Chapter 357: Night Elf, Do You Want to Live?

"Human, I've told you everything you wanted to know. If you have no more questions, give me a quick death!" Akari sought only death.

"Night elf, I'm satisfied with your cooperation, but I still have a few more questions."

"Your night elves look no different from green elves on the surface—why are you hunted by the Elf Kingdom, called traitors by them?"

Previously, Gervas had assumed night elves represented evil.

Because they were bloodthirsty or drenched in death energy, they were called night elves and pursued by green elves.

But now, without her masterful infiltration skills, Gervas himself could not have told them apart.

"Human noble, I can tell you—but you must keep your promise!"

"We night elves are not the traitors those hypocritical green elves claim us to be!"

"The true traitor is King Alaric, the current ruler of the Elf Kingdom!"

"Long ago, our elf race's sole monarch was Queen Olivia!"

"But Alaric betrayed Queen Olivia—while she was wounded, he turned on her and seized the throne!"

"We were the royal guard of Queen Olivia. To escape Alaric's ruthless purge, we fled the kingdom!"

"So that's why!" Gervas exclaimed in amazement.

Though unexpectedly melodramatic.

Yet somehow, it made sense.

Whether human or other race.

Where there is power, there is struggle—this is normal.

"So after fleeing the kingdom, you took up assassination as a trade?"

Akari did not evade the question. "Correct. Though we escaped the kingdom, Alaric the usurper still hunts us."

"Besides, our guard unit has many elderly and young family members—we must find ways to feed them all!"

"Yet though we are assassins, we have principles: we do not kill the elderly or children, nor the kind and upright!"

"Heh!" Hearing the female elf's words, Gervas could only chuckle.

They were assassins.

And yet they wanted to put up a facade of virtue!

"Human, you may kill me, but do not insult me—what I, Akari, say is true. Before accepting any mission—"

"We investigate thoroughly. Only if the target is truly irredeemably wicked do we strike!" Akari saw the contempt in Gervas's eyes.

"Very well. Lady Elf, could you tell me your age? How could you know so much about elf history?"

"According to your human reckoning, I am one hundred and thirty years old!"

Good heavens, Gervas blurted out in awe.

Her appearance, her physical condition—absolutely nothing gave it away!

"What about by your own elf reckoning?"

"Nineteen!"

Good heavens!

Gervas genuinely envied her.

He had heard elves lived a thousand years, but it had been an abstract notion.

Now, he finally understood it deeply.

"Human, can you kill me now?" Akari pressed again.

"One final question!" Gervas smiled.

In Akari's expectant gaze, he said: "Akari, do you want to live?"

"Human, kill me! I will never become your slave!"

"No, female elf, you misunderstand. I'm not asking you to be my slave—I offer you life in exchange for three years of service… like my own subordinates!"

The female elf hesitated a moment, then prepared to refuse.

The pride of her elf race made her unwilling to serve a human noble.

Becoming an assassin was not becoming a human's subordinate—it was cooperation.

Whether to accept a mission was always up to them.

Gervas saw her thoughts. "Female elf, don't refuse yet. First, let me show you something—then decide."

Without delay, Gervas summoned griffins and swift magic eagles.

Then he took the bound female elf toward Wheatfield Town.

Over twenty minutes later, at the foot of a mountain.

He pulled out several glowstones, instantly lighting the area as bright as day.

Before Gervas and his men appeared a water pool three meters in diameter.

"This is…" At first, Akari did not know why Gervas had brought her here.

But as she drew near the pool, she immediately sensed a powerful aura of life.

"The Life Spring—you're not unfamiliar with it, Lady Elf?"

"This… this is impossible!"

Akari's eyes widened, her body trembling slightly.

"Whether it's real or not—the proof is right before you. You know better than anyone, Lady Elf."

Akari's slender frame shuddered violently.

After a long moment, she turned her head, fixing Gervas with a burning gaze. "Human noble, I will agree to serve you—but I have one demand!"

"What demand?" Gervas remained expressionless.

"Once the Life Spring is fully formed, allow our night elves to settle permanently in your Stormhold!"

"Settle?" That was unexpected.

He had assumed she wanted a certain amount of Life Spring each year.

As long as the demand wasn't excessive, Gervas could spare a barrel or two annually.

He could even promise they could buy it with gold!

"Yes—permits us to settle. And we swear to abide by your lordship's territorial laws!"

"We can even pay taxes!"

Good heavens!

Gervas blurted out in awe.

Wasn't this an elf slave offering herself up?

And not just any elf—night elves, unprotected by the Elf Kingdom.

With the Life Spring in his hands, controlling them would be effortless.

"No problem, female elf! I accept—and I'll even sign a contract with you!"

Akari looked at Gervas with sudden excitement. "Thank you, human noble!"

"Female elf, shouldn't you change how you address me now?"

The female elf showed no pretense. "Akari, meets… Lord Gervas!"

…

"Depart!"

"By Lord's order, Storm Legion—march!"

At Gervas's command, the Storm Legion began advancing northward.

Four days had passed since the mobilization order arrived.

Normally, Gervas shouldn't have delayed so long—he should have departed the next day to ensure sufficient time.

Mil and others had done exactly that—they had departed three days ago.

But Gervas had delayed three extra days, waiting for the cannons and ballistae to be built.

The benefit was that he now had the third cannon, and the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth ballistae completed.

Though the added numbers seemed small, even one more cannon meant one more chance at survival.

Moreover, those three days allowed massive replenishment of bolts and cannonballs.

Of course, the rest of the journey would now be rushed.

Fortunately, Gervas had long instructed Thomas to prepare numerous carts.

Thus, his subordinates didn't have to march on foot like other minor nobles—this allowed him to catch up in time.

This time, Gervas's expedition force numbered around a thousand.

Reaching the minimum requirement for a viscount.

Of the thousand, four hundred were regular guards.

Two hundred were cavalry.

The ranged attack unit—ballistae and cannon teams—totalled one hundred and fifty.

Additionally, over eighty cavalrymen and knight retainers.

These were the truly combat-capable troops, totaling roughly eight hundred.

The remaining two hundred were conscripted serfs.

Like last campaign, they were not cannon fodder—they were logistical laborers.

These two hundred handled camp setup, cooking, and other chores.