Blonde-haired, blue-eyed pure-blood elves were extrely rare in the Nine Great Kingdoms.
Elves had long lifespans, were born with agile bodies and powerful spellcasting talents, and most were beautifully featured. They could be said to be a race favored by the gods.
However, they generally lived semi-secluded lives in the Silvermoon High Court and rarely interacted with the outside world.
Usually, people encountered half-elves, or Drow from the Underdark.
Cicero was a pure-blood High Elf. He possessed long, smooth golden hair and a slender body, but compared to other elves, his eyes were overly sharp. This detracted slightly from his elegance and gave him a more aggressive aura.
At this mont, he was sitting in front of The Porcupine Knight, staring at the lord with a piercing gaze.
Even The Porcupine Knight, who could single-handedly wrestle a griffon, felt uncomfortable facing Cicero's aggressive stare, feeling like prey being eyed by a falcon.
The Porcupine Knight was agitated by the stare. If not for the fact that these elves were all wearing the attire of the Silvermoon High Court, he would have ordered them to leave.
Now that the City of Alchemy was destroyed, small lords like him had lost their backing. Naturally, they dared not offend a powerful kingdom like the Silvermoon High Court. So, The Porcupine Knight could only politely invite them to sit and ask, "Lord Cicero, may I ask why you are visiting so late at night?"
Cicero spoke in a magnetic voice, "Lord, I believe you understand that the City of Alchemy has been destroyed. This land has beco ownerless. I wonder how you intend to deal with the ensuing chaos?"
The Porcupine Knight retorted, "What do you an ownerless? I am the lawful lord of this land."
Cicero chuckled and said to him, "Your lawful authority ca from the recognition of the City of Alchemy. And now, the City of Alchemy is destroyed. Next, this area will descend into pure, barbaric warfare. You are like little bugs trapped in a jar, forced to kill each other. Perhaps soone will be lucky enough to survive until the end, but do you think you will be that person?"
"That is my problem. Did your Silvermoon High Court elves appear suddenly just to mock ?" The Porcupine Knight said, suppressing his anger.
Cicero shook his head. "Of course not. We are here to give you a chance, a chance to survive. Before this land plunges into lee, we elves hope to prevent the war from happening. Perhaps we can find a peaceful way to resolve the disputes."
"So, the Silvermoon High Court wants to rule this crumbling kingdom? You ca today hoping I would serve the Silvermoon High Court?"
The Porcupine Knight was confused but also a bit excited. were these elves here to accept his surrender?
Defecting to the Silvermoon High Court? That seed like a decent choice.
Although he didn't know much about the Elven race, they didn't seem to have many evil deeds. He was just a small lord anyway; what was the difference between serving those alchemists and serving the elves?
If the elves were truly willing to accept surrender, joining early might even bring benefits.
Cicero smiled and said, "Lord, you are a smart man, but not that smart. The Elf race generally does not cooperate with outsiders. So, I ca today to discuss with you: if you are willing to evacuate peacefully, the Silvermoon High Court can guarantee your personal safety."
The Porcupine Knight thought he had misheard and pressed, "Evacuate? You an, give up my territory?!"
"Not completely give up. Perhaps, after we stabilize the situation, we will designate a piece of land to resettle you."
"Resettle..." The Porcupine Knight had already gripped the longsword at his waist, saying to the rude elf, "Elf, watch your language. I invited you as guests. While enjoying the rights of a guest, you must behave in a manner befitting a guest, otherwise!"
Politeness wasn't unconditional. The Porcupine Knight was now the leader of the alliance elected by several nearby lords. He had to maintain his authority at all tis and couldn't give his allies the impression of being overly weak; otherwise, this fragile alliance would collapse very quickly.
"Oh? Lord, this boldness of yours does surprise . The lords I t before didn't even have the courage to look up at . It's just that there is often a fine line between bravery and recklessness."
Cicero stood up, looking down condescendingly at The Porcupine Knight.
"Lord, the prerequisite for asserting rights as a master is possessing the corresponding strength. Before formal negotiations, we both need to confirm our status in this negotiation."
The Porcupine Knight waved his hand, and the sound of bows being drawn and strings pulled tight echoed through the reception hall. More than a dozen crossbows were raised, aid at these arrogant elves.
The Porcupine Knight also stood up, drew the longsword from his waist, and said, "Elf, I can give you one chance to rephrase. Although the Silvermoon High Court is powerful, this is not your territory. If arrogance is your cultural habit, I can forget the unpleasantness just now and restart a friendly exchange with you."
Although his words were cowardly, The Porcupine Knight gripped his longsword tightly.
The mont the crossbows were raised, he didn't see the slightest fear on the faces of these elves, so he knew very well that this battle was inevitable. It was just that he really didn't want to conflict with the elves at this ti; these words were his final attempt.
Cicero turned a blind eye to the arrows aid at him and said flatly, "Do it. First ti, don't kill anyone."
The Porcupine Knight disregarded everything else and imdiately ordered, "Fire!"
Arrows flew out, shooting towards the elves. Each elf was locked onto by several arrows; it was impossible to miss at such a short distance. However, magical shield lights instantly lit up on the elves. The arrows hit the shields and imdiately deflected.
