Section Seventeen: Wild Elf (Part Two)

However, even when elves are bound by various methods and turned into playthings, there are always occasional elven captives who manage to escape. Some of these fugitives fail to break through the human blockade around the northern forests, while others, whose hearts have fallen, can no longer adapt to life in the Elven Empire, becoming bloodthirsty and cruel. Add to them those elves who were originally banished by the northern Elven Empire, and the occasional dark elf who emerges from underground, having mutated in appearance due to worship of the evil Spider Goddess. Thus was born a disorganized but undeniably powerful bandit group, far exceeding the strength of the Bearfolk, who called themselves the Wild Elves.

These Wild Elves, though few in number and with complicated origins, oddly possess a single bloodline. There are three or four such groups in the Midwest; the largest has more than a squad’s worth of members, the smallest still counts a dozen. They are rejected both by elves and humans alike. So they cast aside all concerns, relying on their innate elven abilities to become thoroughbred bandits.

“If Miss Cecily has fallen into their hands, it will be trouble. Even a small gang of ten Wild Elves is not easy to deal with—the two of us alone may not be enough,” Layard spoke with worry.

Wei Wuji shrugged indifferently. “Count me in as well.”

Layard had been waiting for this. Hegel was clearly unwilling to proceed without seeing his daughter, and both sentiment and reason dictated they should find Cecily as soon as possible. Otherwise, even if they brought Hegel before the leader, there would be no proper explanation. But the Wild Elves were indeed formidable, so Layard naturally hoped to rely on Wei Wuji’s strength. With someone who surpassed even his own abilities, dealing with the most powerful Wild Elf group might be impossible, but fighting smaller or even medium-sized gangs was certainly within reach.

Their goals quickly aligned. Under Wei Wuji’s intimidating presence, the Bearfolk revealed everything about the local situation. The environment here was harsh, lying between the domain controlled by the Comminesen Revolutionary Corps and Valencia. The western garrison of Randia was concentrated west of this area in Gaul City, tasked with guarding against and eliminating the Comminesen Revolutionary Corps. This region was effectively a vacuum, often plagued by bandits. The road from Valencia to Gaul City was lined with relay stations, except near this area, where not even the road could be built—a telling sign.

In recent years, the old bandit groups had vanished, replaced by the more formidable bandits—the Wild Elf gangs the Bearfolk had just mentioned. These Wild Elves could no longer return home, nor could they adapt to life in the Elven Empire, yet they had to survive. Some among them harbored thoughts of revenge against humanity. So the local bandits were the first to suffer, as the Wild Elf gangs moved against them, attempting to monopolize the promising trade of banditry. In every industry, monopoly brings the highest profits—even banditry is no exception.

For passing travelers, it made little difference who robbed them. Whether it was human bandits, Bearfolk, or Wild Elves, the result was the same: robbed and murdered. The difference between a seventy-eight percent crime rate and seventy-seven percent was negligible.

But for the Bearfolk, the difference was significant. Their peers dwindled, and their business was almost entirely taken over by the Wild Elves. So when they saw Hegel’s family’s carriage overturned, they immediately rallied all members for a grand attempt—such lucrative prey had not been seen in ages, and that carriage was indeed a prize.

Even Wei Wuji could sense the bitterness among these bandits, mingled with the rage of cattle driven to the brink by wolves, and the resolve to fight to the death to protect their calves. Perhaps that was why the Wild Elves had not yet dealt ruthlessly with this Bearfolk bandit group.

“Enough. Take us to find the Wild Elves. If Cecily has been captured, she must be returned unharmed—or I’ll help you wipe them out,” Wei Wuji said impatiently.

Kamio opened his mouth to object. In his view, even with Wei Wuji’s help, the remaining hundred or so Bearfolk bandits could at most contend with a Wild Elf gang of thirty to fifty members. If they encountered the largest group of nearly a hundred Wild Elves, the consequences would still be dire.

---

In the study of the Prime Minister’s residence, Warrenheit sat quietly, and before him stood a stranger.

“Oh, you’re the helper sent by that old friend of mine?” Warrenheit scrutinized the dark-skinned man before him, who stood like a rock weathered by countless storms.

“My name is Raven. Mr. Spielberg hired me. For the next three months, I will serve you and guarantee your safety,” the man replied.

“What are your skills?” Warrenheit asked, expressionless. Behind him, two attendants stood with heads bowed, faces hidden, as motionless as ancient stone statues. Yet Raven could clearly feel their attention fixed upon him; any hint of unusual movement and they would surely do more than merely stand. Had Wei Wuji been present, he would have recognized them as the warrior and assassin who once clashed with him in the lecture hall.

“I have many skills. Normally, I use magical firearms, attacking with all kinds of enchanted ammunition,” Raven said.

“Is that so? That’s an expensive method,” Warrenheit remarked with mild surprise. The First Armored Division’s soldiers were equipped with enchanted rounds too, though in limited supply. But he soon let it go—Raven was just one man, no matter how he used them, the consumption would be limited.

“You can rest assured. For this assignment, Mr. Spielberg has provided me with a large stock of ammunition free of charge, and promised that all my expenses for the thirty days will be covered as long as the mission is completed.”

“My old friend is truly generous,” Warrenheit mused. Of course, he knew why Spielberg was so generous; under the parliamentary protection system, other parliamentarians had begun to act, and this bounty hunter named Raven was sent by Aries. Whether he was really as formidable as claimed remained to be seen, for Aries had boldly promised to reimburse all his expenses.

“Very well. From today, you may stay here. I’ll notify you when I need to travel,” Warrenheit said, recalling that Raven was protected by Aries and had, during the contest for Rochester’s legacy treasure (see my earlier work, ‘The Treasure of the Great Enemy’), defeated an Observer.

He truly seemed to possess some skill, Warrenheit thought. If he really was this capable, perhaps he could be used for other tasks.

Raven withdrew slowly, guided by the Prime Minister’s staff to the guest rooms. Only after Raven had vanished did Warrenheit coldly beckon, instructing his two subordinates, “If you get the chance, test whether this man truly has some skill.”

“No problem. We’ll see for ourselves whether he’s more formidable than those sharpshooters in the Army Special Forces.”