The Flying drifted quietly along the underground river, while Da Fei’s Blood Eagle scouted silently up ahead along the current. In the distance, the crystalline glow of unknown minerals dotted the Underground Space like a tranquil starry sky.

Da Fei couldn’t help getting emotional. In fact, he’d already opened up the Underground Space around the Pool of Radiance in the China Region long ago and discovered the Evil Iron Mine. Makar had also given him a scouting quest for the area around the Pool of Radiance, but he’d never had the energy to fully develop it. If he’d known the Underground Space had so many unknown minerals, why would he have run all over the place chasing distant crap instead of picking up what was right under his nose?

But there was no helping it; circumstances control the man. When he gets back to the China Region this time, he absolutely has to thoroughly plow through all the Underground Space around the World Tree. Come to think of it, there must be a Hell City near Radiant City in the China Region, right? Then there’s nothing more to say—first rack up some city-raiding Experience here in the Japan Region, then go back and hit them hard.

However, after sailing for so long with the Underground still this quiet, Da Fei felt a bit uneasy. So he asked Lamia, "Since this whole area is the Hell Race’s sphere of influence, is it possible we’ll run into Hell Race troops?"

Lamia shook her head and smiled. "We shouldn’t. After all, this was Ogre territory until recently. Unless the Hell Army has a target they specifically need to crusade against, any important transport operation would go directly through a Teleportation Array—it’s safer and faster."

Just then, Elena, who had been frowning the whole time, suddenly spoke: "Miss Lamiya, do you know where the former Dark Elf Tribe was located?"

Da Fei couldn’t help starting. So Elena’s still hung up on this? Is this the rhythm of triggering a plot?

Lamia was also surprised. "Miss Elena is concerned about whether there were Dark Elves who weren’t captured?"

Elena nodded. "A Dark Elf Clan that could obtain the protection of a Rose avatar must have been fairly sizable. It shouldn’t have been wiped out to the last member."

Lamia smiled. "As far as I know, within the Dark Elf Clan, factions are everywhere and internal strife is severe. Miss Elena being so concerned about non-clansmen is really rare."

Elena sighed lightly. "The same species feels sorrow for its kind. I’m only asking in passing."

Only asking in passing? No way. As an Imperial Princess of the Dark Elf Clan, what she really wants is obviously to recruit subordinates! Supporting the future Empress like this is something Da Fei certainly can’t just ignore. "Miss Lamiya, I’d like to know as well."

Lamia smiled. "Actually, milord and Miss Elena have already met them!"

As she spoke, Lamia pointed to the map. "It’s Shadow City, one of the eight cities we’re targeting on this operation. Its original name was Shadow City; it was occupied and rebuilt into a Hell City by the Hell Army. The majority of the captured male Dark Elves were exiled to Fire Cave City as slave miners. As for the females, mm, they were passed around the slave markets. Of course, these are all events from a hundred years ago."

Da Fei and Elena both jolted. "A hundred years ago?"

Another hundred years ago? In the China Region, the Dark Elf Clan was defeated by dwarves a hundred years ago and fled to the New World!

Lamia sighed. "Yes. But given the lifespan of Elves, a hundred years isn’t that big a deal. However, it’s more than enough time for some female Dark Elf slaves and Demons to produce offspring. These offspring possess the strengths of both Demon and Dark Elf, and are a very terrifying force in the dark depths!"

Da Fei and Elena were shocked again. "Demon–Dark-Elf half-bloods!"

Damn! Even though the China Region and the Japan Region are different, the overall layout still has a lot of similar points, huh?

Lamia nodded. "Exactly. Has master seen them before?"

Not only has he seen them, he’s got some! Da Fei called for Tamilia. "Have Ista and the other three Half-blood Dark Elf dancers come over."

"Yes, Lord City Lord!"

Before long, a Space Gate opened in the Captain’s cabin, and the long‑unseen poison apprentice Ista and the other three Half-blood Dark Elf dancers appeared. "Please give your orders, master?"

Da Fei asked, "Miss Lamiya, is this what they look like?"

At that moment even Lamia lost her usual composure in shock. "Exactly! The most typical trait of Half-blood Dark Elves is half silver hair, half red hair! Master, do you perhaps have a habit of collecting beauties of all races for your harem?"

