'Ely, looks like this hoe wants something from you. She is sus, but it looks like the other hoes are only watching from afar because of this hoe. We can use her for information before we go to some important places to eavesdrop.' Elena rubbed her hands together because she wanted to know what would happen later.
'Hoes? Are we going to farm? However, I agree with that, she can provide decent information since she seems to be from a local aristocrat.' Elysia nodded to the aristocratic lady. "That will really help me, Ms. Arlayna. I intend to start from the downtown area first. What do you think?"
"Well, although we can find many interesting places in the outer or inner circle, but starting from the very center isn't bad either. Alright, let's go with me and I'll show you the beauty that our capital city has." Arlayna tapped her chin to think for a moment, then she invited her prey to walk side by side with her.
"Oh yeah, I already introduced my name. So, now it's your turn, cutie. Oh, yeah... Also, is the little girl in your arms your baby daughter?" Arlayna started the conversation when her prey was walking right beside her.
"My name is Ali, and yes, she is my baby daughter. Isn't she a cute baby. All right, Aria, please say hello to that kind lady." Elysia gave a signal to Rhea.
"Hew-wo!" Rhea raised her hand to say hello.
"Oh my, she is a smart cute girl. Maybe I'm being too curious, but where is your baby's mother, Mr. Ali?" Arlayna waved back at the baby, but unfortunately, the baby was no longer interested in her.
Hearing that, Elysia felt a little awkward and only looked ahead in brief contemplation. She didn't have a wife even in her previous life. However, just as she was about to answer the question, Arlayna cut her off.
"Oh, so it's like that. Please forgive me for asking. I'm so sorry for your loss." Arlayna wore a slightly sad expression, but she was delighted in her heart. She thought that this Krasivaya Elf no longer had a wife, maybe because his wife had died. So, everything would be a lot easier for her.
"Oh, well..." Elysia decided to let this misunderstanding go as they wouldn't be seeing each other again after this meeting. "All right, Ms. Arlayna, can you tell me about this city from your point of view?"
"Fufu, that's easy, but we need to get on the carriage first. The city is too big to explore on foot." Arlayna covered her mouth again with her folded fan, and she used her other hand to make a snap.
It only took a few seconds. A blue carriage pulled by a bluish horse came approaching from behind. Elysia just scratched her head to look at the carriage. Was it a taxi?
"Umm, is snapping your fingers the way to call a taxi in the capital city?" Elysia pointed at the carriage that stopped right beside her.
"Of course not. This is my carriage and the one over there is my coachman. I'll take you on a city tour with this." Arlayna smiled faintly and immediately reassured her prey because she noticed the change in her interlocutor's expression. "Or, would you prefer to take the regular carriage over there? Although it's worth it, I don't recommend it."
'Master, this elf lady is fishy. She has no good intentions.' Rhea reminded her master by looking at the face.
'It's okay, my baby Rhea. We're only going to use her for a bit of information and a city guide. If what we get from her is enough, then we will go straight to the palace. If not, then we'll just have to eavesdrop as before at Zhadphis Woodland.' Elysia reassured her baby with a smile and a wink.
'Oh okay.' Rhea only obeyed because her master already had a plan in mind.
"Thank you for your consideration. Then let's board your carriage, Ms. Arlayna." Elysia expressed her gratitude for the formalities.
"That's good, I will tell you about this city in our tour. Please wait a moment." Arlayna smiled broadly then walked over to her coachman.
"Please take us around the city for a while, then return to the mansion for lunch. I have a high quality guest plus a bonus, fufu..." Arlayna whispered softly to her coachman.
"Understood, young miss." The coachman gave a slight bow of respect. But, he felt a little sympathy for that Krasivaya Elf and the baby daughter. Since his young miss had that pretty man in the eyes, so that man couldn't escape from his young miss's grasp.
"All right, Mr. Ali. Please come in." Arlayna invited her target to enter the carriage right after her coachman opened the door for her.
