Elder Baros, responsible for managing the guards, felt a headache coming on.
The arrival of the Divine Gifted was supposed to be an opportunity for the Elven Guard race.
These beings with top-tier potential could propel their race to new heights. Right now, prioritizing control over the Divine Gifted was key; they shouldn't be thinking about tribal interests.
Yet Myer, a rising star within the race who had joined the ranks of elite warriors at a young age, had been fixated on personally capturing this Divine Gifted with supreme potential ever since hearing about him. He wanted to prove his own ability and innate talent far surpassed that of any so-called "Divine Gifted."
Baros had even heard rumors that Myer planned to deliberately suppress his own attributes to fight the Divine Gifted on "equal" footing.
"Isn't that just asking for trouble?" Baros thought. There was simply no need for this kind of "proof of strength."
What worried him more was: what if Myer, suppressing his attributes, actually lost to the Divine Gifted?
Myer had once been publicly defeated by a friend during training and had flown into a murderous rage.
If he lost to a freshly awakened Divine Gifted while suppressing his power, Myer definitely wouldn't keep suppressing his attributes just to be beaten down...
Knowing Myer's temperament, he would be furious, lose all restraint, and strike to kill!
Baros knew Myer too well. He genuinely feared that Divine Gifted being killed outright by Myer!
That would be a true loss for the race!
Seeing Myer's resolute stance, Baros thought it over carefully and finally sighed helplessly: "Very well, go then. I trust you can bring him back, but I must send people with your team. To prevent... irrational actions."
"You don't trust me?" Myer frowned slightly, then nodded. "Fine, send whoever you want. With talent that high, why would I kill him?" He vowed solemnly.
Baros looked displeased but, seeing Myer had conceded, felt he couldn't push further. He nodded reluctantly: "Alright. Munir is yours."
"Don't worry. I'll have him back within three days." Myer swiftly smoothed out his ornate leather armor, his expression resolute as he accepted the task.
Baros looked deeply worried, opened his mouth weakly, but ultimately said nothing more.
Myer, however, sprang into action immediately.
He gathered a team of his elite warrior subordinates and ordered other members of the "Emerald Fang" tribe to enter the forest to narrow the search perimeter.
Before setting out, he made a point of visiting the group of Divine Gifted bound by Slave Contracts.
Myer declared haughtily: "Which of you knows a Divine Gifted named Munir? He is currently on the run. Who is willing to join us in tracking his trail?"
"Those who participate successfully will be elevated to Honorary Slaves, responsible for managing your fellow countrymen."
His face was stern. In Myer's view, these Divine Gifted from the Otherworld should naturally have received combat and wilderness survival training from childhood, just like Elven Guard warriors. If anyone knew Munir personally, they might better understand his survival patterns, aiding the capture.
As his words fell, the Divine Gifted from Seacity High School looked puzzled.
Munir was a prominent figure at school, but none of them were close to him. Even if students wanted to betray a friend for preferential treatment, they simply didn't have the ability.
Just as Myer, disappointed, was about to leave, a figure suddenly darted forward.
The person was disheveled, their clothes stained with dried blood – it was Helen.
Healed of his injuries by the Elven Race, he rushed forward excitedly: "Elven Race Lord! I know! I know this Munir!"
Helen wasn't lying.
A person's enemy often knows them best. Helen had targeted Munir for a long time; his familiarity far exceeded that of ordinary students.
As an Honorary Slave, Helen had been punished for previously "forcing out" Munir but still retained the right to manage other students. He had also interacted with a few Elves, gaining a rough understanding of the Elven Race's power hierarchy.
The elite warrior before him, clad in distinctive leather armor, was at least Level 20-30, possibly even Level 40! His All Attributes likely ranged between 200 to 300 points!
Far beyond any ordinary guard.
Such power hunting Munir would be effortless!
Helen's only worry was that the warriors might not find Munir quickly.
He couldn't let Munir escape!!
Otherwise, he was finished!
He didn't hesitate to step forward, practically scrambling to get there!
Helen excitedly thought: If I accompany the Elven Guard warriors, I can totally sabotage Munir during the search.
