Volume 3: Artifacts Chapter 91 The Third Option
Luke's words made everyone's mood like a roller coaster, lifted up and dropped, lifted up and dropped again. Fortunately, they knew that the Queen of Clear Sky was still alive, and they also knew the exact location of the Queen's lair. All that was left was to pull the magic spring.
Dean Bidar saluted Luke and said, "King Taotie, thank you for sending me this valuable information. Thank you also Miss Xingkong for risking her life to create an opportunity for the forest elves to retake the Emerald Forest. I still have something else to ask you. If you have time, can you come to my office?"
Luke looked around and realized that his ostentatious arrival had attracted the attention of many elves, especially the young students, who were more excited than seeing a giant panda.
"Okay! It's too messy here, let's go to your office."
After Dean Vidal turned around and explained some things to the other elven wizards, he took Luke to his office.
The door is closed and the defense barrier is opened.
"King Taotie, please sit down." Dean Vidal invited Luke to sit down and waved his hand to let the alchemical teapot pour two cups of tea. "I don't know if Her Majesty Queen Clear Sky told you that just knowing the exact location of the Hunting Queen's lair is only the first step. If you want to surround and kill the Hunting Queen, you also need to pull out the magic spring, and we don't know how to do it."
Luke, who was wearing a dragon mask, did not move his teacup. He replied to Dean Vidal: "It takes an ancient language to pull the magic spring, so it is not too difficult for the five ancient civilizations to eliminate the headhunters.
Her Majesty Queen Clear Sky has done a great deal of research on ancient languages, and perhaps she has the ability to influence the Magic Spring, but it’s a pity that Her Majesty the Queen is not here.”
Dean Vidal said: "But you are here! I think pulling the magic spring is not a difficult task for an ancient dragon."
"Yes, for an ancient dragon, pulling the magic spring is indeed not a difficult task. But the question is, why should I help you?"
Solving this problem is the reason why Dean Vidal asked King Taotie to come here for a private talk.
"What does the forest elves need to pay so that the dragons will help us?"
Luke replied: "I can't represent the dragon race. I can only talk to the forest elves about the future from the perspective of the dragon country."
Dean Vidal said, “I look forward to your insights.”
"Once upon a time, the Emerald Forest was a pearl in the hands of a giant dragon. At that time, the giant dragon occupied this beautiful island, leaving many good and bad memories for the forest elves, but also taught the forest elves the magic that the giant dragon was good at.
During the ancient war, the forest elves perfectly completed the tasks assigned to you by the Dragon Kingdom and became an indispensable arm of the dragon army. After the ancient war, the forest elves wanted independence, and the dragons handed the Emerald Forest to you without any regrets.
I believe Dean Vidal still has memories of that period."
Dean Bidar replied: "Yes! Although I was still young at that time, I remember the scene when the dragons left the Emerald Forest. After the war, both the dragons and the forest elves were very tired. At that time, the dragons asked my father what he wanted, and my father said: I want the Emerald Forest. The dragons agreed.
Now... do the dragons want to come back?"
Dean Vidal looked at the Taotie King in front of him, wondering how it would answer.
The dragons abandoned the Emerald Forest in the first place, partly because they wanted to reward the forest elves, and partly because the number of dragons had dropped drastically, and they needed to gather the dragons outside and bring them back to the Dragon Kingdom to reproduce their race.
After a thousand years of cultivation, although the Dragon Kingdom is not as strong as it was before the ancient war, its vitality has been restored. With the world situation becoming more and more turbulent and the angels and the Golden People making big moves, will the Dragon Kingdom expand to enhance its war potential and expand its strategic depth?
Returning to the Emerald Forest and bringing the forest elves back under its control is undoubtedly in line with the Dragon Kingdom's strategy.
If the Dragon Kingdom really wants to annex the Emerald Forest, do the forest elves have the ability to resist?
Dean Vidal feels that the Emerald Forest is now a piece of fat meat. The Headhunters, Angels, Golden Shield Empire, Dragon Kingdom... all parties want to swallow it into their mouths.
Luke could feel Dean Vidal's nervousness and guess what he was thinking at the moment.
"If the forest elves still want to belong to the Dragon Kingdom, the dragons will definitely be very willing to accept this former subordinate. But I think even if the Dragon Kingdom can take over the Emerald Forest, the forest elves will never be as loyal to the dragons as before.
A thousand years is too long, even for a dragon that has no concept of time."
Dean Vidal asked: "What does the Dragon Kingdom, or you, King Taotie, want from the forest elves?"
