The next day, Qiu Ruyi reached the camp like dawn slipping under tent flaps, carrying long-awaited good news.

“The talks have wrapped. The Elven Parliament has tentatively agreed to release the innocent adventurers.”

“Oh? That’s great!”

“But they also require the Azure Front to send someone important to the Elven Capital for negotiations.”

“Negotiations? A trap?”

“Little Yue, a trap’s unlikely. Elves care a lot about face, like lacquer kept spotless. I think… they want something too.”

“Dixue’s right. The Parliament also wants outsiders to release captives. A small clash happened near the Elven Forest a few days ago. A squad of elven rangers was captured.”

“Hmm… so they want us to negotiate?”

“I don’t know the details. I’m just a garrison captain, not a councilor.”

Qiu Ruyi lounged in the recreation room, like a cat in a sunbeam. She cradled the Yue Liuyi hug pillow, fingers stroking the stitched palm like warm jade.

Across from her, Yue Liuyi and Dixue fell deep into thought, like leaves sinking in a quiet pond. The inner-ring civilization didn’t want this war either. If the elves offered peace, the colony’s governors and mayors would welcome it like rain after drought.

“But… Tisinate likely won’t agree, right? Any movement from the Elven Queen these days?”

“Surprisingly quiet. Like snow that refuses to fall.”

“Oh? Then she must be preparing something big, like storm clouds gathering out of sight.”

The silver-haired girl lowered her head, thoughtful and steady as moonlight on still water. It set everyone at ease.

“If even Ruyi has no word, then if Tisinate acts, she’ll have to use that…”

“Oh… Dixue, you mean the Silverwing Elves?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Silverwing Elves? What are they?”

Listening to the two girls, Yue Liuyi asked softly, curiosity fluttering like a moth toward a lamp. She felt she’d heard the name somewhere.

“Silverwing Elf is our local term, but similar orders exist across elven lands. They guard the Silent Garden, the most mysterious and elegant force in the Elven Kingdom. They’re close to the royal house. Even the Elven Parliament can’t mobilize them.”

“Wow… that strong?”

“Usually, they ride pegasi into battle, like white thunder over the treetops. Since they’ve guarded the World Tree for generations, most are fair and beautiful, with pale hair. That’s why people call them ‘silverwing.’”

As Qiu Ruyi spoke, Yue Liuyi sneaked a glance at Dixue—Yedie Snow’s elven form was practically a Silverwing double, a mirror of frost and feather.

“So… Dixue, do you have a way to deal with the Silverwing Elves?”

“I do. I know what to do. Little Yue, get ready. This afternoon we head for the Elven Capital.”

“Huh? Do I still need to possess the pillow this time?”

“Not this time, please! Just call Ailuna, Lingwei, and Zaocun. We’ll go together.”

“Bring Ailuna too? Won’t it be dangerous there?”

“A little disguise will do~ like a veil over moonlight.”

In the end, four elven girls set out for the Elven Capital: Yedie Snow, Yue Liuyi, Ailuna, and Qiu Ruyi. Plus two catgirls—Zaocun and Zero Wei. They moved like a small flock of swallows skimming a river.

“You really don’t need us to set an ambush, President Dixue?” Chulei asked, voice tight as a bowstring.

“If you need anything, say it. We came to the Elven Forest for this,” the old captain added, weathered as driftwood.

Before departure, Chulei and the old captain sought out Dixue. As humans, they still didn’t quite trust the elves, like hands hovering over unknown fire.

“No need, Commander Chulei, Captain Duanmu. Don’t worry about the elves. Just watch Crimson Paradise these next few days, like keeping eyes on a red horizon.”

“Mm. Understood.”

Elsewhere, Yue Liuyi helped Ailuna with her disguise, nimble as a sparrow arranging feathers.

“Ugh > <! Liuyi-chan, why dye my hair green? Did Ailuna do something wrong…?”

“No, it’s for safety. Mm! This little dress of mine… Ailuna, put it on too.”

“Huh? I can wear Liuyi-chan’s dress? Awesome! I love the white one… is that okay?”

“Of course.”

A week ago, Dixue had prepared six gorgeous little dresses for Yue Liuyi, silk and starlight on hangers. Back then, Ailuna was still caged, only able to look up in envy like a bird watching the sky.

Now, Ailuna finally got her wish. In a white dress, she was soft and adorable, like a pampered little princess, a flower cupped by gentle hands.

“So good~ I love it~”

Ailuna lifted her hem and twirled in place, like a petal caught in a breeze.

“Does it fit?”

“It fits! Huh? The chest feels… kind of empty.”

“Empty…?”

Yue Liuyi lowered her head, looked at Ailuna’s boobs, then at her own, eyes widening like lanterns in fog.

In that moment, she realized something absurd, like finding snow in summer.

She’s a boy—so why are her boobs so much bigger than the girls’?!

And not just a little. Among the girls Yue Liuyi knew, only Qiu Ruyi was bigger. The rest—Maria, Zaocun, LittleSnow, Dawn Goose, Ailuna, Breeze—were all smaller, like hills beside mountains.

“Ugh…”

Yue Liuyi stared weakly at her chest and let her head droop, a wilted flower after rain.