A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

95 – Brought back an Elven slave? Are you out of your mind?

I drove my silent car towards the northern Limnakal Plain. And upon arrival, what I found was a giant tree almost the size of an apartment building.

“What in the… Just a few months ago, there was nothing like this, right?”

“It grew from small leaves to this size in just a week.”

Even the researchers from Matap looked at the World Tree with expressions of disbelief.

“We don’t have any words to say. Observing the growth of the World Tree is a first for us too.”

“Of course! It’s the World Tree… No, how did this suddenly…?”

A sacred aura emanated from the towering tree.

“The tree is producing elixirs on its own. Moreover, the connection with the spirit world is deepening, causing changes in the surrounding ecosystem. We don’t see a way to stop this.”

“When was the seed here? It doesn’t seem likely that a tree capable of such abnormal growth speed and self-producing elixirs was born immediately after planting.”

“It seems to have been here for at least a few hundred years.”

“And we didn’t know about it?”

“It grew slowly and deeply enough to cover the entire Limnakal Plain. Since there was no reason, no one would sell this solid land of the plain.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

What an unexpected situation again.

The World Tree?

Wasn’t that the legendary plant that the Elves treasured.

But why is it suddenly growing and causing a stir in human lands?

“Bring Tamir Khan and the northern nomads. Being spirit beings, they might know something.”

“I’ll contact Caria immediately.”

“And inform His Majesty the Emperor. What on earth is this all about…”

That’s how this fact spread throughout the empire.

Tamir Khan and the Emperor personally teleported to the Limnakal Plains and, after observing the World Tree closely, they soon retreated in awe.

“This is indeed the real World Tree. I can feel the gathering of spirits and the connection to the Spirit Realm.”

“So, what… what should we do?”

“Just leave it be. The desolate Limnakal Plains will become even more abundant with nature. It’s best to leave it as it is, like a mother nature itself.”

“Is there nothing more we should know?”

“No.”

“…Sigh. Well, that’s true. We’re neither elves nor do we have someone well-versed in the World Tree. Anyway, we’ll just leave this as it is. Is that right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Understood. Tamir Khan, thank you.”

And so, after a long time, the five of them gathered once again – Selene, me, Karia, Karl Hansen, and the Emperor.

Among them, three were married, and the only ones who had not yet married were Adran and Karl Hansen.

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As for Adran…

Although he was getting older, considering his position as the Emperor of the empire, he could get married at any time, but Karl Hansen…

“I wonder who would want to marry you.”

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. Anyway, what should we do about that tree?”

Adran shrugged at those words.

“I think we should designate it as a concentrated protection zone until it grows well, and let the maintenance be handled by the mages of Matop. That’s what I think.”

Selene also nodded in agreement.

“It’s the first time observing the World Tree, but it seems worth researching. Producing elixirs and being a living being that opens the door to the Spirit Realm. It’s very intriguing. It might even be more valuable than dragons. It could be a great help to the empire.”

Seeing Selene’s excited expression, we all had a gut feeling that she would handle it herself.

“Well, it was an unexpected appearance, but as Tamir Khan said, it doesn’t seem to be an event that will cause chaos or problems in the empire.”

“That’s true, but it won’t hurt to be cautious. Unexpected situations can arise at any time, and since we know so little about the World Tree, it’s better to deploy the army to block access to this area, conduct thorough research, and open it up only when we are sure it’s safe.”

Adran’s approach was cautious. We all nodded in agreement. As subjects, we had no right to refuse the Emperor’s instructions. Besides, the instructions were sensible.

“Let’s do that. I’ll send a thousand troops from the Iron Blood Legion near the World Tree.”

“I’ll dispatch a specialized research team to conduct a more detailed study.”

“I will research how we can profit from the World Tree. hahahaha!”

Karl Hansen displayed characteristics fitting for a character obsessed with making money until the end. The Emperor chuckled and nodded approvingly.

