Holy Elf Empire · Moon-God Planet · High Council
The mood of the High Council this time was very heavy.
And many high elves' eyes kept falling now and then on the Flame Elf Queen.
The Flame Elf Queen, for her part, sat there unconcerned, looking idly at everyone around her,
as if she had no idea at all that this meeting had been called because of her, that she was this meeting's subject.
"Everyone is here. Then let us begin this meeting." The Radiant Elf King looked at the Flame Elf Queen with a stern face, then questioned her outright: "Salaman, Flame Elf Queen. Do you admit that you acted on your own authority, leading a fleet of three hundred thousand interstellar warships without the High Council's leave, setting out without authorization for the Devourer Civilization's battlefield?"
"That's right, I took legion fleets to the Devourer Civilization," the Flame Elf Queen said outright, with no thought at all of hiding it.
"Do you know that in doing so you broke our High Council's constitution? Even an Elf Sovereign may not lightly move legion fleets out of the Holy Elf Empire without the High Council's permission or the permission of more than three Elf Sovereigns, still less throw them into an interstellar campaign."
The Flame Elf Queen looked coldly at these people; since this string of things had happened one after another lately,
she had found that she loathed this lot before her more and more.
"I don't deny that what I did broke some of our Holy Elf Empire's laws. But I want to ask you something. Did we sign a covenant of alliance with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire? Were we and the Devourer Civilization enemies before? If so, why could we not give help when the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire attacked the Devourer Civilization's universe? By the intelligence I've had, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire this time put in over six million interstellar warships and destroyed thirty million enemy interstellar warships. They crippled two of the Devourer Civilization's sovereigns' flagships. They wrecked a whole string of star-gate networks besides. In the end, for want of forces, and of war supplies, and for other reasons, they withdrew for the time being. Even I, an onlooker, could see it. What a chance this was to take the Devourer Civilization in one stroke; or, even if we couldn't take the Devourer Civilization in one stroke, we could have destroyed a great many of the Devourer Civilization's strategic star systems at a blow, and left the Devourer Civilization with no strength for decades or even a hundred years to launch an invasion of any interstellar civilization's universe. It truly was a chance that comes once in a thousand years. All we needed was to send troops! We wouldn't even have had to send the whole army. Sending two-thirds, under twenty million interstellar warships, would have been enough to change the outcome of the whole war. And what happened? Can you really not see even so plain a chance? Or were you still working out your own petty calculations at such a time? If that's how it is, I'll accept any punishment you like. But I, Salaman, stand here today and tell you this: even if such a chance were laid before me again, I would do it again! I, Salaman, did nothing wrong. It's you who are wrong!"
Faced with so direct an attack from Elf Queen Salaman,
the high-elf councilors present talked among themselves; though they did not speak loudly, one could hear that most of it was personal attack on Elf Queen Salaman.
Even some of the high-elf councilors from the fire elf tribe fell silent now, showing their stance by their silence.
The Radiant Elf King looked at the Flame Elf Queen helplessly,
then looked at the other Elf Sovereigns.
In fact the few Elf Sovereigns had met some time before and discussed how to deal with the Flame Elf Queen.
Someone had proposed stripping the Flame Elf Queen of her Elf Sovereign's seat,
but in view of certain practical factors, this view had been rejected all the same.
And everyone held that Salaman was rather rash in temper, but as to ability, it was plain to all and agreed by all.
It was only that she needed to cool down a little now.
So the decision they had reached in private was to have Salaman set aside the Flame Elf Queen's duties for a time and go into a kind of rest; when her powers would be restored would be discussed later.
For now the Flame Elf Queen's duties would be handed to others.
In a sense, it was a short-term dismissal.
