Free Web NovelChapter 164: Chapter 162: A Big Secret
"What? What do you mean he’s ’gone’?" Zog asked Elsa, a look of utter confusion on his face.
After finally discovering a composer with a bit of a jazz vibe, Zog had immediately sent Elsa to contact him, only to be told that he had left.
This wasn’t some euphemism for death; ’gone’ meant he had well and truly left.
’Submit your work and then just run off? What a strange way to do things.’
"According to his band, Kaelan wasn’t a long-term musician with them. He only signed a one-year contract. After his year of travel ended last week, he returned to the Elves’ Silver-White City State," Elsa explained.
"So he’s really an Elf?" Zog asked, a little surprised.
The Silver-White City State was a famous Elf city, filled with their trademark pure white buildings, which were said to be built from bricks and tiles drenched in milk. freewebnσvel.cѳm
Zog had smelled it before—it was just limestone. Drenching one building in milk was maybe believable, but an entire city? The level of productivity required would be a bit too advanced for this era.
The year of travel was a tradition of the Elf Race; before coming of age, they would spend three to five years traveling the Continent.
It might sound as if the Elves weren’t an isolationist race, but the true purpose of this travel was to make young Elves realize their own superiority.
Because their ancestors had once been great, they were in the habit of thinking they still were.
However, the last time the Elves held a comprehensive lead over other races was 300 years ago.
For an Elf, that was less than a single generation ago.
"What else would he be? His surname is Finarfin, after all," Elsa replied, as if it were obvious.
Surnames could distinguish one’s racial origin. For instance, Finarfin was a standard Elf surname, those who liked using tools for surnames were Dwarves, and those who liked using weapons were Beastmen.
It was worth mentioning that in War Axe’s tribe, there were actually eight others named War Axe in his generation. These "War Axes" used a very peaceful method to decide who was worthy of being the tribe’s one and only War Axe.
They had a fight.
In the end, War Axe won.
"And Toto’s surname is Amastasha."
"Toto’s last name is *that*?" Elsa had always just thought Toto was Toto.
"You’ve been her colleague for almost two years!"
"Are colleagues supposed to know each other that well?"
’She has a point.’ Zog scratched his head.
He had originally assumed that this Kaelan fellow was a Half-Elf, which would have made him easier to find.
The Elves were said to be a noble race, but they produced a remarkable number of deadbeat men and women. Combined with their good looks, it was quite common for them to have a child and then run off, which was how so many Half-Elves came to be.
Besides, a free and easygoing musical style like jazz didn’t really seem to fit the Elves.
If it were the music of a fatherless Half-Elf who had struggled to get by in the city and learned to find joy amidst hardship, that would have made perfect sense.
But he just had to be a pure-blooded Elf, which made things a bit troublesome.
Beastmen and goblins couldn’t enter the Silver-White City State. As for the Zor, not only could they not enter, but just appearing nearby was tantamount to a declaration of war.
"Contact El Mage," Zog said.
He was going to use his ultimate technique: the "Call in a Favor" gambit. By borrowing El’s prestige, he could have the Elf brought directly to him.
Saint El and the team of Transformation School Mages he led were also in Twin Tower City, collaborating with the Illusionists on a project to integrate the Redstone Series Spell Model into the Divine Remains.
It was already starting to look like a high-tech industrial park.
’Sutton Silicon Valley!’
Soon, the Old Elf arrived at Zog’s office.
"No."
After hearing Zog’s request, he refused outright.
"Why not?" Zog didn’t quite understand El’s reason for refusal. "Aren’t you the former Elf King?"
"I am."
"Aren’t you the current Elf First Mage?"
"I am."
"Then would it be so hard to find one Elf in your name?"
"Not hard at all," Old El replied.
"Then why not?"
"You promised you would get the Elves interested in the Divine Remains Network Technology," El explained. "Why don’t you take this opportunity to make a trip to the Silver-White City State and bring the Network to the Elves?"
El casually pulled out a letter. "I’m sure that sooner or later you’ll want to make money off the Elves. This is a letter of introduction that will make it easier for you to enter the city. A prophecy has revealed that you will have an unexpected gain on this trip."
The Old Elf had the look of a God Stick.
Ever since learning that prophetic magic operated on a principle similar to big data, Zog actually found it more credible.
Mathematical probability was definitely more reliable than some mystical flash of inspiration.
"Fine, I’ll go."
Zog was a very idle Dragon at the moment. The *Tom and Jerry* storyboards he had drawn a few weeks ago were enough for several years’ worth of updates.
It had gotten to the point where the Painters were spreading wild rumors about him, with some even claiming he was an emissary from an outer god, bearing infinite knowledge.
’I wish I had infinite knowledge,’ Zog thought. ’If I had that kind of power, would I even need to bother with cultural products?’
’The Magic Goddess?’
’Just some minor deity by the roadside.’
The Silver-White City State was situated in a valley. At the valley’s entrance stood a heavy, silver city gate flanked by two towering guard statues. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
A long line of people snaked outside the city gate, all of them transporting supplies into the city.
It seemed very prosperous, but Zog was not optimistic about the place.
In an agrarian age, it would have been easy to defend and difficult to attack. But in an industrial age, a place with no transportation infrastructure and no mineral resources already had its future written all over it: gradual decline, population loss, and a vicious cycle.
Thanks to its accumulated advantages in Magic and Magical Devices, the Silver-White City State could still support the affluent lifestyle of the Elves within.
But all of this was built on the foundation of a large non-Elf labor force providing services.
Once that advantage disappeared, the backlash would surely follow.
The other races would storm the city and seize territory. The Silver-White City State would no longer belong to the Elves.
He had to hurry and squeeze every Gold Coin he could out of this place before it declined.
As a first-time visitor, Zog needed to go through an entry inspection.
