Chapter 867: Hidden Undercurrents Beneath the Easy Battle
As a member of the command group, 'Lu Huayu' was of course aware that their main reason for coming to Starfall Ocean... was definitely not to bring warmth to the Yinbutu Royal Family.
So their topic quickly shifted towards those Dragon Liches of Yinbutu and the Magic Towers next to the Giant Valley.
'Snow Cloud Peak' arranged the battle plan and then seamlessly joined the discussion, teaming up with Lu Tai to gather first-hand information.
This Crown Prince of Yinbutu indeed had some skills. Although he didn't understand why these Teraxil Elves were interested in Liches, especially Dragon Liches, as elves who consider themselves Children of Nature are typically the nemesis of Liches… he eloquently disclosed detailed information about each Magic Tower in the Giant Valley to maintain friendly relations with these Elven Commanders.
The target was indeed these Giant Valley Liches for both 'Snow Cloud Peak' and 'Lu Huayu', and during their jovial exchanges, their gazes occasionally crossed, freezing for a few seconds... It was their first time cooperating after being long-time adversaries, and surprisingly they could achieve such tacit understanding.
Could it be... your greatest enemy always knows you best?
Both felt uncomfortable inside, a faint sense of disgust from resonating with an enemy.
The demon followers of Rolins or the billions of goblins on Giant's Ridge could not stop the footsteps of the Undead Tribe.
Prince Holmes was initially quite worried, despite chatting with the two Elven Commanders, he was always restless.
Until 'Snow Cloud Peak', seeing his condition, opened the top of the carriage and let him witness a battle alongside a direct follower of the Undead Tribe… it's said that this was a close subordinate of the Elven Commander...
According to 'Snow Cloud Peak's explanation, because they didn't want to harm the forest, the mages rarely took action, and now they were only showing half their strength... But Holmes was already dazzled.
Swords dancing, spears aligned like a forest, charging ahead behind knights wielding giant shields, mages leisurely following behind, occasionally someone would casually throw an Arcane Missile or Ice Lance and Ice Arrow... 'Snow Cloud Peak' repeatedly instructed, that if you couldn't aim properly with NPCs following behind, anyone who dared to act would have their family's military exploits deducted.
So it wasn't that the mages didn't want to act; they didn't dare.
The Magic Cult is different from other families, their family warehouse has plenty of resources for exchange, so even if Snow Old Dog only deducts their internal family merit points, it's still a significant threat to them.
Besides, the experience points of these small monsters aren't significant, it's the overall task experience that is valuable, and although the Undead Tribe is often filled with private intentions, they wouldn't irritate their own clan leader over mere pennies.
Lastly, three or two priests and Paladins standing... Paladins usually stand on the periphery, protecting the robed priests.
The female priests talked softly, their beautiful faces blossoming with enchanting smiles like they were on an outing. Occasionally, someone would throw out a golden light fountain, allowing any swordsmen accidentally injured to reach out and touch it, then those blood-soaked warriors instantly restored to their glorious appearance, grabbing their weapons and rushing forward again.
Prince Holmes lost interest in talking for a moment... The Teraxil Elves were intimidatingly powerful.
He quickly collected his thoughts, regardless of the alignment of the Teraxil Elves, they adhered to order.
What could Yinbutu be afraid of?
Even with eight guts, no one would dare violate a signed contract… the Yinbutu Royal Seal is not for just anyone to use. Only the King and Crown Prince Regent can imprint it on contracts… a Crown Prince without the regent title cannot.
And as long as the Royal Seal is stamped, anyone who was Yinbutu before this must comply with the contract… although most Toril people wouldn't hesitate to commit treason, when it comes to violating Lansendel contracts, unless they feel invincible, anyone would generally reconsider their capacity to bear the consequences.
Even now with Amanata returning to the Sun, no one would think his deterrence exceeds Lansendel's— that Lord of Dawn is not only crazy himself, but his subordinates are equally unrestrained.
These days, aren't the most powerful deities mad?
The clearest example is Cyric, who took down Mystra. The downfall of Toril, wasn't it thanks to this frenzied God of Lies!
So as long as the contract is intact, Yinbutu just waits to pay when the Royal Palace is built.
Prince Holmes relaxed and returned to the carriage, continuing to chat with these elves interested in Dragon Liches… whatever the Teraxil Elves wanted to know, it had nothing to do with those reclusive Dragon Liches of Yinbutu.
When Dragon Madness struck from the Dragon Worship Church, they didn't even step outside… and even reminded that Silver Dragon in advance to escape to another plane.
