Chapter 213: ·Negotiation

The massive doors of the Hall of Tree Shepherds opened inward with a heavy rumble.

Light flooded into the dim corridor, and Nolan instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes.

This place was unlike the stone halls of human architecture. It was a grand chamber hollowed out and carved from within a colossal tree. Sunlight filtered through strange, semi-transparent leaves in the dome above, breaking into soft beams that illuminated the drifting motes in the air. The scent of aged wood, damp earth, and a faint resinous sweetness blended together into something naturally calming.

Directly ahead, behind an ornate long table carved from a single piece of polished blackwood, sat five figures.

The elders of the Wood Elves.

As Nolan and Ailindel stepped into the hall, the five of them rose from their high-backed chairs in unison.

Nolan’s gaze swept quickly across the chamber. A warrior’s instinct compelled him to assess any unfamiliar enclosed space at once. The entrance lay behind them, and there seemed to be a passage behind the elders. Other than that, there were no additional exits. Along both sides of the hall, around twenty Stag Guards stood at a distance against the walls, weapons in hand.

Without drawing attention, Nolan glanced at Ailindel beside him. She gave a slight nod, indicating that she had already completed her inspection. There were no magical traps or abnormalities.

As Nolan withdrew his gaze, he suddenly noticed that Finley, the vice-captain of the forest patrol, was also present. No longer dressed in patrol gear, he wore traditional Wood Elf formal attire and stood a few steps below the elders’ seats.

What is he doing here?

Before Nolan could dwell on it, the Grand Elder stepped around the table and spoke first. “You have come in accordance with the ancient pact to lend your aid. The Wood Elves are deeply grateful.”

It was a formal diplomatic statement, devoid of warmth.

For Nolan, however, restoring the Foundation of Life was something that had to be done. Not only because of his promise to Romina, but also to prevent the disaster that had once weighed heavily on his mind from happening again.

But he was not here to offer charity.

He was the lord of Coldsteel City. Thousands under his rule needed food, and a city in ruins awaited rebuilding. If he wished to revive the kingdom, he first needed the strength to stand at the table, and that meant pursuing greater development. He could not help them for free.

Moreover, the terms of this deal had to be settled before any action was taken. Otherwise, these stubborn and conservative Wood Elves might well turn their backs on him afterward.

From his dealings with them in the past, Nolan knew that these old traditionalists respected only strength and honesty, and disliked indirectness.

So he chose to be direct.

“There’s no need for courtesy, Grand Elder.”

Nolan stepped forward.

“I am helping you both because of my promise to Romina and for my own benefit. My territory needs development. The Wood Elves control the richest forest resources on this continent. I hope we can establish a mutually beneficial relationship in the future.”

As expected, the Grand Elder showed no displeasure at Nolan’s bluntness. Instead, he nodded in understanding. In fact, such honesty reassured them. There was no such thing as unconditional goodwill; having clear demands suggested a desire for long-term cooperation and reduced the likelihood of hidden malice.

“A reasonable motive,” the Grand Elder said slowly. “The Foundation of Life is the root of our people. You claim to have a way to restore it. Is that true? To be frank, we have tried everything and still cannot even identify the source of the problem. We can only watch as our people and the forest grow weaker by the day.”

An old fox.

Though his tone was polite, he made no mention of future cooperation.

Romina caught that as well. She stepped forward after giving a respectful bow. “Grand Elder, honored elders,” she began. “The Wood Elves have been closed off for too long. Our isolation has given us a sense of security, but it has also robbed us of the ability to adapt to change. Faced with a crisis never recorded in our history, we are powerless, are we not?”

She turned toward Nolan, who responded with a faint smile.

That response seemed to give her courage. Her tone grew firmer.

“I believe this is an opportunity. We should take this chance to establish initial cooperation with Lord Nolan, as a step toward truly adapting to the future. And he is someone we can trust.”

“Trust?”

A cold laugh interrupted her.

