"Speaking of which, lately I've come to agree more and more with some of Elf Queen Salaman's ideas. Her sense of danger is very strong, and that's what the great majority of us elves lack. That's also why what I proposed before was only a brief punishment for Elf Queen Salaman, not a lasting one."
Hearing this explanation from the Nightglow Elf King,
the Radiant Elf King gave the Nightglow Elf King beside him a long look. "I always thought before that you were someone very conservative in your thinking. I never imagined you'd actually hold such views now."
The look on the Nightglow Elf King's face did not change at all.
"There's no such thing as conservative or radical about my thinking. I simply look at which direction, which road, is good for the Holy Elf Empire, and whoever takes it, I back," the Nightglow Elf King said flatly.
"All right, enough of that. At least the situation now is good for us. Let's go and see for ourselves that rumored quasi-T7-grade interstellar warship of the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's. To tell the truth, even someone like me, who isn't much interested in military interstellar warships, is very curious about this Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought. These past few days, the word I've heard most in my ears has been about this interstellar warship."
As he spoke, there was some curiosity in the Radiant Elf King's eyes.
And in the depths of the Nightglow Elf King's eyes, which had shown no stir of feeling all along, a different light appeared too.
As for the gift that had come from afar, the Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought, after a direct link with Elf Queen Salaman herself,
at Elf Queen Salaman's request, it was to enter the star system led by a small Holy Elf fleet, then sail into the space around Moon-God Planet,
and at last berth at the largest starport outside Moon-God Planet.
For this the Radiant Elf King had even ordered a reception got ready in haste, and at the same time required the receiving starport to have a berth ready for this Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought, with every interstellar warship cleared from around the berth.
Such arrangements were enough to show how much weight the Holy Elf Empire and the several Elf Sovereigns gave this quasi-T7-grade interstellar warship from the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
And the several Elf Sovereigns were now riding shuttles, entering that starport early to be ready to greet the arrival of this Golden-Scarab-class Heavy Interstellar Dreadnought.
Close behind them, naturally, came the high elves of the High Council.
Even if they had no chance to board this interstellar warship, they hoped to see the majesty of this legendary interstellar warship for themselves.
And these moves by the Holy Elf Empire's top ranks naturally drew a good deal of notice from outsiders.
After all, every Elf Sovereign and every high elf of the High Council gathering at a starport was certainly no small matter.
Naturally people began to guess.
Could something momentous have happened?
Or was some important guest about to appear around Moon-God Planet?
This puzzle
was soon answered.
An interstellar cruise liner that had been sailing in this star system suddenly received the highest orders to leave its present shipping-lane area at once.
The captain of the liner was astonished to receive this order.
Why were they suddenly clearing the shipping lane?
Mind you, this interstellar cruise liner of his was no small thing; those who could board it were, without exception, the Holy Elf Empire's upper ranks.
"Wait a moment, let me confirm this again on my side. We are the interstellar cruise liner Moon-God Voyager. You're telling us to give way? If we give way, our voyage may be delayed by at least half an hour." The captain went straight to the communications section, pressed the comms button and asked the shipping-lane control staff.
The shipping-lane control staff said with no courtesy at all, "That's right, we're telling you to clear the shipping lane. Hurry! This is an order from the Elf Sovereigns and the High Council. If you haven't left the present shipping lane before the deadline, you'll bear the consequences!"
Hearing the other side's words,
and the Elf Sovereigns and the High Council brought into it besides,
the captain, though somewhat resentful, still obediently ordered the starship to sail to the flank at once and leave the present shipping lane.
Very soon the captain received an urgent call from his subordinates.
"This is bad, Captain. Guests in several lounges are asking and complaining about why we've now left our route," the service crew member below reported in haste.
"Tell them we've received an order from shipping-lane control too. It comes from the very top; there's nothing I can do," the captain said helplessly.
He had naturally foreseen long before that this would happen.
For he knew better than anyone what tempers those elf nobles had.
Every one of them had their eyes above their heads; at the least thing not to their liking, they might well start giving themselves airs.
Just then there was a sound at the bridge door.
