Chapter 250: The Magic Web and Mistral

"What was the stolen experimental material?"

Luo De asked, frowning.

"According to her, it was a 【Wish Stone】 capable of altering memories without requiring magic—how could such a thing exist? Let me tell you a rule among wizards: any magical item claiming to grant rewards without cost is a fraud."

Hard to say.

After all, the 【Memory Wish Stone】 had indeed appeared before him.

It's currently at the 【Cat Witch's Paradise】, being repaired by the Cat Witch.

But he'd never actually used it himself, and he hadn't asked in detail whether it consumed magic or anything else.

"By the way, Luo De, that woman somehow took an interest in you and secretly placed a marking spell on you—but don't worry, I've already removed it."

Oona blew on her braised skewers, still not putting them in her mouth.

"A marking spell?"

Luo De's expression darkened slightly.

Had she figured out his connection to the Cat Witch—or to the 【Memory Wish Stone】?

The Cat Witch had mentioned that, due to the 【Memory Wish Stone】 being damaged, previous memory-altering effects might behave differently—possibly vanishing.

Right now, neither my strength nor the forest's is enough to confront Professor Bahadur, a high-eighth-rank mage.

"Don't worry, I'm right here! Before she left, I secretly blurred all memories she had of you."

"That strong? She's a high-eighth-rank."

Luo De was slightly surprised.

He knew Oona, the nanny mage, was an eighth-rank mage skilled in mental magic.

But he hadn't expected her to so casually affect a mage of the same rank.

Oona was delighted by his stunned expression.

She stuck her hands on her hips proudly: "Of course! Our Rabbit Folk are the continent's top mental mages. So what if she's high-eighth-rank? Even Lady Yulia sometimes needs me to calm her down!"

"Oona, you're amazing. Wait—Rabbit Folk?"

Luo De's gaze shifted.

"I never told you? I'm Rabbit Folk."

Saying this, Oona pulled off her hood.

Slightly messy white hair fell over her shoulders; two pink rabbit ears, as long as her head, sprang upright.

Paired with Oona's sweet smile and crimson eyes.

Pure exotic charm.

Luo De blinked, then said seriously: "Did I ever say this before? Oona, you're super cute."

"Eeek~ Luo De, you're such a flatterer~"

Oona laughed and waved her hand.

With a soft " Wua," she popped a piece of radish from the skewer into her mouth, her face glowing with pure culinary bliss.

The two walked and chatted as they went.

After nearly an hour, Luo De finally bought every item on his shopping list.

Seeing he still had time and some money left, he headed to the street specializing in cosmic biological materials.

"By the way, Oona, aren't you Lady Yulia's personal mage? Isn't it risky to be away from her this long?"

The street was packed; mages crowded into stacked shops like old folks fighting over discounted groceries.

Luo De looked at the scene and felt a strange sense of nostalgia.

"Lady Yulia and another commissioner went to the Underworld to fight. They won't be back at the Magic Control League for a while."

"What happened?"

Oona thought for a moment: "Have you heard of the Magic Web?"

Luo De shook his head.

"It's a technique exclusive to arcane mages, created by the ninth-rank pinnacle arcane mage Mistral. This technique centers on mages who reduce casting time through 【Faster Casting】 and 【Silent Casting】, with Mistral herself acting as the magical bridge."

"Oh—didn't get it."

Oona burst out laughing at him.

"Simply put: it creates a casting bridge between an arcane mage and Mistral herself. Then Mistral handles the incantations and gestures for the mage, allowing near-instant spellcasting. All mages connected to Mistral this way form what we call the Magic Web."

Wow.

That's an amazing spell.

But he was also puzzled.

Doesn't this sound exhausting and inefficient? And with so many users, could it really maintain fast casting speed?

He voiced his doubts to Oona.

"Every arcane mage who joins the Magic Web must pay a monthly fee, and spells cast through it can't exceed seventh-rank. Luo De, you're not a mage, so you might not know—but most commonly used spells are seventh-rank or lower, so the system is still very convenient."

"Currently, over three hundred arcane mages have joined. That's already a huge number, including many other ninth-rank mages."

"But the problem? It's exactly what you mentioned—maintaining casting efficiency."

Oona gave a bitter smile.

"Mages are more cruel and selfish than people imagine. Mistral shuts down the Magic Web for two days each month to maintain spells and think. But over three hundred mages, used to the convenience, refused to tolerate the interruption. After repeated complaints failed, they decided to take drastic action."

"Half a month ago, they successfully ambushed Mistral, sacrificed her body, kept only her head, and used a special ritual to keep the Magic Web running continuously."

Luo De frowned: "Despicable. Disgusting."

Oona nodded.

"Yes, despicable and disgusting. And perhaps precisely because of that, Mistral refused to die so easily. When they sacrificed her body, they missed one drop of blood. That drop somehow sank deep into the ground, reaching the Underworld—and at the same time, it became stained by a divine spark that had erupted from a dimension months ago."

"This was the first time such a strange spark appeared on the continent. To save this great mage, the Magic Control League sent every available commissioner into the Underworld to fight over that drop of blood infused with the divine spark."

Luo De rubbed his chin.

A major event.

And likely one that could reshape the continent's current balance of power.

Regarding the divine spark, the goblin Pete had once told him it held the potential for ascension to godhood.

"To save this great mage"?

Luo De silently shook his head—that was doubtful.

The continent's ninth-rank pinnacle is already the peak. Who wouldn't want to go further?

"What does this have to do with me?"

He chuckled inwardly.

This is a continent-wide event. I'm just a lowly sixth-rank. Better to focus on improving my own strength.

Thinking this,

Suddenly, a thread flashed before his eyes, growing steadily clearer.

Like a game's guidance path, it drifted slowly toward a shop on the left.

Luo De's eyes instantly brightened.

It's the 【Treasure Obsession】's guidance!

There's something good here!!

(End of Chapter)