Capítulo 687: 114. Purpose and Sudden Incident (Two in One)_2
Fisher glanced silently at the first floor behind him, feeling that something was amiss. Ever since he had developed “Elizabeth Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,” and with Erwin hiding in the shadows now, he couldn’t shake the feeling that demons lurked everywhere, intent on harming him. He paused mid-step and turned to look toward the first floor, only to see Caleb Wuz with his distinctive Mediterranean balding pattern, subtly gesturing towards the area outside the stairwell, as if to warn Fisher. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novel⁂fire.net
He hesitated for a second, then patted Philis on the shoulder and said,
“You go up first. If Valentina or Heidlin ask, just say I’m going to check on Balzac.”
“Huh? For real? Heidlin even specifically told me you had to help the boss today, and now you…”
Philis extended her hand as if to hold him back, but Fisher sprinted downstairs, leaving her stunned and worriedly touching the ears atop her head.
Accompanied by the frictional sound of mechanical gears, the elevator slowly stopped on the third floor. Heidlin, pushing Valentina, stepped out of the elevator. Valentina looked toward the stairwell and saw only the Lion-man Philis standing there. She immediately glared at Philis with a look that clearly asked,
“Where did Fisher go?”
Philis scratched her head in annoyance, first covering her mouth to fake a couple of coughs, then using two fingers to mime running legs, and finally pointing downstairs. Communicating such a simple message almost drove Philis to frustration.
Fortunately, Valentina was quite intuitive. Despite Philis’s abstract gestures, she readily understood the intended meaning, sighed, covered her head with her hand, and silently instructed Heidlin to keep walking.
Hidden behind Clan Chief Dal was the white Snow Fox Juna, who upon exiting the elevator, immediately began looking for the handsome gentleman but, to her same regret as Valentina, found nothing.
The group quickly arrived at the meeting room prepared in advance by the Turand Family. There weren’t many from the Snow Fox Race, just six or seven including the guards. The main negotiators were the Clan Leader Dal and another elder. Once both parties were seated, Dal first gave a subtle glance to the Snow Fox elder next to him.
The elder nodded, took out a small wooden box from within his robe, and placed it on the negotiating table. Gently sliding it open, the Snow Fox Mark inside revealed its true form, shimmering faintly. Valentina, who had already found four such Marks, instantly recognized it as genuine.
The elder did not close the box, but Valentina quickly shifted her gaze from it and smilingly said,
“The straightforwardness of the Snow Fox Race is something the Turand Family respects. As we have promised before, in exchange for this Mark, you may put forward any requests you have.”
Dal didn’t rush to answer. Instead, he took off his silver-framed glasses, breathed on them, then wiped them with a handkerchief he carried.
“It must be well known in the Northern Realm that our Snow Fox Race has been extremely xenophobic for a long time, and especially with our unique noses that can see scents, we might seem difficult to deal with… But in reality, just because we can see the scent of others’ thoughts, it does not mean we would disclose them, just as Humans and other demi-humans sometimes know each other’s thoughts but still play dumb.”
“That’s not the reason for our seclusion. The reason we haven’t left our tribes and have stayed out of sight until today is entirely due to the guilt hidden in our bloodlines…”
Valentina’s fingers paused on the ring she was touching, and she frowned in confusion, asking,
“Guilt? Clan Leader Dal, are you referring to…”
“I believe the Turand Family is already well acquainted with the belief in the Frost Phoenix of the Northern Realm. Phoenixes are real, otherwise you wouldn’t be searching so extensively for the long-lost Wutong Tree. Then you must also be aware that since ancient times, the Snow Fox Race was given into the care of the Phoenix King’s youngest daughter, the Moon Princess…”
Dal closed his eyes, and despite the head of a fox, he showed a humanized expression of helplessness and world-weariness,
“During her time in charge, our ancestors faithfully executed their duties of managing territories and resolving disputes between races justly, and for this, she entrusted us greatly. The Moon Princess was an exceedingly benevolent and kind Phoenix, treating all creatures equally, and even chose a partner outside of the Phoenix Species. As a result, her offspring’s Phoenix Bloodline was not pure.”
“Her child suffered discrimination from her brothers and other Phoenixes, and even the other Five Clans loyal to the Phoenixes refused to acknowledge that she too was a Phoenix. This forced the Moon Princess to hide her away, and our ancestors took up the responsibility of caring for the unfortunate Phoenix… until all Phoenixes were recalled to the Wutong Tree and then vanished, but the Moon Princess’s child survived.”
“However, due to our ancestor’s negligence, the Moon Princess’s bloodline was stolen by villains, and despite searching the entire Northern Realm, nothing was found. At the time of the Phoenix Species’ disappearance, the Northern Realm fell into complete chaos. The Five Clans left the mundane world and ventured into the seldom-trodden Snow Mountain following their master’s traces, Humans rose to power amidst ceaseless warfare, and the last of the Phoenix Bloodline was thus lost.”