Luke replied: “I don’t want to force the forest elves to do anything, I just hope that the forest elves can see the direction of the world’s development and find their own position in this dispute.
The Emerald Forest cannot exist as a separate force. You do not have the corresponding land, population, resources, or comprehensive industrial system. In peacetime, you can play both sides and keep your distance from all parties to preserve your independence.
But when the fighting begins to intensify and even escalates to war, the Emerald Forest's location and resources mean that if you don't take sides, you will be torn apart.
Do you think the Golden Shield Empire would allow the Shining Gold to occupy the Emerald Forest so close to them? Would the Dragon Nation allow the Angels to occupy the Emerald Forest so close to the Dragon Nation? When the war first broke out in the Emerald Forest, would the forest elves regret not having determined their position earlier? "
Dean Vidal took on the pressure of the ancient dragon and said, "King Taotie, you still want the Emerald Forest to be affiliated with the Dragon Kingdom again! But you seem to have found the wrong elf. I am only the dean of the Emerald Magic Academy. The one who rules the Emerald Forest is King Garrett XVII of the Three-Leaf. He has the legal right to rule the Emerald Forest recognized by the Dragon Kingdom."
Luke said in a relaxed tone: "Dean Vidal, don't be nervous. If the Dragon Nation really wants to return to the Emerald Forest, it will naturally go to the Three-Leaf King. I just want to discuss the world situation and the future of the forest elves with you.
I came to the Emerald Forest this time only because I owed a favor to Her Majesty Queen Clear Sky. Just delivering a message is far from enough to repay the value of the sword. Killing the Hunting Queen was Her Majesty Queen Clear Sky asked me to do, so the forest elves do not need to pay extra compensation. "
At this moment, Dean Vidal's mood seemed to have experienced another roller coaster ride, but this time it was the one with the biggest drop.
I feel a little uncomfortable in my heart.
Dean Vidal took a deep breath and asked again to confirm, "Does your help really not require any sacrifice from the forest elves?"
"If you are willing to give me something extra, I will definitely not refuse it. If I can get back the Emerald Forest, the Dragon Kings of Dragon Country will definitely choose me as the leader of the dragons."
"This is not something I can decide, but I will convey what you just said to King Sanye, and let His Majesty decide the place of the forest elves in this period of history."
Luke achieved his goal, so he said, "That's your business. I can only remind you that choosing a direction is definitely better than staying where you are."
"Thank you for your kindness." Dean Vidal asked again: "Excuse me... What is the current relationship between Dragon Country and the Golden Shield Empire? Have they reached a military agreement?"
Luke waited for a while before answering: "The relationship between the Golden Shield Empire and the Dragon Kingdom is more of a cooperation on the Fire Crystal, and no clear military agreement has been reached. Before an incident that threatens the Dragon Kingdom occurs, the Dragon Kingdom does not want to get involved in the world dispute. Now we are closely monitoring the actions of the Golden People and the Angels, and there is no need for the Dragon Kingdom to enter a state of war preparation at present.
If the Emerald Forest is willing to rely on the Dragon Kingdom, the Dragon Kingdom can protect the forest elves from being involved in the world dispute too early. You must know that the Golden Shield Empire and the Shining Gold People are so incompatible that now the Golden Shield Empire has used the information gap to intervene in the war between the forest elves and the headhunters in advance. I believe that the influence of the Shining Gold People will soon arrive.
Sky City lost two Holy Judgement Angels in the Emerald Forest, so it’s time for them to react.”
The words of the Taotie King made Dean Vidal fall into deep thought. Although he did not understand politics, the crises facing the Emerald Forest were all in the open, and it was hard not to see them.
The Golden Shield Empire is rescuing the Emerald Forest. The Shining Gold Man may be late but he will not fail to come.
Even after losing two Holy Judgement Angels, Sky City will not just ignore it.
Dean Vidal felt that he had to meet King Sanye as soon as possible and inform him of the arrival of the Dragon Kingdom Taotie King and the content of this conversation. Now the threat from the headhunters is no longer a threat, and the threat from outside is the most deadly.
Dean Vidal stood up and saluted Luke: "Thank you again, King Taotie, for your help. The forest elves will never forget your kindness to us. Now please stay in the academy for a while. I will go to see King Sanye and tell him the plan to surround and kill the hunting queen."
" Just thank Her Majesty Queen Clear Sky. I wouldn't be here without her request. I have more important things to do in Saint Lun City of the Golden Shield Empire."
Dean Vidal really wanted to know why the Shining Gold People, the Angels, and the Dragons were all eyeing Saint Lun City, but he knew that King Taotie would definitely not tell him, so he didn't say anything.
