Chapter 337: Half, The Mysterious Council

Aolando did not reveal the slightest flaw on his face, continuing to display an expression of despair, resentment, struggle, and finally, resolve.

"The death of all Spellcasters means the inevitable decline of the Star Dew Family, until its extinction. This is a result I absolutely cannot accept; rather than that, it would be better to disappear from Keman now," Aolando said firmly.

Although Feinuoweita remained in human hands, there was now hope for the family's survival, even if it was only a sliver.

With this sliver of hope as a foundation, Aolando did not mind gambling a bit more, betting that Weilanse, having gone to such lengths to obtain the Plane Key, would absolutely not give it up just to let a few Spellcasters go.

If the bet was won, the family could continue to exist; if lost, there would be no worse outcome anyway, merely the complete extinction of the Star Dew Family.

As long as things could be slightly better than that, Aolando could accept it.

At this moment, he had regained his calm, his eyes filled with determination as he looked at Weilanse, as if he would immediately destroy himself with Holy Flame if she did not agree.

Weilanse fell silent. Looking at Aolando's resolute eyes, she suddenly found it interesting: what made him think she absolutely had to have the Plane Key?

This was just a bet she had made with another high-level Mage.

However, since it existed, she would not refuse it. One had to know there were several other high-level Mages watching outside! If she didn't want it, others naturally would!

Weilanse waved her hand, and Elves with expressions of despair appeared in the courtyard. Having been suddenly teleported over, their eyes still held a trace of confusion.

But upon seeing that it was the Xinglu Courtyard, the expressions on their faces became even more desperate.

Aolando did not show the slightest emotion upon seeing this scene, even though the Elves here were all members of the Star Dew Family.

"Weilanse, what do you mean by this?" Aolando asked.

"The Spellcasters of the Star Dew Family are all here. I can let you choose half of them."

Choose half? Aolando immediately understood Weilanse's malicious intent, but matters had already developed to this point, and he had no other choice.

It was impossible for him to repeatedly use self-destruction to coerce a high-level Mage; choosing half was perhaps Weilanse's punishment for him.

Watching his clansmen one by one, their eyes filled with despair, Aolando tried hard not to meet their gazes, yet Weilanse was explaining to these despairing Elves that half of them could live.

And as for who this half referred to, it would be decided by their Patriarch, Aolando.

"Patriarch, I don't want to die! I've only just come of age, I still have to become a high-level Mage! I have talent!"

"Patriarch! Cousin! Save me!"

"Patriarch, I have always been most loyal to you!"

One clansman after another kept crying out, recounting past friendships, contributions, and blood ties, hoping that Patriarch Aolando would let them live.

Looking at these clansmen revealing their ugly sides, Aolando's heart was filled with torment, but what comforted him was that more clansmen displayed the final integrity of the Star Dew Family.

Soon, half of the Elves were selected by Aolando. Some of these clansmen wore expressions of joy, some looked tragic, and more were complex-faced and silent.

As for the remaining half, they were much crazier; most even directly cursed at Aolando. If everyone were to live and die together, perhaps these Elves' emotions would not have fluctuated so violently.

But having first experienced despair, then hope, and finally despair again, facing the Patriarch who had personally pushed them into the abyss of death, no matter how good their temperament was, they would fall into fury.

Aolando accepted all the emotions of his clansmen with a calm face. He looked at Weilanse, his words devoid of any emotional fluctuation, "I have made my choice!"

"Very good!"

Weilanse looked at the half of the Elves who had been selected and said in a tone of perverse amusement, "Congratulations, you can head to the A Fanduo Homeland!"

However, Weilanse did not give these people a chance to be grateful; the next instant, she killed them all.

The remaining half of the Star Dew Family's Spellcasters, seeing this scene, were first stunned, then ecstatic, and some even mindlessly looked at their Patriarch Aolando with provocative eyes.

At this time, Weilanse's voice sounded again, "Aolando, hand over the Plane Key. Do you still want to choose again?"

Before Aolando could even speak, several surviving clansmen began to curse and demand that Aolando hand over the Plane Key.

Aolando, somewhat numbly, recited a series of secret incantations. After just a few sentences, Weilanse sealed the surroundings. Afterward, she inquired in detail, and after personally verifying that the key was real and effective, Weilanse lifted the seal.

"You have one day!"

After saying this, Weilanse disappeared.

Although Aolando was surprised that the other party had let him go so easily, now was not the time to consider such things. He pointed casually, and the clansman who had been clamoring most triumphantly just moments ago rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground.

He had completely lost his breath.

In front of a high-level Mage, he was as weak as an infant, but in front of these clansmen, he was as powerful as a dragon.

"Go and gather the other clansmen. At midnight, we leave this place!"

Tower of Governance, in a circular conference hall with a towering dome.

Weilanse, who had just left the Xinglu Courtyard, appeared here. She looked around; twelve high-level Mages had already arrived at the sixteen tall chairs that matched the specifications of the one behind her.

Except for four who were projections, the other eight had arrived in person.

In the center of the conference hall was a huge projection, showing Aolando instructing his clansmen to pack their belongings and sell off their properties.

After Weilanse sat down, the projection disappeared. At the same time, an aged and majestic voice came, "Weilanse, you are late!"

"Apologies, I had a sudden whim and played a little game. Aren't there still four who haven't arrived?"

"The agreed time has already passed!" the majestic voice said again, though it did not dwell on this matter.

Weilanse cursed the old man under her breath and began to chat with the neighboring Elf.

"Weilanse, congratulations. I heard that the Star Dew Family's Semi-plane still preserves War Magic Artifacts from the Crown War period."

"Don't worry, you'll get your share. But what exactly does the old man mean by having me drive the Star Dew Family to Netheril?"

"What does it mean? Forget it! Who knows what he's thinking! I only care about when he will fulfill his promise regarding the Spell Scrolls!"

Weilanse was thoughtful. She had also joined this so-called Ascension Plan because she was attracted by the Spell Scrolls, but the old man had always been secretive about the plan, which left her very confused.

Before long, all the high-level Mages had arrived.

"Now, let's begin the first agenda item: several issues regarding the Nether side's request to restart Mithril negotiations and lift Mithril controls. This topic should not be discussed here, but that Princess has threatened to delay the Ascension Plan, so we must provide a response."

As soon as the words fell, a high-level Mage stood up, "Lord Faluo, at this point, you should tell us the complete Ascension Plan. This is not the first time we have made concessions. If we cannot get the complete plan, then I am withdrawing!"

Soon, another dissatisfied high-level Mage also stood up, and immediately after, one high-level Mage after another put forward their own opinions.

All the opinions added up to only one sentence: if you don't tell us, we're breaking up!