Death Notice Book 8: Chapter 50: Milleras’s Counterattack

“You want me to pick stuff up for you?” Iristin curled her lip, looking at Qin Lun with disdain. “Why aren’t you doing it yourself?”

“Well, Milleras didn’t go, and it wouldn’t be proper for me either… You wouldn’t want others to look down on me, the Saophila Elf Prince, would you?” Qin Lun awkwardly dodged her gaze.

When it came to status, among all elves the Apostles had met so far—apart from the two Elf Kings—Qin Lun’s plot identity was the noblest. Neither Coris from the Magic Cup Court nor Milleras the Sun Elf actually held a more legitimate royal status than him.

Coris and Milleras were de facto princes of their respective Elven Courts. But after the Qundar Moon Elves settled in Ank Forest, King Thanequalas acknowledged Qin Lun, making him the traditional heir to the Saophila Elf Prince lineage. This title was loftier than those from the Magic Cup Court or Cormanthor, as both courts lacked full ancient inheritance, so Coris and Milleras weren’t legally princes.

Milleras and the Lost team misunderstood Qin Lun’s status, assuming he was just a Qundar royal descendant traveling abroad. The Elven Druid, however, knew the truth—that Qin Lun was actually a mercenary allied with Stark.

“Oh? Acting high and mighty after just days as a prince?” Iristin lifted her chin, tossing him a white-eye glare. “Fine, I’ll help. What’s in it for me?”

“Huh?” Qin Lun stared blankly before dark lines covered his face. What a naive girl she used to be! After merely days with female Apostles, she’d learned to bargain and even mock him.

“What? Don’t you remember? As soon as you woke up after Elder Adeline tested your royal bloodline with the World Tree branch, you demanded benefits!” Iristin teased, eyes glinting slyly.

“Oh… Fine! What do you want?” Qin Lun gave a resigned look at the Elven Druid.

So being nice didn’t pay! Qin Lun nodded expressionlessly. “That tone… Did Robin and Nicole teach you?”

“Hehe, how’d you guess? They’re veteran mercenaries, and Elder Adeline told me to learn from them!” Iristin dashed off toward the spot he’d pointed, digging for treasure.

“Here, this is it, right?” Minutes later, Iristin handed him a sheathed sword.

Qin Lun’s eyes lit up as he grasped it. The hilt and scabbard were wrapped in unfamiliar beast hide dotted with bumpy, tiny keratin grains like unsanded sharkskin.

He slowly drew the blade, a bright flash shimmering before him. This one-handed sword measured about four feet long and three fingers wide. Its sturdy eight-sided blade bore two blood grooves each. Brown stains seeped into the hilt—dried blood lingering for millennia.

Despite its age, the sword remained untarnished and lethally sharp in Qin Lun’s hand. Glancing down, he swung it at a nearby golden urn.

Schink! The urn split cleanly in half without resistance.

Qin Lun’s eyes narrowed as he focused on his Death Notice. It showed his energy points had dropped by a full 20 points. He hadn’t been mistaken earlier—this blade glowing faintly under the Ganitus Left Eye was no ordinary item!

“Huh? Is that… an eight-sided sword?” Milleras hurried over, astonished.

“You recognize it?” Qin Lun offered the sword with a smile.

“Indeed. It’s unmistakably one of Serthel’s eight-sided swords.” Milleras inspected it before returning it. “You’ve found a treasure, Firal. These magic blades are prized relics only nobles may own.”

“Why would a Serthel elf’s magic sword be in a dwarf fortress?” Qin Lun puzzled.

“Uncertain. Long ago, Serthel elves lived near Tethyr and Calimshan too. Perhaps they traded with the Sannata Dwarves?” Milleras shrugged.

“Seems I got lucky!” Qin Lun grinned, sheathing it. Since awakening his hunter legacy, he’d lacked a proper melee weapon—the Dagger of Sin suited Joey more.

“Finished negotiating with the dwarves? Are they traveling with us to Calimport?” Qin Lun asked casually.

Though both the Sun Elf Diplomatic Mission and Snowpeak Dwarves were heading north, their duties differed. The mission needed stops visiting Mir Forest and Calimshan.

