“You’ve worked hard, sisters! I just sliced this watermelon.”

“Mm-hmm—thanks, Ailuna!”

Ailuna wore a pink-and-white maid dress, a white headpiece pinned to her soft, fresh pink hair. She moved step by careful step, like a kitten tiptoeing across frost, adorable to the bone.

“If only my Little Moon would wear a maid outfit too. She’d be every bit as cute as Ailuna.”

Dixue spoke playfully, and kept twirling Yue Liuyi’s hair like a strand of midnight silk between her fingers.

“I’m not wearing that.”

Yue Liuyi skewered a piece of watermelon and popped it in. The chilled flesh burst with clean sweetness, cool as shade under bamboo.

Today, Dixue had happily coaxed Yue Liuyi into a frilly little dress. The three-layer pleats turned her, from a distance, into a sheltered little princess of a quiet courtyard.

“I feel like you’re bullying Ailuna… Whatever—let’s just eat.”

Xiaobai let out a small sigh and hurried a wedge into her mouth.

The World Tree Maiden had cut this fruit herself. To the head of the Elven Parliament, it might as well be artifact-tier cuisine, so she wouldn’t dare dawdle.

“No, Xiaobai! I’m learning from Lingwei and Zaocun. As everyone’s World Tree Maiden, I have to know proper maid skills!”

“But why would a World Tree Maiden be a maid?”

Xiaobai’s mouth turned into a little triangle. She watched Ailuna, who, delighted, scampered back to the kitchen and returned with freshly sliced cantaloupe.

“This isn’t bad at all, is it? Ailuna’s nature doesn’t suit a lofty World Tree Maiden. If she’s more down-to-earth, I think the elves will accept her.”

“Mm… I just don’t know if everyone will accept it. In the Elven Forest, lots of children and sage-elves guard the World Tree Maiden like an idol, like a faith.”

That was why Ailuna hadn’t been allowed to roam. She’d stayed inside the Elven Royal Palace, a well-kept songbird.

The World Tree Maiden stands for something exalted, a spiritual leader of the nation; she can’t be too casual. Besides, Ailuna has a bit of a masochist streak…

“How about making her the national mascot, like my Little Moon?”

“I am not a mascot.”

“Mm… It’s an option. But if we do that, the whole nation of elves might sink into a vibe with zero tension. Right now, that’s terrifying.”

“True.”

If you can’t imagine a land without tension, just look at the Yue Dier beside Yue Liuyi. Even in a meeting as state-level as this with Qiu Baimo, the silver-haired girl keeps poking Yue Liuyi, her eyes turning into > <.

If the entire Elven Forest fell into that mood…

This country would be done for.

So, to keep elves from loving the World Tree Maiden too much, she still needs a touch of reserve and noble aura.

“Mm… Let’s table that for later. Where’s the Blaze Raiders? Have they arrived?”

“They should be close. Maria contacted them. They’ll be here this afternoon.”

Just as Dixue spoke, footsteps sounded outside the door.

“Haha… Never thought I’d be invited by elves. Now I can finally taste elven wine!”

“Boss, the elves… don’t brew anymore.”

The voices arrived before their owners.

Striding in from the Skyship’s hall was a big sister whose mere bearing felt like a gust of hot wind.

Her outfit was as bold as her aura—just a few loops of beast hide, covering only the essentials. A bra? Not even in concept.

Snow-pale skin and corded muscle lay bare to the air. Her fire-red hair fell to her knees like a burning waterfall.

Beside her walked a petite woman with deep-blue hair. Her gray long dress was modest, covering her fully, silk gloves sheathing her arms and hands.

They were the Blaze Raiders’ leader, Nalitte, and her chief strategist, Kassi.

Maria had analyzed the options and chosen them as the final target.

The Blaze Raiders are the largest and most reputable bandit group in the Chaoslands. They rob and torch often, but rarely spill blood.

Much of that comes from Kassi’s careful handling. Nalitte, born monstrously strong, can face a hundred on the field. But she keeps out of actual operations. Kassi runs the band.

So the day-to-day is in Kassi’s hands—the deep-blue-haired woman in conservative clothes.

…

The girls gathered in the Skyship’s lounge. Sunlight poured in bright as polished steel; neat chairs and tables; fruit platters gleamed like jewels. It felt made for talks.

The amnesty contract had already been sent by Maria. Yue Liuyi drafted the framework; Dixue polished it, making it fit the ground.

“We’ve read the treaty. We’re willing to accept it.”

