Chapter 1591: Progress Accelerates, The Seven Towers Alarmed

Seventon.

From the beginning of the month until now, the Snow Melting Competition has progressed to its final event—"Grand Illusion."

The competitive nature of this event is inferior to the preceding "Spell Duel" and "Arcane Maze," but for the vast majority of the audience, the "Grand Illusion" is actually more enjoyable to watch.

Outside of the competition, the confrontational atmosphere between the various participating parties has also faded significantly compared to before; the Elf Ambassador has even invited Netherese Mages to the embassy for dinner multiple times, and the ambassadors of the other nations in the Northland Alliance have also made many moves.

Even the Cormanthor ambassador has publicly shown goodwill toward Netheril multiple times, though on the other hand, the Northland Alliance's negotiations regarding the Magic Restriction Treaty are also moving forward unstoppably.

For Netheril, which is striving to secure the most lenient terms, the greatest resistance is also Cormanthor.

At the same time, the Cormanthor representative has continuously demanded within the Northland Alliance that Netheril hand over the previously captured Elf intruders to be handled jointly by all parties of the Alliance; their intentions are self-evident.

Showing goodwill on one side, applying pressure on another, and sowing discord on yet another—it seems contradictory, but this is reality. Human hearts are complex, and Elf hearts are not much simpler.

In fact, due to their longer lifespans and more ancient traditions of court intrigue, they are even more adapted than humans to this kind of power game under an alliance order.

……

Arcane Union.

At the conclusion of yet another round of the Council of Great Arcanists, only one Great Arcanist from the Seven Towers attended, but regarding the negotiations for the share of large-scale magic activities in the Northland Alliance's Magic Restriction Treaty, a clear keynote had already been set, which is—

Allocation based on the unit of Great Arcanists!

Regardless of the outcome of the Northland Alliance meeting in Evereska, once it reaches Netheril, the allocation will proceed according to the existing negotiation keynote.

In the study, Iolum picked up a Mithril Pen scattered on the table and scribbled randomly on paper, his thoughts drifting far away.

I do not know how much time passed, but the notification sound of a visitor outside the door startled him from his deep contemplation; what met his eyes was the abstract painting he had just drawn on the desk.

If it were an ordinary person, they might not care about the content of such casual graffiti, but Iolum looked at it again very seriously and solemnly, then put it away carefully.

Only then did he sigh slightly and open the study door. As soon as the door opened, Haichenisi stepped into the study, stopping only when he reached Iolum's desk, and said softly:

"President, the Seven Towers has agreed to our proposal."

Iolum knew this clearly and had expected it long ago: "They should agree. Cormanthor has put significant pressure on them within the Northland Alliance; dragging it out any longer is not good for anyone."

"President, I also heard a piece of news. Although I am not yet sure if it is true, I feel it is necessary to tell you."

"What news is it?"

"It is said that several families have already obtained guarantees from the Elves regarding the transfer of shares."

Having said only this much, Haichenisi stopped and did not elaborate, but Iolum had already understood the other party's meaning and could not help but exclaim, "None of them are fools!"

Once this news spreads, the first to feel the pressure will certainly be the Seven Towers. Secondly, as for the Elves, regardless of whether they have such intentions now, they will certainly bring out some shares in the future to win over so-called influential forces.

No wonder the Seven Towers compromised rapidly in various negotiations before the Snow Melting Competition even ended, whether it concerned the allocation plan for large-scale magic activity shares or the investment and ownership proportions for the Forward Base in the Ether Overlap Region.

"I know about this matter. It has nothing to do with us, and we do not need to participate in anything. Let them be!"

"Yes," Haichenisi replied.

"Is there anything else?"

"There is one more thing, related to Lord Buluode. Not long ago, he requested the Seventon Council to recruit a batch of new territory residents for him. The Seven Towers just contacted me, wanting to ask if it was authorized by you, President."

"Recruit new territory residents?"

Iolum did not react at first, but once he did, he realized something was wrong: "It has nothing to do with me, I am unaware of it. Also, is it necessary for the Seven Towers to have you ask me about such a thing?"

"Buluode wants quite a lot of people, which does not conform to the general development process. The Seventon Council could not directly question him, so they transferred the problem to the Seven Towers, and then it reached me."

Actually, regarding this matter, Haichenisi also could not understand the Seven Towers' approach; if Buluode wants people, just give them to him.

Nowadays, many territories in Netheril have reached population saturation, which is a complete burden for many lords who cannot bring themselves to expel or oppress them.

One only needs to issue a recruitment order in the name of the Seventon Council, and those lords would likely scramble to send people over; there is absolutely no need for the Seven Towers to pay any price.

After listening to Haichenisi's explanation, Iolum was very curious about how many people Buluode actually wanted, to the point that even the Seven Towers felt troubled, so he asked again:

"Did the Seven Towers say how many people Buluode wanted? And before you came to me, did you contact Buluode?"

"After the Seven Towers contacted me, I went to confirm the news with Buluode. It is indeed consistent with what the Seven Towers said. As for the number, the Seven Towers told me fifty thousand, while Buluode said the more the better."

"Fifty thousand people?" Iolum subconsciously raised his volume, clearly shocked by this number.

One must know that his own territory, managed for nearly two hundred years, only has over one hundred thousand people. He knows deeply that with the current development situation of Buluode's territory, let alone fifty thousand, it is not certain he could even support five thousand or five hundred.

Unless he builds an Arcane Garden for them, but is that necessary? Even if he were to build one, there is a time issue. Where did Buluode get the confidence that he could support these fifty thousand people?

"Tell the Seven Towers, if an unreasonable request should be rejected, then reject it. Do not let them affect their judgment because of me."

After speaking, Iolum let Haichenisi leave, but before the other party reached the door, he immediately called him back: "Wait, do not contact the Seven Towers yet."

"President?" Haichenisi turned back, puzzled.

"I mean about Buluode's matter, I will confirm with Buluode first."

"I understand. I will wait for your notification before contacting the Seven Towers."

"Mm, go."

……

After Haichenisi left, Iolum sat in place for a while, then cast a Sending spell, but the target of his spell was not Buluode as he had just said, but—

"Xia Duo, was Buluode's application to the Seventon Council for a recruitment order your idea? Wanting fifty thousand people at once, what exactly are you thinking?"

At the same time, the Tower of Time in the Southland.

Xia Duo, who was pondering how to solve the conflict between the Floating City's own levitation and its internal gradient Gravity Field, suddenly received Iolum's Sending.

After seeing the content, he could not help but smile bitterly. It was not because of Iolum's questioning, but because of Buluode—this guy is too honest. He had clearly told him before to start with fifty thousand, but to proceed in batches.

He did not expect this guy to ask the Seventon Council for fifty thousand people all at once. Who could handle that!