Chapter 3141: The Wager with Weide

"Besides that, there is the matter of the attitude of the Elven Nations. I will have Tili'ao communicate with representatives from other countries in advance to see if we can probe their domestic stance."

"Additionally, everyone present, if you have information channels within the Elven Nations, you might as well try to inquire. Currently, we are making choices based on our own circumstances and in our own interests, but if the Elven Nations' choices differ from ours, we must also consider the situation where they are involved."

After saying this, Badijiaer announced the end of the meeting. After the meeting, Xia Duo found Badijiaer to ask if Pulitatisi had revealed any more information, such as research data related to Psionic Magic.

To this, Badijiaer's answer was—

"None at all. Pulitatisi is very wary of Psionic Magic. If Councilor Xia Duo is interested in this, you might as well go talk to him yourself."

"Since that's the case, I will find another way."

Xia Duo was not overly disappointed. If he could obtain research data related to Psionic Magic directly from the Seven Towers, that would certainly be best. If not, it would simply mean going to communicate with Pulitatisi again.

In fact, he had roughly guessed the answer before asking. The reason he went through this extra trouble was actually to serve a notification purpose, which is to say—

I am going to contact Pulitatisi privately; you Seven Towers should not misjudge this.

Currently, Pulitatisi's official cooperation partner is the Seven Cities Council. Some who are directly involved in the exploration of new planes via the Ether Boundary route can directly contact Pulitatisi, but others are not quite suitable.

You are researching Arcane Magic; it is just that the target is Psionic Mages and Psionic Magic. How can you say you are researching Psionic Magic?

……

"What Lord Xia Duo seeks, Badijiaer has already mentioned to you. Even if it is for the purpose of dealing with Psionic Magic, you feel it is highly inappropriate to research Psionic Magic. This is a matter of principle, so I apologize."

"Then it's settled."

"You also mentioned earlier that if you could obtain a Psionic Artifact, you could help take a look. Does that count as researching Psionic Magic? I don't think it does. Currently, Psionic Magic already exists on the Main Plane. As you said, encountering Astral Invaders in the future is almost inevitable. If we make some preparations in advance now, we can avoid being completely unprepared when that day arrives."

This actually counts as Psionic research, but Xia Duo believes that defining Psionic research as "using Psionic Magic to conduct research" is a very reasonable definition for an Arcane Mage—

However, the threat of Psionic Mages and even Astral Invaders does indeed exist. When it is uncertain when contact with the homeland can be established, it is indeed necessary to strengthen the ability of the natives to deal with the Psionic threat.

Hearing Xia Duo say this, Weide became interested instead, "Since Lord Xia Duo has said so, I certainly cannot let you suffer. Let it be as you say. After their studies end, let them choose their own affiliation. I believe they will make the most correct choice."

"A Mythallar, what do you think?"

"Fine, what do you want to bet?" Weide agreed decisively.

"No problem. At worst, I'll help you work for free for a month. If I win, getting a Mythallar for free is also quite nice."

"No problem. Since there is already a referee, why not add a little more to the bet? The winner is determined by which side has more people."

"That is also good. Originally, I was planning to go to the Ether Advance Base to find you!"

Private contact will make the Seven Towers feel uneasy and violates the principle of joint participation, but if they are notified in advance, then it is fine; at least the pretense is maintained.

"Yes, communication is very necessary. I will educate them in my own way, but I hope that when their studies end, they can be allowed to freely choose to stay at the Tower of Time or return to the Wisdom High Tower."

Upon asking, I learned that it was Badijiaer who helped make the contact. Perhaps he also did not want to use this method to remind Pulitatisi—I am aware of your meeting, do not try anything funny.

Of course, if I could give Weide a light lesson in the process, that would be excellent.

"They are very diligent, hardworking, and excellent, but recently some teachers have reported that their 'Elite' mindset is very serious. They look down on students with worse grades than them and even have some excessive behaviors. I think this has to do with the initial education on your side."

After finishing, as if to demonstrate fairness, he added an extra sentence, "You must not use unconventional conditions to lure them. Let them start from their own hearts and make the most authentic choice. At that time, I will ask Zhenna or Kelifu to be the referee."

Weide seemed not to want to continue on this topic and actually provided a solution where the Wisdom High Tower exchange students would not communicate with the Tower of Time Apprentices, which truly disappointed Xia Duo.

To go to the Ether Advance Base, one must either detour from the Ether Plane or go through the Arcane Union Headquarters. Now that it could save some time, Xia Duo did not feel that Badijiaer was being meddlesome.

Weide's reaction was within Xia Duo's expectations. He had long known that Weide and he were not on the same path, but he still tried to change things. He told Weide:

……

Even if they really talk about breaking away from the Council to cooperate independently in private, as long as it is not brought to the table, the Seven Towers will pretend not to see it.

After parting with Weide, Xia Duo returned to the Arcane Union. What surprised him was—Pulitatisi was actually waiting for him here. Logically, the other party should have already returned to the Ether Advance Base by now.

After leaving the Council, Xia Duo stayed a little longer and chatted briefly with Weide. It was not about Psionic Magic; the content of the chat was mainly about the recent situation of the batch of students Weide sent to study at the Tower of Time.

"Let me consider it further."

Pulitatisi truly could not come up with a rebuttal and could only respond with silence. Seeing this, Xia Duo could not help but feel disappointed, so he said again:

Until Pulitatisi discovered that it was very suitable for creating an Ether Boundary, it then became a Plane Exploration Base.

"No, no, no! Pulitatisi, you misunderstood. I am not a Psionic Mage, how could I possibly research Psionic Magic! I want to ask you for advice on some means within the field of Arcane Magic used for protection and countering Psionic Magic. That shouldn't violate your principles, right?"

"Whether it is shallow or not, the future will naturally have the answer. As for now, if you feel it is inappropriate, I can let them not communicate with the Tower of Time Apprentices, so there won't be any conflict."

After all, Pulitatisi is a living person; it is impossible to completely control the people here in Netheril from coming into contact with him.

The Ether Advance Base is actually located in the Laboratory area of the Arcane Union Headquarters. Previously, because an accident caused a large-scale overlap between the Ether Plane and the Main Plane, and later because it could produce various resources (Warp Beast Farm, Twisted Phantom Core), it has been kept ever since.

"Does that have any problem?" Weide asked back.

Xia Duo actually did not care about winning or losing; he just wanted to give those who wanted to stay at the Tower of Time a chance, nothing more.

The boomerang hitting himself made Pulitatisi feel a bit depressed. He certainly acknowledged the reasons Xia Duo mentioned, he just simply did not want the natives to obtain the experience and technology that his hometown had paid a huge price to explore.

"Perhaps you feel there is no problem in this, but I believe everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Judging a person's value entirely by their magic exam scores is very shallow. What do you think?"