"I declare that in this matter, the conduct of Salaman, Flame Elf Queen, broke the principles an Elf Sovereign ought to keep. To take Holy Elf legion fleets on her own authority to the battlefield of another interstellar civilization's universe is a grave breach of the rules. But in view of the loyalty Salaman, Flame Elf Queen, has always shown the Holy Elf Empire, we have decided to suspend the duties and authority of Salaman, Flame Elf Queen, for a time; in the meantime she is to rest on Moon-God Planet and may not leave without permission. As for the Flame Elf Queen's duties, they are to be handed for the time being to…"
Just as the Radiant Elf King was reading out the ruling on Salaman, Flame Elf Queen,
an elf petty officer burst in in great haste.
"Report! I have urgent news to report!"
This sudden intrusion startled everyone.
The High Council's chamber was no place that just any news could interrupt.
But since this petty officer dared burst in and interrupt, there must be something very important.
"What is it?" the Radiant Elf King asked, rising to his feet.
The elf petty officer said at once, loudly, "Report! A quasi-T7 Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought from the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire has suddenly appeared in the outer space at the edge of our Sacred Tree System. It contacted us the moment it appeared, and informed us that the Owl Dragon Emperor, to thank the Holy Elf Empire for sending the Flame Elf Queen with the Holy Elf legion fleet group to support the battlefield in the Devourer Civilization's universe this time, is lending this Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought to the Holy Elf Empire free of charge for ten years, during which the right to use it belongs to the Flame Elf Queen."
When this news came out,
the high elves present were greatly startled.
"What? The Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire is actually giving us a Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought! That's an interstellar warship of quasi-T7 grade."
"What do you mean, giving? Didn't you hear? It's a loan for ten years."
"So what if it's a ten-year loan? Who would lightly lend their own top interstellar warship to others free of charge? Mind you, this is a quasi-T7-grade interstellar warship!"
"I hear that on the Devourer Civilization's home battlefield, with this Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought, with just two of them, they crippled one of the three super-flagships of the Devourer Civilization's three Sovereigns, the Drought-Fiend Ghost-King-class Heavy Strategic Interstellar Multirole Destroyer!"
Plainly many present did not dare believe this news.
After all, who would bring out their own top interstellar warship and hand it to others so lightly?
Mind you, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's quasi-T7 Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought was the most sought-after interstellar warship at present.
Though many people wanted this interstellar warship, everyone held that it could not possibly appear on the market in the short term, still less turn up among other interstellar powers.
Mind you, even the Owl Dragon line's T6-grade interstellar warships were still under strict control now; every interstellar warship sold abroad or given as a diplomatic gift was strictly controlled, and the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had even fitted those interstellar warships with tracking devices,
so that the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's people knew at every moment where those interstellar warships were.
So one could imagine: if even T6-grade interstellar warships were managed so strictly,
how could the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's most advanced mass-produced interstellar warship now, the Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought, possibly turn up in another interstellar civilization's fleets in so short a time?
And mind you, this interstellar warship's first showing had been only half a year ago, and less than half a month had passed since its first real combat.
Now such an interstellar warship had simply turned up on the Holy Elf Empire's ground,
and with the express word that it was to be lent to the Flame Elf Queen free of charge for ten years.
If this got out, most people would probably not be able to believe it for some time.
"Is it certain that the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire means to lend this Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought to us… to the Flame Elf Queen for ten years?" The Emerald Elf King was already on his feet, and the look on his face could hardly hide his excitement.
As the Holy Elf Empire's chief scientist in interstellar warship technology now, he was all but obsessed with research into starship technology.
He had already longed very much for this mass-produced quasi-T7-grade interstellar warship the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had announced before,
and had even wanted to go to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire to see this interstellar warship for himself.[1]
It was only a pity that the other Elf Sovereigns would never agree to such an idea.
Now he had never in the world imagined that the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought might appear before him in such a way.
How could he not be excited?
"Um… the representatives from the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire are still waiting." The elf petty officer, seeing everyone startled and talking over the matter,
quickly brought up the business at hand.
"What are you standing there for? Go and receive it! And give the envoys who have come from their side a proper welcome," the Radiant Elf King said at once.
Though he was not as obsessed with the advanced technology of interstellar warships as Mansfield,[2] he too knew very well how important this matter was.
