Chapter 2699 - 1165: Fame Far and Wide (2)

Chapter 2699: Chapter 1165: Fame Far and Wide (2)

"Lord Road Builder, please, come inside; let us speak within."

At their first meeting, the two could not avoid a round of compliments and formal courtesies; one before the other, they entered Moss Stone City—no matter what, Great Druid Melvin absolutely refused to walk abreast with Gaven.

Gaven possessed no consciousness of his own status as a Demigod, yet Great Druid Melvin was a devout Believer of the Forest Queen, and naturally would not allow himself to neglect proper decorum in this regard.

The restraint and stance of these Druids completely disrupted all the preparations Gaven had made beforehand.

There was simply no need to play at any game of利益交换; he believed that with but a single word from him, they would unconditionally support Zalanda.

He had underestimated both the destructive power of a Demigod, and the extent of Forest Queen Melikai’s influence among Her own Believers.

Once everyone was seated, Gaven probed cautiously, asking, "The matter in the Marching Mountains—you all already know of it?"

"Yes." The Great Druid’s face was a mingling of sorrow and pride. "We not only know clearly of it; we were participants, we assisted in fighting the fire. In the process, we had the fortune to fight side by side with Lady Water Spring and Her Majesty the Unicorn Queen.

From afar we beheld the vast and magnificent scene of the Forest Lady joining hands with Your Lordship in battle.

It was precisely because you spared no effort in your guardianship that the surrounding Life was spared from sharing the same fate as the Marching Mountains.

Praise the Natural Gods, praise Lord Road Builder!"

"Praise the Natural Gods, praise Lord Road Builder!" The other Druids present followed, chanting loudly.

Their bearing was incomparably devout and solemn, turning the occasion directly into something like a preaching assembly.

Great Druid Melvin’s answer fully explained the reason for such courtesy toward Gaven.

They had actually been direct participants in the Marching Mountains incident, witnesses to his alliance with the Natural Gods.

And it was not only the Druids of Moss Stone City; Gaven reckoned that the Elves of Veldas Forest were likewise participants in this Marching Mountains affair, perhaps even serving as the main force.

Though it lay not especially near the Marching Mountains, some four to five hundred kilometers away, with the Star Spiral Mountain Range and the Samir Hills between them.

Yet a conflagration of such magnitude inevitably breeds unusual Fire Elements such as Fire Slag Clusters, capable of bearing the blaze to places beyond the reach of ordinary mountain fires.

These Natural Races are assuredly extremely sensitive to such things; even without an oracle from the Natural Gods, they would actively hasten to fight the fire.

Since they themselves were direct participants, matters at once became much simpler.

Gaven changed his strategy, and spoke bluntly: "Though the Marching Mountains have suffered unprecedented devastation, they are also presented with an unprecedented opportunity.

Amid the embers of the great fire, we shall rebuild a new natural Order.

This time, however, it shall not be left to nature to grow entirely of its own accord, but will proceed under the guidance of human agency, that human effort and nature may harmoniously unite, and become a standard for the harmonious development of nature and the races of wisdom.

I would invite you all to join in this endeavor, to jointly promote and witness the unfolding of this great work, and to offer it up to the Natural Gods."

Since nature here holds absolute dominion, then one must proceed from nature; as long as it can be bound to his own chariot of development, whether they support Zalanda or not will be his decision to make!

Gaven’s proposal clearly exceeded these Druids’ expectations; they could not help but exchange glances.

The other side had first introduced him as an envoy sent under the joint name of Gaven and Zalanda; in their subconscious, they believed Gaven had come as Zalanda’s lobbyist, to persuade them to support Zalanda’s rule.

If that were truly the case, they would find themselves cast into a dilemma.

Gaven’s identity was plain for all to see; they absolutely did not wish to offend a newly rising Demigod.

Yet likewise, they did not wish to be drawn into this civil war within the Tesser Kingdom, especially given their highly awkward geographical position, separated from Darama by the Star Spiral Mountain Range and Veldas Forest.

Moreover, the trade road on which they most relied ran southward through territories held by other noble warlords.

The fact that they could maintain independence and autonomy was due in part to their formidable martial strength, but most crucial was that they had always remained in a neutral stance, not lightly intervening in the internal wars of the Tesser Kingdom.

Once they displayed a leaning, those noble warlords, unwilling to see their commerce throttled, might well resort to extreme measures, sparing no cost to seize control of Moss Stone City.

The Star Spiral Mountain Range would be unable to shield them.

Clear sea-lanes would allow enemy armies to circumvent them with ease.

They would not even need to deploy their own noble hosts—merely tacitly permit and indulge the Pirates of the Islands of Nelanser to land and launch large-scale plunder.

This is something the Pirates of Narlanther have long yearned to do.

Yet if their role were merely to assist in the rebuilding of the Marching Mountains, there would be no difficulty at all.

Great Druid Melvin answered without even needing to think: "That place is the sacred ground where the Natural Gods are allied. To be able to join in this great undertaking is our highest honor. We shall dispatch the greatest number of Druids and Rangers to the Marching Mountains, to aid in restoring Life to that land."

"With your joining, my confidence is the greater." Gaven then revealed another important message of this journey. "We intend, at the Midwinter Festival, to hold a grand Winter Banquet in Serenagrad, that all may jointly witness the Transformation Ceremony of the Berserk Blue Bear. Mother Earth shall bestow Her blessing upon it, transforming it into an Earth Bear, guardian of the land.

At that time, I must ask that you, Great Druid, bring your people to the feast, and together witness this moment of glory."

This was the reason he had stayed Mother Earth’s hand when She would have transformed the Berserk Blue Bear on the spot. Such a matter must of course be widely proclaimed, summoning all those concerned to witness it together, that the benefit might be maximized.