A faint smile touched the Elven Queen's lips as she looked at him, then she spoke, "But regardless of the outcome, once you have entered, it signifies that we have accepted the repayment from our Elven Forest. It can then be said that our Elven race has settled its debt to you, and thus, we owe you nothing further. However, you will remain an honored guest among the Elves, and should you encounter any difficulties, our people will certainly do our utmost to assist you, depending on the situation. You must think this through clearly; once you accept our proposal, there is no turning back."
Mo Han, upon hearing this, nodded decisively, agreeing to the terms. He hadn't genuinely expected to enter the Elven Forbidden Land anyway, so this entire matter was entirely beyond his anticipation—a surprising bonus. No matter the result, it was an opportunity to enhance his power. Moreover, Mo Han harbored a persistent feeling that entering would significantly benefit his magical cultivation; perhaps it was his sixth sense. Since childhood, Mo Han had always trusted his intuition, and this time was no exception.
Seeing his agreement, the Elven Queen turned to the assembled Elder Council and inquired, "Since Brother Mo Han has consented, I trust the esteemed Elders have no objections?" Aery was the first to speak, "This is a matter we agreed upon this morning. I believe as long as Brother Mo Han agrees, none of us should have any objections. Therefore, Your Majesty the Queen may make the final decision autonomously."
Hearing Aery's words, the other Elven Elders nodded in agreement with his sentiment.
The Elven Queen then spoke, hearing this.
"Since that is settled, and Brother Mo Han himself has agreed, this matter is thus decided. I propose we set the time for today. News regarding the Princess may arrive at any moment these few days, and having Brother Mo Han present could add an extra measure of strength. Therefore, entering sooner is better, allowing us to emerge sooner as well."
"Elders, what are your thoughts?" The Elders nodded their assent upon hearing the Queen's proposal. Mo Han also expressed no reservations, agreeing with the Queen’s assessment that Anna's situation was the most pressing matter. If he could enter sooner, he could emerge a day earlier and rescue Anna sooner. Naturally, he had no objection.
The Elven Queen smiled at this, concluding, "Then it is settled. Everyone may attend to their duties. Brother Mo Han, please remain behind for a moment; I have a few things I wish to ask you."
Upon hearing the Queen, the Elders rose and took their leave. Mo Han felt a touch of curiosity about being singled out, but he showed nothing. Just then, the Queen’s voice, gentle and warm, addressed him. "Your journey into the Elven Forbidden Land is fraught with uncertainty. After all, no human has entered that sacred ground for thousands of years, so I possess no certainties myself. Yet, you have shown kindness to our Elven race, and you are Anna’s elder brother; I do not wish for harm to befall you."
"Here, I shall make an exception. I have an item here; take it with you for now. Should you encounter danger, this object should help you turn peril into safety."
The Elven Queen reached into her robes and produced a plain, ancient-looking ring. She informed Mo Han, "This ring is the heirloom passed down through our generations, the divine artifact, 'The Elven Goddess' Sigh.' When danger arises, channel a wisp of your magical energy into it, and the supreme protective barrier within, the 'Elven Barrier,' will manifest. The energy within this 'Elven Barrier' can withstand the might of a Forbidden Spell, meaning almost no force can harm those protected within. However, it can only be used once per day, so you must use it wisely. There should be no issues. I will instruct you on its exact usage later; please keep it safe, understand?" After speaking, the Queen handed the ring to Mo Han. Upon learning that this unremarkable ring was one of the Ten Great Artifacts, 'The Elven Goddess’ Sigh,' Mo Han initially wanted to refuse. But considering the Queen’s good intentions and acknowledging that he couldn't guarantee handling every situation alone, he accepted with gratitude. "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty, in entrusting such a precious item to Mo Han. Please rest assured, I will guard it well and never betray your faith."
The Elven Queen chuckled lightly. "It's not that serious. If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't entrust it to you in the first place. So, there's no need to be so formal. I prefer you as you were, more at ease, do you understand?" Mo Han smiled in return and nodded, saying, "Heh heh, in that case, Mo Han will not be polite. Should the opportunity arise in the future, Mo Han will certainly repay Your Majesty for today's great generosity."
The Elven Queen spoke, "Very well, you should return to prepare now. Are there any other matters you wish to clarify?" Mo Han paused in thought and asked, "Could Your Majesty perhaps outline the general situation within the Forbidden Land for me? That way, I will have a better foundation and greater certainty."
The Elven Queen shook her head, replying, "It is not that I am unwilling to tell you, but rather, I truly do not know what circumstances you will face, making it impossible to answer your question."
Mo Han felt a sudden jolt, thinking that perhaps the Queen was deliberately withholding information. Hadn't numerous high-level Elven Mages entered the Forbidden Land before? How could the Queen not know the conditions within? But since the Queen had agreed to let him enter the sacred grounds, it seemed unnecessary for her to deceive him on this matter; there was no reason to conceal anything. So why? With this thought, Mo Han couldn't help but say, "I heard from Anna that quite a few high-level mages in the Elven race have entered the Forbidden Land before? Then how could..."
Mo Han’s implication was perfectly clear: since Elven mages had entered, how could the Elven Queen be ignorant of the situation inside the Forbidden Land? It simply did not add up.