A few wooden planks had been nailed over the damaged door, barely holding back the cold wind of the Northern Lands.

The Lord, who was the very culprit behind the damage, sat with his legs crossed and looked at the Legion Commander of the Thorn Corps. "Fujero, I’ve given you more than enough time. I hope this so-called explanation of yours will be to my satisfaction."

The only other person in the meeting hall was Knight Si Kai.

Even Panda and the Priests had been excluded from this meeting about where exactly Fulina had gone.

"Lord, in truth, I’ve been busy all night. I’ve only just now managed to find the time."

Fujero spread his hands, his expression candid.

"Perhaps," Levi said with a noncommittal chuckle. He took a hard bite of the crisp apple in his hand, and sweet juice instantly flooded his mouth.

He had casually swiped it from the Thorn Corps officers’ supply stash.

The food for the soldiers and the Military Officers was on two completely different levels. The former could only eat black bread and potatoes, with an occasional bit of meat.

But not only did the officers eat meat with every meal, they even had vegetables and fruit. It was a perfect demonstration of the class hierarchy.

"Actually, this whole affair starts with Si Kai," Fujero said, glancing at the Knight before continuing. "I presume you’re aware that the Secret Silver Commerce Association was founded by Duke Fulina."

"The Secret Silver Commerce Association has always conducted trade deep in the Wilderness. Typically, Knight Si Kai serves as the captain of the Guard Team."

"Does this have anything to do with where Fulina went?" Levi asked noncommittally.

"I’m sure you don’t know who the Secret Silver Commerce Association’s primary clients are," Fujero said with a mysterious smile.

"Elves?" the Lord guessed offhandedly.

Fujero looked surprised, then his expression shifted to admiration. "Lord, your wisdom is like that of an ancient prophet. Just a few clues are enough for you to uncover the final answer."

"Spare me the flattery," the Lord scoffed. "Considering the exquisite goods you haul out of the depths of the Wilderness, only Elves with their obsession for aesthetics would do something so pointless."

After he had rescued Miriel from the Wilderness Natives, she had gifted High Cliff Castle several cartloads of wine.

The oak barrels filled with wine were exceptionally fine. The copper bands encircling their middles were even engraved with beautiful patterns.

You could say the price of the oak barrels alone wasn’t much less than the wine they contained.

Any other merchant would be so cheap they’d use paper to hold the wine if they could, saving every last bit of cost. They were nothing like the Elves, who strove for perfection in all things.

Later, the Lord had asked Lorina to buy him some books detailing the famous Races. Inside, he read that these kinds of beautiful patterns were first created by the Elves.

Putting it all together, the answer was obvious.

"Just as you guessed, Lord Li, Bailiu City has extremely close ties with an Elf Tribe deep in the Wilderness. Miriel’s parents are Elders in this very tribe." At this, Fujero sighed. "To be honest with you, Lord, after so many years of relations, if they’re not as close as blood kin, they’re not far from it."

"Duke Fulina was the first to realize something was wrong with the Wilderness Alliance Army. She believed someone must be backing them, which is why their objective has been so baffling."

"Furthermore, ever since the Wilderness Alliance Army declared its march south, Bailiu City hasn’t received any news from the Elf Tribe in Lonely Valley. This made her worry that the forces behind the Alliance Army might be planning to move against the Elves, so she rushed off with her people to investigate."

"This is all true, none of it fabricated. If you don’t believe me, Lord, you can ask Knight Si Kai."

The Legion Commander looked to Si Kai beside him, and the Knight Commander nodded silently.

Having said his piece, Fujero began to sip his tea to wet his throat.

In truth, he was still holding back, having concealed everything related to the Magic Crystal Ore.

’He knew full well that the best way to hide one problem was to throw another one out there.’

’Lying was no different.’

’He had hidden the matter of the Magic Crystal Ore and brought up the Elf Tribe instead.’

"Then let me ask, who exactly is behind this Alliance Army? And why would Duke Fulina be worried they would attack this Elf Tribe?"

The Lord tapped his fingers on the table.

’He wasn’t easy to fool. Based on his earlier deductions, what Fujero said was likely true for the most part, but he had deliberately omitted one key point.’

’Why would the Dark Elves attack these Elves for no apparent reason?’

’Although Dark Elves and High Elves shared an irreconcilable hatred, it was hardly grounds for launching an attack at a time like this.’

"Sigh... that is precisely what I was about to explain," Fujero said, looking deeply concerned.

"In reality, Duke Fulina was merely worried; she hadn’t received any concrete information. As for the source of her concern, it’s because of their long-standing trade with Bailiu City. The Elf Tribe of Lonely Valley is, to put it mildly, rolling in wealth amidst the otherwise impoverished Wilderness. Therefore, it’s not surprising that they would attract some Jackal Wolves to attack them."

"Is that so?" Levi stared intently at Fujero.

"Lord, every word is true." Fujero blinked, trying to look innocent.

"Fine," Levi said with a dry chuckle. "I just didn’t realize the Martel Family valued its allies so highly."

’The Lord would bet Zat’s integrity on it—Fujero was definitely hiding something. But just like him, Levi was also hiding what he knew about who was truly behind the Wilderness Alliance Army.’

’In fact, Levi had later interrogated the captured Pigman Leader. Within the Wilderness Alliance Army, only a few of the Tribe leaders knew about the Dark Elves.’

’Excluding the dead Ogre Leader and the captured Pigman Leader, only the Centaur Leader, the Minotaur Chief, the Harpies Queen, and one of the Giant Goblins knew.’

’In other words, if Fujero wanted this information, he would have to do the same thing Levi did: capture those leaders and pry their mouths open.’

’However, the Lord figured that among these hard cases, the only one it would be easy to get information from was the Harpies Queen—on the condition that Fujero was willing to offer up his body.’

’After all, Harpies were very pragmatic. They only liked the most exceptional human males, wanting to mate with them to produce the strongest possible offspring.’

’A Knight like Fujero, strong and sturdy and a cultivator of Combat Qi, would be an absolute prize in their eyes.’

’He’d be toiling day and night for at least ten days straight, without a single drop going to waste.’

’If Fujero was willing to leave his precious Bloodline behind, who’s to say the Harpies Queen wouldn’t abandon the darkness and switch to their side?’

But to get back on topic, the explanation ended there. Afterward, Fujero announced that he was preparing to begin the all-out assault to crush the Wilderness Alliance Army that very day.

Although Fujero was eager to earn battle merits and ascend to the nobility, in practice, he was quite cautious.

After their last brief clash had shown him that the Wilderness Alliance Army was not to be underestimated, he had stubbornly waited for reinforcements before preparing to settle things once and for all.