235 Who Will Go?

Clank, clink, clink…

Every day of the week, from day to night and from night to day, the sound of hammering metal never stopped coming from the Lancaster's workshop tower as steam continue to puff from its steel pipes in rhythmic intervals. 

The number of qualifying apprentice blacksmiths gradually exceeded the workplace capacity of the workshop. 

As wealthy as the Lancasters were, their money did not supply them enough hands to meet the demands of the ongoing projects in the Capital. 

Concessions were made and the North District's nobles were happily taken on board. Discontent was quelled and everyone was happy to have a part of the blacksmithing industry. 

Sharing slices of a bigger cake was better than hogging a small cake to oneself, especially if it hinders the kingdom's development. It was a win-win situation for everyone. 

It was a strategy to win back the hearts of the nobles and give them a sense of belonging to the kingdom rather than to exploit them as the Queen and Prince did.

This strategy was not planned by Duke Ignis, but devised by the king, Heinrich. 

To prosper together or to perish in the annals of history.

When the kingdom is faced with outside threats, it was more important than ever for the people to be united. 

Right now, a third of the Upper North District had been transformed into blacksmithing workshops and metallurgy factories to meet the project demands.

In addition to the changes to North Upper District, 20% of the Lower District's reconstruction project was completed, three surrounding cities have been connected to the Capital via the railway project and the framework design for the underground district was drawn.

If Leon was present, he would be impressed by the progress during his absence from the Capital.

Indeed, once production was all on track and the transport system linked up the important and resourceful cities, the Capital was able to receive a steady chain of supplies for their building projects.

The steam-powered steel carriage, which they later called the train was able to save dozens of trips and countless days' worth of time transporting limestones, logs, and various other materials and necessities. 

Half of the commoner population had moved into their new residential complexes and no longer had to camp on the outskirts of the Capital. 

Moving further outwards, large fields of crops had been set up all around on the outskirts. To the east was a wheat field that was grown exceedingly quick and large under the direct management of the Greene family.

Not only was it almost ready for harvest, but it was also going to be a big bumper harvest. 

Lina's parents had toiled hard to guarantee that the wheat they have grown will be able to feed the entire Capital for an additional month. 

Although none of them understood what the birth of a World Tree entails, spirit energy was beginning to fill the world, and this will eventually improve all walks of life.

Lina's parents will soon find out that the spirit energy will aid the growth of their crops even further. Everything was turning for the better and they will be able to achieve self-sustainability once more.

…

In the Wildlands, within the center of a great forest, a commotion was being stirred by a crowd that gathered by the foot of a great tree. Their faces were all fraught with doubts, uneasiness, and confusion.

"What is going on here?"

A sweet voice sounded as a young lady of human stature arrived before the crowd with a basket of herbs.

The young lady had long blonde hair, long sharp ears, and sparkling emerald eyes. She appeared to be very young and was the epitome of beauty, but her actual age cannot be accurately determined with a glance by ordinary humans.

The crowd also shared similar appearances as they belong to the same race that is not human but also did not stray too far from human origins. If humans saw them, they would be surprised and exclaim, "Elves".

"P-Princess Faelyn."

The crowd greeted with pleasant surprise and respect as they turned and identify the owner of the sweet voice. 

Princess Faelyn was the fifth princess of their elven tribe, Elvengarde. She was also the youngest princess. She was a down-to-earth princess that likes to pick herbs and interact with elves of common birth.

"T-The Guardian Spirit is…" 

One of the male elves stuttered bashfully due to her fairy-like charms.

"What's wrong with the Guardian Spirit?"

Princess Faelyn felt her heart tightened at the crowd's worried look at the mention of the Guardian Spirit. Did something happen to the Guardian Spirit?

"The Guardian Spirit is cowering…" The male elf finally answered with much difficulty. 

Princess Faelyn dropped the basket of herbs while gasping with wide eyes and one hand over her mouth. The great protector of their tribe was cowering? How can that be? What was it cowering from?

There were no mid-tier tribes within 3000 miles of their great forest. This means that there should not be any Seeking Insight-level Transcendents within their area.

But even then, a Seeking Insight-level Transcendent would not be enough to cause their Guardian Spirit. Only those existences from high-tier tribes could instill such fear.

Noticing her loss of bearing, Princess Faelyn drew in a sharp breath to calm herself down before asking, "Which Venerable Paragon is visiting?"

The crowd of elves looked at each other cluelessly. They did not have an answer to that question. No one knew what was causing their Guardian Spirit to cower.

The princess fell silent in thought as their lack of an answer. Did it have something to do with the phenomenon she sensed just now?

None of the Elves on ground level were aware of the World Tree's ascension that took place recently despite sensing the phenomenon. 

They just took it as another Transcendent Phenomenon happening, which was not a rare occurrence within the Wildlands.

The majority of the elves live their entire lives on the ground level within the great forest by the Elder Tree.

Sunlight rarely enters this deep in the forest, but despite this, the elven tribe was not a place filled with perpetual darkness.

The Elder Tree of the great forest was not like the Elder Tree of the underground. 

It was blessed by sunlight all year round and overflowed with the wood element and lifeforce that permeated to its surrounding.

These wood elemental energy and lifeforce reached a density where it could be seen in the form of glowing green particles and the entire elven tribe was alight by these particles that were neither too bright nor too dark. It was just right. 

The setting suffuses the tribe in ethereal and otherworldly ambiance and outsiders stepping foot into Elvengarde would feel like they had stumbled into the holy sanctuary of another world.

Although Elves also live up in the Elder Tree as well, that place was only reserved for royalty and elders of the council.

