Chapter 346 - 318: Give Us an Explanation

Chapter 346: Chapter 318: Give Us an Explanation

Ever since the Taichu Spirit Realm was established and most of the Elves moved to Taichu City, their original settlement had gradually grown deserted.

Today, it had become a place where the Silver Moon Race received foreign guests.

Eleanor passed through the archway and stepped into the Eternal Hall.

The hall’s furnishings had hardly changed. The long table and stone chairs looked the same as they had a century ago; even the subtle curve worn into the tabletop by the passage of time was just as it had always been.

She took her seat at the head of the long table and instructed Furlo, "Have them come in."

"Yes, Lady Eleanor." Furlo acknowledged the order and left.

Before long, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside—heavy, slow, and landing on the smooth wooden floor with an unbridled coarseness.

Soon, a figure walked into the hall.

The newcomer was tall with broad shoulders and a wide back. A thick layer of grayish-brown fur was visible on his neck and arms, and a necklace woven from beast teeth and metal plates hung around his neck.

Two old scars slashed diagonally across his cheeks, cutting through his wrinkles and fur, adding a sharp edge to his already rugged face.

He had no guards with him. He walked into the hall alone, his eyes first sweeping quickly around the room like an old beast stepping into unfamiliar territory. His gaze finally landed on Eleanor, and his brow immediately furrowed.

"I am here to see the Clan Leader of the Silver Moon Race," the Beastman said in a low voice. "Does the Silver Moon Race have no sense of hospitality?"

Eleanor replied bluntly, "Our Clan Leader is busy with important matters and only meets with distinguished guests. I handle all ordinary affairs, so there is no need to trouble the Clan Leader to be here in person."

The implication was clear: you weren’t important enough.

The Beastman elder’s face darkened. He stared at Eleanor for a moment, his gaze filled with unconcealed scrutiny and displeasure. "A young thing like you can make decisions for the entire Silver Moon Race?"

Eleanor scoffed. "Is age the only thing people from the Steel Mane Tribe can talk about? If we’re really comparing ages, I might just be your elder."

The Beastman elder froze.

He belatedly remembered that the Elf Race was a long-lived species, and their age was never easy to judge by their appearance.

’This Elf Maiden before me might actually be older than I am.’

"Elder Hammond, you didn’t travel all this way just to discuss the matter of age with me, did you?"

Eleanor had already learned the identity of the man before her from Furlo, and she had guessed he was most likely here to call them to account.

That being the case, there was no need for pleasantries or courtesy. It was best to get straight to the point.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

A muscle in Hammond’s cheek twitched, and a flash of irritation crossed his eyes.

In the Thundering River Basin, the Steel Mane Tribe was the undisputed hegemon whose word was law. What power would dare to treat him with such disrespect?

But at the same time, he knew full well that the Silver Moon Race was not some minor power that would cower before the Steel Mane Tribe. He had no choice but to suppress his dissatisfaction. With a cold snort, he walked over to one side of the long table and sat down on his own.

After sitting, he looked up at Eleanor, his voice deepening. "Some time ago, the Silver Moon Race killed members of our Steel Mane Tribe. Don’t you think you owe us an explanation?"

Eleanor leaned back in her chair and said unhurriedly, "Speaking of which, I believe it’s the Steel Mane Tribe that owes us an explanation. That group of Half-Elves traveled a great distance with their families in tow, all to seek refuge with our Clan. Yet you intercepted and tried to kill them on their way. Are you saying you have no regard for us?"

"There are so many groups of Half-Elves. Who was to know they were coming to seek refuge with you?" Hammond sneered. "At the end of the day, they weren’t yet one of the Silver Moon Race’s Vassal Races. What’s wrong with us taking action?"

Eleanor replied calmly, "But when your Slave Hunting Team was pursuing that group of Half-Elves, our clansmen came across them. Not only did your people refuse to stop, but they also tried to kill our clansmen to silence them. How do you explain that?"

The corner of Hammond’s eye twitched. His face was grim, and he said nothing.

Eleanor shot him a cold glance and continued, "You were the ones who struck first. Losing an arm was a fate they brought upon themselves. I don’t understand how you still have the gall to come here demanding an explanation from us."

"You..."

Hammond’s expression changed, and he looked as if he was about to rise to his feet. But when he met Eleanor’s cold gaze, he forced himself to stay put.

He then remembered that this Elf was a Legendary Powerhouse herself.

Moreover, this was her territory.

He could only suppress his anger and say through clenched teeth, "So, the men of my tribe died for nothing?"

Eleanor said slowly, "You killed so many Half-Elves. It’s only right they paid with their lives."

Hammond took a deep breath, forcing down the rage rising in his throat. His expression was dark as he said, "Fine. We’ll set this matter aside for now. But you must hand over the Golden Back Ape Race and their Ancestor Totem."

"And your reason?"

"The Golden Back Ape Race was our prey to begin with. What right do you have to intercept them?"

"That’s a very strange thing to say." A playful smile appeared on Eleanor’s face. "The Golden-backed Ape-men are a tribe, not some wild beasts on the plains. How can you call them ’prey’?"

