Chapter 276: Challenges [1] Noah stood there for a moment, contemplating his approach to the complex problem that had been presented to him. Solving a war that had lasted for decades, resulting in the deaths of tens or perhaps hundreds of grandmaster practitioners and thousands of civilians, was certainly not a simple matter to navigate. The scale of the conflict and its deep-rooted nature demanded careful consideration. He needed to plan thoroughly and strategically. Noah had already decided to tackle the challenge that Adrian had presented, recognising the rewards that awaited. However, before committing to such a dangerous undertaking, he needed absolute verification that the information was genuine and no deception was involved. Noah withdrew one of the most powerful artefacts he had gathered during his time in this world. The Eye of Apollo appeared in his hand instantly, his storage ring responding to his mental command. "This is..?" Adrian asked with obvious confusion. The mysterious human had produced what appeared to be an ornate orb, and Adrian wondered if this might be another priceless treasure capable of ending their conflict, similar to the enhancement items he had witnessed being sold. "This is the Eye of Apollo. Prince Adrian, I hope you won’t take offence at my next words, but this verification must be conducted. This artefact will allow me to verify your claims completely. I will ask you several questions, and I hope you answer them truthfully. Any lies, whether obvious or hidden, will be exposed, and we will not maintain good relations afterwards. Is that understood?" Adrian paused as he comprehended the artefact’s purpose. He sighed with a wry smile before responding with resigned acceptance. "Fair enough. What are your questions?" Noah activated the Eye of Apollo, feeling its truth-detection capabilities engage as he prepared his inquiries. "First, does the World Tree truly exist in a location you can access?" Noah asked with a direct tone. "Yes, I have personally confirmed its location through my team’s scouting," Adrian replied without hesitation. The Eye of Apollo remained steady, indicating complete truthfulness. "Second, do you know the approximate location and how to reach it safely?" "Yes, I know the approximate location and how to reach it safely. Normally, the journey would involve significant dangers that would require careful planning and adequate protection for normal elves. But as long as a powerful grandmaster exists within the group, it would be a non-threatening journey." Again, the artefact detected no deception. "Third, and this is crucial—do Queen Seraphina or Lord Regent Darian know about the World Tree’s location or its appearance?" Adrian shook his head firmly. "Neither of them possesses this knowledge as far as I know. I deliberately concealed this discovery from both rulers to prevent it from being used for total domination rather than genuine peace. I believe that my words are correct since both rulers would have already tried to take the drop from the world tree by now." The Eye of Apollo confirmed his complete honesty, alleviating Noah’s concerns about hidden agendas from either faction’s leadership. "Fourth, what are your true motivations for approaching me? Are you acting on anyone else’s behalf?" "I act entirely on my own initiative," Adrian replied with obvious sincerity. "My goal is to end this senseless war through the restoration of the original unified elven kingdom. No one else knows about my approach to you." The artefact validated his statement completely. After completing his verification process, Noah nodded with satisfaction at the consistent truthfulness he had detected from Adrian. The noble prince really just wanted peace for the kingdom of elves without any ulterior motives. "Very well, I accept your proposal. I will attempt to help resolve the conflict between Lord Regent Darian and Queen Seraphina in exchange for gaining access to the World Tree’s essence drop." Adrian looked visibly relieved and pleased at Noah’s acceptance, understanding that this represented their best hope for ending the devastating conflict that had consumed both kingdoms. "Thank you," Adrian said with sincere gratitude. "This gives our people their first real chance for peace in decades." The challenge would require diplomatic finesse rather than direct confrontation, leveraging his unique position as the source of their enhanced abilities to create negotiating opportunities that could lead to sustainable peace. ... Adrian provided Noah with detailed directions and estimated coordinates to the general area of the World Tree before preparing to depart. The conversation had already drawn suspicious attention—the queen had noticed his prolonged discussion with the mysterious shopkeeper while deliberately concealing the content of their exchange. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎 Adrian sighed before leaving the safety of Noah’s establishment and returning to the battlefield. He made sure his demeanour suggested someone who had attempted negotiation but failed miserably, maintaining the deception that would protect both their arrangement and his true purpose. Once back in combat, Adrian completely ignored Queen Seraphina’s searching looks and fleeting gazes that she cast toward him whenever battle conditions allowed. He projected complete focus on the fighting, as if his conversation with Noah had been inconsequential rather than potentially world-changing. Lola observed Adrian’s return to combat before turning to Noah with her own concerns about the deal. "So? What’s your plan now? You have the World Tree’s location, but reaching it presents extreme difficulties. The distance isn’t trivial, and once you leave this sanctuary, you expose yourself to significant risks." She gestured toward the ongoing battle between the powerful rulers whose power levels exceeded that of most grandmasters. "The shop conceals your actual capabilities, but outside these boundaries, they might grow suspicious of your strength and attempt something foolish against you." Noah nodded with a grim expression. He acknowledged the challenges that the deal he accepted presented. Whilst it might’ve seemed like it was an easy decision to reach for Adrian. In reality, it wasn’t. Adrian did not know that Noah was an apprentice-rank practitioner. "I understand the complications, Lola. This requires careful planning rather than impulsive action." His mind was already processing multiple variables, whether it was timing that would minimise exposure to both factions, and contingency plans for various scenarios that could emerge during such a dangerous journey.