While the elves below had no idea what was going on, everyone above was in the know. They could see the World Tree that appeared over the horizon.

A meeting was being held by the high council of elders along with the elven queen and king as they discuss what course of action they should take.

A World Tree had appeared, and their own Guardian Spirit had just submitted to it. 

"What thoughts does everyone have? The humans have managed to cultivate a World Tree and our own Guardian Spirit pales in comparison. The life and death of every plant on this continent can be decided under the World Tree's whims. If the humans learn to control the World Tree, then…"

The Elven King did not speak further. Everyone understood the underlying message. They would be at the mercy of the other side. 

The High Elves were inwardly prideful and independent. How could they allow this?

The relationship between the Human Domain and Wildlands was not good and can even be considered terrible. 

They also knew just how easy it is to befriend the Guardian Spirit. Tree spirits were sacred and pure entities with child-like mentality the moment they gained sentience. 

With the devious nature of humans, it was easy to trick the World Tree to do their bidding. At least, that is what the Elves believed and feared.

If a great war between humans and beasts break out once more, they would also be affected.

The council was split into two sides of opposing views on the matter. 

The extremist believed they should invade and take control of the World Tree before others did. Tree spirits were like deities and the source of their belief. It should not belong to others.

On the other hand, the conservative group believed they should make peace and establish friendly ties to build a bridge between them and allow their race to visit the World Tree.

"It's impossible for humans to have cultivated a World Tree! I do not believe they are capable! It must be the tree spirit's own efforts!" A proud high elf elder slammed the round council table in disagreement. 

Some elders shook their heads in disagreement, "You mean to tell us that by its own efforts, an Elder Tree that we had no knowledge, much less even seen so close to us, suddenly ascended to the World-level by its own efforts?"

"Why not?" Another elder interjected. "We've been doing all we can to help our Guardian Spirit grow, but has our efforts bore any fruits? No? I didn't think so."

One of the twelve elders, who had remained silent, suddenly said, "The Human Domain holds most of the ancient heritage from a bygone era. The humans could have unearthed their secrets and used the knowledge to aid the World Tree's breakthrough."

Seeing that the course of the debate was derailing from the main problem, the Elf Queen said, "How the World Tree ascended is not the problem. You can debate all you want, but your theories are all baseless without concrete proof and hold no meaning to this council. What we need to do is understand how this will affect us and come up with a plan if the situation is unfavorable."

"I concur. Regardless of what actions we take, contact with the Human Domain is unavoidable." The Elf said.

After a heated discussion, the elven council unanimously decided to send an envoy with autonomous authority to act as they see fit after establishing ties with the humans and understanding the situation relating to the World Tree within the Human Domain.

"Due to the bizarre incident relating to the beasts arising in the Wildlands, we can only send one. Who will go?"

The Elven King swept his gaze across the round table of elders. Everyone at the table was all Transcendents at the Preliminary Accession-level, but everyone avoided eye contact when the king swept pass them.

Only one can go? That seems quite dangerous. Count me out!

The Elf King had an ironic smile when he saw this. 

Everyone was quite excited when discussing the problem, but when push comes to shove at spearheading the problem, no one was willing to venture outside their comfort zone.

"I will go." 

A deep voice sounded from the depths of the room, away from the council table. Everyone was startled by this voice.

"Supreme Elder, you can't! We need here to hold the fort!" 

Everyone began to panic.

The Guardian Spirit was the great protector of their Elven Tribe, Elvengarde, but it was only active when it feels threatened. 

The one defending their borders from outside threats had always been the owner of the deep voice, the Supreme Elder of their tribe, and the only Seeking Insight-level Transcendent among them.

"The Human Domain holds great animosity for the Wildlands. The success of our diplomacy will depend on our deterring force and sincerity. For that, I will also be taking those two human prisoners with me and one of your daughters." The Supreme Elder said.

The pupils of the Elf King shrank before he drew a sharp breath and refused, "You want to use one of my daughters as a tool for negotiation? Absolutely not! I will not let them suffer!"

One had to know that when they captured the two humans that stumbled into their great forest, they were easily captivated by the beauty of the elves. 

If they were to see any of the Elf King's daughters, which were the cream of the crop, the hearts of men might just be set ablaze by fiery lust that can only behave like animals.

In a situation where the Elves did not know the strengths of the Human Domain, he did not want to risk his daughter's wellbeing. 

He loved his daughters. Perhaps, a little too much. What about sending one of his sons? Hold on…

He had four daughters, but only one son. He could not possibly send away his only heir, could he?!

'How about… making another?' The Elf King seriously contemplated.

"My words are final." The Supreme Elder said with irrefutable dominance. 

The Elf King's hopes were dashed like a bucket of cold water poured over him. 

He might be king, but the Wildlands was the world of the strong. The biggest fist has the biggest say.

He was lucky enough that the Supreme Elder was not interested in his crown, otherwise, he would be forced to abdicate.

The Supreme Elder was not completely unreasonable and soften his tone with a sigh. "I had a premonition that the bizarre series of events with the beasts will soon engulf the Wildlands in a violent storm. The World Tree may be our only chance of survival in this unforgiving world."

The beasts had been growing increasingly violent and powerful in the past week like the prelude to the coming of a Second Cataclysm. 

Just in the past week, he, alone, had already slain no fewer than a hundred berserk beast.

As for the princess, the Supreme Elder assured the Elf King that nothing would befall her. She was only there for appearance to make negotiations with the humans easier and no real action was required of her.

The Elf King could only reluctantly acquiesce to the Supreme Elder's decision.