Astrologers were an extremely mysterious and rare profession on the Vistoria Continent, also known as Stargazers.
They were rare because their numbers were pitifully small compared to ordinary mages and swordsmen.
Astrologers could receive revelations about the future from the gods they believed in, or obtain answers to certain questions.
The depth of the revelation and the completeness of the answer depended on the astrologer’s own strength, as well as the god they believed in.
Each god would grant different revelations, and would also give different prophecies based on their own preferences.
Some gods liked to be vague and exaggerate the future…
While others preferred to be straightforward, giving you all the prophecies about the future, and how much you could comprehend depended entirely on the astrologer’s own ability.
And among the elf delegation that came to the Okam Empire this time, there was exactly such an important astrologer.
Although she didn’t directly participate in the planning and execution of the plan, the prophecies about the future she obtained would influence the judgments made by Mother Caro and the other elves.
Now, the elves’ refusal to continue cooperating with the Storm Revolutionary Army came from her.
Her name was Jennifer Debbie.
“Jennifer, are you serious?” Winnie asked. “Does the Elf King God have more specific instructions? The great disaster, specifically refers to…”
Jennifer said with a grave expression, “I’m only a second-rank stargazer. All I can see is three seconds of the future…”
“But I did see it… our people dead, captured, and the culprit…”
She paused and didn’t continue.
Winnie Kanasha couldn’t wait any longer, and the other elves behind her were equally curious.
“Who is the culprit?”
At that moment, Mother Caro patted Winnie’s head and said gently, “Don’t ask, child. If too many people know, it will change the future…”
This statement was for Winnie, but also for the other elves.
“Alright, everyone, disperse. Remember, what was said here must be kept secret. Otherwise, we’ll be in big trouble…”
Facing Mother Caro’s advice, all the elves nodded firmly.
They naturally knew how dangerous it was to live in human territory, even if humans maintained a surface calm with them…
But behind the scenes, that was another matter.
After the other elves had left, Jennifer pulled Winnie aside and whispered in her ear, “The culprits are the people from the Storm Revolutionary Army, and the Restoration Church.”
“Ah?” Winnie was startled, and her whole body tensed up instantly.
She asked in disbelief, “Th-this… how is this possible? Aren’t we allies right now?”
“Even if we’re not participating in this operation… why would they target us? Could it be that they’re afraid we’ll leak information?”
As she spoke, Winnie Kanasha was about to go out and find someone to reason with.
“No, if that’s the reason, we have to clarify things… Or maybe we should just participate this time. Velis, I won’t let her get away with this!”
“Winnie!” Mother Caro’s stern voice stopped her, and she pulled her back.
“Don’t act impulsively. Things probably aren’t as simple as you think.”
“Mother Caro?” Winnie clenched her fists and asked, “Then if that’s not the reason, why would they target us? Or did you missee it, Jennifer?”
“No, I couldn’t have misseen it.” Jennifer shook her head firmly. “I may only be a second-rank stargazer, but the Elf King God’s revelation will be etched in my mind forever. There’s no mistake.”
“Then… why?”
Winnie Kanasha bit her lip. For a moment, she felt danger lurking everywhere around her.
Humans couldn’t be trusted—that was what her mother had repeatedly warned her about in private before the journey.
Winnie had naturally kept that in mind, but she never expected things to be far worse than she had imagined.
“Why else…” Jennifer sneered. “We elves are a different race from humans. Without cooperation, we’re nothing more than a considerable fortune to them.”
In this world, there were no eternal friends, only eternal interests.
Let alone an alliance bound by the Holy Tree Water, a ethereal sacred object they had never even seen.
“Then what do we do now?”
Winnie Kanasha’s eyes flashed with determination.
“How about we strike first before they find out about your ability, Jennifer?”
“Child, you mean… take them out?”
“Exactly!”
Faced with Winnie’s resolute decision, Mother Caro found it hard to believe that the kind and innocent elf she once knew had become so decisive and ruthless.
It seemed that night had truly left too deep a scar on her…
Mother Caro sighed inwardly and said, “No… even if we strike first, this is still human territory.”
“Only a small portion of the Storm Revolutionary Army and Restoration Church members are here. If word gets out, we’ll face a multi-front pursuit from the Empire and these factions…”
“And they haven’t broken the alliance yet. If we elves attack our allies unprovoked, it will damage our reputation and future cooperation.”
Mother Caro’s concerns were valid, but if they couldn’t sever ties openly, their current situation would be dire.
“I don’t agree with Winnie’s idea, but it seems there’s no other choice now, is there?”
Jennifer suddenly began to support Winnie.
“If the Holy Tree Water is somewhere here, taking them out would let us complete our mission and overcome this crisis… as long as we secretly leave the Okam Empire afterward.”
“As for reputation… the Life Tree matters more right now. Even if we end up taking responsibility, we can bear that burden!”
Jennifer made it sound easy, but all three of them knew it would be a life-or-death escape.
But at this moment, it was clearly impossible for the elves to leave quietly without attracting anyone’s attention.
First, they were living right under the noses of the Restoration Church and the Revolutionary Army, and even their hiding place was arranged by them.
Second, the Empire’s Inquisition Office and City Guard had been secretly searching for them. If they went out without the Revolutionary Army’s cover, the elves, unfamiliar with the area, would be arrested quickly.
“It has to be this way. Compared to the elves’ reputation, the safety of our people matters more.”
Mother Caro sighed.
“Use the commotion here to draw the Empire’s and Revolutionary Army’s attention, then have our people scatter and escape…”
At this point, the decision seemed to have been made.
But Winnie still couldn’t help asking Jennifer, “Jennifer, are you really sure?”
“All of this plan is built on the premise that your revelation is true. If it doesn’t happen, we’d be taking a risk for nothing…”
At this moment, Jennifer couldn’t be one hundred percent certain either.
After all, this concerned her people’s lives and their future reputation. One wrong step, and fame and fortune were secondary—what if she led her people into danger, or even failed to obtain the Holy Tree Water…
Thinking about those consequences, no prophecy had ever made Jennifer doubt herself so much.
“Then… let me pray once more. If the King God grants the same result, we’ll proceed with this plan?”
“Fine! That’s safer too. In the meantime, we’ll make preparations.” Mother Caro nodded in agreement.
At the same time, Victoria, hiding outside the camp, looked at the sky and had no choice but to hurry back with the intelligence she had gathered.
Soon, Velis would be leaving.
As her guardian knight, she had to be there.
As the midday sun tilted, orderly ranks and carriages were already prepared outside the Douque Palace.
The Imperial Princess was ready to depart.
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