Chapter 550: Meeting, Secret Organization

Arcane Union.

This tall, sturdy, and somewhat rugged stone building, while not as delicate, exquisite, or ethereal as Elven architecture, gave Xia Duo, who had transmigrated from Earth, a distinct sense of familiarity due to this style resembling modern industrial design.

Of course, Elven architecture was also excellent, somewhat similar to the ancient architectural styles of Xia Duo's hometown, but modern people still found it easier to accept modern styles.

Netherese Mages certainly did not understand what "modern style" meant, but the concepts of simplicity and practicality invisibly permeated both worlds; of course, it would be even better if it could be a bit more refined.

While considering the convenience of construction, one must also consider comfort and aesthetics.

After arriving at the Arcane Union, Xia Duo reported his name, and a staff member immediately led him to a reception room where Duolaisen Huo Ke, the Lord of Huo Ke Territory, had been waiting for a long time.

"Lord Xia Duo, a pleasure to meet you!" Duolaisen took the initiative to show goodwill.

Xia Duo also said "a pleasure," and then there was more to come; the other party had sought him out, and although there was an element of confusion in coming here, he would not take the initiative to say anything.

Sure enough, seeing Xia Duo remain silent, Duolaisen spoke up again, "Lord Xia Duo, there is no conflict between our two houses. The matter of Aquilain was just a misunderstanding. I hope you can release him as soon as possible!"

As a Senior Arcanist approaching the rank of Great Arcanist, being able to say these words could already be considered extremely sincere.

But time could not be turned back; if the other party had expressed their stance and spoken soft words the moment Aquilain was captured, Xia Duo would have had a way to step down and naturally would not have stubbornly insisted on detaining Aquilain against a Senior Arcanist.

In the end, the root of this matter was simply that Aquilain had gone to the Mythallar Ruins to repair the Magic Net without permission, and at that time, the Tower of Time's energy reserves were severely insufficient, and Niya was not there, so he had to appear strong.

Of course, it might also have had something to do with Aiwa assassinating the branch president of the Eagle Chamber of Commerce in Savile Territory, but the key was that Aquilain had made the choice first and had already trespassed into the range of the Mythallar Ruins, so Xia Duo had to respond.

Who was right and who was wrong had passed long ago, and bringing up that there was a misunderstanding in it actually had no great significance.

By now, not only had Aquilain been imprisoned for over half a year, but Xia Duo had also interrogated him using mind spells; regardless of whether Lord Huo Ke had hostility toward him, at the very least, Aquilain could already be counted as an enemy.

As for an enemy, how could Xia Duo just let him go so easily!

Of course, he also wanted to hear what the misunderstanding Lord Huo Ke spoke of was about, and incidentally learn the other party's techniques in performance and eloquence.

All sorts of thoughts flashed by, and Xia Duo revealed a look of confusion, "Lord Huo Ke, I don't know what misunderstanding you are talking about?"

"It is my fault as well; I did not discover in time that Aquilain had been misled. Spellcasters often gather together because of the same philosophy. As far as I know, there is a secret organization plotting against Savile Territory, and even the entire Green Pearl Forest."

Duolaisen's words were extremely sincere; he truly had not expected Aquilain to do such a thing, and he must have been misled by someone. It was even possible that the assassination of President Asaer at the time was related to this matter.

He only learned after the fact that the Lord of Savile was a student of Princess Xiya, but surely someone could have known in advance and planned all of this, just to make him have a conflict with Savile Territory.

As for this person behind the scenes, he also had some guesses, but he had not yet truly confirmed it.

Xia Duo did not expect the misunderstanding Lord Huo Ke spoke of to be this kind of misunderstanding; he had thought the other party would directly quibble over Aquilain's actions, for example, using excuses like Aquilain went there to help you repair the Magic Net, or that he discovered some villain.

He did not expect it to be that someone was instigating and misleading; this kind of excuse looked much more sincere.

Xia Duo immediately associated this with Archmage Niuman from Rodney Territory, who was leading people to develop new land in the Green Pearl Forest. Of course, it was not to say that Niuman was the instigator, but Rodney Territory was indeed very suspicious.

Of course, whether this was Lord Huo Ke's instigation, Xia Duo could not be sure either.

But regardless, whether it was Huo Ke Territory or Rodney Territory, they were at least potential enemies to Xia Duo, especially Rodney Territory; he already regarded the Green Pearl Forest as his own, so how could he tolerate others encroaching on it.

It was just that he was currently unable to develop the entire Green Pearl Forest, and although Rodney Territory coming to develop it violated the unspoken rules, it also responded to the general trend in terms of answering the Princess's call.

Normally, Savile Territory had cultivated the Green Pearl Forest for decades, and everyone tacitly assumed that the Green Pearl Forest belonged to Savile Territory, and later Niya became the Princess's student.

Rodney Territory should have given the Princess some face, but he just had to come over.

This was disgusting; not only did Xia Duo find it disgusting, he even felt that the Princess might also be unhappy, but there was nothing to be done. The development movement could not be changed overnight; at most, one could give them a hard time, but one could not strictly forbid it.

This probably corresponded to the saying from his hometown, "A gentleman can be deceived by what is proper!"

"Can Lord Huo Ke speak more specifically?" Xia Duo appeared very interested, which was not a performance; he was truly very interested.

Regardless of whether the other party wanted to instigate a conflict between him and Rodney Territory, obtaining more information was more conducive to the next step of judgment.

Duolaisen glanced unobtrusively at the silver scepter in Xia Duo's hand and sighed deeply, "Lord Xia Duo, after Aquilain's abnormal behavior, I personally investigated this matter and finally traced it to an Advanced Rank mage. This is not the first time they have taken action against Savile Territory!"

"What other actions?" Xia Duo asked immediately.

"I know Lord Xia Duo has a good relationship with the Liyadun Chamber of Commerce, but does Lord Xia Duo know that the death of the former president of the Liyadun Chamber of Commerce was planned by this secret organization?"

The death of the former president of the Liyadun Chamber of Commerce?

Xia Duo was no stranger to this matter; he had even accepted the mission to investigate the cause of death back then! At first, he had even suspected Lady Patti, but later, when the Golden Lark Chamber of Commerce was dealt with, he learned that it was the Golden Lark Chamber of Commerce that did it.

Of course, after he married Niya and was acting as the lord of the territory, he knew more; there was indeed a secret organization targeting Savile Territory.

They seized the opportunity when Advanced Arcanist Aiboke and Lord Epps could not show their faces to kill the president of the Liyadun Chamber of Commerce, intending to make the people of the territory desecrate the Princess's Statue without knowing it; their intentions were sinister.

And it was not just this; before that, attracting Goblins to attack the olive grove in an attempt to disrupt trade between Savile Territory and Konnifila City might also have been done by this secret organization.

It was just that later, after Niya became the Princess's student, there were no more of these troublesome events in the territory.

"Lord Huo Ke means—that this secret organization is backed by Rodney Territory?"

"No, quite the contrary!" Although Duolaisen was unwilling to admit it, this was indeed the fact he had investigated, "It should be said that Rodney Territory is backed by this secret organization; after all, the past of Rodney Territory is clear and traceable, and there is no Great Arcanist!"

"A Great Arcanist?!" Xia Duo was somewhat surprised.

Listening to Lord Huo Ke's words, did it mean there was a Great Arcanist behind the secret organization?