Chapter 3087: Psionic Energy Source, Temporary Delay

After the silence, Xia Duo did not know how to speak for a moment. He felt that the situation suddenly showed signs of spiraling out of control; even if he remained silent here now, Kalishi would still go find others.

The Alliance Computing Power Pool was indeed under his management for the time being, but that did not mean the computing power pool was his private property. If the Alliance supported Kalishi's plan, what could he do?

In all honesty, Xia Duo did not approve of such an overly risky plan. Even if the realization of this plan might bring brand-new developments to magic, the saying remained: the risk was too great. Once the endeavor failed, the consequences might be something no one could accept.

After carefully weighing it, Xia Duo still held to his own view, but he did not reject Kalishi on the spot, instead taking the opportunity to ask Kalishi for more specific details behind this plan.

"You just said that to build an Artifact, you still need Psionic Material and a large amount of Psionic Energy. Do you want the Alliance to support you in seizing it from Zhamu Dasi? Or is 'collecting Wisdom' another lie, and you have already planned to use the computing power pool to collect Psionic Energy?"

"Does Consultant Xia Duo think so?"

Kalishi was not dissatisfied because of Xia Duo's suspicion and questioning. As a pioneer who already considered himself enlightened, he could not give rise to such emotions. He told Xia Duo:

"I have already prepared the Psionic Material; the Alliance does not need to seize it for me. As for Psionic Energy, that is indeed a problem, but if the Alliance chooses to support me, there are two ways to obtain it—"

"One is to let the Zhamu Dasi people act, and then use the surge of Psionic Energy during their actions to build your own Artifact; the other is to extend the Time Line and collect it slowly in the Northland."

"Direct seizure is impossible. For an Arcanist, even if the Psionic Energy were placed right in front of me, I would have no way to perceive it, so how could I seize it?"

From this point of view, Kalishi actually still harbored this intention.

No matter how flowery Kalishi's words were now, it was possible he was cooperating with Zhamu Dasi's plan; only by submitting a 'letter of intent' (a pledge of loyalty) could he possibly gain trust.

Leaving Laruian's house, the night had already completely darkened. Xia Duo had originally intended to return to Yunfeng Manor, as it was now off-duty hours.

……

In fact, even now, Xia Duo was not prepared to disclose this situation within Netheril. He knew very well that Netherese Mages were very willing to take risks, especially when they did not have to bear the risks directly themselves.

Then this matter would be too uncontrollable.

"I feel that the risk of this plan is truly too great. The Northland Alliance is currently developing well, and there is really no need to take such a risk."

Even if, as Kalishi said, Psionic Energy was something that did not exist for Arcanists, Xia Duo still firmly believed that the influence caused by Psionic Energy—the changes to the real world—could never be without traces.

But once he thought about how the recent abnormal wear and tear of the Gateway Magic Tool might be the work of Zhamu Dasi or Kalishi, an inexplicable sense of urgency welled up in his heart, leaving him no peace of mind.

"I understand. I will seriously consider what you have said."

The reason it was "possible" was because there existed such a thing as a "bitter flesh ruse" in this world. Although no one in the magic world had specifically summarized these strategies and calculations, they were still used in reality.

Xia Duo did not give a response on the spot. He was still prepared to drag it out for a few days to see the situation, especially waiting for the investigation results from the Psionic Network Research Center regarding the recent abnormal wear and tear of the Computing Power Pool Sub-network Gateway Magic Tools.

If the situation was serious, it was not impossible to even take Kalishi down directly.

Perhaps the existence of Psionic Energy and Psionic Energy itself could not be perceived by Arcanists, but rather the method of perception was wrong. Using the method of Arcane Magic might not work, but what if another method were used?

This was not only to persuade Xia Duo, but also to warn himself. Evereska was already attempting to introduce Netheril Magic, and this single matter had already drawn criticism from many mages. At the very least, he had to wait for this matter to subside before it would be appropriate to introduce Psionic Magic.

Regarding Xia Duo's proposal, Kalishi hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Laruian was more straightforward, agreeing almost without any hesitation, and even persuaded Xia Duo:

In short, regardless of whether the Alliance ultimately supported Kalishi, a relatively rigorous verification process was needed. What Xia Duo had to do now was to make all preparations within his own capabilities, whether for the good or the bad.

Besides that, there were the types of perception: through human senses like sight and hearing, or some special super-senses?

Returning to the Alliance Headquarters, only the duty personnel of the Operations and Maintenance Group remained in the entire Psionic Network Research Center; everyone else had long since gone off-duty. However, the scrapped Magic Artifacts that had been recovered were all there, and Xia Duo prepared to check them himself again.

Proving that Kalishi was not lying, proving that the two magic systems of Psionic and Arcane truly had the possibility of fusion, proving that the Artifact Project would not cause irreparable losses to the Northland Alliance, and so on.

Kalishi explained the method of obtaining Psionic Energy but avoided Xia Duo's earlier questioning about whether he would use the computing power pool to collect Psionic Energy.

Xia Duo's last sentence was also said to Laruian. Currently, besides Kalishi himself, only the Evereska Council of Elders knew about this plan of Kalishi's. Although it was an old plan that had been concealed before, it still needed to be kept confidential for the time being.

"In fact, the Psionic Energy collected by Zhamu Dasi is almost all stored in the Artifact. Seizing it would mean attacking the Zhamu Dasi homeland. I think that even if the Alliance supports me, rashly involving ourselves in the war in the south is not a good idea."

"At the latest, in three days, I will give you a reply, but within these three days, I hope you will not disclose this matter to anyone else."

At present, Xia Duo's visit was just a routine meeting. Even if the Alliance really agreed to support Kalishi's plan, it was impossible to be persuaded by just a few words from the other party; more specific evidence was still needed.

It was truly because Kalishi had concealed too many things before, causing the Council of Elders to make misjudgments, and now was the time that needed correction.

……

Besides that, perhaps Kalishi also needed to submit a substantial 'letter of intent' to make a complete break with Zhamu Dasi.

Regarding Laruian's persuasion, Xia Duo also did not respond on the spot. After all, if he responded to that, wouldn't it directly indicate his attitude of supporting Kalishi's plan? Doing so might cause Kalishi to turn to seek help from others.

Of course, the premise was that Kalishi still had to go a step further to prove himself.

If it were found out that the recent abnormal wear and tear of the gateways was related to Psionic Energy, or directly related to Kalishi, then no matter what Kalishi said or did next, he would firmly oppose the so-called Artifact manufacturing plan.

Xia Duo did not believe that there was any essential difference in physical structure between Psionic Mages and Arcanists. What a Psionic Mage could perceive, an Arcanist could in all likelihood also perceive.

He did not doubt at all that as long as those Great Arcanists in the country heard that Kalishi was preparing to build an Artifact that fused the two magic systems to explore the more cutting-edge aspects of magic, those Great Arcanists would, nine times out of ten, express their support without hesitation.