399: Elf Royal Family Assessment Report

Lia walked at the very front, her back straight.

She no longer looked back at her former compatriots, nor did she dwell on past grievances.

Her path had changed the moment she was saved by Shang Wan Ning.

Receiving this group of elves was merely a task assigned by Her Majesty.

Nothing more.

As for the Elf Goddess, Avila... Lia raised her eyes, looking toward the sky above Jiaotai Palace.

Where was that deity she had once so piously believed in now?

Perhaps soon, this deity would also have to face this realm of the dead and the unpredictable Empress who ruled it.

Lia's fingers subconsciously brushed against the jade talisman at her waist.

It was given to her by the Secretary-General, containing further instructions on how to 'settle' these members of the Elf royalty.

Her gaze regained its composure.

The rules of the Underworld were the standards the Elf Race now needed to follow... Inside Jiaotai Palace, as the seventh burner of Concentrating Incense was lit, Shang Wan Ning's fingers simultaneously touched two heating jade slips.

One was pitch black, engraved with Nether Runes; the other was crimson, with vein-like patterns pulsing slightly on its surface.

She first opened the black jade slip. You Yu's report was far more detailed than before:

[Evaluation Report of Elf Royalty and Core Members]

Kailanthos: Elf Crown Prince, aged 217.

Realm: Rank 5 Moonlight Mage (Peak Rank 5 before injury).

Constitution: Moonlight Affinity, possesses the royal bloodline 'Starlight Guidance,' naturally intimidating to lower-ranked elves.

Background: Proud personality, strong sense of responsibility, extremely persistent regarding elf traditions. His maternal family controlled the Royal Guard; though they suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Eternal Song Fortress, he still holds potential influence among exiled elves.

Recommendation: Can serve as a puppet candidate, but his character needs tempering to weaken his adherence to traditional elf dogmas.

Ilena: Fourth Princess of the Elves, aged 185.

Realm: Rank 4 Nature Mage.

Constitution: Rare 'Wood Spirit Body,' extraordinary affinity for plants and life energy, suspected to be blessed by the elf mother tree.

Background: Lia's half-sister, relatively simple-minded, has not deeply participated in power struggles. If her special constitution is sensed by the Elf Goddess, she could become bait to attract Avila's attention.

Recommendation: Requested as an experimental subject by Institute Director He Shouzheng; experimental intensity must be strictly controlled to ensure her survival and sustainable value.

Arathmir: Elf Elder, former Chief Court Mage, over a thousand years old.

Realm: Formerly a Rank 6 Starlight Mage (now fallen to Rank 4 due to severe injuries and essence depletion, with recovery being extremely difficult).

Constitution: Knowledge-bearing type, possesses vast knowledge of elf secret history, high-level magic theory, and some divine arts.

Background: One of the representative figures of the Royal Court's conservative faction, holds deep influence over Kailanthos.

Recommendation: The value of the knowledge in his mind far exceeds his combat value; gentle means (such as memory extraction or knowledge exchange) can be used to extract it. If necessary, he can serve as an indirect information channel for negotiations with the Elf Goddess.

Aislinn Shadowchaser: Guard Captain, aged approximately 320.

Realm: Rank 4 Shadowblade Assassin.

Constitution: Shadow Affinity, excels in stealth and assassination.

Background: Hails from an elven shadow guard family, absolutely loyal to the royalty, resilient and calm personality.

Recommendation: Can attempt recruitment; incorporate into the Underworld's assassination sequence after implanting a loyalty brand.

Other Guards (42 in total): Average age around 250, realms between Rank 3 and Rank 4, covering professions such as warriors, rangers, and mages.

Preliminary screening shows three guards with signs of wavering will (already marked); the rest can be broken up and incorporated into the 'Outworld Mercenary Corps.'

Shang Wan Ning's gaze lingered for a moment on 'Wood Spirit Body' and 'Knowledge-bearing type.'

Almost simultaneously, the blood-colored crystal vibrated violently. The mental fluctuations of Sabrina's clone forced their way into her Sea of Consciousness, greasy and impatient: 'Lord Shadow Fierce! Avila's divine power fluctuations have been abnormally active lately.'

'My master's patience is not infinite. When will the God of the Abyss's "sincerity" make those pointy-ears too busy to look elsewhere?'

Shang Wan Ning's expression remained unchanged as she temporarily suppressed the vibrations of the blood-colored crystal.

Ling Qi approached carrying a cup of freshly brewed Dew Bud tea, her spiritual sense sweeping over the jade slip in the Empress's hand: 'Your Majesty, the Elf royalty has been taken to the "Quietude Courtyard" by Lia.'

'Arathmir's injuries have been stabilized by Ling Xi, but recovering his realm will likely require two years of quiet recuperation.'

'Mm.'

Shang Wan Ning responded, her fingertip tapping You Yu's report.

'Institute Director He Shouzheng has likely had his eye on Ilena's "Wood Spirit Body" for a long time. Tell the Research Institute that the person can be lent, but the rules cannot be broken; data copies must be preserved.'

'Have Lia go and have a "heart-to-heart" with her sister, appealing to her with reason and emotion; only voluntary cooperation can be sustained. Coercion is not a long-term solution.'

'Understood.'

Ling Qi recorded the instructions quickly.

'As for the other guards, after screening according to the plan, hand them over to Yin Shu for reorganization. Kailanthos... do not contact him for now. Leave him alone for a few days to grind down his sharp edges.'

Shang Wan Ning nodded, her gaze turning to the restless blood-colored crystal: 'Sabrina's clone is pressing hard. The small skirmishes of the slave-hunting teams aren't enough to satisfy His appetite.'

Ling Qi understood: 'Does Your Majesty wish to muddy the waters further?'

'Avila and Astrea have a deep friendship; ordinary framing won't provoke them.'

A hint of calculation flashed in Shang Wan Ning's eyes. 'But the bishops and knights under the Church of Light might not necessarily know about the private friendship between their goddess and the Elf Goddess.'

'Especially those in remote areas, who are fanatical in their faith and lack guidance from the upper echelons...'

She picked up her teacup and took a sip: 'Have the Guixu Walkers disguise themselves as corrupted elves (be careful to leave behind the unique foul aura of the mother of flesh and blood, but keep it subtle) and attack several human border towns that worship the God of Light, targeting the local churches.'

'The methods must be cruel, the scenes must be bloody. It's best to "accidentally" leave behind some "evidence" that points to the Elf Race but is also tainted with the filth of flesh and blood.'

A sharp light flashed in Ling Qi's eyes: 'This move isn't to frame the Elf Goddess, but to lead suspicion toward Sabrina?'

'To make the Church of Light believe that the mother of flesh and blood has controlled or corrupted the elves to launch an attack?'

'Innocent XIII might see through it, but the bishops under him need to vent their anger and demonstrate their power to the believers.'

'When all the surface evidence points to an ancient god, even if they have doubts, their primary target will be that madwoman.'

Shang Wan Ning set down her teacup. 'This will be enough to force the Elf Race to deal with the Church of Light's inquiries and possible "liquidations" while they are already busy with the crisis at Eternal Song Fortress.'

'The "being too busy to look elsewhere" that the clone wants—this should be enough.'