CHAPTER 198: CHAPTER 196: DEATH AND RESURRECTION_1

At this moment, Yan Xing’s mind instantly recalled the female Elf assassin he had killed in Nuta City. She was the first Elf I ever saw, and the first living being I personally killed. After that, I often recalled what she looked like: dying, her face smeared with blood, her eyes full of hatred staring right at me. Now, in the image Chui Chui captured, it’s the same face and the same eyes. This thought sent a shiver through Yan Xing’s heart. Resurrected from the dead!

Yan Xing stopped his Chocobo and asked Chui Chui, "Do you have more photos of the female Elf assassin?"

"Yes, Master!"

Chui Chui brought up the photos of the female Elf assassin and placed them side by side with the newly captured image. Then, using image processing technology, Chui Chui removed the bloodstains from the female Elf assassin’s face, repairing and adjusting her appearance...

Yan Xing grew even more certain. They are one and the same person. Could someone really come back to life after dying? If this had happened before, I definitely wouldn’t have believed it. But this is the Magic World, a world with rules similar to a game. Resurrection... it might not be impossible. I clearly handed her body over to Count Theodore, and Count Theodore gave the body to the Temple. Who resurrected her? Why is she wearing the peasant clothes of the Eternal Domain? And appearing here, at this time... what is she trying to do? But no matter her intentions, Yan Xing absolutely didn’t believe that a female Elf assassin he had killed once before had come to present him with flowers and a certificate of merit.

"Capture her!" Yan Xing pointed at the discovered assassin, and the Beastmaster’s Ring on his finger flashed with light. Under his control, a swarm of Poison Flies was the first to pounce.

Arlanda lowered her head, observing Yan Xing’s movements from under the brim of her hat. When she saw Yan Xing suddenly stop, she sensed something was wrong. She remembered her sister’s failed assassination attempt and the eye she had felt upon her when near Yan Xing... At that moment, she felt targeted by that eye; under her disguise, she could not hide. Is this the will of Thunderous Swamp?

Before Arlanda could react, a large swarm of Poison Flies closed in on her. At Yan Xing’s command, the surrounding Werewolves fearlessly pounced on Arlanda. Unable to deploy her alchemical bow, Arlanda knocked down several Werewolves with her fists. But there were simply too many Werewolves, and they all charged recklessly at her. The Poison Flies exploited every opening to inject Arlanda with poison. Nearby Werewolf Beast Tamers cast debilitating magic on her. Arlanda’s punches grew weaker, her steps more unsteady.

When the Combat Werewolves joined the fray, Arlanda found it even harder to resist and fell to the ground after repeated heavy shield bashes. The Combat Werewolves threw the bound Arlanda at the feet of Yan Xing, who was riding his Chocobo. Her hat had long since been lost somewhere in the fight. Amidst her emerald-green hair, a pair of pointed ears stuck out jarringly.

Elf!

The pack of Werewolves howled in anger.

"Those detestable Elves! Daring to send an assassin to murder our Lord!"

"This is a declaration of war! It’s a declaration of war against the Eternal Domain and Thunderous Swamp!"

The anger spread quickly down the road in both directions, traveling with the howling of the Werewolves.

Yan Xing, mounted on his Chocobo, raised his hand. Olaf, guarding nearby, immediately let out a long howl, and the Werewolf pack’s howling ceased at once. All the Werewolves waited for Lord Yan Xing’s instructions.

Yan Xing spoke in a tone as if nothing had happened, "Steel Tooth, take this Elf with you and guard her strictly. Olaf, return to the territory immediately. Inform Gao Sipa, Lao Hansi, and Eddie... the entire territory is to be placed under the highest level of lockdown. Investigate all personnel to see if any other Elves have infiltrated. Everyone else, proceed as normal. Don’t let this delay your work."

"Yes, my Lord!"

Upon receiving the order, Olaf immediately commandeered a nearby farm tricycle and drove towards the Eternal Domain.

Steel Tooth checked Arlanda’s condition and, after confirming she wasn’t dead, poured a Ban-Magic Potion into her mouth. Then he had a Combat Werewolf throw her onto a utility tricycle and arranged for four Werewolf Beast Tamers to control a large swarm of Poison Flies to watch her closely.

Yan Xing, sitting upright on his Chocobo, addressed the surrounding Werewolves, "With your bravery, you have captured an assassin who intended to kill me, and have brought honor to yourselves and your clans. All Werewolves involved in capturing the assassin may go to the Eternal Domain to receive a reward, and your Clan Leaders may also go to the Eternal Domain to collect the rewards for your clans."

Yan Xing’s words caused jubilation among the Werewolves on the road.

"Lord Yan Xing is generous and merciful!"

Steel Tooth, remounted on his Chocobo, shouted loudly, "Clear the way!"

The cheering Werewolves immediately moved to the sides of the road, clearing a path for Yan Xing’s troops.

The procession continued towards the Eternal Domain.

It was a mere ten-odd kilometers from the Red Mud Wetland to the Eternal Domain, so it didn’t take long for Yan Xing to return to the territory he hadn’t visited in two months.

「Inside the Council Hall of the city’s administrative center.」

Gao Sipa, Lao Hansi, and Aunt Canola knelt before Yan Xing in trepidation.

The Elf assassin’s origins had been uncovered. She had blended in with refugees to enter the Eternal Domain and, using God-given gold coins obtained from some unknown source, had successfully disguised herself as a human farmer. Moreover, she had remained hidden for more than two months without anyone discovering she was an Elf.

Sitting in his chair, Yan Xing couldn’t help but reflect. Was the Elf assassin’s disguise too perfect, or are there gaping holes in my own territory’s management system? My administration definitely has problems. Gao Sipa and Lao Hansi had only recently been promoted to political heroes at the Domain Academy; before that, they were farmers who couldn’t even read. Making them administrators of such a rapidly developing territory was indeed asking too much of them. People’s energy is limited, and the Eternal Domain’s rate of cultivating political heroes can’t keep up with the territory’s development.

Yan Xing said after a moment’s thought, addressing the three who were primarily responsible, "The Eternal Domain has developed very well, and you have all contributed to this territory. Rewards will be given where due, and punishments where deserved. My allowing you to hold special status in the territory was your reward. But you allowed an Elf to live in my territory for over two months. If I hadn’t discovered her, she could have continued to stay hidden. Have you grown too comfortable? Forgotten the days of living in constant fear and vigilance on this wasteland? The Eternal Domain is not yet at a point where we can be at ease. You three are primarily responsible for this incident. Go back and devise a plan to prevent similar incidents from recurring. This isn’t just about Elves; opportunistic human thieves and assassins shouldn’t be allowed to come and go as they please in my territory either. Go now... If you cannot present me with a satisfactory plan, I will replace you!"