Chapter 250: The Weave and Mystra

"What was the stolen experimental material?"

Rod asked, frowning.

"According to her own words, it was a 【Wish Stone】 capable of modifying memories without requiring mana. How could such a thing exist? Let me tell you a rule circulating among mages: any magical artifact claiming to yield results without a cost is a lie."

Hard to say.

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

It was currently placed in the 【Catfolk Paradise】, being repaired by the Witch Cat.

But ultimately, he had never actually used it, nor had he asked in detail whether it consumed mana or something else.

"By the way, Rod, for some reason that woman set her sights on you and secretly placed a marking spell on you. But don't worry, I've already dispelled it."

Ona was blowing on a skewer of braised food, not yet putting it into her mouth.

"A marking spell, huh?"

Rod's expression darkened slightly.

Did the other party realize he had a connection with the Catfolk, or perhaps with the 【Memory Wish Stone】?

The Witch Cat had mentioned that due to the destruction of the 【Memory Wish Stone】, the previously applied memory-altering effects might vanish in various ways.

Right now, neither my strength nor the strength within the forest is sufficient to confront Professor Bahadur at the high end of the eighth tier.

"Don't worry, I am here! Before she left, I secretly blurred all information about you from her memory."

"So strong? She is at the high end of the eighth tier."

Rod was somewhat surprised.

He knew this Nanny Mage Ona was an eighth-tier mage and specialized in mental spells.

But he truly did not expect her to influence a peer-tier mage so casually.

Seeing Rod's shocked expression, Ona was very pleased.

She proudly put a hand on her hip: "Of course, we Rabbitfolk are the foremost mental mages on the continent. What's the high end of the eighth tier? My Lord Yulia sometimes needs me to soothe her!"

"My Lord Ona is amazing... wait, Rabbitfolk?"

Rod's eyes changed.

"Didn't I tell you? I am of the Rabbitfolk."

Having said that, Ona removed her hood.

Slightly frizzy white hair fell over her shoulders, and two pink ear flaps, as long as her head, stood up as rabbit ears.

Paired with Ona's sweet smile and red pupils.

It was thoroughly exotic charm.

Rod paused, then said seriously: "Have I said this before? Ona, you are super cute."

"Oh, stop it~~ Rod, you really know how to joke~~"

Ona laughed and waved her hand.

With a "Waaah," she popped a piece of radish from the skewer into her mouth, revealing an expression of Tao Zui as she enjoyed the food.

The two chatted as they walked.

It took nearly an hour before Rod finally purchased all the items on his shopping list.

Seeing there was still some time and money left, they went to the street specializing in cosmic creature materials.

"Speaking of which, Ona, aren't you My Lord Yulia's personal mage? Is it no problem to leave her for such a long time?"

The street was crowded; mages squeezed into shops stacked layer upon layer like elderly people rushing to buy discounted products at a supermarket.

Watching this scene, Rod felt a strange sense of nostalgia.

"My Lord Yulia and another commissioner went to the Inferno to fight. They probably won't be at the Magic Control Union for this period."

"What's the situation?"

Ona pondered for a moment: "Do you know the Weave?"

Rod shook his head.

"This is a technology exclusive to Arcane Mages, created by My Lord Mystra, an Arcane Mage at the peak of the ninth tier. This technology is centered on mages who reduce the casting process, such as those using 【Jia Kuai Shi Fa】 and 【Mian Chu Yin Chang】, and is achieved through a casting bridge mediated by My Lord Mystra."

"Oh—I didn't understand."

Ona chuckled, amused by him.

"Simply put, if an Arcane Mage establishes a casting bridge with My Lord Mystra, then that mage's chanting and casting gestures will be performed by My Lord Mystra on their behalf, achieving a state of 'almost instant-cast' spells. The network formed by the large number of mages who have established a casting bridge with My Lord Mystra is called the Weave."

Wow.

What an awesome spell.

But at the same time, he felt some confusion.

Doesn't this sound like a thankless task? And once the number of people grows, can the efficiency of 【Kuai Su Shi Fa】 really be maintained?

He expressed his doubts to Ona.

"Every Arcane Mage who joins the Weave must pay a certain fee each month, and spells cast through the Weave cannot exceed the seventh tier. Rod, since you are not a mage, you might not know, but actually most commonly used spells are at the seventh tier or below, so this technology is quite convenient."

"Currently, there are over three hundred Arcane Mages who have joined the Weave, which is already quite a lot, including various other ninth-tier mages."

"And the problem, as you mentioned, lies in maintaining the efficiency of 【Kuai Su Shi Fa】..."

Ona gave a bitter smile.

"Mages are more ruthless and selfish than people imagine. My Lord Mystra stops the Weave's operation for two days each month, mainly to perform spell maintenance and contemplation. However, the three hundred-plus Arcane Mages, accustomed to the convenience, were simply unwilling to endure it. After several appeals proved ineffective, they decided to take a crooked path."

"Half a month ago, they successfully set a trap to capture My Lord Mystra, sacrificed his body, left only his head, and used a special ritual to keep the Weave running continuously."

Rod frowned: "Very despicable and disgusting."

Ona nodded.

"Yes, despicable and disgusting. Perhaps precisely because of this, My Lord Mystra was unwilling to die like that... When they sacrificed the body, they missed a drop of fresh blood. For some reason, this drop of blood sank deep into the ground, reaching the Inferno, and at the same time, it somehow became stained with a divine spark that erupted from a certain dimension several months ago."

"This is the first time such a strange spark has appeared on the continent. To save this great archmage, the Arcane Control Union dispatched every standby committee member to plunge deep into the Infernal Purgatory and fight for this single drop of blood containing the Sacred Spark."

Rod rubbed his chin.

A major event.

And one very likely to reshape the current continental order.

Regarding the Sacred Spark, the goblin Pete had once told him it held within it the possibility of ascending to godhood.

'To save this great archmage'?

Rod shook his head inwardly — that was debatable.

Currently, the ninth-tier pinnacle on the continent was already the ceiling; who wouldn't want to advance further?

"What does it have to do with me?"

He found it quietly amusing.

This was a continent-level event; I was nothing but a mere sixth-tier — better to honestly and diligently improve my strength.

Thinking so.

Suddenly, a thread of silk swept past before his eyes, growing more and more solid.

Like a guide path in a game, it slowly drifted toward a shop on the left.

Rod's eyes lit up instantly.

It was the guidance of 【Treasure Affinity】!

There's something good here!!

(End of this chapter)