Game of the World Tree

Underground, city-state of Shanathar.

Located in the upper western region of Underdark, this ancient city-state is separated from Blade City by an underground lake.

Legend has it that Dark Dwarves first established this underground city during the early Silver Era. However, it was destroyed in the wars of the mid-to-late Silver Era and later rebuilt upon its original ruins by the Subterranean Gnomes three thousand years ago.

Much like the city of Blades which thrives on commerce, Shanathar is also a commercial city-state, resembling Blackrock City within the Deep Rift Cavern.

However, unlike the Dark Dwarves of Blade City, who specialize in selling armor and swords, Shanathar is renowned for its mage robes, woven from the silk of cave spiders by its local Gnomes.

This explains why, despite the Dark Alliance deploying only their low-ranked troops during sieges, which makes it harder for players to gain levels, players are still eager to participate just to obtain these robes, even if it means dying.

Simply put, despite the lower EXP rate, obtaining these rare spellcaster equipment is too damn enticing!

Nonetheless, while players are thrilled at the prospect of getting these equipment, the high-ranking officials of Shanathar are far from pleased.

At this moment, Catra, the incumbent chief elder gnome of the city-state, lay expressionless on his bed, looking at several high-ranking officials of Shanathar.

Present were the city’s financial director, chief intelligence officer, Minister of Military Affairs and the ambassador who had enlisted the elves for support and the next chief-in-line, Dorulu.

Although current state of the battle to protect their city was tilting in their favor, the atmosphere in the room was heavy with tension.

Everyone faced their bedridden leader whilst anxiously listening to the financial director’s report:

“C-Chief…”

The financial director’s voice carried a bitter undertone.

“After we employed those elves as our reinforcements, although the strain upon our city’s defense has been reduced, our expenses instead have soared at an alarming rate…”

“In the week since the elves joined us, we have depleted our entire stock of spider silk robes and armor, and have accrued a debt of over twenty million gold coins, along with an additional unpaid five thousand spider silk robes…”

“T-This expense…is equivalent to our city’s income for nearly twenty years.”

A deathly silence fell amongst the gathered city officials.

Upon hearing this astronomical number, Catra’s sickly pale face turned livid. After a few coughs, he then looked at the military minister and coldly asked:

“Tell me the status of our city’s defense, especially the situation with the elves.”

The military minister, a dwarf, nodded and said solemnly:

“Chief, currently the city’s defense is holding up well. Ever since the elves joined, our soldiers have suffered fewer casualties, and the pressure on our troops has eased considerably. However, the number of casualties among the elves is somewhat concerning.”

He then paused, before providing a more detailed report.

“According to our statistics, the elves have sent nearly a hundred thousand of their troops within just the past week.”

“One hundred thousand?! That’s impossible! There are at most only twenty thousand elves stationed at the wall!”

Dorulu exclaimed.

Only when Chief Catra gave Dorulu a cold glance did his successor shiver and sheepishly shut his mouth.

The military minister then further elaborated:

“Lord Dorulu, the reason you’ve only seen twenty thousand elves is that these hundred thousand elven troops came individually one after another. Moreover, most of them were ‘killed’ shortly after joining the battle.”

“K-Killed?”

Dorulu’s eyebrows shot up, his mouth hanging slightly open in disbelief.

He had not participated in the city’s defense and was unaware of the elves’ situation in battle.

“Yes, but not all of them died fighting the undead. Many also fell from the walls by accident… although, I suspect those elves simply committed suicide.”

Suicide?

How could that be?

Dorulu was utterly baffled.

Seeing Dorulu’s stunned expression, the elderly chief snorted and turned to the city’s female intelligence officer:

“Shana, tell him what you’ve found out.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Shana bowed respectfully, then glanced at Dorulu with a hint of disdain in her eyes, and said coolly:

“We have investigated these elves’ backgrounds and uncovered the truth about how they defended Blade City.”

“These elves… come from the surface. They abandoned their prior faith within the World Tree and now worship a goddess of life named Evé, who is said to control the Divinity of Nature and Life.”

“It is said that this newly ascended deity was helped by Her Great Majesty Hela to acquire the Divinity of the Word Tree. There are even speculations that this elven deity might be an incarnation of the Goddess of Death.”

“These elves have now chosen to follow this so-called ‘Goddess of Life.’ Not only are they plentiful, but they also have the power to resurrect themselves. Based on my findings, I have learned that they are immediately ressurected in another location on the surface upon their death…”

“With their change of faith, it seems their inherent nature have also changed as well.”

“During the defense of Blade City, it was reported that the number of elves involved reached eighty thousand, yet the maximum number defending the walls at any given time was no more than twenty thousand, similar to our situation…”

“After the battle, Blade City found itself heavily indebted in gold and equipment, all of which must be repaid to these elves.”

“”Additionally, numerous witnesses also reported seeing oddly familiar faces among the elves who returned to the battle, indicating they were somehow involved in a scheme to obtain equipment repeatedly by using their ability to resurrect.”

Goddess of Life?

Immortality?

Resurrection?

Dorulu was stunned.

After delivering her report, the female gnome intelligence officer quietly stepped aside.

The elderly chief’s gaze then lingered on Dorulu, who stood there in a daze, a fleeting shadow of disappointment crossing his eyes.

Whilst covering his mouth, Catra coughed a few times and sighed.

“Everyone else, leave. Dorulu, you stay behind.”

The finance minister and others quickly exited, leaving only Chief Catra and his grandson Dorulu in the room.

“Dorulu, do you now understand what’s going on?”

The chief asked coldly.

Dorulu’s expression shifted, and he gritted his teeth:

“I understand now. We’ve been duped by these elves! They used their ressurection abilities to deceive us and steal our wealth!”

“Foolish!”

Upon hearing his words, the chief’s face turned crimson with fury. Catra’s hands shook as he struggled to contain his anger, a few coughs escaping him before he finally shouted:

“Didn’t you notice anything suspicious about these elves from the start?! Did you not properly communicate with our delegation that went to Blackrock City?!”

“Blade City may have successfully defended against the Dark Alliance, but why are you not aware of their situation? Even if you didn’t know the specific details, why didn’t you consider investigating their situation?!”

The elderly chieftain shook his head in dismay.

“Without understanding the full situation, you hastily signed an agreement with the elves similar to the one that made with Blade City. Isn’t this action of yours really foolish?!”

“These weird elves may be as cunning as humans, but it’s your foolishness that has led our city-state to its current predicament!”

The old chief fumed.

Dorulu’s heart raced, his eyes fixed on the ground, afraid to utter a word.

Seemingly exhausted, the old chief took a deep breath and shook his head disappointingly.

“Sigh…”

Fatigue weighed heavily in his voice.

After a moment of silence, the sickly old chief looked at Dorulu once again but this time, his gaze was more serious and stern.

“Dorulu, I now ask you, what should we do next?”

Upon hearing the chief’s pointed question, Dorulu lifted his head. Confronted by his grandfather’s stern gaze, he felt an instinctive urge to avoid it.

However, he soon mustered his courage, gritted his teeth, and said:

“They are deceiving us!”

“That means… these twenty thousand elves have been dying and resurrecting repeatedly!”

“In this situation, we have no obligation to pay the rewards we promised! Moreover, we should also reclaim the the money that was overpaid to them!”

Hearing Dorulu’s suggestion, the old chief’s face turned even darker.

Catra then picked up a cane from beside the bed and struck his grandson’s face whilst roaring angrily.

“Utterly foolish!”

— 369 —

【 UTTERLY FOOLISH! 】

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