Chapter 2342: Reaching an Agreement

After thinking for a moment, Xia Duo asked again, "Do you understand the origins of the Demon Descendants?"

"I understand some. It is said that they were accidentally injured or infected by the traces of the war back then. Demon Descendants have appeared on our side in the past as well, but in the end, not a single one managed to survive."

There was sadness and grief in Xiluoli's tone, yet there was none of the prejudice and discrimination so common in Evereska. Xia Duo could not help but feel a sense of relief in his heart; as expected, only victims can truly sympathize with other victims.

As for the so-called refugees in Evereska, when it comes down to it, which family among those who managed to flee there did not have Spellcasters?

Most of them had received news in advance and hid away; let alone experiencing hardship, they might not even have had any real sense of the war in the outside world.

They only knew that Aryvandaar was too powerful, causing their interests to suffer while they were unable to resist, so they could only hide temporarily. It was not until now, a hundred years after the destruction of Aryvandaar, that they confirmed Aryvandaar would not make a comeback and prepared to go out to accept the inheritance.

As for those High Elves, expecting them to understand the pain of the Demon Descendants is probably harder than killing them.

Of course, Xia Duo does not deny that there are true war survivors in Evereska, but they are a minority after all and find it difficult to hold any sway. The fact that Demon Descendants have remained in Evereska until now is, to some extent, due to the sympathy of those elves.

But unfortunately, once the prevailing wind at the top changes, what does the sympathy of a minority count for?

However, it is different here in Illefarn. In the past, the upper-echelon Spellcasters of Illefarn were almost completely wiped out, and the remaining Commoners at the very bottom were displaced during the war. You must know that the war was far from over at that time!

These elves are the most capable of understanding the cruelty of war and the pitiable state of the victims.

……

Just as Xia Duo was sighing and lost in thought, Xiluoli suddenly asked, "With such a high mortality rate, can Demon Descendants really form a tribe?"

"They can, but it is extremely difficult. And what is even more difficult than survival itself is the prejudice, discrimination, and even persecution from their own kind!"

Xia Duo took a deep breath and continued, "I will not hide it from you, Chief Xiluoli: our Demon Descendant tribe has just been driven out of Evereska and is preparing to head north to open up a New Homeland."

"Then the cooperation you mentioned is—"

"Chief Xiluoli, please do not misunderstand. We are merely passing through Illefarn and will not be staying here. We firmly believe that the people of Illefarn will certainly be able to rebuild Illefarn, and that Illefarn belongs entirely to the people of Illefarn."

If the Illefarn elves only had the strength they showed before him, Xia Duo could completely wipe them out with half a hand, but he knew that for Xiluoli to become the restorer of Illefarn in the Main Plane and multiple Projection Planes, he was certainly not as simple as he appeared.

Furthermore, he could not bring himself to strike against a people rising unyieldingly from suffering. He would be very happy to see Illefarn grow rapidly; of course, it would be even better if an alliance could be reached with the Demon Descendants.

"Lord Maruen, that is not what I meant. I mean that if your tribe has any needs, as long as we can provide them, we will not let you down."

"Chief!"

As soon as Xiluoli finished speaking, it caused a flurry of anxiety among the few Gold Elves who appeared to be deputy chiefs nearby. "We are already in such a state ourselves, how could we have the spare capacity to help them!"

"Atini, you are wrong to say that. As fellow victims of the Crown War, the Demon Descendants have suffered even more cruel pain and torture than we have. We should help as much as we can; this is also the best comfort for the past."

Chief Xiluoli is a man of great understanding. Xia Duo could not help but feel a bit moved. To tell the truth, this is the elf he has met who is most to his liking. Troubled times produce heroes, and this Xiluoli is indeed a hero of his generation.

"Chief Xiluoli, thank you for your kindness. At the moment, we do indeed need your help. After leaving Evereska, we gathered some Wild Elves who had lost their civilization along the way, which has made our original food supply somewhat tight."

"If possible, please provide us with some simple food. The Chixin Tribe will be eternally grateful! For this, we are willing to gift the people of Illefarn a Zhigaochengcheng, and at the same time allow Illefarn to send exchange students to the Chixin Tribe to learn Magic."

When Xia Duo first started speaking, the few deputy chiefs here in Illefarn almost all looked unpleasant, but when Xia Duo mentioned gifting them a Zhigaochengcheng, these deputy chiefs did not even care that Xia Duo was still there and immediately signaled Xiluoli to agree quickly.

But Xiluoli is not an ordinary elf after all. He agreed on the spot to Xia Duo's request for some food, but he politely declined the Zhigaochengcheng.

"Xiluoli! Why?" The few deputy chiefs questioned Xiluoli as if they had gone mad, without any regard for the fact that Xia Duo was still present.

At this, Xiluoli's expression also turned somewhat sour, but he still explained patiently, "Our meager contribution is not worth the reward of a Zhigaochengcheng. Atini, do you want to make the glorious people of Illefarn into unrighteous people?"

"Xiluoli, I—"

Atini did not speak, and the other deputy chiefs also fell silent, seemingly still somewhat unwilling.

Seeing this, Xia Duo knew it was time for him to speak up. "Chief Xiluoli, do not refuse so quickly. If you think that some life-saving grain is not worth a Zhigaochengcheng, we can form an alliance instead. Would that be acceptable?"

"Even if it were an alliance, it is still too—" A flash of hesitation crossed Xiluoli's eyes, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and refused this Zhigaochengcheng, which might be crucial to the revival of Illefarn.

"Lord Maruen, thank you for the generosity of the Chixin Tribe, but this does not conform to the morality in our hearts. If possible, I hope to send Apprentices to the Chixin Tribe to learn Magic."

"Very well."

Xia Duo did not insist. In fact, the Zhigaochengcheng of Elven Magic did not mean much to him; he was not prepared to invest much energy into it, nor was it worth wasting such a rare, long-lasting Projection Plane.

He hoped more to pull Illefarn into the Arcanist system, to progress and grow together with the Demon Descendant tribe. This corresponds, in fact, to Illefarn sending exchange students to the Demon Descendants.

Of course, the Magic Energy Magic System must also continue to be researched. If the problem of natural reproduction could be solved, taking it to the Main Plane might become a powerful weapon for solving the Demon Descendant problem.

……

Having determined the general intention of cooperation, Xia Duo continued to discuss the specific details of the cooperation with Xiluoli. Of course, during this process, he did not hide the desperate predicament the Demon Descendants were currently in.

Under these circumstances, Xiluoli's insistence on cooperation was all the more commendable. In the end, both sides reached an agreement, mainly focusing on trade, magical exchange, ruins exploration, and joint defense, among other areas.

Of course, specifically for the present, it meant that Illefarn's—let's call it a tribe—would prepare food for the Demon Descendant tribe, and at the same time, Xia Duo would take one of Illefarn's deputy chiefs back to inspect the actual situation of the Demon Descendants and meet with several Elders.