Chapter 1794: A Life of Running

"For example?"

It was Huo En who spoke; he had been close friends with Badijiaer in his early years, but later he had dallied with two of Badijiaer's students, so their relationship could be described as "loving each other while killing each other."

Speaking up at this moment, he was not without the thought of easing the atmosphere for Badijiaer.

Badijiaer glanced at Huo En and continued: "Do you still remember that large, rich Mithril Mine discovered by Jilan Tower two hundred years ago? It was leaked to Cormanthor by this Limox, and then Cormanthor found a way to notify Eaerlann. You know what happened after that."

"What? The Wu Bei En mine was actually leaked to Cormanthor by him?! After the Lord of Elino reported it at the time, Jilan Tower immediately took action and did enough to ensure secrecy. I didn't expect it to fail at the hands of a group of Gnomes. But how exactly did he manage it?"

The Wu Bei En mine could be called the largest Mithril Mine in Netheril, and it was a rich mine, associated with silver mines, and also produced various Five-Colored Gems.

But the problem was that in the past, there was a seven-hundred-year Mithral Agreement between Netheril, Danzo, and Eaerlann.

The content was mainly that Danzo and Eaerlann provided Mithril aid to Netheril, on the condition that any Mithril Mine discovered within Netheril in the future must be sold to the other two countries of the agreement.

In the beginning, Netheril had no Mithril Mines and did not know how to refine Mithril, while the development of Magic also urgently needed Mithril. This agreement could be said to be very favorable to Netheril.

At least at that time, Netheril was poor and blank, and even Magic had to be taught by others. If they didn't accept such good conditions, wouldn't they be stupid?

However, as time stretched to seven hundred years, Netheril first abandoned Elven Magic, then continuously discovered Mithril Mines, and embarked on a path of independence.

Later, when the Seven Towers mastered the Mithril Refining Technology, this agreement became a heavy shackle on Netheril's head that was difficult to shake off.

In the last two hundred years, Netheril had been negotiating with Danzo and Eaerlann to discuss renegotiating the Tri-Nation Mithral Agreement. Danzo did not set up too many obstacles, but Eaerlann was never willing to loosen its grip.

If it weren't for the Drow War a few years ago, which left the Elven Nations in panic, and Danzo, who faced the Drow directly, urgently needing Netheril's aid, I'm afraid there would be no hope of changing the agreement now!

Thinking that many mines, including Wu Bei En, had been plundered by Danzo and Eaerlann for nearly five hundred years, Huo En couldn't help but blame the predecessors who led the signing of the agreement back then. Why were they so unconfident in their own development!

Now hearing Badijiaer mention that the Wu Bei En mine might have been leaked to Cormanthor by Limox, Huo En couldn't help but wonder if other mines were also leaked by Gnomes?

After all, among the mines in various parts of Netheril, the most used were Gnome miners; those little things were born experts at doing this kind of work.

To this, Badijiaer's answer was—

"Limox is a gifted illusionist. For these hundreds of years, besides inciting various resistance actions, the thing he did most was to cooperate with Cormanthor Mages to find Gnome gathering places.

"I think he has probably walked through every mine in Netheril that has Gnome Slaves! If it's a Mithril Mine, can't you tell after going to the mine?"

"So that's how it is!"

Even as an enemy, Huo En couldn't help but feel shocked by the other party's firm will. A Gnome's lifespan is about four or five hundred years, and if they are slaves, they can live at least two or three hundred years.

If what Badijiaer said was not misled by that Eaerlann Elf, then this Limox could be said to have spent his whole life running for the cause of racial liberation.

Huo En did not think that the only mission of Gnomes was to be slaves for the Netherese; everything was determined by strength. But hearing such deeds, he couldn't help but be moved.

Thinking of the various entanglements between Netheril and the Elven Nations in the past, Huo En once again firmed up his own idea: falling behind leads to being enslaved.

Perhaps it is physical, perhaps it is spiritual; the influence of the strong is everywhere.

Afterwards, Badijiaer mentioned a few more "major events" that Limox participated in, and finally mentioned the Scroll theft incident from back then:

"In Limox's memory, his task at that time was to bring three high-level mages from Cormanthor into the Arcane Union and provide camouflage while those three high-level mages cracked the Protection. As for the identities of those three high-level mages—"

Speaking of this, Badijiaer hesitated for a moment, "In Limox's memory, the images of those three high-level mages were just a blank space, and all Perception information was deliberately erased.

"There is only one point: when I was interrogating him, he mentioned that he had met a strange Elf Mage in Cormanthor who made him feel familiar."

"Who is it?" Huo En asked hurriedly.

"It is Jialanuode, the owner of the 【Sword of Artistry】, one of the three divine swords of Cormanthor."

Once these words were spoken, everyone immediately fell into silence. Although they had guessed it long ago, getting such a result at this time still made everyone feel heavy.

Having dealt with Cormanthor for so long, the people of the Seven Towers naturally understood that behind Jialanuode was that Yilisier Mianwang who had been on the throne for nearly a thousand years.

If the Scroll theft incident back then was led by Yilisier Mianwang himself, then pursuing it later would likely be more difficult than they imagined.

"Could it be that this Gnome is lying, deliberately guiding the direction of our suspicion?"

"Haruisi, your words—and Huo En, do you doubt that I don't even have the ability to distinguish lies?"

As he spoke, Badijiaer pointed to the Gnome Limox, who was motionless in the secret room, "He is still alive, and he is right here. If you don't believe me, you can take him back to interrogate and examine him yourselves."

"It's not that we don't believe you, it's just that this kind of thing requires more concrete evidence."

"You want evidence, right? Look at that Elf, the grandson of Yilisier, the nephew of Jialanuode, the most glorious Prince Saier of Cormanthor."

"It's actually him?!"

Compared to the Gnome, the identity of the Elf in front of them shocked the people of the Seven Towers even more. Before, they had only heard Badijiaer mention that he had brought back a Prince of Cormanthor who was carrying the stolen Nether Scroll.

But there are many Princes of Cormanthor. Not to mention how many sons Yilisier had in a thousand years, and sons have sons, this also counts as a Prince.

If it were just a captured Prince who was not valued, as long as it was done cleanly, it would be nothing. But if it is the highly valued Prince Saier, then—

Even if Netheril is in the right, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to end this matter.

The faces of the people of the Seven Towers were uncertain. Indeed, the decision to ignore the other party's identity and take back the Nether Scroll was made by them, but they didn't know that the other party's identity was so special.

How is this matter to be ended?