Chapter 379
379 Suspicion
Selma Payne’s POV:
I explained my idea to everyone, and everyone felt that it was worth a try. My father nodded in agreement, so we immediately met the Council of Elders.
Even though it was late at night, the interim government was still brightly lit, and the staff members were constantly carrying various documents or materials in a hurry. At this critical moment, they were the ones who supported the basic skeleton of the government, allowing the core of the elven race to survive in the open and secret struggles of the rulers.
The elders seemed to be exhausted all the time. I believed I would also be mentally and physically exhausted if I were them. In terms of age, they must have experienced the golden age of the elven race’s prosperity when they were young. However, when they were old, they found their home seemed to be just like them, aging and fragile with time. This gap was really like a dream.
“Good evening, Princess of the werewolves,” the first elder said. “What’s the urgent matter?”
“Yes, it’s about whether we can catch Azazel’s party in one fell swoop.” I said, “In fact, we already have an 80 – 90% guess that Azazel’s party will continue to attack the elves. It might be one or ten.”
“As they can’t leave the elven race, they can only find a replacement for the sacrifice they need in the elven territory. The elves had always been famous for their vitality-rich natural specialties, such as the Mother Tree of Nature. They won’t let go of any opportunity.”
The Great Elder’s reaction wasn’t strong, which was what I expected. After all, the interim government didn’t expect me to destroy Azazel’s party. They didn’t care much about this matter either, which undoubtedly revealed that they didn’t have a very urgent attitude toward it.
The Great Elder’s voice was hoarse and dry. “Do you have suggestions?”
“My suggestion is to ask all the elven mayors to hold a meeting and inform everyone of the severity and urgency of this. As long as they were united against the outside world, it would be impossible for Azazel’s party to hide from the search for long. This concerns the countless lives that might be harmed in the future. I believe they will understand the importance of this.”
Anyone would understand that this was the simplest and most effective method. However, the Great Elder only looked up at me and then suddenly asked sharply, “With all due respect, Your Highness, these evil cultists, including the despicable master behind them, were all provoked by the werewolves, weren’t they? How can you say such things that have nothing to do with you? Don’t you think the nobles should do something?”
For a moment, I was dazed, unable to accept the Great Elder’s sudden attack.
I subconsciously looked at my companions beside me. They were also in a daze as if they had just heard a funny hallucination.
“I don’t understand,” I frowned and looked directly into the Great Elder’s eyes. “You mean, compared to the evil cultists who barged into your country and slaughtered your compatriots, you think the werewolves should be more responsible for the disaster in your land?”
“It’s the evil deeds of the cultists and demons. How can you have the nerve to put it on us? Goddesses above, we are even here to help! Do you think we’re deliberately leading the disaster to the east? Do you think there’s any reason to talk to a lunatic?”
The Great Elder didn’t express his opinion. His attitude inevitably made me even angrier. I resisted the urge to curse and said as calmly as possible, “What is this? Picking a rotten apple to pick on? You know that you can’t expect to get back your losses from Azazel’s party, so you grabbed a spendthrift to pay for them?
“It’s the evil deeds of the cultists and demons. As long as these evil cultists still dream of creating a true body for their master and creating a kingdom of sin for their master on the surface, they will never stop their pillaging! How can you have the nerve to put it on us? Goddesses above, we are even here to help! Do you think we’re deliberately leading the disaster to the East? Do you believe that there’s any reason to talk to a lunatic?
“Be it the werewolves or the elves; they’re just the latter of the first to be plundered. If Azazel’s party chose the elves as their first target, would your people be willing to apologize and compensate all the other affected races?”
My words were demanding, causing the other elders to criticize me. However, I tried to reason with him and was unwilling to bear this baseless slander.
The Great Elder still didn’t say a word. He looked at me hard, as if he wanted to see through my body and see my true heart.
I looked at him fearlessly.
After a while, he looked away and sighed. “Remember your words and tone today, Princess of the werewolves.”
I was stunned again. Before I could say anything, he said, “We’ll try to gather as many people as possible for a meeting. However, if you continue helping us eliminate the stray werewolves, you’ll definitely be suspected.
“Remember what you said to me. If someone doubts you like this, then say these words to them.”