"I feel like Mengyao's appearance here doesn't seem to be an accident." Listening to the conversation between Xi Mengyao and Songstress, Leticia touched her chin thoughtfully.
Obviously, Xi Mengyao had been lured to this place and then attacked by that assailant.
An accident—perhaps Leticia would have thought this was an accident before, but now she felt this was definitely not an accident.
Going even bolder, Leticia even speculated that this attack actually wasn't targeting Lin Qingyu, but Xi Mengyao.
"But why is Senior Zi here?" Over there, Xi Mengyao had already explained the whole story to Songstress.
"Little Xi also knows I used to be a hero, right?" Songstress asked.
Xi Mengyao nodded. "Of course I know. Everyone at the agency knows Senior Zi used to be a great hero."
"The day you were attacked, she happened to be with us, so she came along." Bai Ling supplemented from the side. "Moreover, the inside story of this matter is related to the elven race, so it's best not to involve ordinary people."
The only non-ordinary person in Songstress's agency was Songstress herself, a former hero, so her appearance here was very normal.
"The elven race?" Xi Mengyao was stunned. She had just recently filmed a movie about the elven race, and now being attacked was also related to the elven race. Could it be because the movie she filmed portrayed the Elven Empress as a big villain?
But that wasn't right either. She was just a small actress—if the elven race wanted revenge, they should go after the scriptwriter or director, not her, a small actress.
It's not like killing her would stop the movie from being released.
"Probably some small group of extremists from the elven race. They hate it most when others make up stories about the elven race. Your movie had humans and the elven princess working together to kill the empress, which probably made them angry." Leticia began talking nonsense with a straight face.
She couldn't very well tell Xi Mengyao that she was just a big victim, and they didn't know why she got dragged into this either.
"But most Elves are still friendly. Later, Elves will come to detoxify you, so just rest peacefully in bed." After frightening her, Leticia offered a small comfort to Xi Mengyao. "Surnamed Bai, let's go find Lin Qingyu."
Staying here was useless—just staring at Xi Mengyao?
The elven race still needed some time to get here. Before then, Leticia felt she could still have a few words with Lin Qingyu.
After speculating that Lin Qingyu was Evangelyne, Leticia had become interested in this Half-Elf girl. Although she kept saying this poor empress was just a mascot, Leticia actually quite sympathized with Evangelyne.
She was now thinking about how to send Evangelyne back to the elven race, then act as a behind-the-scenes manipulator, guiding Evangelyne to overthrow the Council of Elders and make this empress become a true empress.
Of course, a true empress under Leticia's control.
Although she hadn't thought about conquering the elven race as her own territory, Leticia was quite keen on making the elven race completely lose its threat to the demon race.
And this required confirming whether Lin Qingyu was really Evangelyne.
"Little Yu's complexion seems a bit worse after a few days." In the spacious and bright large room, Leticia met with Lin Qingyu, whose face was full of worry.
Lin Qingyu wore a simple dress, looking somewhat haggard, with two thick dark circles under her originally fairly pretty eyes, destroying her already not very attractive appearance.
"Is that young lady feeling better?" Lin Qingyu didn't answer Leticia's words but asked about Xi Mengyao's condition.
"She's already awake. Elven poison really does need the elven race to solve it." Leticia smiled at Lin Qingyu. "They'll come to meet with you soon, so prepare yourself."
"Mm." Lin Qingyu lowered her head in response.
There didn't seem to be any special reaction. Leticia was a bit disappointed.
"It's all because of me that young lady was poisoned." Lin Qingyu whispered to herself. She seemed to be convincing herself, yet also defending herself. "If just meeting them once can save her, I don't mind."
"But you can't really call this 'not minding.'" Leticia patted Lin Qingyu's shoulder. This girl's current behavior undoubtedly showed that she did mind. "Trust that surnamed Bai—she won't abandon you."
"Can't I trust Miss Qianqian?"
"You'd better not trust me. I'm different from her." Leticia snorted. "She's a good person, I'm a bad person. Without sufficient benefits, I won't protect you."
But as long as there were sufficient benefits, then you, Lin Qingyu, would be Leticia's sister from a different father and mother!
"If it were me, I'd definitely throw you directly to the elven race to save myself the trouble."
"Pft, Miss Qianqian is still as indirect as always." Leticia's words made Lin Qingyu laugh.
