Ten days later, Queen Sabrina and her family returned to Aranthor, not alone, but escorted by Elven soldiers. These soldiers were not there to fight but to guard the technicians who were installing communication towers across Aranthor. These towers would enable seamless communication between Elzaran and Aranthor. Elfan understood that information was the lifeblood of war. The two countries also began trading, and the nobles of Aranthor were ecstatic about their new phones, spending hours communicating. In this world, mana replaced the need for data.

In the palace of Aranthor, tension simmered.

"I cannot believe you insulted the king of the Elves," Lyanna seethed, glaring at her brother.

"What if they had decided against forming an alliance with us?" Sabrina's voice was edged with frustration.

"Give me a break. I didn't know that peasant was so important to them," Thalion said, his face red with embarrassment. "How dare they humiliate me? I will make them pay a hundredfold."

Sabrina recounted everything that had transpired in Elzaran to King Alaric. She had also brought back luxurious goods for herself, including clothes and jewelry.

King Alaric's eyes gleamed with greed as he inspected the exquisite items. "These Elven goods are remarkable. We could amass a fortune trading them," he mused, his mind calculating potential profits.

"Father, the queen later invited me to the palace alone. I believe it was because brother insulted them while mother was busy shopping," said Lyanna.

"What was the discussion about?" Alaric asked, his curiosity piqued.

"The queen offered to help us in the war in exchange for 40% of the mine's profits," Lyanna replied.

"How dare they demand 40%! You didn't agree, did you?" Alaric's face darkened with greed.

"I agreed, as you can see, we returned with the Elves, and we will soon be trading frequently," Lyanna explained.

Alaric's anger gave way to a sly grin. "Well, after the war, we can simply refuse the 40% and negotiate a lower percentage," Thalion suggested.

"Son, you have a point. After the war, things might be different," Alaric agreed, already plotting ways to deceive their new allies.

Sabrina nodded, her eyes shining with avarice. "We could also use the alliance to gain more Elven technology and goods. Once we have what we need, we can break the agreement."

Lyanna, wary of her family's greed, knew she needed to prepare for the future. She watched her family's greedy faces and felt a pang of unease.

In Elzaran, the country shifted its focus from development to military production. Crafting shops pivoted to creating weapons, and the palace recruited a large number of soldiers. The Green Blazers, who were exploring deeper dungeon floors, were summoned to the capital. Veterans and seasoned fighters were mobilized for the war, along with reserves from the Royal Guard.

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Elfan had convened a meeting with the ministers before the arrival of the Aranthor royal family to discuss their involvement in the war. He sought their opinions, not just to inform them. Most ministers were initially against the idea, questioning why Elzaran should involve itself in a conflict that had nothing to do with them.

Elfan explained his reasoning: "Firstly, while Elzaran's economy is prosperous, continuous internal trading could lead to inflation and unforeseen economic dangers. Our economy thrives because we trade valuable goods like mana crystals, enchanted items, and rare herbs among ourselves. However, if we continue without external markets, we risk inflating the value of these goods to unsustainable levels. Over time, this could cause prices to skyrocket, making them unaffordable for the common people and destabilizing our economy."

"Secondly, if Elzaran remains secluded while becoming stronger, other countries might see us as a threat and form alliances against us. By allying with a human nation, we can show that we are open to negotiations, not just a looming threat. Isolating ourselves also isolates our market, making us vulnerable to economic shocks. Engaging in international trade diversifies our economic base and stabilizes our market."

Elfan promised that the war wouldn't last more than six months and that after the war, Elzaran's reputation would be transformed. What convinced most ministers was the prospect of Aranthor becoming a vassal state of Elzaran. Aranthor would act as a barrier, shielding Elzaran from potential attacks from other countries. Elzaran's goods could be sold worldwide through Aranthor, eliminating reliance on biannual merchant trades and preventing merchants from buying products cheaply and reselling them at high prices.

A month later, at the Adventurers Guild, Mike and Richard were discussing the war. Richard, who had returned to Aranthor to sell weapons and iron, knew he could profit from the ongoing conflict. Both were astonished by the presence of Elves in Aranthor and their construction of communication towers, as well as the beginning of trade between Elzaran and Aranthor. They had thought Elzaran preferred isolation.

"Come in," Mike responded to a knock on the door.

"Mr. Mike, I have news to report regarding the war," said the receptionist.

"Orcathia has already reached the capital? Took them long enough," Mike remarked, leaning back in his chair.

"I guess the king will have to choose whether to surrender peacefully or be executed," Richard added, his voice tinged with fear.

"No, Elzaran has invaded Orcathia from their shared border," the receptionist explained.

"What? They did what?" Richard exclaimed, rising from his chair, bewildered and scared.

"Why are you so relaxed about it? What the hell is going on?" Mike shouted, throwing a book at the receptionist in frustration.

"But sir, the Guild is neutral in conflicts between nations, so I thought it was unnecessary to get worked up," the receptionist responded, maintaining a neutral tone.

"How fast are they advancing?" Richard asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"They've already taken more than six towns. Orcathia was taken by surprise, and even soldiers inside Aranthor are rushing back to defend their capital," the receptionist reported.

"Do you think they'll make it back in time?" Mike asked skeptically.

"I don't think so. However, I still don't think it will be an easy win for Elzaran," Richard replied, trying to mask his fear but failing.

"This is madness. The Elves should have stayed out of this conflict. It's not our war to fight," Mike grumbled, clearly against the Elves' invasion.

"Sir, it's not our place to judge the actions of nations. We should remain neutral and focus on our duties," the receptionist said calmly.

"I still can't believe this. Elzaran invading Orcathia? This changes everything," Richard muttered, his mind racing with the implications.

Thus, the second round of the war began.