Chapter 39: Rationality?
Su Xiao opened the ice box on the table and took out a string of gemstone pendants. The ice-blue gems were emitting wisps of cold air.
[Ice Heart]
Origin: Canglong Continent
Quality: Holy Spirit Rank
Category: Pendant (Jewelry equipment is a rare item)
Durability: 56/56
Equipment Requirements: 170 points of True Agility, 170 points of True Charm.
Equipment Effect: No Illusion (Active), consumes 5% of mana to construct an ice clone. The user can freely replace themselves with the ice clone, swapping positions.
Tip: The ice clone's movement speed is the same as the user's, inherits 85% of the user's health, and lasts for 300 seconds.
Tip: This ability has no cooldown.
Rating: 950 points (Holy Spirit equipment rating ranges from 700 to 1000 points).
Description: A frozen heart, with no more illusions.
Price: 628,000 Paradise Coins.
Seeing the attributes of this equipment, Su Xiao's gaze shifted to Ice Descendant Simon. Ice Descendant Simon smiled and nodded.
Bubu Wang and Baha were both a bit stunned. The two of them had witnessed today what it meant to dance on a minefield. This gift was truly brilliant.
"Mr. White Night, are you satisfied with this meeting gift?"
Ice Descendant Simon took a seat and gestured for an Ice Descendant young girl beside him to pour some black tea. The black tea from the Duoyin Empire's Mipo Manor—Simon had tasted it once before, and upon smelling it now, he immediately recalled its rich, mellow flavor.
Ice Descendant Simon took a light sip and relaxed his brow. Seeing this, Diplomat Difton's blood pressure rose, but since Su Xiao hadn't said anything, as Duoyin's diplomat, he certainly couldn't rebuke Simon in such a setting.
"This is the black tea from Mipo Manor, Mr. White Night. Your generosity in receiving guests is truly admirable."
Ice Descendant Simon's light remark caused the carefully prepared gift from Difton to go to waste. He couldn't very well emphasize that the Mipo Manor black tea wasn't Su Xiao's but rather his own delivery, as that would be stealing the host's thunder.
"Do the beasts of the Northern Border also drink black tea? When you're thirsty, wouldn't chewing on some snow on the icefield solve everything? Simple and time-saving. Besides, the Northern Border doesn't produce black tea."
Difton shook his head with a smile and took a small sip from his teacup.
"Indeed, but the Northern Border's mineral veins are abundant. Last year, who was it that came begging me to buy a batch of Thunder Steel Ore? Who was that? Oh, my memory is failing me. It seems to be a Lopi (Lopi = mongrel) who sold out his own biological brother."
Both Simon and Difton were full of smiles. If Su Xiao weren't present, they would have already been exchanging pleasantries about each other's families.
The game between major powers was truly fascinating. Just a few days ago, the Duoyin King and the Extreme Ice Lord were discussing how to eliminate Su Xiao. Now, the two sides had become bitter enemies, and their original common enemy had become the target of their courtship.
These two factions were about to go to war. The Chaos Legion, their common enemy, was already a shadow of its former self. The reason was that, aside from Su Xiao's Wolf Cavalry Legion, the Grey Orc troops on the Chaos Legion's main defensive line numbered only 370,000.
The current combat strength on their side was: 610,000 Wolf Cavalry, with 500,000 on the front lines and 110,000 as reserve troops. Apart from these Wolf Cavalry, High Lord Arkadia still had 370,000 Grey Orc troops under his command.
These 370,000 Grey Orc troops were currently holding the main defensive line. In truth, they had long been unable to hold it. The reason it hadn't been completely breached was that the Wolf Cavalry in the Southern War Zone posed a strong deterrent to both Duoyin and the Northern Border.
These were cavalry. Duoyin and the Northern Border couldn't set up defenses on every inch of their borders. Once cavalry charged into enemy territory, the destructive power was unimaginable. What made it even more painful for the enemy was that they simply couldn't catch up to the Wolf Cavalry.
The heavy losses suffered by their side this morning were due to the full-scale assault by the Dwarf and Barbarian forces. The reason they did this was undoubtedly under pressure from Duoyin and the Northern Border.
Duoyin and the Northern Border had broken ties, but they wouldn't allow the Chaos Legion to reap the benefits. Therefore, they forced the Dwarf and Barbarian factions to launch a full-scale attack on the Chaos Legion's main defensive line.
