Chapter 3140: Speculations on the New Artifact

————It will be later~~

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"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 accelerate 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 was very clear 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 location 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 have a falling out, and naturally, it would be impossible to let Pulitatisi run around in other countries' territories causing trouble.

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

Both sides carefully maintained a superficial decency.

……

That is actually a drawback that every Psionic Mind Flayer finds hard to give up once they have used it.

"According to what he said, is there really no other path for the Computing Power Pool but to shut it down?" Xia Shao asked in return.

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

"The Mind Flayers have their own Mind Network, and the other races they enslave also join an affiliated Mind Network. Through the Mind Network, the Mind Flayers can more flexibly command their Slave armies."

"The reason I suggest shutting down the Computing Power Pool is that once the Mind Flayers are provoked, the Mind Network constructed by the Psionic Mind Flayers might be as defenseless as nothing in front of those existences who are born to manipulate minds. If the Computing Power Pool, which accommodates the vast majority of the Northland's computing power, falls, it is equivalent to the Northland falling. The risks involved need to be carefully considered by everyone."

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

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

"I don't know. I have never seen a Mind Flayer and am not clear about their specific abilities, but as for those Psionic Mind Flayers in Zhamu Dasi of the Main Plane, the Computing Power Pool can handle them."

But even without having experienced it personally, just from those documents recording the war, Pulitatisi could still feel a portion of the torment and despair of the participants. One can imagine what the experience of a real battlefield would be like.

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

"Since that is the case, let's get to the main topic! Regarding the news that recently came from Evereska, Lord Pulitatisi, you know more about Psionic power than we do, so please stay and refer to it together."

"The Gith that Councilor Xia Shao just displayed are indeed a relatively strong force and race in the Astral Plane, but the Astral Plane is so vast that it is not without forces stronger than the Gith. The reason I said just now that this is not the first time I have seen a Mind Network is because of an Astral invading force. Their race is usually called Mind Flayers. Every adult individual of their race is naturally in a Mind Network, which cannot be blocked unless one crosses Planes."

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 Flayers. Once this tool is controlled, one could even use it to enslave the minds of everyone connected.

Fighting against the Gith, the enemy is nothing more than the Gith, but fighting against Mind Flayers, the enemy could be any race, including even one's own companions. The torment in this can only be understood by those who have experienced it personally.

After speaking, he did not ask the councilors to express their opinions but looked directly at Pulitatisi, "How does Your Excellency view these events?"

"If it is not shut down, do you intend to spend all your time in the future dealing with the invasion of Psionic Mind Flayers and potential invasions? Being so exhausted from running around, it would be better to shut it down early," Pulitatisi said unceremoniously.

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

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

Pulitatisi himself had not actually experienced the war against the Mind Flayers, but he had read many related documents. The degree of tragedy was not inferior to the War of the Githyanki initiated by the Gith, and it was even more difficult to endure.

Xia Shao did not believe that Pulitatisi was lying, but he also felt that the other party was very likely hiding 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.

"Although the Computing Power Pool exceeds my expectations somewhat, 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 all groups living in the Astral Plane."

"That is not what I meant. I am saying that the attraction of the Computing Power Pool to Psionic Mind Flayers is unparalleled, just like a lamp attracting moths. But the difference is, compared to the power contrast between a moth and a lamp, Psionic Mind Flayers can very easily launch an attack on the Computing Power Pool, while your Protection has to pay a price many or even dozens of times higher."

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

Although he would not deliberately suppress the development of Magic in the Main Plane, before the Main Plane is completely integrated into the Empire, it is best not to develop a Magic system with distinct characteristics.

Mentioning the name Mind Flayer, Pulitatisi could not help but shudder, "You probably cannot imagine the breeding and growth methods of these terrifying creatures. They do not grow 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."

Following that, Badijiaer briefly introduced everything: the recent attack on the Alliance Computing Power Pool, the information obtained from interrogating the Psionic Mind Flayer, and Kalishi's Artifact Project.