Negotiation

Although Li Lin did believe he had found a suitable candidate, Maya reacted strongly, refusing to accept the condition of becoming the Dark Maiden's representative underground. No matter what he said, it was to no avail; it seemed that after the death of the Spider Goddess, this Dark Elf's view of the divine world had shifted from one extreme to the other, no longer willing to be an ally of any god.

This gave Li Lin a huge headache, and the Dark Elf were quite adamant about it. Even Angela's torture couldn't change their will. Li Lin couldn't use magic either, because without Dark Elf -seated faith, one couldn't accept the power of the gods. Therefore, he couldn't be their representative. So Li Lin abandoned the idea and decided to find another Dark Elf to take on this responsibility.

However, after searching for a long time, not only did he fail to find a suitable candidate, but it also strengthened Li Lin's determination to have Maya as his spokesperson. Those Dark Elf either outwardly agreed but secretly plotted treachery, or they shouted for revenge and desperately attacked Li Lin, only to be torn to shreds by Angela. There wasn't a single Dark Elf as optimistic as Maya to be found. Although there were two or three whose situations were similar to Maya's, Li Lin felt they were too unreliable and could very well become dangerous elements who turned against him.

"I'll go talk to Maya again."

After circling the ruins twice, Li Lin still couldn't find a suitable candidate. Although the Dark Elf, because of his threat, didn't try to escape but silently returned to their dwellings to await further instructions, this search still frustrated Li Lin. Unable to find a suitable person to take the position, he could only helplessly continue to rely on that unique Dark Elf.

After the battle, Maya was placed under Angela's supervision. Her "non-violent non-cooperation" attitude made the perpetrators lose interest. Therefore, when Li Lin returned to his original base, he found that Angela had already handed over the task of guarding the Dark Elf to the two sisters and had gone off to play somewhere.

Li Lin walked up to the Dark Elf and stared intently at her. Maya, on the other hand, had her head down, lost in thought.

"Miss Maya, I hope you can reconsider my proposal."

Li Lin spoke, but his words sounded less like persuasion and more like a suggestion.

"You should understand very well that without the help of the gods, the Dark Elf would have completely vanished from this land."

"That's just how the underworld is."

Maya maintained her usual unhurried tone.

"Kill or be killed, annihilate or be annihilated. We've done so much, it's not surprising that we're being annihilated now. I don't know what the surface world is like, but here, in the Underdark, the death of the powerless is perfectly normal. I don't need to worry about it at all."

Do you really think your race is helpless?

Li Lin stared at the Dark Elf, trying to see through the Dark Elf's innermost thoughts.

"You should know better than I that the Dark Elf have other cities besides Kasos. You've probably also noticed that after the death of your worshipped god, you can no longer be as powerful as before. But do you really believe your people will perish?"

His tone gradually became serious.

"Please think this through, miss. Consider how you came to the Underdark. When the Dark Elf entered, they were cursed by the Elf Goddess and pursued by human hunters. The Underdark was teeming with dangerous creatures. Your situation then was a hundred times more perilous than it is now. Did the Dark Elf become extinct under those circumstances? No, they didn't. Not only did you survive, you even found the help of a new god. And now? Now your god is dead. What will become of you? Do you really believe these Dark Elf will perish in the Underdark?"

Maya trembled slightly, understanding Li Lin's meaning. Since the Dark Elf could find the Spider Goddess as their backer when facing a crisis, finding another god to rely on in their current predicament wouldn't be difficult.

"Do you want to see the Dark Elf end up like this? Let me tell you frankly, the Elf Goddess has already handed over your Spider Queen's corpse to me. This deity will never be resurrected or reappear in the world. So, what choice do you think the Dark Elf have? Do you intend to worship those demon lords of Hell? You should know that their class distinctions and attitudes are completely different from those of the Dark Elf."

"..."

Maya remained silent, but she was clearly beginning to hesitate and ponder. Although Maya was currently utterly despondent, the culture and way of life of the Dark Elf were deeply ingrained in her. Perhaps she didn't mind speaking to a powerful human male like Li Lin now, but the thought of the Dark Elf siding with the gods and the potential upheaval of their social hierarchy naturally made Maya feel uneasy. She disliked that kind of life, and frankly, even elevating the status of male Dark Elf to parity with female Dark Elf would make Maya uncomfortable.

In this respect, although the Elf Goddess's stance differs somewhat from that of the Dark Elf, their socio-political systems are quite similar. Surface Elves are also ruled by women, but the status of male Elves there is not as low as that of the Dark Elf; they become warriors voluntarily, unlike the Dark Elf who are specifically trained for killing. After all, the Dark Elf were originally a branch of the Elves, and perhaps it's better for them to worship even more bizarre gods.

Perhaps having made a decision deep in her heart after weighing the pros and cons, Maya took a deep breath and then raised her head.

"So, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"It's very simple."

Seeing that the Dark Elf seemed to agree, Li Lin breathed a sigh of relief. If he could persuade the Dark Elf, things would be much easier from there.

"I need you to persuade the other Dark Elf cities to avoid a large-scale riot. With the Dark Maiden supporting you, you should be able to easily deal with the other matriarchs who no longer have a god as their backer. I will be returning to the surface in the meantime to take care of some personal matters. When I return, I hope to see everything settled... I hate incompetence, and you have the ability. If you fail, then... I think you should understand the consequences."

"I see."

Maya nodded slightly. Although Li Lin's words were tantamount to making her the ruler of all Dark Elf, Maya didn't smile. The power she had seized by killing her mother had vanished in an instant, making her understand the powerlessness of an individual before a god. Therefore, even if she truly regained the rule of all Dark Elf through the power of the Dark Maiden, Maya wouldn't be as excited as before. Perhaps this was because she understood better than others how easily power could be gained and lost.

"I will leave someone with you to monitor your actions and also to relay messages. If you have anything to say, just let her do it. And... to prevent any potential accidents, I will cast a Geas on you. Don't worry, it won't affect your daily life. However, if I find that your actions might violate our agreement, then I'm sorry."

As he spoke, Li Lin gazed at the deep, dark cave.

"I hope that when I return, I will see what I hope to see."

"As you wish, Venerable Master."

Maya lowered her head slightly in agreement, but she quickly raised it again.

"However, I have one condition."

"Oh?"

Hearing the Dark Elf's words, Li Lin looked at her with some surprise. This Dark Elf should know very well that she had no right to negotiate demands or conditions with anyone... What on earth had made this Dark Elf girl have such thoughts?

"Go ahead and say it."

"If I successfully complete the task and achieve results that satisfy you..."

Maya gazed at Li Lin, her eyes revealing a clarity she had never shown before, and an unwavering passion.

Could you grant me a request?

"..."

Li Lin didn't immediately answer Maya's request. He pondered for a moment, wondering what this Dark Elf truly wanted. Moreover, such conditions were far too dangerous. Who knew what Dark Elf might demand? This wasn't an ordinary ally; Maya was a Dark Elf, and she had once killed her own mother in her quest for power. While this wasn't considered a sinful act in Dark Elf culture, could her demands truly be simple and easy?

However, Li Lin didn't hesitate for long before nodding. After all, he needed this ally, and since their conversation, he had gained some understanding of Maya. She wasn't exactly kind in the broad sense, but she had strong principles and unwavering will. Since she clearly knew that she was facing a powerful mage and understood that her current status didn't qualify her, the only reason she made this choice was that she wouldn't change her mind. Therefore, Li Lin didn't mind making a risky decision within his control, within tolerable limits.

"Okay, I agree to your terms."