Chapter 396: Fantali

“This man is too dangerous.” After listening to Wu Qingsong’s description, both Nina and Ram came to the same conclusion.

“Oh?” Wu Qingsong chuckled. “But you can’t deny that he’s exactly the kind of person we need at this stage.”

“If given the chance, he would betray us without hesitation.”

“That, I absolutely believe.” Wu Qingsong nodded. “So, we simply won’t give him the chance. Perhaps you haven’t realized, but he’s not a transcendent. It would be incredibly easy for us to eliminate him. If we elevate him too much, treating him as our equal, we’d be overestimating him and underestimating ourselves.”

Nina glanced at Ram and reluctantly nodded.

Perhaps, as Wu Qingsong said, having grown up in the heart of the Elven Empire, constantly facing the threat of annihilation, they had become accustomed to living cautiously. Wu Qingsong had given them immense power, but that power had come too suddenly, while the empire’s looming shadow still remained. As a result, they continued to think like ordinary, albeit strong, beastmen, rather than from the perspective of true transcendents.

Indeed, Tony Barros might be an ambitious schemer, but whether it was Wu Qingsong, Nina, Xeila, or even just a single knight, dealing with him would be nothing more than a flick of the wrist.

“Send Joanna to assist him.” Wu Qingsong decided. “As long as we have excess resources, he can have whatever he asks for, but we must control the extent. We can help him survive, but we must not become overly involved in the wars of the Stampede Plateau. Let the Divine Knights operate on the plateau, protecting trade caravans and civilians, but more importantly, protecting priests, believers, and temples. Hopefully, by the end of this war, the church will have established itself on the plateau, and the knights will have gained enough experience to become independent leaders.”

His gaze swept across the room before settling on Nina. “This matter is in your hands, and in the hands of the knights. Can I trust you with it?”

Nina nodded.

“Our primary focus this year remains the beastmen of the Icy Sea, especially those who have only recently followed their chieftains in converting to the church. The elves won’t give us much time. We need every single gifted girl we can find. All resources must be directed toward the Sisterhood. Alice, before winter arrives, I want the Divine Knights to have five hundred members.”

“If it is your will, my lord, then it shall become reality!”

“Good.” Wu Qingsong had already become immune to her fanatic devotion. He turned to Harold. “From now on, I think it’s time we start focusing on the elves.”

***

The elves had not invaded the Northern Wastelands directly, but that did not mean they had given up on eroding the land. They had simply refrained from direct action, preferring to use various means to divide and manipulate the beastfolk, pitting them against one another in endless conflicts over these barren lands.

If not for the appearance of the Abyssal Gate drawing their attention and absorbing the military forces of the nearby principalities, Wu Qingsong was certain that Nagrand would have already faced complete destruction.

Just as they had done on the Bison Plateau, the elves would never tolerate the rise of a powerful force in the empire’s northern reaches—and they had the strength to crush Nagrand with ease.

Fortunately, thanks to the Abyssal Gate and the inefficiencies of the empire’s vast bureaucracy, they might still have some time left to prepare.

“Harold.” Standing in the top-floor office of Nagrand’s city hall, Wu Qingsong gazed toward the southern horizon, his mood growing heavier. “Do you think we’re ready to challenge the empire?”

“What do you think?” Harold countered.

Wu Qingsong couldn’t help but let out a bitter chuckle.

The more he had underestimated Tony Barros, the more he now understood just how terrifying the elves’ threat truly was.

Marquis Osaga was no longer a concern to him—but against those legendary spellcasters, he still had no confidence.

Their numbers were not vast—at least as far as he knew, they were only a handful—but just one of them would be enough to tip the balance.

“Who do you think we should align with? Grand Duke Fantali? Grand Duke Sentalus? Or Grand Duke Yagata?”

If they could not win, their only option was to bide their time.

Just as they had taught the captured beastmen during their indoctrination—if the enemy is too strong, the wise choice is not to fight head-on and be crushed to dust, but to conceal one’s hostility, learn from them, even submit temporarily, and wait until the day they are strong enough to turn the tables.

“If I had to choose, it would be Fantali,” Harold said. “Red Plains City is too close to us. Everything happening in the Icefield Sea and the Stampede Plateau is difficult to hide from them. Even with all the effort we’ve spent blocking information and covering our tracks, after all these years, they cannot be completely ignorant of Nagrand’s existence. Aligning with Sentalus or Yagata would likely drag us into their conflicts and even then, we would still have to win Fantali’s favor.”

“Then let’s make that our goal. Gather as much intelligence as possible.” Wu Qingsong said. “Harold, you will oversee intelligence operations in Red Plains City and the Duchy of Lapucia. I’ll head to Fantali City myself. If necessary, I’ll negotiate with Dark Moon, offering them a share of our interests in exchange for access to their information networks.”

Ling’s pregnancy once again proved to be a significant inconvenience.

Although Wu Qingsong was extremely reluctant, he had no choice but to have Ling transport him and a carefully vetted team of intelligence operatives to the southern city of Fantali.

Due to the Abyssal Gate, the city had become the second-largest elven population center in the empire, second only to Padamia.

Upon arrival, Wu Qingsong saw elite lionfolk and tauren guards patrolling the streets. The entire city had undergone a massive renovation, adorned with countless elven-style sculptures, lush greenery, and elaborate waterways with fountains.

Buildings that did not fit elven aesthetics had been demolished and rebuilt. The slums outside the city walls had vanished. If not for the castle and the towering gray-white walls still standing, Wu Qingsong might have doubted whether he had arrived in the right place.

This was clearly the new center of the Benaris River plain. Goods and resources flowed into the city in an unending stream, creating the illusion that the elves were constructing a new imperial capital here.

Wu Qingsong had no immediate plan and no means of entering this transformed city.

With no other choice, he resorted to his backup plan—heading to Phoenix Harbor to seek out his Dark Moon contacts.