klaus raised an eyebrow. "Lord Aymon? Who is he?"
"He is the nephew of the High Queen and a true hero to our village. He was born with exceptional combat talent."
"How great is this Lord Aymon?" Gavin joined the conversation, intrigued by the elf called Lord Aymon.
Arden nodded. "Great! That's the only way to describe him."
"Can you provide more details, Arden?" Klaus asked. He had never heard any information about this elf.
Arden pursed his lips for a moment, then said, "If other warriors use arrows as weapons, he uses a sword and faces dozens of enemies alone. Some call him the Ironside because during battles, he hardly ever gets a scratch. Without him, our village might not exist."
"So, he's a swordsman?" Michael concluded.
Arden shook his head. "Not a swordsman, but a Swordmage. Lord Aymon has a special bond with the element of wind since birth. He can sense and control the wind's energy remarkably. He can even create storms and powerful winds effortlessly. Rumor has it that Lord Aymon is ten times stronger than the High Queen."
Klaus nodded. He had gained valuable information from Arden. Captain Guzman and Director Logan hadn't provided any details about Lord Aymon.
It wasn't that Klaus was worried about facing him. He could easily defeat him, but what about his subordinates? He had ordered Justin and some of his subordinates to confront the enemy's base head-on. The risk was significant, especially with the existence of Lord Aymon. Arden didn't seem to exaggerate when he talked about him.
"Justin and the others might not be able to last long against that Aymon," Klaus thought. "Should I intervene? But if I do, it will likely end with me wiping them all out, and the Elder Elf will certainly reject my offer."
Klaus was lost in thought. He was contemplating how to execute his plan without causing casualties on his side. After all, he had come here not to annihilate the Elder Elf but to capture him!
"Thank you, Arden. The information you provided is very helpful," Klaus said, smiling.
"Ha ha ha, it's nothing. These are common things you need to know if you want to cooperate with our village."
Arden didn't show any suspicion at all. He truly believed Klaus.
"By the way," Arden continued. "What do you want to discuss with the High Queen? I'm curious."
Klaus pursed his lips. "Hm, I'm still thinking about it. But one thing's for sure, I want to make the elves become our slaves."
He said it without a hint of remorse, and the smile on Arden's face disappeared. The elf realized he had just made a grave mistake that could endanger his race.
"You son of a b—!"
Splat!
Arden stared in shock. His voice vanished from his throat. As he touched his neck, his hand turned red. Blood poured out, splattering on his body, pooling beneath his feet.
Olivia and Michael dropped their jaws. They didn't expect the situation to turn like this. Everything happened so fast. Even Gavin couldn't believe his eyes.
The elf fell to his knees. Meanwhile, Klaus stood with a cold expression, his hands smeared with blood.
"Sorry, Arden," Klaus said mercilessly. "Getting to know you was a delightful experience. I'll make sure to remember you for a lifetime. You truly were of service."
No words came out of Arden except for the unbearable hatred in his eyes. Eventually, Arden collapsed. He took his last breath in a pool of his own blood.
Klaus turned to his subordinates.
"Inform Justin about the Elf Village and its location, and tell him to be cautious of Lord Aymon."
"Yes, boss," Gavin replied. He immediately did as instructed.
Meanwhile, Olivia and Michael remained frozen. They were still shaken by what had just happened before their eyes.
"Hey, why are you both silent?" Klaus reprimanded them.
As Olivia locked eyes with Klaus, a chill ran down her spine. She might have been ready to fight fiercely against elves or other monsters, but to exterminate them after sitting and chatting with them? It was truly cruel. Moreover, there was no remorse on his face at all. For the first time in her life, she was scared of Klaus.
"Ah, sorry," Olivia stammered, trembling.
Michael cleared his throat. "Sorry, we lose our focus."
Klaus sighed. "Didn't I say to get rid of one rat earlier? Why are you so surprised?"
Michael and Olivia lowered their heads. They didn't take his previous words seriously. Now they knew what their boss was really like.
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