In the Ice Moon Underground Palace, the meeting was still underway.
Eve spoke again, drawing Trelina's scattered thoughts back into focus.
Eve announced, "The Ice Moon Royal Family and the Solar Dynasty have reached an accord—officially declaring a cessation of hostilities. There are three critical matters we must discuss: first, our perspective on the Adventurer's Association at Crimson Lake; second, the enigma surrounding the disappearance of Moon Tide; and third, the ownership of the forthcoming supernatural Trial Crystal."
It was only then that the meeting truly commenced.
The assembly engaged in fervent discussions, sharing the information at their disposal, though it remained uncertain whether all had been divulged.
"Commander Eve." called out a white-bearded elder.
Eve turned her attention to him and replied, "Lord Feuerman, please feel free to express your concerns."
A hush fell over the others.
Only then did Feuerman articulate his perspective: "I believe the disappearance of Moon Tide is likely linked to the individuals from the Adventurer's Association. I have investigated the precise timing of Moon Tide's vanishing, and it coincided with their arrival. This cannot be mere coincidenc. There must be an undeniable connection."
"I concur with Lord Feuerman!"
Someone exclaimed immediately.
"I too agree." Trelina interjected suddenly. She continued, "I can add a confidential revelation. The manifestation of Moon Tide is a result of spatial overlap. My father once ventured into the mists of Moon Tide.By fortune, he emerged again with significant discoveries. Before attending this meeting, he informed me that those ensnared by Moon Tide do not die. They merely vanish from sight."
This revelation sent shockwaves through the assembly.
The emergence of the Moon Tide was astonishingly attributed to spatial overlap. However, it begged the question why had no one uncovered this mystery over the years?
Yet, upon reflection, it aligned seamlessly with the patterns associated with the Moon Tide's occurrence.
Feuerman continued, "Thus, we can reasonably conjecture that those individuals were consumed by the Moon Tide and subsequently transported to another realm, rendering them unable to escape. Previously, a disturbance at Blood Shadow Canyon near Crimson Lake revived a Blood Puppet, similarly ushering individuals into an alternate space. These two realms are likely one and the same.
The appearance of those individuals is thus easily explicable; someone must have resolved the Moon Tide and liberated them, concurrently causing the Moon Tide in Dark Night Forest to dissipate."
The crowd nodded in agreement.
This hypothesis was impeccably coherent.
Eve concurred, stating, "If that is the case, we need only to deliberate on how to address the newly surfaced Adventurer's Association."
The assembly nodded once more, though their expressions betrayed their unease.
Originally, Crimson Lake was a chaotic zone, where the contending factions posed no significant threat to external powers. However, with the emergence of the Adventurer's Association, these factions have been consolidated, forming a formidable threat to others.
Moreover, the situation was even graver.
The Adventurer's Association does not comprise individuals averse to conflict; they are bound to incite turmoil, thrusting the Dark Night Forest into chaos.
With this thought, someone rose to their feet.
The individual proposed, "Commander Eve, Princess Trelina, I believe we should form a united coalition to eradicate the Adventurer's Association."
"Indeed, they must be eliminated!"
"I stand in support!"
"But how shall we allocate the members of the coalition? What number of individuals should each faction contribute?"
"..."
A chorus of voices rose in protest, with some raising questions about potential issues, causing the meeting to devolve into chaos. Eve, compelled to restore order, gently rapped the table to signal for silence.
At that moment, Feuerman stood once more.
He shook his head and stated, "To recklessly declare war on the Adventurer's Association is far from prudent. I propose we send a representative to engage in dialogue with them first, to glean some insight before making a decision."
"Who should we send?" someone inquired.
This question was not easily answered.
Although the Adventurer's Association was a relatively new entity, its power was formidable, particularly in terms of the number of elite members, rivaling that of the most powerful royal families.
It was imperative to select an envoy of sufficient standing who also possessed considerable strength. Otherwise, there was a high risk that the Adventurer's Association might view the approach as a slight, leading to unnecessary misunderstandings.
Yet, the assembly knew nothing of the Adventurer's Association.
A diplomatic mission bore considerable danger.
As silence enveloped the room, Eve sighed inwardly and resolved to undertake the task herself. She said,"The matter of communicating with the Adventurer's Association will be managed by the Ice Moon Royal Family. I shall personally journey to Crimson Lake."
With that, she continued, "As for the first two matters, we have reached some conclusions. Now, regarding the third issue: the supernatural Trial Crystal must belong to the Ice Moon Royal Family!"
Her declaration sparked discontent among the others.
Trelina retorted, "Commander Eve, do you not think the Ice Moon Royal Family harbors excessive ambition? The last supernatural Trial Crystal was claimed by your family. Surely, this time it is the Solar Dynasty's turn!"