Kassi nodded, her voice steady as ink on parchment.

“I’ve got no objections. I’m leaving it all to Kassi.”

“Huh? You accept that easily? Well… that’s surprisingly smooth.”

The silver-haired girl studied the pair across from her. To her surprise, neither read as liars or schemers.

“Mm… We have one question for the esteemed head of the Elven Parliament.”

Kassi nodded and turned her clear gaze to Xiaobai.

“If you’ve got a question, ask.”

Xiaobai sat in a specially raised chair. Otherwise only her eyes would peek over the tabletop.

“Do the elves truly want to partner with us? You won’t, after peace returns to the Chaoslands, discard us—like killing the hounds after the hunt?”

Their worry wasn’t baseless. For over a decade, the Elven Kingdom had ignored the Chaoslands. This sudden talk of absorption had spooked the Raiders.

“Ha? Rest easy. If this works, you’ll be honored as protectors of the World Tree. Elves keep a promise—one word worth a thousand gold.”

Xiaobai wagged a finger. Before launching amnesty talks, the Elven Parliament had plenty of opposition. Most elves despise bandits, and disdain recruiting them.

But Xiaobai brought up one point, and every objection fell silent.

The World Tree Maiden.

If the Elven Kingdom marched on the Chaoslands again, it would only burden the World Tree further. Things are already dire. Xiaobai and Tisinate reached a rare consensus; she came in person to lead the amnesty.

“I understand. I trust the elves’ vow. We also have something to tell you.”

Kassi nodded as if she’d made up her mind.

“What is it?”

“Nalitte and I weren’t originally bandits. We served the Principality of Kowelaelia. Nalitte was captain of the Royal Guard. I was… the court magus.”

“Huh?”

Yue Liuyi and Xiaobai looked stunned. The strategist carefully drew a crest from her bodice.

Ruby carved into a hollow seal: two dragons breathing fire at each other. The workmanship was exquisite, unmistakably noble.

“The Principality of Kowelaelia?”

Dixue’s fine brows knit. Her gaze weighed Kassi like a balance scale, searching for cracks in the tale.

“LittleSnow… Is there a problem?”

“Mm. The Principality of Kowelaelia was destroyed three years ago. Reports said all generals and high officials were executed. None survived.”

“Huh?”

“Then how did you two live?”

Dixue studied them, her air shifting back to an ice-sculpted beauty of winter.

“Are you doubting our identities?”

“It’s fine, Nalitte…”

Nalitte downed a mug of ale and sighed, heavy as iron. “She carried too much. Since she spared us, we just… had to keep living.”

A flicker of sorrow crossed the redhead’s eyes, but she soon laughed again and raised her mug.

“But that’s all past. We turned bandit in the end just to carve a stable place, to give our brothers and sisters a steady life.”

“Mm. Nalitte’s wish is our core members’ wish. You can rest easy, esteemed elves. We’ve added many drifters since, but the Blaze Raiders are disciplined by nature. We’ll value the outlaw charter. We won’t break the rules.”

“Doesn’t sound like a lie… Xiaobai, I think they’re telling the truth.”

“Mm. I believe you.”

“So, esteemed elves, we have one request.”

“Outside the contract?”

“Yes. We want trade rights in the Elven Forest. If the Chaoslands truly find peace, we can earn our keep through commerce.”

“That’s no problem, if you… do it well.”

Xiaobai’s eyes turned, quick as minnows. She’d long planned that once this ended, the Elven Kingdom would reclaim influence in the Chaoslands.

“Esteemed elves, we’ll do it well.”

And so the Blaze Raiders’ amnesty proceeded without a hitch.

…

After the meeting, Dixue left Xiaobai and the Raiders to hash out details. She went alone to the Skyship’s second floor.

Her silver brows knit slightly. She said nothing, but Yue Liuyi, who knew LittleSnow, understood—there was something heavy on her heart.

The blue-haired girl hurried up and took LittleSnow’s hand.

“LittleSnow, what happened?”

“I don’t know if it’s coincidence or something else. But the remnant of the Principality of Kowelaelia appeared in the Chaoslands.”

“Huh? Coincidence? Is there something off about the Blaze Raiders?”

“Mm… Little Moon probably doesn’t know. The Principality of Kowelaelia…”

Dixue paused. Her emerald eyes drifted to the window. White clouds rolled outside like unfurling silk, reshaping with the breeze, pure and untouched by gunpowder smoke.

“…was the country Sikong Qinhui destroyed. Three years ago.”