Dean Vidal then arranged accommodation for Luke and headed to Emerald Lake.
Luke stood in his room and watched Dean Vidal's carriage leave.
In the distant sky, several golden lights streaked towards the Emerald King's Court from the other side of the sea.
The Golden Man is coming very quickly!
Unfortunately, I gave Jade Royal Court a third choice.
The retreat of the headhunters and the attack of the royal patrols allowed the Emerald Royal Court to reestablish ground contact with the Emerald Magic Academy. Dean Vidal rode a deer cart along the mountain road all the way to the Emerald Lake. His status also made King Sanye immediately put aside all his affairs and come to see him.
Dean Vidal informed King Sanye that the Emerald Magic Academy had found a way to eliminate the headhunters. King Sanye was not happy for too long, and he told him about the arrival of the Dragon Kingdom Taotie King and the conversation just now.
King Sanye's expression became solemn.
King Taotie's arrival was definitely not simply to help at the request of Queen Clear Sky. The Dragon Kingdom definitely has ambitions for the Emerald Forest.
At this time, the follower came in and reported: The golden man is coming!
This made King Sanye feel like he had a mountain pressing down on his shoulders.
The Golden Shield Empire, the Shining Gold People, the Dragon Kingdom, and the Sky City that could arrive at any time, four of the world's six strongest forces have set their sights on the Emerald Forest. The Emerald Forest is in a situation just as the Taotie King said, it is not qualified to remain independent in a fight of this magnitude, especially with the presence of the Headhunters within.
Stand, stand, stand…
Where does the future of the forest elves lie?
"Uncle Bidar, you are the oldest forest elf and have witnessed the development of the forest elves for thousands of years. What are your views on the future of the forest elves?"
Dean Vidal said to the confused King Sanye earnestly, "Your Majesty, do you know why King Taotie came to talk to me about these things?"
"Why?" King Sanye was also puzzled. If the Dragon Kingdom intended to return to the Emerald Forest, it should talk to him.
"Because when I was born, the Dragon Kingdom still ruled the Emerald Forest, and I saw groups of giant dragons flying over the forest. I once knelt before the dragons with your grandfather. Elves of my generation still have awe and even a sense of belonging to dragons.
I can accept in my heart that the Emerald Forest will be under the rule of the Dragon Kingdom again."
King Sanye looked at his uncle and remembered that when he was young, he had heard many elder elves talk about ancient wars and the Emerald Forest during the reign of dragons. They said that without dragons in the forest, it seemed like something was missing...
"Uncle Bidar, are you inclined to follow the advice of the Taotie King?"
Vidal said: "I don't want to influence you with my views. After all, I am a forest elf of the previous generation... or the generation before that. My views may not be suitable for the current Emerald Forest.
But I think if the forest elves must make a choice between the parties, the Dragon Kingdom can allow the Emerald Forest to have a relatively equal dialogue status with the Golden Shield Empire and the Shining Gold People. "
Vidal's words made King Sanye nod involuntarily.
If the Taotie King hadn't come, the Emerald Forest seemed to have no choice but to choose between the Golden Shield Empire and the Shining Gold People. But no matter which side it chose, the forest elves, who didn't have much bargaining power, would have to give up a lot of sovereignty and become a pawn in the struggle between the two sides.
And turn to Dragon Country...
Whether it is the Golden Shield Empire or the Shining Gold People, if they want to move into the Emerald Forest, they have to consider the attitude of the dragons.
But is it going to destroy the great feat that my grandfather fought for, which was to make the Emerald Forest independent from the rule of the Dragon Kingdom, in my own hands?
King Sanye couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart.
"I need to think about it... and I haven't met with the Prime Ministers of the Golden Shield Empire, Meteor and Sparkling Gold. I need to refer to their requests before making a final decision. If I don't respond, will it affect the Taotie King's assistance in besieging and killing the Queen?"
Dean Vidal said, "That shouldn't be the case! King Taotie said that this help was at the request of Queen Qingkong, and he didn't put forward any other conditions."
King Sanye said comfortably, "Now it seems that the one who really helps us forest elves is Queen Clear Sky, who is a grassland elf. Her Majesty the Queen is determined to find the nest of the Hunting Queen even if she is killed, and she also asked King Taotie to help. We must repay Her Majesty the Queen.
Uncle, please arrange to siege and hunt the queen as soon as possible.
Kill the Hunting Queen, and I'll be able to face those outsiders who want to eat up the Emerald Forest!"
