Chapter 1778: Concealment and Differing Stances

"Lord Xia Duo, I can agree to your request to recruit new subjects on behalf of the Seven Towers right now, and the number will be no less than fifty thousand. As for the records and research data related to the Magic Web Background Fluctuation—"

Speaking of this, Bulundesi paused subconsciously, his eyebrows knitting together as if he felt very troubled, "Regarding this, I can only say I will try my best to coordinate, but I think as long as the other lords agree, Lord Sikumu will not be too difficult to persuade."

"Very well."

Xia Duo nodded. He knew Sikumu held hostility toward Niya. In the current situation, his conditions had already been put forward and were not difficult to realize, especially for the other towers.

Now, he just needed to ask Sikumu to make a sacrifice for the greater good that he himself insisted upon.

"By the way, don't forget, after that set of Nether Scrolls is retrieved, it needs to be stored in the Tower of Time for at least one hundred years."

"This—"

"What about this? Isn't this what you just agreed to? The new subjects and the Magic Web Background Fluctuation data were merely my additional conditions."

Xia Duo did not actually have to have the Nether Scrolls, but he had long decided to restart Plane Exploration once the Floating City project was on the right track.

It would mainly focus on the Projection Plane; he needed to collect all the Dragon Madness Secret Scrolls to avoid a future where he might be completely unaware if some deranged Elf actually destroyed the world.

As for the Nether Scrolls, they were incidental products of the exploration process, but as long as they were manifested into the Main Plane, he could not possibly use them alone; he would certainly have to let others read them.

Then, if he already had some Golden Pages of the Nether Scrolls in his hands, it would not be so conspicuous no matter how many Golden Pages he brought out.

In other words, he needed a reason to publicly possess Nether Scrolls.

Regarding this, Bulundesi naturally had nothing to say; after all, this was a condition the Seven Towers had already prepared, so agreeing to it was fine.

Facing Xia Duo, he did not have much room to bargain, and furthermore, the current conditions were far lower than expected. Even if he agreed to a few more, he would only receive commendations upon returning, though he would not betray the interests of the Seven Towers.

The only thing somewhat difficult to handle was the records and data from Giles Tower. Even if they were not rare, it would be a troublesome matter as long as Sikumu was determined to block it.

Whenever Bulundesi thought of Huo En knitting his brows in distress over this matter, he felt a sense of delight. It was not out of any malice, but rather a friendly tease for his old superior and old friend.

"Lord Xia Duo, if there are no other instructions, I must return to report. I will contact you again once the Seven Towers has prepared everything. I think it will be within these next two days, so I ask Lord Xia Duo to reserve some free time."

"Mm, I understand. Give my regards to Huo En."

"I will."

Not long after Bulundesi left, a Sending from Iolum arrived, which was somewhat different from what Xia Duo had expected—

"I cannot change the decision of the Seven Towers, but if you feel troubled, you can refuse even if you have already promised something. Both Buluode and I will stand on your side."

Iolum's voice was full of sincerity, to the point that Xia Duo felt a trace of regret, but he quickly swept away this thought. Since he had already agreed, there was naturally no reason to regret it.

At present, the Seven Towers might not be able to help him succeed, but they could certainly ruin things. He did not yet have the capital to challenge the Seven Towers.

Maintaining a relatively good relationship could also be considered laying a foundation for the future.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Duo replied: "I will also seriously consider it over these two days. The significance of the Nether Scrolls is indeed extraordinary. If I were the Seven Towers, I would not be able to let go of any clue either."

"Additionally, I have re-examined the process of my conversation with Xierdalanna. I feel the possibility of a conspiracy is very small, and the Seven Towers will not be unprepared."

"The only concern is having a bad intersection with a mysterious organization, which might lead to hidden dangers in the future."

In Xia Duo's hometown, there is a saying: "The sage is not stagnant in things, but can move with the world." Although Xia Duo had not yet reached the realm of a sage, he knew the current situation and understood how to make trade-offs.

Since the Seven Towers needed to use him to gain the initiative against Xierdalanna, he could naturally strengthen himself as much as possible during this process.

The only thing that made Xia Duo feel somewhat unhappy was Iolum. Although he had sent a "letter of support" now, and Xia Duo believed the other party would truly support him alongside Buluode, one must know that it was Iolum who had leaked the news to the Seven Towers in the first place.

However, Xia Duo also knew that everyone had their own stance. Before he demonstrated the potential or even the strength to lead the future, it was not hard to understand that from Iolum's perspective, he would be more inclined to maintain the existing order.

The specific manifestation of this was leaking the new clues about the stolen set of Nether Scrolls to the Seven Towers in this matter.

Xia Duo did not blame Iolum, because he himself had a stance that might not be consistent with Iolum's. If he could not wholeheartedly think for others, why should he expect others to wholeheartedly think for him?

What's more, hadn't Iolum sent a "letter of support" now!

Having long since achieved enlightenment, it was not hard for Xia Duo to figure these things out.

Perhaps the Seven Towers was truly anxious about the whereabouts of the stolen set of Nether Scrolls, or perhaps Xierdalanna's attitude was too firm.

In any case, on the second day after Bulundesi's visit, news came from the Seven Towers inviting Xia Duo to go to Asikeer for a detailed discussion.

"Asikeer?"

Xia Duo found the name both unfamiliar and inexplicably familiar. It was familiar because as early as his time as an Apprentice, he had thought many times that he must go to see Asikeer one day in the future.

It was unfamiliar naturally because, to him, this city only existed in impressions from books and legends passed down by word of mouth among ordinary people.

The Dwarf port city of Asikeer is located on the westernmost side of the Narrow Sea. In addition to having sea routes connecting to various parts of Netheril, there is also an Underground Passage leading directly to Zhenisi.

The Seven Towers inviting Xia Duo to Asikeer now was truly a bit unexpected for him, though he could roughly guess that it should be Xierdalanna's request.

Perhaps the Seven Towers had appeared too eager when they first contacted her, making her feel uneasy about Seventon. As for why the negotiation location was not set in the more suitable Evereska, that had to be blamed on that Elder Ankalita.

Unable to stay in her own territory, she had to run out. Now it was good; she was dead, and she had also implicated Evereska in turmoil, with various forces taking the stage.

At this point in time, setting the negotiation location in Evereska was somewhat sensitive.

Danzo, on the other hand, had a similar relationship with Yierlan and Netheril, perhaps even closer to Yierlan, but not bad with Netheril either.

Thus, Asikeer became a negotiation location that both sides could accept.

And for Xia Duo, it had an extra layer of meaning there. Although he was not going for tourism, it could be considered fulfilling a dream from his time as an Apprentice.