“Let it be so. I warned you to be cautious, but even considering many legends and myths, it doesn’t seem like the World Tree will bring misfortune to the empire. Let’s get along well from now on.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.”

“Well, everything seems fine. But you know, how will the elves react to this event? I’m worried about that.”

Elves.

A word that had long been forgotten.

A word that didn’t need to be remembered.

Although humans didn’t know much about the World Tree, one thing was certain.

The fact that elves were a race that worshipped the World Tree.

For thousands of years, the elves, who were said to exist far across the sea in a mythical land, having cut off contact with humans, were nothing more than legends to humans.

“Will they come out aggressively, or will they come out friendly? It’s an unpredictable bunch. A race that has been isolated for thousands of years, almost like beings from another dimension to us.”

“What do you wish to do? If the elves are seen near the World Tree, should we kill them immediately?”

The Emperor nodded after a moment of consideration at Karia’s words.

“Well, let’s try initiating the conversation in a friendly manner first. There’s no need to start a fight for no reason. Besides, such concerns could just be groundless. There’s a possibility that a civilization that has been separated for thousands of years might not come looking at all.”

Adran sighed as he spoke.

“It seems that incidents keep happening endlessly. I hope nothing serious occurs.”

“It won’t. Your Majesty. The elves are civilized beings too, so they won’t just come out to start a war.”

“It would be good if that’s the case.”

With that, the conversation came to an end. The five of us dispersed to our respective places and began our tasks.

“Hey, come over here.”

The trading city of Dagamba.

If Ayram had the port city of Porto, then Dagamba had Dagamba.

In the bustling city where all sorts of logistics and people mingled, there were immense profits at stake, naturally.

There were also beings seeking profits in ‘illegal’ ways.

“Due to Rashid Sultan’s ban on slave trade, we’re the only ones left. Isn’t that right?”

“Talking about rights… In my view, it’s an action taken to weaken the authority of the chieftains who control slave soldiers and strengthen the imperial authority.”

“Either way, it doesn’t matter. Thanks to that, we have many customers looking for us. Did you bring the goods?”

The dark back alleys of Dagamba. A conversation taking place in the damp city’s shadow where a gloomy atmosphere prevailed, and suddenly, the other party burst into a joyful laugh that didn’t quite fit the mood.

“Of course. But selling to you feels a bit off. You need to meet your big brother.”

“Behram?”

“Yes. This is not an item for the likes of you. It’s the top of the top. You need to speak directly with Behram. At least you should get a hundred gold coins even if you can’t.”

The other party made an incredulous expression at this statement.

“A hundred gold coins? Regardless of how valuable the item is, a hundred gold coins can buy dozens of regular items.”

“It’s worth that much. Arrange a meeting.”

The conversation paused briefly.

They scrutinized each other’s intentions, engaging in a fierce tug-of-war beneath the surface, and finally, one side relented.

With that, a hidden entrance opened up, revealing a passage beneath the back alley.

“Come in. The auction is in progress, so we need to be careful.”

“Of course. Follow me!”

The man roughly pulled on a chain he held in his hand. With a clinking sound, a figure bound in shackles around the arms and legs, clad in tattered clothes covering their entire body, was reluctantly brought along.

The man carefully carried his merchandise and descended beneath the secret passage.

After passing through the winding and narrow space for a while, the man finally arrived at the auction hall filled with intense heat.

“130 silver coins! 130 has been bid! Is there anyone else? As you can see, it’s a beauty from the Western Plains. She’ll be very delightful to have!”

A young girl around 17 years old, with the mark of slavery on her neck, wore a vacant expression as if her soul had fled, while numerous men waved money trying to buy her.

That’s how it was.

This was an illegal human trafficking auction.

Since the Sultan had put a stop to slave auctions, those with twisted desires for s*xual slavery had started flowing into the underworld as customers.

The man chuckled at the thought of sweeping up the fools’ gold and headed familiarly to the back of the auction hall.

The behemoth of Dagamba’s underworld, who operated this place.

He went to find Behram.

