Chapter 55: Elvenking Thranduil

The chat ended quickly. Claude's intention was quite simple: the Destiny Chest and Li Xia.

If it worked out, everyone would be happy; if not, it would still forge a measure of goodwill, after all, the Pantheon was not solely about bloodshed and violence.

"Mr. Claude, how should I return the walkie-talkie?"

Claude's indifferent voice came through the device: "Just a small gadget, consider it a token of our meeting.

This is standard issue equipment for our Brotherhood of Steel. If we cross paths in other infinite worlds in the future, you'll be able to connect to the team's public channel, and perhaps it might come in handy.

I also hope that when you encounter our lower-tier members, provided there are no conflicts of interest, you might show some mercy."

Li Xia was silent for a moment. "I'll do my best."

....................

Putting the walkie-talkie away, Li Xia stood up. In the distance, the sky was beginning to show a pale, fish-belly white. This long night had finally come to an end.

He had no intention of opening the Destiny Chest right now. Once the trial was over and he returned to the space, he planned to gather more information about Destiny Chests.

It was unlikely that Claude was deceiving him, but cross-verification from multiple sources was always safer. This joint trial instance had already reached its final stage.

There was no need to rush.

The Apostles operated with extreme efficiency. In the short time he had been chatting with Claude, a large pile of salvaged supplies had already accumulated on the shore.

The lake surface was littered with the wooden furniture chests of the town residents. The Apostles were in high spirits; fishing out a single chest netted three contribution points. Although it was somewhat troublesome and required hauling the items to shore,

they didn't have to run all over the place, nor did they have to engage in life-or-death combat. They merely had to exert some physical effort—which, rounded up, was practically free money!

Those Apostles who had possessed strong practical skills before entering the Pantheon were already dragging small boats over, trying to figure out how to repair them. It didn't require perfection; they just needed to patch them up well enough to cross the long lake.

By the time the sun rose, the Apostles had completed a good seven or eight-tenths of the assigned faction quests.

One Apostle, whose innate skill happened to be carpentry, single-handedly repaired thirty boats, furiously earning three hundred faction contribution points and howling with excitement.

Previously, in the Dwarf faction, because his combat abilities were mediocre and he lacked skills in other areas, the paltry contribution points he had been allocated amounted to a pathetic twenty.

Who would have thought he could earn three hundred in a single night here?

The other Apostles earned less, but compared to before, the difference was astronomical. Those with outstanding personal strength basically chose to remain with their original factions.

Seeing the harvest-laden Apostles sitting down in groups of twos and threes, preparing to eat something and rest,

Li Xia sneered. Still wanting to rest? Not even the donkeys of the production production brigade took breaks like this!

He directly issued a new faction quest.

【Faction Quest】
【Quest Objective: Escort the residents of Lake-town to Dale】
【Time Limit: 1 Day】
【Quest Reward: 10 Contribution Points】

"Quick, quick, quick! More work!" The Apostles leaped up as if their bottoms were on fire, pushing their small boats back into the water.

Over a hundred people carrying supplies were distributed across forty small boats, rowing toward the depths of the long lake.

The surface of the lake was like a giant mirror. The morning sunlight spilled across the water, gilding the edges of this mirror with a border of gold.

The prows of the boats parted the lake water, making a soft splashing sound. As the vessels advanced, the mirror-like surface was gently split, sending ripples radiating outward, and the golden shimmer rippled along with them like fine, glittering golden scales.

When the boats reached the deeper waters, a faint mist began to rise from the lake. Regardless of the weather, this fog seemed to linger perpetually over the waters of Longlake.

Li Xia stood at the bow of the foremost boat, holding a torch aloft like a true leader, guiding the fleet in the right direction.

Boris, who had previously been appointed as a member of the Lake-town guard, stood beside him, eyes wide as he strained to find familiar landmarks.

The fog grew thicker, but fortunately, experienced individuals had long since tied the boats together with ropes to prevent anyone from losing their way.

The light of the lead torch remained steady. Even though it was reduced to a mere pinpoint of orange glow in the heavy fog, that single light quelled the unease in people's hearts.

"It's this way!"

Boris suddenly shouted excitedly, pointing to a rotting wooden stake protruding from the water not far away.

"We're almost there!"

As if in response to his words, the mist ahead suddenly parted, and a towering stone archway loomed by the lakeside.

