After leaving the queen's study, Lin Qingyue and her companions were led by a chamberlain to a spacious guest room.
Meanwhile, Aeldara remained in the study for a half-hour private audience with Her Majesty the Queen.
When she finally emerged, her face remained as icy as ever, but a flame of vengeance burned fiercely in her crimson eyes.
"Her Majesty the Queen has formally authorized the mission," Aeldara declared, cutting straight to the point without any formalities.
"The Undead Race has recently been launching frequent attacks on Human and Elf caravans, outposts, and even small towns."
Her voice strained with suppressed fury. "Her Majesty the Queen wishes us to investigate thoroughly and uncover the true reason behind their sudden surge in activity."
Lin Qingyue's heart leaped with delight.
Whoa, talk about efficiency! I love it! Her Majesty the Queen is playing this perfectly—she's letting Aeldara get her revenge while simultaneously having us investigate the Dungeon Core. A win-win situation! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!
Aeldara continued, "Intelligence reports indicate the Undead Race's most active region lies along the border between human and elven territories, with the Silent Forest bearing the brunt of their attacks. That is our destination."
A cold, murderous glint flashed in her eyes.
"Personally, I've been itching to settle accounts with that sewer rat, Mograss."
"How dare he wreak havoc in the Silent Watch Knight Order's territory and ambush me? This debt will be repaid, sooner rather than later."
Lin Qingyue chuckled inwardly, maintaining a humble and respectful demeanor on the surface.
"In that case, given our limited experience fighting undead, we'll rely entirely on Commander Aeldara to lead the way."
"Hmm," Aeldara nodded. "There's no time to waste. We'll return to Morningwind Harbor via the Teleportation Array, then proceed directly into the Silent Forest."
Upon hearing "Silent Forest," Lin Xiyue immediately clenched her fists excitedly, her knuckles cracking audibly.
"Excellent! Perfect opportunity to test the mettle of my Mountain's Resilience!"
Her face glowed with anticipation. "Last time, those Death Knights' blows left my arm numb. This time, I'll show them what 'Immovable as a Mountain' truly means!"
Lin Qingyue glanced at her battle-hungry younger sister and chuckled inwardly.
This silly girl... just got new gear and already itching for a fight. What's the difference between her and a kid who gets a new toy and can't wait to show it off to everyone?
Su Wan frowned, her beautiful brows furrowing with concern. "The border region... what about the Elf Villages and Human Towns nearby? Aren't they in imminent danger?"
"Exactly," Aeldara replied gravely. "That's why we must act swiftly."
Xia Lian pursed her lips, her expression reflecting a professional caution.
"The Undead Race's territory..." she murmured softly. "Wouldn't it be... extremely dangerous?"
Her tone wasn't one of fear, but rather the instinctive risk assessment of a Ranger entering an unknown battlefield.
"Danger is certain," Aeldara said coldly. "But this is our duty."
Lin Qingyue patted Xia Lian's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, with the Commander here, we'll be fine. Besides, we're mainly going to investigate."
"Exactly!" Lin Xiyue chimed in. "We're not the weak team we used to be! We have new equipment, new skills—we're a force to be reckoned with!"
Lin Xiyue's words caused a subtle shift in Aeldara's expression. She glanced at Lin Qingyue, then back at Lin Xiyue, but ultimately said nothing.
"Alright, since we've decided, let's begin preparations," Aeldara said. "We'll depart immediately, using the Teleportation Array to return to Morningwind Harbor."
"Yes!" Lin Qingyue and the other three responded in unison.
They followed Aeldara back to the Teleportation Array within the Royal Palace.
This time, their mood was completely different from when they had first arrived. Before, they had been filled with apprehension and curiosity; now, they were driven by a clear purpose and a hint of nervous excitement.
The Magic Circle glowed with a soft white light, and a powerful sensation of spatial distortion washed over them as the world around them shattered into billions of luminous fragments.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves standing within the Teleportation Array at Morningwind Harbor.
The harbor streets were still bustling with activity, but the atmosphere now carried a palpable tension that was visible to the naked eye.
The Elves moved with hurried steps, their smiles noticeably fewer.
The Undead Race's threat has already reached this far, Lin Qingyue silently assessed.
Aeldara didn't linger in Morningwind Harbor. She led Lin Qingyue and her three companions straight through the bustling streets to the city gates.
Outside the gates, a formidable force radiated an aura of "keep away," already assembled and waiting in quiet readiness.
At the forefront stood over a hundred Elf Knights clad in obsidian-black heavy armor. Ice-blue runes etched across their armor glowed eerily, and beneath their helmets, soulfire burned with a spectral blue intensity in their eyes. Visible frost hung around them, despite their living nature, their presence exuding the deathly stillness and chilling cold of the undead.
Behind them stood dozens of sharp-eyed Rangers and focused Mages, their formations impeccable, their latent killing intent contained.
"Commander!" The Death Knight leading the charge saluted Aeldara immediately. "We're fully prepared and ready to depart at any moment."
"Excellent," Aeldara nodded. "Join me as we venture deep into the Silent Forest to reinforce patrols and defenses along the border."
"Yes!" the Knight Order responded in unison, their voices shaking the surrounding wilderness.
Aeldara turned to Lin Qingyue and her companions. "Follow me. I'll lead you deep into the Undead Race's active territory."
"No problem!" Lin Qingyue replied.
Thus, Lin Qingyue and her companions followed Aeldara and her elite force, once again venturing into the Silent Forest.
The Silent Forest remained beautiful, yet Lin Qingyue sensed an oppressive atmosphere.
A faint, rotting stench hung in the air, and occasionally they spotted withered, charred plants corrupted by undead energy.
Aeldara's forces moved at a breakneck pace, the clattering of a hundred Skeletal Warhorses echoing through the forest, driving away birds and sending wild beasts fleeing in terror.
Lin Qingyue and her companions kept close behind, daring not to lag.
Along the way, they encountered several small groups of undead raiders, but Aeldara and her knights effortlessly dispatched them.
Lin Qingyue relished the respite. Seizing the opportunity, she theatrically raised the Tome of Moon Whispers and cast a few shields on her teammates, reinforcing her image as a harmless yet professional "Priest."
"Commander," Lin Xiyue said, casually splitting a Skeleton Soldier in two with her sword, "these undead soldiers seem even weaker than the ones we faced in Ash Canyon earlier."
"Of course," Aeldara said coldly. "The true elites have all been taken away by Mograss and his commanders."
Lin Qingyue's heart quickened.
So Mograss holds a high position among the Undead Race, and he's even surrounded by elites... I wonder if vaporizing him would drop some good loot?
As they ventured deeper into the Silent Forest, the stench of decay grew stronger, and the sunlight grew more sparse.
The surrounding trees became twisted and withered, their branches gnarled like skeletal claws reaching for the sky. The ground was covered in a thick layer of black ash that crunched underfoot.
"We're approaching the Undead Race's active territory," Aeldara suddenly stopped, her voice low and grave. "Stay alert."
Everyone tensed, their nerves stretched taut. Lin Qingyue tightened her grip on her staff, Lin Xiyue raised her shield, Su Wan conjured frost at her fingertips, and Xia Lian nocked an arrow to her bow.
The true challenge had only just begun.