Book 11: Chapter 62: Testing Skills

When Laini insisted on accompanying the group to the Northlands, Qin Lun and the others carefully discussed her and Linda’s intentions.

Linda had once said Laini was acting on her teacher’s request, but after analysis, Qin Lun and Hill believed this was just an excuse.

Laini’s rank was indeed high, reaching Legendary, but she was a scholarly-type Magician. Her Legendary strength was achieved through accumulating magical knowledge, fundamentally different from Archmages who advanced through combat.

If she truly came on her teacher’s request to protect Linda, why would the teacher choose her? Looking at the Mage towers around Candlekeep, wasn’t the fortress teeming with Legendary Powerhouses? Was there really a need to ask Laini, one of the Eight Readers?

Besides, anyone could see Laini was a homebody. What was a homebody? A woman who could stay in her den for a thousand years without moving. The so-called ‘traveling’ was a barely concealed excuse.

Since Laini hadn’t come to Silverymoon for Linda, her true purpose was quite puzzling.

After some thought, Qin Lun and his two Serial Killer companions guessed there must be a deep connection between Candlekeep and the Silver Marches – or more specifically, between Great Sage Laini and Elastor Silverhand. Only an urgent crisis faced by a close friend could make someone like Laini put down her research and travel vast distances to help.

When Qin Lun’s group arrived in Silverymoon and sensed the city’s rich artistic atmosphere, it further solidified their theory.

Silverymoon was the knowledge and cultural center of the Northlands. The Silver Marches, centered around it, once covered much of the territory belonging to the Elven Empire of Elorlorn, the Sarnatan Empire of the Dwarves, and the human Netheril Empire. Here, even a pile of rubble could be Ruins from ancient times.

And Candlekeep was deeply committed to protecting such Ruins and ancient texts. Was it possible these two major organizations had no links at all?

The people of Silverymoon viewed knowledge, art, and music as life itself. Their values closely mirrored those of Candlekeep, with the city’s ruler, Elastor Silverhand, being a prime example. It was not at all surprising if she and Great Sage Laini shared common interests; they might even have been friends for a very long time.

Of course, the friendship between Great Sage Laini and Elastor Silverhand was actually a good thing. It would make things easier for Qin Lun and his companions and help them gain the trust of the Silverymoon City Lord more readily.

However, a question arose: Why did Great Sage Laini conceal this relationship from Qin Lun and the others? Qin Lun hadn’t realized at first, but after Hill’s reminder, he understood. His current Plot Identity was that of the noble Saophila Elf Prince, not some ordinary Elf mercenary.

In Laini’s eyes, his presence in the Silver Marches obviously held political implications. Therefore, it naturally became inconvenient for her to mention her relationship with the Silverymoon City Lord to him anymore.

The expression on the Female Knight earlier revealed that this Annasilia Songweaver had long known about his identity. Besides Iristin and Idria, the only newcomer Qin Lun had revealed his identity to was the Harper Master, Mastashia.

Perhaps Linda and Laini had already guessed his identity but simply hadn’t voiced it. Mastashia was a Harper, dedicated to maintaining the continent’s balance, and wouldn’t proactively reveal Qin Lun’s identity to Elastor. While Elastor’s safety was crucial for the Silver Marches, the identity of the Saophila Elf Prince was equally significant and could not be compromised.

Although Qin Lun had later told Conan Rondo from the Hand of Light his real name upon reaching Silverymoon, many Elves shared the same name. The Hand of Light still needed to verify the information. And even if they confirmed Qin Lun’s identity, they wouldn’t inform the Silverymoon City Lord.

Thieves had their code. Though the Hand of Light were Rogues, they valued trust and honor. At the very least, the Hand of Light wouldn’t spread his identity recklessly before Qin Lun left Silverymoon.

Therefore, if Annasilia could confirm Qin Lun’s identity, it must have been Linda or Laini who informed the Silverymoon officials. Annasilia had first greeted Laini upon entering, leaving Qin Lun aside, clearly pretending ignorance.

The reason was simple. Qin Lun helping the Silver Marches as Laini’s companion versus Qin Lun assisting as the Saophila Elf Prince were entirely different matters.

The former was personal friendship; the latter suggested a potential political alliance between two powers. The political weight was completely different.

For other Apostles, successfully completing an Epic Plot might make them overlook such nuances. But who was Qin Lun? Not taking advantage of others was already good enough for him! Did they think they could get leverage over him?

So they pretended not to know? Fine! Then he would gladly pretend not to know them either. They could go their separate ways!

Normally, Laini and Elastor might have felt justified in sidelining Qin Lun at such a critical moment. They could deal with the Zhentarim first and handle Qin Lun later.

But now, things were different. Qin Lun seemed to hold crucial clues about the Zhentarim. If they ignored him, he could just sit back and enjoy the show. Of course, they couldn’t know he had mandatory tasks preventing that.

