Experiences in one's youth often shape an entire lifetime, and elves were no exception.
Aldarian had originally been an innocent, kindhearted youth, possessing only a touch of traditional elven pride.
Unfortunately, during his childhood, he encountered Anbaixiu. This man, who could have become his close friend, instead gave him the most unforgettable swindle of his life.
From that day forth, Aldarian learned his own weakness.
The elven race embodied all the beauty of the world, but in the face of this sinister realm, beauty alone was far from enough.
Several centuries passed, and Aldarian became far more outstanding than the vast majority of elves—yet at the same time, far colder and more decisive.
He was more accustomed to considering matters from the standpoint of the entire elven race.
Back when mana addiction afflicted their people, Aldarian had once suggested that Catherine abandon that half of the patients in exchange for the Elven Gods' protection; that was the choice best aligned with the overall interests of the elven race.
Regrettably, Catherine had refused to listen.
Although the outcome had turned out well enough in the end, Aldarian knew full well this was not because Catherine's choice had been correct, but merely due to the Elven Gods' divine protection. The gods had worked through the lich's hands to grant the elves a rebirth.
Regardless of how deeply Aldarian loved and respected his elder sister, he was acutely aware that Catherine was an unqualified Elven Queen.
After Aldarian inherited the role of Elven King, the lich Anbaixiu became his greatest adversary. While others thought of how to cooperate with this lich or how to kill him, Aldarian looked much further ahead.
He pondered what changes this lich could bring to the world, which changes would shift along with a change in the lich's attitude, and which were independent of individual choices.
Evidently, the lich's greed was as eternal and unchanging as the rising sun.
What Aldarian had said before was merely bargaining tactics. The revival of the Demonic Dragon was a disaster for all races; for the elves, trying to remain detached was difficult, and unnecessary.
Just as Anbaixiu said, if they didn't eliminate the Demonic Dragon while it lacked all support, were they really going to wait until it recalled the dragon race, rebuilt its empire, and knocked on their door?
However, bargaining was essential. The elves couldn't give everything only to end up with a few high-sounding words of gratitude. Tangible benefits had to be secured.
Aldarian could see that as long as Anbaixiu could expose the Demonic Dragon's identity, regardless of whether they could kill the dragon in the end, Ryan was destined to decline.
Since that was the case, why shouldn't the elves get a piece of the pie?
Anbaixiu looked at the young Elven King, once again confirming that this fellow was different from other elves. Not only was he good-looking, but he also possessed an "interest-first" mindset that other elves lacked.
And Anbaixiu despised this kind of person the most.
You elves are good-looking and rich, born with magical talent and an artistic temperament, long-lived and healthy—you hog every advantage. If you don't act a little stupid, how are other races supposed to survive?
Demanding payment even for a great cause like crusading against the Demonic Dragon—don't you have any shame?
"Ryan hasn't even collapsed yet, and you're already thinking about dividing the money!"
"Aren't you doing the exact same thing!"
Anbaixiu probed a little, only to find this Elven King was completely impervious to sweet talk or pressure, adamant that Anbaixiu surrender a share of the profits.
Resigned, Anbaixiu could only offer a promise: once the plan succeeded, he would discuss the Ryan situation with the elves, guaranteeing he wouldn't hog all the spoils for himself. As for the final split, that would depend on how much of Ryan remained after the collapse.
Aldarian also knew such a promise was ambiguous, but he understood just as well that this was the only promise Anbaixiu could give. Just as he said, until the Demonic Dragon was dealt with, talking about any of this was pointless.
Aldarian asked, "What is your full plan? You can't just invite everyone over and expose the Demonic Dragon's identity on the spot, can you?"
Anbaixiu nodded. "It really isn't that complicated. You don't actually think that with the powerhouses of various kingdoms gathered together, plus massive elite forces, we wouldn't be able to beat a single Demonic Dragon?"
Aldarian was not as confident as Anbaixiu. Frowning, he asked, "And how many casualties will that cost?"
Unlike other races, the elves lived so long that heroes who had fought the Demonic Dragon back then were still alive. Aldarian understood the might of a time dragon far better than others; this was an opponent who could only be overcome by piling up heaps of lives.
Anbaixiu shook his head. "There is no scenario where we defeat the Demonic Dragon without sacrifices."
They had rehearsed countless times in the Synesthesia Dreamscape. The Demonic Dragon was unprecedentedly powerful, but it couldn't take on an entire world either. As for how many would ultimately die, Anbaixiu had no way of knowing.
Yet dreaming from the start that they could resolve the Demonic Dragon Tyrant without anyone dying was unquestionably sheer fantasy.
"I let Catherine know about this in advance precisely so your elven race could prepare. When the battle begins, my friends will have a greater chance of surviving."
Aldarian glanced at Anbaixiu in surprise and said with astonishment, "By Corellon, I don't even know whether to call you cold and ruthless or loyal and affectionate."
