Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Claudia was completely bewildered.

Lin Gui, too, felt a little puzzled by the hostage who had suddenly "reminded" him.

This little sprite... why is it helping the enemy?

However, regarding the fact that he was being watched by elven warriors from behind.

Lin Gui wasn't surprised.

He possesses soul magic, and his body is filled with the flow of soul power.

Although it was impossible to clearly perceive those ordinary spirits with weak soul power.

However, for several warriors whose soul power was exceptionally concentrated and who were clearly elite warriors in life.

Their presence is like a torch in the darkness, clearly visible.

Lin Gui didn't turn around, but he had already "seen" their location.

But he did not move his gaze.

Because it's right across from us.

The most powerful and beautiful elven woman was watching his every move intently.

Her steps were unsteady, but her body moved forward slowly and imperceptibly.

Whenever Lin Gui's gaze shifted slightly, she would silently move a few steps closer.

The intention couldn't be clearer.

[Ding! Mail received +1]

[Ding! Mail received +1]

In my mind, system notifications kept ringing out.

Lin Gui made a grasping motion with his right hand, and the oak staff silently floated behind him.

He used his left little finger to very lightly hook it to his side.

Eve tugged at the hem of her skirt as she read out all the names on the list.

Eve's eyes flickered slightly, and she naturally moved closer to him.

He casually slipped the stack of names in his hand into his sleeve.

This subtle interaction did not escape the notice of the elven warriors who were keeping a close eye on them.

They couldn't hide it from them either.

Arya.

Her pupils suddenly contracted.

The soul instantly tensed up, like a fully drawn bow.

Should we escape?

Arya's sense of unease grew stronger.

Is this human really here to hunt elves?

However, his "hunting" process was so full of loopholes that it resembled a farce.

He seems to want to run away before he's even caught his "prey"?

What made her even more uneasy was...

Amidst the angry clamor of their fellow tribesmen, some... had somehow infiltrated...

Strange noises.

"This...this handwriting..."

"Impossible...this is my sister's handwriting!"

"Wait, the code mentioned in this letter... is only known to him and me?"

Arya suddenly turned her head.

On the letter floating before the elves, the familiar elven script was faintly glowing.

Those of their own kind, who had been filled with anger, now stared wide-eyed.

His face was a mixture of astonishment, confusion, and a hint of...

Unbelievable excitement.

They stared intently at the letter, their souls trembling slightly.

It was as if I saw something that should never have been there.

Arya's heart sank suddenly.

Not right.

Something's really wrong.

One of the elves stared intently at the letter, his voice trembling:

"Impossible... My sister was in Blackwater City at the time! That's the front line of the Black Tide!"

"How could she possibly... still be alive and sending a letter?!"

The elf next to him whispered:

"Could it be... that she, like us, has become... a spirit?"

Another elf murmured the sentences from the letter:

"...This black-haired mage is merely a messenger and will not harm anyone. Please do not make things difficult for him..."

He also said... he hoped we would put aside our hatred and look at the sincerity in the letter...

"This...this really sounds like my uncle's tone..."

"nonsense!"

A tall elven warrior abruptly interrupted, his voice filled with rage:

"How could humans possibly help elves?!"

"They are greedy! Evil! They would even betray their own family for gold!"

"Why would someone risk crossing the wilderness just to deliver a few letters?!"

"Why should I?!"

Lin Gui, standing to the side, surprisingly nodded in deep agreement:

"Yes, that's right."

All the elves turned to look at him.

Lin Gui added earnestly:

"Humans are indeed quite evil; their inner desires are unfathomable."

"For money, for women, for power..."

"Killing one's father and brother is not uncommon."

He paused, as if giving an example:

"Like a human princess I know."

"She would love for all her brothers and sisters to die."

The elves: "..."

Their expressions shifted from anger to bewilderment, and then from bewilderment to a deep sense of confusion.

Is this human... helping them to criticize humanity itself?

Lin Gui seemed to realize the awkward atmosphere, coughed lightly, and straightened his face:

"Ahem! Anyway—those letters were all fake! I made them all up!"

"You'd better finish reading this now and obediently become my slaves!"

"Can we expedite the process?"

One of the elves couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"But you clearly don't understand Elvish... how are you going to make this up?"

Lin Gui choked.

His lips twitched, and finally he waved his hand in a resigned manner:

"Just pretend I know how! Okay?!"

"Hurry up and look at it! Sign for it after you've finished!"