Although she spoke harshly, in reality, hadn't Leticia come to this dangerous place to see her?
Moreover, she seemed to be comforting her just now, telling her not to worry too much.
'If it were me, I'd definitely throw you directly to the elven race'—interpreted differently, didn't this mean Bai Ling wouldn't throw her to the elven race?
Miss Qianqian knew she was overthinking now, so she was giving her reassurance in a roundabout way. It was really quite touching.
Honestly, Lin Qingyu wasn't that trusting of Bai Ling, because she didn't believe there could be such a good person in the world who would spend so much effort on a useless Half-Elf.
Such saints couldn't exist.
And Leticia seemed much more real. She didn't hide her dissatisfaction with Lin Qingyu, this burden, and had repeatedly threatened to throw Lin Qingyu to the elven race.
At first, Lin Qingyu was indeed startled by Leticia's words, but now when she heard such things, she felt quite reassured, because she knew that when Leticia said such things, she would absolutely never hand her over to the elven race.
This was a tsundere's professional integrity.
"Indirect... where am I indirect? I tell you, if it weren't for that surnamed Bai stopping me, believe it or not, I'd throw you directly back to the elven forests!" Leticia was so angry her hair stood up. This Lin Qingyu was too annoying.
She changed her mind—even if this person was Evangelyne, she'd make sure this person suffered properly first.
"Calm down, calm down." Bai Ling quickly grabbed Leticia, who was already rolling up her sleeves. Although it might be hurtful to say, Bai Ling really didn't think the current Leticia could beat this Miss Lin Qingyu.
"You're actually helping her!" Leticia indignantly gave Bai Ling the middle finger. "I tell you, don't let me find an opportunity, or I'll immediately grab her and throw her back to the elven race."
This sentence, which should have made Lin Qingyu feel threatened, instead gave Lin Qingyu even more sense of security when it came from Leticia's mouth.
Since she dared to say it in front of her, what was there to fear? After all, this was Miss Qianqian, who never told the truth in front of people.
"If Miss Qianqian really wants to send me back to the elven race, I won't have any complaints either." Lin Qingyu even had the mood to joke a little.
After talking with Leticia, she felt the big stone in her heart had completely fallen to the ground, and the pressure on her had dissipated all at once.
Previously, when Bai Ling assured her she wouldn't abandon her, Lin Qingyu had doubts and didn't quite believe it, because she knew she was a Half-Elf, while the person in critical condition from exotic poison was a human, and that human had some connection to Bai Ling.
Using herself to exchange for a human girl's life—Lin Qingyu felt, no, she was certain Bai Ling could do such a thing, because she wasn't human.
But when Leticia said in front of her that she wanted to abandon her and let the elven race take her away, Lin Qingyu felt reassured.
Miss Qianqian's words had to be understood in reverse, so she really hadn't been abandoned.
"That, Miss Qianqian, when I meet with the elven people later, could you please accompany me?"
"Ah? Me?" Leticia was stunned, pointing at Bai Ling beside her. "Isn't this person more suitable?"
"I also think I'm more suitable." Bai Ling muttered quietly.
But Lin Qingyu remained stubborn. "But I think Miss Qianqian would be better."
"Then I guess it's you." Bai Ling said helplessly to Leticia. "Anyway, you'll just be sitting to the side listening to them talk, like watching a show."
"Fine, it's better than standing outside doing nothing anyway... What are you going to do, stay here?"
"I'll go check on the detoxification situation first. If everything goes smoothly, I'll come back." Bai Ling looked down at the time and answered. "They're here. I'll go greet them first."
With that, Bai Ling got up and left the room.
After Bai Ling left, only Leticia and Lin Qingyu remained in the large room. They looked at each other in silence. After a long while, Lin Qingyu, unable to bear the strange atmosphere, couldn't help speaking: "Miss Qianqian..."
"Don't ask, don't speak, wait for them to come." Leticia interrupted Lin Qingyu's words. "The elf meeting you this time isn't the one who launched the attack. Their methods should be relatively mild, so you don't need to worry too much."
Speaking of this, Lin Qingyu was somewhat confused about the situation. She didn't think her current identity could attract the attention of two different elven factions. What was noteworthy about the ordinary Half-Elf girl Lin Qingyu?
