The Question Is, Who Brings a Bunch of Thugs to a Diplomatic Mission? And Who'd Believe You Were Peaceful?

Amastasia Harbor was a natural harbor in the southeast of the Castilla Peninsula, where the Elven Kingdom lay. Its coordinates directly faced Chardo Port across the Cato Sea, and ships leaving this elven port could sail straight there without changing course, reaching the halfling city in at most two and a half days.

Since Chardo Port was a hub of continental commerce, Amastasia Harbor had also flourished as an extension of the trade routes.

It was indeed the only neutral, open port through which the Elven Kingdom could communicate with the outside world. Although the Castilla Peninsula had overland connections to the continent through the Antani region in the north and the Cato region in the northeast, those areas were sealed off year-round by the Druid Order and the Ranger Legion. Merchants and travelers without special credentials weren't permitted to enter the Elven Kingdom by land.

Anyone who wanted to follow the proper process to visit the mysterious, isolationist elven forests had to submit an application to the harbor authority in Amastasia Harbor, then wait through a long approval process.

The real problem was that elves were long-lived, and their work efficiency was infuriatingly slow. More than once, applicants had died of old age before their applications were finally approved—a tragedy so absurd it was almost funny.

In that respect, the elves had never intended to let many outsiders into their "keep to ourselves" way of life. Their conservatism was even more extreme than that of the stubborn dwarves.

While the Origin Vanguard was on its way to Amastasia Harbor, a group of people who had hitched a ride gathered in the dining hall for a rather unusual discussion.

"Hey, did you see that fight just now?"

Little Ashina, clutching a bottle of juice, raised her eyebrows and said:

"During