Proofreader: M_W Miss Fierce

Commander Vargas took Mister Loki and his group to the garden behind his palace. There was a big courtyard in the middle with a great view over the river and the garden in front that belongs to his territory.

After sitting down on their chairs, the maids of Commander Vargas' palace quickly arrived, bringing with them snacks and beverages.

"How do you like the view of my garden?" Commander Vargas said before taking a sip of his tea.

"Better than my own," Leo replied as he put his hand forward to remove the hood that was covering Cassandra's appearance. Her hand was still somewhat shuddering, making him feel curious about it.

As soon as Commander Vargas saw Cassandra's beautiful appearance, he instantly can't help feeling admiration about her beauty. Elves value beauty above all else, that's why they have a beautiful appearance and a likable character. But Cassandra's beauty was really something else, it's even more beautiful than the two Princesses of the Emerald Tree Kingdom. Now he could fully understand why those Goblins of the Hunter Goblin Guild had offended Mister Loki. If he doesn't know any better than those Goblins, he might have also offended Mister Loki.

"You're really fortunate to have someone as precious as her, Mister Loki," Commander Vargas commented.

"Oh, not at all," Leo shook his head in response. Having a beauty like Cassandra is indeed fortunate, but the trouble that comes along with it was something that he really hates. Just like what happened back then, causing him to unnecessarily offend the Hunter Goblin Guild. But he still doesn't regret having her as one of his women.

"No need to be humble, Mister Loki, even I can't help feeling jealous about you, hahaha," Commander Vargas said with a chuckle. In the next moment, he put down the teacup on his hand as he then began talking about the main topic, "Anyways, the main reason why I call you here, is because I wanted to know whether you are here to also participate in the Emerald Event?"

"Well, hearing that the prizes of both the Emerald Event and Emerald Elven Battle Competition are great, I have thought of participating along with my Mischievous Lion Guild," Leo replied before he quickly added as he realized something, "Are you perhaps going to tell me that there are some problems with us participating?"

"You're indeed wise, Mister Loki," Commander Vargas nodded his head in confirmation. He said in assurance, "It's just a small problem, though,"

"Please tell," Leo turned serious.

"It's about the limits of cultivation level for the participants," Commander Vargas replied before shaking his head helplessly. He continued, "It's like this. In the Emerald Event, everyone could participate, no matter what level of cultivation a person has, even if they are Constellation level and above. But, in the Emerald Elven Battle Competition, the Evergreen royal family had set a maximum limit. After all, if a person with a Constellation level cultivation participates, there's no doubt that they will win the first price, right? If such a thing were allowed to happen, the Emerald Elven Battle Competition will completely lose its meaning,"

"I see," Leo nodded his head in understanding. Indeed, if there is no limit set for the participants, the Emerald Elven Battle Competition would completely be meaningless. The competition might even just become a fight of which team has a team member with the highest cultivation level, rather than who has more skills and strength than the other participants.

Since he already understands where this was going, Leo asked, "So, what is the limit?"

"For this year's Emerald Elven Battle Competition, the only people that could participate are participants with a cultivation of 1 Star level. Any higher than that is not allowed," Commander Vargas replied.

Hearing that, Leo turned to look at Chief Lago, Sebastian, Dan, and old man Torre as he said, "I guess that you guys can only watch us fight, hahaha!"

"I understand," Chief Lago smiled.

"Can't we participate even if we suppressed our cultivation level to those of a 1 Star level?" Sebastian quickly asked Commander Vargas.

"Unfortunately, that's considered cheating," Commander Vargas shook his head.

"What a letdown, I was even thinking of testing the limit of my strength through the Emerald Elven Battle Competition," Sebastian could only shake his head helplessly.

"What test your strength, you clearly just wanted to use the Emerald Elven Battle Competition to make Ellen admire you, hahaha," Dan said with a chuckle.

"You..."

"No problem, I am already old, so such kind of competition is no longer befitting for someone like me," Old man Torre expressed that he doesn't have any problems with it.

"If only participants with a 1 Star level cultivation could participate, then only Elizabeth, Angel, and Veronica could participate aside from the two of us. We are still lacking five more to form a complete team," Cassandra said as she was finally able to calm down.

"This is indeed a problem," Leo said before beginning to think about how he should fix this problem. If there's something that the Mischievous Lion Guild lacks the most right now, it's members with below 2 Star level cultivation. Aside from him, Cassandra, Elizabeth, Angel, and Veronica, there are only a few others with the cultivation of 1 Star level. But unfortunately, they only have sub-par capabilities. If he wanted to win the Emerald Elven Battle Competition, he needs people with capability higher than that.