Anbaixiu said smugly, "You can drop the 'cold and ruthless' option. People out there now call me the benevolent Lord Lich who saves the world."
Aldarian gave him a contemptuous look and continued, "That's not the point. Have you considered that while the Demonic Dragon's chances of winning are slim, with a time dragon's power, escaping would be remarkably easy?"
Anbaixiu said with satisfaction, "That works out perfectly. Once the Demonic Dragon's identity is exposed and it chooses to flee, the wager between the Lord of the Dawn and the Dragon Gods should come to an end. The Demonic Dragon can no longer parasite upon the Ryan Empire, and the tyrannical rule of the dragon race will have been overthrown. That bet should be considered a victory for the Lord of the Dawn.
"When that time comes, the Lord of the Dawn will no longer be restricted. He can explain the truth to the people of Ryan and bestow divine oracles. At that point, it will naturally fall to the Lord of the Dawn to resolve the Demonic Dragon issue, since Ryan bears the brunt of it."
Aldarian said, "You truly don't take the Dragon Gods seriously, do you? The Lord of the Dawn may win, but it wouldn't be hard for the Dragon Gods to cause trouble for you."
Anbaixiu shook his head. "I solved the overseas dragons' food problem. Why would they target me? Are they that unreasonable? Besides, even if the Dragon Gods want to cause trouble for me, I'm not afraid."
Tiamat, the Evil Dragon Goddess, was also one of the Dragon Gods. With the soul bank in Hell about to open, Tiamat would do everything in her power to protect him.
Anbaixiu had taken every possible outcome into account. Coupled with a lich's survivability, no matter how he calculated it, there wouldn't be much of a problem. If pushed to the brink, he could dive into the ocean and lie down inside a deep-sea trench; the Demonic Dragon wouldn't find him in a lifetime.
Although Aldarian looked down on such methods of Anbaixiu's, he still acknowledged the viability of this scoundrel-like plan. The elven race merely needed to prepare so they wouldn't be dragged down as collateral; as for whether people died in other kingdoms, that was not something an Elven King needed to worry about.
"You truly have thought of everything. But there is one final question."
Aldarian took two steps closer, grabbed Anbaixiu's wrist, and asked, "Have you ever considered that your greatest strength is being willing to do anything to make money, but that's also your greatest weakness? If that Demonic Dragon offers enough leverage, would a money-grubbing lich like you really not sell out everyone else for cash?"
Anbaixiu chuckled, offering no defense. When it came to an undead obsession, no guarantee from Anbaixiu would mean anything, because he knew very well that if the Demonic Dragon could offer something even more valuable, he definitely would turn traitor.
Therefore, Anbaixiu said to Aldarian, "Then you'd better offer higher stakes to ensure my loyalty. For example, giving me the entire elven share from Ryan..."
"Don't even dream of it." Aldarian wouldn't fall for that; the elves were determined to have this cut.
Yet the young Elven King didn't close the door completely. Instead, he said mysteriously to Anbaixiu, "However, I can give you something—precisely what you need most right now."
"At every waking moment, what I need most is more money," Anbaixiu replied just as firmly.
Aldarian said, "What you need more right now is an assistant, and I just happen to have a suitable candidate."
Anbaixiu shook his head. "I don't just take any trash. Don't go pulling in a random accountant to swindle me."
"Rest assured, the talent I'm sending you will definitely suit you, because this person is a divination wizard. Furthermore, according to them, there is a prophecy concerning you."
A divination wizard?
Divination wizards in this world were extraordinarily rare.
Hearing Aldarian mention this, Anbaixiu recalled that long ago, when Herki Stone had just arrived on Gold Coin Island, he had mentioned that a divination wizard had sought out the vampire, wanting an audience with Anbaixiu.
Afterward, however, Anbaixiu had been so busy that he completely forgot about it.
Remembering it now, Anbaixiu quickly produced the Necrotic Codex to ask the vampire, only to receive a reply that left him between tears and laughter.
[Dislikes Humans: I forgot too. Lately I've been busy writing a book about your exploits kidnapping the goddess. If you hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have remembered at all. That divination wizard already left, leaving a letter saying they were heading to the Silvermoon High Court.]
Anbaixiu closed the Necrotic Codex and asked Aldarian, "You just said that this divination wizard also brought a prophecy concerning me?"
Aldarian nodded. "That's right. And by all accounts, it's extremely important. It's just that the person tried countless methods, yet crossed paths with you every time without meeting, as if fate did not wish for the two of you to meet."
Anbaixiu couldn't hold back a heavy sigh.
Everything had gone smoothly before, making him think the Goddess of Fate was only winking at him this time.
Yet the moment he heard the word "prophecy," Anbaixiu had an immediate foreboding: the Goddess of Fate's leg-sweep had finally come kicking toward him.
Chapter 496