Treasure Island, Shanala Estate.
The crystal chandelier cast an amber glow as Shanala gave a gentle wave. The Skeleton Attendant pushed open the sealed main gate.
The wealthy merchants who had been panicking just last night were now chatting and laughing as they streamed into the courtyard.
"I told you, how could heroes possibly start fighting so easily?" The jeweler brushed pastry crumbs from his sleeve. "Travel all this way just to attack Treasure Island?"
"That's not what you said last night. You were telling everyone to find ships and leave the island. And now you're pretending to be tough?" someone cut in with a sneer.
The crowd burst into laughter, as if nothing had happened the night before.
After all, if something had truly happened, the fighting would have started last night.
There had been no news even now, so it had to be as the Fifth Elder said—the Association had stepped in and suppressed the conflict between both sides.
Still, most people headed to the harbor in groups.
They wanted to see whether there were any Church ships and whether ships were being permitted to leave.
Reception hall.
The Wood Elf Fifth Elder stirred his tea with a Silver Key, producing several crisp clinks against the cup. "Does the Island Master's Manor have any definite news?"
Holding her phone, Shanala quickly typed out and sent a message before saying, "The Church fleet has been sunk. Treasure Island is safe."
The battle at sea could be observed through the Emerald Sea Sandbox.
Shanala also remained in contact with the Island Master's Manor through her phone, allowing her to receive outside news immediately.
"Sunk?" The Fifth Elder's gaze sharpened. "Wasn't the Association mediating? How did they go straight to war?"
"Mediation requires both sides to be willing to sit at