"I'm in a hurry!"

The air was silent for two seconds.

When the delivery notification suddenly stopped, Lin Gui immediately waved the wooden stick in his hand and hugged Claudia in his arms even tighter.

He tried to make his facial expression look more "ferocious," and deliberately lowered his voice to a hoarse tone:

"Don't be fooled by the sweet talk in the letter!"

"Believe in the facts before your eyes!"

"I am a very, very bad human being."

"The little elves who kidnapped you are now extorting you!"

He paused, then noticed the elves' attention was wandering, and quickly raised his voice:

"So now! Watch it now! Watch it all now!"

"After reading that...yes, the slave contract!"

"I'm busy! I don't have time to waste here with you guys!"

As he spoke, he quickly glanced at the elves who hadn't yet read the letter.

The elves, startled by his shout, instinctively shrank back and looked back at the letter.

But many more people looked up at him with increasingly strange expressions.

The anger was still there in his eyes, but it had been mixed with an overwhelming, unyielding...

Puzzled.

"Um... are you... leaving?"

"In my arms," ​​Claudia whispered.

Lin Gui lowered his head and met those innocent, large eyes.

He glanced up again at Arya, who was staring intently at him.

"right."

He kept his voice very low.

"We'll head to Shadowmoon City later."

"Go deliver the letter?"

Claudia pressed for an answer in a low voice.

Lin Gui was stunned for a moment.

How did you know?

"My father mentioned you in his letter."

"……oh."

Lin Gui understood.

No wonder the little guy reminded him earlier.

"Thank you for reminding me."

His tone was flat.

"But don't just trust a letter that might be forged."

"Especially this letter... it even passed through a human's hands."

Claudia tilted her head back and asked again:

"So... are you a bad person?"

Lin Gui nodded without hesitation.

"yes."

"The really bad kind."

Claudia blinked and whispered:

"Um... you were hugging me a little too tightly just now."

"Could you... loosen it a little?"

Lin Gui paused.

Then, the tension in my arm really did loosen up a bit.

Claudia gripped Lin Gui's wrist, her expression becoming even more bizarre.

...I'm really relieved.

She hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked:

"Um... I really need to pee, is that okay...?"

Lin Gui lowered his head speechlessly, looking at the pale blue, transparent little sprite in his arms.

"You've become a ghost, and you still have this kind of need?"

He did not expose the clumsy attempt.

I only glanced at the near-achieved acceptance rate in my mind.

"Just bear with it for a while."

"It will be over soon."

The delivery confirmation beeped again and again.

Lin Gui no longer concealed himself, and the oak staff behind him hovered steadily.

He turned to the side, gesturing for Eve to sit down.

Just then.

After a moment of hesitation, Claudia suddenly squeezed out a sentence in a low and hurried voice:

"Can...you really kidnap me?"

Lin Gui: "????"

Why?

"I saw the advertisement outside your post office...you'll be returning to Blackwater City later."

Claudia's voice was soft, yet clear.

"I want you to take me with you."

"I miss my father very much."

Lin Gui's first reaction was to refuse.

Reuniting lost relatives is indeed more meaningful than simply sending a letter.

but.

He has too many "guests".

Perhaps it's still possible to lead one or two civilians across the wilderness.

Just like that young lady who brought the New Testament City back then.

One hundred? One thousand?

Most of them are ordinary souls who cannot hide their characteristics and have not been trained.

Migrate through the demon-infested wilderness with this number?

Even titled experts wouldn't dare to make a guarantee.

Moreover, if we make an exception and bring one person along, what about the other souls who also yearn for reunion?

unfair.

Seemingly sensing Lin Gui's concerns, Claudia quickly added:

"I can shrink inside a glass bead!"

"You can put me in your pocket; I won't take up much space."

"Besides... I also helped you by being a 'hostage' for a time."

"In return... could you grant me this small request?"

Lin Gui's lips twitched slightly.

Claudia added quietly:

"And...you don't want to go after Shadowmoon City."

"Shall we kidnap the elves again and force the letter onto them?"

Lin Gui paused.

He lowered his head and carefully examined the little sprite in his arms.

The little guy I "kidnapped" at random...

It doesn't seem that simple.

He squinted:

"I can disguise myself as an elf."

He said in a low voice.

Claudia looked up and carefully examined his face.

Then, he shook his head very seriously.

"No, you can't do it."

Lin Gui raised an eyebrow.

"Why? Just put on long ears, won't that solve the problem?"

