Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 466 - 459: Meeting the Queen

Chapter 466: Chapter 459: Meeting the Queen

As a princess, Nina still held some prestige within the palace. Although she had disappeared for over thirty years, people still treated her with courtesy. Walking at the front, she led Cheng Ziang through the corridors to reach the palace’s Council Hall. This was where the queen and the elders conducted their affairs. It was also where the queen typically handled her political tasks. If there were no exceptions, the queen would stay here most of the time.

After having Cheng Ziang wait outside, Nina turned on her heel and entered the Council Hall to inform the Queen of Earth’s envoy’s arrival.

At this time, Cheng Ziang was much more than just the acting captain of the Advance Team. He was here as the special envoy from headquarters visiting Queen Lilith, the supreme ruler of Ilanadale. Perhaps it was for this very reason that Cheng Ziang appeared composed, not displaying the slightest sign of unfamiliarity, as if he were at home.

Not long after, Nina walked out of the Council Hall with a stern expression on her face. Cheng Ziang didn’t need to guess to know that Nina had just had a spat with her mother. Unperturbed by Nina’s sour face, he smiled, following her into the Council Hall.

The interior of the Council Hall was a spectral sight, delicate elf lanterns glowing with a serene cold light, likely driven by magic crystals. Cheng Ziang deduced that the glow was cold because he had touched it before, and it was indeed cold. The so-called lanterns did not serve a practical purpose; they simply held the cold, glowing crystals.

Most of the glittering metals here were typically keadalic, as Ilanadale didn’t have enough gold to waste on such ostentations; they had to yield a luster reminiscent of gold with keadalic metal.

Copper could also produce this effect, but it would change color after oxidizing, losing its value fairly quickly. The advantage of keadalic metal was its reluctance to oxidize because of its humidity. Its physical properties were quite inert. Even after thousands of years, this metal would still maintain its original shape, with only a thin layer of oxidation on the surface at most.

To be frank, the Council Hall of Divine Wood Town Kingdom didn’t differ significantly from those of most other nations, with the queen sitting elevated at the center of the hall. However, since it was a function to welcome the special envoy, Cheng Ziang didn’t see many elder ministers. On the contrary, there were plenty of royal guards. Despite the hall not being very large, over twenty elven soldiers were crammed in, forming a circle around the queen.

Queen Lilith was seated on her throne. Her expression didn’t change when she saw Cheng Ziang walk in. Her appearance was similar to Nina’s, but she was more appealing and mature. After all, she was over four hundred years old now. If converted to human years, she would be a forty-something-year-old noblewoman.

The queen had light-colored hair like Nina’s, tied into a mature and attractive braid around her naturally falling long hair. Atop her head sat a small, exquisite crown adorned with a ruby as large as a fingertip.

The queen’s skin was very fair, almost sickly white, and her eyes were also dark green. Given his repeated exposure, Cheng Ziang didn’t deem it strange. She wore an elegant and flowing dress. Besides her arms and head, her body was completely covered. She held a metal scepter in her hand, which, as Nina had said, was the ultimate symbol of Ilanadale’s power.

While Cheng Ziang was observing the Queen, the Queen had been observing him as well. After a moment’s hesitation, Cheng Ziang knelt on one knee, placed his right hand over his left chest, and respectfully bowed, saying, "Envoy Cheng Ziang from our headquarters, at your service, Your Majesty!"

What he spoke was in Tasta language. Although in diplomatic terms, he could not speak Chinese directly, as Nina might not understand it completely. If there was any misinterpretation, it could create serious problems.

"I, Queen Lilith, on behalf of Ilanadale, welcome your arrival, Mr. Cheng Ziang!" To his surprise, the Queen understood Tasta language. There was no trace of a southern accent, nor the crude northern tone of the Northern Aud people, but a rather authentic Tasta language.

Actually, the most authentic Tasta language accent originated near the Otherworld Gate, so the scouts of the Advance Team had inadvertently learned the most authentic Tasta language in Haiya Academy. Luo’er, because he was tutored by Nina initially, had a strong southern accent. After coming to Haiya Academy, his accent had improved much.

"Please rise!" Seeing Cheng Ziang still kneeling, the queen extended her hand and gestured.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Cheng Ziang nodded and then stood from the ground.

Once he stood up, he abandoned the respectful demeanor from before and adopted a calm and natural tone, maintaining eye contact with the Queen. Even though Lilith was the queen of Ilanadale, he couldn’t cower as an envoy from the headquarters. Otherwise, the queen might belittle the headquarters and refuse to cooperate.

That was a conclusion he had made from his extensive experience. Since it was a meeting, both parties should be on equal grounds. Even if they were not, they should be in their favor. Otherwise, negotiations would only lead to one-sided compromises.

"Actually, I’m only acting as captain. The real captain is still lying in the treehouse, so he’s not able to meet with Your Majesty as the special envoy." Cheng Ziang didn’t hesitate to convey their hopes for Ilanadale to help Luo’er.

But the queen seemed unmoved. She watched Cheng Ziang silently, her face not even rippling with a hint of emotion.

"Mother, I beseech you. Please save Luo’er. He is your grandson. Can you really be so heartless?" Seeing that Cheng Ziang was hitting a wall, Nina stepped up and pleaded bitterly.

"Nina, I’ve told you. In the Council Hall, you are to address me as queen. How many times do I need to repeat it before you remember?" The queen slightly furrowed her brows and said coldly.

"Call you whatever you want, Your Majesty, please save him!" Nina pleaded.

"Nina, though I am the queen, I cannot favor individuals. Rules are rules. Nina, forget him and let go of the external matters and people. Come back to Ilanadale."

"Forget him? He is my son with Luo Chuan!" Suddenly Nina lost control and burst into tears. At the queen’s sign, two elf soldiers stepped forward and restrained Nina.

"Nina, don’t disgrace yourself in front of the guests. In these decades you’ve been away from Ilanadale, you’ve become vulgar and indecent due to your exposure to the outside world." The queen said coldly. From her tone, it was clear that Nina’s ruckus had somewhat annoyed her.

"Your Highness, please calm down a bit. Let me do the negotiating, alright?" Cheng Ziang turned around and said respectfully to her.

Because it was a formal occasion, he couldn’t directly address Nina as aunt and had to address her as Princess Nina. He couldn’t speak in Chinese either, and had to use Tasta language, which the queen could understand.

At his words, Nina’s emotions eased slightly. She sniffed her nose, then forcefully wrestled herself free from the two elf soldiers. Her actions were rough, making the queen and the elf soldiers frown.

"It seems that Your Majesty is quite resolute." Cheng Ziang looked at the queen and smiled.

"Are you here for this matter as well?" The queen asked him.

"Oh, not entirely," Cheng Ziang waved his hand and replied, "As for my intention, I think Princess Nina must have reported to Your Majesty."

"I don’t quite understand the minds of you Shani people. Why do you suddenly want to cooperate with us? Haven’t you always been active in the Northern region?" The queen questioned.

"There are many opportunities. The main reason is that our captain, who is also the princess’s son, has a deep connection with our headquarters. So, we feel that we and Your Majesty should have a sort of..." Cheng Ziang said.

"I have no connection whatsoever with your captain. Please do not lump him together with me." The queen said coldly. She didn’t want any involvement with Luo’er, the half-elf, even if he was her own grandson.

"Oh, so there’s no connection. I’m truly sorry for my oversight." Cheng Ziang waved his hand while his face showed little sign of regret.

Hearing the queen’s words, Nina looked at the queen, her face pale. At this point, she was utterly disillusioned with her cold-hearted

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