"Hold on a moment." Another voice emerged, that of a corpulent man who spoke with unwavering confidence: "The supernatural Trial Crystal is something my Blue River Royal Family equally requires."
Feuerman chimed in, "My Thorn Valley Gathering Place has the same need."
Others joined in, echoing the sentiment.
Their chorus was singular: everyone desired the supernatural Trial Crystal.
This outcome was anticipated by all.
Those who possess the supernatural Trial Crystal gain entry into the supernatural trials, a test that bears the weight of their entire clan's destiny. Even the slightest gain could significantly bolster their collective strength.
Atop Star Peak, the highest summit of the Dark Night Forest, a supernatural Trial Crystal materializes every five years.
Yet, the reason behind its appearance remains shrouded in mystery; some speculate it to be a divine gift. Undeniably, it is a genuine treasure.
This year, a supernatural Trial Crystal has indeed emerged.
For any faction, this is an object of fierce contention, yet the toll of conflict is often too great for many to bear.
Thus, this gathering was convened.
The debate grew increasingly heated, and some even proclaimed that another war would be worth the risk, causing many faces to pale.
Eve felt compelled to once again take the helm of the meeting.
Her gaze swept over the assembly as she declared with formidable authority, "This time, only the royal family is entitled to contest for the supernatural Trial Crystal. Should others wish to join the fray, they may have a go at the Ice Moon Royal Family's Shadow Corps!"
Trelina echoed, "My Solar Dynasty stands firm on this as well."
It was abundantly clear that certain individuals were being deliberately excluded.
The royal families naturally had no objections, while other factions, despite their grievances, dared not voice them openly. They could grumble among themselves, yet when it came to taking action, fear held them back.
Consequently, members of the lesser factions opted to discreetly withdraw midway, leaving the assembly notably diminished. At that moment, Trelina inquired, "Commander Eve, please share your thoughts. Inciting war for a mere contest seems rather unreasonable."
Eve smiled and replied, "Let us hold a tournament!"
She elaborated, "Each royal family shall send forth a representative under the age of thirty to compete in a designated arena; the winning royal family will claim ownership of the supernatural Trial Crystal."
This proposal garnered little dissent.
Among the prominent royal families, there was no shortage of prodigies, and they held considerable confidence in their own champions.
In unison, they agreed, "Let us proceed with this plan."
Once the fundamental rules of the tournament were established, the assembly dispersed. Trelina was the last to leave. She deliberately slowed her pace until Eve approached her side, at which point she queried, "Commander Eve, when you revealed the truth of Commander Theodore's demise, it seemed you concealed certain details."
Eve's expression shifted slightly, and she replied earnestly, "That indeed reflects the truth of events. As for what I withheld, it concerns my personal matters."
Trelina pressed on, "Personal matters? What transpired between you and Theodore's killer?"
Eve felt a jolt of alarm at Trelina's astute intuition, her wariness heightened. She refrained from further comment and hastily departed the palace, returning to her residence within the Ice Moon Royal Family.Yet throughout the journey back, Eve's heart was anything but tranquil. Vivid images flooded her mind—Enzo's brutal treatment of her, the scenes of him unleashing his desires upon her form.
These haunting memories drove Eve to the brink of madness.
She let out a primal roar, then pounded the ground in a frenzy, seeking to regain her composure.
After what felt like an eternity, calmness finally washed over her.
Her eyes gleamed with a fierce intent as she murmured, "I will find you and repay every ounce of humiliation I have suffered, tenfold!"
With that vow, Eve made her way to the deepest reaches of the Ice Moon Royal Family's territory—the Ice Moon Fortress.
Standing at the fortress entrance, she declared, "My Queen, I intend to venture to Crimson Lake to investigate the situation with the Adventurer's Association."
Moments later, a voice echoed from within the fortress, "Proceed."
Accompanying this was a caution: "Eve, regardless of the outcome, do not concern yourself excessively with the Adventurer's Association. Our foremost priority is to acquire the supernatural Trial Crystal. That is the Ice Moon Royal Family's only chance."
Eve responded promptly, "My Queen, the supernatural Trial Crystal shall be the Ice Moon Royal Family's."
This time, silence reigned.
Taking a deep breath, Eve departed from the Ice Moon Fortress, opting to journey to Crimson Lake alone, without her personal entourage.
Upon activating the spatial portal and arriving near Crimson Lake, she prepared to enter but was intercepted.
"Who goes there?"
The figure blocking her path inquired.
Eve raised her gaze and glimpsed the crimson hue blazing in the eyes of her obstructer.