Chapter 99 The Queen's Interview and an Investment Plan by Lin...
When Lin Yue awoke from a chaotic dream filled with the roars of long-legged elves, dwarves, and popcorn flying everywhere, he was greeted by a burning gaze.
Xiao Fen had woken up sometime earlier and was squatting at the head of his bed, her huge wolf head almost touching his face, her tail swaying rhythmically behind her. She was clearly full of morning grumpiness and eager to run around.
Last night, under Ilandil's arrangement, the rock-walking lizard transport team and all supplies left behind on the outskirts of the forest were safely brought to this outpost camp via another wide ancient road. Xiao Fen naturally returned with them. However, it was already late at night, and Lin Yue was long asleep. After picking up Xiao Fen, he immediately fell asleep, so there wasn't a formal meeting ceremony for Xiao Fen and Xiao Hei, these two equally proud little guys.
At this moment, Xiao Fen's attention was no longer on Lin Yue, who had just woken up. She was staring intently at the black fur ball curled up and sleeping soundly beside Lin Yue's pillow.
Xiao Fen had already smelled the unfamiliar scent that evoked both curiosity and wariness in it. However, fearing it would disturb Lin Yue's sleep, it suppressed its curiosity for the entire night and dared not make a move.
Now that it's daylight, I can't hold back any longer.
Little Black seemed to sense the intense gaze. It lazily opened its eyes and calmly met Little Fen's inquisitive eyes, which seemed to ask, "Who are you? Why are you sleeping next to my boss's pillow?"
Xiao Fen became even more excited when she saw that it was awake. Its fluffy head tentatively approached Xiao Hei little by little, its wet nose twitching constantly, as if trying to sniff out some information from the other.
Just as its nose was about to touch Xiao Hei's soft fur, Xiao Hei moved.
It didn't even get up; it simply pushed off the pillow with its hind legs, and its entire body, like a weightless black lightning bolt, silently sprang up, then with a light flip, landed steadily on the top of a wooden clothes rack that was about the height of a person.
The whole process was so smooth and fast that it left only a fleeting afterimage.
Xiao Fen was caught off guard and stared blankly at the empty pillow. She then looked up at the black fur ball perched high up, its little hands tucked in its sleeves, its eyes closed as if nothing had happened. A confused "woof" sound came from its throat.
It paced anxiously around the clothes rack, occasionally standing on its hind legs, trying to reach the aloof fellow with its front paws, but all attempts ended in failure.
Lin Yue watched the scene of the cat playing with the wolf and burst into laughter.
"Alright, alright, stop fooling around." He patted Xiao Fen's large wolf head and soothed her, "I have important business to attend to today, I don't have time to play with you two."
He stood up, walked to the coat rack, and reached out to the aloof creature on it, intending to pick it up. Little Black, however, nimbly dodged his hand, leaped down, and landed lightly on Lin Yue's shoulder.
Helpless, Lin Yue reached down and scooped Xiao Hei off his shoulder, holding it up by its forearm and bringing it close to Xiao Fen. He solemnly introduced it, "Come on, let's get acquainted. Xiao Fen, this is Xiao Hei, our newest member. Xiao Hei, this is Xiao Fen, our family's fighter and number one mascot. From now on, we're all family, so get along well and no fighting, understand?"
After saying that, he placed Xiao Hei on the ground in front of Xiao Fen.
Xiao Fen curiously lowered her head and let out a low howl at the little thing that was not much bigger than her own paw, as if to greet it.
Xiao Hei merely glanced at it lazily, then took elegant cat steps, circled around Xiao Fen's huge wolf paws, and finally, at an angle that surprised everyone, leaped and landed steadily on Xiao Fen's broad back. Finding the softest spot, it tucked its little hands into a ball again and closed its eyes.
Xiaofen: "...?"
It stood frozen in place, twisting its neck as if trying to see what was on its back. As it looked, it unconsciously started spinning in circles, like a silly dog chasing its own tail.