Originally, Qin Lun wasn’t so petty about these things. But since Laini wanted to play games, it piqued his interest.

Qin Lun paid no heed to Annasilia’s calls from behind. Who was she calling? What Prince? If they wanted to act, they should commit. Play the stranger? Fine. He’d deny the very identity of Prince.

“Annasilia, you return first. Tell Elastor I’ll come to her shortly,” Laini called out calmly, instructing her to go ahead.

“Yes!” The Female Knight looked disheartened. With a wave, she led the Silver Guards out of the tavern.

As soon as the guards cleared the doorway, Qin Lun and Hill immediately turned back, grinning, retook their seats, and ordered another jug of wine.

“Back already? Didn’t you say you didn’t know us?” Linda was fuming, speaking sarcastically.

“It just occurred to me. We were here at this table first,” Qin Lun said politely to Linda, like a gentleman explaining to a complete stranger. So convincing it made Hill silently raise a middle finger in admiration of his audacity.

“You… Great Sage, I’m full.” Linda pouted, stood up, shooting Qin Lun a venomous glare before stomping off, thoroughly annoyed.

“Prince Firal, isn’t that rather petty?” Laini pushed her glasses up and rolled her eyes, accusing him bluntly.

“Great Sage Laini, do I look like a fool to you? I came to the Silver Marches with goodwill, not to be toyed with in my leisure time.” Seeing that Laini had stopped beating around the bush, Qin Lun’s smile vanished instantly. “I am your companion. Yet you revealed my identity to the Silverymoon City Lord. Do you know what that’s called? Betrayal!”

“…Is it really that serious? Weren’t you here to help the Silver Marches?” Laini’s gaze darted away.

“Who told you I came to help the Silver Marches?” Qin Lun’s question held a deeper meaning.

“It…” Laini almost said it was Linda, but under Qin Lun’s cold stare, she swallowed the words back.

Even an introverted homebody knew some things should remain unspoken.

Among Qin Lun’s group, he, Iristin, and Idria were undoubtedly close friends. Mastashia was practically a comrade-in-arms. But with Linda, they were merely acquaintances, having spent little time actually adventuring together.

As for Laini? To put it bluntly, they had zero connection. Linda could freely share her speculations with Laini. However, Laini couldn’t stand in front of Qin Lun and admit it was Linda who spilled the secret.

Trivial matters were fine. But Qin Lun’s Plot Identity and his purpose for being in the Silver Marches? Those were significant secrets. Spreading such things carelessly? Strictly speaking, that wasn’t how a true friend behaved.

“Alright. Linda and I were wrong. How do we fix this?” Once she realized this, Great Sage Laini acted decisively. She raised her hands in a gesture of surrender.

“I truly came to the Silver Marches initially in a private capacity. After assisting the Silverymoon City Lord, having her owe me a personal favor, then I intended to meet with her privately.” Seeing Laini concede, Qin Lun’s expression finally softened into a faint smile. “However, since you’ve informed her of my identity already, the nature of things has changed.”

“How?” Laini looked genuinely perplexed. She was, after all, a scholar buried in research – high intelligence, low political acumen.

“After all, I am the Saophila Elf Prince, future heir to the Gleaming Moon Court! Great Sage Laini, did you honestly see me as just some common mercenary?” Qin Lun sighed, his demeanor shifting – radiating confidence and a touch of aristocratic reserve. “Now that the Silverymoon City Lord knows my identity, I can no longer intervene in the Silver Marches crisis as a private individual. Since you informed her, then please trouble the Great Sage to also convey this message to Lady Elastor: She wants to see me? Fine! But it must be at the official Silverymoon Celebration. She is to formally introduce my status to all the lords of the alliance.”

“Is that really necessary?” Great Sage Laini’s face scrunched up in distaste. She now saw how difficult this silver-haired Elf, who’d always smiled politely before, truly was.

Introducing a Saophila Elf Prince to the Lords’ Council on such a formal occasion as the Silverymoon Celebration? Even if there was no actual secret alliance between them, other forces on the continent would never believe it!

“You just need to inform the Silverymoon City Lord. As for whether she chooses to receive me, a visiting Elf Prince, leave that decision to… the ‘Lady Hope’.” Qin Lun’s smile deepened. He knew exactly what decision Elastor would make.

If it concerned only Elastor herself, the City Lord would undoubtedly weigh the pros and cons carefully, avoiding any formal meeting with Qin Lun. But the problem was, the Silver Marches faced a crisis threatening the very existence of the alliance and the lives of other lords. Elastor would have no choice but to compromise.

“How was my performance?” Qin Lun asked the Shepherd triumphantly as he watched Laini walk out of the tavern looking thoroughly dejected.

“Noble and composed to the extreme! Worthy of an Oscar-winning actor!” The Old Charlatan grinned, flashing his companion a thumbs-up.

Meanwhile, a surprising succession of Star Void notifications chimed within the Apostle Soul Marks of them both.