The Queen of Scrolls never admits defeat

With this in mind, Moran quickly adjusted her thinking.

She no longer mentioned "actively investigating and eliminating future troubles," but instead shifted the focus back to the practical value of the prisoners in front of her.

"Elder, you are right. The forest is our foundation, and strengthening our defenses is of utmost importance."

But it is precisely because we need to defend ourselves better that we need to understand our enemies.

Even if we don't intend to leave the forest to pursue their hideout, we can still extract information from these prisoners about the exact number of members in their group, their strength distribution, their usual intrusion routes, their camouflage methods, and even their internal workings and weaknesses… This intelligence will be invaluable for identifying, preventing, and combating similar intruders in the future!

She pointed to the prisoners on the ground who had already been drugged:

"Anyway, we'll all eventually return to nature. It's not too late to kill them after we've used the Truth Potion to find out what we need."

It's like setting a trap in the forest; you have to understand the prey's habits first to set the most effective trap, right?

After listening, a thoughtful look flashed across Ryan Doll's eyes.

The resistance on the other elves' faces lessened, replaced by interest in "gathering intelligence for better defense."

Lila nodded slightly: "Moran is right. Knowing how the enemy came, how many there are, and what methods they use, we can be more targeted when setting up patrols and guard posts. The Truth Potion is not difficult to make, and we have enough of the remaining cheek pouch potions to bring them all back. It can't hurt to ask them."

Even Polly and Celine, though still worried, felt that obtaining intelligence on the enemy was indeed important for the tribe's safety.

Ryandor finally made his decision: "Alright. Take all the prisoners with you. Once we're back in the forest, we'll begin the interrogation!"

The elves were highly efficient and quickly reorganized their ranks.

The rangers were responsible for carrying the slave hunters, who were bound by vines and were still unconscious or paralyzed.

Polly, Celine, and the other rescued victims, supported and protected by Moran and the other elves, dived back into the icy waterways.

The return journey was more cautious than the journey there, but the pace remained the same.

When everyone climbed back onto the lake below Star Tear Waterfall, still soaking wet, crossed the rocky beach, and returned to the forest, their tense nerves finally relaxed slightly.

The roar of the waterfall was behind me, and before me lay the familiar, vibrant Emerald Forest.

Here, nature spirits thrive, possessing keen senses and familiarity with the terrain, allowing them to handle even pursuers with ease.

The group quickly rested in the forest, further treating the rescued people and giving the prisoners more secure restraints and stronger sedatives.

Just then, Evandale led two strong, temporarily tamed forest deer swiftly out of the woods.

The deer carried two human captives, bound by rough vines, their faces bruised and swollen, dressed in clothing similar to that of the slave hunters in the cave.

As Evandale approached, he urgently said, "Lila! Quickly prepare the Truth Potion! I caught these two stragglers near the end of that bait route in the northeast. They seem to be waiting for a rendezvous or to pass on a message. Interrogate them with the Truth Potion to find out where they're taking people, who their contact is, and where their hideout is..."

His words came to an abrupt halt as he saw the dozen or so unfamiliar human faces bound together and slumped on the ground in the open space, as well as Polly and Celine being carefully fed water and calming herb juice by Moran, who was asking them questions in a low voice.

Evandale paused for a moment, then a relieved smile spread across his face: "...They've been saved? Good! That's great!"

He strode over to Polly and Celine, carefully examined their condition, and only felt truly relieved after confirming that they were not in any danger.

He turned to Ryandor, "Looks like my prisoners aren't of much use anymore? Now that the people have been rescued, these scum..."

He glanced at the slave hunters on the ground, a cold disgust flashing in his eyes. "Why not just let them 'return to nature'?"

"..." Moran was about to explain the purpose of these prisoners to her when Ryandor said, "Since we've captured them, let's make the most of them. Kelly has already taken people to collect the auxiliary herbs needed to make the Mantra Potion. After Lila finishes making the potion, we'll interrogate her. Maybe we can find out something useful for our subsequent defenses."

Lendor sent Evandal and several rangers to patrol the area and keep watch, to prevent anyone from getting close.

After the foreign victims were healed, they left with the food and simple healing herbs given to them by the elves.

Everything on the slave hunters' bodies was taken away, and they were tightly bound by vines soaked in the sap of the magic-suppressing tree.

After the truth potion was prepared, Ryandor personally took charge of the interrogation, while Lila was responsible for recording it.

Moran was allowed to assist from the sidelines, citing that he could use the professional characteristics of a bard to determine whether a prisoner was lying or experiencing abnormal emotional fluctuations.

This reason is reasonable; bards are indeed adept at discerning the truthfulness of emotions and words.

The interrogation began with the minor leader, whose will seemed the weakest.

Lila dripped a drop of the Truth Potion into his mouth and waited for it to take effect.

Soon, the man's eyes became unfocused, and his expression became numb.

"Which organization do you belong to? What is its name?" Lila asked in a calm voice.

"...'Ash Claw' mercenary group..." the prisoner answered blankly.

"Where is the headquarters? Who is the leader?"

"do not know……"

"What is the purpose of this operation? Who ordered it?"

"Capture elves and other rare alien races... and sell them for money..."

"How long have you been operating your base at Startears Falls? How many accomplices do you have? Do you have any other bases?"

"Three years... We discovered and modified the waterway ourselves. Our base also sent a small team, about ten people, to deliver goods. As for the other bases... I don't know..."

The interrogation continued, turning to another minor leader and several ordinary members, where some information was supplemented and cross-verified.

However, this information only pertains to personnel at the small outpost of Startear Falls. These individuals are only active at this outpost and have no further information about the Ash Claw mercenary group.

Only the captured high-ranking mage and a high-ranking rogue leading another small team to deliver goods have contact with headquarters.

However, when the interrogation reached the high-ranking mage, it encountered an obstacle.

The mage's mental strength was so great that the effects of the mantra potion were significantly reduced.

Although he would answer, he was often vague. When it came to certain key information, he would show obvious mental resistance and even try to resist the effects of the drug by remaining silent or talking nonsense.

Lendor and Lila frowned.

Just then, Moran, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines as if he were merely using the techniques of a bard to sense emotional fluctuations, made a move.

While she was giving the mage another bottle of Mantra Potion, she forcibly copied his memories and destroyed his mental defenses. (End of Chapter)