Seeing this comical scene, Lin Yue completely gave up on intervening. He felt that the way these two would get along in the future would probably be quite interesting.
He dressed neatly and carefully checked all the supplies that would be given as gifts. After confirming that everything was in order, he found Elder Farador and the two Silent Youths, who were also ready.
The elves had brought them a simple breakfast—sweet fruit syrup and soft gum cake.
After breakfast, as if by prior arrangement, Ilandil appeared precisely outside the treehouse.
"Mayor Lin, Elder Farador, Her Majesty the Queen is already waiting at the Temple of the Moon."
“Lord Ilandil,” Lin Yue pointed to Xiao Fen, who was following excitedly beside him, and Xiao Hei, who was perched on Xiao Fen’s back with a cool expression, “can they… come with us?”
Ilandil glanced at the two figures, one large and one small, and a gentle smile appeared on his face: "Of course. Her Majesty the Queen specifically instructed that as long as they are your companions and have no ill intentions, Silvermoon Forest welcomes them."
He then waved to the elven rangers behind him. The rangers immediately stepped forward and easily lifted the large boxes filled with souvenirs that Lin Yue and his companions had brought.
Thus, this unusually assembled audience group—a human who looked like a shrewd merchant, an elderly Silent Elder, two nervous young Silents, and a giant wolf resembling a husky carrying a black cat—led by Elendil himself, set off in a grand procession toward the heart of the Silvermoon Forest, toward the Temple of the Moon.
The Temple of the Moon is less a palace and more a living work of art that blends seamlessly into the entire forest.
It is constructed from a living sacred tree that has grown for countless millennia and is as large as a mountain range. Countless thick branches, as smooth and warm as jade, intertwine and spiral in the air, forming magnificent domes, elegant archways, and winding corridors.
The entire temple was made without a single brick, yet it was more sturdy than any fortress. Inside, the hall was resplendent with light, and countless magical plants, like natural crystal chandeliers, emitted a soft, bright glow, illuminating the entire space like a fairyland.
The air was filled with a life force and magical energy so rich it was almost tangible; taking a deep breath felt like cleansing and purifying one's soul.
Upon entering the temple grounds, even the most lively Xiao Fen subconsciously slowed her pace, becoming cautious and reverent.
At the deepest part of the temple was a vast, semi-open circular hall. In the center of the hall was a moon well, its surface crystal clear and radiating a soft, silvery glow.
Beside the well, several elven elders dressed in pure white priestly robes stood with their eyes closed.
Behind the Moon Well, on a throne woven from countless silver moonlight vines, sat a figure that made Lin Yue's breath catch in his throat the moment he saw her.
Elf Queen.
She looked unusually young, her face was almost unrealistically beautiful, and she possessed a kind of majesty that transcended age and gender, making people afraid to look directly at her.
Her long, silver hair flowed like a silver river, cascading down her back to the ground. Her eyes were a silverer than the brightest stars in the night sky, seemingly able to see through all the secrets and lies of the world.
"Elder Falador, guardian of the Silent Ones, welcome back to your homeland." The Queen's voice was ethereal and otherworldly.
Elder Farador, leaning on his cane, took a shaky step forward and gave the Queen a deep bow of silence.
The Queen's gaze then fell on Lin Yue.
In that instant, Lin Yue felt as if he had been stripped naked and thrown under an X-ray machine, his insides and outside, his soul and his heels, were completely exposed.
"You are Lin Yue." The Queen's voice was unreadable, "An interesting...variable full of contradictions and secrets."
Lin Yue's heart tightened, and he forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately open the system to scan the opponent's combat strength. He returned the salute with a hand on his chest, neither humble nor arrogant: "Yes, Your Majesty. Lin Yue, the mayor of Hope Town, pays his respects to you."
The Queen ignored him and turned her attention to the gifts that were being carried in.
When the elven maids opened the box, revealing simple yet charming celadon ceramics, starlight flower cakes exuding a calming floral fragrance, and miniature eco-bottles brimming with life, even the composed elven elders couldn't hide a hint of surprise in their eyes.
