Chapter 1904: The Crown King's Invitation

However, Xia Duo could also see from the attitude of the Crown King of Jielunsita that the interior of Jielunsita had likely already reached a consensus: the Crown King would step forward to probe, trade, or even fight.

And they would not give Xia Duo the opportunity to use the same secret scroll to trade for resources from several different parties.

"This is fine too. As long as I handle the Crown King, it is equivalent to handling all the secret scroll owners in Jielunsita."

In reality, Xia Duo was not clear on the information regarding the current owners of the Dragon Madness Secret Scroll within Jielunsita. While this situation certainly meant he could not sell one scroll to multiple buyers, it was definitely not bad.

……

Just as Xia Duo had started drinking his hot oriental tea, the Crown King's invitation arrived. It was the same Envoy as before, and this time he brought the Crown King's formal invitation—

Inviting Mage Laier, who had traveled from afar in the south, to attend a private palace banquet in the evening.

The reason it was called a private banquet was that no other guests would be present; there would only be Xia Duo and the Crown King of Jielunsita, perhaps with one or two Consultants, but that would be the limit.

If it were a public banquet, Xia Duo would likely have refused. Such banquets usually lasted until the next morning, or if things got lively, perhaps even until the next afternoon.

Xia Duo was very clear about his goals and his trump cards; he did not want to engage in those meaningless social activities.

But if it were a private banquet, that was different. This meant the Crown King of Jielunsita also wanted to resolve this matter as quickly as possible, whether through trade or something else.

Thus, Xia Duo accepted the other party's invitation.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Crown King of Jielunsita was meeting with his intelligence Consultant in a secluded garden.

"Is there news so soon? I hope it is good news!"

"Unfortunately, my liege, this is not good news. The investigator I sent out has returned from Kaitemier. He told me that there is no high-level Mage named Laier in Kaitemier, nor is there even any well-known Mage named Laier."

"That is indeed not good news. What else?" the Crown King asked again.

"There is also the fact that spies from the Northland nations have reported no information regarding Mage Laier. In other words, that Mage Laier might be disguised in every aspect from name and appearance to background, and he might even be someone from within our own country."

"It shouldn't be someone from our country. Yesterday, that Mage Laier was still at the Elven Court. Even if it were someone from our country in disguise, it would be impossible to deceive the Mythallar."

"That is hard to say!" the intelligence Consultant said gloomily.

Upon hearing this, the Crown King's face darkened slightly, but fortunately, this expression was fleeting. He quickly turned to another topic:

"Do you have any suggestions for the banquet tonight?"

"My suggestion is to do nothing. Since the other party is here to trade, we shall trade with him."

The intelligence Consultant stated his position with unusual calmness and added, "The Dragon Madness Secret Scroll is just a piece of information. Even if we could control the other party, so what? Does that guarantee that the secret scroll he possesses will never be leaked?"

"Sigh!"

The Crown King lamented: "It is a pity we cannot know the other party's true identity!"

If they knew the other party's true identity, their room for maneuver would be much greater, and they would not have to be so timid as they were now.

The intelligence Consultant naturally understood the Crown King's thoughts, but as a follower whose interests were tied to his, he had to offer counsel:

"My liege must understand what is most important to us. Judging by the fact that the other party disguised his identity, the faction he belongs to has limited strength. Even if they gathered all the Dragon Madness Secret Scrolls, it would be difficult for them to achieve anything. But we are different; the more secret scrolls we collect, the more opportunity we have to control the Dragon Madness Mythallar."

"I understand, I understand it all, but I am still not reconciled!"

The Crown King knew very well that the Dragon Madness Mythallar could not only trigger the Dragon Madness; how could the ancestors of the ancient era have spent infinite costs just to achieve this one goal!

Taking a step back, even if the Dragon Madness Mythallar only had that one function, the King-Slaying Star was a highly unstable source of natural disaster.

As long as one could control the Dragon Madness Mythallar, one could advance to eliminate a potential world-ending disaster, or retreat to use it as a final trump card to perish together with the enemy.

In the current era, to control the Dragon Madness Mythallar, one must first collect all the Dragon Madness Secret Scrolls. For those in power, it is most ideal for only oneself to possess these things.

After the monarch and subject sighed together, the Crown King summoned several more Consultants and several Patriarchs of Upper Families to discuss the details of trading the Dragon Madness Secret Scroll with Mage Laier, as well as how to handle the newly acquired secret scrolls afterward.

……

Time soon arrived at dusk.

At twilight, Wichewulusi, set against the backdrop of the setting sun, was like a goddess draped in golden gauze, displaying her final brilliance just as the night was about to descend.

At this moment, Xia Duo, who had just stepped out, saw the most vibrant side of this city. Beyond the inherent fresh scent of plants in the garden city, the aroma of cooking food wafted through the air.

For ordinary Elves, they mostly still worked at sunrise and rested at sunset; but for High Elves, the exciting nightlife had only just begun!

On the way to the palace, Xia Duo specifically instructed the Envoy leading the way to take a detour, passing through a commercial street. Although he did not buy anything, he saw the most authentic customs and life of Jielunsita in the current era.

This gave him another layer of understanding of Elven society in different periods, and this would help him correctly handle the relationship between humans and Elves in the future.

……

Entering the palace, Xia Duo's originally light mood became somewhat oppressive. He clearly felt the wariness of the Jielunsita side toward him, and this also brought him no small amount of pressure.

He met the Crown King of Jielunsita in a Reception Room adjacent to the banquet hall, and one of the Crown King's Magic Consultants was also present.

"Mage Laier, before the banquet, please allow me to introduce the Light of Arcane Arts of Jielunsita, who is also my Magic Consultant—Mage Sulis!"

"Nice to meet you, Mage Sulis!"

Xia Duo bowed calmly. Without a doubt, this Mage Sulis was also a high-level Mage. After returning the bow, Mage Sulis actually asked Xia Duo directly:

"Is Mage Laier really from Kaitemier?"

"Whether it is or isn't, what difference does it make?" Xia Duo smiled and looked at the Crown King of Jielunsita.

The Crown King realized this at the time and explained: "Mage Sulis did not intend to pry into your background, but is rather interested in Kaitemier.

"Having survived the Crown War, Kaitemier must still retain many ancient legacies. Mage Sulis has long intended to travel to and study in Kaitemier."

"So that is how it is. If Mage Sulis is interested in going to Kaitemier for magical exchange, then the Rainbow Society should be a good choice."

The Rainbow Society was a Mage organization in Kaitemier with a long history that did not refuse exchanges. Xia Duo had not only heard its name in the Main Plane but also in multiple Projection Planes.

As for the current Projection Plane he was in, although he had not deliberately inquired about it, he had heard of it. Recommending it to Sulis was not at all out of place and barely fit his persona!