The speaker was the only female elder at the table. Her eyes were narrow, her lips thin, and her deep green robe was adorned with intricate dark-gold patterns like layered golden leaves.

“You’ve only known this human for how long, and you dare say he can be trusted?”

She moved to stand beside the Grand Elder, crossing her arms.

“Do you remember what I taught you when you were young? ‘Friendships are like trees, tested over a hundred years.’ Without the trial of time, how can there be trust? Have you forgotten the teachings of our people, little Romina?”

Romina paused and lowered her head slightly in acknowledgment, but did not argue.

At the side, Finley’s face lit up at the female elder’s words, but when he saw Romina biting her lip with her head lowered, a trace of reluctance flashed across his expression. He seemed about to speak, then held himself back.

Nolan took it all in.

The Grand Elder frowned. “Elder Sind, you go too far.”

The female elder, Sind, snorted but fell silent. However, the way she looked at Nolan still carried deep distrust.

The Grand Elder then turned to Romina and spoke gently. “Little Romina, although you are already the strongest among our people, a leader of the younger generation and a hope for the future, you are still young. I know you have always longed for the outside world, but you must understand that our isolation over the centuries has its reasons.”

Ailindel stepped forward as well, standing beside Romina.

She was no longer wearing her armor. After leaving Dreamwell, she had used the power of her soul to change into a long white ceremonial gown. The sunlight streaming from above fell upon her, enhancing her noble bearing and making her appear almost like a figure from legend, pure and elegant as an angel.

“Grand Elder, forgive my frankness,” she said. “During the War of Heaven, when a catastrophe swept across the entire world, all the races of the Order faction united as never before to resist it. And it was precisely because of that unity that we were able to defeat an unimaginable enemy and bring about the prosperity the Vaughn Continent enjoys today.”

She did not state her point outright, but the implication was unmistakable.

A hero who had personally experienced that great war was using history itself to show them the folly of stagnation.

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions turning somewhat uneasy. Ailindel’s identity was far too special. Though she appeared young, her actual age exceeded the combined years of the five elders. What they did not know was that she had spent most of that time in slumber.

Another elder stepped forward, broad and sturdy, his beard like twisted roots. “Lady Ailindel, you are the vanguard commander of the Fourth Legion under the Wind King, a noble Moon Elf hero. Your wisdom and strength are beyond question.” He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. “If you… were willing to lead us and guide Forest Home out of this crisis, perhaps… that could be a new turning point.”

Nolan nearly laughed. Trying to poach her right in front of me? Do they think I’m invisible?

They were clearly attempting to win Ailindel over, to divide them, bypass Nolan—the “crude” human—and deal directly with a “noble” elven hero.

Nolan trusted Ailindel, of course. But this was leadership over an ancient race; the temptation was not small.

In his previous life, the loneliness in this Moon Elf survivor had been something few could truly understand. She had always longed to find a genuine sense of belonging in this new era, which was why she had traveled far to the Holy Osu Empire in search of her origins.

Nolan could easily imagine that during their stay in Coldsteel City, the Wood Elf elders had already discussed their strategy. The Wood Elves might be isolated and xenophobic, but they were not foolish.

If Nolan’s help proved real, it would place them in his debt. Naturally, their priority was their own interests, especially in case Nolan made excessive demands.

Yet, to their surprise, Ailindel did not hesitate for even a second. She stepped closer to Nolan, reached out, and gently took his arm in an elegant, intimate gesture. Her head tilted slightly toward his shoulder, her silver hair brushing softly against his cheek. The gesture was unmistakably intimate, as though she were declaring it to the entire world.

“I am no longer anyone’s leader, nor do I have any desire to be. I have been reborn. I am now a member of Coldsteel City.”

Her grip on Nolan’s arm tightened slightly. She glanced up at him, her eyes softening, then turned back to the stunned elders.

“I am Nolan’s partner. His will is my will. If you wish to discuss matters, you may speak with my lord.”