“Your Majesty, these are a small token of our appreciation from Hopetown. I know these mundane things may seem insignificant to you. But they represent a way of life in Hopetown, a small but persistent effort to live a more dignified and interesting life, even in the poorest of places.”
He did not beg or complain, but chose to use this method to showcase the unique cultural value and innovative spirit of Hope Town.
A barely perceptible hint of approval flashed in the Queen's eyes.
“A very interesting idea,” she commented, then changed the subject, “But Mayor Lin Yue, you should know that these interesting little gadgets alone are not enough to convince Silvermoon Forest to fight against a human lord whose forces are hundreds or thousands of times larger than yours for the sake of your small human settlement.”
“Your Majesty, you misunderstand.” He smiled and shook his head. “I am not here today to beg for your protection. I am here to seek an investment.”
"Investment?" This novel term surprised all the elves present.
“That’s right.” Lin Yue straightened his chest, his voice becoming confident and powerful. “I know that Duke Kaslan’s actions are nothing more than a lowly farce between human lords in your eyes. But this farce has given both sides an opportunity for in-depth cooperation.”
"You have already tasted our food and witnessed the miracles we can create in the Cursed Land. This proves that we possess a unique and sustainable production capacity. We can provide you with a stable supply of food containing special energy, we can create exquisite and artistic ceramics for you, and even in the future, we can collaborate on research into how to purify the soil of the Cursed Land and solve the problem of the earth's suffering at its root."
"However, we are still very weak, like a seedling just breaking through the soil, needing a safe environment to grow. Duke Caslan's threat is the biggest obstacle to our growth. What I need is not one-sided protection, but an angel investment. I hope Silvermoon Forest can become Hope Town's first and most important strategic partner. You provide us with initial security, and we will repay your investment with a continuous stream of unique products and technologies in the future. This is a win-win business."
His clever tactic of disguising his plea for help as a business fundraising pitch elicited a mixture of shock, absurdity, and a hint of interest from all the elves present, including the Queen.
An elderly elven elder couldn't help but speak up: "Human, your words are indeed novel. But what makes you think that your meager output is worth the entire Silvermoon Forest investing in you?"
"Just because of this." Lin Yue pulled out a Hope brand canned food sealed in a ceramic jar from his pocket.
In front of everyone, he opened the jar and poured the brightly colored and fragrant honey fruit jam into a small celadon-glazed dish.
“Your Majesty, elders,” he said, pointing to the jam with a smile, “I can preserve the freshest fruit for months, even over a year, without using any magic, while maintaining its original flavor and nutrients. Tell me, in the entire continent, who else besides me can do this?”
"With this technology, the precious magical fruits and herbs of Silvermoon Forest that only ripen in specific seasons will no longer be limited by time. Your people, wherever they are, whenever they are, will be able to enjoy the gifts from their homeland."
"This is my sincerity. It is also just the tip of the iceberg of the countless returns that this investment can bring you in the future."
The atmosphere inside the temple became subtle because of these words.
The elves stared intently at the seemingly ordinary fruit jam, which contained a revolutionary meaning, their eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and fervor.
A fleeting glint of greed flashed in the Queen's eyes, so quickly that Lin Yue doubted its authenticity.
After a long silence, she finally spoke slowly: "It's a very interesting technology. But Mayor Lin Yue, aren't you afraid we'll just leave you and your technology here?"
A blatant threat!
Lin Yue's heart clenched, but he couldn't back down!
“Of course, I understand your concerns.” He calmly shook his head, meeting the Queen’s almost tangible gaze. “If Silvermoon Forest feels that this investment is too risky, we will not force it. At worst, we will abandon Hope Town and retreat to the deeper parts of the Cursed Lands with all our technology, seeds, and talent. I believe that as long as our people are still here, we can rebuild a new Hope Town wherever we go.”