"But why would they attack this place?"
"I think you're the person who knows the answer to that question best." Leticia's gaze lingered on Lin Qingyu's necklace for a while, then said meaningfully, "For example, they care very much about something on you."
Lin Qingyu instinctively covered her necklace. "Impossible."
"Why impossible?" Hearing Lin Qingyu's answer, Leticia asked curiously.
Lin Qingyu's answer was full of confidence—she completely didn't believe the elven race was pursuing her because of this necklace. But Leticia could basically confirm that this necklace was the artifact housing Flora's consciousness.
And the news Xue'er received was that a Half-Elf had stolen important items from the elven race and escaped to the human world.
The two pieces of information corroborated each other, almost locking the matter down to a very small scope.
First, Lin Qingyu was definitely the Half-Elf who stole something, which both Bai Ling and Leticia acknowledged. Second, Leticia could determine that the stolen item was Lin Qingyu's necklace—the artifact housing Flora's consciousness.
So now the question was: how could Lin Qingyu instinctively say "impossible"?
Why was she so confident?
Disguise? That seemed to be the only possibility.
Lin Qingyu's appearance was definitely disguised—she looked much uglier now than Evangelyne. But what about the necklace?
Was the necklace also disguised?
No, that couldn't explain why Lin Qingyu would instinctively think the elven race wasn't looking for the necklace.
Unless... this girl didn't just steal one artifact?
Flora's artifact indeed wasn't what the elven race was looking for—they might not even know this artifact existed. What they were looking for was actually another artifact Lin Qingyu had brought out.
Why could Lin Qingyu confidently assert the elven race wasn't looking for the necklace? Because the elven race had no idea the necklace existed!
"I think I might be in big trouble." Leticia looked up, staring at Lin Qingyu very seriously. "Tell me honestly, what did you bring out from the elven race?"
"I already threw that thing away. Now no one can find where it is." Lin Qingyu's eyes were evasive, but there were no signs of lying.
She really had thrown that thing away.
"Then what about your necklace? I know what it is... Don't be afraid, I won't steal your things." Leticia was halfway through her words when she suddenly noticed Lin Qingyu's emotions becoming violently agitated, so she quickly interrupted herself and began comforting Lin Qingyu.
"That's your thing. I won't steal it. Think about it—if I really wanted to steal it, would you still be sitting here safely talking to me?"
"Sorry, I'm being too sensitive." Lin Qingyu covered her chest, her heart pounding. "This was a gift from my mother. I only recently learned of its function."
"Oh, I see. So no one knows about this?"
"Mm, I haven't told anyone about this. When mother gave me the necklace, she thought it was just an ordinary, worthless necklace." Lin Qingyu's expression wasn't good. "She never liked me."
This necklace was her birthday gift, yet it looked dull and gray, not pretty at all. Lin Qingyu even suspected her mother had just rummaged through her trash pile to find this necklace.
"I see. I understand now." Leticia pressed her forehead somewhat troubled. This made things super complicated.
Two artifacts—one thrown away by Lin Qingyu to who knows where, the other being Flora's necklace that no one knew about.
So now the question was: what was the purpose of the person who launched the attack a few days ago?
Obviously, that attack's target wasn't Lin Qingyu, but Xi Mengyao, who had been lured here.
But why?
Why attack Xi Mengyao?
What was special about this person that made her worth attacking?
Nothing—before that day, Bai Ling and Leticia had only seen her on the big screen.
Knock knock knock. Urgent knocking interrupted Leticia's train of thought. Xue'er's voice rang out after the knocking stopped: "Ladies, may I and our elven guest come in?"
Oh, the elven people had arrived. Leticia glanced at Lin Qingyu and found that besides being somewhat nervous, this girl showed no special reactions.
She really wasn't worried about being recognized?
Noticing Leticia was looking at her, Lin Qingyu naturally assumed this was concern for her condition.
So she nodded at Leticia. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
She then took a deep breath and suppressed the last trace of nervousness on her face.
Actually, I wasn't worried about you. Leticia opened her mouth but ultimately didn't voice this.
Let her misunderstand then. Lin Qingyu having higher favorability toward her was a good thing—it would make it easier to gain her trust and cooperation later.
"Come in." Leticia called toward the door.
The door opened, and Xue'er entered with a hooded elf.