"Good, then please excuse me." Elysia just nodded at the invitation and entered.
It was unfortunate for Arlayna because Elysia and her little group were capable of hearing that subtle whisper. Moreover, none of them felt that this aristocratic elf had good intentions.
Literally, it was really like a city tour on the Human Continent. On their way, Elysia asked many things about recent events, various types of rumors, and the state of the city.
Broadly speaking, she asked it like someone who had just come from the village and wanted to know about the many things happening in the capital city.
On the other hand, Arlayna didn't feel anything was wrong. She answered every question that was asked and interspersed by introducing the places they passed. Implicitly, she just wanted to get a good impression before claiming this pretty man as hers.
After about an hour had passed, Elysia felt it was enough to draw a decision from the Elven Race's perspective. Apart from Arlayna as a source of information, Nell and Vanessa had been eavesdropping on several important places to make things faster. So, after this, they just needed to go to the fake Tree of Life, then to the palace to meet five elven sovereigns.
"Wow, that's very surprising. So, four days ago a large-scale joint force went to the Fairy Continent for a big war? The operation was led by five sovereigns? Why would the Elven Race want to go to war with the Fairy Race?" Elysia pretended to be ignorant from a remote village. She put on a surprised expression when Arlayna told that.
"Hm, it's not a secret either." Arlayna twirled a lock of her hair, slightly overwhelmed. Even though she tolerated this pretty man, it was still a little tiring to keep talking.
She took a sip of water, then continued. "That's because of the Tree of Life. Please look toward the east. You will no longer be able to see the tree soaring through the sky. The residence of the Goddess of Life fell apart four days ago.
The Goddess of Life was also our Goddess, so it was only natural for our race to go there for the Tree of Life. However, those little fairies vehemently opposed it. So, war almost broke out because of that.
But! You know what? A divine existence descended from the heavens to stop the war between the three races! The Golden Goddess, Heavenly Goddess. The arrival of her divine self made the clear sky instantly turn golden in that direction. Did you see that golden sky four days ago?"
"Yes, I saw that. It was a beautiful sky, but unfortunately, our army returned empty-handed even though the five sovereigns also participated with Heavenly Valhalla." Elysia shrugged her shoulders slightly and shook her head.
"Yes, that's unfortunate. But did you know? The five sovereigns in question are still in this city you know. I don't know what they are waiting for or the secret behind what happened four days ago, but I'm sure there is a secret behind it." Arlayna put her hand beside her mouth to whisper.
"Oh, I see..." Elysia just nodded absentmindedly. She felt this conversation was enough, so it was about time for her to leave.
"Ah, I don't think it's any of our business to discuss. Let's go back to our previous topic about you. So, where are you from, Mr. Ali? What are you going to do after this? Have you got a place to spend the night?" Arlayna changed the topic of conversation to one that she liked as she wanted to know a bit more about this pretty man.
"Heavenwy twee!" Rhea pointed at the fake Tree of Life in baby language.
"Erm, we came from Alyhodorei Forest, the easternmost part of the continent. I am very curious about the Heavenly Tree. Previously, I only heard about that sacred tree, but now we are in the capital city. Can we stop there and come visit?" Elysia looked at the window and pointed at the largest tree in the middle of the city. A sacred tree protected by many guards but also visited by many elves.
"Oh, of course. After this, allow me to invite you to my mansion. I see you are very pleasant and I would like to host you for lunch." Arlayna didn't mind one last visit after an hour of touring the city.
"It's still around ten, though?" Elysia declared the obvious with a smile. But, she did not respond with a yes or no.
"It's around my hour for a jolly lunch." Arlayna laughed dryly, then told her coachman to head to the area near Heavenly Tree.
After the carriage was parked in a certain area, Elysia and Arlayna got out of the carriage and walked toward the fake Tree of Life, known as the Heavenly Tree.