After that full-scale assault, the Dwarves, Barbarians, and the Lizard Clan, which had been coasting along, all withdrew from the alliance. The reason the main defensive line wasn't completely broken was that there were still 610,000 Wolf Cavalry in the Southern War Zone. Who dared to let this Wolf Cavalry Legion become an isolated force? Neither Duoyin nor the Northern Border dared.
Under these circumstances, the courtship from Duoyin and the Northern Border was quite intriguing. The Chaos Legion's side near Yancong Mountain had been reduced to a medium-sized power, on par with the Dwarves, Barbarians, and Lizard Clan, and wouldn't be able to recover for many years.
The Chaos Legion's big daddy, the Wolf Cavalry Legion, was what Duoyin and the Northern Border feared, so both sides were courting them.
Su Xiao didn't intend to refuse this courtship. The reason was that if he didn't get involved in this chaotic battle, the two sides might first come after him and destroy the four major cities near Yancong Mountain on their side. Once their population dropped to a certain level, Su Xiao's main mission would fail.
Before accepting the courtship, Su Xiao first needed to beat the Elf Clan into submission. Otherwise, with the Elf Clan acting as a buffer in the middle, Duoyin and the Northern Border might be locked in a stalemate for months. Su Xiao didn't have that much time to wait.
The more chaotic the battle, the more opportunities Su Xiao would have to complete his plan. The falling out between Duoyin and the Northern Border was good news for him.
Furthermore, regarding which side to cooperate with for now, Su Xiao planned to keep them hanging. Whichever side offered more benefits, he would temporarily cooperate with them. One thing he was certain of was that no matter whether Duoyin won or the Northern Border won, the victor would be his enemy.
"I need to think this over carefully. I'll give you my answer tomorrow morning."
"We obey your will."
"Of course, no problem."
Ice Descendant Simon and Diplomat Difton spoke in turn. The two of them looked at each other again. If looks could kill, the two of them would have already perished together, leaving not even ashes behind.
Both of them knew in their hearts that they now needed to rush back to see their king and lord to convey the contents of today's negotiations. The next time they came, it would depend on who offered more sincerity.
Moreover, both were satisfied with the time Su Xiao had set. Negotiating again tomorrow morning meant that the Wolf Cavalry Legion wasn't planning to attack the El Forest. One day was simply not enough to conquer the El Forest.
Thinking this, both of them walked out of the room and eventually left the New Moon Fortress one after the other.
Su Xiao stood on the city wall, watching the two envoys who had already gone far. Not attack the El Forest? Of course not. He didn't have months to wait.
The Demon Flame Dragon Barbatos rose from within the fortress. Su Xiao leaped onto the dragon's back, and with a pull of the Realm Severing Thread, Bubu Wang also came up.
"All troops, advance."
"Kill!"
500,000 Wolf Cavalry roared. Led by Orc Hero Wobor, they surged mightily toward the El Forest. Ten thousand troops galloped, stirring up clouds of dust.
Meanwhile, in the El Forest, inside the Elanyel City's Elf Hall.
The Elf Queen took a light sip of the black tea in her cup. This was sent by Duoyin. The envoy had just left not long ago, bringing good news: Duoyin and the Northern Border were about to go to war. Moreover, both sides had sent people to court the Wolf Cavalry Legion.
In the Elf Queen's view, as long as the War Demon had even a shred of rationality, he wouldn't attack the El Forest again.
If the Elf Clan were defeated, Duoyin and the Northern Border would have no more scruples and would launch a massive, all-out war. At that point, the Wolf Cavalry Legion would face a choice. This kind of thing, of course, should be delayed as long as possible.
Outside the window, the sun was shining brightly, birds were chirping, and the black tea in the cup was rich and mellow. The Elf Queen leaned back in her chair, preparing to take a short nap.
"My Queen, urgent battle report!"
An Elf Clan warrior rushed quickly into the Elf Hall and knelt on one knee.
"Speak."
The Elf Queen put down her black tea cup. This black tea suddenly didn't seem so fragrant anymore.
"The War Demon is leading 500,000 Wolf Cavalry toward the El Forest!"
"Hmm, you may leave."
The Elf Queen's expression remained gentle, but if one looked closely, they would notice that her cheeks were trembling almost imperceptibly.