After accepting the "divine grace" of the "God of Luck" and testing its effects, the elders of "Howling Town" clearly became much more enthusiastic, inviting Ebner and Shatas into the town.
Little elf Josie Charlotte, who was standing in the plaza before the "door," saw the elders leading in two unfamiliar elves and couldn't help but curiously stand on tiptoe, trying hard to get a better look.
However, when she finally saw Shatas's appearance clearly, she suddenly let out an "Ah!" in surprise.
The sound was highly penetrating, drawing the attention of Grand Elder Emily, who had just entered "Howling Town," as well as Ebner.
Karat, the elf beside the little elf, hurriedly pulled her back and shielded her behind him.
Ebner had not paid much attention at first, but after casually glancing at the little elf's "River of Fate," he let out a soft "Hm?" and stopped in his tracks.
"Your Excellency, divine envoy?" Grand Elder Emily followed Ebner's gaze and explained, "That child is rather ignorant. Please forgive her…"
Do I look like someone who would argue with a child? Besides, in terms of physical age, she's actually older than me… Ebner inwardly complained, but on the surface he merely gave the little elf a deep look before withdrawing his gaze and following Grand Elder Emily toward the temple.
Only after their figures disappeared from the plaza did Karat, disguised as a human uncle, sternly criticize Josie:
"If you keep reacting so dramatically, I won't dare bring you to human cities again!"
Josie blinked aggrievedly. As she lowered her head to admit her mistake, she muttered, "But that big sister looks very much like a portrait Grandpa Taro left behind…"
...
At the same time, three fleets under the command of the "King of the Black Seat," Barros Hopkins, had converged and were sailing toward the sea area where "Howling Town" was located.
The temporary commander of this mixed fleet was Bright Isidore, a Sequence 5 "Ocean Songster," known on the seas as the "Soul-Howling Sound," whose notoriety was no less than that of the pirate admirals.
Standing on the deck at this moment, Bright examined a sea chart while asking his first mate, Hope:
"Can we confirm that the elves' hidden gathering point is nearby?"
"Yes, Captain." The first mate nodded and said excitedly, "According to the guidance of the hermit Eric Derek, every year on July 7, that settlement opens for one day, and the powerful elves inside go to nearby cities to purchase supplies…
"Right now that settlement is like a prostitute spreading her legs, ready for us to go in and out as we please!"
"Vulgar!" Bright cursed. As someone who had attended a military academy as a top student, he was quite uncomfortable with the way his subordinates spoke, though he lacked the patience of the "Iceberg Admiral" to educate them.
Seeing his subordinate too frightened to reply, Bright's expression softened slightly before he quickly asked again, "Has this intelligence been verified?"
"It has been confirmed… Captain Gordon has tracked those elves for several years and even secretly captured one of them, extracting much confidential information. It basically matches the hermit's data," the first mate said cautiously.
"Good… Inform the other two fleets that once we locate that settlement, all Beyonders capable of underwater operations will follow me in a surprise assault. We must end the battle before their demigod returns," Bright ordered.
"Yes!"
...
Inside the temple of "Howling Town," beneath the statue of the "God of Luck," Ebner, Shatas, and the elders finally began discussing serious matters.
"So, the 'Queen of Calamity' hopes that we will conduct the 'Song of Calamity' ritual to help Her escape her predicament?" After listening to Shatas's explanation, Grand Elder Emily nodded in understanding but then said with some difficulty:
"However, preparing the 'Song of Calamity' requires at least two days, yet the 'Magpie Bridge' cannot last that long…
"Once 'Howling Town' falls back into 'concealment,' the ritual likely won't be effective."
Shatas frowned and hesitantly asked, "Can't the elves performing the ritual temporarily leave 'Howling Town'?
"You needn't worry. Once the Queen is freed, She will naturally protect you."
Hearing this, Emily only sighed without speaking, but her meaning was clear:
Although there had been a "divine oracle" and they had accepted "divine grace," it was still impossible for the residents of "Howling Town" to fully trust a "Queen Consort" who had only appeared in ancient texts.
Seeing that the hot-tempered Shatas had already clenched her fists, Ebner smiled and said, "There's actually no need for such trouble…
"We just need to open another 'door' inside 'Howling Town.'"
Although before "Howling Town" came into existence, even Alvin—the creator of this "hidden space"—had been unable to locate its exact position, meaning that "concealment" was not merely a descriptive term, leaving Shatas no choice but to sail continuously aboard the Trident—
Now that they were inside the "hidden space," as a former "Traveler," there were many more operations he could perform… At the very least, opening a "back door" posed no problem at all.
After hesitating several times, Emily and the other elders ultimately did not refuse and readily agreed.
With the main matter settled, Ebner suddenly changed the subject and asked with a smile about something seemingly unrelated:
"Besides worshiping the 'God of Luck,' do the elves of 'Howling Town' also have a custom of 'revering dragons'?"
Emily was startled and asked in surprise, "How did you know?"
Ebner chuckled and continued, "I'd guess this custom has lasted for several hundred years, and your upper echelon has allowed it to develop."
"That's entirely correct… You truly are a remarkable elf," Emily exhaled and nodded in admission.
Shatas, who had been listening silently, could no longer hold back. She immediately stood up and rebuked them:
"As elves, it's one thing not to know the 'Queen,' but you even revere our enemies?!
"Where is your pride as elves?
"How are you qualified to perform the 'Song of Calamity' ritual like this?"
Her words caused all the elves present to lower their heads in silence, yet Emily and the other elders showed no shame. Their expressions remained calm.
"That's enough, Shatas… This is no longer the Second Epoch. Whether elves or dragons, only a few remain. There's no need to pursue this further," Ebner mediated, soothing Shatas before turning to Emily and the others. "It's because revering dragons allows you to better utilize 'characteristics' for advancement, isn't it?"
"That's right… Due to the accumulation of mental pollution, the success rate of advancing using ancestral characteristics has been decreasing.
"Even if one succeeds by luck, it often leaves mental problems, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic accidents…
"And according to our investigations and statistics, elves who practice dragon reverence encounter fewer issues when advancing with ancestral characteristics. After discussion, the previous generations of elders decided neither to restrict nor promote this custom, leaving it to the elves' own choice."
That's because within the collective subconscious sea of your town lies a Mind Dragon. Worshiping it naturally brings 'soothing' feedback, reducing the incidence of 'mental illness'!
Heh, Taro… and he even painted so many scrolls of the Elven King's Court from the Second Epoch…
This dragon likely has something to do with the "God of Luck" as well!
Is it one of the three surviving ancient dragons mentioned by Ariehogg in the original story?
Or does the Dragon King truly have a "Queen Consort" as well?
With a strange expression, Ebner muttered inwardly before turning his gaze toward the entrance of "Howling Town," observing the rapidly approaching mixed pirate fleet several nautical miles away.
"Subordinates of one of the Four Kings of the Sea, the 'King of the Black Seat' Barros Hopkins?
"That's the president of the Psychology Alchemists!
"Adam once said he would 'deliver' him to me as well…
"Could it be that he's being 'delivered' in this manner?"
(End of Chapter)