Just being a dark elf in Warhammer

Inside the Mask Palace, Walter was sitting behind a huge wooden table, processing piles of files and documents.

On the tabletop burned a beautifully carved perpetual lamp, a lamp that showed the style of the Lizardmen, reflecting the rich and complex aesthetics of this ancient civilization. The base of the lamp showed geometric patterns and decorations common in Lizardmen society, and the sharp lines and symmetrical design conveyed a sense of stability and strength.

The body of the lamp was carefully depicted with feathers symbolizing power and sacred connections, and the outer edge of the lampshade was decorated with small stylized masks, while the lampshade depicted the sun, moon and celestial bodies arranged in a circle.

The bright colors and precise lines reflect the Lizardmen's deep understanding of astronomy and time. In fact, this lamp is not just for lighting and decoration, the depiction on the lampshade has practical value.

The sun pattern is located at the top of the circle, symbolizing the beginning and end of the day. It can represent the time of day, showing morning, noon and evening. The same is true for the moon, which shows different phases of new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter, while the celestial bodies reflect the changes of seasons throughout the year.

This magical lamp was actually a gift from Shakspati to him, recognizing his noble contribution to Lustria, etc.... It could be written into thousands of words as a news report.

In addition to the lamp, there are several ingenious items on the table, which show his unique aesthetic and taste in life. An exquisite ashtray is located on the right side of the table. The ashtray is made of crystal and has a delicate geometric pattern carved on the surface, echoing the design style of the lamp.

Next to it is a bronze pipe with a carefully carved handle with lizard-like patterns. The ignition device next to the pipe is a small flint, with a glimmer on the surface, showing its wear and use.

Of course, there is also a very abrupt thing, something that seems out of place with everything around it, a gilded dragon-patterned three-legged copper incense burner. This incense burner was bought by Dacus at the market in Clarkarond on the first day he met Dacus.

When he was in the forest, Dacus killed a Kane assassin with the incense burner, and the damaged incense burner lost its collection value. But he didn't mind. After getting Dacus's permission, he took the incense burner for himself. He thought that this incense burner had many representative meanings. The location of the incense burner was in his handy position. If necessary, he could grab the leg of the incense burner and pick it up at the first time...

On the left side of the table was a thumbnail. Although it was not large in size, it depicted the administrative divisions of Asheril in detail, the borders, cities, rivers and important landmarks of various regions. The edge of the thumbnail was decorated with fine gold wire, which looked particularly elegant. This item was not just a decoration, but also a symbol of the owner's power and deep feelings for Asheril.

Next to the thumbnail was a piece of paper that he had framed, with a few words written on it.

To my dear brother:

I wish you a happy life under Lord Dacus Hell's Disaster, and I wish you good health and longevity.

Give my regards to Lord Dacus Hell's Disaster.

Your brother Baisong Thorn.

This is the letter that Walter's third brother gave him when he and Dacus left Krakalond for the forest farm. At that time, Dacus said something strange: Well, that has to be put away, what a good souvenir. If I were you, I would frame it and put it in the most conspicuous place.

At that time, he was stunned for a moment, and then he agreed with Dacus' words. And he did so. This framed paper represents his longing for his family... No.

Of course, the most eye-catching thing on the whole table is the half-length portrait of Dacus. Dacus in the painting is wearing the robe that has not changed for thousands of years, looking particularly majestic and sunny, with a cold and resolute facial expression, and his eyes are as sharp as cold stars, as if he can see through everything. His posture is confident and steady, and he holds an exquisite long sword in his right hand, which is a scarlet sword he has held for a long time.

The background of the painting presents a blurred scene, filled with smoke and set off by firelight, creating a breathtaking atmosphere. The whole painting not only captures the handsomeness and momentum of Dacus, but also shows his extraordinary style. The painting is a precious gift given by Ryan before leaving, carrying deep friendship and admiration for Dacus.

The interior of the palace is gorgeously decorated, and the mask panels hanging on the wall vaguely reflect the mysterious face of the ancient saint, as if watching everything. It seems a bit depressing, and the air is filled with a heavy sense of solemnity.

