Companions and Watchers

Roy stood beside a dark blue rock in the mine and asked the Dark Moon Elf who approached him, "Now there is a chance for you to see the blue sky outside the mine and breathe in the cold wind blowing from the northern Pagisto Plateau. Although it will only last for a few days, I wonder if you are willing to accept it?"

The Dark Moon Elf Dark Moon Elves exchanged glances, and one of them asked:

"All of us?"

Roy held up all ten fingers of both hands and said to the Dark Moon Elf, "I only need ten of the best Dark Moon Elf Warrior."

The Dark Moon Elf had clearly become the spokesperson for all Dark Moon Elf. He looked to his left and right, and seeing that everyone was eager to learn more, he asked, "... Could we ask... what kind of mission is it?"

Roy didn't hide anything and said directly, "This time I plan to take ten Dark Moon Elf Warrior to conduct an investigation underground in the First Mine."

The Dark Moon Elf, somewhat puzzled, tilted his head and asked, "Is that all you do?"

His words also implied something else: 'If it's just about doing these things, did you really need to call us along?'

"That's true. There's a group of Dark Moon Elf Warrior underground in the First Mine, but so far, I haven't established contact with them or gained their trust." Roy spread his hands and said frankly.

The Dark Moon Elves exchanged glances again, but remained silent.

At this moment, more Dark Moon Elf gathered here, and everyone seemed to know that Roy had arrived...

After a slight pause, the Dark Moon Elf continued to ask Roy, "Lord Roy, do you want us to help you persuade the Dark Moon Elf in the First Mine?"

Roy smiled faintly, waved his hand and said, "No, no, no, you don't need to do that. I invited you to the First Mine just to help me deal with the sudden conflict that broke out underground. I'm looking for a temporary Mercenary Group, so I need the best warriors among you."

Seeing that the Dark Moon Elves were clearly tempted, he continued, "However, before you leave, you need to sign a contract. I brought you out of the mine, and I will bring you back as well, unless you can prove that your sentence has been served. Of course, this contract is only for this mission."

Upon hearing Roy make such a request, the Dark Moon Elf began to believe that what Roy said was true.

"That's no problem."

The leading Dark Moon Elf agreed, but unfortunately Roy forgot his name.

These Dark Moon Elf have really changed a lot since Roy gave them a beating in the mines.

Everyone started whispering amongst themselves, Roy spoke up again:

"In addition... I have something to announce. I have already made contact with my Dark Moon Elf friends in Inohaus City. It won't be long before we can confirm your identities and sentences. Of course, this depends on the accuracy of the personal information you provide me. If any of the Dark Moon Elf present have completed their sentences, I promise... you will be granted your freedom."

Upon hearing Roy's formal announcement, the Dark Moon Elves immediately called out to Roy:

"Lord Roy, you must keep your word!"

The Dark Moon Elf seemed excited.

At this moment, more Dark Moon Elf surrounded them...

Roy raised his right hand, palm facing forward, and solemnly addressed the group of Dark Moon Elf:

"During my tenure as the Mine Owners of the Second Mine, I will definitely keep my word. However, you all need to behave yourselves in the mine. I will do my best to improve your current living conditions, I promise!"

The Dark Moon Elves were excited upon hearing Roy's promise, and everyone was discussing following Roy to the First Mine. Some Dark Moon Elf Warrior had already expressed their willingness to go with Roy to the First Mine.

"So many elves want to go out and see the world with you, so choosing who to go is a problem. Why don't we all vote together?" the leading Dark Moon Elf said to everyone.

The other Dark Moon Elf readily agreed.

Roy was also very curious about how the Dark Moon Elf in the well were elected. He stood aside and watched as the Dark Moon Elves gathered. When the number of Dark Moon Elf had arrived, the election officially began.

The Dark Moon Elves seem to always have a sense of ritual in everything they do.

The leading Dark Moon Elf called to the others, and those Dark Moon Elf Warrior who were willing to go out and carry out this mission stood together, while the other Dark Moon Elf stood opposite.

Roy counted carefully and found that there were more than fifty Dark Moon Elf willing to follow Roy to the outside of the mine, which accounted for almost half of the total number of Dark Moon Elf in the mine.

Only the Dark Moon Elves have decided not to participate in this mission have the right to vote.

There's no need for complicated voting or counting; everyone just needs to call out the names of ten Dark Moon Elf Warrior in turn, and only the Dark Moon Elf with the highest number of votes can stand up.