“But… in that case,” he gave a slightly regretful smile, “Silvermoon Forest might forever lose a neighbor who could constantly provide you with magical food and new ideas. As for my companions who were captured by Duke Caslan, I may not be able to save them, but at least I can guarantee that Duke Caslan will never again be able to obtain even a single grain of snow salt or a handful of starlight flour from any source. Of course, not just Duke Caslan, but no one will be able to obtain these things anymore.”
His strategy of retreating to advance, combining softness with firmness, finally elicited a genuine smile from the Queen.
“Very good.” She nodded, as if admiring an interesting work of art. “Lin Yue, you are even more interesting than I imagined.”
"I agree to your investment."
"Silvermoon Forest will become Hope Town's strongest ally. We will provide you with the necessary shelter and support."
“However,” she changed the subject, “we elves never directly participate in wars between humans. This is a rule we have established since ancient times.”
She looked at Lin Yue and said slowly:
"We will lend you a batch of elven warbows blessed with the wind and lightweight yet sturdy mithril chainmail. Warrior Lorian will assist your guards in training over the next month, transforming them into a true elite force."
"The Druid Nightshade will set up a natural barrier outside your city walls that weakens enemy attacks and creates illusions."
"I will also personally send envoys to the capital to express our serious concern to the human royal family about Duke Kaslan's disruption of the border peace."
"But the ones who will truly face the Red Scorpion Army are yourselves."
"In half a month, I hope to see not a weakling sheltered under our wings, but a true warrior who can use his own strength to defend his home and dignity."
"If you can do that, then our alliance will be as solid as a rock."
“If you can’t do it…” A cold glint flashed in the Queen’s eyes, “then it can only prove that my investment has failed.”
The tense negotiations ended, and the atmosphere relaxed slightly. The Queen's gaze finally shifted from Lin Yue to the two equally eye-catching little ones at his feet.
"The wolf cub of the Wind Chaser." The Queen looked at Xiao Fen, a hint of nostalgia flashing in her silver eyes. "Good potential, pure bloodline. Lin Yue, you've raised it very well."
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Lin Yue proudly rubbed Xiao Fen’s head. “It’s very smart and is my best companion and family.”
He extended his palm towards Xiaofen and said in an extremely familiar tone, "Xiaofen, give me a high five."
Xiao Fen seemed to sense the less serious atmosphere. It wagged its tail excitedly, then raised its furry front paws and accurately patted Lin Yue's palm.
A soft "snap" sound made even the usually stern-faced elven elder's lips twitch slightly.
The Queen seemed amused by this heartwarming scene. She chuckled and teased, "Lin Yue, you don't actually... treat it like an ordinary wild beast, do you? You should know that, given the growth rate of their species, its current mental age is equivalent to that of a one- or two-year-old human child."
Lin Yue's face instantly turned red; he was so embarrassed he could dig a three-bedroom apartment out of his toes.
The Queen's gaze then turned to Xiao Hei, who was perched on Xiao Fen's back and had maintained an unusually aloof demeanor throughout.
"Hmm? This... is a cat?" The Queen narrowed her eyes in confusion. "A strange aura... it has no magical fluctuations, and it doesn't seem like an ordinary wild beast... it's more like... a pure aggregation of rules?"
Under the Queen's all-seeing gaze, Little Black, who had been calm and collected all along, involuntarily tensed up. Its little paws, tucked in front of it, seemed to unconsciously clench tighter.
"Woo..." Little Fen, who was under it, suddenly let out a low groan of grievance. It felt as if something sharp had tugged at the fur on its back, and the pain made it instinctively want to roll around.
"Alright, alright, I'm not looking anymore." The Queen seemed to have noticed something and smiled as she looked away. "However, I have heard that you humans do indeed enjoy keeping these soft, seemingly useless little creatures as... emotional support?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hei, who was lying on Xiao Fen's back, suddenly opened its green eyes, which had been closed the whole time, and then slowly narrowed them into slits, flashing a dangerous light of extremely human-like displeasure.
As soon as Lin Yue and his group left the main hall of the Moon Temple with Ilandil, their figures disappeared at the end of the brightly lit corridor. The solemn atmosphere in the hall seemed to have been punctured, and it instantly deflated.
