Author: M_W Cancer 

Proofreader: M_W Miss Fierce 

Veronica and the others continued towards the next target of their operation, specifically the west direction. 

Currently, there were no members of the Naughty Elves organization on the north side because apart from the fact that they are the alliance made up of the participants from the top 1 to top 10, these people are also from the Noble Households of the Emerald Tree Kingdom. If there was anything suspicious about them, then it would be that they are obviously trying to monopolize the Emerald Elven Battle Competition by gathering all the strongest participants in a single alliance. 

That was actually the main reason why the Evergreen royal family didn't assign the task of eliminating the members of the Naughty Elves organization to the Noble Households because they could already expect that whoever amongst the Noble Households they will assist, they would certainly use such an opportunity to win the Emerald Elven Battle Competition. 

Although the Mischievous Lion Guild, Red Fist Guild, and the Battle Maniac team are definitely not an exception to aiming for the championship of the Emerald Elven Battle Competition, they at least don't solely focus on winning but rather on eliminating the members of the Naughty Elves organization.

But honestly, though, they really can't blame anything on the Noble Households for such behavior. After all, the majority of their forces are already responsible for assisting the Evergreen royal family in the war against the Naughty Elves organization, thus expending plenty of resources and manpower. 

If the Noble Households also choose to give up on the Emerald Elven Battle Competition, then it would certainly take plenty of time before they could finally recover from all of their losses in the war. Not to mention, the Emerald Elven Battle Competition is also a perfect opportunity for them to train some really capable men who would obviously be replacing the manpower that they would be losing in the war while at the same time also using the resources of the Evergreen royal family in training them.

Unlike the Evergreen royal family who has plenty and a seemingly infinite supply of resources, and helpful methods that they could use for recuperation after the war is over, the Noble Households, on the other hand, only have limited resources and hardly have any helpful methods. This was because their foundation isn't as deep and powerful compared to the Evergreen royal family. 

That's why, in order to protect their own interest, the Noble Households could not choose to give up the Emerald Elven Battle Competition. Unless if there is really no other way left in defeating the Naughty Elves organization but to sacrifice themselves, then of course they will choose to give up the Emerald Elven Battle Competition. 

Even fools could clearly see that it would be useless to win the Emerald Elven Battle Competition if the Emerald Tree Kingdom is no longer in the hands of the Evergreen royal family, let alone them, the wise and powerful Noble Households. 

As for the possibility of relocating if ever they, unfortunately, lost the war, that is completely out of the question since where and who could they relocate to? There's no doubt that they will lose almost everything that they currently have once they transfer into another territory, especially since their power and statuses only apply in the Emerald Tree Kingdom that is ruled by the Evergreen royal family. 

"Clear in the west, proceeding to the southwest," Veronica informed Leo and the others in the command room. 

After tens of minutes, Veronica and the others finally completed a clean sweep on the west side. They eliminated a total of three teams, one has a member of the Naughty Elves organization on it while the other two were simply blocking the way towards their target. 

It was exactly at this moment that everyone finally realized a problem...

The number of teams that they have eliminated clearly indicated that there were more innocent teams compared to enemy teams that they have killed, which also regrettably mean that there are now more chances for those teams with members of the Naughty Elves organization on them to move up to the second game as there could only be 25 teams that can be eliminated in the first game.

"It can't be helped, since we aren't the only alliance who are eliminating other participants, plus the Seekers are also eliminating other teams as well," Luke said before heaving a sigh of helplessness. 

"In the end, just like the previous Emerald Elven Battle Competition, we still faced the problem of the lack of time and manpower again," Orcborg expressed. 

"The more people that know about this secret operation, the higher the chances of it leaking. So, we have no other choices but to do it this way," Bagley explained. 

"Hmph! If only I can participate in this game, then I would have for sure already eliminated dozens of them at this point," Selina said regretfully. 

"Actually, you can," Elmont replied through the communicators. He continued, "But if we really send you out in the first game, then that would be the same as forfeiting the latter games,"

"I know...! The latter games would have stronger and stronger participants, so in order to fight against them, we can only send stronger people as well," Selina puffed her cheeks in response. She wasn't really suggesting to be sent in the first game, rather she was merely expressing her regret

Suddenly, Leo can't help but interrupt, "I fully understand that we are being conservative here in order for our men to be safe, such as only sending our powerful men in the latter games. But aren't we overreacting in the first game?"