Cicero was even more outrageous. He caught the three arrows flying towards him with one hand, as effortlessly as plucking leaves.
Imdiately after, a cloud of fog erged, covering the entire hall inside.
In the environnt where one couldn't see their own fingers, crossbows lost their aning.
The Porcupine Knight had already raised his longsword, chopping towards Cicero in front of him. His sword was fast; one could tell at a glance that he was a well-trained warrior. But as the blade fell, there was nothing there. Cicero seed to have anticipated his movent and dodged in advance.
Within the fog, The Porcupine Knight swung his longsword based on mory. His movents were like the tide, fluid and swift. In just a few seconds, he swung three tis.
Vertical chop, horizontal sweep, upward slash. He had calculated the opponent's dodging movents, but the blade edge only cut through the thick fog, failing to cause any harm.
Just as The Porcupine Knight was slightly exhausted, a short sword thrust out, pressing against his waist.
The blade was sharp, carving a deep mark on his armor, almost piercing through. If The Porcupine Knight hadn't dodged agilely, his waist would likely be bleeding profusely.
The opponent was not only agile but also used an enchanted weapon.
Although The Porcupine Knight's armor was just ordinary steel, it was solidly built. Yet, a light thrust almost pierced it. If the armor couldn't provide protection, then The Porcupine Knight would surely die in this battle.
After just one round of engagent, The Porcupine Knight understood he had encountered an unbeatable enemy.
Preparing to open the distance and regroup, he found the thick fog quickly dissipating. The only ones still standing in the hall were himself and the elves. As for the other guards, they had all fallen to the ground.
Seeing this, The Porcupine Knight knew he had lost.
These elves were likely all high-ranked adventurers. They were powerful and coordinated well; he had no possibility of victory.
"Now, can we sit down and talk?" Cicero asked The Porcupine Knight.
The Porcupine Knight still gripped his longsword tightly. Perhaps resistance was futile, but to give up like this... wouldn't that be handing his life over to these elves?
"Still won't give up?"
Cicero swiped his finger. Orange-red light flashed from his fingertip. The incantation was chanted so fast that The Porcupine Knight only heard a few syllables. Before he could figure out what happened, the longsword in his hand began to heat up and burn.
The tal longsword beca extrely hot as if it had just been taken out of a furnace. The Porcupine Knight could only scream and drop the sword.
The second-circle spell *Heat tal*. It could make tal on the target beco scorching hot, most effective against warriors like The Porcupine Knight who wore full body armor.
With the sword dropped, The Porcupine Knight completely lost the ability to resist.
Cicero said to him, "You are a qualified warrior. However, you are facing the Silvermoon High Court. Human, we ca with goodwill this ti; today is just a reminder. But if you are unwilling to give up the territory peacefully, then when we appear next ti, we will bring you death."
The Porcupine Knight looked at his scorched hands, realizing the gap between the two sides.
"Have you been expressing goodwill like this all along the way?" The Porcupine Knight asked Cicero.
Cicero nodded. "Correct. Quite a few lords have already agreed to our peaceful relocation plan. So, please reconsider carefully. We elves also dislike creating aningless slaughter."
The Porcupine Knight's face beca very ugly.
His territory was located on the outskirts of the City of Alchemy, the core area of this kingdom, far from the border bordering the Silvermoon High Court. Yet the elves had already sent their vanguard here?
Did that an the border regions had completely fallen into Elven hands? Why hadn't he received any news?
The Porcupine Knight was filled with despair. Did he really have to give up this land bought with blood?
Back then, to make a na for himself, he charged at the very front during the Monster Invasion War, slaying a giant griffon alone to earn the title of knight. And now, these elves wanted him to revert to a commoner with a single sentence?
But if he didn't agree, could a few small lords like them stop the Elven offensive? Even if they could gather enough troops, with the abilities of these elves, they could just infiltrate and assassinate; there was no need for a battlefield.
Countless questions flooded his mind, but in the end, The Porcupine Knight lowered his head and said to the elves, "If you can give us enough supplies and ti, we will leave."
Wood cannot stop a blade. No matter how stubborn, in the end, strength speaks. The Porcupine Knight had no choice but to accept the elves' demands.
"Very good. More calm than I imagined, and you understand compromise." Cicero took out a contract radiating magical light and placed it in front of The Porcupine Knight. "Sign your na. We swear in the na of the gods that we will guarantee your basic personal safety."
The Porcupine Knight took the contract, glanced over it roughly, and signed the agreent.
The mont he put down the quill, he seed to age ten years, collapsing back into his chair as if drained of all strength.
Just then, the door to the hall was opened again. A terrifying aura spread out, causing everyone's expression to change.
Cicero turned his head with a grave expression, seeing a young mage with black hair and black eyes standing at the door. That terrifying pressure was radiating from him.
This suddenly appearing young man was naturally Ambrose in his human form. He didn't know the nearby lords well, so his first choice was to find The Porcupine Knight, and incidentally discuss the ransom issue that hadn't been settled before.
Who would have thought that upon entering, he would see a group of elves bullying The Porcupine Knight.
These High Elves had extended their reach all the way here?
The Porcupine Knight was even more shocked. Regardless of how this person appeared here, why couldn't you have co a few minutes earlier?!
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