“hahahaha! Leza! It’s been a while! The goods we traded with you were always top-notch!”

“It’s been a while. Behram, sir.”

“Did you bring something today as well? How much is it?”

“It’s a hundred gold coins.”

“A hundred?”

A greasy and twisted smile formed on Behram’s lips.

“A child, huh. Even better if it’s under 10 years old.”

“It’s not a child.”

“Is that so? Then what kind of being is it that’s worth a hundred gold coins?”

“You’ll see once you look.”

The man called Reza proudly removed the shabby clothes that had been covering the merchandise.

And through the removed clothes.

“Ah!! Ahhhhh!!!!!!!”

A dazzling figure was revealed.

Smooth skin reminiscent of black onyx.

Glossy hair cascading down to the waist.

An expressionless yet provocative face.

A being that seemed to embody all beauty in the world had revealed itself.

The woman with pointed ears was so beautiful it was almost frightening.

“Reza! What… what is this?”

“I don’t know. I found it wandering the streets, so I quickly stamped it as a slave and picked it up. How about it, Behram, sir? Isn’t this worth more than a hundred gold coins?”

“Absolutely! Ah!! Buy it right away. If I sell this to a big shot, I can easily resell it for more than a hundred gold coins!…”

“Are you Behram?”

The language of Karamba flowed from the merchandise’s mouth.

Behram and Reza looked at the woman, bursting into laughter.

The woman with long ears stared straight at Behram.

Behram burst into laughter.

“Such audacity is also good. That way, when I discipline, the crumbling expression is worth seeing.”

“Do you not know who I am?”

“I don’t. But I know you’ll be our merchandise. Do you know what’s stamped on your neck? It’s a slave’s mark. Quite powerful. You’ll never be able to undo it with your abilities…”

With a popping sound, the mark burst open.

Simultaneously, all restraints binding the slave’s body burst open.

As Behram and Reza stared blankly at the scene, something began to materialize around her.

A skill unfamiliar to most except the nomads of the Limnakal Plains in Ailam, not just in Karamba.

It was spirit magic.

“Perhaps because you’re an uneducated commoner. You truly don’t know who I am.”

Seeing the slave break free from the restraints, Behram’s guards, who had half-drawn their swords, suddenly had their heads cut off with a swish.

Reza?

His body was quartered instantly. After massacring all beings around in a flash, the woman firmly bound Behram’s body with the spirit of the wind and pulled him towards her.

“Huh? Huh?”

Behram, bewildered and unable to grasp the situation, stammered as she looked at him like a bug, throwing a question at him.

“If you want to live, answer me. Where is the second World Tree?”

“I, I don’t know………aaah!!!!!!!!!!!”

The Fire Spirit turned one of Vehram’s legs into a skewer, causing him to scream in agony. Breathing life into Vehram, the woman asked again.

“After your leg comes your manhood. Answer me. Where is the second World Tree? It’s a giant tree. If you noisy humans like you have been spreading rumors about it already, haven’t you?”

“I, I don’t know! I don’t know!!!! Truly, I don’t know! All kinds of information gather at Dagamba! There’s nothing like a World Tree in Karamba!”

“Inside Karamba?”

“Ah, there’s another country called Ailam to the east! If you go there, I don’t know either! There’s no giant tree inside Karamba! I guarantee that!”

“It’s called Ailam.”

With a thud, Vehram’s neck was snapped.

After tossing Vehram aside, the woman left alone.

Looking at the people who started to murmur at the sound of screams and the Vehram gang who managed this place, she made a disgusted expression.

“Humanity hasn’t changed at all.”

The Wind Spirit transformed into a sharp blade form.

And in an instant, she sliced the throats of everyone inside.

Satisfied as blood and entrails spilled in the room, she then concealed her body in shabby clothes covering her entire figure and looked to the east.

“It’s called Ailam, right?”

Her new form wrapped around something before quickly disappearing.

And that was how it went that day.

All the human traffickers and customers in Dagamba perished due to mishandling a single product.