Extracting Information

Nathanos followed behind Sylvanas, while the Ranger brought by the Female Elf held bows and arrows, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings and also monitoring Nathanos's every move.

"I know what you're thinking," Sylvanas said, her voice as melodious as her sister's. But compared to Alleria's gentleness, Sylvanas always carried a hint of sweetness and teasing. As if she controlled everything, Nathanos was somewhat annoyed but had no words to refute her.

"You're thinking about how to escape. Aren't you, kid?" The Female Elf turned to him and smiled knowingly.

'What an arrogant fool,' Nathanos thought to himself, but remained silent. He had no intention of running away; in fact, he was planning to try and contact the Elf. If he were going to run, he wouldn't have been waiting at the gates of Zul'Aman to be captured by the Elf. Some facts were known only to the Elf, such as the past of the Amani Troll.

"My Ranger know this place like the back of their hand; they even know the location of a rock and how many leaves a tree has lost today."

'Nonsense.' Nathanos chuckled inwardly and retorted, 'Then tell me, how did I sneak in? In my memory, Elf aren't exactly hospitable.'

Sylvanas's smile faded, her expression turning cold. After a moment, she said, "Just because you were able to sneak in doesn't mean you can get out."

Where are you taking me?

The Female Elf's lips curled into a smile, but she didn't answer him. They walked through the forest onto the main road, and the closer they got to their destination, the clearer the faint sounds of pleasure in the air became. Nathanos had a bad feeling.

Finally, they arrived at Sylvanas's hometown— Windrunner Village.

The scene here completely overturned Nathanos's perception of Elf. It was bustling with activity, a constant stream of carriages and horses. Elf conversed amongst themselves, their manners elegant, their status evident. Jewelry shops, tailor shops, and merchants skilled in inscription and enchanting were everywhere. These people all seemed to know Sylvanas; they bowed to the Female Elf they saw, and Sylvanas nodded in return. Nathanos looked utterly rustic here, like a fool, a thought he himself held. Every Elf who saw him cast a surprised glance his way.

"Sylvanas?"

"Lirath?"

Nathanos felt somewhat at ease watching the approaching male Elf. Compared to the noblely dressed Elf, Lirath appeared quite ordinary. He was holding a fishing Nathanos, preparing to enjoy a leisurely fishing session.

The two Elf whispered to each other, Nathanos mimicking the mouth shape of Lirath, while the other spoke in Sauras language.

What's wrong with this human?

'A pet? That's a funny joke, but he doesn't seem to like it.'

'Prepare an empty room? You want to leave it here? I'm afraid Mother won't agree; after all, he's not a guest.'

'Okay, hopefully there won't be any rumors today.'

After the two Elf finished speaking, they both gave Nathanos a strange look. The human clenched his fists; Sylvanas treated him like a pet! Although it was just a joke, as Lirath had said, the feeling of being mocked greatly displeased Nathanos, and he vowed to teach Sylvanas a lesson.

"Alright, let's not mess things up today," Lirath said, turning and leaving.

"He is my brother, Lirath Windrunner," Sylvanas introduced, but Nathanos was uninterested; he just wanted to end the journey as soon as possible.

"Do you have a younger brother?" the Female Elf asked as she continued leading the way.

"Yes, my cousin."

Do you like him?

"Yes," Nathanos replied, his tone soft but firm.

"It seems we do have some things in common."

"I would not be proud of that, madam."

Sylvanas led Nathanos to the family courtyard, where they were the only people present. Nathanos could finally breathe; he had been truly uncomfortable in that situation. The Female Elf noticed the barely concealed embarrassment in his eyes and couldn't help but find it amusing. She gestured for the Ranger who had accompanied them to disperse, but they didn't leave; instead, they remained in certain corners and alleys, making sure no one eavesdropped on or intruded on their leader's conversation.

"This looks like an execution ground." Nathanos surveyed the area; there was no refreshments, not even a chair.

"If you don't answer my question seriously, what you say will immediately come true."

"I will answer your question," Nathanos replied without fear.

"Very good." Sylvanas nodded in satisfaction. "Tell me why you want to enter this land."

"Of course, we'll go to Zul'Aman."

Upon hearing this, the Female Elf immediately clenched her fists. This was a complete lip service. She was very patient, but her eyes were even colder than before.

"Why go to Zul'Aman? That's Troll territory."

"Find someone."

"Oh?" Sylvanas finally heard something interesting. Her expression relaxed, and she asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"Zul'jin," Nathanos replied the instant Sylvanas finished speaking, clearly anticipating Female Elf next question. Sylvanas was momentarily stunned, staring at Nathanos in surprise before her expression changed drastically. "Nonsense!" she snapped angrily, while Nathanos was secretly delighted. After uttering those two words, the Female Elf fell into a state of confusion, unsure what to ask next. But the next second, she felt as if she'd been tricked. She didn't know why she felt this way; perhaps it was Nathanos's expressionless face, a face that might be desperately trying to conceal a smile. Her intuition was accurate. Nathanos was indeed laughing inwardly; Sylvanas's expression had already answered his question. The Female Elf's face showed surprise, disbelief, and then deep confusion. Then, Female Elf sky-blue eyes trembled slightly, a wavering look that left a deep impression on Nathanos. He was now certain that Zul'jin, the leader of the Forest Troll, was still alive. But only a few Elf knew this secret, and Sylvanas was one of them.

"He's been dead for many years," Sylvanas lied weakly to Nathanos. She even forgot to ask Nathanos the crucial question of why he was searching for Zul'jin. She knew in her heart that Zul'jin was still alive; he had disappeared for centuries, and the Elf had been hunting him relentlessly, but to no avail. Later, to appease the people, Quel'Thalas had simply announced Zul'jin's death and ordered the search to cease. This matter had always troubled Sylvanas. She had repeatedly suggested to the Silvermoon Council that they resume the search for this notorious Forest Troll leader, but the Silvermoon Council's responses had repeatedly disappointed her.

"Thank you." Nathanos interrupted her reminiscence, then said, "In that case, may I leave?"

The Female Elf's previously somber mood brightened once more. She looked at Nathanos with a mocking expression. "Want to leave? You haven't experienced the Windrunner family's hospitality yet. I guarantee you'll..." The Female Elf walked up to him, very close. He could even feel her breath. Sylvanas whispered in Nathanos's ear, "Unforgettable."