“Well! Starlight, you actually had the nerve to suspect us! Do you think the elves love scheming and intrigue as much as you humans do?”
Xia Duo spoke in a questioning tone before Starlight could even open his mouth. Her voice was laced with obvious displeasure, clearly demanding an explanation.
Her beautiful blue eyes flickered with a sharp light as she stared straight at Starlight, as if telling him with her gaze: “You better give me a satisfactory answer right now.”
Seeing Xia Duo’s face pale with anger, Starlight realized that Moen must have told her sister everything about their suspicions.
He had intended to give a casual greeting, but he immediately tucked away his smile and replaced it with a serious expression.
“Even if you say that, I’m not changing my mind.” Starlight’s tone was firm, his gaze meeting Xia Duo’s without flinching. “After all, the biggest point of suspicion currently lies within the elven race itself.”
“It’s not just the Dark Tribe you mentioned before, Xia Duo. Even your Council of Elders is within the scope of my suspicion.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Duo narrowed her eyes and shifted her sitting position. She pointed to the empty seat across from her and said coldly, “In that case, let’s hear your thoughts.”
Starlight pulled out a chair and sat next to Po Kong. After clearing his throat, he spoke solemnly. “First, I want to know: when was the last time you exchanged intelligence with the Council of Elders?”
“About a week ago? I remember sending a message to the tribe right after Ivan sent that news about the Crimson City-State, but I never received a reply. That’s why I was in such a hurry to come back and see what was going on.”
Xia Duo paused for a moment, answering immediately after thinking it through.
“That makes sense.” Starlight nodded and continued, “But do you remember what Flora said yesterday? Disappearances started occurring in the Star-Song Forest right after you left, and even the elves couldn’t find a single clue. Most importantly...”
Hearing this, Po Kong clapped his hands in realization. “Right! If there were disappearances within your own borders, that would definitely have been mentioned during an intelligence exchange! But you, Little Shadow, didn't receive any word of it at all—we weren't told until Flora mentioned it when we arrived in the Star-Song Forest!”
Starlight nodded to him and added in a steady voice, “Exactly. Therefore, my judgment is that these disappearances are absolutely an organized, premeditated internal operation. Furthermore, the mastermind must be someone in a high-ranking position, someone with the authority to block your encrypted messages.”
“So, you suspect the Council of Elders?” Xia Duo frowned slightly, her fingers tapping lightly on the table, her tone carrying a hint of hesitation.
“Thinking about it... there are indeed different factions within the Council, and they often disagree on various matters. But overall, they are quite united. Besides, unlike humans, we elves don't have strong desires for worldly things. Logically, it makes no sense for them to harm their own people.”
While Starlight’s analysis wasn't without merit, from Xia Duo’s perspective, she truly couldn't think of a reason why high-ranking Elders would do such a thing.
At that moment, Moen, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. “That’s not necessarily true. Although we have little desire for wealth or power, there is one thing that no one can refuse...”
The four of them instinctively exchanged glances. After a brief silence, they spoke the answer in their hearts in unison.
“Power...”
Starlight wasn't surprised by this answer. If there was anything that could capture the attention of a long-lived race, aside from specific personal interests, “power” was likely the only explanation.
“I remember Aunt Angela once saying that the number of powerhouses born among our elven race has been dwindling over time.” Moen’s brow furrowed slightly as she shared a piece of information even Xia Duo hadn't heard. “If I’m not mistaken... from the war with the Demons sixteen years ago until now... it seems not a single person has reached the Saint Rank.”
“What? Aunt Angela actually said something like that?” Xia Duo slammed her hand on the table and stood up instinctively, looking at her sister with shock. “Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case!”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go find Aunt Angela first! If she steps in, this matter can be resolved smoothly.”
However, Moen simply shook her head, her brow still tightly knit. “Aunt Angela is already ‘asleep.’ We won't be able to see her for a while. I tried to contact her yesterday, but there was no response.”
“Is that so... then what do we do?” Xia Duo’s tone betrayed a hint of helplessness.
“Uh... excuse me, I have a question.” Just as the conversation between the two sisters hit a lull, Po Kong suddenly raised his hand and asked in a weak voice, “Is this ‘Aunt Angela’ you’re talking about the legendary Flower Saint?”
After receiving confirmation from Moen and Xia Duo, a rare look of yearning appeared on Po Kong’s face, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
“The Flower Saint? What’s that?” Starlight looked at Po Kong, somewhat confused.
“No way, Little Star, you actually don't know the Flower Saint Angela?” Po Kong’s eyes widened, his tone filled with exaggerated surprise. “She’s the legendary strongest of the elven race! Even in human history, there are many records of her! There are even plenty of novels and fairy tales based on her as a prototype~”
Po Kong winked at Starlight and was about to say more when he suddenly remembered that Starlight had only been in contact with the outside world for a few months. It was normal for him not to know these things, so he swallowed his words.
“Novels? Do you mean things like 《Legend of the Elf King》?”
Starlight thought back carefully. He had indeed seen many similar novels and travelogues in the library of the Central Spiritual Arts Academy, several of which featured elven women as the protagonists.
“Yes, yes, yes! And that book 《Angela of the Funeral》!” Po Kong nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining with excitement. “So you do know about them, Little Star! The protagonists of those books are all written with the Flower Saint as a blueprint!”
Seeing that Starlight actually knew about these, Po Kong became even more enthusiastic and turned a curious gaze toward Xia Duo.
“I’ve been reading those books since I was a kid! The only thing I’ve never figured out is that those books have been around for a long time and even have different versions. Just how old is the Flower Saint?”
“Po Kong, why are you looking at me? I don’t know how old Aunt Angela is either! Ask Moen~” Xia Duo waved him off impatiently, her tone carrying a trace of helplessness.
Po Kong didn't mind at all, turning instead to look at Moen with hopeful eyes.
Seeing Po Kong’s curious expression, the originally serious Moen couldn't help but chuckle. She smiled as she answered his question. “You might not believe it, but Aunt Angela is nearly five thousand years old. She’s probably the oldest Saint Rank on the entire continent.”
“Wait... how... how old?? Five thousand years old??!!”
Upon hearing the answer, Po Kong nearly spat out the mouthful of water he had just taken. His eyes went wide with disbelief.
Even Starlight froze, his face filled with shock.
Rate on N.U.
