"It was all a misunderstanding! We acted rashly and misunderstood you. That was our mistake!" Elf Elder Amos explained in a low voice. "We are willing to offer sufficient compensation!"

As Elf Elder Amos said this, his face was wreathed in smiles, his tone obsequious. He was terrified of saying the wrong thing and angering this group of well-armed, mysterious Elves who had suddenly appeared outside his tribe. After all, when they had tried to resist earlier, they had already experienced the might of this Elf Corps. If this Elf Corps hadn’t gone easy on them, they would have had almost no chance to fight back.

"We don’t need your compensation," Elf Corps Commander Feiyana stated. "We are here on the orders of the great Elf God, the God of Nature, to rescue our fellow Elves who are living in dire straits!"

Hearing these words from Feiyana, the expression on Elf Elder Amos’s face changed, his previous assumptions completely overturned. With the intimidating presence of the Moon Elves from the Main City, not a single Elf would dare to say they believed in the great Elf God in front of another person within the Moonlight Forest, let alone in front of so many people. Now, they had all changed their tune, telling everyone they met that they believed in the great Moon God.

But he was now facing Elf Corps Commander Feiyana’s stern expression, and her words could cost him his head. No matter how bitter Amos felt or how much he feared for his life, he had to give a trembling response.

"N-no... that’s not it... We don’t believe in the Elf God, we believe in the great Moon God!"

Although this well-armed Elf Corps said they were not from the Main City of the Moon Elves, if they weren’t, then where were they from? They couldn’t possibly be from the great Elf God, could they?

Elf Corps Commander Feiyana heard Elf Elder Amos’s words but didn’t respond, merely staring at him.

This small Elf tribe was the very target Feiyana had chosen. Acting on intelligence gathered by Elf Scouts, she had conducted days of surveillance, carefully vetting the location before finally settling on it. According to the scouts, it was certain that this small tribe still secretly believed in the great Elf God; they only feigned belief in the Moon God. Moreover, among the Elf tribes in this area, this one, while seemingly insignificant, was actually the main connection point. The surrounding small Elf tribes all maintained good relations with it. As long as they could win over this small Elf tribe, and by extension the other small tribes in the area, everything that followed would become much easier.

"Corps Commander, we found this in their tribe!" a Wood Elf Warrior announced, stepping forward with a scroll. Written on it in the common Elven script was a decree from the Moon Elves of the Main City.

The scroll read:

"All Elf Tribes must believe in the great Moon God, and every autumn, they must offer up a sufficient amount of Stones of Faith! If the offered Stones of Faith are insufficient, or if the Stones of Faith coalesced in the Holy Grail are impure and still tainted with belief in the Elf God, your Elf Tribe will be sent to the front lines to battle the Beastmen next spring!

"Signed: Sukaman of the Moon Elf Royal Family!"

Seeing that this was what they had found, Elf Elder Amos breathed a sigh of relief. "You see, we have not betrayed the great Moon God. We have followed your instructions and believed in the great Moon God!" he argued in a low voice.

But Elf Corps Commander Feiyana remained motionless. She knew there was still something else they hadn’t found.

"Corps Commander, we found this! A torn-up portrait of the Moon God from the Main City!"

At this, Feiyana’s eyes lit up. She took the torn, nearly ruined portrait from the Elf Warrior’s hands and asked, "How do you explain this?"

When Elf Elder Amos saw what had been found, he panicked, sweat dripping from his cheeks. Just as he was growing anxious, another warrior called out, "Corps Commander, we also found this in the largest room!"

Elf Elder Amos, already anxious and pale, was utterly terrified when he saw the letter the Elf Warrior now held.

"N-no... it’s not like that..." Amos stammered, whimpering. "This letter... it’s... it’s evidence we seized! It documents how other small Elf tribes have been secretly worshiping the great Elf God!"

As he said this, he was drenched in sweat, his hands flailing, yet he dared not take a single step closer. "We... we’re truly loyal subjects!"

After saying this last sentence, Elf Elder Amos seemed to give up struggling. He slumped to the ground, covered his face, and began to weep.

Elf Corps Commander Feiyana took the letter from the Elf Warrior, opened it, and read its contents.

"Respected Elf Elder Amos, since we cannot provide the Stones of Faith required by the Moon Elves of the Main City, we have decided to accept our fate! We are preparing to secretly organize a group within the spring suicide squad to start a rebellion. We will need internal support and wonder if the respected Elf Elder Amos would be able to support our actions. If so, we hope to meet and discuss this in detail! 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Signed: Elf Elder Samika."

After reading the contents, Feiyana handed the letter back to Elf Elder Amos.

Amos wasn’t crying for his own fate, but out of self-blame for having endangered another group of Elves. He was afraid that this group of Elves would use the discovered letter to implicate the other small tribes. So, when he saw Elf Corps Commander Feiyana return the letter to him, he was completely bewildered. Aren’t I supposed to be executed?

"I told you, we are not a troop from the Main City of the Moon Elves!"

"Really?" Elf Elder Amos voiced his deepest doubt.

"Really!" Feiyana’s reply was filled with conviction. "Our Elf High Priest Shamiel wishes to meet with you. What are your thoughts?"

Seeing that Elf Corps Commander Feiyana’s words seemed sincere and not a trick, Amos quickly stood up, wiping his face. He then responded with deference, "It would be my honor! When might we meet?"

"Now!" Feiyana replied.