"Their tribe was in crisis, and they willingly offered us their Ancestor Totem in exchange for protection. It was a perfectly reasonable and fair transaction. What does it have to do with the Steel Mane Tribe?"

Hammond’s face grew even darker. "So, in the end, you refuse to hand over the people and the item?"

Eleanor just smiled faintly and didn’t respond.

But her stance was already perfectly clear.

Hammond’s cheek twitched a few times. His knuckles tightened on the tabletop, then relaxed.

’Before I came to the Silver Moon Race, I considered that they wouldn’t back down so easily, that they might even refuse our demands.’

’But I never expected them to be so unyielding, leaving no room for negotiation at all.’

"...It seems you of the Silver Moon Race are very confident," Hammond said in a low tone. "You’ve already recruited so many Vassal Races, but apparently that’s not enough. Now you’re meddling in the affairs of the Half-Elves. Aren’t you overreaching? I shouldn’t have to teach you the principle that a tall tree catches the wind, should I?"

"Holding on to some things too tightly isn’t necessarily a good thing. It can easily attract unnecessary trouble."

Eleanor’s expression was unchanged. "I’ll return those words to you. Don’t overreach."

"The Golden Back Ape Race is already one of our Vassal Races. If anyone dares to lay a hand on them, don’t blame us for being merciless."

Hammond stared at her for a moment longer, then finally fell silent.

He shot to his feet, the chair scraping against the stone floor with a grating shriek, and strode toward the entrance.

Just before leaving, he paused, turned his head, and fixed Eleanor with an icy glare. "I hope you won’t regret what you’ve said today."

"You don’t need to worry yourself about that." Eleanor met his gaze without flinching.

Hammond gave her one last deep look and strode out the door.

The heavy sound of his footsteps crunched across the corridor floor, fading into the distance.

Eleanor sat alone in the hall for a while before she, too, rose and left, returning to Taichu City.

Arriving at the Ninefold Celestial Tower, she found Anton and briefly recounted her conversation with Hammond.

After listening, Anton was not surprised.

He had long guessed the purpose of the Steel Mane Tribe’s visit.

"You did well," Anton said with a slight smile. "Since the Golden-backed Ape-men have become one of our Vassal Races, they are our own people. There is no reason to hand them over."

After a pause, he added, "Now, we prepare for war."

Eleanor asked, "Clan Leader, are you worried the Steel Mane Tribe will initiate a war?"

Anton shook his head and said calmly, "It doesn’t matter whether the Steel Mane Tribe starts a war or not. It is, however, time for us to make our move."

"The matter of the Red Blood Fertile Soil has come to an end, freeing us up to resolve the issue with the Slave Hunting Team once and for all."

Eleanor understood immediately.

Anton had mentioned before that he wanted to make an example of a power with sufficient weight to warn the others.

The Steel Mane Tribe had walked right into their hands. They were the backers of the Slave Hunting Team and had shown open hostility, making them an undeniably suitable target.

"I understand," Eleanor said with a solemn nod.

...

Morrek practically ran all the way home.

As he entered the courtyard gate, he saw his father standing under the old tree in the yard, his head bowed as if deep in thought.

Hearing the footsteps, Aolu looked up. Seeing his son panting heavily, he couldn’t help but frown. "Morrek, what’s wrong with you?"

"Father!" Morrek didn’t even bother to catch his breath. He rushed forward, his voice filled with irrepressible urgency. "I just heard someone say that the Steel Mane Tribe sent people to the Clan. Is it true?"

Aolu’s expression faltered for a second, then he nodded. "That’s right. It was Hammond who came."

Morrek’s face changed slightly.

He remembered that man.

Hammond was the one who had led the attack on their tribe, killing many of their people.

Even their tribe’s leader had died at Hammond’s hands.

Everyone in the Golden Back Ape Race hated the man.

"Father, the Steel Mane Tribe must be after us. Do you think the Clan will... to appease their anger, will they hand us over...?"

Morrek didn’t finish his sentence, but his meaning was perfectly clear.

Aolu was stunned for a moment, then he couldn’t help but laugh, giving his son a light pat on the back of the head. "What foolishness are you spouting? If the Clan Leader wanted to hand us over, he wouldn’t have intervened back on the Tide Sound Plain."

"Hammond did indeed come for us, but I heard Lady Eleanor rejected him to his face. She even said that anyone who dares to touch us would be making an enemy of the entire Silver Moon Race."

Morrek froze for a moment, then let out a long sigh of relief, a smile returning to his face.

"The Clan Leader and Lady Eleanor are brilliant. We were so fortunate to have sought refuge with the Silver Moon Race."

Aolu nodded in deep agreement. "We made the right choice back then, offering our Ancestor Totem in exchange for protection. The Silver Moon Race truly treats us as one of their own."

Morrek’s face lit up with joy, and a profound sense of security settled deep within his heart.

’With the Clan’s protection, I finally don’t have to live in constant fear, worrying that our enemies will show up at our door one day.’

Following this thought, the resolve to become a disciple of Taichu City grew even stronger in his heart.