"Overreacting?" Elmont and the others asked doubtfully. 

"Look," Leo tapped the red dot of Veronica and the others, causing the light screens in front to show the scenes of them moving towards their next target. He then explained, "We currently have nine capable people in total from three of our teams, yet we are actually making them stick together and attack merely a single team,"

"Don't you feel like it is an overkill to have a nine versus three fight? Not to mention, those three people are probably much more weaker compared to Veronica and the others?"

"And besides, we are also just targeting one or two members of the Naughty Elves organization most of the time, even just sending four people would be sufficient enough to handle them,"

"So what exactly are you trying to say to us, Guild Leader Loki?" Luke asked. 

"What I'm trying to say is, why not divide the team into..." Leo paused before looking towards the light screens once again. After less than a minute, he continued, "...Two teams,"

"Coincidentally, the male and female ratio of our three teams isn't that much of a difference. In fact, it should be considered as perfect! We have four boys and five girls. Therefore, let's divide the group into an all-male group and an all-female group. The first group will have four people, while the second group will have five people,"

"Both teams will be sent towards different targets, which will further increase our efficiency. And with their number still being greatly more than the total number of people in each of the teams, then they shouldn't have any problem in facing against them," Leo finished explaining. 

Hearing Leo's explanation, the room immediately turned silent as everyone began pondering on the feasibility of his plan. 

The first one to talk was Luke, saying, "I feel like what Guild Leader Loki had suggested is really advantageous and also not dangerous for us. Veronica and the others aren't just any ordinary men, the majority of them are even in their peak 1-Star Mages,"

"We can already guess that the majority of the participants are only sending their weaker men in the first game as they are expecting already that it should be more than enough, while we have sent capable ones," Orcborg said as his lips slowly formed into a smile, "So, we have more advantages here compared to them! Therefore, I also agree!"

"No need for any explanation, I approve," Bagley nodded his head.

"Great plan! Now, there would only be fewer of them that will have a chance of escaping," Selina felt delighted. 

"Can anyone please tell me why no one were seriously able to suggest of such a plan previously? Damn, this is clearly a very easy plan to think about!" Elmont exclaimed. 

"Shut up! You haven't even thought of it, and you're even the ever so-great and wise Seventh Prince of the Emerald Tree Kingdom, to begin with," Selina rolled her eyes in response.

"You..."

Meanwhile, Veronica and the others also decided to stop on their tracks and discussed about Leo's plan. 

"I have no problem with that. I'm just worried though if you girls could really handle fighting against three guys most of the time," Oman said. 

Listening to Oman's words, Leo and Orcborg on the other side of the communicators immediately began sweating profusely.

With there being so many reasons in existence which Oman could have used, why did he specifically mentioned about underestimating women? That's exactly the same as digging his own grave!

"Good luck!" Leo and Orcborg murmured sympathetically to daring Oman.

Completely oblivious of what Guild Leader Loki and Guild Leader Orcborg meant with their words, Oman continued, "How about we split it into having 2 men in both groups? In such a way, we can rest assured of your safety?"

Just like what Leo and Orcborg expected, Veronica, with her head twitching in irritation, asked, "Care to have a competition, then?"

"Competition?" Egot asked doubtfully while looking at Oman, both of them wearing a confused look on their faces right now.

"Yeah, competition," Vannessa added, as she explained, "Whoever kills more members of the Naughty Elves organization wins a prize from the losers, right girls?"

Jessica, Elreen, and Erika all nodded their heads to express their agreement with Veronica and Vannessa's proposal.

"And what exactly is the prize?" Oman asked, finally understanding that he had offended all the women. 

"We will talk about that later. So, are you in?" Veronica crossed her hands together. 

"Of course, we are in, right boys?" Egot replied as he turned around to looked at Ofin and Olok. 

"Absolutely!" Ofin nodded his head. 

"Is there even any need to ask?" Olok smirked. 

"Then it's on!" Veronica put her hand forward, and both she and Oman soon shook hands together as a sign that everyone agrees to their competition.