"Orders from the top? I should like to know whose order from the top is so bold. This is the Sacred Tree System's main shipping lane; even if an Elf Sovereign's guard fleet came, it couldn't necessarily make us give way." An old high elf who looked like a noble walked in, a crowd of people behind him.
"Why, Lord Zaris. I never thought I'd have the honor of your being aboard my starship. I've been remiss; I ought to have come to greet you in person." Seeing the man at their head, the captain at once said respectfully, with an awkward smile.
For this Zaris was no ordinary man.
He was of the light elf tribe; that's right, the very race behind the Radiant Elf King.
And in some degree he was even related to the Radiant Elf King.
He was a relative of the Radiant Elf King's; not of the direct line, but fairly close, and counting back a few generations they might even share an ancestor.
And this light elf Zaris held very high noble standing besides; he had once been one of the High Elf Council's councilors, and had given up the post only because of his age.
Even so, wherever he went, he was someone whom even an Elf Sovereign would greet first on meeting him.
"I'm hurrying now to my granddaughter's wedding; if we take a detour now, I shall certainly be late. I don't wish to be late for my granddaughter's wedding. Do you understand me?" the high elf Zaris said.
Sweat had already broken out on the captain's forehead; he explained helplessly, "I don't want this to happen either. But this really is word from shipping-lane control, and I told them how important the guests on this interstellar cruise liner of ours are. But they still require us to clear the shipping lane at once. I… I'm only a captain; I can only follow instructions from above."
The high elf Zaris frowned slightly. "Very well. Get me shipping-lane control; I should like to see who gives himself such airs."
"Yes." The captain contacted shipping-lane control again.
From the other end came an impatient and somewhat angry voice: "Moon-God Voyager, what's going on with you? Why haven't you left the present route yet? Can't you even understand so simple an order?"
The captain said nothing, but looked at the high elf Zaris; after all, it was you who had me call them.
The high elf Zaris stepped forward a pace and said, "I am Zaris, Zaris Dawnlight. May I ask why the Sacred Tree System's main shipping lane is actually to be cleared?"
Hearing Zaris's name,
the other side plainly paused too; it seemed they knew this old high-elf councilor's name as well.
"Your Excellency Zaris, I can't tell you on my side what it's for. Because this is an order given jointly by several Elf Sovereigns, and by the High Council's decree as well. So… I must still trouble the interstellar cruise liner you're on to leave the present main shipping lane at once. Otherwise… I really can't answer for it!" The other side's tone was helpless too; they had never expected to run into such a personage in giving the order.
Hearing the other side so firm, still requiring the liner to leave after learning he was there,
the high elf Zaris sensed that something was off.
He thought for a moment, then looked at the captain and said, "We may leave, but just outside the main shipping lane will do. I should like to see who it is that carries such weight."
"Yes." The captain at once gave the order for it to be done.
In his heart he did not forget to mutter: I thought you had some great power, but you've backed down after all, haven't you?
In fact Zaris was no fool either.
He had meant at first to trade on his standing; if the other side gave him that much face, so much the better.
If the other side would not give even him that face, then it was very likely something truly out of the ordinary.
And there were orders from several Elf Sovereigns and the High Council besides.
To insist on butting heads at such a time would beyond doubt be asking for trouble.
So he chose to step back a pace, but at the same time he was curious who on earth could carry such weight.
And so this interstellar cruise liner, as ordered, left the present main shipping lane and slowed down.
Beside the main shipping lane it quietly waited for the "culprit" behind it all.
Some minutes passed.
What first appeared before them was a small Holy Elf fleet, all of it T6-grade interstellar warships; there were not many, only thirty, clearing the way ahead in perfect order.
"Thirty T6-grade interstellar warships clearing the way… this really is no small show. If… I'm not mistaken, these thirty are from the Bluewater Elf Queen's guard fleet," the high elf Zaris said, recognizing where these interstellar warships had come from.
As for why the Bluewater Elf Queen's guard fleet was here, it could only be called chance.
The Bluewater Elf Queen's guard fleet happened to be nearest, so they had been assigned.
And just then the true star of the show appeared.
It was a super interstellar warship that made even the T6-grade interstellar warships ahead look dim and pale!
The whole interstellar warship was painted gold; from far off one could see this shining golden star!