Honestly, the royal family on this side of Starfall Ocean got wind of some news before the Dragon Worship Church stirred up trouble; otherwise, the Golden Dragon Elders wouldn't have received news so early, forcing the Gold Dragon King to call a meeting to gather all the Gold Dragons, planning to leave Toril together.
Unfortunately, dragons as creatures do everything but listen obediently, resulting in half the Golden Dragons lost, and even the Dragon King was dealt with by his own elder.
Instead, the Silver Dragon from Yinbutu, which usually sleeps all year, ran away swiftly.
On the other hand, the Liches from Giant Valley might stir up trouble that attracts Elves.
Prince Holmes is, of course, very aware of his ambitious neighbors, so his words were almost blunt.
The two Undead Tribe Commanders quickly sensed the overly cooperative behavior of the NPCs, and without a flicker of their eyebrows, they directly moved on to the next topic.
They took Giant Valley as their leader, and began to inquire about the Lich news from various countries in Starfall Ocean, even singling out the Baldies from Liansel.
Prince Holmes felt a bit regretful... It seems the Teraxil Elves are only interested in the undead, probably as a precaution against Bane.
The hatred between them and Bane, no one on Ferun Great Land is unaware... Although Santir Fortress and the Santalin Meeting were destroyed by the Shadow Soul Mage, everyone knows the main reason is their conflict with Agleya City, otherwise those things that shouldn't have been exposed wouldn't have been.
Except for speaking in more detail about the Necromancy Sect in Sel, since it's clear there's a lot of connection with Bane... Prince Holmes was still quite willing to do what he could for these capable Elves.
He glossed over the Liches of other countries.
So he didn't know that the two Commanders selected several from his recorded Lich list from Giant Valley and placed a few five-pointed stars above their names... Especially, two of them had heavy circles drawn around them.
When 'Snow Cloud Peak' and 'Lu Huayu' exchanged lists, both were a bit surprised... Although most of their lists were the same, the key personnel differed: one person was in both lists, but two others were different for each.
They both know each other's cunning and insidiousness well, and so immediately fell into deep thought, considering why they didn't select the person the other had marked.
Clearly, both individuals are suspicious; they should not have missed the other's selection... This only indicates a divergence in their judgment.
But this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
William's reward system always considers the Undead Tribe's completion level in an incident, particularly in terms of exploring unknown events. If the suspects are found by them, the reward would be very high, but if they choose incorrectly and require William's guidance, then the reward might be halved.
This is also why the Undead Tribe rarely acts independently, always following the Command Group... Anyone capable would have joined the Command Group already.
Most people playing games don't like wasting too much brainpower; as long as they get to enjoy themselves, it's good enough.
Despite the divergence, 'Snow Cloud Peak' swiftly handed over the Lich marked by both lists to the management of various tribes, letting them start gathering information about this person and the Magic Tower they are associated with... There's no doubt about this individual's issues, but Prince Holmes knows only what a Prince of Yinbutu should know... Politicians might know detailed information, but it's never more than what the lower levels know.
However, the Undead Tribe is very skilled at searching for this lower-level information, and they always believe... The news from janitors and laundry women is the most comprehensive.
Even if those Liches like to use Dissolution Arrays to process waste, their apprentices aren't treated as well, and they will inevitably leak some seemingly trivial information, but when connected, it lets people sense that small discordance.
In front of Prince Holmes, 'Snow Cloud Peak' and 'Lu Huayu' couldn't directly exchange ideas on their different judgments, and both are quite proud, unwilling to abandon their lists easily.
The two exchanged glances and tacitly agreed to put this name aside for later research.
Whether they might change the two lists into three, now no one can be sure... But the fact they both wrote down the names simultaneously does indicate some foresight.
Judgments made simultaneously by two cunning commanders must have some rationality.
The demon worshippers in Rolins Forest were swiftly cleared; the Undead Tribe's weapons were all coated with Holy Water, rendering those chaotic, speechless humanoids almost incapable of any resistance.
So the Undead Tribe quickly piled the corpses on the large open ground between Giant's Ridge Mountain and Rolins Forest... The blazing fire and continuously falling Light Magic quickly turned these unfortunates to ash.
Then gusty winds wrapped them and blew them into the forest, where the brown earth quickly churned up, burying these ashes deep.
A decent ending indeed; born of the forest and returned to the forest.
Upon discovering the large group of Elves at the foot of Giant's Ridge Mountain, the Goblins there unhesitatingly regrouped and charged downwards... After several years of the Queen of Succubus's absence, they, already numerous in numbers, have reproduced over several generations.
With billions of population, they are fearless.