"Your Forest Sages’ Association is so eager to recruit new blood... Could it be that you’re facing some troublesome enemy?"
Chen Yu’s voice was still soft and mellow, but the content of his words made Oldes’s heart skip a beat.
Chen Yu continued, "I’m sorry, but the Slime Kingdom already has enough trouble to deal with at the moment. Under these circumstances, rashly joining an ancient organization that could mean more responsibilities and more potential enemies... doesn’t seem beneficial for the Kingdom. On the contrary, it might bring unnecessary risks."
Oldes was dumbfounded.
It was the first time he had ever heard such a "realistic" and "utilitarian" reason for refusal. This completely contradicted his perception of a "Sage."
’Shouldn’t a Sage possess great love, selflessly dedicate themselves to protecting nature, and not worry about personal or small-group gains and losses?’
’Where did this Slime learn so many convoluted human ways of thinking?’
This was the first time that the old scholar—who had spent his years deep within the Silver Song Forest, accompanied only by Ancient Trees and animals, engrossed in the study of nature, and rarely concerned with worldly affairs—had felt such a headache, to the point of being at a loss.
He wanted to retort. He wanted to say, "Protecting nature is the sacred duty of every Sage; how can one calculate pros and cons?" He wanted to say, "The Sages’ Association can provide knowledge, heritage, and the support of comrades." But as he looked at the blob of Slime on the throne, which seemed to see right through his thoughts, the words caught in his throat, unable to escape.
Chen Yu said, "I recall that not long ago, a Lizardman caravan on its way to Mudu rescued an elderly tree spirit who claimed to be lost. That elder’s name also happened to be Oldes."
"Mr. Oldes, your purpose for coming to Mudu this time is perhaps not as pure as you claim, is it?"
Embarrassment flashed across Oldes’s aged cheeks as he was exposed. "How did you find out?"
Chen Yu sighed inwardly with a sense of helplessness.
’This Sage is far too naive.’
He realized his previous judgment was correct. These Forest Sages might be profound in the ways of nature, but when it came to worldly wisdom and strategy, they were as simple-minded as wild Slimes hopping around in a swamp.
"Mr. Oldes, your disguise wasn’t very clever. A tree spirit who suddenly appears in the Kingdom, conveniently weak and in need of rescue, claiming to be related to our ally, Violet... All of this indicates that you intentionally infiltrated Mudu."
Oldes coughed awkwardly a few times, his Evergreen Staff unconsciously tapping the ground.
"Your Majesty, I believe you’ve misunderstood. This... this is actually standard procedure for the Sages’ Association. Every newly discovered Sage undergoes a period of observation like this. The purpose... ahem, the purpose is to prevent certain evil beings, such as Demons who are skilled in disguise and deception, from infiltrating the Association."
The moment Chen Yu heard this, he understood.
The Forest Sages’ Association must have been successfully infiltrated or even sabotaged by Demons years ago, which is why they’ve become so cautious.
This also showed that these Elf Sages, who spent all their days dealing only with nature, were—to put it nicely—simple in temperament and pure of heart. To put it bluntly, they were just too naive and lacked defenses against complex human nature and treacherous schemes.
If not for their incredibly pure and steadfast faith, and their considerable personal strength, the Sages’ Association would have probably been wiped out by their enemies long ago.
’No wonder Violet refused to join the Sages’ Association. Dealing with a group of such naive, idealistic dreamers must be exhausting.’
"Ahem, ahem, esteemed Majesty of Mu Country..."
Seeing that Chen Yu had fallen silent again, Oldes felt a little uncertain and asked tentatively, "Now that you understand our difficulties and sincerity, have you perhaps changed your mind?"
"I refuse." Chen Yu rejected him again, crisply and decisively.
The expectant look on Oldes’s face fell once more.
But then Chen Yu’s voice rang out again.
"However... would the Sages’ Association consider another form of cooperation? An alliance, for example?"
"An... an alliance?" Oldes looked completely bewildered, as if he had heard a completely foreign word.
If the Slime before him hadn’t proposed it, he never would have even conceived of the notion of forming an alliance with a "Sage."
In the traditional view of the Sages’ Association, other Sages were either like-minded colleagues, enemies or potential threats to be wary of, or irrelevant bystanders.
This kind of alliance, based on equal footing, was practically non-existent in their vocabulary.
"Yes. An alliance for sharing intelligence, providing mutual aid with resources, and even coordinating actions when necessary, either in specific domains or against specific targets," Chen Yu explained patiently.
"The Slime Kingdom can provide a stable rear, unique kingdom resources, and logistical convenience in certain regions. In return, the Sages’ Association can offer knowledge about nature, Demons, and even the ancient secrets of the continent, as well as experience and support in dealing with Demons."
To be honest, after hearing Chen Yu’s description, Oldes was genuinely tempted.
A vast, burgeoning nation that belonged to the Natural Camp—even if its population was primarily composed of seemingly weak Slimes, the vitality it radiated was unimaginable.
Besides, these little guys from the swamp had already proven their strength through their actions—capturing a human fortress and repelling the Demon Army. To the Sages’ Association, this was undoubtedly a force that could not be ignored.
But if they formed an alliance, it would mean the Forest Sages’ Association would be on equal footing with the Slime Kingdom.