"My lord, this is Dale! That over there is the old pier."

Li Xia looked in the direction Boris was pointing. Sure enough, there was an open space beside the great gate, with a stone-paved pier extending into the lake, its rear half collapsed into the water.

Near the shallows by the shore, the masts of sunken ships protruded from the water. Even through this ruined spectacle, one could imagine how prosperous Dale must have once been.

From this vantage point, the dwarven citadel beneath the Lonely Mountain was clearly visible. No wonder the Orcs had detached forces to attack this place.

Dale was the mandatory thoroughway to the citadel.

.............

Boris was right. Although large ships could no longer pass through, it posed no problem whatsoever for small boats carrying only a handful of people.

The crowd began hauling their belongings ashore like ants moving house, while Li Xia led a group to scout around Dale to find a suitable location.

This city at the foot of the mountain was not particularly large, capable of accommodating at most ten or twenty thousand people at its peak, but the architecture was exquisite, the carefully dressed stones still bearing ornate carvings.

It was evident how wealthy the city-state had once been. Human skeletal remains littered the ground, overgrown with thick weeds.

The sundries left behind by the panicked, fleeing populace had decayed into ruin over the span of a century.

Only the stone structures stood resilient against the wind and rain, offering some degree of shelter to the surviving residents.

"Right here!"

Li Xia stood within the circular town hall. The space was cavernous, and the numerous rooms on the second floor could accommodate everyone. The walls were exceptionally sturdy, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The prompts from the Hall of Light instantly popped up.

【Human Faction Settlement Confirmed】
【Current Settlement: Ruins of Dale Town Hall】
【Detected that Quartermaster Old Joel is deceased】
【The Pantheon will generate a new Quartermaster】
【Generating............】
【Quartermaster Refreshed】

Li Xia was momentarily stunned, then followed the prompt to the innermost room on the second floor, where a person had suddenly materialized.

Their appearance was identical to Old Joel's, but their expression was mechanical, capable only of answering questions mechanically.

He briefly browsed the exchange list and discovered that the items previously redeemed had been fully restocked.

As the faction leader, his prestige rank had been automatically locked to the highest level.

【Revered: 1,203 Points】

The contribution points for slaying Smaug, combined with those from completed quests, had brought his battlefield contribution standing to:

1. Xia (Contribution: 85%)

He was way ahead—more than 60% higher than second place—basically locking in the top spot.

However, up to this point, his actual contribution points had only increased by the hundred-odd points distributed from the Apostles completing faction quests.

Waking up the [Elixir of Enlightenment] would depend on the upcoming Battle of the Five Armies. That was where the bulk of contribution points lay, rewarded for every Orc slain.

Therefore, taking advantage of this window, he needed to make preparations immediately!

Li Xia looked at the Apostles who were preparing to rest, and let out a cold laugh. Still want to rest?

Quest issued! Up and get to work!

...............

Outside Dale, an army clad in resplendent golden armor marched forward in neat, uniform strides.

"My King, ahead is Dale! The surviving residents of Lake-town have already arrived here."

The handsome Elven King, riding atop a massive elk, waved his hand, and the Elven army pressed onward.

Inside the town hall, a brand-new prompt popped up abruptly before Li Xia.

【The Elven Faction is about to arrive in Dale!】

"My lord! My lord, a huge Elven army has arrived outside!"

Boris, on perimeter guard duty, rushed inside and shouted, breathless.

Li Xia nodded, stood up, and walked outside. The curious Apostles instantly dropped the tasks they were busy with and swarmed out to watch the spectacle.

The moment they stepped out the door, they couldn't help but gasp in unison.

Before them stood an immaculately and densely arranged formation of the Elven army.

"Clack, clack, clack."

Crisp hoofbeats rang out from the other end of the street.

A gigantic elk stepped forward with elegant grace.

Sitting upon its back was an Elf wearing a crown woven from leaves and branches.

He bowed slightly in greeting:

"King of the Woodland Realm, Elven King, son of Oropher, Thranduil, wishing to meet with the leader of the surviving residents of Lake-town."

【Prompt: You are about to negotiate with the Elven Faction leader, Thranduil. The outcome of this negotiation will heavily influence the trajectory of the Battle of the Five Armies. Please negotiate with caution, Apostle!】