Oh my! You can even see through that! Da Fei burst out laughing. "Not at all, not at all. I’m only fulfilling a man’s duty to protect and care for beautiful women!"

Lamia wrapped herself around Da Fei with a giggle. "Being able to follow master makes Lamia feel very at ease as a woman!"

Wahahaha, even if it’s just sweet talk, I’ll take it! Da Fei hugged her back and laughed loudly. "Following me was always your best choice!"

Lamia smiled. "All right, Miss Elena is anxious. I wonder what Miss Elena has in mind?"

"My thoughts?" Elena frowned and said in a deep voice, "I want to utterly destroy that Shadow City. If a city‑level territory is destroyed, at the very least it should drop a village‑level Sealing Order for a Dark Elf Clan."

Da Fei’s jaw hit the floor. Blowing up a city to pop a Sealing Order? Elena’s appetite isn’t small, is it?

Lamia sighed as well. "Although master is very powerful, when it comes to attacking a city, looting it shouldn’t be a problem, but destroying it is nearly impossible."

Elena sighed. "That’s why I said I’m only thinking about it. Actually, what I care more about is this: the corpse of the Spider Queen’s avatar appeared in the Ogre’s freezer, which should be something that happened recently. In other words, during the hundred years that Shadow City has been fallen, the Spider Queen’s avatar should have been leading a small group of Dark Elves wandering or resisting for a full century. Which means there may be Dark Elves active nearby."

Da Fei’s brows twitched. As long as an NPC says ’may,’ it’s almost guaranteed! This is the meta‑hint the game uses to indirectly suggest that a plot is about to trigger!

Da Fei clapped his hands. "Makes sense! Do you have a way to find them?"

Elena answered immediately. "Yes! Any Dark Elf Mage or Priest with a bit of status can cast special communication Spells in the Underworld: seismic Spells or firework Spells. But they may alarm enemy forces, or even provoke powerful creatures of the Underworld!"

Da Fei laughed. "I was just bored out of my mind from the silence. Alarm the enemy, whatever—if they’re weak, we’ll catch them and eat them; if they’re strong, we’ll run!"

Elena added, "But we may have to wait quite a long time for a reply!"

Da Fei smiled. "Time is the one thing we’re not short of!"

Elena nodded. "Then I’ll go ashore and cast the Spell to contact them."

Thus, the Flying dropped anchor by the bank, and Da Fei and Elena’s group went ashore. Elena drew an Array on the ground and then activated it. Dust billowed and the ground trembled!

Da Fei said in surprise, "That’s it? The vibration isn’t that strong."

Elena said solemnly, "Mm, this is a special low‑frequency oscillation. The sense of shaking isn’t strong, but it greatly stimulates creatures like Bat Monsters and Eyeless Monsters that use sound waves to perceive their targets in the Underworld! It’s a very dangerous Spell. However, considering that the powerful creatures nearby have already been cleared out by the Ogres, it should be worth a try."

So it’s basically some high‑tech whale‑and‑dolphin stuff! Da Fei laughed. "We’re going to raid and destroy a city; why would we care about a few random underground mobs? Go ahead and cast, make as big a scene as you can. The more chaos the better—I only wish for chaos so I can make my move and fish in troubled waters!"

"Understood!"

So Elena kept casting Spells, and the ground rumbled like a pile driver constantly pounding away. Even though the shaking wasn’t strong, after it went on for a while Da Fei’s feet started to go numb.

If there really are Dark Elves nearby, they should be able to hear a commotion this big, right? The only thing left now was to wait.

Time ticked by second by second as they waited, and Elena continued casting tirelessly.

Then, during the wait, Tamilia brought good news again. "Lord City Lord, another 30 Evil Demons have been produced in the barracks. Our total number of Evil Demons is now close to 400!"

Da Fei said with satisfaction, "Very good, keep speeding up digestion!"

"Roger."

Looks like clearing out their guts and stocking up a full 1,000 Evil Demons really is going to take quite a while to grind out. As they were still waiting, Selvia came over to report. "Captain, Deirdre has started moving."

Da Fei’s heart tightened. "Let’s hope she succeeds." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)