A purely selfish human is easy to understand. They act only for their own benefit.
A purely altruistic human is easy to trust. They are moved only by the tragedies of others.
That is precisely why humans cannot trust other humans. No human is purely selfish or purely altruistic. Humans sometimes give to charity, and sometimes steal from the pockets of their own parents and siblings.
In that sense, humans can never trust elves. This is not a difference in ideology, but rather closer to a difference in worlds.
Humans can neither understand nor comprehend the time of elves.
Such are the races who can live through long ages while possessing intelligence and achieving superior civilization. Something that cannot be vaguely admired, nor vaguely despised.
Elves are a race terribly faithful to their desires. They alleviate the boredom of their long lives with desire. This is surprisingly base.
At the same time, elves are also pure seekers. Whatever their object, they immerse themselves in the pursuit of truth like ascetics building up faith and virtue. Boldly and without reservation, even if it consumes their entire long life.
That ambivalent sensibility created today's Kalion. Terrible, base, elegant, and pristine. A metropolis lined with skyscrapers, massive airships flying through the sky, and overflowing luxury, extravagance, and pleasure.
Because of this, humans both revere and despise elves. Because they cannot understand them. Since most discrimination stems from ignorance, humans and elves become the most terrible racists toward each other.
Naturally, Ivan is not like that.
-CRACK.
Ivan does not distinguish superiority by race. He believes in the proud educational system of South Korea, an advanced 21st century cultural powerhouse. (Of course, South Korea does distinguish superiority by race.)
Ivan's distinctions are mostly limited to "usefulness," "threat," and "friend or foe," rather than race or nationality. Race is merely one of the requirements needed to "identify" that race.
-CRACK...!
Therefore, before Ivan identifies and hates someone's race, he prefers to wield an axe and a pistol. This has been his unfailing means of negotiation, diplomacy, and transaction for the past 30 years.
-CRACK!!!
He is such a reasonable person.
Ivan moved forward with his eyes closed.
Through the barricade that had been torn apart like paper, as if it had been begging for mercy.
"Gate 15 breached!!"
"All response teams dispatched to the research wing have been neutralized!!"
"They'll reach the restricted area in 15... no, 10 minutes!"
The Research Oversight Team was in chaos. Though they were called Research Oversight, they essentially managed everything on this island. Since the island was ruled by the Alchemy Faction, all resources and population on the island fell under the research team's jurisdiction in a broad sense.
So it would be fair to say that at this moment, all eyes from the core to the periphery of the island were focused here.
"Who leaked this information... who was it?!"
An old elf shouted while biting his nails. The large tactical display was covered in red markings. Those red trajectories represented the invaders' path of advance.
When the "approach of an unregistered vessel" was first detected, no one in the room panicked. It was within the range of expectations.
The old queen's long reign is coming to an end. This means more than just a change of throne. In elven life, the transfer of power literally means a "generational change."
A time of turbulence will soon arrive. The Demon King is dead, the world looks appetizing, and chaos equals opportunity. All the privy councilors will lick their lips as they slice up the cake that is the world.
So at this time, the situation would be the same no matter which island of Kalion one reached. Corporations attack corporations. Privy councilors ambush other privy councilors, economic retaliation follows, logistical pressure begins, and sometimes even military provocations ensue.
Therefore, the "approach of an unauthorized vessel without notice" meant that one of their anxious competitors was attempting to make contact.
It was somewhat aggressive, but within the realm of understanding.
Until they confirmed the passenger list on that ship.
"Edelplat Koenwolf boarded Beolgreen's ship and entered port! Is this possible without an internal leak? Huh?!"
"But Your Majesty... we, we...!"
"If not you, then who?!"
The old elf's scream chilled the room. The combined age of everyone present would approach the mythical era. Even the youngest elf had lived over two hundred years.
Such individuals quickly recovered from their panic. One elf spoke calmly.
"Your Majesty, putting out the urgent fire should be our priority."
"You mean those mercenaries?"
"Yes."
"How much damage have they caused?"
"Fortunately, they haven't destroyed the research wing itself. Since they seem focused only on breaking through as quickly as possible... the immediate damage isn't severe."
"Cut off their limbs and bring them before me. That should be gift enough for that one-eyed bitch Koenwolf."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Infiltrating humans while Koenwolf is present... From the moment they launched a surprise attack on Beolgreen's ship, it was clear they had noticed something suspicious.