Now, the soft light shines on Walter's pensive face. Just as he is concentrating on reviewing the documents, his entourage knocks on the door and rushes in after getting his permission.

"My lord, the Vicious Temple is back." The entourage reported to Walter with a hint of nervousness and awe.

Hearing this, Walter's face remained calm. He just nodded slightly and signaled his entourage to leave. After the other party left, he stood up suddenly, leaning his unsteady body on the table, with an uncontrollable excitement in his eyes. With his hands clenched, his thoughts surged, as if the seven years of waiting and repression had found an outlet for release at this moment.

He paced back and forth in the room with a cane, his mouth slightly raised, and his face revealed an unconcealable joy and expectation. He knew that Dacus was back, and he came back ahead of time. After walking around for a while, he suppressed his excitement and left the room.

——

Chapeiuto is still the same. This port city seems to have not changed in essence in the seven years since Dacus left. It still maintains the feeling of unfinished construction, as if time has stopped here.

Although Chapeiuto looks like a large construction site and has not improved in the years since he left, he is very happy. At least Walter followed his instructions and did not do this or that, nor did he directly build an administrative or commercial building that contrasts with the surrounding buildings, like a luxurious government building standing in a dilapidated slum.

In the Elf Noble District near the vast ocean, sparse fences can be seen everywhere. Some fences were there before he left, and now those fences are still there, not only that, but there are more fences.

The land surrounded by fences represents both belonging and unfinished dreams. It also represents the political acumen and foresight of the owner. They are not blindly speculating, but they see the huge potential of this land in the future.

With advance planning, the family's mansion was acquired on this land, just like the mansion of the Hell Disaster Family in Nagarond. Whether it is lived in or not, whether it is used or not is not mentioned for the time being, but it must be there. In addition, after Asheril releases its true value, these mansions can also take the lead in the future struggle for interests.

The manor is located further south of the coast, between the Flame Swamp and the Mangrove Coast Jungle, where the sky is high and the clouds are light, there are herds of cattle and sheep, and the scenery is beautiful. It has unique natural conditions for the development of manors and tourism. Maybe it will attract elves and tourists in the future and become a good place for couples to spend their honeymoon?

"The Pope of Lustria is back."

As the distance got closer, Daquus, who was sighing that he could see more things, gradually realized that something was wrong.

The elven barracks, which should have been a symbol of seriousness and strength, now look deserted and empty. The soldiers are in groups of three or two, and there is no one on the training ground. It seems that the original vitality has been lost here.

In the original arrangement, the barracks area was stationed with a relatively large number of elven troops. This army led by Valahar usually does not participate in labor dispatch management, but is only responsible for patrolling and training, and at most helps maintain order when the Blackstone Ark is fully loaded. It is a mobile force in wartime, but now this army is gone.

The Lizardman Barracks not far from the Elf Barracks are even more exaggerated. At least there are elves in the Elf Barracks. He looked for a while and didn't see the Lizardmen. There were only a few sparse Skin Lizards doing patrol-like work.

He knew that what was happening in front of him was obviously wrong. Skin Lizards serving the social system usually do not serve as soldiers. This situation should not happen on the continent of Lustria. Only in the jungles of the Southland, when there are not enough Lizardmen, will Skin Lizards replace Lizardmen as soldiers.

The dock area also seemed quiet and deserted. A large number of plunder ships belonging to the Black Ark Fleet were quietly moored there, and the hulls made faint creaking sounds in the wind, as if telling of their former glory and current decline. The once bustling docks are now no longer visible for pirates and sailors, and only a few lonely figures can be seen passing by occasionally.

The empty markets, taverns, hotels and zoos seemed even more deserted. The once bustling market stalls were empty, and the piles of goods were unattended. The vendors seemed to have given up on this place, leaving behind only some goods that had long lost their luster. The doors of taverns and hotels were closed, and the halls that were once full of laughter and joy were now empty, as if time had frozen here, and only the remaining aroma of wine was still lingering in the air, telling of the former prosperity.

The entire Chapeuto was like a ghost town, falling into an unsettling silence. The once planned prosperity seemed to have become a passing cloud, time stagnated here, and the breath of life was completely taken away, just like a large immigrant city during the Spring Festival.

