Becoming a god starts with enhancing fire arrows.

The two made their way as the sun rose.

Perhaps out of boredom or a desire to share her thoughts, Avira struck up a conversation with Rhodes along the way.

"You humans are really strange; you're always surrounded by betrayal and conspiracy."

"If you ask me, we should let a strong person like Vanessa lead Phil Town, just like that... that chairman whose name I forgot back then."

"I've discovered something quite unique about you humans."

She hesitated for a moment, then decided to use goblins as an example:

"Even a race like goblins, which are filthy, vile, cruel, and stupid and should be completely exterminated, still believe in the principle that the strong are supreme."

"But you humans are different from most other races."

"You can accept being led by someone weaker than yourself."

"I have traveled to your human capital city..."

"Wait," Rhodes suddenly interrupted, "You've been to the main city? Which one?"

He knew that the main city Elvira mentioned was one of the three giant cities currently under human control, all belonging to the Kingdom of Lorthemar. It was a gathering place for human nobles and some of the continent's most powerful human warriors.

It also possesses fertile land, a vast territory, a powerful army, and state-of-the-art magical research facilities.

"I went to Adso's main city. Of course, when I went there, your race was still favored by the gods, and it was not yet known as one of the three major human cities."

"It's just that after being abandoned by the gods, more and more humans began to gather there, and eventually it became known as one of the three major cities of humanity."

Rhodes nodded, signaling her to continue.

According to the original owner's memories, he didn't know much about the Adso main city, since the Gilbert family belonged to the Nacala main city.

"Back in Adso, I discovered that some so-called nobles were only at the apprentice level or were just ordinary people, but they often had a large number of knights or adventurers who supported them."

"Don't you think this is absurd? Although we elves sometimes determine our status according to bloodline, elves with pure bloodlines often have more outstanding talents and abilities, and in essence, we still obey the strong."

"But you are not like that."

Rhodes gazed into the elf's golden, slightly seductive eyes and fell into deep thought.

"I think it depends on the aristocratic system."

"They upheld the system of hereditary titles, forming one large family after another; these families, in turn, adhered to the tradition of succession by the eldest son, passing the titles down from generation to generation."

"There are not many people with strength and talent to begin with, and once they inherit a title, they will face all kinds of social, management and kingdom affairs, so there will be no time to practice martial arts or learn magic."

"And those knights and adventurers are more like loyalists to a certain identity or status."

After a moment's thought, Avira said, "I think these systems are very unreasonable."

Rhodes smiled and didn't refute.

Debating these systems in the current context is pointless.

He continued to answer Avira's other question: "As for your statement that the human race is always surrounded by betrayal and conspiracy, that's a bit racist."

"Betrayal and conspiracy exist in every race, don't they?"

To be precise, Rhodes added, "At least that's how it is among the races on this continent."

"Is it possible that, given your status, you grew up in a pampered environment, and therefore don't have a deep understanding of these things?"

"To give you the simplest example, aren't the drow a betrayal of the elves?"

"Hmm..." Avira fell silent.

Rhodes had expected her to be angry at his words, given her proud nature, but to his surprise, she was thinking about them seriously.

"Perhaps you are right, Rhodes."

Avira seemed to be reminded of the past, and murmured, "The elves aren't as wonderful as I imagined."

......

jungle.

Vanessa stood upright, leaning against a tree, her eyes closed as she rested.

Krud was whispering something to a lark perched on his shoulder.

Krud smiled, held the lark in his hands, and lifted it high.

The lark flapped its wings and flew into the sky.

"How is it?"

Vanessa suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze sharp, and stared straight at Krud.

"Lady Vanessa, we've shaken off our pursuers. Rhodes and his mysterious henchmen are also out of danger, but they're much slower than us. My animal companions haven't detected any trace of Kelda and the others yet, so I'll continue my investigation."

"Hmm." Vanessa spoke quickly, almost immediately after Krud finished speaking, "Which way did Rhodes and the others leave from?"

"It should be to the northeast. It looks like they want to take the mountain road over there and circle back to Phil town from the south."

"How are you recovering?"

"Not bad, Lady Vanessa, your potion is very effective."

"it is good."

Seeing that Vanessa had stopped asking questions at a rapid pace, Krud breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Being with Lady Vanessa is indeed a bit of a torment.

After a moment, Vanessa suddenly spoke, her voice steady:

"Krud, to whom do you truly serve?"

Krud didn't quite understand why Lady Vanessa suddenly asked this question, but he could feel the heavy pressure in her gaze.

Like a new recruit in training, he hurriedly stood up and answered loudly, "I pledge my allegiance to the Adventurers' Guild, to the town of Phil, and to the Kingdom of Lortherma."

Krud noticed Vanessa's gaze lingering on his face, as if she were observing and scrutinizing him.

After a moment, Vanessa finished her scrutiny and continued, "As a member of the council, what would you do if my orders conflicted with the orders of the administrators of Phil Town?"

this...

These words sent a chill down Krud's spine.

He thought for a moment and decided to follow his heart: "I will follow President Raymond's example and make decisions for the sake of the town and its residents."

"Very good, although it's a bit immature, it still satisfies me." Vanessa stood up and came to Krud.

She was a little taller than an adult male, but still half a head shorter than the muscular Krud.

Even so, Krud still felt an overwhelming sense of pressure, and thus tried his best to maintain a straight posture.

"Go find two horses, and we'll head north."

"What?!" Krud exclaimed in surprise, he hesitated for a long time before finally asking weakly, "We're not going back to Phil Town?"

As he spoke, he met Vanessa's sharp, eagle-like gaze, and his heart skipped a beat.

"To High Bay City," Vanessa said succinctly.

High Bay City is the closest human city to Phil Town, but even so, it is still quite a long journey from Phil Town.

Why go directly to Gaowan City?

Is it the hidden command mentioned above?

"But this..." Krud was about to say something, but was immediately interrupted.

"Obey orders, adventurers!"

"I'll explain the reason to you on the way."

"yes!"