Now, it was time to deal with this nuisance before them.
Kill him?
His crimes didn't warrant death.
Moreover, however foolish Alex might be, he still bore the title of Human Prince.
If he were to die here, no matter how justified the reason, it would provide the Human Kingdom with the perfect pretext for war, playing right into the undead's hands.
Let him go?
Even worse.
To simply let him return unscathed would be a slap in the face to the Elves, and a mockery of Her Majesty the Queen's authority.
Aeldara's gaze slowly swept across Alex's face, twisted by terror, finally settling on his chaotic, vacant eyes.
The corners of her exquisitely sculpted lips twitched upward by a few imperceptible pixels.
A brilliant plan instantly formed in her mind—one that would punish him, resolve the problem, and leave an indelible mark on his memory.
"Get up," Aeldara's voice regained its icy edge.
Alex jolted, scrambling to his feet on all fours. Trembling, he slumped back into his chair, bowing his head so low he seemed to be trying to disappear into the floor, his breath coming in shallow, cautious gasps.
"You... do not deserve death."
These words struck him like a ray of heavenly light piercing the abyss.
Alex jerked his head up, the deadness in his eyes erupting into wild, post-traumatic elation.
"However, while you may be spared death, you cannot escape punishment."
Aeldara's next words were like an invisible hand pressing him back into the icy abyss.
"Your and your sister's folly nearly ignited a war between our races, plunging countless lives into misery."
"You must bear the responsibility for this."
"I... I will! I will bear it!" Alex frantically grasped at this lifeline, "Whatever punishment you decree, I accept!"
As long as I can live!
"Very well."
The corner of Aeldara's lips curved into a clearer smile.
She extended her pale right hand, palm upward.
A soft, holy sphere of white light slowly materialized and expanded in her palm.
The sphere radiated a warm, serene aura, as if capable of purifying all earthly impurities and evil.
"This is..." Alex stared in stunned awe.
Holy shit! Isn't the Commander a Death Knight? How can she wield Holy Light spells? Is her class that versatile?!
Lin Qingyue was also taken aback.
Wait, this aura... something feels off. It's like there's something else mixed into the Holy Light.
She could sense a faint, deeply suppressed, icy Power of Death lurking beneath the holy radiance.
Good heavens! Isn't this just fake Holy Light simulated using the Power of Death? Commander, you're really going all out!
"The root of your transgressions lies in your inability to suppress base desires," Aeldara's voice was solemn and majestic, like a divine being delivering an oracle. "Therefore, I shall bestow upon you a 'Holy Blessing'."
"This Blessing will help purify the impurities within your heart, allowing you to renounce worldly desires and become a spiritually pure, desireless 'Saint'."
Alex listened in a daze.
A desireless, Saint?
Sounds pretty high-end, doesn't it?
But Lin Qingyue had already grasped the full implications.
Pfft—! A Holy Blessing! I get it now! It's forced celibacy! She's stripping him of all worldly desires, sending him straight into a permanent state of post-coital clarity!
Genius! Absolutely genius! Commander, you're a master of striking at the heart of your enemies—this is precisely your area of expertise!
Lin Qingyue barely managed to suppress her laughter, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
"You...!" Alex finally understood. His eyes widened in horror as he pointed at Aeldara. "You can't do this to me! I'm a Prince! I'm supposed to inherit the throne and continue the royal lineage..."
"Whether you can or not isn't for you to decide."
Aeldara flicked her finger dismissively, her tone indifferent.
"Besides, this won't hinder you from fulfilling your duties."
"It simply means you'll lose interest in it."
The Holy Blessing transformed into a stream of light, precisely striking Alex between the brows.
Alex shuddered violently, then froze completely.
The face contorted by fear and rage smoothed out as if touched by an invisible hand.
Sweat vanished, panic faded, replaced by an indescribable calm and serenity.
He blinked slowly. In his azure eyes, all traces of desire, fear, and scheming had vanished, leaving only a clear, tranquil stillness like a high mountain lake.
He subconsciously recalled the Elf Queen from the Magic Tome, the image that had once made his blood surge.
Ah, the Elf Queen in her youth was exceptionally beautiful.
Tall and well-developed, her physique was harmoniously balanced and naturally elegant.
Her clothing was rather sparse.
The depiction of the waterfall's light and shadow was skillfully rendered, and the dynamic capture of water droplets was technically impressive.
That's all.
His heart remained utterly unmoved, and he even felt a slight urge to analyze the angle of the light at that moment.
He tried to recall the beauties of the Royal Capital with whom he had spent countless nights "communicating through art."
Hmm, several human women.
Their expressions were poorly controlled, their poses slightly forced, sacrificing natural beauty to accentuate their curves.
Superficial. Utterly superficial.
His heart was as still as a placid lake, as tranquil as an ancient well undisturbed by the slightest ripple.
Alex sat upright in his chair, his gaze empty, his expression serene. A faint, world-weary, compassionate smile played on his lips.
He had attained enlightenment.
The flesh was merely a shackle binding the soul.
And desire, the most tiresome rust on that shackle.
"This 'Blessing' is not permanent," Aeldara's icy voice shattered his epiphany.
"Have your father, the Human King, deliver all the stolen Magic Tomes—intact and undamaged—to Morningwind Harbor and return them to us."
"At that time, I will personally remove it for you."
Aeldara paused, then added, "Remember, I will personally remove it. No other Mage or Priest can break it. You would be wise not to entertain any misguided schemes."
"Otherwise, you might as well settle down and be a 'saint' for the rest of your life."