After entering the room, the elf removed her hood, revealing a highly distinctive face underneath.
Features similar to Westerners, fair skin, green eyes and hair, pointed ears—undoubtedly a pure-blooded elf.
Judging by her hair color, this elf probably wasn't ordinary within the elven race.
"I am Ailinn of the Elven Council of Elders, here to investigate matters concerning Half-Elves." Upon seeing Leticia, this elf's pupils contracted, then she introduced herself quite respectfully.
Although she didn't know who Leticia was, this girl gave her the same feeling as the former empress—no, even more presence than the empress.
This young lady was definitely someone in a high position. Being polite certainly wouldn't be wrong.
"Ailinn? I remember there are quite a few Ailinns in the elven race." Leticia casually replied. "Are you all family?"
"More or less. May I ask, is the Half-Elf Miss Bai is sheltering the one beside you?" Ailinn nodded, her gaze moving to Lin Qingyu nearby.
Black hair and green eyes—only this matched Half-Elf characteristics. The aura around her was very purely human. If she passed by Ailinn somewhere someday, Ailinn wouldn't even think this was a Half-Elf.
"Mm, it's her." Leticia nodded. "Is she the Half-Elf you're looking for?"
Ailinn shook her head. "Judging by appearance, there's quite a difference. But appearances can always be deceiving."
She pulled out an exquisite, small dagger from her pocket.
Xue'er immediately stepped forward and grabbed Ailinn's wrist holding the knife. "What do you want to do?"
Struggling to free her hand from Xue'er's restraint, Ailinn was surprised to find she couldn't do it—Xue'er's strength was much greater than hers.
This intelligence merchant was really hiding her abilities.
"Appearances deceive, but bloodlines don't." She explained. "I need to take some of her blood to determine if she's the person I'm looking for."
Lin Qingyu's expression became panicked in an instant. She seemed quite fearful of this method.
"What, feeling guilty?" Ailinn naturally noticed Lin Qingyu's distress. Looking at the small knife in her hand, she showed a meaningful smile. "Don't worry, it won't hurt. Just one drop of blood will do."
"I..." Lin Qingyu was about to speak when a gentle voice rang in her ear.
"Don't be afraid. You'll be fine."
"Hmm?" Leticia looked questioningly toward Lin Qingyu's direction. She seemed to have just heard Flora's voice.
An illusion?
No, probably not an illusion. Lin Qingyu's condition had improved considerably after that voice spoke.
It was Flora comforting Lin Qingyu. That must be it.
Although still somewhat nervous, Lin Qingyu extended her hand. "Come on then. I'm not the person you're looking for."
Ailinn frowned. What was wrong with this Half-Elf? She had been so afraid just now, but now became so confident.
Was she trusting that Miss Bai would protect her, or was she really not the person they were looking for?
"If you really are the person we're looking for, Miss Bai won't protect you." Ailinn still wanted to intimidate Lin Qingyu. "Her deal with us is to exchange you for that girl's life."
"You're as boring as always with your endless chatter." Lin Qingyu gritted her teeth and squeezed out this sentence.
"You..." Ailinn was momentarily speechless.
"What 'you me'? I just hate you, hate Elves. Is that not allowed?" Lin Qingyu seemed to have opened a floodgate, releasing all her resentment at once. "Acting all high and mighty on the surface, but actually more filthy than beastmen."
"Xue'er, I feel like Lin Qingyu's condition is a bit off?" Over there, Lin Qingyu was still cursing, while Leticia poked Xue'er and whispered.
"She's probably venting. She's suffered quite a bit of grievance. Now facing an arrogant elf, releasing this resentment is normal." Xue'er also whispered back.
While speaking, Xue'er's eyes remained fixed on Ailinn. If this elf made any sudden moves, she would act to stop her.
But this elf held back. Several veins popped on her forehead, but she still restrained herself.
"I'll remember these words." She said coldly. Now Lin Qingyu was still under Bai Ling's protection, so she couldn't make a move. But later, if Lin Qingyu left Bai Ling's protection, Ailinn wouldn't mind coming to settle this score.
Elves weren't as magnanimous as depicted in some stories—some of them were quite vindictive.
Like Miss Ailinn, for instance.
"Then what, kill me? Just like you killed those Half-Elves you deemed useless."