CHAPTER 560: CHAPTER 560: THE DARKNESS WITHIN

"Has that girl said anything yet?"

Ailena sat on the Elf Throne, questioning the guard of the Personal Guard.

The Personal Guard shook his head, "She has been silent, said nothing."

The infiltration of Luoyu City by a human was considered a great disgrace, yet Ailena remained unusually calm, the event was simply too special.

"Stand down, continue to keep a close watch on her, provide her with enough water and food."

After receiving the Queen’s orders, the guard respectfully withdrew, leaving Ailena to ponder over the events of the past two days.

At that time, Bai Jin, unable to continue her deception, had "confessed" to the Elf Queen that she was a black-haired elf.

Initially, Bai Jin had a plausible story, claiming she learned magic just to survive in the Human World.

However, for some reason, her hair had suddenly turned black, and longing to return to the embrace of the Elf Forest, she had Yang Yu dye her hair to hide the truth.

The Queen had first believed Bai Jin’s words, sighing with frustration over her hair turning black.

Considering the extraordinary circumstances and Bai Jin’s use of magic, which drew the attention of other elves, the majority were able to find refuge in Luoyu City unharmed.

Elf Queen Ailena allowed Bai Jin to stay temporarily, planning to expel her from the city once the safety of the Elf Hunting Team was confirmed.

Although the Elf Queen was not one to favor personal relationships, her decision fell within Bai Jin’s acceptable range. Consequently, Bai Jin put on a very aggrieved expression and "reluctantly" accepted the Elf Queen’s decision.

"I understand, my Queen, once everything is over, I will leave this place."

Just as Bai Jin uttered these words, suddenly, a mad elf charged towards the Queen’s Palace from the crowded square.

Her unexpected action gave the guards maintaining order on the square quite a scare, and, in their oversight, allowed her to dash up the vine-covered staircase.

Fortunately, the Queen’s Guard firmly apprehended the mad elf before she could enter the Palace, but the mad elf then screamed out loud,

"She’s not an elf! She’s not an elf! She is not an elf! Your Majesty, she is definitely not an elf."

Ailena, sitting within the Palace, heard everything clearly, the mad elf’s words began to echo through the square beneath the Elf Tree.

Many elves looked at one another, yet initially, they did not question Bai Jin’s identity.

Until a survivor, amidst the elves, spoke out loudly, recounting everything that had happened on the day of the meeting.

"...She may be mad, but she would never say such things. The elf that used that kind of magic must be hiding some secret!"

Once a voice of doubt arose, other voices of doubt began to sprout in people’s hearts, more and more people wanted to know the "truth."

Motivated by some, cries of protest began to rise from under the Elf Tree in the square, hoping the Queen would make the truth public and verify Bai Jin’s identity before them.

After such events, the emotions of everyone present were difficult to calm, as each harbored their own thoughts.

Among them were those with their personal convictions, hoping the Queen would send support to Wansheng Country, seeking refuge from Wansheng Country, and they boldly expressed their viewpoints.

If this continued, the elves who stood here would gradually become divided, allowing the tragedies of the past to repeat, one after another.

After a moment’s thought, Elf Queen Ailena said to Bai Jin, "Since you claim to be a Black-haired Elf, there should be no problem in verifying your identity in front of everyone, right?"

Once a word was spoken, it was like water spilled—unable to be taken back. Bai Jin had just confirmed a story, and changing it now could bring untold disaster.

Upon hearing the Elf Queen’s words, Bai Jin agreed and walked out of Ailena’s Palace, facing the crowd gathered in the square.

But before the Elf Queen’s Guard could act, Bai Jin took the initiative to remove the Race Disguise Necklace, revealing the fact that she was a Human, and bowed her head to all the Elves present.

The assembled Elves were shocked; they couldn’t accept that a Human had deceived their eyes and appeared so brazenly in Luoyu City.

Many Elves had already started to connect Bai Jin with the woman who had attacked them.

Bai Jin slowly lifted her head and bowed again to the Elf Queen,

"I’m sorry, Queen. It seems I can no longer conceal the truth. I am indeed a Human, and I apologize for deceiving you just now. I only wanted to leave this place safely."

Bai Jin knew that, should the Queen’s Guard lay hands on her, she wouldn’t be able to keep hiding the truth.

If, in front of everyone, the Queen’s Guard made contact with her, it would be like touching a live wire, surely leading to more problems.

So, Bai Jin opted to reveal herself, aiming to steer the situation in a slightly better direction before it got worse.

It was better to reveal the flaw oneself than wait for others to discover it passively.

"Queen! I swear, if it were not for her presence on the perimeter, many more Elves would have surely perished. It was she who noticed the magic power in the air rapidly diminishing, and used her magic to draw other Elves’ attention. That allowed me to shout out at that moment, for the other Elves to take refuge.

Even if Bai Jin is a Human, and even if she can use magic, please spare her in light of the many Elves she saved."

Looking at Iyas kneeling before her, Ailena was at a loss for words. Even though most Elves held considerable disdain for Humans, Iyas was willing to defend Bai Jin without a second thought, without any hesitation.

After contemplating for another moment, Ailena still imprisoned Bai Jin. Though Bai Jin had saved many Elves, she had deceived Ailena, and there was no way to prove that she had no connection to the ongoing events.

Imprisoning Bai Jin until Luoyu City stabilized seemed like the best course of action at the time.

However, as time passed, Ailena increasingly believed this to be the wrong decision, especially after secretly interacting with Bai Jin...

Bai Jin indeed possessed a kind of power that made Ailena’s soul shudder, identical to the power that had invaded the Elf Forest over three hundred years ago.

That black Demon with twisted ram horns remained an unshakable nightmare in Ailena’s heart.

The more she felt this, the more Ailena believed she could not release Bai Jin, even if she could truly confirm Bai Jin’s innocence.

Ailena even began to desire that Bai Jin would take the initiative to confess her inheritance of Demon Power, and then she could be righteous...

Observing the darkness within her own heart, Ailena was ashamed of herself.

Just as these feelings enveloped Ailena’s heart once more and she attempted to dispel them again, a guard hurried into the Palace, bringing a particular piece of news,

"Queen, the surviving members of the Elf Hunting Team have returned, along with the man and the giant Silver Wolf that appeared a month ago."