With that, Aeldara turned and walked to the door, giving Old City Lord Carlos a slight nod.
"For Prince Alex's safety, and to ensure my words reach His Majesty the King verbatim, I request that you dispatch a trusted escort to 'protect' him on his return to the capital."
"No problem, Commander!" Old City Lord Carlos immediately grasped the deeper meaning of "protect" and respectfully agreed.
Soon, several guards entered, preparing to forcibly lift the Prince.
But when they touched Alex, they froze.
Far from resisting, Prince Alex rose to his feet and offered them a compassionate smile.
"There's no need for such measures, my brothers," he said softly, his voice warm and calm. "I must personally walk this path of atonement."
The guards exchanged bewildered glances.
Alex straightened his opulent robes with leisurely grace, then clasped his hands over his chest and bowed slightly to Aeldara.
"Thank you for guiding me, showing me the futility of desire."
With steady, penitent steps, he walked out of the Council Chamber under the stunned gaze of the guards.
As he crossed the threshold, he muttered to himself, "Vanity, all is vanity... The flesh will return to dust, but the soul will be refined through suffering... I must atone for my sins..."
Lin Xiyue, startled by his transformation, whispered, "Can he really go back like this?"
Lin Qingyue explained softly, "He has to be like this for the King to realize the gravity of the situation."
Silence finally returned to the room.
Old City Lord Carlos reappeared, waving away the servants who rushed to clean up the mess. He personally served everyone fresh, steaming cups of tea.
His stooped figure looked far older now, as if the earlier scene had drained most of his vitality.
"Commander, thank you for your mercy in granting the Human Kingdom a chance to redeem its mistakes."
Carlos stepped forward, bowing deeply to Aeldara, his voice hoarse with lingering fear.
Mercy? Do you even understand what mercy means? These are clearly the terms of a devil's bargain!
Lin Qingyue mentally ranted.
Still... I like it.
"It wasn't your fault, City Lord," Aeldara's voice softened slightly. She held a measure of respect for this responsible old human leader.
Carlos shook his head with a bitter smile, set down his teacup, and adopted a solemn expression.
"Regardless, Rock City and all its inhabitants owe you all a debt beyond measure."
"If you hadn't arrived in time, Rock City would have long since become a paradise for the undead. I, Carlos de Ramon, along with the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians within these walls, can never repay your kindness."
He rose to his feet and performed another formal bow, pressing his hand to his chest in reverence, before Aeldara and Lin Qingyue's group of four.
"Our city's supplies are adequate, but we currently lack high-tier equipment and valuable resources. However, within my means, any request you make will be honored."
Here it comes! Time to claim the reward for completing the quest!
Lin Qingyue's spirits surged, her mind racing with possibilities.
What should I ask for? Gold coins? Equipment? Rare materials?
None of that is really necessary. The Elf Queen's rewards are far better.
The most crucial thing is finding the Dungeon Core!
Aeldara, clearly thinking along the same lines, spoke calmly, her words carrying the weight of finality.
"City Lord, we require nothing but information."
"Information?" Carlos paused, momentarily taken aback.
"Information about the undead," Aeldara replied, her crimson eyes hardening with renewed killing intent. "We've been tracking the undead here to investigate their recent surge in activity. Their assault on Rock City is merely one part of a much larger plan."
"I understand," Carlos replied immediately, his expression turning grave.
He strode to the wall, retrieved a thick scroll of parchment from an inconspicuous hidden compartment, and unfurled it across the broad council table.
It was an exceptionally detailed military map, its surface marked with terrain features, strongholds, and resource distributions across the Silent Forest and surrounding regions, all denoted in various colors of ink.
"Ever since the undead began stirring along the border, I've been dispatching scouts to track their movements," Carlos explained.
Carlos's fingers moved across the map, his clouded old eyes gleaming with the sharp intelligence of a seasoned commander.
"The undead's movements may seem chaotic, attacking in all directions, but every strike serves a clear purpose—to sever Rock City's connection to the outside world."
He circled several locations on the map with a red ink pen.
"They destroyed three of our eastern watchtowers, poisoned the southern water sources, and ambushed our messengers sent to the Capital for reinforcements."
"This siege of Rock City has mobilized an unprecedentedly large army. If it weren't for all of you..." Carlos shook his head, still shaken by the close call.
"Based on the intelligence our scouts risked their lives to retrieve, and my analysis of their troop deployments..."
His finger finally landed on a secluded area deep within the Silent Forest. "I deduce that the undead must have established a large-scale Frontline Command in this area."
"The terrain is treacherous, and it's an abandoned ancient fortress—easily defended, difficult to attack. Using it as their stronghold, they've radiated outward, allowing them to organize such a massive offensive in such a short time."
Aeldara's gaze fell upon the circled area, her eyes as sharp as blades.
Lin Qingyue leaned closer, studying the map carefully. The location marked by the Old City Lord lay deep within the Silent Forest's core, surrounded by dense woods and treacherous swamps—truly an ideal, secluded spot.
Professional! This Old City Lord is a master of logistics and intelligence, Lin Qingyue thought, mentally giving Carlos a thumbs-up.
"Thank you for this intelligence, City Lord," Aeldara said, withdrawing her gaze. "It will be of great help to us."
"It is merely my duty," Carlos sighed. "Alas, Rock City has just endured a bloody battle, suffering heavy casualties. We cannot spare troops to accompany you."
"That won't be necessary," Aeldara replied evenly. "Against the undead, the Silent Watch Knight Order is more than sufficient."