"Even with an ear implant, it won't work."

Clotina spoke calmly, as if stating an objective fact.

"Because you're too ugly."

Lin Gui: "…………"

"Among male elves, there is none as ugly as you."

Lin Gui: "……………………"

"Pfft!"

Eve, who had been quietly listening to the commotion, finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Claudia remained calm and continued her analysis:

"Even if some of my people are truly blind and think, 'It's possible for such ugly elves to exist...'"

"But the elves' language, habits, common sense, and details known only to their own kind."

"Any of these could expose you."

"If I were here, I could help you cover these up."

"As long as you... take me to Blackwater City."

It must be said that Clotina's suggestion was very practical.

But Lin Gui didn't want to break the rules he had set for himself.

I don't want to actually be the villain who "kidnaps the elves".

He took a deep breath, preparing to refuse.

Suddenly, the system's voice rang out in his mind:

[Host, could you please help me?]

Lin Gui remained expressionless, replying in his mind:

"I don't want to break the rules."

You can break it quietly, just don't let anyone see.

"This is unfair to others."

So you have to do it secretly.

The system's tone even carried a hint of mischief.

[Just like when you secretly opened a customer's mail and saw compliments, feeling secretly pleased with yourself.]

Lin Gui almost lost his composure.

"Who's feeling good about it?!"

He silently held his forehead.

"There's no room for discussion on this—"

"Unless you give me a commission."

The system was silent for a few seconds.

Just when Lin Gui thought it had given up—

【Ding! 】

[Special commission has been triggered.]

[Content: Safely escort Claudia Ronald Woodlock...Shadow to Blackwater.]

[Route: Deep Forest Outpost → Shadowmoon City → Dark Forest → Mirror City → Valley Town → High Wall Town → Silverflow Town → Blackwater City.]

[Time limit: 30 calendar days.]

[Reward: 1 random Mysterious Potion]

Lin Gui: "...?"

Did it actually trigger a commission?

The system's voice rang in my mind.

[So, is it okay now?]

Lin Gui showed no joy on his face.

Instead, he frowned slightly and asked himself:

"What exactly is the premise for triggering this delegate?"

He had tried to trigger it manually before.

Whether it's the half-demon dwarf in the underworld or Eve's wish.

They all failed.

But some unintentional actions...

For example, while delivering a letter, or helping out casually.

Instead, it might trigger a mission unexpectedly.

The more Lin Gui thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong.

"Could there be a trap here?"

You can choose not to accept.

The system's tone sounded "innocent."

There's no penalty for refusing.

Lin Gui rolled his eyes.

"I accepted it."

He paused, then added:

"However... it's a bit troublesome."

Because that means...

What was originally a staged kidnapping is now turning into a real one.

But the elven warrior named Arya had clearly noticed something was wrong.

She must have overheard parts of her conversation with Clotina.

and……

Lin Gui's Netherworld Eyes can "see".

In the few seconds that he was talking to the system.

Arya's spirit is approaching this place at an alarming speed!

Lin Gui straddled the staff.

The acceptance rate in my mind is approaching 70%.

It's almost done.

Just as he was about to unleash the full power of his levitation technique.

Arya's voice suddenly rang out directly in his mind.

It is a transmission of the soul.

"My warriors have blocked all escape routes."

"Flying is not difficult for the soul."

"You can't escape."

Lin Gui twitched the corner of his mouth, about to say, "Then let's give it a try."

result.

Arya then said:

"If you want to take Clotina with you, that's fine."

"But you have to take me with you."

Lin Gui: "???"

He almost thought he had misheard.

"I will persuade the soldiers at the forest outpost to let you leave."

After speaking, Aria turned her face away without waiting for Lin Gui's response.

She spoke quickly and clearly in Elvish.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Lin Gui couldn't understand the content, but he could see it.

The several ghostly figures that had been lurking on the roof, behind the windows, and in the corners of the walls gradually revealed themselves.

They emerged from various treacherous locations, their faces filled with confusion and bewilderment.

But they still gathered around Arya as instructed.

Arya unfolded the letter she held, pointed to a few lines, and whispered a few words.

Several soldiers leaned closer to take a closer look, their expressions gradually changing from tense to complicated.

They exchanged glances, finally looking at Lin Gui.

There was scrutiny, vigilance, and a hint of... in that gaze.

An indescribable compromise.

Then, they silently retreated to both sides.

They cleared a path leading to the doorway.