The Position Is a Little Off

Crash!

The sound of something being smashed, and it clearly wasn't hitting the ground, but rather "flesh."

The one smashing things was a male Dark Elf. He wasn't wearing any armor, but rather a set of decent clothing: a white shirt underneath, and a well-made suit jacket on the outside. His hair was already graying, clearly indicating considerable age. At this moment, his appearance could no longer be described with the usual handsome features attributed to Dark Elves; instead, it was refined. Judging solely by his appearance, this Dark Elf should be a butler, and the butler of a major family at that.

For a male Dark Elf to reach such a position was enough to show that his strength in all aspects was absolutely extraordinary.

Of course, at this moment, all that refinement, the signs of aging, and the demeanor accumulated from years of handling major affairs were replaced by a look of ferocity. Or perhaps, this was his true appearance from his youth.

"Trash! It's almost dawn, and you still haven't found the Third Young Lady's whereabouts. What's the use of keeping you around!" He took a new cup from a subordinate. The cup was still steaming; this wasn't ale, but a drink from the surface world called tea. It was said to be very rare even on the surface, something only nobles could drink. Yet, just moments ago, this old man had thrown a cup of tea, along with a glass cup made of crystal—something not produced in the Underworld—out the window. Now, these words clearly reignited his anger. His hand trembled, almost losing control and throwing this cup as well.

Not far from him stood three Dark Elves in tight-fitting combat attire. The one in the middle, slightly in front, had a rather deep gash on one side of his forehead. His once handsome face was also reddened by the scalding water, yet he dared not utter a single complaint. With some urgency but trying to maintain a steady tone, he quickly replied, "Lord Stefano, please calm your anger. It's not that we have no trace of the Third Young Lady at all, only that we can't find her within the city or its surroundings."

"What do you mean!" The old man Stefano's expression slightly tightened as he asked in a deep voice.

The Dark Elf hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Among those we questioned, someone saw someone who resembled the Third Young Lady. It was on a trade route, and the person who was suspected to be the Third Young Lady was heading towards..." He trailed off.

"Towards what! Tell me truthfully!" Stefano said coldly.

"She was heading towards the Yumaas Region," the Dark Elf said somewhat guiltily.

"The Yumaas Region?" Stefano repeated the name, seemingly puzzled. As a head butler for the Vol Family for over a century, the old man was quite familiar with the Vol Family and its surrounding environment. However, even so, when he heard this name, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

"It's... it's the territory of the Fourth Young Master of the Isis Family?" The last word was spoken somewhat vaguely because it was truly unfamiliar to him. Territories and lords, like tea and crystal cups, were things that simply didn't belong in the Underworld.

"What?" Hearing this, the old man's voice rose by a full octave. His face, which had regained its refined look, became ferocious once more.

"It's... it's that famous... bastard from the Isis Family..." The Dark Elf clearly knew the consequences of letting the old butler know that name, so he could only brace himself and repeat it.

Crash!

The second crystal cup, along with the tea inside, couldn't be held back and flew out. Consequently, the other side of the poor Dark Elf's forehead also split open, one on the left and one on the right, quite symmetrically.

"What's the use of the family keeping trash like you?" Stefano, having seen his fair share of major events, quickly controlled his emotions and ordered, "Continue to dispatch more personnel. I'll give you double the manpower. All of you will enter the Yumaas Region to search for the Third Young Lady. Also..."

His voice paused. Stefano pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, saying, "For now, do not let the Matriarch or the other young ladies know about this. You may leave."

"Philip Isis Landen, you scoundrel, what are you doing? Let me go quickly!"

The female Dark Elf glared at Landen and said fiercely.

As soon as she spoke, she uttered his full name so fluently. More importantly, the word "scoundrel" that followed wasn't an angry curse, but more like... a catchphrase. A catchphrase exclusive to Landen, so natural, as if two familiar people were addressing each other. "Hi Zhang San~ Hi Wang Cai~"

"You... know me?" Landen was taken aback by her words and subconsciously asked, while also scrutinizing her more carefully.

The wad of cloth in her mouth was removed, her mouth closed, and her face returned to normal. Not bad, she was a little beauty. Of course, almost no Dark Elf was ugly. However, besides being very beautiful, she also possessed an extraordinary aura. It was the nobility of someone accustomed to high status, mixed with the youthful energy radiating from her. A bit of innocence, a bit of nobility, and a bit of petulance.

Looking at her, the image of Taiga Aisaka from Toradora! naturally appeared in Landen's mind. Well, forgive the imagination of a former otaku. But that aura, it was truly similar.

Not only similar, but... familiar. Looking at her, Landen naturally felt a sense of familiarity. However, after searching through his memories, he couldn't recall where he had seen her.

So, Landen added, "Do we... know each other?"

The Dark Elf girl, who had been extending her hand waiting for Landen to unlock her chains, froze upon hearing this. She forgot about the chains on her hands and feet and stared intently at Landen for a long time before asking, "You... don't recognize me anymore?"

"Should I know you?" Seeing her serious expression, Landen had to reconfirm his memories. He still only felt a sense of familiarity, but no actual memory. He asked again.

Then, just as he finished speaking...

"I'm going to kill you, you heartless man!" The Dark Elf girl instantly transformed into a small tigress. The heavy chains on her hands and feet couldn't restrain her at all, and she lunged directly at Landen.

"You dare to attack again, you're asking for death!" Hogg, who had been guarding nearby, instantly let out a cold glint from his claws, about to attack.

"Wait, Hogg, don't rush to attack!" Landen quickly reached out to block. However, he wasn't blocking the Dark Elf girl, but Hogg.

He extended his hand to block Hogg, but at the same time, an impact force came, directly knocking him to the ground. Immediately after, a small body settled on his abdomen.

"Ugh..." Landen couldn't help but make a sound. It wasn't because the body was too heavy, but because...

The position she sat on was not quite right