Julius couldn't help but stare at Luca with an intense, conflicted gaze.

'What exactly is he?' He wondered. 'This isn't the kind of man I was expecting.'

Everything he had read in the reports—the stories of massacres, of battlefields drenched in blood, of destruction left in the hero's wake—had painted a picture of a man driven solely by brute force.

Julius had been convinced that the famed Hero was little more than a muscle-headed killer, someone who only knew how to swing a sword, not someone capable of manipulating crowds or turning tense situations to his favor.

That was why he had devised this little scheme—to subtly turn the elves against him, to corner the Hero using the children as a moral noose and let public sentiment do the rest.

But instead of losing their faith in him, the elves had come to respect him more.

'He reversed the checkmate.' Julius thought bitterly, his jaw tightening. 'Instead of being condemned, he's now trusted even more than before. And it didn't even seem like he was trying hard.'

It was baffling. Even Julius, with all his political savvy, wasn't sure he could've pulled off something like that.

Still, he couldn't afford to let the cracks show.

With a sudden smile, smooth and warm like butter, Julius stepped forward, clapping loudly.

"Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!" He exclaimed cheerfully. "Truly, what an incredible deed!"

The elves turned toward him in surprise as Julius continued,

"If I were in your position, I don't think I could ever do something so cruel, so absolute. Killing children like that?" He gave a soft laugh. "I don't have that kind of...fortitude. Only someone like you could do it."

The tone was honeyed, but there was venom under the sweetness. He was praising Luca, yes—but every word carried the faint sting of mockery, a subtle accusation hidden behind the compliment.

"I truly must apologize." Julius went on, placing a hand over his chest. "I didn't read the reports about those children at all. When I heard the rumors, all I could think of were innocent faces—harmless little ones who didn't know right from wrong."

"I confess, it made me angry. Even if humans are our enemies, the thought of laying hands on children…" He sighed dramatically. "It felt too monstrous to bear."

He shook his head solemnly, pretending guilt.

"But now, after hearing the truth, after realizing what kind of devils they truly were, I see that I was mistaken. You've rid the world of a future calamity."

"So allow me to apologize for my earlier accusations." He bowed deeply. "I was too hasty. I questioned you out of ignorance, and I hope you can forgive me for my lack of understanding."

The crowd stirred uncomfortably. Some sighed, others groaned softly, seeing right through the charade.

Luna rolled her eyes with open disdain, while Lulu muttered under her breath,

"Oh, here we go again, pretending to be all nice…"

They could see right through him—through that overdone performance, that false humility. Even the male elves seemed uneasy, knowing there was something off in the way he spoke.

Yet they also knew Luca's personality—easygoing, patient, kind.

Surely, he'd laugh it off like always.

But to their surprise, Luca didn't.

He didn't smile. He didn't respond at all. He just stared at Julius.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

The silence stretched longer and heavier with each passing heartbeat, while Julius's confident grin began to falter ever so slightly.

Luca's eyes weren't angry, but there was something about them, a quiet suffocating pressure. It felt like standing before a storm that had decided to wait before striking.

For a brief moment, Julius wondered—is he going to lash out and fight back?

Even the elves tensed. Some of the younger women leaned forward in excitement. Luna glanced nervously at Lulu, whispering.

"What's he doing?"

"I don't know." Lulu whispered back, eyes wide with anticipation. "But I hope he punches him. Please punch him."

But before anyone could say anything else, Nyx suddenly stepped forward from the crowd with a cheerful smile on her face.

"Oh, come on, Hero." She said sweetly, walking over to Julius's side and gently resting a hand on his shoulder. "Why are you hesitating so much? You know my brother-in-law didn't do this to spite you."

Her words earned a few confused looks.

"He's just...cautious, that's all." Nyx continued warmly. "He was thinking for the good of everyone. You said it yourself earlier—it's only natural to ask questions if one wants to protect their people."

"Surely you can forgive him for that, right?"

Seeing this made many of the elves confused.

"Why's she backing him up all of a sudden?" Lulu whispered.

"I...have no clue." Luna murmured.

Julius, on the other hand, looked absolutely delighted. His grin returned, smug and satisfied.

"Ahh, my sister-in-law truly is the best." He said with mock humility. "Always so understanding."

He turned back toward Luca, nodding graciously.

"You see? Even she understands my intentions. I truly hope you don't take any offense, Hero. Everything I did, every question I asked—it was all for the good of the clan. Surely, you understand that."

Luca stood between them—Nyx's pleading eyes on one side, Julius's calculating grin on the other.

The elves held their breath, waiting to see what he would do.

Even Julius, despite his cool expression, could feel his heart thudding nervously.

But then —

Luca's lips curled into a bright, carefree smile.

"Of course." He said cheerfully. "I understand completely."

The tension shattered like glass.

"Honestly." H went on, laughing lightly. "I'm not bothered at all. You were just doing what any good man would do. Asking questions, making sure your people are safe. I actually appreciate it."

Julius blinked, taken aback. "You...do?"

"Of course!" Luca said, his tone open and sincere. "If anything, you helped me. Thanks to your questions, everyone here got to hear my side and understand me better. So, really, I should be thanking you, not blaming you."

He grinned, extending his hand casually. "You helped me earn everyone's trust. I owe you one."

A few elves sighed in relief, while others groaned in disappointment.

"Ugh." Lulu muttered under her breath. "Come on, I thought something exciting was going to happen."