After looking for a while, he stopped looking at the city and looked at the sea. In addition to the fleet ships belonging to the Vicious Temple, there were only four plunder ships in the south facing the Asur Eagle Ship on the horizon. The plunder ships that were originally converted into fishing ships were anchored in the port. The anchored Tower of the Blessed Evil Party and the Fortress of Eternal Terror also seemed particularly quiet, and there was no sign of elf activity on the surface of the Black Ark.

"My lord, this?" Ryan came to Daquus and asked softly, asking about the uneasiness in his and the elves' hearts.

Whether it was the elves who set out from Chapeyuto or the elves and red dragons who came to the new world for the first time, they all gathered together, talking and introducing each other. But as the distance gradually closed, they also found a clue.

"What should have happened?" Daquus glanced at the sky when he responded, and after seeing that there was no obvious abnormality in the sky, he was relieved.

In the year 2321 Imperial, a fleet of Skaven was spotted in the Central Sea, and the Skaven launched numerous raids along the coast. The Dwarves of Barak Hymon reported that they had sunk a Skaven fleet, and during the winter, Clan Eshin stalkers conducted numerous raids on anchored fleets in major ports in the Empire, Bretonnia, Tyrell, and Estalia, using fire pots and oil to burn the fleets, with varying successes.

Of course, this was nothing compared to what happened in Lustria.

At a certain time of the year, when the sun rose, the morning light of Lustria was dyed black. The spiritual vein network flickered, and the great guardian system was weakening like a cliff. The forces of chaos took the opportunity to launch an attack. The demon army appeared across the continent, and many tragic battles broke out. The battle lasted for a whole week until the real sun rose again.

This event was called the Battle of the Black Sun.

The fact that it was not dark meant that the Battle of the Black Sun was not advanced. Something else must have happened, and it was necessary to investigate the affairs of the Peyuto army. He didn't think that the elves and lizardmen knew about his arrival in advance and hid, and then suddenly jumped out to give him a surprise. Is this a surprise? It's like a birthday.

"What do you mean?" Ryan's face showed worry. He knew the importance of Lustria too well, and he didn't want anything to happen.

"I don't know either." Daxus shook his head in response, and then he said, "Prepare to disembark."

Most ports are built where the prevailing wind blows, not in or out of the port. Prevailing winds, also known as the most frequent wind direction, refer to the wind or wind direction that appears most frequently in a certain period of time in a region. If the wind direction is wrong, large ships will not enter the port or anchor in the most crowded area, but stay outside the port or anchor, and transport materials or goods by barge.

If you must enter when the wind is not right, there will be a lot of knowledge, and the operation will be very particular, so particular that you need to write a manual that can be understood by the brain but not operated by the hands. It requires elite captains, sailors and pilots at the dock to complete it together, and requires large anchors, small anchors, fine-tuning sails, etc.

Long story short, I will talk about it another day, and I won’t talk about it because it’s unnecessary.

Under normal circumstances, this kind of operation is not allowed. Once it is messed up, it will cause the ship to rush to the shore and scratch the nearby ships. Before the emergence of steamboats, the cables were usually hung on the small boats, and the crew relied on oars to tow the boats manually. After approaching the shore, there would be trackers, cattle and horses to tow the boats in or out of the berths with ropes.

Of course, the cost-effectiveness of trackers is much higher than that of cattle and horses. A classic painting created by Repin describes the scene when ships enter the port, which also reflects... and so on.

The reason why there is no need for human traction is that no matter how powerful human power is, it can only meet the current needs, but cannot meet the needs in the future. When a 10,000-ton ship appears, how much manpower will be needed.

He has a steam engine, and Asherel has rubber. As long as they are combined, a steamboat will appear, which is the legendary tugboat that can push a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier into the port. In addition to tugboats, there are also low-level storm weavers who can serve as pilots. If one tugboat is not enough, two will be used. If two are not enough, add more. If physical force is not enough, magic will be used.

Why is Chapeiuto a natural harbor? Because Chapeiuto is located where the prevailing wind blows. But this is not important. Dacus, who has a steam engine, is preparing to transform the dock of Chapeiuto and upgrade it to a port.

