The young Elven King regained his composure quickly. By the time Catherine reappeared, his face was once again wearing a bright smile, showing not the slightest hint that he had just wanted to murder Anbaixiu a moment earlier.
Catherine asked curiously, "Your Majesty, what just happened?"
Aldarian said calmly, "Nothing. I mistook him for someone else. I thought Master Sargeras was an old acquaintance of mine, but the misunderstanding is cleared up now."
Catherine looked puzzled. "Master Sargeras? But his name is Ultraman Tiga."
Aldarian's expression froze. That lich hadn't even used a real name.
"Haha, see? That's why I said I was mistaken."
Aldarian was usually a fine actor, but having suffered such an immense shock today, his current performance was thoroughly awkward.
Fortunately, Catherine was easy to fool, and Aldarian steered the conversation away with a few quick words.
Anbaixiu pressed forward as well, saying, "Now then, it's time to talk business. What is that old fellow James Watson's stance?"
Only Aldarian could answer this question, as he had spent the entire previous day speaking with James Watson.
"If it can be confirmed that the heroic spirit in your hands is genuine, the Ryan Empire will stop at nothing to acquire it," Aldarian answered.
Anbaixiu chuckled, then remarked, "Stop at nothing? That old fellow James Watson truly dares to say anything. But does he speak for Ryan, or for himself?"
Catherine asked in confusion, "He is Ryan's Supreme Arbiter. Hasn't he come to negotiate on Ryan's behalf?"
Aldarian shook his head. "Sister Catherine, if the Supreme Arbiter were representing Ryan, he wouldn't have come alone. He would have formally submitted a diplomatic letter of visit and arrived accompanied by Ryan's honor guard. Ryan has no fewer protocols than our Silvermoon High Court, yet James Watson's visit this time was completely silent."
Anbaixiu nodded. "Exactly. Ryan and the Silvermoon High Court are allies; there was no need for James Watson to sneak around like this. There are only two explanations: either James Watson hasn't told anyone else about the heroic spirit, or the Ryan Emperor has no desire to welcome the heroic spirit's return."
Catherine was lost once more and hurried to ask, "How could that be possible? Arthur Ryan is Ryan's Holy King! His heroic spirit is so important."
Anbaixiu countered, "If you were the Elven Queen and the former Elven King stood before you every day, telling you what to do, would you be able to stand it?"
Catherine said, puzzled, "What would be so hard to stand?"
Anbaixiu: "..."
Aldarian couldn't hold back a burst of laughter. Seeing this lich left speechless was his greatest pleasure. Once he finished laughing, he didn't forget to twist the knife: "The nobility of the elven race isn't something a despicable, crafty lich like you could ever imagine."
Anbaixiu conceded defeat. He had used a poor example; elves were indeed remarkable in that regard.
Especially someone of pure goodness like Catherine, who likely harbored no jealousy or lust for power, and naturally wouldn't see any issue with a retired ruler telling her what to do.
"I admit, I am a despicable and crafty lich, and I don't understand you elves very well. But the Ryan Emperor is human, not an elf, and humans have human flaws. No human emperor wants someone looking over their shoulder, telling them what to do. Once Arthur Ryan's heroic spirit returns to Ryan, the current emperor might very well be driven from the throne."
In fact, Anbaixiu had guessed most of it correctly.
James Watson had rushed to the Silvermoon High Court on his own precisely out of fear that news of the heroic spirit would reach the Emperor. The old man was thoroughly disappointed in the Ryan imperial family and had no idea whether they could accept the Holy King's return.
Aldarian said with open smugness, "James Watson represents only himself, and he doesn't even dare make a fuss. So how much money could he possibly offer to buy this heroic spirit? I've heard this Supreme Arbiter is exceedingly incorruptible; his household would probably struggle to produce even a million gold coins."
This lich was definitely going to take a massive loss this time!
Anbaixiu glanced at Aldarian, then turned to Catherine. "He's right, Catherine. We're going to take a huge loss this time."
Catherine asked, full of confusion, "We? What does this have to do with me?"
"Of course it's us! We went adventuring and found Arthur Ryan's heroic spirit together. No matter how much it sells for, there's bound to be a share for you. To think that the spoils of the very first adventure of your life are about to be sold off for pennies! Now it looks like a terrible loss—not just for me, but for the elven race as well."
Hearing this, Catherine immediately thought it made complete sense and couldn't help saying, "That won't do! Those are the spoils of the first adventure of my life. They absolutely cannot be sold off for cheap! Your Majesty, we have to think of something too."
On the surface, Aldarian remained calm, but inside he was roaring in frustration! That cursed lich! Deceiving pure Sister Catherine like this—truly shameless and cunning, not a bit changed from four hundred years ago!
Aldarian hadn't expected Anbaixiu to flip Catherine's stance with a single sentence. He couldn't let Catherine side with Anbaixiu, so he quickly said, "Sister Catherine, matters aren't so simple. We elves have never lacked money. As Master Ultraman surely knows, what our elven race lacks today is merely time to recuperate."
