While the government officials in every tier-1 city held their high-level meeting and planned their first contact with the Elf Tribe of Elvaraden, there were others seeking contact with foreign races that appeared on the Glacia continent, Sahara continent, and even the red moon. 

However, the entire party of delegates sent to the red moon was slaughtered down to the last men, and their flesh and bones were cleanly devoured with a single trace left behind. 

The red demons on the newly appeared red moon proved to be a far more hostile and dangerous race than the Earth Federation and Hunter Association anticipated.

At the same time, multiple tier-2 and tier-3 cities around the world experienced a similar bug infestation from the Scruxs civilization like Stillwater city. 

The rapid changes around the globe loosened the thin chains of order and spread the seeds of chaos, making the world seem bleak.

It was uncertain what the future holds.

Meanwhile, a strange event was taking place in the very elf tribe that every tier-1 city was seeking to forge a connection with.

As Princess Floria summoned her Spirit Chefs and arranged everything for their eventual departure from the elf tribe to follow the Dark Lord, she caught news of her father, the Elf King’s awakening.

However, there was a problem with the Elf King’s mentality.

Not long after, the High Council of Elders summoned every physician and doctor in the tribe to diagnose the Elf King’s problem. 

At the same time, all the royal members returned to the palace.

…

Outside the Elf King’s bedroom, Princess Floria and the other royal family members waited in the hallway to avoid crowding the Elf King’s bedroom and obstructing the physicians’ diagnosis.

“Hey, hey, big sister!” Princess Cylia called out to Princess Floria before walking over to stand with her and asked, “What do you think is wrong with father?”

“I don’t know,” Princess Floria replied with a shake of her head before saying, “We can find out after the doctors finish their diagnosis.”

“Fourth Brother.” 

Princess Floria acknowledged the fourth prince’s presence shortly after he followed his blood-related little sister to stand with their eldest sister.

“Eldest Sister,” the fourth prince returned the greeting.

Sometime later, the door to the Elf King’s bedroom opened before a group of doctors exited with looks of disappointment and depression.

Princess Floria quickly stopped one of them and asked, “Doctors, may I ask with is wrong with my royal father? Was his problem treatable?”

“Haiz, the king isn’t sick. So there’s nothing to treat,” the doctor shook his head with a sigh before continuing to leave. “The Elders inside can tell you more about the problem.” 

“What do you mean the king isn’t sick? He is sick in the head!” another doctor corrected as they were leaving. 

However, he got stopped by the fourth prince. 

“How dare you curse my royal father? Are you tired of living?” the fourth prince glared at the disrespectful doctor, who appeared much younger than the others.

At the same time, Princess Floria and the rest of the royal members also shot their unhappy gaze over to the young doctor.

“Ah?” The young elf doctor trembled from fright before he quickly corrected the misunderstanding, “No, no, no! That wasn’t what I mean, Your Highness!”

“Then what did you mean?” the fourth prince interrogated with a frown.

“I meant there’s something wrong with the king’s head, Your Highness—Ah, no. I meant the king is… the king is…!” 

As the young doctor attempted to explain, he became increasingly anxious under everyone’s gloomy gaze. 

No matter how he phrased it, it would also imply that the king was either crazy or an idiot. 

“Please forgive my student, Your Highness. He did not mean it that way. Even if he grew ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare to insult royalty,” another doctor interjected before saying, “If you head inside and see the king, you will understand.”

“Fine. I’ll leave him be for now,” the fourth prince relented.

Shortly after, the royal members began entering the elf king’s bedchamber in small groups at a time.

When it was Princess Floria’s turn to enter with the other princesses and princes, they saw their royal father sitting with a calm look—or rather, his expression was indifferent.

The warm and gentle gaze they used to receive from him was no longer present.

Princess Floria shortly turned to one of the High Elders and inquired, “What is wrong with my royal father, Esteemed Elder?”

“His Majesty… He has been spiritually enlightened and transcended the mortal desires of life and death. He is at peace with himself…” the Elder replied before letting out a melancholy sigh.

Princess Floria, Princess Cylia, the fourth prince, and their other siblings were all taken aback. 

“What are you trying to say, Elder? Why do you make it sound like royal father is some Buddhist monk who just achieved Zen?”

“That is exactly what I am saying…” the Elder responded before shaking his head with another sigh.

The strongest elf, someone who was one step from achieving True Immortality, ruler of the elves, the Elf King, had abandoned his ambition and worldly desires. 

How were they supposed to accept this?

Many of the Elf King’s wives fainted and required servants to escort them back to their rooms after learning the truth. 

“Why… Why is it like this… How can something like this happen…?” 

Princess Floria retreated a step with disbelief while feeling slightly lightheaded like everyone else. 

‘What’s going to happen to the elf tribe if their royal father becomes a devout believer of Buddhism?’ everyone thought.

“This Old Man isn’t sure what happened inside the king’s dream, but he quickly fell into despair when he woke up,” another elder recalled.

“I don’t think a dream can cause anyone despair unless they have forgotten reality and lived entire lifetimes inside their dreams, only to wake up and realize everything was fake…”

“That’s probably the case…” Princess Floria frowned before saying, “But if my royal father was in despair when he woke up. Why is he like this now? Surely, something happened in between, no?”

“That… That was because of… Hm.” The Elder paused before simply saying, “Let’s just say that the spirit of the sacred tree said some stuff to the king…”

“The spirit of the sacred tree did…?” Princess Floria immediately felt a headache. 

It was a problem that gave birth to another problem.