Several ethereal and otherworldly elders, almost simultaneously, fixed their sharp gazes on the opened wooden crates.
Especially those ceramic vessels with simple and elegant shapes and glazes as blue as the sky after rain, as well as miniature eco-bottles that form their own little world and are full of vitality.
"Ahem." A male elder cleared his throat first, and with a sway of his body, he gracefully floated to a wooden box containing eco-bottles. He swiftly picked up a vase covered with lush green moss, inside which several strange little plants were emitting a faint glow.
“Hmm, the life rhythm contained in this thing is quite wonderful. Placing it in a place for meditation will surely help to communicate with the power of nature. More importantly,” he examined it seriously, “the color of this moss matches the window frame of my Listening to the Wind Cottage very well.”
“Ofilar, put it down!” Another female elder’s voice was urgent. She moved her skirt slightly and appeared beside her as if by teleportation. Her hand pressed precisely on the same terrarium. “I was the one who chose this first. Its interplay of light and shadow is a perfect match for the moonlight curtains of my Moonlit Pavilion. Your rough treehouse doesn’t do justice to its exquisiteness.”
Elder Ophir: "Hippone, that's sophistry. How can nature's creations be distinguished by refinement or roughness? Clearly, my dwelling is closer to its primal life force!"
"Closer to the primitive atmosphere? You mean that pile of vines and dead branches in your room that hasn't been cleaned up for hundreds of years?" Elder Hibonne was not to be outdone, and secretly increased the pressure on his hand.
"That's called natural sedimentation!"
"That's called neglect!"
The two elders, who were usually highly respected and whose combined age was comparable to half of human civilization, were now fighting like little elves vying for candy over a miniature ecosphere. The ecosphere trembled slightly in their hands, and the small plants inside seemed to shrink their leaves in fright.
Although the other elders did not directly compete for it, they also gathered around the box, their eyes scanning the other porcelain pieces intently, secretly assessing them, their hands itching to grab them from their sleeves, calculating which piece they should take first once the two had reached a conclusion.
That's enough.
The ethereal voice rang out once more from the throne.
The two arguing elders froze, immediately released their grip, gracefully took a half-step back, and bowed slightly, as if they hadn't been the ones who almost fought over a bottle.
The Elf Queen's gaze slowly swept over the boxes, lingering for a moment, especially on the vibrant ecospheres.
Slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the throne:
"My study desk always seems to be missing a small green ornament that can add some life to it."
What do you think?
Elder Ofilar: "..."
Elder Hippone: "..."
The two elders immediately fell silent, their expressions becoming extremely submissive.
Elder Ofilal coughed lightly: "Your Majesty's desk is naturally the best place for this thing. It is its honor to be able to bask in the brilliance of your wisdom every day."
Elder Hibone immediately chimed in, “Your Majesty is wise; the fresh and elegant taste of this item perfectly complements Your Majesty.”
Her Majesty nodded slightly, seemingly pleased with their tact.
Then her gaze lightly swept over the remaining celadon ceramic vessels.
The elders' hearts immediately tightened again, and their eyes once more filled with longing.
The Queen gracefully waved her hand and instructed the maid beside her, "Put these investment samples away carefully, especially the porcelain. Handle them with care and send them to my treasury later... Hmm, I will personally assess their artistic value."
"Take the rest of the food down and let the children have a taste."
The maids bowed and accepted the order, then began carefully packing the boxes.
The elders: "..." (Thinking to themselves: Your Majesty, at least leave one for us!)
Seeing the elders wanting to speak but not daring to, and watching helplessly as the box was closed and carried away, the Queen's smile deepened.
She sat up straight again, resuming her aloof and unfathomable demeanor, as if the queen who had just stolen her love was merely an illusion.
Only a lingering resentment towards the exquisite ceramics and eco-bottles remained in the air, testifying to the silent storm that had just erupted at the Sacred Moon Temple regarding the division of spoils.
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