It was only the loan of one quasi-T7-grade interstellar warship, but having one was better than having none.
"But… but…" the elf petty officer said hesitantly, looking at the Flame Elf Queen, who sat upright there, the calmest of everyone present.
"But the envoy from the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire said this Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought must be handed over in person into the hands of Lady Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen."
At this, everyone's eyes fixed once more on Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen.
The meaning of it could not have been plainer.
At that moment, the whole High Council fell silent.
After all, they were in a very awkward position now.
Mind you, they had only just been discussing how to deal with this Flame Elf Queen.
Now the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had sent so great a gift, naming the Flame Elf Queen as its receiver; it was plainly aimed at the Flame Elf Queen.
If you still meant to deal with the Flame Elf Queen at such a moment, it would plainly look ill-timed once it got out.
"Ahem, ahem. An important guest has come; we will set aside the Flame Elf Queen's matter for the moment and go and receive our guest first." The Radiant Elf King spoke first, meaning to set the Flame Elf Queen's matter aside for now.
After all, the most important thing now was receiving that quasi-T7-grade Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought.
For the present, there could not be anything that matched this matter in importance.
"Yes, yes, yes! Let's go and receive the interstellar warship quickly." Mansfield, the Emerald Elf King, grew excited at once, and was ready to go and greet the interstellar warship as he spoke.
If Mansfield, the Emerald Elf King, were let see this interstellar warship and board it,
he would probably stay aboard it for some time to come.
Just as everyone was getting moving,
the Flame Elf Queen stayed sitting where she was, without moving at all.
"Salaman, what's the matter with you? Don't keep the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's envoys waiting too long," Mansfield, the Emerald Elf King, urged her quickly, seeing that Salaman had not moved.
For they all knew that this Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought could be received only by Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen.
It was what the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's Owl Dragon Emperor had required in person.
That is, no one but Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen, had any right to receive this interstellar warship.
"I'm not the Flame Elf Queen now; I've been suspended. I ought to stay here, oughtn't I? As for that whatever-it-is Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought, I have no thoughts on it. If you want to receive it, you can go and receive it yourselves. As for me… I'm off to face the wall and reflect on my faults." Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen, stood up and walked off in the opposite direction.
This move greatly startled everyone present.
Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen, was plainly very displeased with the ruling on herself.
Now that they wanted her to receive the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's interstellar warship in her name, she was naturally unwilling.
And if the Flame Elf Queen did not receive this interstellar warship, they had still less standing to do it.
"Salaman, something this important, don't throw a tantrum here. Whatever it is, let's talk about it after we've received that interstellar warship." Mansfield, the Emerald Elf King, went at once to stand before Salaman and pleaded with her.
For Mansfield, the Emerald Elf King, that Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought was now the bride of his heart.
If anyone at this moment meddled to stop him marrying the bride already at his door, he would fight that fellow to the death!
"It isn't that I don't want to go and greet it. It's what capacity I'd go in now. As Salaman the offender, or as Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen? What they asked for is Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen." Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen, her way barred by Mansfield, the Emerald Elf King, simply stood there with her arms folded,
looking mockingly at the lot before her.
Truth be told, holding this lot to ransom like this felt rather good.
To watch this lot standing there at a loss felt truly wonderful.
It let out some of the pent-up anger in her heart.
"In fact I think Elf Queen Salaman bears no great blame in this matter. Elf Queen Salaman counts as our Holy Elf Empire's highest-ranking military commander; she is a soldier. Naturally she would weigh such a matter from the military point of view. Purely from the military point of view, that time was indeed a chance that comes once in a thousand years; no soldier would lightly let such a chance of battle slip. So Elf Queen Salaman moved the Holy Elf legion fleet group under her to set out and support the legion fleets of our ally, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire. That is wholly understandable. Besides, we suffered no loss to speak of in this matter. Let's treat it as our legion fleets carrying out a cross-universe voyage. So I think we should treat the matter as if it had never happened." Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, stepped forward now to play the peacemaker.
Some of the high-elf councilors in the High Council said they agreed as well.