“We’re skipping Calimport,” Milleras answered softly.

“What?” Qin Lun’s brows shot up.

“Loyer commands Snowpeak Fortress. He promised that if we aid their journey to Deepwater City, Snowpeak Dwarves will assist Cormanthor’s future migration,” Milleras explained, smiling. “The Sun Elf caravans can cross the Snowflake Mountains inside Sespitz, reach southern Giant’s Plain, then follow the River Ashaba westward through Serpent Forest, Green Fields, and Thornwood straight to Baldur’s Gate on the Sword Coast. This avoids Calimshan, Tethyr, and chaotic Amn—making the path shorter by a thousand miles and much safer. All thanks to you, Firal. Without you forcing Elder Loyer to confess, I’d have refused their plea.”

My doing? Qin Lun gaped, speechless.

Apostles earned mission rewards at each diplomatic stop, and could only return to Shattered Starry Sky after reaching them Milleras’s new plan meant skipping Calimshan, Tethyr, and Amn. Their checkpoint surely shifted away from Calimport too.

If Calimport wasn’t next, they’d have to push on to some later checkpoint before returning to Shattered Starry Sky—multiplying the risks unless abandoning the Main Quest entirely.

First persuading Stark to quit, and now this! Being good was cursed! How to undo things for that fool now?

Qin Lun massaged his temples, relieved the Lost team didn’t know his Apostle identity—or Kelly would’ve devoured him alive.

“Are you certain about this?” he pressed Milleras.

“Why hesitate? It’s beneficial!” Milleras looked baffled.

“But… what about Mir Forest? And Wealdath Forest in Tethyr? That Elven Court founded by Eaerlann’s descendants—don’t we need to visit?” Qin Lun suddenly sparked an idea.

“We must meet Eaerlann’s heirs, but there’s no need to enter Wealdath Forest. Siluvanede near Snowflake Mountains’ west ridge neighbors it—and shares its royal line. Greeting them there suffices.” Milleras’s gaze flickered. “As for Mir Forest? Elder Loyer told me their messenger already sought aid there earlier. Likely we’ll meet Mir elves at the forest’s edge when we descend.”

Qin Lun finally saw Milleras’s true aim. The Sun Elf mission pursued two goals by tracing the Ancient Path: securing help for future migrations from mainland Elven Courts, and reestablishing Sun Court rulership on Evermeet after rebuilding Sun Court.

If the migration detoured via Snowflake Mountains, Mir Forest and Wealdath Forest’s aid became unnecessary. Moreover, Anker Elf King Thanequalas forcing Qin Lun onto the mission meant Moon Elves shared credit for retracing the Ancient Path. Sun Elves couldn’t claim exclusive leadership even after rebuilding Sun Court on Evermeet.

So Milleras had abandoned visiting every Elven Court fully. Instead, he’d barely acknowledge them while flaunting Sun Elf dominance. After Qiondar and Ank stops, he knew no true support awaited. Simply formalizing the visits prevented Qin Lun—the Saophila Elf Prince—from uniting Moon Elf-led courts, curbing Moon Elf influence over the Ancient Path.

This guy’s crafty! No wonder Cormanthor’s Elf King chose him as envoy!

Qin Lun shot Milleras a deep stare. “You’re ditching Mir Forest?”

“Exactly. Those coming to rescue dwarves can relay our message!” Milleras winked playfully, nudging Qin Lun. “Disappointed?”

“Why would I care? I’m an Apostle worrying about my quest. You Sun or Moon Elves can all perish!” Qin Lun rolled his eyes, though getting outmaneuvered stung.

Worse—he realized another problem. Had they not fallen into Ironstar Fortress, what awaited the Snowpeak Dwarves? Would their rescue by Mir elves have involved another Apostle team?

If Shattered Starry Sky expected this new path, wouldn’t Mir elves’ rescue team include an Apostle squad? After all, the dwarves’ story wove into an epic prelude. Shattered Starry Sky wouldn’t skip major plots at its chosen timing.

Could this mean… they probably stole another Apostle team’s main quest!