Chapter 40: Let’s Have a Gamble!

Chapter 40: Let’s Have a Gamble!

After delivering her proclamation, Airael fell silent, raising her chin just a bit, looking down on the Elven Lords like a divine being, applying pressure on their spirits.

The Elven Lords were left speechless by Airael’s words.

Of course, that didn’t mean they were convinced.

They just couldn’t find the right words to counter Airael’s argument at the moment.

Getting them to willingly submit their full power wouldn’t be easy for Airael.

The great hall fell into an eerie quiet.

“Your Majesty, you claim you have the ability to help the Elven Race restore their livelihood, but those are just words, empty promises. We can’t trust you,” Mason finally spoke after a long pause.

“Who says I’m speaking without proof, Sir Mason? Didn’t you notice the changes in the royal city when you arrived?” Airael asked with a smile.

“The royal city has indeed changed significantly, but it’s just one city, and you should know exactly why it has changed, Your Majesty,” Mason replied, shooting a deep glance at Airael.

Airael caught his expression and sneered a little.

Of course, she knew what that look meant.

Previously, Menas City was draining those Elven Lords dry, monopolizing the trade of the Elven Race and raking in countless benefits.

Yet compared to what she had done, his seemed much less thorough.

He was merely trading, while she had directly brought the subjects of the Elven territories to the royal city by establishing factories.

In this era, population was the primary means of production.

Every industry needed people to function, and people were also the main consumers, capable of absorbing the goods produced.

If it weren’t for her need to unify the Elven Race, they could have continued this way indefinitely.

Mason controlled the trade of the Elven Race, while she controlled their industry.

The Elven Lords were like fools, kept in the dark by their machinations.

Unfortunately, her ambitions did not stop there.

She wanted much more than this.

However, she couldn’t afford to confront Mason directly over this matter yet.

Otherwise, if he revealed her cunning, the effect she had just achieved would dissipate, placing her in an awkward position.

Of course, Mason wouldn’t come off any better either.

With that thought, Airael’s eyes squinted dangerously: “So would you like to witness my true strength?”

Having just been threatened by Mason, Airael felt a surge of irritation.

“It would be our honor to witness the strength of Your Majesty,” Mason replied.

Having held his ground against Airael during their exchange, he had unknowingly become the representative of the group.

“But just witnessing won’t be enough. I think you should experience it firsthand,” Airael replied with a smile.

Though she looked beautiful while smiling, Mason sensed a hint of danger lurking within.

He cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?”

Observing the cautious Mason, Airael thought to herself: what a cunning old fox.

Airael was interested in winning Mason over.

He was a capable individual, and if she could win him to her side, he would surely be invaluable in the future.

But for now, they were still on opposing sides.

In response to Mason’s question, Airael maintained her cheerful demeanor and replied, “Naturally, it means exactly what it sounds like. Do you dare to wager against me?”

“How would we wager?” Mason asked cautiously.

“It’s simple! It’s a bet on the difference in our strengths. One against six! If you can defeat me, you win. If not, I win,” Airael stated.

She cast a dismissive glance at the Elven Lords.

It was an extremely old-school provocation, but sometimes, even when people understood it, they couldn’t resist the bait.

Just like now, Airael claiming she could take them all on triggered an immediate response from one of the Elven Lords.

“Your Majesty, you must think very little of us!” Tugur exclaimed, clearly furious.

Keep in mind, each of them was a hero-tier existence, and the six of them together would intimidate even the legendary Elven War God, Krul.

And their Queen? She had only just come of age, hadn’t she?

Even if she had entered the hero tier thanks to her immense talent, how strong could she really be compared to them?

Mason wanted to intervene, but it was already too late.

He sighed helplessly at his foolish teammates in his heart.

Nothing is more frightening than a god-like opponent than a team full of fools!

Clearly, their Queen noticed that she couldn’t achieve what she wanted from him and shifted her focus to the others.

They were in a situation where they would either all rise together or all fall together.

If even one were to be lured by Airael, the others couldn’t pull away.

Airael’s willingness to do this clearly indicated her confidence in herself.

At this thought, a sense of dread welled up in Mason.

If Airael could defeat the combined efforts of the six of them, what level of power did she possess?

“Then you all better show me something worthy of my respect,” Airael said, looking at him with a cheerful smile.

She looked genuinely happy.

Before Tugur could speak again, Mason interjected, “Your Majesty, I think this is rather unwise. If we’re not careful, we might accidentally hurt you.”

Although he had already guessed that Airael’s power was likely far beyond what he understood, he absolutely couldn’t utter that right now.

“You needn’t worry about that at all. Injuries are inevitable in battle. I am someone who has experienced countless fights and am fully aware of this. Therefore, you need not fear that I will blame you for any mishaps,” Airael said confidently.

The Elven Lords, who had calmed down, were once again stirred.

If they could defeat Airael, things would surely become much quieter.

Though their issues were political at heart, they were fundamentally about strength.

The essence of this world is still that the strong stand above the weak.

The weak serve the strong, following their commands, while the strong are responsible for protecting the weak.

Seeing the Elven Lords visibly tempted by her words, Airael continued smiling, “If you’re not planning to refuse, quickly let me know. I’m about to reveal the stakes. Once you decide to participate, there will be no turning back!”

Mason hurriedly signaled to the Elven Lords not to speak carelessly, then said, “Your Majesty, why don’t you first clarify what we are betting on?”