The collar of the shirt was very loose, and the scenery revealed when the elf bent down instantly attracted Wayne's attention.

However, Wayne only admired it for a second or two before looking away. He met Toruvel's eyes, smiled a cheerful smile that only a teenager could have, and said:

"Of course, Toruvir, thank you for inviting me. I'm a little hungry."

The female elf did not notice Wayne's little action. She nodded, made way for the exit of the tent, and waited until Wayne climbed out of the tent before walking side by side with him and leading him towards the camp.

Perhaps because it was dinner time, the camp was particularly lively at this moment. Elves, dwarves and halflings, men and women, young and old, were queuing up in an orderly manner around three steaming pots to get their meals.

Wayne made a rough count and found that there were about a hundred residents in the camp. Judging from their attire and equipment, about thirty of them could serve as warriors and participate in the battle.

Noticing Wayne's gaze, Toruweier pursed her lips, and then said in a calm but sad tone:

"We had more than 300 people at first. We fled here from Ad Kale, the capital of Kovind. Half of us fell on the road and were brutally killed by Kovind soldiers."

"The two villagers we let go yesterday discovered our whereabouts."

"I wasn't sure if they would tell on me, so I had to take them as prisoners and lock them up."

Wayne nodded in understanding. In order to protect the safety of his own people and prevent them from being tracked by Kaedwen's soldiers, he had to capture the witnesses, even killing them was something he had to do.

Following Toruviel, they came to a relatively clean campfire, where a dozen elves and dwarves dressed as warriors were having a meal. When they saw the female elf leader, they all showed respect on their faces and stood up to salute her.

Obviously, Toruviel enjoys a very high status among this group of non-human races.

As soon as the two of them found a blanket to sit down, a female elf came over with two bowls of hot food and handed them to them respectfully.

Wayne casually scooped some food into the bowl. Potatoes, meat, beets and dumplings. The meal looked good. Regardless of how it tasted, at least the ingredients were quite rich.

He took a sip of the soup; it was sweet and salty, just barely edible. Of course, it was nothing compared to his cooking skills and could not be called delicious at all.

Wayne picked up a spoonful of meat with a spoon, stuffed it into his mouth, and said casually:

"This is still within Kaedwen's territory. There are human villages and towns all around you."

"Turuweier, maybe you should flee further away, such as to the primeval forests of the Blue Mountains. There are few people there, the roads are rugged, and monsters appear all year round, making it difficult for humans to find you."

The female elf leader also took a sip of the soup and put the wooden bowl aside.

She stared at the blazing bonfire, snorted, and said firmly: "I will not escape from Kovind. There are countless compatriots here who are facing life-threatening situations and waiting for our rescue."

"Humans treat us like fat sheep and slaughter them at will."

"But I will tell them that elves are not cowards. When faced with swords, we will pick up swords. When faced with death, we will fight back with death. No one can deprive us of our right to survive."

Seeing that the topic was a bit heavy, Wayne sighed, but still said bluntly:

"There are too many humans, and their soldiers are well-equipped and professionally trained in warfare."

"You have only a few fighters. It is impossible to defeat them in a head-on battle. When facing their encirclement and suppression, you can't even protect yourself."

"Only when you unite enough strength and have the ability to protect yourselves, will humans truly hear your voices, instead of treating you as thieves and bandits and strangling you at will."

Seeing Toruvir looking at him, Wayne thought for a moment and couldn't help but say a few more words: "The power of the elves is actually not weak. You have a long lifespan and are neither lazy nor stupid. You can rely on your experience and skills to become master craftsmen in any industry. If conditions permit, you can rely on these skills to quickly accumulate wealth and strength."

"It's just that the number of elves is too scattered. In any city or village, you will always be in the minority and will never have the power to resist."

"But the entire northern kingdom, all the elves combined, is a force that no country dares to underestimate."

"So, what you lack is a flag, a good leader who can unite you."

"Perhaps, one day, when the elves gather together again, with tens of thousands of soldiers and occupying a certain territory, under the leadership of a wise leader, they will be able to rebuild the elven kingdom and be reborn in blood."

After listening to Wayne's words, Toruweier was silent for a long time, and then asked in a slightly expectant voice: "You are an elf with ideas, Wayne."

"You know how to resist, how to defend yourself, and how to fight."

"Perhaps, you should join our cause, help our compatriots, and stay away from human persecution."

"Fight to liberate the non-human race."

Looking at the expectant eyes of the female elf, Wayne couldn't help but reveal an awkward smile. As a young man with a modern soul, it was okay for him to talk big, but to be honest, he was not mentally prepared at all to really engage in the cause of liberating a race.

Wayne coughed lightly, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible, and refused:

"I'm sorry, Toruviel, I'm a demon hunter and must remain neutral."

"I know my own abilities very well. I can't go to the extent of sacrificing my life for others."

Toruviel was a little disappointed when she heard this. This kind of neutral code of conduct of the demon hunters has been widely spread in the north for hundreds of years, so it is not surprising.

She took a wine flask from her waist, tilted her head back and took a big gulp, exhaled, then handed it to Wayne and said:

"Try it, Wayne. This is the cider I brewed myself. It's the recipe my mother taught me. It's probably the only thing she left me."

"Your opinion is very pertinent, Wayne. I will seriously consider it."

Looking at Toruveille's beautiful face starting to turn red due to the alcohol, Wayne took the wine jug hesitantly, put it to his mouth and took a sip.

It tastes really good, with a sweet taste of wine and a light floral scent. Even in modern society, it is still a good drink.

He squinted his eyes and took another sip, then raised his head and exhaled a breath of foul air. After thinking for a few seconds, he said to the female elf, "Turuweier, although we demon hunters cannot join your cause and become enemies of all human societies."

"But we can be friends. It is not unacceptable to help friends solve their tasks without violating the principle of neutrality."

(End of this chapter)