Oh it's not an act...Its a dark story but I hope the priestess makes it out. She has some legendary tier mental fortitude to put on on an act after all she has been through.
I was thinking about how he would manipulate them, but he doesn't really need to, huh. If he just talks shit even more or justify it with "the strong exploits, the weak suffers what they must", then that's more than enough at least for nowSo, basically an opportunity to sow the seed of more discord for civil war and internal destruction or prepare for it while temporarily pacifying it until he can get it to blow up at a later opportune time. Good, keep feeding him more information in your desperation.
Plus MC's mother was killed by dark elves.Friendly reminder the Dank Elves are the 2nd in line to be put to the sword. Unlike the beast man and dragons who are the victims of the deamons and forced to fight. The dank elves despite being subservient are willing allies even if it was for revenge against the good elves.