But they must lack physical evidence. Without sufficient evidence or justification for a direct strike, they've employed human mercenaries.
So who could it be? Which of the twelve remaining "corporations" would dare to report the Alchemy Faction, causing both Beolgreen and Koenwolf to appear simultaneously?
"Tearing apart that bastard's limbs and throwing them to Koenwolf would be quite the sight. If they ransacked someone's home without evidence, even Beolgreen could take issue with it directly."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You, file a petition with the High Court to the Privy Council immediately. How dare the Sword Angle try to cut directly. And with human hands at that!"
One of his competitors had arranged for the report. This was certain.
Given that the proud Koenwolf had arrived from human lands and immediately descended upon them with Beolgreen's backing, there was no room for doubt on this point.
But using human mercenaries to search the interior? That means they lack key evidence for their investigation, and it's a minimal measure to ensure they can wash their hands at the human level if complications arise.
No company, regardless of which one, is without dust when shaken. The older the company, the more true this is. How many wolves are there in this season, trying to trample others by picking at even the smallest specks?
"Beolgreen, I understand the urgency, but acting like this lacks dignity."
The old elf cackled.
The situation panel showed the Alchemy Faction's suppression team being mobilized underground. Most problems would be solved once those two humans were captured.
And if they administered appropriate drugs to those humans and obtained a few statements, it could provide material to implicate both Koenwolf's Sword Angle and Beolgreen's Astronomy Faction.
Thinking about it now, why at this particular moment, as if adding insult to injury?
Precisely at "this moment," they had gratefully thrown him an opportunity.
Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. This maxim of Mike Tyson surprisingly applies even in worlds beyond Earth.
By this point, Ivan's axe had begun to be stained not with the blood of monsters, synthetic beasts, or golems, but with elven blood.
"Huff— gasp. M-master... I-I really feel like I'm dying... ugh."
"Do it."
"But Master, if I feed now, you'll—"
"Are you relaxed enough to worry about me?"
"I'm sorry..."
Lucia finally couldn't hold out any longer. Her immunity to poison had decreased. There's a limit to expelling toxins with magical power, and this battlefield is too much for the young Lucia.
This corridor already had more detectable toxins in the air than breathable oxygen. Since right after Ivan split apart two elven strike teams.
The elves of this faction acted as if they were willing to permanently abandon the entire corridor. Throwing explosives, spraying poisons, even sending biological golems to approach and detonate.
While Ivan could endure it, this was Lucia's first experience with such combat. She had barely managed by burning most of her blood with magical power, but even that reached its limit.
-Crunch.
With the feeling of fangs digging in, a numbing sensation paralyzed the area around his nape. After a brief feeding, Lucia exhaled excitedly and buried her face against his back.
He heard sniffling.
"It's alright."
"I'm embarrassed..."
"Being weak is not shameful. If you recognize your shortcomings, you can improve—"
"It's not that, it's this position."
Lucia was wrapped tightly in a bundle and strapped to Ivan's back.
In a situation where he needed to use both arms and couldn't have anything hindering his body during combat, this position was doubly beneficial as it also protected Ivan's back.
He is such a reasonable person. Unfortunately, young children don't easily accept this.
Ivan was about to respond when he suddenly stopped.
He immediately dropped his axe and raised his arm. With a ping sound, something flew toward him and was caught in his hand.
It was a small ampoule. As soon as he visually confirmed it, he threw it to the floor and held his breath. Soon, with a whoosh sound, black vapor spewed out.
"Human... human bastard."
A trembling voice was heard from beyond the corridor. Ivan frowned as he turned his head.
"What the hell did that one-eyed bitch bring..."
An elf with a deep wound in his stomach lay collapsed on the floor, gasping.
Two strike teams, more than a dozen biological golems, dozens of security systems, and at least a dozen instantly effective deadly poisons had been unleashed, yet they couldn't stop him.
Just a little further and he would reach the core of this island. The fact that they came out to engage directly meant exactly that. That they had nowhere else to retreat.
Ivan approached the elf gasping on the floor.
-CRACK!
The iron-reinforced sole of his combat boot roughly stomped on the elf's chest. A choking sound escaped. The expression showing more shame than fear displeased him.
Fear is appropriate.
Ivan looked down at the elf, gripping his axe.
"Annihilation Squad."
Blood stains from the tip of his axe splattered all the way up to the security devices hanging from the corridor ceiling.