As the door closed, the mercenaries of Grey Wolf couldn't hold back any longer.

"Tsk, what was that attitude—!"

"Yeah, if I had known earlier, I wouldn't have come." Another person said.

But they all knew that it was just talk, because the young lord had made it very clear that this was their destination. They just didn't understand why they had to come to such a remote and desolate place, so at this moment, they couldn't help but cast puzzled looks at Brand.

Brand could only smile wryly.

For Antitina was also giving him a deep, thoughtful look.

"A little less prejudice will make you feel more at ease." The young man had to reply this way.

"But they really did flee in that war, Lord." The young girl among the Wild Elves couldn't help but ask in a crisp tone. Recently, she had been intentionally or unintentionally following Brand because she found this young lord seemed capable of handling her endless questions.

Even her older sister couldn't manage that—

So she couldn't help but ask questions, even though she had been scolded by her sister many times in private. Just like now, she still couldn't help speaking up.

"Tiya!" Her older sister among the Wild Elves gritted her teeth, wishing she could strangle her most beloved younger sister, who always caused trouble for her. Then she lifted her head and glanced at Brand cautiously, but fortunately, the young man didn't seem to mind.

Antitina, however, shook her head: "I don't mind that, Lord, but..."

"Yes, I know, reputation." Brand nodded.

"Since you know, Lord..."

But Brand shook his head again: "But you also know, I don't care about that."

"Lord!"

Brand shook his head again.

But at that very moment, a sudden knock on the door interrupted them. Everyone froze, and immediately a mercenary placed a hand on his weapon and carefully walked over to open the door—

The door opened, but there was no one outside.

"Lord?"

The mercenary who opened the door was slightly stunned.

"What is it?"

The mercenary, with a peculiar expression, stepped aside to reveal a basket of berries outside the door. These fruits were clearly freshly picked from the forest, still carrying the morning dew and leaves from the forest.

Everyone was taken aback, then fell silent, exchanging puzzled glances.

Brand sighed slightly in his heart. Although there was still suspicion, there was also a sense of gratitude. However, the misunderstanding between the Eruein and the Senia people ran too deep, deeply rooted and hard to dissolve.

"What should we do, Lord?" the mercenary asked.

"Take them in," Brand replied.

Even as he said this, his gaze couldn't help but drift beyond the door, lingering on the outside plaza—Green Village was indeed very different from how he remembered it. The village, once overgrown with weeds and filled with broken walls, had now just endured a fierce attack with traces of battle and blood everywhere.

But at least, it was still filled with human presence.

He looked at the tall wooden statue of Nia in the center of the village. This deity worshiped by the Senia people was carved vibrantly—The Mountain Goddess with heroic brows, dressed in a fur robe, draped in a short bow, hands raised high with a basket of hunted game and fruits—symbolizing hunting success and abundant harvest in the culture of the mountain people.

As his gaze turned aside, it was evident that the Senia people still lived in cone-shaped huts made of stone and wood, contrary to the rumors of them living in tents like barbarians. However, their culture had long been lost in the vast forest, and the 'Nightwalker' legend of the Senia people had become just that—a legend.

But their relationship with the Druid remained as close as it had been centuries ago.

As he thought of this, the mercenary had closed the door again. The complaints had ceased, and even the mountain people of Jandener among the Grey Wolf Mercenaries, who usually looked down on the Senia people, had fallen silent, reconsidering their relationship.

However, this situation did not last long, as the knocking sound was heard again.

But this time, it wasn't fresh fruits that entered, but the person Brand had been waiting for—

An old man holding a wooden staff. The young man immediately recognized that this must be an elder of the village, well-versed in the customs of the Senia people. Beside him was a dark-skinned middle-aged man and Funiya, clinging to his side—this must be the little girl's father.

"Our guests from afar, thank you very much."

Before Brand could react, the old man had already bowed deeply to them.

The young man slightly furrowed his brows and replied, "There's no need for this, it was just a small favor," but he paused and added directly, "Besides, I do have a request that I need your help with..."

The old man glanced at the middle-aged man beside him, then nodded, "Yue'er has already told us about your request. It's not a difficult task for us."

When Brand heard this, he raised his head and looked at him. He knew the elder was lying; entering the Black Forest was always a dangerous endeavor. Even for their group, thorough preparations were necessary, and for ordinary people like them to enter, especially deep into the forest, was almost certain death.

But this elder of the Senia people opened with a blatant lie.

"Who do you plan to send?" Brand raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but ask.

"I'll go." The middle-aged man glanced at his daughter, then at them, and answered firmly.

"Pizos?" (Elf Language: Daddy?)

The little girl immediately looked up, her face filled with surprise.

… (To be continued. For more information, please visit www.qidian.com. More chapters are available to support the author and genuine reading!)

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