"Right, in fact we suffered no great loss in this matter."
"Yes, if I were a soldier and so good a chance lay before me, I might have acted too."
"It's understandable. Besides, we and the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire are allies. Isn't it understandable that we help an ally of ours who needs help?"
Once this voice had appeared among the high-elf councilors, it naturally tended to spread.
And by now there was hardly any voice of opposition, or of blame, left.
If anyone now dared step forward to blame Elf Queen Salaman,
they would probably have a line flung in their face the moment they turned:
"If you're so hot, criticizing Elf Queen Salaman and still wanting to punish her, then go and receive the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought over there yourself! You're so capable, aren't you?"
With such words flung straight in their faces,
most people would have no chance to answer back.
For that was no simple thing, but a quasi-T7-grade Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought!
And an interstellar warship proven in real combat at that.
So among the high-elf councilors, though many were still unhappy with Elf Queen Salaman's way of handling things,
in such a situation as this they nearly all chose silence alike.
After all, they knew very well too that the most important thing at the moment was receiving that Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought.
"I think the earlier punishment of Elf Queen Salaman should be canceled." Just then Onias, the Nightglow Elf King, who had kept silent all along, spoke.
At this, everyone's eyes fell on the Radiant Elf King.
The Radiant Elf King gave Onias, the Nightglow Elf King, a helpless look.
It was you who first proposed punishing Elf Queen Salaman.
And now you put on this show, as if I were the one who wanted to deal with Salaman.
But things had come to this now, and the most important thing at hand was how to settle the matter.
The Radiant Elf King went up to Elf Queen Salaman and said with an awkward smile, "Salaman. The earlier ruling is canceled. We did not think it through before."
Elf Queen Salaman looked at the old man before her and, with a light laugh, said with no courtesy at all, "I know what you're thinking. Isn't it just that the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire is lending us a Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought free of charge, and they named me to receive it, that you've remembered what I'm good for? If there weren't such an interstellar warship laid before you here, would you withdraw the original punishment? Ha ha ha. I, Salaman, don't care in the least about this Elf Sovereign's seat; if you want to strip me of it, strip me; I don't care. But if you want me to be this Flame Elf Queen again now, I, Salaman, won't swallow this humiliation!" Elf Queen Salaman had the air of one who, displeased, would no longer wait on anyone.
With this, the Radiant Elf King was as good as set on the grill to roast.
The Radiant Elf King saw everyone's eyes fall on him.
He leaned in helplessly to Elf Queen Salaman and said quietly, "My dear great-aunt, tell me, what on earth will it take for you to treat this as if it never happened, and go and receive the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's interstellar warship?"
The corners of Elf Queen Salaman's mouth turned up a little.
She folded her arms and sat back down in her own seat as Elf Queen,
then said, straight out, in a voice everyone present could hear, "I think the authority of the Holy Elf Empire's highest military commander as it stands is nowhere near enough. Since I'm to have my duties and authority restored, I demand three million Holy Elf legion fleet group ships under my sole command."
Three million?
At these words the whole chamber was in an uproar.
The demand was far too large.
Onias, the Nightglow Elf King, said straight out, "Three million is impossible."
Then, after a pause, he went on, "A hundred thousand."
Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen, stood up, ready to leave.
"Two hundred thousand! That's the limit. Mind you, this is a special privilege; not even we other Elf Sovereigns have so much authority to move legion fleets!" the Radiant Elf King said, looking helplessly at Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen.
Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen, said nothing and stepped one pace to the left, meaning to go on.
"Three hundred thousand! Three hundred thousand really is a great deal." The Radiant Elf King stepped over too, still barring the way before Salaman, the Flame Elf Queen.
Elf Queen Salaman gave a scornful smile and stepped over again, ready to go on.
Just then Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, stepped forward and said, "Then let everyone give a little. Five hundred thousand interstellar warships. Sister Salaman, five hundred thousand of the Holy Elf Empire's interstellar warships are already a very strong military force among the known universe's civilizations!"