A port refers to a place for ships to dock, load and unload cargo, store cargo and provide other related services. Ports are usually composed of facilities such as docks, berths, yards, warehouses, etc., and are important hubs for maritime transportation.

Docks are facilities in ports for ships to dock and load and unload goods. They are usually composed of shore buildings and platforms extending into the water. Docks can be divided into berths, berth facilities, loading and unloading equipment and other parts.

To put it bluntly, it is a comprehensive upgrade. The port is a whole, and the dock is only a part of the port.

He is going to modernize the port of Chapeiuto to meet the huge demand in the future. After all, transformation is faster than reconstruction. It takes a lot of effort to build a brand new port city in the Rosario Administrative District.

There is no dragon transformation. Just like when boarding the ship, the elves and red dragons boarded the plunder ship for transfer. There is no human traction. He, Serene and Belloda are on the ship. After the ship retracted its sails, it was pushed by the water flow and entered the berth very smoothly, just like turning on the smart mode.

There was no grand welcome ceremony, no huge welcome team, only Walter and Chupakoko were waiting there with some young-looking Duruchi bureaucrats.

After seeing Dacus, Chupakoko was so excited that his whole body trembled. The color of his crown kept changing in excitement, from dark blue to bright orange, and then to dazzling purple. He tightly grasped the staff that Dacus had given him at the beginning, and stood there dancing with joy, making a low hissing and clicking sound, expressing his inner ecstasy and excitement. His tail couldn't help but tap the ground lightly, making a series of brisk sounds.

"Darkius!"

He shouted excitedly, walked up quickly, and hugged Dacus warmly.

"They..."

Hugging Dacus, he saw the dragonborns who kept getting off the boat. His eyes were wide open, full of curiosity and exploration. His voice was full of doubts and amazement. He looked at these dragonborns carefully and found that they were surprisingly similar to him in some places, but they were obviously not lizardmen. Therefore, his crown changed into a flashing green light.

"That's a giant dragon. Like you, they are my good friends." Daxus smiled and patted Chupakoko's shoulders, which were decorated with colorful feathers.

The giant dragons that turned into human forms had a faint light in their golden eyes. They stared at Chupakoko with curiosity and exploration in their eyes. They exchanged glances from time to time, and shared their feelings about the unique aura of this little lizard man.

On the other side, the Druchi people gathered around Walter. The Druchi, who also came from Krakarond like Walter, may be too familiar with each other, but it was not because of Walter's ability in Druchi society. The noble status among the top five creates estrangement and fear. For them, Walter is an old friend, not a high-ranking powerful person. They either complimented, marveled, or sneered in a friendly tone.

"How did you..." Maranur shook his head helplessly mid-sentence. At this moment, he saw his future in Walter. But soon, he breathed a sigh of relief. Krakarond was different from Asriel. Although he was also a night governor, the scope of affairs he managed was completely different.

Walter, who was standing on a slope, was leaning on a cane. Dealing with government affairs day after day made him look haggard, and the wrinkles on his face deeply showed the pressure he endured. The originally strong posture has now become hunched and unsteady due to the responsibilities shouldered. His eyes were mixed with fatigue and vicissitudes of life. His once bright eyes now showed a faint hint of fatigue.

The original black hair has turned into gray and white. This is also the main target of ridicule for the Druchi. After all, no Druchi would make fun of his legs without looking at it.

After meeting these long-lost companions and confirming that the number of people present was the same as before departure, a long-lost bright smile appeared on his face, as if all the fatigue was diluted by joy.

The traditional three-sword ceremony of Drukhi society pales in this moment, and the red tape disappears. He and his friends opened their arms and hugged each other vigorously. The joy and excitement of meeting again after a long absence made him temporarily forget the aging and burden brought by time, leaving only the pure joy of being reunited with his friends.

After a brief introduction to each other, the mighty team headed towards the Mask Palace.

"What happened?" Darkus, who was walking in the team, asked in a deep voice.

