Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong Chapter 2860: 1566: Shadow Rift Abyss (2)

Leo Ray's thoughts churned swiftly, but his face betrayed no hint of disturbance.

Indeed, the foes spoke truth; they held no motive to clash with his forces.

Moreover, trailing him were seven Half-step Tier 7 experts—Moli, Fei’er, Hollis, and the Lila sisters—not even including Sheila and himself; coupled with his array of hidden aces, any surprises could be handled with utmost composure.

“Your Majesty of the Humans, shall we move forward?”

The leading black Half-Elf General glanced back at Leo Ray and inquired, “Should Your Majesty of the Humans harbor any concerns, feel free to depart at once.”

“You must be joking, General. Kindly show the way.”

Leo Ray offered a subtle smile and inclined his head toward the man.

“Right this way, Your Majesty of the Humans.”

Maintaining due reverence, the black Half-Elf General resumed his position at the forefront.

Guided by him, the party swiftly traversed the enormous bridge bathed in eerie blue glow and officially stepped into the Dark Half-Elves' capital.

In the midst of this, Leo Ray observed more closely.

The bridges' luminescent sheen stemmed from Magic Crystals embedded at key spots along them; as Teresa whispered gently, these Blue Netherstones amplified Shadow Magic tremendously and boosted the troops' fighting prowess substantially.

After all, Dark Half-Elves dominated the same domains as Dark Elves, boasting numerous potent Shadow Attribute cultivators.

Inside the city, Leo Ray strolled along a broad but somewhat shadowy avenue, surveying his surroundings.

Likely due to its subterranean setting, despite the late hour, the roads teemed with activity and buzzed with energy, flanked by numerous rustic food carts emitting savory aromas.

Their arrival promptly drew every eye in the vicinity.

Numerous young Dark Half-Elves, munching on skewers and sipping beverages, shot intrigued looks their way, devoid of the prior hostility from beyond the walls.

For an instant, beneath the hazy Magical Neon glow, the lively throng projected a mosaic of shadows across the pavement, dizzying to behold.

Traversing the vibrant district, the group hopped several more suspension bridges and promptly reached a fortified zone under tight security.

Magic Towers dotted the landscape here; Fortresses and ramparts loomed as well, with a towering obsidian Castle dominating the heart. Endless patrols of soldiers moved about, each radiating at least Tier 5 power from their auras.

“Your Majesty, this marks the Royal City precinct of the Dark Half-Elves.”

Teresa leaned near Leo Ray’s ear and murmured, “The Dark Half-Elf Royalty keeps their actions highly concealed, particularly their Queen. I’ve never laid eyes on her myself.”

Upon Teresa’s words, Lila, Hollis, and the rest nodded in agreement. As previously noted, they too had never glimpsed the Dark Half-Elf Queen during Throne Corridor assemblies; she skipped them entirely, even before the Broken Wing King’s tyranny escalated.

This led many Second-tier Powers to suspect the Dark Half-Elves lacked a Queen altogether, with a mere Dark Half-Elf Prince wielding ultimate command.

Weaving past towering Magic Towers and grand Courtyards, the entourage soon approached the grand entrance of the Dark Castle.

Spotting Leo Ray and his companions, the Gate guards parted swiftly and swung open the massive portal.

“Onward we go.”

The guiding Dark Half-Elf General dipped his head faintly and advanced once more.

In response, Lila, Hollis, and the others furrowed their brows deeply and deliberately lagged behind.

Recall that His Majesty had already notified the Dark Half-Elves via the Administrator about this summit; it qualified as proper diplomacy.

Yet upon reaching their Royal Castle, no dignitary emerged to greet them. Such neglect struck as profoundly disrespectful!

Sensing Lila and the group's shift, even Teresa’s delicate features registered subtle worry.

As a Dark Elf, she allied loosely with Dark Half-Elves; witnessing their oversight stirred profound discomfort in her.

Regardless of Dark Elf or Dark Half-Elf, though outsiders proved challenging for them, etiquette bore the Elves’ timeless heritage of precision and formality; they rivaled any other power in decorum.

“Something amiss?”

The leading Dark Half-Elf General sharply detected the group's hesitation and pivoted to face them.

Then, seemingly grasping the issue, he peeled off his leather mask and declared, “Should we have shown any impropriety, pray overlook it.”

Grizzled locks and a tidy beard accentuated a visage of gravity and poise; his refined, erudite demeanor marked him as far beyond a typical Dark Half-Elf General.

“Your Excellency is Prince Chasing Shadow?”

Upon discerning his features, Lila and Hollis gaped wide-eyed and exclaimed together.

Having joined Throne Corridor sessions, they instantly identified him as Prince Chasing Shadow, the Dark Half-Elf figurehead for their highest authority at those events.

He rarely uttered a word there, rendering his voice unknown and his role unrecognized until now.

This revelation left even Teresa momentarily dazed; she knew the name Prince Chasing Shadow only by hearsay.

Rumors painted him as the Dark Half-Elves’ Guardian and the mightiest Noble save the Queen herself.

Thus, his personal escort of His Majesty at the Gate signaled not disdain, but profound regard for the visit from the Dark Half-Elves.

“So this is Prince Chasing Shadow, as mentioned by the Administrator and Lila?”

Leo Ray nodded faintly, then offered polite words, “It is an honor to meet Your Highness the Prince; your fame is well-deserved.”

“You honor me unduly, Your Majesty of the Humans. My lapse demands your pardon.”

Prince Chasing Shadow bowed slightly to Leo Ray and gestured invitingly ahead.

Following his lead, they navigated Castle passages woven with shifting lights, shadows, and assassin-themed murals, halting at last in a vast, antique Reception Hall.

“Kindly hold; the summit commences imminently.”

After settling Leo Ray and companions, Prince Chasing Shadow prepared to exit, evidently for final arrangements.

“Your Highness, His Majesty of the Humans seeks only discourse with the Dark Half-Elves. No further setup required.”

Aware of pressing time, Lila hailed him and bowed her head lightly. “Simply heed His Majesty of the Humans, Your Highness.”

Lila’s plea drew nods from Hollis and the rest in sequence.

They figured Prince Chasing Shadow as the Dark Half-Elves’ actual leader, the Queen a mythic figure at best.

“Lord Clan Leader, you jest. Today’s central figure is not me, but Her Majesty the Queen of our Dark Half-Elves.”

Prince Chasing Shadow dismissed it with a wave, dropping a bombshell.

“Oh? The Dark Half-Elf Queen will grace us personally?”

Lila, Hollis, and others brimmed with shock, their expressions pure incredulity.

They themselves had never beheld this enigmatic Queen. Truthfully, she shunned all public appearances!

“No cause for astonishment. A brief wait suffices.”

Prince Chasing Shadow affirmed with a nod, then sealed the hall’s doors.

Soon after, as Leo Ray casually savored the delicacies proffered by attending Dark Half-Elf maids, a subtle quiver rocked the entire chamber.