After being driven out of Farshire by humans, the Elves and Dwarves awoke from their slumber. Sharing the same plight, they realized that only by helping each other could they find a way out. Despite being at a significant disadvantage, they abandoned their arrogance and prejudice and united closely.
This Covenant also continues to absorb elites from various races within the stronghold, including those from Oakleaf, Nightmoon, and Troll Priests, all drawn in by the creed of mutual support and cooperation.
Every so often, they would secretly meet at a certain location to exchange information and discuss solutions to their respective problems.
Originally, this was a secret gathering excluding Humans, but now that Unas has been invited to participate, these alien races are undoubtedly showing him their sincerity.
When Emily went missing not long ago, Redbrow also sought help from all sides, but to no avail. Just when the Gnomes were in despair, a human accused Holiya of kidnapping Emily.
Upon learning the news, the Gnomes leader immediately went to confront Holiya. How could Holiya possibly admit anything? The confrontation yielded no results, and Holia was instead threatened. Enraged, the Gnomes immediately launched a retaliatory campaign, mobilizing allies from various tribes under the guise of Redbrow.
The Gnomes leader had secretly copied several of the Troll prisoners' chain keys beforehand. On the night of the operation, he asked Wendy Nightmoon to distract the guards, and then Sabula Haikesi, who was also Troll, used the keys to release several Troll prisoners and told them the escape route. The Gnomes and blood Elf Rangers were lying in ambush along this route.
Holiya led his men in pursuit of the escaped prisoners. Once outside the stronghold, they were led into a forest in the Canyon. The dark Forest was the domain of the rangers, who set up various traps to separate Holiya and his men. The Gnomes leader, who was lying in ambush, seized the opportunity when Holiya was isolated and shot a poisoned thorn into his body.
The venom on the stinger wasn't fatal. The Gnomes had originally intended to capture Holiya to interrogate him about Emily's whereabouts, but things went wrong. The stinger struck a vital spot, killing Holiya instantly. The rangers had no choice but to throw his body into the depths of the Canyon, making people believe that he had been chased too far and was attacked and killed by the Poison Spiders.
After listening to Oakleaf's explanation, Unas looked around, a chill running down his spine. Most of the people on the mountaintop had actually participated in the plot to murder Holiya. There's a saying that the law doesn't punish the masses; were these guys putting pressure on him?
The human who betrayed Holiya now stood before Unas. He had originally been Holiya's personal guard, claiming he had betrayed his superior out of a guilty conscience. Facing Unas's scrutinizing gaze, this scoundrel dared to defend himself, shouting, "My actions were right and just! Holiya, as Paladin, committed a crime that neither the doctrines of the Holy Light nor the laws of the kingdom can forgive. He should..."
A flying kick choked him up. Unas couldn't take it anymore. He stepped forward and kicked the traitor to the ground, then grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air. "Say another word, and I'll throw you off here!"
The bastard endured the excruciating pain in his abdomen, not daring to move an inch. What a coward! Unas casually tossed him to the ground.
Not a single alien stood up for him. He betrayed him to the Gnomes, but instead of Gnomes him, they brought him here to be a scapegoat. This is what happens when you forget your place. This bastard has probably been brainwashed by some Knight spirit of fairness and justice, forgetting that he is a human being and that he is Holiya's personal guard. The Betrayer are despised wherever they are.
"Lord Unas," the Gnomes had remained silent spoke up. He was the chief Gnomes technician, Shatuosi, who had personally killed Holiya. "You saved Emily for us, and on behalf of her three brothers, I thank you for your kindness. Assassinating Lord Holiya was a complete mistake. Everyone else was deceived by me. I am willing to take full responsibility and submit to your Judgment, my lord."
Deceived? Unas sneered inwardly. It was clearly an organized and planned operation. Even if, according to Oakleaf, Redbrow was the only one who had been deceived, Unas simply did not believe that he had not heard of such a large-scale operation. His failure to stop it meant that he had tacitly agreed to it.
The Judgment was merely a formality; Unas couldn't do anything to him. Everyone present was his accomplice. Judgment the Gnomes would be tantamount to breaking with them, Unas wouldn't pay such a high price for Holiya, who had almost no connection to him.
He thought for a moment, looked around, and announced, "Thank you very much for inviting me to this gathering and for openly confessing your sins... your actions."
"Heh, we should be thanking you," Master Oakleaf, ignoring the barb in Unas's words, and nodded slightly, one hand over his heart. "Beryl and Emily were both saved by you. You killed the Dreadlord, freeing many Elves and Dwarves. We are all grateful to you, and I believe you are a human who can treat us fairly."
"Of course," Unas knew what the Druid meant—fair treatment, after all. He turned to the Gnomes leader, "As Master Oakleaf said, Holiya's death was an accident, but his crime of kidnapping Emily is unforgivable. His death may be punishment from the Holy Light."
"I, Unas-Lawugade, in the name of the Argent Dawn, pardon you and your accomplices. Rise, Chief Technician of Shatuosi, I declare you innocent."
The Gnomes, who had been kneeling on the ground in fear, didn't get up. Instead, he slumped to the ground as if he had breathed a sigh of relief. He knew this was probably the outcome, but he was also afraid that some hothead would just take advantage of him.
Master Oakleaf laughed heartily and thanked him on his behalf, saying, "Unas your pardon, Lord Unas. I hope you can also join our Covenant, and I will invite you to every gathering in the future to discuss various matters."
"It's my honor," Unas quickly agreed. This was Oakleaf's way of repaying him; joining their secret Covenant would make it less likely for him to be kept in the dark, and uniting all the forces within the stronghold was also one of his tasks. "From now on, you can tell me directly if you have any needs or difficulties, and I will do my best to help you."
"Is that so?" Perella Swiftarrow, the leader of the Blood Elves, didn't mince words and immediately replied, "I have a favor to ask of you now."
"Please speak." Unas was a little surprised, but it wasn't a bad thing that she was willing to ask him for help, so he gestured for her to speak freely.
"Several of my clansmen also want to learn mushroom cultivation techniques from Master Oakleaf. I know the adults' orders are not limited by race, but they were all refused by your logistics officer with various excuses, simply because their race is Blood Elves."
"What's the basis for your statement? I have other selection criteria; they must be children with learning abilities or elderly women with planting experience. Perhaps your people are simply unqualified?" Unas defended his subordinate.
"My people all have cultivation experience several times longer than your human lifespans," Perella's tone became somewhat intense, "And if you look closely at the list of selected trainees, you'll find that they are all humans, not a single Blood Elf or Dwarf!"
Unas looked at Redbrow, the Dwarf shrugged without denying it, but a hint of anger rose in Unas's heart. Racial divides were truly everywhere. The logistics officer wasn't necessarily a racist; it was understandable that he would prioritize his own people when there were good opportunities. Perhaps this was the norm under Holiya's rule.
But Unas would not tolerate this. To unite these alien races, they must be treated equally. "I will give you a satisfactory answer on this matter."