Chapter 622: Magic Core, Complaining About Monopoly

Princess Xiya had just finished speaking when Lander suddenly signaled for silence. He showed everyone a projection, one that those present were no strangers to: it was the Ilphfar ambassador to Netheril, a Gold Elf who was extremely hostile toward Cormanthor.

Usually, Lander was responsible for liaising with this person, and this time, having received new information, Lander shared it with everyone as he always did.

"Ilphfar has already received a formal request for aid from Cormanthor. After comprehensive consideration, Ailintar has decided to dispatch three high-level Mages carrying various supplies and equipment to provide support, hoping to join forces with our peers in Netheril!"

"What?!"

After watching the projection, Badijiaer exclaimed immediately, "Doesn't Ilphfar hate Cormanthor the most? How are they sending both people and supplies?"

"What other reason could there be? It's nothing more than them feeling that the threat of the Drow is greater!" Haruisi offered a possible answer, seemingly confirming his previous viewpoint.

"This matter is indeed very unusual!"

Princess Xiya thought for a moment and said to Lander, "Ask the Ilphfar ambassador if some change has occurred within their country. As allies, it is necessary for them to inform us of the situation in a timely manner."

"Understood!"

Lander responded and began to contact the Ilphfar ambassador.

Without specific information, no one could make an accurate judgment. Before long, the image of the Ilphfar ambassador appeared in the conference room; it was no longer a virtual image as before, but a real projection that could speak and hear.

The Ilphfar ambassador did not seem to see the other Great Arcanists, assuming it was a private meeting with Lander, and his attitude remained as kind as ever, "Respected Lord Lander, we meet again. I am very happy to be able to answer some questions for you."

"Ambassador Lucien, it is regarding Cormanthor's request for aid. I would like to know on what basis Ailintar has chosen to help Cormanthor!" Lander asked.

Regarding this question, Ambassador Lucien seemed to have anticipated it long ago and did not evade it. He raised his hand to remove the ornament on his chest that represented his status as the Ilphfar ambassador before he began to answer:

"Lord Lander, the Crown King specifically instructed me to explain this well to our allies!

"Ailintar made that choice mainly based on two reasons. First, the Drow are no longer the Suri Elf they once were. If you have been to the Underdark and seen the true ecology of the Drow, you would know that such creatures should not exist—at least, they should not be brought to the Surface.

"The other reason is that Ilphfar is currently suffering from a Dragon Disaster, and this disaster was entirely triggered by the Drow using the 【Dragon Madness Mythallar】. Cormanthor has already determined that if the Ritual Core established by the Drow on the Surface is not destroyed, the King-Slaying Star will never fade."

After speaking, Ambassador Lucien put the ornament representing his ambassadorial status back on his chest.

"So that is how it is. Thank you for the explanation, Ambassador Lucien." Lander bowed and then disconnected the communication.

However, even though the Ilphfar ambassador's projection had disappeared, the conference room remained silent; everyone was shaken by the news that the 【King-Slaying Star】 would never fade.

Netheril had never experienced a Dragon Disaster. Even in the closest instance, that white dragon that had almost swum from north of the Narrow Sea to Seventon had somehow provoked a deep-sea behemoth and been snatched away into the deep sea by the beast in one bite.

Aside from that time, Netheril had never encountered a true dragon attack; at most, there were only some frenzied dragon-blooded creatures, such as kobolds or Giant Lizards, which ordinary people were sufficient to handle.

But if the King-Slaying Star never faded, perhaps dragons from other places would spread to Netheril. A single dragon was not terrifying, but if the numbers increased, they would likely be busy putting out fires everywhere.

No one in the conference room liked doing that kind of work.

"It seems this Cormanthor really must be saved. But why didn't they mention the matter of destroying the Magic Core to us?"

"Why else? Of course, it's their pathetic self-esteem and pride. When it involves a Mythallar, they wish they could cover the eyes and ears of all humans so that they wouldn't see a single thing! How could humans profane the highest art of the Elves!"

After the small talk, the meeting was more or less over. Everyone agreed on the scale and cost of supporting Cormanthor, and then they dispersed.

The next day, the Council of Great Arcanists of Netheril was officially convened at the Arcane Union Headquarters in Seventon, with all fifteen Great Arcanists in attendance.

The meeting was presided over by the highly respected Great Arcanist Kangjienio. Of course, such a formal meeting would not only discuss the issue of whether to support Cormanthor; in fact, the Cormanthor issue was only a small part of this meeting.

The real highlight was the issue of promoting 【Magic Net Background Communication】, which had been argued over for several months.

Ever since the Snow Melting Competition ended in mid-May, Princess Xiya had proposed promoting 【Magic Net Background Communication】 at the Arcane Union to solve the inconvenience of communication for low- and mid-level Mages.

But the response was not as desired. Except for a few who expressed support directly, most remained silent, and many even strongly opposed it; they hadn't even been able to unify the opinions within the Seven Towers.

On this issue, Princess Xiya's most steadfast allies were only her teacher Bailun, her teacher's old friend Iolum, and Huo En of the Jilan Tower. Others were either silent or directly opposed.

If not for Kangjienio vaguely indicating support, coupled with the direct support of Iolum, who was very likely to succeed Kangjienio as the leader of the Arcane Union, perhaps this topic would not have continued for several months.

However, during these few months, Princess Xiya had not done nothing. She had secretly persuaded many who were originally neutral. This time, even if she couldn't achieve her goal, she would at least continue the topic until the conservative atmosphere of the Arcane Union was completely torn open.

"The first topic: the Gray-White Spiral Tower accuses the Seven Towers of monopolizing Plane Crystals and demands that the Seven Towers open up the method of obtaining Plane Crystals."

As soon as Kangjienio finished speaking, waves of magic rippled through the grand conference hall, and almost everyone was frequently communicating privately.

Plane Crystals were the core of the Plane Exploration Array, and this special Gemstone was not eternal; it would wear out. Even now, not every Great Arcanist could possess their own Plane Crystal.

The only exception was the Seven Towers; any Great Arcanist belonging to the Seven Towers could possess at least one Plane Crystal.

Then, only one conclusion could be drawn: the Seven Towers possessed a stable method for obtaining Plane Crystals.

And this was also a secret that all non-Seven Towers Great Arcanists most wanted to know. It was just that the Seven Towers always acted in unison when dealing with the outside world, and no one dared to directly question a Spellcaster interest group that included at least seven Great Arcanists.

Before today, no one had ever demanded that the Seven Towers open up the method of obtaining Plane Crystals at an Arcane Union meeting. But today, it had happened.