Catherine asked, puzzled, "What does that have to do with Arthur Ryan's heroic spirit?"
"Ryan is our greatest ally, as well as our greatest threat. Keeping Ryan stable means keeping the entire continent stable, so that should be our objective. The return of Arthur Ryan's heroic spirit will inevitably plunge Ryan into chaos, and when that happens, no one can say what will follow."
"Ah, but that's not what you said before."
Catherine still remembered that Aldarian had used an entirely different argument when refuting the former Elven King.
Anbaixiu kept quiet, watching the young Elven King in silence to see how he would spin his tale.
Aldarian indeed possessed quick wits. Upon hearing Catherine's retort, he immediately replied, "Sister Catherine, in truth, it amounts to the same thing. Arthur Ryan's heroic spirit is a bomb that threatens Ryan's stability, but there's no need to throw it right now. Sister, if Ryan remains peaceful with us, we keep this bomb. The moment Ryan tries to do anything against the Silvermoon High Court, we throw it out. Whatever the outcome, it will at least have a chance of plunging Ryan into turmoil. Trump cards should only be revealed at the critical moment, don't you agree?"
Catherine felt that seemed reasonable. It truly was a trump card.
If the Ryan imperial family truly had conflicts with this Holy King, the explosive power unleashed would be unimaginable; Ryan might even split apart directly.
Aldarian turned his gaze toward Anbaixiu, a hint of smugness hiding in his eyes, as if saying: *You want to take advantage of my Sister Catherine? Not a chance!*
Clap, clap, clap!
Anbaixiu began clapping directly. This kid could really spin a yarn, and it even sounded quite plausible.
It had to be said, this young Elven King had remarkably quick wits. His fabrications came in elaborate layers, making it hard to find a flaw.
Aldarian had framed his views from the grand perspective of the elven race. Although Catherine was somewhat naive, at heart she prioritized the elven race, and Aldarian's move had pulled her entirely back to his side.
Did this kid think that was enough? Too naive.
After finishing his applause, Anbaixiu directly expressed his agreement.
"Catherine, His Majesty the Elven King is entirely right. This is an extremely important trump card that should only be played at the right moment. However, if this thing stays in my hands, can it really be considered the elven race's trump card? Wouldn't it be far more appropriate for the elves to hold it in their own hands?"
Catherine nodded. "You have a point too. But would you give Arthur Ryan's heroic spirit to me?"
Anbaixiu chuckled, then said coolly, "What are you imagining? Give it away for free? You know my personality—giving it away for free is out of the question. But you can buy it. If Ryan won't pay, that's fine. If the elven race wants to hold onto such an important trump card, then pay for it."
Catherine thought it over, then said to Aldarian, "What he says seems right too. For something this important, shouldn't we hold onto it?"
Aldarian's face darkened uncontrollably.
This lich was far too difficult to deal with! How could he possibly play it like this?! If Ryan wouldn't pay, he was going to force the elves to pay instead?!
Yet Aldarian had no way to refute him now. Anbaixiu had followed his logic completely, leaving him with no excuse to refuse.
Damn it! After four hundred years of growth, was he still no match for this lich?!
Aldarian's silence struck Catherine as odd, while Anbaixiu wore an expression of someone thoroughly enjoying the show.
Catherine frowned in thought, then said, "You two aren't speaking in sarcasm, are you? When you two were hiding in there earlier, did you have a fight?"
Aldarian hurried to say, "Sister, you've misunderstood. As I said, I just mistook him for someone else earlier. This is Master Ultraman, not the Sargeras I know."
Anbaixiu sighed and said, "Since Catherine has noticed, let's speak the truth. Your Majesty Aldarian, four hundred years ago in Red River Town..."
"No, shut up!"
Aldarian flared with agitation. How could he let Catherine find out that he had been ruthlessly swindled by Anbaixiu? That dark history was something he intended to take to the grave; no one could ever know!
Especially his most revered Sister Catherine—she must never find out!
Anbaixiu didn't close his mouth, however, continuing, "Back then, I had only just become an adventurer, scraping by in misery. I met His Majesty Aldarian in Red River Town, and being utterly destitute, I borrowed thirty gold coins from him.
"It was just that at the time, I really couldn't pay him back, so I ran off. I didn't expect His Majesty to recognize me, which caused that bit of friction. His Majesty is too gracious to hold a grudge against me, which is why he didn't want to mention it."
A look of astonishment flashed across Aldarian's face and vanished. He didn't understand why the lich was helping him cover it up, but as long as the truth wasn't exposed, that was all that mattered. Aldarian hurried to say, "Indeed, it was merely a trivial matter of thirty gold coins."
Catherine looked at Aldarian, saying in bewilderment, "Thirty gold coins, and you still remember it after more than four hundred years?"
Aldarian: "..."
Anbaixiu remained expressionless, but inside he was roaring with laughter.
It seemed he could milk this secret of the Elven King for a lifetime.
Chapter 268