Chapter 3139: The Threat of the Mind Flayers

"The initial stage of the Cross-Domain Teleportation Link construction lies in exploring new Planes. In this regard, simply piling on manpower and material resources cannot speed up progress. As for the specific construction work where manpower and resources can be piled on, that will have to wait until the middle and late stages of the project. By then, it will not be too late to contact the Northland Alliance or other countries."

Badijiaer continued to use this rhetoric to reply to Pulitatisi, but in reality, Xia Duo knew very well that Netheril actually did not want to share the benefits of discovering new Planes with other countries.

Even in the exploration stage, is it really impossible to speed things up with more people? This is obviously impossible. While the speed of exploration is more related to the observed position and scale of the Ether Boundary, having more people and sufficient resources can always increase the speed somewhat.

Badijiaer's rhetoric could not convince Pulitatisi, but it was enough to form a consensus within Netheril. Under these circumstances, it was impossible for Pulitatisi to sing a different tune all by himself.

At present, the key to the coexistence of both sides lies in the Cross-Domain Teleportation Link project. If the talks break down on this issue, then both sides will inevitably tear off the mask of civility, and naturally, it would be impossible to let Pulitatisi easily run to other countries' territories to stir up trouble.

Pulitatisi understood this point, so he would offer suggestions, but he would not forcefully demand that Netheril do this or that. Correspondingly, Badijiaer would also provide a corresponding explanation rather than flatly refusing without reason.

Both sides carefully and cautiously maintained a superficial decency.

……

"Since that is the case, let's get to the main topic! Regarding the news that recently came from Evereska, Lord Pulitatisi, he knows less about Psionic than you do, so let's keep him here to refer to it together."

Following that, Badijiaer briefly introduced the recent attacks on the Alliance Computing Power Pool, the information obtained from interrogating the Psionic mind-fiend, and Kalishi's Artifact Project.

"The reason you suggested shutting down the Computing Power Pool is not because once you provoke the Mind Flayers, the Mind Network constructed by the Arcane mind-fiends might be as defenseless as nothing in the face of these beings who are born to manipulate minds. The Computing Power Pool, which accommodates the vast majority of the Northland's computing power, falling would be equivalent to the Northland falling. The risks involved need to be carefully considered by everyone."

"The Gith that Councilor Xia Duo displayed just now are indeed a relatively weak force and race in the Astral Plane, but the Astral Plane is so vast that it is not without forces more powerful than the Gith. I just told you that this is not the first time I have seen a Mind Network. It is because of an Astral invading force; their race is usually called Mind Flayers. Almost every adult individual of their race is naturally in a Mind Network, which cannot be blocked unless you cross Planes."

"Although the Computing Power Pool exceeded my expectations, I am actually not seeing this kind of Mind Network for the first time. As I just said, Astral conquerors do not refer to any single race, but to all groups living in the Astral Plane."

Hearing Pulitatisi's evaluation, Xia Duo could not help but interject: "Does the Computing Power Pool have absolutely no resistance to Psionic?"

But in fact, his true thought was that the existence of the Computing Power Pool would accelerate the magical exchanges between the countries of the Northland and accelerate the magical development of the Northland and even the entire Main Plane, which was not a good thing for the Holy Golden Dragon Empire.

"I haven't understood the Computing Power Pool before; I only heard about it recently. If this Plane had no Psionic, this would indeed be a very genius idea, but with the existence of Psionic, I can only smell the scent of disaster."

"According to what you say, is there really only the path of shutting it down for the Computing Power Pool in the end?" Xia Duo asked back.

Pulitatisi sat to the side and remained silent after speaking. At this time, the conference hall was also deathly silent. After a long while, Badijiaer called out to Xia Duo and asked in a steady voice:

Pulitatisi himself had not actually experienced the war against the Mind Flayers, but he had read many related documents, and the intensity was no less than the War of the Githyanki initiated by the Gith, and even more difficult to endure.

Xia Duo did not believe that Pulitatisi was lying, but he also felt that it was very likely that the other party had concealed some key information. Most importantly, he really could not let go of the Computing Power Pool; monetary benefits were secondary, the key was the computing power and even the inspiration bonus.

"That is not what I mean. I am saying that the existence of the Computing Power Pool has an unparalleled attraction to Psionic mind-fiends, just like a lamp attracting moths. But the difference is that compared to the power contrast between moths and lamps, Psionic mind-fiends can very easily launch attacks on the Computing Power Pool, while your protection has to pay a price of several or even dozens of times more."

The Empire cannot tolerate a too chaotic magic system. In the choice of the general direction and path of magic development, it is best to have only one voice, and the rest just need to follow that voice.

Pulitatisi brought up the secrets of the Astral Plane again, and the councilors present could not help but prick up their ears to listen carefully, and even Xia Duo was no exception.

Although he would not deliberately suppress the magical development of the Main Plane, before the Main Plane is fully integrated into the Empire, it is best not to develop a distinctive magic system.

But even without experiencing it personally, just from those documents recording the war, Pulitatisi could feel some of the torment and despair of the participants; one can imagine what the real battlefield would be like.

"I don't know, I haven't seen Mind Flayers, and I'm not clear about their specific abilities, but as far as those Psionic mind-fiends in Zhamu Dasi of the Main Plane are concerned, the Computing Power Pool can handle them."

Fighting against the Gith, the enemy is nothing more than Gith, but fighting against Mind Flayers, the enemy could be any race, including one's own companions. The torment involved can only be understood if one has experienced it personally.

Mentioning the name Mind Flayer, Pulitatisi could not help but shiver, "You probably cannot imagine the breeding and growth methods of these terrifying creatures. They do not grow up naturally as individuals, but need to rely on parasitism to complete their true growth. This is also the main reason why their race is called Mind Flayers."

"Mind Flayers have their own Mind Network, and the other races they enslave also join an affiliated Mind Network. Through the Mind Network, Mind Flayers can more flexibly direct their slave legions."

"You are the expert on the Computing Power Pool. Do you think the risks mentioned by Pulitatisi can be controlled?"

Of course, he did not lie either. A tool like the Computing Power Pool that can conveniently connect groups of Spellcasters would indeed be coveted by Psionic mind-fiends. As long as one controls this kind of tool, one could even use it to enslave the minds of all who connect to it.

"If you don't shut it down, do you want to spend all your time in the future dealing with the invasion of Psionic mind-fiends and potential invasions? Being so exhausted, it is better to shut it down early." Pulitatisi said unceremoniously.

This is actually a benefit that every Arcane mind-fiend finds hard to give up once they have used it.

After speaking, he did not ask the councilors to express their opinions, but looked directly at Pulitatisi, "What does your lordship think of these events?"