He didn't dare hope to kill his nemesis, but at least he could leave Munir with a "memory" he'd never forget.
Myer was momentarily startled, then his eyes lit up.
He keenly caught the hatred in Helen's eyes – this man was clearly Munir's enemy.
Using an enemy to help hunt was far more reliable than bringing other Divine Gifted; they would undoubtedly give their all.
"You'll do. Stand behind me." Myer smiled, even pulling a piece of leather armor from his spatial ring and draping it over Helen. "This is Enchanted Equipment worn by elite Elven Race warriors. With your stats, you can't activate its special abilities, but it will provide basic protection. Wouldn't want you killed by your enemy before you catch him."
He wasn't stingy with resources for the first to cooperate.
Seeing Helen receive such preferential treatment just for volunteering, the eyes of many students below flickered, clearly tempted...
Myer turned back to Helen: "Do you know others who could help us hunt this Munir?"
Helen paused, then nodded frantically: "I know! I know! Conphire! Nornis! Silas!..."
He rapidly listed names.
The named individuals paled. Some were Munir's classmates, others were people Munir occasionally spoke to at school. They weren't his friends, but they were at least on decent terms.
Helen was dragging them all into the hunt! Appearing before Munir like this would undoubtedly be seen as betrayal, creating a deadly enmity!!
Their expressions turned grim. Refuse the Elven Race's demand? They were bound by Slave Contracts; they simply didn't have the guts.
Instantly, the plaza fell deathly silent, broken only by the increasingly heavy breathing of those named.
A flicker of cruel satisfaction passed through Helen's eyes. He knew that with this move, Munir was now betrayed by everyone!
"Pity Morrian isn't here," Helen thought to himself. He'd been to the Divine Gift Space but had no news of Morrian.
Helen merely assumed Morrian had been teleported to another area. He deeply regretted not being able to involve Munir's only close friend in this betrayal as well!
Munir's expression would surely be a spectacle then!
Myer paid no mind to Helen's petty scheming. With a sweep of his hand, he gathered all the named Divine Gifted and led his squad deeper into the forest.
However, when the Elf sent by Baros arrived...
Myer frowned deeply. Baros's messenger informed him he must capture Munir within a single day. The royal family's young princess planned an excursion into the forest.
If the hunting party disturbed the princess, it would be a grave crime.
"Fine. Understood. Munir will be caught within the day." Myer glanced at Helen beside him, whose face was alight with eager anticipation and excitement, and felt inexplicably that the task might not be so difficult...
He wasn't worried about dealing with Munir. In Myer's eyes, the other was just a barely awakened insect. He even planned to suppress his attributes voluntarily, proving his innate talent far surpassed any "Divine Gifted."
Myer's All Attributes exceeded 300 points. He wore two pieces of Enchanted Equipment: a suit of leather armor and a long spear.
This terrifying gulf in power gave him absolute confidence that as soon as this "top-tier talent" Divine Gifted appeared before him, he could subdue him in a single encounter!
His only concern was that other searching Elven Guard warriors might capture Munir first, making his own trip pointless.
The expressions of the accompanying students varied. Helen was practically dancing with excitement, his steps light. The others wore looks of deep worry and anguish. They knew that with elite Elven Guard warriors backing them, Munir was doomed.
"Munir was fierce before, counter-killing Elves, maneuvering through the woods, even tearing through encirclements to strike back... but now he's facing elite warriors with Attributes in the hundreds," the students thought grimly. "Even if his class is top-tier, there's no way he could become strong enough to fight Level 30-40 existences in just one day. He's truly finished."
The students knew their actions were despicable. They could only silently plead in their hearts: "Munir, don't blame us. We were forced. You'd be caught eventually anyway, whether we came along or not..."
They resolved that even while coerced by Helen into the search, if they actually saw Munir, they would try their best to pretend they hadn't noticed him.
As countless Elven Guard warrior teams flooded into the forest where Munir was hiding, the already cordoned-off area became thick with palpable killing intent!
The search routes plotted by the warriors formed a vast, tightening dragnet, slowly closing over Munir...