She then leaned closer to Luna and whispered,

"Why isn't he doing anything? It's so obvious that father's got bad intentions. Why isn't Luca calling him out?"

Luna crossed her arms, still staring at Luca's smiling face, trying to figure it out herself.

"I don't know." She said softly. "But...I get the feeling he's waiting for something."

And Luna's observation was absolutely right.

Luca was waiting.

From the moment Julius had stepped into the village with that pleasant smile and honeyed words, Luca had been measuring every breath, every glance, every carefully placed sentence.

At first, he had genuinely considered a peaceful resolution.

If there was even the slightest chance to reunite the male and female elves—to restore balance instead of bloodshed—then that path was always preferable.

Peace was cleaner. Quieter. And most importantly, it didn't leave scars that echoed for generations.

But after today?

But after everything he'd seen today.

Julius's conniving tongue, his false humility, his ability to twist truth and manipulate perception.

And after noticing the self-centered, conceited faces of the male elves standing proudly behind him, Luca's patience began to dry up.

'Even if we bring them together.' He thought coldly. 'It won't be unity. It'll be tension waiting to explode.'

The female elves had grown stronger, independent, and dignified in their separation. The males, on the other hand, had steeped themselves in pride and political ambition.

Bringing them together again would only mean more fractures.

So, in his mind, a simpler, cleaner option formed.

One that he normally would've dismissed but now found disturbingly reasonable.

Wipe them out.

Wipe out the male elves and make sure that not even a single one his alive.

He already had divine permission for it from the gods above. All it would take was one decision and the arrogance of these men would vanish from existence.

It would be the simplest, most efficient path forward.

But there were too many strings tangled around one man.

Julius.

And through him—Leona and Nyx.

That was the complication.

Leona's behavior made no sense. She was polite, cordial, cooperative to Julius...but hollow at the same time.

Luca could see it clearly now. Her smiles never reached her eyes. Her words were carefully neutral, never affectionate, never hostile like someone walking on glass.

And yet, despite everything Julius had done, she continued to accommodate him.

Even more puzzling was Nyx.

From what he understood about her, he knew she was sharp. She was perceptive.

She was someone who should have seen through Julius's manipulation long ago.

And yet, she defended him.

Not once. Not twice. But consistently.

That alone told Luca that killing Julius outright—no matter how tempting wouldn't solve anything.

It would only rip open wounds that were being deliberately hidden.

Secrets were being protected here.

Chains that Luca couldn't yet see.

And then there was the final barrier.

Leona's authority.

Without her approval, Luca couldn't openly act against the male elves. And with how obedient she appeared around Julius, there was no chance she would ever give that approval—not without something changing first.

No.

Before he could move, Luca needed answers.

Not just about Julius.

But about why Leona and Nyx were bound to him in ways that defied logic.

And beneath all of that, there was something else—something darker.

Luca could feel it.

Julius wasn't just a manipulative traitor clinging to influence. His instincts were screaming at him that Julius was involved in something far larger.

Something buried beneath layers of charm and theatrics.

A bigger plan.

And until Luca uncovered it, any decisive action would only play straight into Julius's hands.

So he smiled.

Just like Julius smiled.

Friendly. Open. Disarming.

A temporary truce between predators.

But Julius felt it.

As Luca stared at him with that calm, easy smile, Julius felt a chill crawl up his spine.

When he had first returned to the demi-human continent, he had been confident, almost smug.

He believed the Hero could be cornered, shamed, turned against his own allies with the right pressure.

Now?

Now it felt like he was standing too close to the edge of something very deep.

'If I stay too long...' Julius thought uneasily. 'This could end badly.'

For a fleeting moment, the idea of retreat crossed his mind—pulling out, regrouping, abandoning today as a failed probe.

But then he remembered what was at stake.

What he stood to gain.

And he clenched his fists.

'This was just a fluke.' He told himself. 'I won't lose to him. Not here.'

Both men stood there, smiling politely at one another, each fully aware of one another.

But just then—

A small, pitiful voice broke through the tension.

"Big Sister Luna!...Big Sister Lulu!...Help...Help me please!"

Everyone turned.

A small elf girl—no older than ten—came running toward them on shaky legs. Her blonde hair was tied into messy pigtails, strands sticking to her flushed face.

Her bare feet slapped against the ground as she ran, dirt smeared across her soles. Her chest heaved as she struggled to breathe.

"Lisa!" Luna exclaimed, rushing forward immediately, with Lulu right beside her. "What's wrong? Why are you running like that?"

She knelt in front of the child, steadying her shoulders.

"Didn't I tell you to stay home? Why did you come all the way here?"

"It's not safe for you right now." Lulu added, crouching down next to her. Then she frowned, eyeing Lisa's bare feet, "Look at your feet, they're covered in dirt! Where are your sandals?!"

The girl looked down, shamefaced and trembling.

"What if you got a cut, huh?" Lulu continued, folding her arms in false scolding. "Then you'd have to walk on your hands instead."

"And trust me, I tried that once—it's really hard! So wear shoes next time, okay?"

Even in such a grim moment, a few elves stifled small chuckles at Lulu's tone.

But the girl's lips quivered, and she shook her head desperately.

"I—I'm sorry." She sobbed. "I know I'm not supposed to...but my mother...my mother—"

Her voice cracked.

"She's really struggling. She can't even drink water properly. She's shaking, and she won't wake up fully."

"Please...Please help her."

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