It seems fairly fair... Roy thought.

More than a hundred Dark Moon Elf were crammed into a mine, and even the air became somewhat murky.

Roy, as an observer, simply stood quietly at the cave entrance.

The Dark Moon Elf with voting rights whispered among themselves about who they should recommend.

The leading Dark Moon Elf stepped out from the crowd once again.

He stood in the center of the cave and said loudly to everyone, "Let me mention a name first. It was he who led us to defeat those Gray Rat. It was he who drove those Gray Rat into the narrow burrows they had dug themselves... Timothy!"

A well-proportioned Dark Moon Elf, with a faint smile, stepped out from among the Dark Moon Elf ...

The Dark Moon Elves opposite immediately shouted, "Timothy..."

"Timothy..."

"Timothy is the most qualified..."

Almost all the Dark Moon Elf were calling out Timothy's name.

It's clear that this Dark Moon Elf Warrior named Timothy enjoys high prestige among everyone.

The leading Dark Moon Elf shouted again, "There's another name... that I have to mention. He was an excellent assassin in the Eternal Night Forest. He gave us a completely new understanding of professional assassins, and he taught us the true skills of assassination. He is... Tennyson."

This time, the Dark Moon Elves hesitated for a moment before shouting the name in unison, "Tennyson!"

Sure enough, doubts immediately arose among the Dark Moon Elf: "Will Tennyson ever come back after he leaves?"

Some even shouted, "Tennyson, don't cause us any trouble. We've only had a few days of peace and quiet."

Of course, Tennyson also had many supporters, who said one after another, "Everyone, don't underestimate people, okay?"

In short, the cheers drowned out the boos. Clearly, this Tennyson was a remarkable guy, but also a rather restless one. Roy remembered his name.

As the names of the Dark Moon Elf were called out one by one, some Dark Moon Elf Dark Moon Elf cheered by the crowd, while others were booed.

In short, several more Dark Moon Elf Warrior were subsequently selected: Fielding, Quinnell, Woodrow, Bessemere... Roy couldn't quite remember the rest of their names.

Ten Dark Moon Elf Warrior were quickly assembled. These Dark Moon Elf Warrior looked very excited, sitting or standing around Roy.

Roy clapped his hands and said to the ten Dark Moon Elf Warrior, "You were all elected by everyone. You will come out of the mine with me in a moment!"

After Roy said this, the surrounding Dark Moon Elf fell silent:

"Let me state my requirements first. During the mission, I require you to obey my orders completely. In addition, no one is allowed to desert. If anyone is found to have deserted the team, I will do everything I can to bring you back. Furthermore, I will no longer trust any of you, and there will be no more such operations in the future."

Regardless of what the ten Dark Moon Elf were thinking, they all raised their hands and swore. "We hereby promise the Darkmoon Goddess that we will never desert the party and will never betray our companions."

Roy nodded, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the Dark Moon Elf once more.

Then he led the ten Dark Moon Elf Warrior away from the mine.

This might be the first time these Dark Moon Elf have seen sunlight since entering the mines...

At Roy's instruction, the ten Dark Moon Elf Warrior were blindfolded. Roy then led them to the dining hall, had them sit on benches, and provided them with Breadfruit and Lemon Tea.

They sat in the restaurant, filling their stomachs with Breadfruit while slowly adjusting to the intense sunlight outside the mine.

The Dark Moon Elves almost all squinted as they curiously examined the restaurant, even stroking the smooth, clean tabletop in front of them.

When the cook brought over the sliced Breadfruit and placed an exquisite ceramic plate in front of them, the Dark Moon Elves' eyes were filled with excitement.

They had been away from elven society for too long, and the hardships of life underground had even made them forget their original way of life.

Now I finally have some memories. First I was sentenced, then I went to jail, and then I was sold into slavery in the mines. I lived a dark and hellish life for decades. It's really amazing that I survived...

Now... suddenly, a Half-Elf boy broke into the well, allowing them to experience a tiny bit of life again, and their long-dried hearts seemed to come back to life.

In fact, their reason and desire were constantly battling within them. Reason wanted to hold onto these hard-won things, while desire longed to break free from all constraints and find an opportunity to become a free bird.

However, all the Dark Moon Elf were trying their best to suppress their inner excitement.

He gulped down the Breadfruit on the plate, then downed the Lemon Tea in one go, and stared blankly at his companion across from him.

Right now, the only elf who can understand what they're really thinking is probably their companion on the other side.

Both a companion and a watcher...