Capítulo 138: She Proposes a A Bet
Robin was about to say something else when she paused. She had noticed the small group of elves coming out from behind the curtains. She glanced at Dirk, to confirm whether they were his kin. He nodded ever so minimally, but he didn't move to join his relatives. This was due to Robin's instruction prior to their arrival.
The Strategist was mildly annoyed at the early entrance of the elves, because it meant he needed to bring his plans forward. "My guests, may I introduce to you the Hero, Robin. Hero Robin, may I introduce to you the delegate from the Great Elder of the Elven Forest. They have chanced to stay here on their way back to the Elven forest."
The Strategist paused, and his expression changed as an idea seemed to come to him.
"Actually, perhaps they might be able to help you out with your situation. I hear that their Great Elder was able to break an amnesia spell once. It could very well be that he can help your friend with his current problem."
The Strategist turned to the elves. "Isn't that right?"
The elves didn't answer as they were scanning the crowds. This caused the old fox's question to hang in midair.
"Ahumph! Might I know what has distracted our esteemed guests so?" The Strategist asked.
One of the elves glanced at him and reluctantly volunteered the information. "We can sense our youngest is among the crowd somewhere nearby."
'Yeah, no kidding.' Dirk smirked and chuckled inwardly. 'You can't see that he is right in front of you!'
"Oh?" The Strategist stood up. While he was visibly calm, he was inwardly panicking. If the half-elf were to be discovered now, then all his schemes would be for naught.
"Might I ask if your youngest is this high, has dark hair, speaks with a street accent, and goes by the name of 'Dirk'?" Robin suddenly asked, drawing the elves attention towards her.
"That is him. But, how-?" The elf leader asked.
"I was acquainted with him back in the capital." Robin explained. "Regardless of his upbringing, his features are somewhat similar to yours. Unless I am mistaken?"
"No, you are not mistaken. I am his mother's sister, Dewtre." The female elf replied.
Robin nodded. "You can imagine I was quite surprised to see a familiar face in an unexpected location. He has been under my care since yesterday evening."
With that, Dirk took his silver face mask off, exposing his face.
"Dirk!" Dewtre gasped, somewhat surprised. "Why are you standing over there?"
"Hello, Aunt. Robin had a feeling you'd be here, and I wanted to give you a surprise!" Dirk said, then scowled. "But the blood link ruined it." Dirk's accent had cleared up considerably, despite his somewhat slower speech. He was really trying hard to maintain a noble-ish accent.
"Why did you not return to us earlier?" A male elf asked sternly. "Do you truly enjoy the company of humans to your mother's kind?"
Dirk's face become solemn. "Actually, if not for Hero Robin, I might not have been able to return to you at all. I am indebted to him for his aid." He said.
The male elf snorted. "So you ditched your true family because of some human you are indebted to?"
Dewtre frowned. With such a grand show of arrogance on display from him, she was beginning to regret allowing this elf to accompany her on the journey. Clearly, Dirk's cousin was still too young to maintain a clear head and sound judgement.
Dirk looked at that elf and smirked, but said nothing. This ticked off the male elf.
"What are you thinking of? I demand you give me an answer!" He growled. The Strategist sat back, his brain making emergency calculations.
"Fine. But I'm warning you: you asked for it." Dirk replied, having had enough of the elf's arrogance.
"You know, out of all the elves I've met, you seem to hate humans the most. But, now I wonder! How is it, that out of all the elves I have met so far, you also happen to be the closest in behavior to the very humans you despise?"
At that point, the fox-people around exclaimed in admiration. It wasn't every day that such a fitting rebuttal came to light. Dirk's cousin was infuriated. His face turned purple, and his veins popped out as he almost completely lost it. But, he suddenly fell to the ground.
Dewtre sighed, standing over the elf from behind. She had swiftly knocked him out to prevent any more disasters from happening.
"Apologies for such an ugly display. Please, Dirk, do continue your story. What kept you from returning to us?" As an elf delegate, being fair and listening to all the details was an important part of her job.
"When I realized I had lost you, I asked for help from some nearby foxes, thinking they would help me find you." Dirk began. "But they didn't. They trapped me in an abandoned warehouse, and tricked me into not being able to leave without being accompanied by others. They were going to sell me as a slave."
"And that is when the hero came along?" Dewtre asked, inwardly incensed that fox-kin would have designs upon her nephew.
Dirk shook his head. "No. Hero Robin came much later that day, overhearing the foxes bragging about their riches after being drunk."
"Interesting..." The Strategist said, a gleam in his eyes. He had found a loophole. He needed to move quickly before Dewtre formed a good opinion of Robin.
"Is there something wrong, Sir Strategist?" Dirk asked.
"Nothing much, but...Isn't it too coincidental that the Hero just so happened to know where to find you? It isn't often for such an abandoned place to be frequented by tourists, after all."
"He came after hearing about my situation." Dirk answered.
"But how did he know where to go?" The Strategist pointed out. "It is a large city, and there are more than one derelict warehouse within these walls. How did he know which one to get to? If there is no good explanation...Then, this may be an elaborately executed plot."
The tension in the room mounted as Dewtre's eyes took on a thoughtful glint. It wasn't impossible for that to happen. Dirk was still young and impressionable. He could easily be tricked into having good will towards the humans.
"That would be my expertise." Chelsea stepped forward.
"You? Your attribute is water magic, isn't it? How would that help the Hero in locating this elf youngling?" The Strategist frowned.
"I'm surprised you still do not recognize me, Sir Strategist. After all, my brother Oracle surely must have contacted you recently. I share his ability to see beyond the normal amount of things." Chelsea replied evenly. "It was through my aid that Hero Robin was able to find Dirk."
"You're Chelsea!?" The Strategist was shocked. Had Oracle been tricked so badly that he even allowed his treasured sister to accompany the hero? But Oracle would not easily be tricked with his ability to discern lies. Did Oracle send her to monitor the hero and make sure of the hero's intentions? The Strategist sunk into deep thought.
But Robin was not going to let his accusation slide, just like that. She could see that she had wrecked a few of the Strategist's plans already. Why not wreck a few more? At this point, Robin went on the offensive.
"Pardon my question." Robin interjected. "But, hypothetically, what would I even hope to gain from Dirk?"
"Information, the good will of him and his family...you could also be after his person." Dewtre replied, considering all the options. "After all, it is common knowledge that elves are highly valued by humans."
Robin looked at Keith. "Slavery is allowed here?" She asked, a foul expression upon her face. Keith sighed. "As the protectorate cities are under the dominion of the demon protectorates, if they allow slavery, then, according to the treaty, Ekkinshire Kingdom can do nothing about it." Robin understood. Slavery was not forbidden, therefore it was allowed.
Robin glanced at the Strategist. "In that case, this is a bit more interesting. I'm not too sure if Sir Strategist is willing to agree to a bet?"
The Strategist tilted his head, a playful smile upon his face. "What are the conditions?" He asked.
"If I am able to prove that this was not staged, and that My intentions were only to help, then I can ask one favor of you." Robin said.
"And, if you cannot prove it?" The Strategist asked.
"Then, you can ask one favor of me." Robin replied.
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