Noticing Mister Loki's difficulty, Commander Vargas suddenly proposed, "If you're lacking some people, I can lend you a few of my capable subordinates. I assure you that you will definitely not be disappointed with them,"

"That's indeed great, but wouldn't it cause you inconvenience? Also, if we lose, it might affect your prestige in the Emerald Tree Kingdom," Leo replied, a bit concern of Commander Vargas' suggestion.

Commander Vargas can't help himself laughing after hearing Mister Loki's words. He soon said, "Pfff... what prestige? Don't put me in the same shoes as those overly proud people. It's okay, as long as they return safe and sound afterwards,"

"I am really grateful for this help, but before I accept that," Leo pause as he clasped together with his hands and resting his head on top before finally saying with a mischievous smile on his face, "Tell me first what you want in return?"

"It seems like nothing could really escape your eyes, Mister Loki," Commander Vargas said, his smiling face quickly turned serious. He then continued, "I only want something very simple..."

Commander Vargas waved his hand, taking out a map from his Storage Ring and putting it on the top of the table.

Seeing the map, Leo was able to quickly identify it as the northwest side of the Emerald Forest. He had studied the map that he had bought from Elvis thoroughly before, thinking that it might become handy someday. Never did he expect that the 'Someday' would actually turn out to be today.

Basing on his memory. There should be an abandoned infrastructure somewhere around the map...

"The Phoenix Taming Tower," Commander Vargas said while pointing at a tower.

"Yes, it was called the Phoenix Taming Tower... Wait," Leo agreed unconsciously before quickly realizing his mistake.

"Oh, it seems like you know about this Phoenix Taming Tower," Commander Vargas said, a bit curious about how Leo knew about that place.

"Hehehe," Leo could only scratch his head awkwardly. He really didn't expect that they were both actually thinking about the same place.

"It's not that I know about it, I just stumble upon a map that shows the location of the Phoenix Taming Tower," Leo quickly corrected, not wanting to cause any misunderstanding with Commander Vargas.

"A map?" Commander Vargas's eyes narrowed after hearing Leo's words. He continued, "Let me guess, you bought it from an Information Dealer?"

"How did you know?" Leo asked as he raised his head to look at Commander Vargas.

Hearing that it's indeed from an Information Dealer, Commander Vargas's eyes lit up before quickly asking, "Can you tell me where you have bought the map?"

"Well, I bought it outside the Emerald Forest. It was from a Cartographer store in one of those no-name villages before entering the Emerald Forest," Leo replied, not intending to hide anything to Commander Vargas.

"So, that person is actually hiding over there," Commander Vargas heaves a sigh of helplessness.

"What do you mean?" Leo asked curiously.

"His name is Elvis, one of the greatest Cartographers to ever exist in the Emerald Tree Kingdom. He's known to have explored the entire Emerald Forest in the past, allowing him to make a very detailed and thorough map of this entire place. Such a pity though, because of an accident, he had disappeared and was never heard ever again, not until this moment," Commander Vargas explained.

"If it's okay to ask, what accident do you mean?"

"Have you heard about the Black organization?"

"Yeah, what about them?" Leo curiously asked.

"No," Commander Vargas shook his head, "It's not about them, rather it's about the same kind of organization as the Black organization. They are called the Naughty Elves organization. An organization made up of evil Elves and are loyal followers and believers of the Sun Elf God..."

"Anyways, I would like to ask for your help to explore the Phoenix Taming Tower in exchange for lending you some capable subordinates for the Emerald Elven Battle Competition, is that alright with you?"

"That's very simple," Leo can't help smiling after knowing that it was just to do something easy. He really thought before that it would be something really dangerous. He added, "How about this, I'll send you a letter a few days later about how many exactly I needed, is that alright with you?"

"As long as it wouldn't affect our agreement, it's alright," Commander Vargas nodded his head.

"Oh, it won't, you don't have to worry about that and you just have to trust my words," Leo said in assurance.

"Okay, so do we have a deal?" Commander Vargas said as he stood up from his chair and put his hand forward.

"Yes," Leo smiled as he also stood up from his chair and shook hands with Commander Vargas.

"You take care of your side while I'll prepare my subordinates. You don't have to worry about your participation in the Emerald Event, I'll take care of that," Commander Vargas said, he added, "Oh, I almost forgot, just send someone to process the expansion of your territory,"

"It seems like I keep on owning you more favors, hahaha," Leo said with a chuckle.

"The more favors you own me the better, as I might just need your help someday. At that time, please don't turn me down," Commander Vargas said with a smiling face.

"Don't worry, as long as I can handle it, I will lend you a hand," Leo nodded his head.