"Three days ago, there were some problems in the City of Echoes and Zahuitak in the north." Walter, who had calmed down, responded calmly. After seeing Darkus nodded in response, he continued, "The Southern Outpost. Some of the troops were mobilized, and all the behemoths were mobilized. Admiral Loxia from the Tower of Divine Blessing and Admiral Hadris from the Fortress of Eternal Dread responded to Dorian's call, and Lord Shakspati also went."

Darkus nodded again. Zahhuitak's problem was not just one day or two, it was the same as his aunt. When he first came to the continent of Lustria, he experienced the City of the Moon and the Battle of Taraxla.

Originally, the battle that the lizardmen could surely win without his participation had a problem. The problem arose in Zahhuitak. The battle there lasted for several years, and a steady stream of lizardman armies set out from various temple cities to support it.

Talaxra, which was very close to there, even used all its main forces, so it happened that the wild beasts invaded the city because the lizardman army was not enough.

Now, Zahhuitak has another problem. I don't know how long this battle will last, and how much blood the lizard man and Druch will lose.

As the Pope of Lustria, he should go there, but he didn't think what would happen if he went. The problem of Zahuitak has not been solved from the beginning to the end, and during this period, there were two Slann demons. The priest threw it there.

"What do you need me to do?" After seeing Darkus's delay in responding, Walter asked cautiously.

"Let's do this for today, arrange the dinner, and transfer tomorrow." It might not be a big deal if he goes, but Darkus thinks it's better to go, what if he goes. But he was not in a hurry for a day or two. He had to first entertain the elves and red dragons who came to the Lustria continent for the first time, and then talk about other things. Don't be like cannon fodder and drive them around in a hurry.

After Walter nodded, he called the young official who was following him and whispered instructions.

In the team, the elves and red dragons who set foot on the continent of Lustria for the first time were full of novelty and desire to explore every step they took. Especially after passing through the dock area and entering the comprehensive area. A variety of lizard-style buildings come into view, with complex decorations and bright colors, and the atmosphere of ancient, mysterious and exotic culture comes to mind.

Some red dragons were deeply attracted by the decoration of the building. Although they had seen gold in many places, the combination of this ancient civilization's architectural style and gold still made them feel fresh and new. This is not only a symbol of wealth, but also a testimony of strength and history.

They purred involuntarily and stretched out their powerful claws to touch the exquisite carvings and inlays. Their dragon eyes sparkled with curiosity in the sunlight, carefully feeling the texture of every inch of the decorative surface. The moment their claws came into contact with these ancient building materials, the red dragon's innate sensitivity to gold was immediately awakened.

That is unquestionable, real gold.

Their senses penetrated every inlay like electricity, and they could feel the energy contained in the metal, as if the gold itself was talking to them. The tips of the claws slid along the carved texture, and when they touched the heavy precious metal, a sense of satisfaction surged in their hearts, as well as the greed imprinted in their blood.

Darkus didn't say anything after seeing the behavior of the red dragons. He thought that the red dragons' behavior was normal. Maybe it was because of his presence that they seemed a little suppressed and did not come down directly or do something more extreme. . Of course, as a gesture, he would still give each red dragon a ton of gold as a token of settlement with the red dragons as they set foot on the New World.

He could still take out more than 20 tons of gold. After all, the Golden City and Chakua were there. Maybe he should take the red dragons there to dazzle their eyes. Maybe the red dragons would choose to settle there and stay there?

The elves looked around intently, their eyes full of desire for the unknown and curiosity about the new environment. The unspeakable emotions they had when they first saw the Slann Mage Priests and Lizardmen in Athel Loren came to their minds again. Every carving and every stone tablet made them stop for a moment, whispering about the shock and novelty brought by these strange buildings and decorations.

Many elves had read or heard about these wonders in books and legends. For some elves, "The Adventure Record of Belsarius", which was like a children's science book, had a very high influence. Now the scene really appeared in front of them, making them feel like they were in books and legends. Tolandil and the war dancers were even busier. They kept recording every detail and sharing these experiences with each other.

"What is that?"

After looking around, Dacus found four stone buildings at the four corners of the intersection that were not there before he set out. Perhaps it is not accurate to call them buildings, but more like decorations, he asked curiously. (End of this chapter)