Chapter 1036 — The Invitation
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 4
The elven outpost on the border of the wasteland.
Had Suo Jilin not brought it up, Gao Yang would never have thought of it — though he was indeed aware that this outpost existed.
In fact, back when Cecil was still a duchy, Gao Yang's first successful contact with the Silver Empire far to the southern end of the continent had relied on this outpost as a relay — though that had been several years ago now.
"The Silver Empire's Wayfarer Outpost is a permanently neutral site. From the distant days of Gondor, through the Age of Kingdoms that followed the Second Pioneering, every nation has acknowledged this for a thousand years," Suo Jilin said from the side. "Given the current situation, holding this crucial armistice negotiation anywhere seems problematic. So why not hold it at the elven outpost northwest of the Shadow Marsh? And on another count, the elves are also very suitable witnesses... at least, judging by our long lifespans, we are quite capable of vouching for a covenant lasting over a thousand years."
Gao Yang admitted he had never considered this approach before, but hearing Suo Jilin's words now, he suddenly found it made a certain sense: "...Seven hundred years ago, the Pioneers' Act of the various nations was also concluded under the witness of the elves..."
"So what do you think?" Suo Jilin looked at Gao Yang. "Do you approve?"
Gao Yang thought briefly, and half a minute later gave a slight nod: "This is the most suitable plan by the look of things... Personally, I approve, but this matter cannot rest on my approval alone. Send word to Winterhold and see whether the Typhonians agree — and we also need to contact the Silver Empire, to see what Belantia thinks."
"The Empress will surely be glad to serve as witness," Suo Jilin said with confidence, though he still nodded. "Of course, I will report the matter to Her Majesty Belantia."
Gao Yang grunted in acknowledgment, but his stern expression barely eased; instead he sank back into thought. Amber, noticing the shift in his face, could not help asking, "What is it? Something else troubling you?"
Gao Yang roused himself from his musings and shook his head: "Nothing troubling, exactly. It's just that..."
As he spoke, he looked toward the map hanging on the wall not far away in the hall — a map covering the full territories of Typhon and Cecil, along with several neighboring nations. On it, the mortal realms interlocked like dog's teeth: vast empires, scattered kingdoms, city-states clinging to the great powers... all marked with perfect clarity. Gao Yang's gaze swept over those names, some ancient and some young, and his eyes deepened with it.
"Perhaps... we shouldn't be content with merely an armistice negotiation..."
"Not just an armistice negotiation?" Amber seemed unable to follow Gao Yang's thinking. She scratched her hair. "Ah, is this that story you told me before — where halfway through the talks you smash your cup, and then five hundred White Knights with power hammers come leaping in through the windows and flip over every table in the room..."
"Stop, stop, stop..." Gao Yang's grand plan, only half-formed in his mind, was thrown off rhythm by this half-elf. He called a halt in a hurry while inwardly regretting that he had ever taught so much nonsense to the Scourge of All Things — though of course, having regretted it, he would certainly do it again; but at this moment he genuinely regretted it a little. "I shouldn't teach you this sort of garbage... I nearly lost my train of thought."
Amber was entirely unbothered. "So what do you mean?"